By Emerson Drake
3/13/11
Judy Sly and the Bee Editorial Board consisting of Mark Vasche, Eric Johnston, and Ms. Sly are well known for viciously attacking any and every politician they either don't agree with or just plain don't like but in Sunday's editorial they went beyond the pale.
They've used their bully pulpit to castigate unmercilessly those whose intentions or style they don't appreciate. Sometimes it's because they just plain don't like someone as has been documented by their diatribes against former Mayor Sabatino and their onslaught against Supervisor DeMartini.
Ms. Sly is guilty of using the same type of verbal assault as did pro Kamilos supporters who tried to claim the high road by saying, "If you're against Kamilo's version of West Park then your against jobs" which is a falsehood from beginning to end.
Terry Withrow made this point very firmly but maybe Ms. Sly isn't quite ready to take him on yet. Or maybe this is just a warning shot across his bow.Her defense of Cecil Russel might have been justified if Russel wasn't so far off base.
If Mr. Russel knew what was best for Save Mart he would probably still be there, so how can anyone presume he knows what is best for Stanislaus County except for his bosses (the Modesto Chamber of Commerce)who pay him to represent what they believe is in there best interests, not necessarily in ours. It's almost surprising that he didn't end up at Stan State where many of the retreads go.Her using CB Richard Ellis as one of her points was just ludicrous.
Mr. Ellis claimed that "shovel ready" acreage was in scarce supply on the west side of the county which was rebuked the former Mayor of Patterson who reminded all of those present that Patterson had 100 acres of shovel ready land.
Mr. Ellis and Ms. Sly must be spatially challenged since that represents roughly 100 football fields.In addition Mr. Russel is a businessman concerned only about the art of the deal. After all, no deal no money.
Kamilos deserved to be treated with disdain after all he used a $28,500 donation to assure his bloated West Park proposal. He wasted our time by trying to bluff the west side citizens into capitulating to his dreams of avarice.
He waited until the very last minute to supply the Board of Supervisors and Staff his proposals which were lacking in any details which ALL of the Supervisors noted.
Terry Withrow proposed as did Jim DeMartini that the bid be thrown open to any and all bidders since it would make any difference since Kamilos wont be coming back to the Board for fifteen months.
We need jobs in Stanislaus County but from examining the Kamilos proposal all we will see is money for Kamilos and heart ache for our citizens.
As for the Bee Editorial Staff, as was said by the public during the meeting, "When was the last time they got anything right?"
