{"id":129,"date":"2009-03-21T18:17:00","date_gmt":"2009-03-21T18:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/terragrafix.com\/blog\/?p=129"},"modified":"2009-03-21T18:17:00","modified_gmt":"2009-03-21T18:17:00","slug":"emeryville-vice-mayor-ken-bukowski-censured","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.thesecretnewsonline.com\/?p=129","title":{"rendered":"Emeryville Vice-Mayor Ken Bukowski Censured"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>
<\/span>(l to r) Council members Ruth Atkin, Dick Kassis (mayor), Nora Davis, Ken Bukowski (vice-mayor), and John Fricke<\/span>
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The Two “No” Votes:
Bukowski Cries “Revenge”;
John Fricke Calls Censure “Toothless”<\/span><\/span>
__________________________________________________<\/p>\n

Council Also Votes to Cut Public Comment Period from 5 minutes to 3 minutes<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

by Brian Donahue and Tracy Schroth<\/p>\n

The <\/span><\/span>Emeryville<\/span> City Council last Tuesday voted 3-2 to officially censure Vice-Mayor Ken Bukowski for unlawful and unethical conduct while in office. <\/span>The strongly worded <\/span>resolution<\/a><\/span> criticized Bukowski for bringing “disrepute” on the city in general and the City Council in particular.<\/span> The censure sought to publicly condemn Bukowski’s actions and invite “the reaffirmation of his oath of office and commitment to govern his activities as an elected official … in full compliance with … all laws of the State of California and the City of Emeryville.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Bukowski and Council Member John Fricke voted against the censure. Bukowski characterized the move as revenge, while Fricke called it a “toothless” show for the cameras, noting that aside from public humliation, there is no consequence. He noted that the three Bukowski condemners were enthusiastic Bukowski supporters just a few short years ago, despite their knowledge of Bukowski’s transgressions (although the list has grown since then). Council members Nora Davis and Ruth Atkin ran on the same re-election slate with Bukowski, with the active support of (now-Mayor) Dick Kassis, in 2007.<\/p>\n

Bukowski, meanwhile, characterized the censure as an act of revenge, claiming that his fellow council members were punishing him for voting against the city renewing its contract with City Attorney Mike Biddle.<\/p>\n

<\/span>This is the second time the Bukowski censure resolution has been put to a vote. Council Member Ruth Atkin introduced the same <\/span>resolution<\/a> <\/span>at a Jan. 20 Council meeting. But, after a lengthy discussion, she withdrew it, preventing a vote. At the time, Council Member Nora Davis indicated she was against the censure and that Bukowski had served the city well. Last Tuesday, however, she voted in favor of censuring Bukowski. <\/span>
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In other business, the Council voted 4-1 (Fricke against) to reduce the public comment period from 5 minutes to 3 minutes per citizen. They also voted to ban dogs from the council chambers.<\/p>\n

Here is a list of Bukowski’s offenses cited in the resolution:<\/span>
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