By Emerson Drake
7/23/11
Stephanie Burnside, Kristin Olsen’s hand picked successor to take her place on the Modesto City Council has fulfilled her mission of becoming the puppet for the local developers, the very same developers who almost destroyed Modesto with their greed. What did she do at the last city council that everyone at home missed and the local print media failed to disclose? She went down during the break (when the cameras were off) and received her marching orders from moneyman to the developers, land use attorney George Petrulakis. Yes the same George Petrulakis who passes out largess from the Republican party and landowners from all over Modesto, Patterson, Westpark and even up to Escalon.
Its been bad enough to watch her consult with Councilman Muratore before almost every single vote since she became councilwoman appointed by the council not elected, but to watch her stoop so low and become a doormat for the developers is just too much to take.
We had high hopes for the Councilwoman, but to watch her scurry around to do George Petrulakis’ bidding is too much for many veteran council watchers and concerned citizens to take. The developer’s evil cabal of Muratore, Hawn, and Burnside threaten to sell Modesto voters down the river for a few campaign donations.
Muratore who has been working behind the scenes to run sewer and water and annex the very land that voters across Modesto said NO annexations to by 60-70%.
As usual the carrot being dangled is jobs. But we have many more shovel ready acres than most of the candidates are telling us about. Remember that “shovel ready” is the mantra they repeat over and over to convince us it’s in our best interests to pave over the best farmland in the world. And what always happens to annexed land? According to Modesto City planners, “when land is brought into the city’s sphere on influence development is inevitable.”
And despite the protestations and denials of the Cabal, the land eventually gets zoned for housing. County Board Supervisor Terry Withrow, who’s been consulting with Councilman Muratore regarding land use up in Salida, suggests there’s nothing that can be done about the 25 year vested maps the Board gave the developers for homes before the voters could weigh in on the Salida Now Measure. But is that really true or is it just more developer propaganda?
To borrow a phrase, What the Board of Supervisors can giveth the Board can taketh away.
It’s time for voters to educate themselves about what the candidates really stand for.
If you want developers to line their pockets with your money like the $498,000 give away to Florsheim Homes then by all means listen to the likes of Joe Muratore who seems to be placing his and Ryan Swelha’s company Benchmark Development’s interests before that of the average citizens.
Joe Muratore is the same councilman who’s taken Stephanie Burnside by the hand and delivered to the likes of George Petrulakis and his developer buddies.
But why shouldn’t he, after all they’re his and Brad Hawn’s buddies too.
And when it comes to politics, you might as well be beholden to someone who can help you line your pockets.
