Chief
08-28-2007, 10:44 AM
http://www.westerndredging.org/cgi-bin/mail.cgi/archive/Local/20070828093233/
Good Morning,
I just returned from my daily 3 mile walk over pot holed streets, and crumbling sidewalks sprouting weeds where I had the opportunity to observe empty rush hour c-trans buses and unused bi-cycle lanes.
As I walked, I could not help but reflect on a couple of articles I had read in the Columbian the past two days.
“Clash of the Titans”. I never thought of our local elected “leaders” as Titans. Commissioner Morris in my opinion, as one of three county Commissioners, has the power of a Titan, but uses it wisely and demonstrates a genuine interest in those she represents. Mayor Pollard, however, if I read the city charter correct, is a ceremonially mayor who technically has no more power than that bestowed upon other Council Members. One Vote. The real power in the City Government is vested in the City Manager. Only the alliance of the Columbian, the City Manager, Downtown Developers and five of the other 6 council members voting in lockstep with the Mayor, regardless of the issues and ignoring those they are supposed to represent, allow the city mayor to behave like a Titan. Only Councilwoman Stewart has the courage to challenge the accepted wisdom or ask questions.
“Levy setback adds pieces to Port of Vancouver’s Jigsaw Puzzle”: The Columbian continues its attempt to convince, I am now sure who, that the only reasons the levy was defeated was because the port did not talk nice to us. The reality is the levy was defeated for two reasons: 1. Our taxes are “TOO DAMN HIGH” and 2. The people got to vote.
Why does the Columbian think that local and state legislators are continuing to pass legislation that allows taxes to increase without a vote of the people? Do they really think that the Peoples Hotel of Vancouver would have been built, the 30-dollar Auto tab fee increased 20 dollars, or the city allowed to siphon off .033 percent of the state sales tax collected if the people had been allowed to vote.
Two other article deserve mention: “Police Chief says gangs growing but not a Crisis” and “Police arrest 3 following shooting”: It may be time for the current council to start paying some attention to the rapid increase in gangs and crime. Breaking Coffee Cups, Riding Bikes, doing away with bottled water, building bridges to no-where, by passing voter, and providing legal kickbacks to developers may be ok for their political careers, but we need politician who won’t wait until something becomes a crisis before it becomes a priority.
Folks it is time for a change: Since we do not have a TV Station in Vancouver and the local newspaper is anti-voter we need to use Emails to get our messages out.
We can take a significant step in making the necessary changes if we vote for:
Charlie Stemper, Pat Campbell, and Jerry Oliver in November.
P.S. We still have some signs available if you would like one.
L. M. Patella
CDR USN (ret)
Good Morning,
I just returned from my daily 3 mile walk over pot holed streets, and crumbling sidewalks sprouting weeds where I had the opportunity to observe empty rush hour c-trans buses and unused bi-cycle lanes.
As I walked, I could not help but reflect on a couple of articles I had read in the Columbian the past two days.
“Clash of the Titans”. I never thought of our local elected “leaders” as Titans. Commissioner Morris in my opinion, as one of three county Commissioners, has the power of a Titan, but uses it wisely and demonstrates a genuine interest in those she represents. Mayor Pollard, however, if I read the city charter correct, is a ceremonially mayor who technically has no more power than that bestowed upon other Council Members. One Vote. The real power in the City Government is vested in the City Manager. Only the alliance of the Columbian, the City Manager, Downtown Developers and five of the other 6 council members voting in lockstep with the Mayor, regardless of the issues and ignoring those they are supposed to represent, allow the city mayor to behave like a Titan. Only Councilwoman Stewart has the courage to challenge the accepted wisdom or ask questions.
“Levy setback adds pieces to Port of Vancouver’s Jigsaw Puzzle”: The Columbian continues its attempt to convince, I am now sure who, that the only reasons the levy was defeated was because the port did not talk nice to us. The reality is the levy was defeated for two reasons: 1. Our taxes are “TOO DAMN HIGH” and 2. The people got to vote.
Why does the Columbian think that local and state legislators are continuing to pass legislation that allows taxes to increase without a vote of the people? Do they really think that the Peoples Hotel of Vancouver would have been built, the 30-dollar Auto tab fee increased 20 dollars, or the city allowed to siphon off .033 percent of the state sales tax collected if the people had been allowed to vote.
Two other article deserve mention: “Police Chief says gangs growing but not a Crisis” and “Police arrest 3 following shooting”: It may be time for the current council to start paying some attention to the rapid increase in gangs and crime. Breaking Coffee Cups, Riding Bikes, doing away with bottled water, building bridges to no-where, by passing voter, and providing legal kickbacks to developers may be ok for their political careers, but we need politician who won’t wait until something becomes a crisis before it becomes a priority.
Folks it is time for a change: Since we do not have a TV Station in Vancouver and the local newspaper is anti-voter we need to use Emails to get our messages out.
We can take a significant step in making the necessary changes if we vote for:
Charlie Stemper, Pat Campbell, and Jerry Oliver in November.
P.S. We still have some signs available if you would like one.
L. M. Patella
CDR USN (ret)