Stone Cold...Seaside Mayor Ralph Rubio beamed with pride last Friday as he welcomed the Monterey County mayors for a luncheon at the Bayonet and Blackhorse clubhouse, likening the location to the city’s crown jewel.
And Squid has to admit, it does boast a fine view of the sea. (Not so sure about the name though, it makes Squid think of mustard gas.)
But the afternoon’s good cheer quickly dissipated when the mayors sat down to talk business. Deanna Sessums, Monterey Bay regional public affairs manager for the League of California Cities, delivered some tough news: On April 3, the State Assembly passed HR 29, a resolution that she describes as vaguely worded, and which she says is part of a “nationwide movement by public sector unions to establish that outsourcing in general is a bad idea.”
The resolution doesn’t carry the force of law, but Sessums says if legislation was introduced that followed the resolution’s wording, a city would be forbidden to hire a private contractor to pick up trash in their city, among many other things.
Add to that, Sessums says, both the region's State Assemblymen—Luis Alejo, D-Watsonville, and Mark Stone, D-Scotts Valley—voted in favor the resolution, and added their names as co-authors. Stone’s signature, Sessums says, came at the last minute, “which kind of just feels like a slap in the face.”
Of all the county’s mayors, Pacific Grove Mayor Bill Kampe appreciated that slap the least.
“I saw him last night but he didn’t happen to mention that,” Kampe says. “I suspect Mark has called all of us for endorsements. Based on this action, I’m going to call him up again and ask, ‘Please help me understand how you’re working in the best interest of our city and our ability to manage our affairs.’ My suspicion is he does not have an answer to that.”
Sand City Mayor David Pendergrass, whose city has less than 400 residents, seemed a bit baffled and asked Sessums for clarification. Sand City, she says, wouldn’t be able to hire private contractors to provide any city services, including waste hauling.
“But that’s ridiculous,” Pendergrass says, which drew laughter.
A decision was made to invite both Assemblymen down to meet with the mayors and get a piece of their minds, but Kampe wanted immediate action. “The sooner they have feedback the better, and my intent is to call this afternoon,” he says.
Kampe couldn’t wait long: When a break was called so guests could begin noshing, Kampe strode out the room and stepped outside, and soon began gesticulating heatedly on his cellphone. The call, Kampe later confirmed, was placed to Mark Stone.
Squid loves to see politicians take their gloves off, and is curious to see how this one plays out: Stone and Alejo may have the blessings of their friends in Sacramento, but legislature goes on break soon, and when they come home they’ll be welcomed by a dozen mayors who may speak softly, but maybe not.
Either way, they’ll be holding their biggest sticks behind their backs.