Letter: Appointed councilmembers pledge to continue to listen to community Sports, posted by Editor, Danville Weekly Online, on Aug 21, 2010 at 7:24 am
"We hope that our unopposed election is affirmation of the efforts of the entire Danville Town Council to respond to your vision of our amazing town -- a place for launching new business start-ups, retaining the character of our historic downtown, supporting generous fundraising efforts, and leading the organizations that enrich our lives."
Read the full story here Web Link posted Friday, August 20, 2010, 11:50 AM
Posted by Hal, a resident of another community, on Aug 21, 2010 at 7:24 am
Dear Dolores,
One member of the Danville neighborhoods forum noted that an appointee will be Mayor next year. “Imagine an appointed mayor of any town with no vote of the people for either role,” noted Stephen in his lengthy discussion, “and I was there for the incorporation of Danville and it has come to this. A government that is completely separate much like a community into itself. That community can appoint itself and demand the right to lead us.”
It remains a major question for town council members to answer and Karen’s letter only illustrated the separation.
Posted by Julia, a resident of the Alamo neighborhood, on Aug 21, 2010 at 11:19 am
Mr. Bailey is making a very valid point. I would go one step further and research the possibility of a lawsuit from the California State Attorney's Office.
I personally don't know if any law was abused, but on the surface it stinks.
This is not over folks...the bug hasn't been planted yet. I just wonder if anything the appointee's vote for...if it is officially valid.
I would hope Mr. Bailey or his connections can get into this matter.
Posted by Hal, a resident of another community, on Aug 21, 2010 at 3:37 pm
Dear Dolores,
Let's provide some answers to Julia's requests for your readers:
First, there are provisions within municipal law that allow cities to appoint their council in the absence of challengers. What is a violation of various laws is any attempt by incumbents, or their knowledge of supporters' behavior, that would intimidate or otherwise dissuade potential candidates from seeking the same offices.
In such matters, Contra Costa DA has specific responsibility for investigation of such actions. California State Attorney General has a group that deals with local governments investigations.
Second, in the current appointment without election, there were three potential candidates that were persuaded by incumbent supporters not to run according to Danville neighborhoods. If such actions were to facilitate appointments without election, then the media and various legal authorities need to explain what exactly happened.
Finally, let's suggest Danville neighborhood and community groups focus comments on Karen's invitation to be thoroughly supported by Danville's government. What do Danville residents consider issues for discussion and conclusion by Karen, Robert and other council members?
Posted by Steven, a resident of the Danville neighborhood, on Aug 22, 2010 at 12:57 pm
Dear Dolores,
Unless Mr. Bailey has specific information regarding candidates who were forced or threatened to keep them from running, then his statements are fairly libelous in nature.
I am certain that the CC DA's Office also has attorneys to investigate false claims of intimidation where none occured.
As has been said a thousand times over the years on this forum, if Mr. Bailey has any shred of proof to back up his increasingly irresponsible claims then he needs to offer it. Otherwise he needs to retract his accusations against two very nice people whose only crime is that they wanted to serve their community and have done so admirably and well.
Instead I'm sure Mr. Bailey will once again refuse to answer the request for any sort of proof and will again put out his paranoid claim that everyone else on this forum is actually Gina Channel Allen, the publisher of the Express. I find it laughable and somewhat sad that Mr. Bailey thinks so much of himself that he believes anyone has the time or inclination to fabricate as many fake identities as he does in order to support their arguments. In Mr. Bailey's somewhat skewed perspective, there are only two people corresponding on this forum. Again, laughable and somewhat sad.
Posted by jrm, a member of the Vista Grande Elementary School community, on Aug 22, 2010 at 6:31 pm jrm is a member (registered user) of Danville Express
Well said Steven, thank you. May I note once again for emphasis, Mr. Bailey does not even reside in Danville nor does another contributor going by "Julia" in this thread. Candace Anderson and Joe Calabrigo were at the Saturday market at the town table greeting all comers, just like every Saturday, one member or another of the town leadership is there to be available to us. My thanks for their service and giving up a Saturday morning....my goodness, I have lived a lot of places and this is hard to beat.
Posted by Hal, a resident of another community, on Aug 22, 2010 at 7:16 pm
Dear Dolores,
As I noted in my e-mail to you, any sponsored defamation allowed by Gina Channell Allen reflects on her commitment to this forum as a stage for issues. Defamation, as continually is sponsored by Gina by failure to employ Terms of Use, simply makes her the primary focus. It is her forum, managed by her, and focused toward her own political purposes.
Let's get this exchange focused beyond such distraction and ask the important invitation from Karen and other council members,"What do Danville residents consider issues for discussion and conclusion by Karen, Robert and other council members?"
Posted by sam, a resident of the Danville neighborhood, on Aug 23, 2010 at 9:50 am
Actually, I am a citizen of Danville, as witnessed by my property tax bills and perhaps that will allow me the ability to comment on this issue? I spoke to a council member at the farmers market myself and was surprised at the result. I wanted to look at the specs for the plans for the rebuilt of the facade of the old town that is on Railroad ave. While discussing the plans, I mentioned that I had purchased my home three years ago. The council member then let me know that my opinions did not matter as I was not a "real Danvillian(?)"...I am not used to such blunt provincialism...does this mean I do not have to pay taxes then? Do I not get to vote? That type of behavior does make me wonder about the effects of a "good old boys" approach to creating the political structure of the city.
