Comments on: Ruehlig: Council appointment a charade of political payback

By: Tom Harais

Tom Harais — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 19:38:55 +0000

As always Walter, my hat is off to you. You are a gentleman and a scholar.

We should elect folks like you to positions of leadership. But, I guess we missed that chance.

By: Fred Hoskins

Fred Hoskins — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 00:56:36 +0000

I too was very suprised that Tony “DEMO” T was selected….I too think it was and is POLITICAL PAYBACK….but what is done IS DONE !
I try to make a “dent” in Counsil meetings and have been told ” you are on that says things bluntly” “usually to the point and honest” “they are things others want to say but they seem to just sit back and say nothing” I am not “tooting my horn” but WHEN are MORE people going to attend these meetins and SPEAK-UP? This upcoming Thursday evening at 6PM there should be 100 yellow slips passed to Mayor Harper to speak about additional mismanagement ….
a 5%+ in retirement from our Police force ! ! BALDERDASH ! ! Why ? Because the Chief can’t “lure” experienced officers to our city due to pay ! HOGWASH ! ! Hire Rookies have them initialy ride shotgun (till fully trained) and stop sending 2 cars on every call ! ! Better yet let’s charge everyone 10% of value on all firearms and huge fine ($1000) plus 100% confiscation if no permit can be produced by the owner. Perhaps a 20% sales tax on all guns. hope anyone that reads this will be at the City Hall Thursday at 6PM and fill out a request for your 3 minutes….Let’s not ask them let’s start telling them ! ! Fred

By: Walter Ruehlig

Walter Ruehlig — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 23:12:42 +0000

Very thoughtful!

By: Dave Roberts

Dave Roberts — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 22:08:59 +0000

It would be good if the press could provide information on whether Harper, Rocha and Wilson received campaign contributions from United Steelworkers Local 1440, the Contra Costa Labor Council, Tiscareno or other labor unions.

In advance of the vote on sweetening the police contract, it would also be good to provide info on the APOA contributions to the council members.

Perhaps there’s nothing there. Or perhaps it’s the same old quid pro quo, you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours coziness that has corrupted politics and is bankrupting the state and country and nearly bankrupted Antioch.

By: karl

karl — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 18:03:08 +0000

i was there and saw everything live. it was disgusting, i am still sick to my tummy.

By: Walter Ruehlig

Walter Ruehlig — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 17:31:53 +0000

Skip,

I encourage you to send your piece to the Times so more people see it. What amazes me is that in June we had a referendum and well over 70% of the people wanted ELECTED, not appointed, officials.
What, then, was that all about?

Times:
jprieve@bayareanewsgroup.com

Press:
rlemyre@brentwoodpress.com

By: Walter Ruehlig

Walter Ruehlig — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 17:14:18 +0000

typo- I meant elected, not appointed, Mayors and TREASURERS…. The pole definitely had their say about their ‘trust’ in ‘objective’ appointment.

By: Walter Ruehlig

Walter Ruehlig — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 16:45:35 +0000

Had Monica Wilson or the man in the moon been third I would be saying the same thing. Fair is fair. Once you give up an objective standard you leave yourselves open to shenanigans.

That said, had this process been rigorous and open-minded, I could live with it but it was not a SEARCH but a SLAM DUNK. A vote without discussion says it all.

By: Walter Ruehlig

Walter Ruehlig — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 16:40:06 +0000

I do, too, Richard though I’d gladly munch one to death to see the Council listen to the people and act with transparency.

The City recently voted by well over 70% that it wanted elected, not appointed Mayors and Clerks. Isn’t that a mandate? if you are going to ignore that directive then AT LEAST have a rigorous process, not one hour for nine interviews and no discussion on the ‘finalists’.

By: richard asadoorian

richard asadoorian — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 03:52:21 +0000

Walter, I fear that your hat will remain safely on your head.

By: Carole Harrison

Carole Harrison — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 01:53:53 +0000

Walter, I didn’t attend the City Council meeting last Tuesday; but Wayne did. When he told me what went on, I was incredulous. I have friends who were born and raised here and when I bemoan the lack of action on certain things, they tell me that they have been waiting for over 30 years for things to change. It doesn’t look like anything is going to change soon. I wanted you to win a council seat…..but once Jim Davis got the next largest number of votes, after Monica, it only seemed right that he fill the vacant seat. Then, when Don Freitas got 3 votes in the Tues. night selection process, it seems the seat should have gone to him. We are going backwards, instead of forward. When I heard how the meeting was conducted, I was so dissappointed. Jim Davis and Don Freitas were always so professional on the dais. It appears that Mayor Harper has a lot to learn about representing Antioch to the public.

By: Martin Fernandez

Martin Fernandez — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 22:22:48 +0000

Walter is correct. This is the same fraud perpetrated on the citizens of Antioch as was the selection of Martha Parsons. In fact it played out exactly the same way only Mary Rocha played the part of Reggie Moore.

The City of No Hope is what Antioch has become.