By Emerson Drake
8/15/11
Should politicians reward campaign contributors with special favors? Many don't, but Twenty Fifth Assembly District Representative Kristin Olsen paved the way while on Modesto's City Council.
We all recall a couple of years ago when a few mobile home parks in Modesto were raising rates to the tune of $100 per month, A certain park owned by Western Manufactured Housing was hoping the economic boom would last long enough for their property in the North McHenry area to become so valuable they could develop it for businesses,
After Olsen arranged for a sizable contribution she voted against senior citizens on fixed incomes and supported the Manteca business with her influence and vote in the City Council.
Chopra Enterprises made another contribution to Olsen's campaign and when a complaint came to the city council that Chopra was getting favorable treatment from the city, Olsen sprung to their defense. She thought it only reasonable that a well connected firm like Chopra shouldn't have to use any of their property for a water retention pond. However, it didn't bother her that a small family owned farm just trying to find a way to make a little money from the property they were being forced to sell, should be required to have two thirds of their land under water. Of course, that family hadn't made a sizable donation to her campaign.
Then, of course there was the business park located right across from the new Kaiser Hospital. Chopra managed to have a segment re-zoned for multi family housing at the last minute. Who paved the way in the city council? None other than Kristin Olsen.
Olsen's connections to the Chopra Plaza and the city's fast tracking of the attempted development are being explored.
Just as interesting are the number of current Mayoral and Council candidates being tied to Chopra through Campaign donations.
Tomorrow we'll talk about the specific candidates and the amounts they have taken from the Chopra family members and companies
