Tag Archives: City of Chico Election 2014

Oh gee, MY BAD! Presson posted the cops 460’s the day the newspaper ran the story…how about that!?!

30 Oct

http://www.chico.ca.us/city_clerk/campaign_disclosure_files/documents/CPOAForm460sSemi1stand2ndPreElection.pdf

 

Big deal right?

Well, it is a big deal. Until two days ago, she hadn’t posted anything since 2012.

I felt it was important to stay on Presson because she hasn’t been doing her job lately. I think the light but embarrassing scrutiny of the newspaper was enough to teach her a lesson, but if she doesn’t post the upcoming reports on time, I’ll be right on her again.  The report that really tells the story is the report they are supposed to file after the election. They didn’t file anything after the 2012 election. I think it’s prudent to be proactive, but you see how you are treated Downtown for asking too many questions.

Everybody always forgets to check after the election, and that’s when the real money is donated and spent. I don’t think candidates or PACs should be allowed to spend money within a certain time frame before an election, since they won’t be posting those expenditures until afterward. That’s when the real donations turn up – in 2012 it was the SEIU making the single biggest contribution to the “Yes on Measure J” campaign. That’s the same thing that happened in 2010 with Measure A – the ordinance that would have switched council elections to June. The SEIU was also the biggest single donor to the “No on A” campaign, but that didn’t turn up until after the election.

So, stay vigilant people, your “public servants” will live up or down to your expectations. 

 

Tags: , , , ,

Chico City Council race kicks off next Sunday, April 27, with Andrew Coolidge, Chico library, noon to one pm

19 Apr

Next Friday we have our first city council candidate coming in to the library for a chit-chat – Andrew Coolidge. You may remember Coolidge from 2012.

As I scan over my drafts file, I see plenty of city of Chico  issues I haven’t had time to talk about – a back page story about California’s looming pension liability, a letter from a Chico man suggesting we set another tax on ourselves to fund more cops, a chart showing that Cal Water gives public agencies like cities a flat water rate while the rest of us are on meters, an article about a pile of bad home loans recently written off by the city, BK Brook’s letter about the problems at Chico’s long neglected sewer plant, an editorial from a man who has never attended an airport commission saying we need to “get better commercial service at the airport…” , and then an interesting report about how claims against the city – for stuff like falling tree limbs and injuries/tire damage due to broken sidewalks and potholes – are UP.  Have you looked at Bidwell Park lately? You are taking your life in your hands walking into Bidwell Park – the trees need to be trimmed along the driveway, or somebody is going to be seriously injured.

We need to make sure these candidates are not riding on a cloud of air. What do they know about the real issues? Has Coolidge read the employee contracts? What does he think about paying benefits and pensions on people that make three, four, five times the median income? Months ago Coolidge made a public statement about the water rate increase – what has he done since?  Has he contacted the Ratepayer Advocate or the CPUC, does he have any news of our rate case, has he written a letter of protest? Has he attended an airport commission meeting – how many? Has he attended any meetings Downtown, which ones? Does he know how much money has been taken from the sewer fund to pay pensions and benefits? Does he understand that our sewer has reached capacity, and there are concerns about our water table falling, but our city keeps handing out building permits?

So far we have two city council candidates lined up, Coolidge and Joe Montes.  I don’t know who else is running because Debbie Presson won’t post the filings – she’s waiting until after the June primary, because she’s just plain lazy and incompetent. I’m curious about measures or initiatives that might be on the city ballot, so if I get a chance I’ll go down to her office and ask to look at them. In the meantime, let’s give Coolidge a good vetting, that’s next Sunday, April 27, from noon to one pm, Chico Library at First and Sherman Aves.

 

Tags: , ,