Councilman Bob Dillon defends meetings
– it’s the way to get things done
When I was first elected in 2001, I received a letter from my long-time friend, former Mayor Mike Gilroy, advising me as to what had just happened to my life, and giving excellent advice on a number of subjects about the office on which I had just embarked. Over the years, I’ve found the advice Mike gave invaluable, especially on how to navigate the system, knowledge required, and relations with people who were now (along with six others) my employees.
Especially cogent was the point about collegiality with fellow councilmembers. Mike’s advice was to be friendly with everyone, respect their viewpoints, don’t make every issue a gigantic one, and under NO circumstances give in on an important issue you think you’re right on. The exact phrase he used was “fall-on-your-sword issues.” On those issues, Mike opined wisely, you use all your political skills to see that what you think is the right outcome happens.
That attitude is why Craig Gartman, Perry Woodward and I have had several breakfast meetings to discuss our plans for fixing the sidewalks. I note, as did the editor and Tom Lewis in last Tuesday’s paper, that these meetings were legal, and further, were conducted in a public place, two restaurants. Neither Editor Mark Derry nor letter writer Tom Lewis, nor the mayor, seems to like the practice.
Let me explain why they’re wrong. Specifically, what happened as a result of our meetings? As to the sidewalk issue, it has been re-evaluated and discussed, augmented, and as I count the house, will come to fruition in September or shortly thereafter. I view that as an excellent result, because, as above, the sidewalk issue is a “fall-on-your-sword” one for me. The second result was introduction of, and study sessions dedicated to, the proposed Sunshine Ordinance, which will almost certainly be enacted in September or shortly thereafter.
I’ll let Perry Woodward, if he so chooses, defend his decision to ask for three signatures to agendize that issue, which seemed to be stuck in limbo before we did so. Try as I may, I see no downside to the citizens of Gilroy in either of these items. Further, being an elected official does not revoke rights all citizens possess under our First Amendment, specifically, freedom of assembly and speech.
While it is true that the Brown Act specifically forbids a majority of an elected body from deciding issues out of the public eye, this has hardly happened in the instances Mr. Lewis is complaining about. Happily, though, it appears that the issue that so irks the mayor, editor, and Mr. Lewis has been put to rest by Council action. During study sessions concerning the proposed Sunshine Ordinance, Mayor Pinheiro asked for a clause in that ordinance that forbade the meeting of three councilmembers, and promptly lost his proposal by straw vote, Pinheiro, Councilman Peter Arellano, and Councilman Dion Bracco dissenting.
Since City Council norms, which we discuss at our various retreats, require that once a matter has been voted on and defeated, further complaining is taboo. I for one see that as a happy ending, and one in accordance with both the law and ethics.
* * *
I was horrified last week to receive a press release in my city e-mail box describing the wounding of a toddler by gunfire. Police have arrested a known gang member in the incident; the child, seriously wounded, is recovering.
Like all of us who enjoy the legal and responsible use of firearms, I’m deeply angered by felons in possession of them who commit crimes, as seems to be the case above. Both state and federal laws forbid felons possession of firearms. I think that we as a community can do something about this.
To that end, I am scheduling a meeting with City Administrator Tom Haglund and Police Chief Denise Turner next week with an idea in mind to curb these crimes. I will ask that the city track a number of felon-in-possession arrests and determine how many resulted in a conviction and imprisonment.
My goal here is to determine how seriously we treat these crimes, and specifically to see if theyre plea-bargained away or result in no jail time. If that is the case, I will ask Council to agendize and discuss the issue, perhaps with an eye towards making certain the district attorneys office understands we take the issue seriously and as a policy request maximum sentences without plea-bargaining. Im running short on words today. Those of you with any further interest, Google Project Exile Virginia to see what I have in mind. The laws are on the books. I feel we should enforce them rigorously.
