Think the “Crisis of Ethics and Integrity” is Only Federal!

Just recently at the commencement address at the Virginia Military Institute, former secretary of state, Rex Tillerson said “If our leaders seek to conceal the truth, or we as people become accepting of alternative realities that are no longer grounded in facts, then we as American citizens are on a pathway to relinquishing our freedom.”

Although he may have been referring to national politics, the reality is that this concealment of facts has become a fast spreading virus in politics at every level including the local level.

Every other Monday, the Redwood City Council meets to discuss city affairs. On Monday, April 23rd, they approved through a consent calendar item the disposal of some “surplus property” including the first of the houseboats acquired recently through their disastrous approval and implementation of the Docktown Plan. At the time, I spoke and reminded them that they have promised Docktown residents who lost their homes that they could bid on any auctions and that I have personally been asking to be notified of such sales emailing Assistant City Manager, Aaron Aknin, and being assured I would be promptly notified of any upcoming sales. I have yet to hear anything from him or anyone else in the city about any auctions. (To listen to my full comments: http://redwoodcity-ca.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=2465 minute 24)

Hoping to reiterate my interest and get notified in a timely manner later that evening, I followed up by emailing the council the full text of my comments. Early the next day, on Tuesday, April 24th; I received an email from Mayor Ian Bain copied to City Manager, Melissa Stevenson Diaz, and Assistant City Manager, Aaron Aknin stating that “ I do not have any information on Northern Lights (the sailboat I would like to buy), nor the other property for sale at Docktown. In addition to Melissa, I am copying Aaron on this response. Someone from our staff will respond to your questions.”

Consistent with my earlier comments, I have yet to hear from either the City Manager or the Assistant City Manager or anyone else in the city.

Meanwhile just this past week, I found out through the new owner of the “John Dee” that the City had auctioned of this recently purchased Docktown home a few days after I spoke at the council meeting. The sale took place on April 28th at First Capital Auction in Vallejo. The final buyer, who only paid $2700 for a property the City of Redwood City recently paid $19,000 for, didn’t even know in advance that the houseboat was being offered but happend to be at the auction for other business. (Curious to see if there are any other properties for sale stay tuned at http://www.1stcapitolauction.com/auction-calendar/ ) I guess the City did not want to make more money on the sale because they never notified me, anyone else at Docktown, nor did they promote it to the general public! After all keeping a sale secret is the way to drum up interest and make the most money. Tell that to Christie’s and Sotheby’s. (Sarcasm intended.)

According to the Merriam Webster dictionary accountability means: “the quality or state of being accountable; especially : an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one's actions” … Ironically the example given is “public officials lacking accountability” Lack of accountability is what leads to a city like Redwood City having financial issues during one of the biggest economic booms in the last hundred years. Spending at last count $23 Million to destroy Docktown and rising pension costs among other factors are leading to a need for budget cuts including cuts in library hours and fire and police protection just as the city population is growing. If we are dipping into reserves in the good times what is going to happen in the bad times.

I couldn’t help but be struck by the low turnout for the recent State of the City address. ( http://redwoodcity-ca.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=2479 ) When instead of a full accounting what the public gets is a one sided version of the truth, people don’t bother to tune in. If public officials and staff are not held accountable for their actions or lack of actions and conceal the truth; they will continue to do what they want. Not holding public officials and staff accountable leads to, as Rex Tillerson put it, to our “relinquishing our freedom.” If that is the way they treat residents, either the City Manager or the Assistant City Manager needs to be fired! And fast! It is only when individuals are held accountable for their actions that ethics, integrity and democracy spread through an organization and a culture and we as citizens have a real chance to preserve our freedoms.