Announcing a new Tattler Feature-
Emeryville Child Development Center
At the Tattler, we've noticed the city council and other deliberative bodies in Emeryville make controversial votes that get forgotten by the residents over time. In deference to the general edification of public policy and to strengthen Emeryville's democratic institutions, we will start occasional short reminder burbs on how the Power Elite in town have voted on these controversial issues.
In 2006, the issue before the city council was the Infant Program at the Child Development Center. The vote was; should the city eliminate the Infant Program entirely?
Nora Davis - YES
Dick Kassis - YES
Ruth Atkin - YES
John Fricke - NO
Ken Bukowski - NO
Everyone reading this needs to know the whole story: The three council members that voted "aye" did so because it allowed more children to be served by the Child Development Center. There was a budget shortfall for the Childcare Center and the infant program is more expensive than the regular program. By cutting the infant program the council was able to keep the center accessible for more children. Also, the infant program was later saved with funding from Chiron. The same council members that voted to cut the infant program actively sought new funds in order to keep it. Even though these council members voted to cut the infant program, it was never their intent for it to disappear and, in fact, it did not. This is an example of productive politicking and deal making by our council members. This is exactly what we elect them to do. Even if you do not generally agree with the council policies, this is undoubtedly an example of the council representing the best interest of Emeryville residents. In the end, they saved the infant program and kept the Child Development Center accessible for many children. Thanks for pointing this out, Brian.
ReplyDeleteNote To The Readers-
ReplyDeleteThe commenter above gives the impression the infant program was not cut and was not even intended to be cut by the three council members Atkin, Davis and Kassis. These council members (and their apologists) can talk about their intentions all they want when they voted to kill the infant program at ECDC but the fact remains there was no interest shown by Chiron or any other corporate entity in town to step up and restore any of the infant program in any way when these council members made their votes. It was only later that Chiron did restore SOME of the former infant program. It could have just as easily not worked out that way.
The 'restored' infant program provided for Chiron employees children reserved slots and let some Emeryville residents use the program. The end result was a much reduced access for Emeryville's children.
The same three council members are backers of the 'Center of Community Life' (ECCL), a proposed major school rebuild and encapsulated within that is a rhetoric of providing for ALL Emeryville citizens including infants. The vote to kill the infant program at ECDC makes this ECCL rhetoric a lie.
These council members need to show with their votes that citizenship doesn't begin at age three but includes everybody. Since they campaigned for election with that creed, they should vote that creed. If they don't, the Tattler will be there, eager to point out the hypocrisy.
Bukowski voted NO? I'm kind of surprised. I would have figured him for a YES.
ReplyDeleteI note some of the same council names keep popping up every time it comes to vote to degrade the Child Center. If they keep voting to degrade the Center then why didn't they campaign on that issue? Then the Emeryville residents that don't want to have a pre-school could vote for those council members. Why won't they be transparent?
ReplyDelete"Why won't they be transparent"? What kind of pollyanna are you? Come on! These council members have calculated that residents don't want to degrade the child center but they think they can vote that way regardless. I mean since no one is paying attention anyway, why wouldn't they think they could get away with it?
ReplyDelete