Out of our control

October 19, 2018

We have a city council election coming up in a couple of weeks.

City council representatives are elected to four year terms.  The can serve a maximum of ten years during their lifetime which effectively limits them to two elected terms.

One problem with this is that the current incumbents know that this is their last election.  They have no need to do what the public wants during their second term if we give them one.  They cannot be re-elected.  Recalling them is very difficult and has not been successfully in modern times.

Voting for an incumbent is something you should think about.

We deserve better

Brutus

7 Comments | City government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

No parking

October 16, 2018

As part of the introduction of our street cars the city is proposing an amendment to the existing vehicle and traffic ordinance that would make parking at any place along the street car routes illegal unless the area has been specifically marked to allow parking.

From the proposed ordinance amendment:

“Except as provided in 12.90.50 below … no person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle on any side of a street within the Streetcar Route.”

The penalty?

“a fine not to exceed 500 dollars”

Be warned.

We deserve better

Brutus

22 Comments | City government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Not knowing about the candidates

October 15, 2018

Early voting starts a week from today, Monday, October 22, 2018.

Won’t you please do your homework now and decide who to vote for?

That way you can go to the polling place and have your vote represent how you feel.

We deserve better

Brutus

5 Comments | City government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Just pass it–we can change it later

October 13, 2018

Looking further into the issue of what they are now calling the “Mexican American Cultural Center” we had to go back to the August 14, 2012 city council meeting documents and video.

Attached to agenda item 13A (which proposed the ordinance ordering the bond election) we see this in the backup material:

The language that council voted to place on the ballot turned out to be:

They were talking about a “Hispanic Cultural Center” but told the voters that they would build a “Cultural Heritage Center”.

Now six years later we see:

Yes, it is now a “Mexican American Cultural Center”.

According to the U. S. Census Bureau web page  “OMB defines “Hispanic or Latino” as a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race.”

Back in 2012 city council was not honest with the voters.  City council is not being honest today either.

We deserve better

Brutus

5 Comments | City government, Federal Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

The election is in November, your property taxes are due in January

October 11, 2018

Our city council has decided to allow themselves to increase our property taxes to just under the level where they would have to take the issue to the voters for approval.

What are they afraid of?

We all know.

We already have the second highest property tax rates (for homesteaded homes) among the largest 50 cities in the United States.

We deserve better

Brutus

 

18 Comments | City government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

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