Monday, October 31, 2011

Ridenour Rules Council Meeting

By Emerson Drake
6/23/10

If you wait for McClatchy news managing editor Dave Lyghtle and his latest drone Ken Carlson to tell the whole story about the events at last nights City council meeting, you’re in for a long wait, maybe all of the way to the 12th of Never.We sat and watched Mayor Ridenour rule with an iron fist.

Early on when the subject of voting for two council members to be the city’s representative to the fire regionalization committee he demanded to not only assign himself but to include Dave Lopez as his fellow member.When Brad Hawn took exception to the ramming through of Ridenour’s decision he was steamrolled by Ridenour’s tactics and after he kneeled to the power voted along with the rest of the council.

Not necessarily democracy at its finest. But it is an example of what passes for it in Modesto.In the public comments portion of the meeting a citizen pointed out to the council how poorly they were representing the people’s desires.

By now everyone is aware of the city lusting after control of the Kernan corridor on the city’s north side, despite the fact that voters spoke loud and clear that they wanted no part of annexing this area just last fall by over 60%.

But in actuality there is little doubt that the council will vote to include the Kernan corridor in the city’s sphere of influence.

After all it was Joe Muratore’s business partner Developer Ryan Swelha who in a Bee community article described the homes and farms along Kernan as low hanging fruit that needed to be picked (by developers.)

Now they are preparing to vote on a recommendation by Runoff committee to abandon council race runoff’s and possibly save Mayoral runoffs.What should be of concern to Modestians is the very real possibility of between 657 and 1063 voters being able to elect a council member.

That would mean that 6% of the voters in any district could elect their council representative using the 5 person race in the 25th assembly district and the last voter turnout in a council race here in Modesto.But does the council care?

Apparently not, they have their marching orders from the campaign donors who pull their strings and will, unfortunately vote accordingly.