Comment re: Emeryville City Council to Developers: The Laws We Make, We’ll Break for You:
This seems to be a ongoing theme from the city council. It seems John Fricke is the only one not in the back pocket of developers. Why can’t the other council members stand up and represent the people who actually elected them? They are carving the city’s history up into little pieces and serving it on a silver platter to whichever developer comes along, ignoring critical quality of life concerns which the municipal code was created to protect. Emeryville has a long history of corruption and it seems to be continuing on unabated.
I, for one, have had enough. When are the people of Emeryville going to stand up and throw out those elected officials who care more about helping developers increase their profit margin than the quality of life for people who actually live here? I am sick and tired of the constant pandering that goes on from the majority of the city council to developers who are only interested in making money while Emeryville residents suffer.
We need to recall those council members who betrayed our trust.
We need a municipal code that is strong enough not to be simply swept aside whenever a developer comes around and sheds a tear.
We need to make ourselves heard by complaining to the media and marching in the streets to embarrass those rascals into stopping their attacks on our quality of life.
If you all want to organize a demonstration, count me in.
If anyone wants to read more about the two projects, here are the links:
Project at 39th and Adeline:
http://www.oaklandnet.com/government/ceda/revised/planningzoning/MajorProjectsSection/39th-and-AdelineEIR.html
Papermill Project:
http://www.ci.emeryville.ca.us/planning/majorprojects.html
Doug Bright
It’s always the same no matter where you go…the rich (in our case this means developers) get access to the politicians by giving campaign donations. The politicians then do the bidding of the rich while claiming no quid pro quo agreements were made, hence no laws broken. Everyone wins except the taxpayers (or in our case, the residents).
We had a chance last year to significantly change the composition of the city council, when 3 of the members were up for re-election. Why Emeryville residents did so is a mystery to me. I support any effort to make our council more accountable to the people who live here – not just the people who build here.
How can we do a recall on the city council members that fail to even listen to the residents? Is there a way to start the ball rolling. I for one am ready to see Emeryville’s reputation of being that of the cheap hooker wooing businesses change. I too am shocked to see how the city voted. How long can these complete bozos continue to serve, besides it seems several of them seem to even doze during the meetings.
Also, may I suggest to The Secret News to start a donation plan in order to secure a nice billboard add letting the city council know how we feel and make those less aware no of the complete disregard and disservice these crooks are doing to this city. If there was a vote on any of these members I know I could only vote for one.
A Very Upset resident of Emeryville!
I love the idea from the 1/25 writer about getting billboard space in town! Something like: Change in Washington, Change in Emeryville