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What is it about Emeryville that makes its biggest boosters run for the hills when the sun goes down?
Many of those steering Emeryville's public policy, shaping its urban design and singing its praises loudest, live elsewhere. A telling detail, as it were. At the same time, decisions regularly bend to fit the desires of these same out-of-towners. From the Fire Department to the Police Department to City Hall, virtually no one on the payroll actually lives here.
It's not a question of money. Most officials are paid incomes comfortably into the six figures. City Manager Pat O'Keeffe can afford to, but he must not think Emeryville is the kind of town he wants to live in...so he doesn't. Likewise Planning Director Charlie Bryant and City Attorney Michael Biddle, they don't either. City Engineer and Public Works Director Maurice Kaufman likewise makes his home elsewhere. City Clerk Karen Hemphill lives somewhere close by and Finance Director Edmond Suen thinks Emeryville is a great place to live; just not for him.
The pattern isn't limited to the public sphere. Emeryville's biggest boosters, the Chamber of Commerce, may constantly lecture residents about the good of unfettered development, but living in the midst of it isn't their cup of tea. Chamber CEO Bob Canter loves Emeryville so much, he lives in Martinez. The Chamber's Vice Chairman, Mason Myers, may wax poetic about a magic transformation from post-industrial slum to the Bay Area's best place to live, but to reach him at home, you must first dial 1 (415), just like Ken Bukowski.
Is this a case of listen to what we say, not what we do? Maybe the fact that these people are making a handsome living off of the transformation of Emeryville is the real driving force. Follow the money, as it were. Perhaps what is most illustrative is that their vision for Emeryville is so great, even they don't want a part of it.
Many of those steering Emeryville's public policy, shaping its urban design and singing its praises loudest, live elsewhere. A telling detail, as it were. At the same time, decisions regularly bend to fit the desires of these same out-of-towners. From the Fire Department to the Police Department to City Hall, virtually no one on the payroll actually lives here.
It's not a question of money. Most officials are paid incomes comfortably into the six figures. City Manager Pat O'Keeffe can afford to, but he must not think Emeryville is the kind of town he wants to live in...so he doesn't. Likewise Planning Director Charlie Bryant and City Attorney Michael Biddle, they don't either. City Engineer and Public Works Director Maurice Kaufman likewise makes his home elsewhere. City Clerk Karen Hemphill lives somewhere close by and Finance Director Edmond Suen thinks Emeryville is a great place to live; just not for him.
The pattern isn't limited to the public sphere. Emeryville's biggest boosters, the Chamber of Commerce, may constantly lecture residents about the good of unfettered development, but living in the midst of it isn't their cup of tea. Chamber CEO Bob Canter loves Emeryville so much, he lives in Martinez. The Chamber's Vice Chairman, Mason Myers, may wax poetic about a magic transformation from post-industrial slum to the Bay Area's best place to live, but to reach him at home, you must first dial 1 (415), just like Ken Bukowski.
Is this a case of listen to what we say, not what we do? Maybe the fact that these people are making a handsome living off of the transformation of Emeryville is the real driving force. Follow the money, as it were. Perhaps what is most illustrative is that their vision for Emeryville is so great, even they don't want a part of it.
I heard Bukowski lives rent free in the Doyle Street apartment building he used to own (before he turned it into meth). Now his rent is paid by the new owner, a developer in Emeryville with at least one project to be considered by the city council. How do you think he'll vote on THAT one?
ReplyDeleteIt's so interesting that so many of the staff live elsewhere. In some counties and cities staff must live in their community. How does Nora Davis deal with this as she is very clear about ignoring or demonizing out of towners?
ReplyDeleteWho on earth would want to live in a giant shopping mall or to put it more accurately the east bay regional shopping mall? (tebrsm) The city will soon be in ruins again: Large box businesses are closing and malls are on the demise while e-shopping increases. What fools these city staff be! But why should they care, their only investment is in keeping their jobs!
Nora Davis and the rest of the xenophobes on the council only bash out of town labor interests, if it's a development corporation well then out of town is A-OK, as this blog has so deftly reported. They sure do take campaign money from out of towners at election time.
ReplyDeleteI know that the City's Economic Development Coordinator lives in Emeryville. urthermore, it is very difficult for some employees to live in the City. The California Fair Political Practices Commission prohibits city planners from working on discretionary projects which are within 500 feet of property they own. In a small city like Emeryville a 500-foot radius circle eliminates a significant portion of the City. In a planning department with only 2 current planners, it becomes very difficult to operate if one planner can't work on a large number of projects. It's definitely a liability for the department and the employee.
ReplyDeleteThe above comment is obviously from a city hall staff member that doesn't want to live in Emeryville.
ReplyDeleteGood point however about the 500 foot radius problem for the two planning dept staffers. But what about everyone else? There's more than one hundred of them. This explanation only answers for two.
Note to readers:
ReplyDeleteThere are "about 200" employees working for the City of Emeryville, according to City Hall as of 12/10.
It is unreasonable to expect very many of the staff to live in a city that is as small as Emeryville. I'm sure most Emeryville employees live in the Inner East Bay. In larger cities such as Oakland or San Francisco, this is a more reasonable position. All that matters is that the staff cares about the City and carries out the wishes of the City Council. I have not seen anything to suggest otherwise.
ReplyDeleteTo the commenter above at 10:47:
ReplyDeleteI think many people might take issue with your conclusion that the staff 'cares about the City". There has been much over the years to suggest otherwise. Indeed, this is one of the reasons this blog exists: the idea that the powers that be have a different agenda then the ordinary residents; those with the vested interest that truly care about the City.
As a city employee, I sure wouldn't want to live in this town, the corruption, the unrestrained development, the joke of a measure J, have fun paying that one off, suckers.
ReplyDeleteNo, I'd rather live in a town that is governed by the people and isn't full of homeless, even though there is a LOT of money in the town.