Friday, November 20, 2015

"Alternatives" are "undemocratic", bla, bla, bla


Pacifica Tribune Letters to the Editor/Jennifer Ball, 11/18/15.  "Re-think agendas" by Jennifer Ball
Image result for Political agenda showing picture
We can't hear you NIMBIES, but we can hear
them: key City personnel: brava, and bravo!   

"I have become aware of the fact that Ms. Tinfow, the city manager, is trying to subvert the democratic process by proposing that individual council members can no longer put forward an item on the City Council’s agenda on their own. Ironic since she is putting this proposal forward on her own, and she wasn’t elected.
The basis of our country is democracy, and yet there are those who would subvert it. I would like to know how we can recall someone who is unaware that their role as an appointed official is not to change policy but to support those elected. We did not choose Ms. Tinfow. She was foisted upon us.

As a citizen of Pacifica, I request that this undemocratic and biased proposal be dismissed as favoritism and has no place in Pacifica’s politics. I also request that Ms. Tinfow be retired, effective immediately, and that someone who understands the role of a city manager and their need to remain unbiased throughout the judicial process be appointed. If we want smart people to be citizens of Pacifica—and not just have corporate interests running our town—you on the council should stop yielding to these kinds of backdoor tactics that make our town a less hospitable place for decency, common sense, and caring."
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Reference, City Council meeting, 11/9/15.  Item 9, City Staff Report, includes Staff  recommendation to consider how a City Councilmember introduces an item to the City Council meeting agenda. And it offers an Alternative action (page 2): "Council has discretion to establish any process it wishes to use to set policy direction for the City and to consider individual topics as long as the process is in accordance with the Brown Act." 

 Related - Fix Pacifica article/Kathy Meeh 11/10/15, "City Council meeting 11/9/15, Item 9, audience circus." Note photograph from Talents Global Unlimited Events.

Posted by Kathy Meeh 

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

The hippies noobys and nimbys are turning against Mary Ann and Karen Ervin and also turning against city hall.

Anonymous said...

751, Not to mention our largest source of money, San Mateo County.

Commie Keener's 45 day emergency ban on trailer home closures that led to this whole brouhaha was adopted unanimously by the County itself yesterday if Riptide is to be believed.

Are we still a city that believes in property rights or are we a city that believes helping people is more important?

I don't want to live here if the second

Anonymous said...

Oct 26,council meeting,Mayor Irvin asked City Manager Tinfow,what could be done about lone councilmember agendizing.Since the City Manager has agenda power,it was placed on agenda next council meeting,9 Nov.

Kathy Meeh said...

839, your comment in itself is "not to be believed", and our City Council democratically considered (11/9/15) whether to change the way Coucilmembers introduce items to the City Council meeting agenda (item 9), just as they considered whether to change the order or the agenda (item 8).

The Pacific Skies Estates mobile park conversion has been in process this year, and may track back 2 years. Additionally, rent control has been in effect at that mobile home park property.

As for the 45 day moratorium on mobile home park closures and conversions, see Daly Journal/San Mateo, Bill Silverfarb, 11/18/15. Note, the location is uninforporated San Mateo County. And, "the intent of the urgency ordinance is to give county staff time to study and consider adoption of land use regulations for when the parks are proposed to be closed or converted so that residents are not displaced without having some protections, according to Maltbie’s report."
Meantime, this City of Pacifica did work with the Pacific Skies Estates Owner/Landlord to provide evicted month to month tenants "some protections".

Anonymous said...

Thank you Kathy for putting some sense into these hippies.

There is NOTHING on the San Mateo Countie website that says anything about trailer parks.

Nimby liars lying lots. Thats what they do!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

One more thing, so is the trailer park on Palmetto over or is it still going on?

Anonymous said...

Lying liars? The Daily Journal reports that the Board of Supervisors adopted a temporary urgency ordinance Tuesday. The ordinance says that mobile home parks in unincorporated San Mateo County cannot close or make major conversions for the next 45 days. The ban on closures and conversions could extend for two years depending on later board action.

http://www.smdailyjournal.com/articles/lnews/2015-11-18/county-bans-mobile-home-park-closures-and-conversions/1776425153770.html

Anonymous said...

Holy moly the county of San Mateo approved Keener's emergency action!?

So did Keener file a lawsuit against the city or what happened?

Anonymous said...

839 Oh if only I could tell you that helping people trumps property rights in Pacifica so you'd move away. Not because you're a heartless toad, or because you're a caricature, but because you're stupid. Next time Meeh tries to inject sense into your rant, I hope she uses a jackhammer.

Kathy Meeh said...

..Moly 131, the 45 day moratorium includes the UNINCORPORATED County of San Mateo only, not the Cities of San Mateo County, get it?

But, some of you twisted NIMBIES would like this City to disincorporate, so we could have all the County, country, and township benefits of say, Moss Beach, Montara, El Granada, etc. Your big whoop!
Moral to this story: don't vote for NIMBIES ever, their leadership qualities cripple this City.

Anonymous said...

1132 that guy at 839 is no hippie. You might think all hippies are idiots, but the truth is that not all idiots are hippies. We have our standards.

