By Emerson Drake
8/5/11
Stephanie Burnside received a campaign donation from the same Trinity Renovations that has been barred from further participation in the Neighborhood Stabilization Program Part 2 (NSP2). Could this be the explanation behind Councilwoman and candidate Stephanie Burnside's late and minimal comments during Wednesday's Modesto City Council meeting regarding the still evolving scandal with her city council and political guru Joe Muratore and his company Benchmark. Is it necessary to remind everyone that Muratore's business partner in Benchmark is Ryan Swehla who is also a partner in Trinity Renovations with Scott Monday?
Remember the comments from the public during the council meeting as to how the Business community had "purchased" political cover for the activities of these gold digging companies looking to line their pockets with taxpayer money? Now we are starting to see these same players from Cecil Russell from the Chamber of Commerce, who had a front row seat at the meeting and despite the fact some of his buddies were under fire, had a smile on his face. Could that be because he knew of the council members/candidates who were beholding to Benchmark and Trinity?
When it comes to getting yourself nominated to committees and commissions another person of note is David Wright Jr., a member of Joe Muratore's Blue Ribbon Commission on the Homeless who also donated to Stephanie Burnside's campaign.
Unfortunately the bag man for developers, Chamber of Commerce and the Republican party George Petrulakis has a very prominent place among Burnside's donors.
Sometimes it's very hard to see whose hands are in whose pockets. But the one pocket they all seem to be reaching for is the taxpayers. Your pockets and mine
This information was taken from Burnside's most recent campaign disclosure statement covering 1/1/11 through 6/30/11.
Very soon the newest of the donation lists for all of the candidates will be made public and you can count on the Voice of Modesto to bring them to you.
