ELECTION QUESTIONS

Some of the folks running for mayor & city council in Vallejo invite me to fund raisers, but, with the exception of Robert McConnell, they haven’t told me anything that makes me want to vote for them – so far.  I watch their mouths move, but hear nothing but platitudes & clichés; just a lot of blah blah blah, delivered over fancy food & drink, in lovely settings, with charming people.   

Sorry guys, I won’t be bribed, nor will I contribute to campaigns that tell me nothing.  

For example, here’s a doozie I read last week in this newspaper: “...it’s time to dig deeper and work on systemic and long term change that will ensure a transparent, open and collaborative form of government such as civic engagement policies that ensure public noticing and participation on major economic development projects.” 

Whew!  Will someone please translate that garbage for me?

Worse than gobbledygook is the gossip people repeat as though they know it’s true, when they actually do not.  There’s a lot of nasty stuff out there, which, if we can’t stop at the source, we can at least ignore.  Please, don’t let gossip influence your thinking.   For example, many people I know tell me a certain candidate is a Dominionist.  They believe this is a fact, which it might be, but how do they know?  So far no one has been able to tell me.  Moreover, just because someone is friendly & smiling, shakes my hand and acts like a “good guy,” isn’t enough reason to get my money or my vote.

I want my elected officials to be able to articulate what’s needed in Vallejo and how to get it done.  I want them to know what’s going on in the city, its schools & various communities; to understand business and know how to make good deals.  Do any of the people running for mayor or city council have those qualities?   These are my questions to all local candidates.  Please answer with straight talk, in simple English.  

• 1.      What’s your vision for Vallejo? 
• 2.       How will you make it happen? 

Furthermore, I want to see regular town meetings, public forums, Q & A sessions where citizens can ask tough questions directly, and hear answers we understand. 

  

Enough obfuscation!   Stop the gossip!  Let’s have a real conversation.  I want to hear the candidates tell me what I need to know in order to use my intelligence in deciding who to vote for.  

THINK BIG, VALLEJO

Listening to Faraday Future’s presentation this past week, I thought this is too good to be true. But it could happen. Good things happen, too. No reason why it shouldn’t happen to us. Lord knows we’ve suffered long enough, what with two bankruptcies and crime, tearing our hair out over the cement factory ...
From my point of view it wasn’t a professional presentation like other companies I’ve seen pitching our city council for that land on Mare Island. Our staff spoke well, but Faraday’s fellow, Dag Reckhorn, vice president of manufacturing, was inarticulate and unprepared. The slides didn’t match his words; his words were often jumbled. He did, however, speak with a twinkle in his voice. We want to have fun, he said. When was the last time we heard anything like that in our drafty old meeting room in City Hall?
Last night was different. We in the audience were feeling pretty good about ourselves as well. A number of well-spoken, knowledgeable citizens pointed out the need to hire experts, be prepared, make a timeline, as well as other warnings and good ideas on how to negotiate this deal. Boudicca Todi told the city council that Faraday needs us more than we need them. In fact we don’t need them. Be ready to walk away, she warned, like the brave civic/heroine she is.
We must be brave. I’m sad to see Vallejo suffering from the mentality of poverty. We’ve got to cut that out now and start behaving like the great city we’re becoming — with or without Faraday Future on Mare Island. We all know it’s coming. You can feel it. I can smell it. Bernie came ...
Our calls for public art, moreover, the landscaping of our parks and waterfront, should also go out to the world. We deserve the best. If the winning talent comes from within our community, all the better, but let’s not limit ourselves by holding on to the status quo. Think big. Raise the bar. Let’s go for the best we can get.
I’d love to see Faraday and Vallejo work out a deal worthy of the citizens of Vallejo.
That, Mayor Davis, is what you should leave as your legacy. Not a 60-foot bronze monument to all wars.