City Council Meeting From the Email InBox:

Gramps:

What is up with CH3... off and on coverage... then it totally stopped prior the the end of the meeting.... HELLO YOUTUBE any one??

I did hear Bernardo Sandoval suggest that the city look into a better way to communicate with the public. He included streaming video of the City Council and Planning Meetings and much more. Let's hope some of this vision is brought into fruition. Seems like there was no progress on sharing of information until this blog kind of made folks notice that information can be posted and made available.

Gramps:

It was nice to see that the election has resulted in a warmer relationship between the City of Grand Terrace and the CJUSD Board. It is about time. Change on both the Council and the Board may just have been the nut that needed to be cracked. Let's keep watch on them...


Gramps:

If Sylvia Robles is not appointed, she should run for office in 2012 perhaps she'll find those extra 27 votes. Clearly Doug Wilson hasn't been that close in two elections. When McGuire said why not Doug Wilson she should have gotten an answer:
Doug Wilson was not running for City Council.
We don't need 2 Mayors on the Dias
Doug Wilson in a two way race might have gotten close to 49.3 percent of the vote, but there is a chance that some of those who voted for McGuire, Sternberg would have voted for Stanckiewitz rather than Doug Wilson.
Doug Wilson has tried 2 times and has missed the mark significantly both times.
Just a few answers to the ladies question.

Gramps:

Tell folks that we have a REPUBLIC not a DEMOCRACY. It is well within the frame work of our Republic and the City's Charter that an appointment is made. Herman Hilkey himself was an appointment as was Lee Ann Garcia. Where were their opposition to an appointment then. Where was Thelma then? Did they request a vote or an election? Nay.

Gramps:

Cindy Bidney made a terrific point. How about it folks at the city, can the citizens impacted by a development get something in writing that will hold up longer than a head scratch of an answer...

Gramps:

Sylvia Robles ran an independent campaign and as an independent candidate why is there any doubt that she would be independent as Mr. Hilkey tried to imply?

Gramp Answer: Perhaps the linkage started with the Blog making the three a recommended selection for the campaign. Your right Sylvia ran her own campaign, and only occasionally was included in overlapping events like the Rally against the flier. She holds a much more conservative view on some issues, and she has a background of work experience and a Masters level of education that is particularly appropriate for service on the city council.

Gramps:

Who was appointed to what committees? The Ch3 didn't come back on.

Gramp Answer: I don't know. I am as frustrated by the media black out as you are. Hoping it would come back on I was subjected to watching old old old tapes. Hey now there is a Scout Project for some one.... How about some home made coverage: This is your fire house, this is your school this is the park... YouTube for City Council and all Public Meetings... we can hope.

Gramps:

Why didn't Sandoval or Stanckiewitz make a motion and force a vote on an appointment of Sylvia Robles when it is clear that she has the public support?

Gramps Reply to all the above email:

I think either Lee Ann Garcia or Darcy McNaboe should step up and make a motion that Sylvia Robles be appointed to the empty seat on the City Council.

Why? Well, for no other reason than their own interests perhaps. They would be better off running in 2012 as an also run than against a Robles candidate. The three seats will be open and the vote will be select 3, type of election. Or back to normal. Not appointing her now would tarnish the feelings of 1300 voters who's vote they disregarded.

Why? Well, how about because she is independent, and will speak her mind and hold their feet and the city's feet to the fire of accountability. They should want this for the city.

Why? Well. some times it is easier to manage folks given the authority of a decision than to leave them on the outside of the power base.

Ultimately, you'd have to ask them why. I don't have a crystal ball that reads into their mind.

Walt Stanckiewitz knows that if he were to force a vote early that it most likely will result in a 2-2 split. I am guessing he is letting the conversation exhaust itself and hopes that one or both of the ladies will come to the conclusion that an appointment is the responsible fiscal choice and then also make a motion that Sylvia is the appointment. Note these are two different decisions and may not happen that quickly. The motion may be to have an appointment, then open for applications or just go ahead and appoint Sylvia Robles. The council does not have to take applications if there is already a consensus by then. I don't know if Walt or Bernardo Support a Robles appointment they too are hearing the public views on the issue. So there may be an alternative name that could get 3 votes. Don't know, like you I am interested to see how it concludes. I do hope it is and appointment and done without an election. I would like it to be Sylvia, but know that she'll run even stronger in 2012 and pick up from there if need be. I'd rather she be on the council right now.