SEASIDE SNEAK… Squid’s no longer sure our democracy works so well, but that doesn’t mean Squid’s going to stop paying attention. That is not the case for recently elected Salinas City Councilman Tony Villegas, who showed up late to his own swearing in Dec. 13. Not exactly an auspicious start to a political career.
But this week, it’s the Seaside City Council meeting that has Squid’s tentacles tingling. Specifically, it’s part of item 10b – tucked away on page 161 of the agenda packet for the Dec. 15 meeting – that made Squid perk up. The item contains several proposed amendments to city code, one of which would amend an existing section of code – “any councilmember may place or cause to be placed an item on the agenda for council consideration” – so that could only happen with two-thirds approval from the council.
Seaside has five councilmembers, which means it would take a super-majority vote – at least four-fifths – for an item to even make a council agenda. What that means is if, for example, there is anything Mayor Ralph Rubio and Councilmember Dennis Alexander – who votes in lock-step with Rubio every time – don’t want to discuss, they could quash it before it sees the light of day.
The balance of power on the council has shifted with the recent election, as Councilmember Ian Oglesby – another Rubio rubber stamp – was unseated by progressive young upstart Kayla Jones. Squid can’t help but wonder if the proposed change in code is a response to that shift.
Squid hopes the majority of the councilmembers frown upon the amendment, which could preclude any number of ideas worth considering from ever coming to council.
That may sound like the United States of America of 2017, but it doesn’t sound like democracy.
MAKE YOUR MOVE… Squid occasionally starts to feel restless in Squid’s lair, where daily routine can be repetitive. Take Squid’s English bulldog, Rosco P. Coltrane, for a walk; watch the news; eat snacks; repeat. So Squid understands the impulse to move away and see new horizons.
Former Carmel mayor Jason Burnett left the charming 1-square-mile town-by-the-sea after his term ended and relocated to Washington, D.C., where he’d formerly worked for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Maybe he thought he’d get hooked up with another gig there. “The Clinton transition team had contacted me,” Burnett says. Well, so much for that plan. Considering Donald Trump’s appointments (and commentary) so far, the EPA might not even exist four years from now. Burnett at least has a Plan B: “I have been looking at a possible business that involves accelerating the transition from coal to wind power in certain states,” he writes by email to Squid’s colleague. “The election doesn’t help but we will see.”
(1) comment
RE: Jason Burnett “The Clinton transition team had contacted me,” Burnett says.
https://wikileaks.org/podesta-emails/emailid/38909
Bush EPA official also on board: Jason Burnett, a former top Bush EPA political appointee who resigned after growing frustrated with White House meddling, offered to support the Clinton campaign. “Of course, he is happy to help fundraise, but he would also really like to be a part of and contribute to discussions about the environment and related issues,” Carol Larson, president of the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, wrote Podesta in February. Burnett previously backed the Obama campaign in 2008.
Re: Jason Burnett
From:clarsonca@yahoo.com To: john.podesta@gmail.com Date: 2016-02-26 04:19 Subject: Re: Jason Burnett
Thanks! Will do. Sent from my iPhone > On Feb 25, 2016, at 7:21 PM, John Podesta wrote: > > Sure. Tell him to try my cell 202-999-0738 > Best for me is Sunday night east coast time. > >> On Thursday, February 25, 2016, Carol Larson wrote: >> Hi John, >> >> I am writing in my individual capacity regarding the campaign. >> >> Jason Burnett, a grandson of Dave Packard, is very interested in helping the campaign. Of course, he is happy to help fundraise, but he would also really like to be a part of and contribute to discussions about the environment and related issues. (He will be ending his term as mayor this spring). I have pasted a brief bio below. You will see that he has some great experience and insight. >> >> He would love to be in touch with you to see if there is a chance he can be involved. He will be meeting you at the dinner Nat Simons is arranging about philanthropy and climate on March 16. But he can also be reached at Burnett@stanfordalumni.org or (831)238-0009. >> >> Thank you. >> >> See you in a couple of weeks. >> >> Carol >> >> __________________ >> Jason has been the Mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA since April of 2012 and served as a Carmel-by-the-Sea City Councilmember from 2010-2012. Formerly Jason Burnett was the Managing Partner of Clean Fund, a company that works to structure and secure financing for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. Previously Jason was the Associate Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency where he coordinated energy and climate change policy across the EPA and led the development of greenhouse gases regulations. Jason has also worked for a brokerage and consulting firm, Evolution Markets, where he assisted companies and governments with the carbon market. He has testified before and been interviewed by Senate and Congressional committees and continues to engage federal and state policy leaders on managing the regulation of greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. He has also been quoted in the Washington Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, LA Times, AP, CNN, ABC, C-SPAN, and NPR. Jason is a trustee of the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and is the President of the Board of the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History. Jason holds a Master of Arts in Earth Systems and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Stanford University and lives in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA with his wife, Melissa Burnett, and their son Sebastian Burnett.
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.