Dear Editor, We are Borg. You have been assimilated. Resistance
is futile.
Dear Editor,
We are Borg. You have been assimilated. Resistance is futile.
These three short statements, borrowed from “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” might explain what may have happened to six of seven city councilmen. Once again the council let the City Administrator assimilate them into his collective. Blindly they follow him, longing to please him. New top o’-the-line laptops for destitute councilmen to be repaid by generous pay hikes for city bureaucrats. I think I smell a rat.
One councilman quipped that in order to attract high quality personnel, we have to pay more. Following that to its logical conclusion, if we paid a much higher stipend to our city council and bought them even bigger laptops, perhaps we could get a higher quality council. One that thinks for itself.
As far as Jay Baksa and the mayor finding detractors offensive, I’m offended by your outrageous arrogance. Distrust in public employees? No. Moreover, it is distrust of the leadership of this city. The money you are spending is from infrastructure and growth under our last true leader, former Mayor Tom Springer. He had the insight to push for growth and shopping centers, which now largely fund a lot of what goes on in Gilroy. It is not your money Jay and it is not your money Al. It is in fact the taxpayer’s money, period.
Perhaps you didn’t realize this but the government has no money of its own. Zero. All the money is derived from taxpayers. This includes taxes by any other name. Bonds, fees, impact fees, building permits, etc.
Ultimately, it is the lowly citizens of Gilroy whose money you so generously spend. Do I think there is a conflict of interest? Absolutely. Thank you Craig Gartman for being the only one to oppose the raises and for voting accordingly.
I saw a number of councilmen struggling with this but in the end, they were assimilated. The precedent the majority has set will come back to bite them when the police and fire unions come knocking. As for me, should he choose to run, Craig Gartman has my vote and support for mayor. I know many like-minded businessmen and businesswomen who agree.
We need a leader, not an emcee. Lastly, be it only symbolic, it is time to move the city solicitor and the city administrator down into the well with the city clerk. After all, don’t they serve at the leisure of the council? Beam me up Scotty.
Mark Zappa, Gilroy