Perhaps we carpet baggers are not allowed, but you need to hide it a little better.
Posted by Sue, a resident of the Danville neighborhood, on Aug 23, 2010 at 1:42 pm
I don't know if many townsfolk really read these comments, but here goes. Let's see ... Bob Storer supported Mike Doyle, Newell Arnerich & Candace Andersen during their last re-election campaign for the Danville Town Council. When Mike Shimansky passed & his seat was vacant, was it a big surprise that Bob was appointed to the Council? Not to anyone I know. I don't believe the "trio" will be unopposed in their next bid for re-election. The Town Council members need to represent ALL of the Danville residents ... whether they've lived here for 40 years or just moved in!
Posted by American, a resident of the Danville neighborhood, on Aug 23, 2010 at 6:42 pm
I am satisfied with the job our council members are doing, and if somebody wanted to run for the opening, I would have hoped they would have put their name in. Nobody did, and our town saved over $50,000. I am all for open elections, but if everyone is satisfied with the job our current council is doing, and nobody wants to run against them, then saving over $50,000 in this economy is not a problem, it is a blessing.
Posted by Hal, a resident of another community, on Aug 23, 2010 at 7:31 pm
Dear Dolores,
Someone asked today among the e-exchanges, what is your "another community" and I answered our community of neighborhoods throughout our Iron Horse corridor south of Walnut Creek. And why do I care about Danville and SRVUSD appointing councils and boards rather than the constitutional democratic reality of voting to validate every elected officials position. Well, I will assume the answer is obvious in our democracy and at a time of great distrust in our governments by voters.
Clearly, Karen, as a slightly-to-the-right Republican, should be the first to celebrate our voting privilege and likely does. What Karen accepts as a result of appointment is lesser recognition of her valid role in Danville as a community of neighborhoods. She is now only a representative of a government supported by <1200 government-allied organizational participants.
More importantly, regionally and within Danville neighborhoods, there is a movement to create an in-common voice for residents impacted by the Danville town council. There is no venue at present for integration of direction and purpose that includes the Danville town council. Is that surprising?
Posted by jrm, a member of the Vista Grande Elementary School community, on Aug 23, 2010 at 9:36 pm jrm is a member (registered user) of Danville Express
Hal, you are a hoot.....I still think you are an "angry old man" for calling Monte Vista the "Mystic Vomit High School" during your anti solar power rant at the time (you might want to spend some time reflecting on why you thought was okay given the number of MV students who read this) but over the last month or so as you have become further unhinged I enjoy your posts even more and more. Please keep it up....
Posted by Danville mom and business woman, a resident of the Danville neighborhood, on Aug 23, 2010 at 10:14 pm
Jrm, Steve, American - ditto from me. The last time I posted a comment Hal assumed I was in fact someone else masquerading under a new alias. Kudos to the members of the town council who spend their valuable time serving the community. I have been to dozens of council meetings in the 18 years I have lived in Danville, plus many Design Review Board meetings, Discover Danville meetings, and so on. Hal, Julia - how about you? Anyone who was truly opposed to the appointments of Mr. Storer and Ms. Stepper had ample opportunity to make their voices heard at the town level and not just in these forums. Such efforts in the past have met with success. Consider the time the town backed away from pursuing a parking garage in the Clocktower parking lot - in response to the petition put forth by a citizen who has strong objections. Constructive action is what it takes, and constructive action receives consideration and a reaction. Give it a rest, Hal.
Posted by Julia, a resident of the Alamo neighborhood, on Aug 24, 2010 at 9:22 am
See, I told you so...Danville Mom, jrm, steve, american...and the list goes on. You are just a great example of the fine folks of Danville that have been suckered in. You will soon see the results of this type of government control. Yous see it in D.C. and now you will see it in the Town of Danville.
The only reason a few on you enjoy the town council's handling of your life is because you can't handle it your self...that's the sad part of this situation..."Please take care of me Town Council...don't worry my child, I will really take care of you", but don't forget to take care of me, Oh, by the way, I don't need your vote, just tell us to continue what we are doing and we'll do it.
Posted by Hal, a resident of another community, on Aug 24, 2010 at 11:16 am
Dear Dolores,
As this exchange drifts into various distractions and away from "What do Danville residents consider issues for discussion and conclusion by Karen, Robert and other council members?" let me share my response to Rachel Wells, Diablo Vista region neighborhoods forum:
"Thank you for noting the obvious from our neighborhoods’ e-exchanges. If the readers of the Danville Express are the 35 pseudonyms that post defamation and prejudice toward other commentators without risk of EMCEB publisher’s imposition of Terms of Use, then the readership is very small. If those same 35 pseudonyms are examples of what polling shows to be a small readership of <2000, then that would explain the slant of press releases and government editorial publication.
Is it worth stating that in this current exchange? Only if vaudeville was the goal of neighborhood, business districts, and community groups.
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