New Council Members Should Address Staff Salaries and Hiring Practices, Ken Bukowski Debacle(s)
by Walt Watman
While everyone has the right to speak up about what is most important to them, it seems to me that issues like the ones below, which I have raised before and which continue to be ignored by the City Council, continue to be of great import.
I ask that the newly elected City Council members consider what I am about to say and take a stand on these matters,
1) Insisting that the City Council publish the salaries of City Attorney Mike Biddle and City Manager Patrick O’Keefe, and also insist that they, as the city’s highest-paid employees, take a salary cut. The reduction in their salaries might prevent layoffs of other city employees earning far less, or at least allow the city to retain those employees part-time. Cuts should start at the top, not the bottom.
2) Insisting that the City Council explain, and then remedy, the fact that it has never permitted City Attorney Biddle’s position to be posted, thus allowing a fair and competitive hiring process. After all, Biddle “negotiated ” a $1.25 million settlement cost to the city in the wrongful death suit filed by the widow of Michael Smela, who was struck and killed by Bukowski as he drove away from a community meeting. This is an instance of what I consider questionable performance in these troubled financial times. And there are other such instances, yet Biddle’s contract is renewed without any competition from other candidates.
3) Insisting that the City Council explain why they slap the citizens of Emeryville in the face by making no statement about and taking no action to remove Council Member Ken Bukowski even though he has been fined for political practice violations, and continues to blame the sun, the stars, and everyone else for his actions, taking no responsiblity for any of them.
4) Insisting that the City Council disclose the amounts of subsidies to developers, and the revenue the city will get in return from giving those subsidies to their fair-haired developers. Not to mention why they have not allowed us to know the details of various developers’ proposals.
If this kind of naked abuse of power, disregard of citizens’ right to know, contemptuous defiance of what is right in favor of self-serving politics — not to mention the spending of taxpayer money for salaries and projects that are not made known to them and are not fairly determined — were addressed by the new Council members, then such matters as pedestrian rights, bicycle lanes, and the like would not require so much attention because the Council would be acting in good faith.
This is a matter of the rights of all citizens to open government, to explanations of spending, to fair employment practices, to getting the best city attorney and city manager rather than the ones most willing to shake hands with the Council who hired them. This is a matter of priorities, not whose ox is being gored.
Walt Watman has lived in Emeryville for eight years. While national issues such as health care and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have most of his attention, he finds it difficult to be silent on Emeryville matters when the people’s business is conducted in ways that are unprincipled and bad for the city. Walt believes the city deserves better.
Did you get Walt's permission to publish his letter this time?
Walt:
1. The City Manager's and the City Attorney's salaries are public information. All you have to do is request the information from the Human Resources Department.
3. The City Council does not have the authority to remove Councilmember Bukowski from office. This can only be done by a recall of the voters or through legal action.
4. All expenditures of the Redevelopment Agency are available to the public. What you call "subsidies" are in fact negotiated in closed session as allowed by the Ralph M. Brown Act. This is done out of necessity. During these negotiations, developers reveal proprietary financial information which informs the negotiation. You will not find a single redevelopment agency in the state which negotiates these agreements in public session. That is logistically impossible. The amounts are always made public before they are approved by the Council, as required by the Brown Act.
Redevelopment is an amazing and complicated tool, that we have in California, for improving our communities. I would encourage you to learn more about the process. It really is fascinating! If you want more information, 'Redevelopment in California' published by Solano Press is a great resource.
In answer to Anonymous post Nov. 25, 6:11 p.m.: Yes, Walt actually requested that his letter be published in The Secret News.
You can request all you want for information regarding salaries and/or Redevelopment Agency indebtedness to the citizens' of Emeryville. I've been requesting information for over 18 months and still haven't received it, even though I was told again (third time) that it would be sent to me.
To the Nov 25, 6:30 PM guy and Walt-
Redevelopment is an amazing and complicated tool that is used here in California…I suggest you read 'Redevelopment: The Unknown Government' published by Municipal Officials for Redevelopment Reform (MORR). You can contact Chris Norby Member Fullerton Redevelopment Agency (714) 813-5899 for a copy.
This fascinating report will show you how redevelopment is used by developers and politician cronies to enrich themselves at the public's expense. You will read how Emeryville is now #7 in the State for redevelopment scheme public indebtedness at more that $40,000 for every resident…a shameful legacy of pure corporate welfare. Who benefits? Favored developers, bond brokers, attorneys and consultants through tax increment diversions.
This report reads like it was custom written for Emeryville.
In point number four in that Nov 25 guy's comment he says subsidy is the wrong word and the private negotiations are done to "inform" the council members. This guy would have you believe transparency is not needed since there is no hidden agenda and you can trust the council and the rest of the government to make the best decisions for the people. He asserts tacitly the only culture that exists at City Hall is one of good governance; skepticism is not only not needed but a hinderance.
This is a steaming pile of poop. Not only is skepticism needed, in Emeryville's case, the default position should be to not accept at face value, the spin City Hall puts on their public policy. History has shown they are not credible. People are suspicious that favored developers get unfair access to public funds and favors because they have actually seen it with their own eyes.