By Emerson Drake
8/31/11
WE do deserve a fair and honest shake from our city government but we sure aren't getting one now. We have a Councilman who voted for NSP2 money and then ended up putting some of it ($62,500) in his own pocket. When the truth was about to come out he told on himself, BUT, he didn't mention how his company "Benchmark Realty" is managing the houses for Trinity Renovations and will be getting a slice of the pie monthly for the next 25 years.
We have a candidate for Mayor who a developer purchased and decided to run in the race for $14,000 dollars. Kind of like buying a horse to run at the track without having to buy feed or tack but who will go in any direction you pull his reins in.
We have local developers paying "rental" money to City Council candidates running for re-election. Chopra just loves those "rentals" . They're cheaper than owning with no maintenance costs, and a new crop coming every two years.
You don't have to ask what Escalon based Bavaro Farms is doing donating big money to Modesto candidates for, do you? OK, if you do, I'll help out. It's because they have land they want Modesto to annex and zone for homes. They did this same thing in the last election and will continue to do it until they motivate the council to ignore the "advisory votes" and do it anyway. The last annexation ( two years ago) the Bavaro's hoped for lost by over 70%.
And don't think it might not happen since we have a candidate for Mayor who says he'll ignore advisory votes and do what he thinks is best for the city. So much for representing the people.
We need a new amendment to our City Charter which would prohibit councilmen from accepting more than $1,000 dollars from any person or business without having to recuse themselves "step back and not vote or take part in the discussion" when that individual or business had something in front of the council for consideration, similar to what the County Board of Supervisors is considering.
Do we need honest government and a fair shake?
Do we deserve an honest government and a fair shake?
Damn straight we do. And until we get some changes in the same old, same old, it isn't going to happen.
