Subject: Election Special & Last Night
Date: October 15, 2014 10:45:47 AM PDT
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This one is a mid-week Election Special. First the recent mailer. As was done in the last election, Mayor Nevero's campaign has sent another mailer also unanchored to fact. See Galbraith's rebuttal Campaign Response & Correction Sheet . Then, in case you missed it, Moments With Mario! Then, my piece about Voting Local . This is about small towns and reality and building a town for and by the people who live here, not being forced to depend on the latest trend money or engaging in spraying contests with our neighboring cities. And lastly, a sad thing. Last night at the end of the City Council meeting, we watched a group of 5 people, all with lovely lives and ample resources, exhibit some of the least humane characteristics seen in public a long time. The topic was the 8 units of affordable housing on property already donated by Larry Turley. The non-profit Calistoga Affordable Housing (CAH) is building the units and the item was to approve money from the existing affordable housing fund and waive fees so that the project could get going. See Staff Report & watch the end of the video tape. That left a funding gap of $143,294. Not only did the Council nit-pick every dollar, question the on-profit CAH rep incessantly about his job and pat themselves on the back for being so generous, but the Mayor expressed "shock" that the community had not donated the $143K and proceeded to lecture the room. One Council member advocated sweat-equity for those who would live there; another wondered if Meadowood personnel could qualify and said a charity auction was just the thing. Consider the context. This Council has fought, denied, ignored and circumvented affordable housing for over 5 years while they have paved the way for well-heeled developers -- not to mention the Calderon housing lawsuit. By expunging City Hall personnel, they now have a 5 mil Reserve Fund with an undetermined amount of that (never stated at budget hearings) for "Council discretion". We have few low income homes and, adding to traffic, an army of in-coming commuters (most low-wage). We exist in a region in which the pay gap is $1 for workers to every $350 for CEO's. You need to make $81,000 to officially quality as 'low-income' in St. Helena to live in a 2 bedroom apt. with 2 adults and 2 children. Anyone
you know? The Council rejected the suggestion that they could afford to pay the last $143, 294, at their discretion, so that the project was funded and some people could have a place to live. It was smug, selfish, inhumane and unnecessary. Now the CAH fellow has to go to donors with hat in hand -- with the earthquake, that's not easy. Sandy |