The city attorney made it clear that appointment was the only option. I put my two cents in. I thought that voters should elect a representative for a two-year seat term. The Review even did a piece on the options.
So it was that the public was asked to submit "willing to serve" forms.
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At one point, Mayor Jim Grady and Vice Mayor Toni Taylor both stated that there were only two options available - pick one of the two candidates or hold an election for the open seat.
But wait a minute. Did I hear that right? Hold an election for the open seat?
I thought that was not an available option. Guess I was wrong, again. Then I listened while each councilmember described how tough it was to pick someone. Grady said he "really wrestled" with it. Then he went on to say that there were a ton of qualified candidates, but none of them would step forward because of the abuse they would subject themselves to.
Grady said it was a sad commentary on city politics. Maybe he's right, but is he saying that his constituents are a mess?
Taylor said, after the appointment, that since Patridge was going to run in November anyway the city would get the best of both worlds, whatever that means. Taylor said that it takes three to four years for a person to get up to speed on the council, and yet voted against someone with more experience than that.
The members also said that they were on a roll, regarding the Local Coastal Program update, and felt Gorn would help keep them on a roll. Why did we have the interview process, anyway?
Well Mr. Gorn, congratulations, and welcome to the fray.
As far as I'm concerned, they're on too much of a roll, and rolling way too fast. Rather than submit their "foundation policies" to the California Coastal Commission on April 26, I'd rather they put the proposed update in the public view, complete with maps, documents, etc., so we, the public can see how it impacts each of us directly.
Then, in November, the council could put an LCP measure on the ballot. That would allow most of us a chance to review the proposal, hopefully understand it, ask questions and get the answers we need to make an informed decision.
This City Council is focused on limiting growth. Members want to implement Measure D, which is what voters wanted, at least a majority that voted on it that day.
That's good, but the language they're proposing, is very difficult to grasp. It is a moving target, to date. Our representatives use every opportunity to exceed the language of Measure D. Public input has been kept at a minimum. This is such a sweeping change for our city, and will have such long-lasting effects that it needs to be open, viewed, questioned, commented on, and appreciated by the residents, taxpayers and voters in Half Moon Bay.
We will have to live with it.
This is our city. These are our homes. This is our environment that is being shaped. In two weeks, these proposals will be forwarded to the Coastal Commission. Let's see you try to change it then.
George Muteff is a longtime Half Moon Bay resident.
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