Anonymous said...

I personally take offense to the way some of the "group" spoke to Council regarding Lorie Tinfow. If you guys had any sense you would realize Lorie is the CEO of the town and was following the lead of one of the Council to find direction for agendizing of topcs. Again, the City of Pacifica is not the attorney for the mobile home park tenants. They were given notice over two years ago that change was in the air and chose to hold tight with an inferior lease document. Many of the tenants saw the handwriting on the trailer door and sought other housing, some with the help of outreach groups and some on their own. John Keener cannot keep bringing up the same topic or is that what you all want? People need to take personal responsibility for their living arrangements.

Anonymous said...

I'm a hippie (from the 60's maannn...you know Avalon Ballroom, Fillmore, Purple Ozzley, Quicksilver) and I don't like this commie Keener one bit.
He's a smug little prick. He reminds me of Steven Weed (Patty Hearst's boyfriend).
This guy is no good for our city. He needs to move to Berkeley (where he will fit right in) and form a modern chapter of the SDS.
Bad for Pacifica. The NOBIES are too stupid (or stoned) to realize what they have foisted upon all of us (including themselves).

Anonymous said...

You carry water for somebody, you're can get wet--while they sit there high and dry.

Anonymous said...

John Keener is the best city council member we've had in years.

Anonymous said...

Tinfow should be fired for cause.

She made a huge power grab to give herself more power than any city council member and it backfired horribly.

Mayor Ervin wasn't involved, she had nothing to do with this.
It was solely a power grab by a city manager who wants to be a dictator.

Anonymous said...

6;43: Better review Oct 26 council video.Mayor Irvin states to City Manager:"What can be done with agendizing?", in reference to lone Councilmember Keener having too much power with council business time.

Anonymous said...

643 Tinfow already has the job, but it's a power grab alright, only it isn't Tinfow doing the grabbing. One of our dear councilmembers is a real control freak and always has been. What better patsy than a city manager?

Anonymous said...

The City Manager reports to Council, not the other way around. City Managers do not go rogue, particularly not at public meetings. Well-orchestrated public meetings. Keener gives a couple of his council sisters and city staff hives. Very little at these meetings is spontaneous. Keener is driving the control freaks nuts. He's a maverick and voters knew that. Lots of people love it. Just not so much on here.

Kathy Meeh said...

643, 634, again proves vicious NIMBY comments are toxic propaganda.

634, Councilmember John Keener is the guy who would set-up this City for a lawsuit, and (City Council meeting 10/26/15) voted for an action which would do just that, (along with voiding the office of City Manager's work to assist the evicted mobile home renters). He's your guy!

643, here's the 11/9, item 9 language that supports your claim that the City Manager is a "dictator" and should be "fired for cause", (this time you didn't throw-in "anti-democratic"): City Staff Report, Alternative action (page 2), "Council has discretion to establish any process it wishes to use to set policy direction for the City and to consider individual topics as long as the process is in accordance with the Brown Act."

However, sensible action and majority Council vote prevailed. Thus, governing City Manager Lori Tinfow/Staff/Team and this City Council majority (3) are fair, savvy and effective. Whereas, your comments are poison darts directed at a target-- another modus operandi reason to never trust or vote for NIMBIES.

And 10:09, there was nothing "rogue" about the City Manager's office actions. That term may apply to Councilmember Keener who supports lawsuit action against this City (and not just the mobile home park, but also highway modernization, and potentially development of the quarry).

Anonymous said...

City Council unanimously struck down Tinfow's power grab.

She's not the CEO, she's an employee, who is employed at the discretion of the City Council.

Tinfow had a checkered past (covering up for a Walnut Creek employee having a sexual relationship with a twelve yo girl) and we took a chance on her.

It's time to cut our losses and find a new city manager who knows something about coastal folks.

You can't blame this one on Ervin and O'Neill, they voted against Tinfow's power grab.

Ervin herself didn't say a single word in support of Tinfow.

Anonymous said...

I think it is extremely rogue for a City Council person to organize the protect against 7-Eleven in Fairmont and give them pointers on how to defeat the measure. Talk about being removed for cause. Thank goodness the business people of this town took notice and kept that debacle from happening.

Anonymous said...

"John Keener is the best city council member we've had in years".
Proclamation of a butt licking comrade.

Anonymous said...

Kathy, 1009 agrees with you, ie, City Manager's do not go rogue and that includes Tinfow. However, City Council members are politicians elected by "like-minded" voters. Unlike the CM who's simply an employee, council members report to the people. Is Keener going rogue? Guess it depends on whether you agree with Keener because Keener is no surprise to those who voted for him and labeling him a rogue here is high praise among his supporters-and there are many.

Anonymous said...

245 They did?

Anonymous said...

2:45-Betty Duran,lives across from 7-Eleven,and organized neighborhood activists.John Keener and Sue Digre responded to Fairmont Association concerns.

Anonymous said...

Watch 9 Nov 15 council video: Marvel how John Keener clearly out-maneuvers with clear thinking.Just wait until he becomes mayor.