Fix Pacifica: Will the Council lead by example?

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Will the Council lead by example?

From this week's Tribune . . .

A great editorial by Lionel Emde

Lionel, I'd like to answer your question with a deep and exhaustive reply:

NO.

8 comments:

Kathleen Rogan said...: Can't read it.; November 12, 2009 at 7:41 AM
Jeffrey W Simons said...: The link is working for me, Kathleen. Do you still have your OBAMA filter on your web browser? LOL; November 12, 2009 at 7:45 AM
Kathleen Rogan said...: ok, finally I got in. I wasn't even done reading the first paragraph when my mind started to wander. Soon after I fell asleep. Now I need more coffee. Does anybody care about this? I don't. I don't because the messenger bores me and I question his agenda. People of Pacifica voted in this city council, so we get what we voted. Until the messenger starts running for a council seat himself and stands on a soapbox in Lindamar Shopping center, then we will pay attention. Not many people read the tribune. I will only read it if it is free. You can find free tribs in garbage cans and coffee shops.; November 12, 2009 at 8:37 AM
Jeffrey W Simons said...: Kathleen,

Lionel is a good guy, ethical. Lived down the street from me and though we may have some ideological differences, I appreciate his nose for the truth.

His column in a nutshell asked why the mayor (Julie Lancelle) was essentially browbeating the unions to accept over $800,000 in concessions to balance the budget, when our city council receives the most generous compensation package in the county and refuses to take a meaningful cut.

The city is going bankrupt, but the City Council certainly isn't.

For the record, when I ran for City Council, I publicly offered to waive my salary and benefits for the first year, until the city was headed in the right direction financially.; November 12, 2009 at 8:48 AM
Kathleen Rogan said...: Maybe the people that voted in this city council want the city to go bankrupt. But, NOBODY is paying attention. They don't care. WHY? Nobody read the trib. A city of some 37,000 peeps most work and spend their time out of Pacifica. How many voted in local issues? I have been hear my whole life. Not enough care. Nobody knows Lionel, who is he. He writes a lot of stuff like all the rest in that little group and people just role their eyes at all of them and wave it away. Pacificans dont know who these people are. I was just reading a progressive website, just the norm rad environ stuff, they hate how the newspapers are going under, they know nobody is reading them. They spend most of their time in training camps learning how to protest and write letters to newspapers. Good. That will keep them busy.; November 12, 2009 at 9:13 AM
Kathleen Rogan said...: I'm not picking on Lionel, I like him too. It must be very frustrating to feel so compassionate about an issue that majority of people are not fired up about.; November 12, 2009 at 10:10 AM
Kathleen Rogan said...: Oops, I meant to say passionate. Been up since 4:30am time to take a nap. I'm done for the day. Good nite.; November 12, 2009 at 10:12 AM
Kathy Meeh said...: Bravo Lionel and Vi for your research and public disclosure of city council games played on vested citizens of this city who pay the bills. Same ol' "lack of transparency", dragging San Mateo County averages out when convenient, shoveling "pet" projects and issues undercover, marginal disclosure when advantageous to the intended outcome.

During this year's City budget meetings the question of city council financial sacrifice came-up, I remember Mayor Lancelle saying "I think we're only paid $700 monthly".

About the same time she also thought it was "nice for people (Measure D) to pay a little more in taxes, because of all we have" (meaning a lot of unkept "open space", a crumbling city infrastructure, and a dumpster load of outstanding city debt I suppose).

This week (11/9) at city council Mayor Lancelle was also in favor of area road pavement assessments to certain property owners, such as where there had been county roads prior to city incorporation (52 years ago). Councilmember DeJarnatt was also vocal about property owners paying these assessments. The only council member raising a question about these road assessments was Councilmember Nihart; otherwise, there was full agreement from City Council.

Therein is the core economic plan gifted to this city by 7 year city council members: "no growth" and when confronted as the result of neglect, mishap, pressure or fines-- you or an outside government agency pays.

Since "you pay" seems to be the default policy of this city council, it does seem that they should apply similar principals of economy to themselves-- yet, in 2006 they voted themselves a big sneaky raise in lieu of health benefits.

Nice going city council, the financial benefit improvement to yourselves occurred during the time you were working to block big city tax revenue dollars in the redevelopment quarry. Anybody got a Twinkies award for you?; November 12, 2009 at 10:17 AM