Who's REALLY Trying To Buy Emeryville?
Opinion
Since last week's city council vote to fund the Chamber of Commerce and their newspaper the 'Emeryville Connection' with public money, it's instructive to see just what we're going to be buying. How far is the Chamber of Commerce willing to go with our money to make sure their candidates for city council are elected?
Below is a story from October 2007 when the Chamber endorsed Ken Bukowski, Nora Davis and Ruth Atkin for the council. Reading the story, it is readily apparent the Chamber doesn't limit itself only to endorsing candidates, negative attack pieces are part of the agenda as well and they have not shied away from using lies in furtherance of their political goals.
The story below illustrates the Chamber of Commerce's outrage that out-of-town labor interests are behind the election of challenger Shilen Patel. An interesting comment coming from the president of the Chamber, Bob Canter, himself an out-of-towner from Martinez. What the Chamber isn't telling Emeryville voters is that their candidates are funded almost entirely by out-of-town corporate developer interests. The Chamber discredits the Emeryville resident grassroots campaign that Mr Patel garnered, not letting on that their candidates truly had virtually no grassroots support.
The Chamber claims Mr Patel is not qualified to be on the council since he had not sat on any committees in town. They retell this same old concoction from Mayor Davis, heard every election cycle that only "experienced" candidates are permissible. What they don't say, conveniently, is that only by getting in the good graces of Mayor Davis are residents allowed to sit on any committees. It's a perfect system for getting only their preferred candidates elected.
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| Bob Canter thinks Emeryville is so nice, he lives in Martinez |
We have no problem with the Chamber of Commerce supporting the candidates they want and even denigrating those they don't (as long as they're not engaging in deception). The problem is they should do it on their own dime. It is dead wrong for the city council to force the taxpayers to support this naked politicking, regardless whether they think they will be helped in their re-elections by the Chamber.
The Chamber of Commerce asks the readers of the story below to investigate for themselves and then decide, knowing that without a newspaper in town virtually none will. So we repeat; read the story below for yourself and then decide, is this really where we want our taxpayer money spent?
Reprint from the Emeryville Connection:
WHO’S TRYING TO BUY EMERYVILLE?
It’s no secret that it takes money – often lots of it
to run for political office, so it was no surprise
to see that most of the candidates running
for Emeryville City Council this year are busy
raising funds.
to run for political office, so it was no surprise
to see that most of the candidates running
for Emeryville City Council this year are busy
raising funds.
But more than the amounts raised, those who
care about the future of our City need to
pay close attention to the sources of the
monetary, and in-kind help, being funneled
to the various candidates.
care about the future of our City need to
pay close attention to the sources of the
monetary, and in-kind help, being funneled
to the various candidates.
Apart from our inability to endorse Shilen Patel
for the Emeryville City Council based on his
lack of experience, lack of community
involvement and lack of demonstrated
knowledge of the local community and issues
facing it, we note something else disturbing
about his candidacy.
for the Emeryville City Council based on his
lack of experience, lack of community
involvement and lack of demonstrated
knowledge of the local community and issues
facing it, we note something else disturbing
about his candidacy.
Based on the latest campaign filings, as
of September 27th, the vast amount of Mr.
Patel’s funding comes from outside of
Emeryville. In addition, Mr. Patel has
received the endorsement of the Alameda
County Central Labor Council (CLC), and
should he be elected we believe his actions
will be directed by outside organizations that
do not have Emeryville’s best interests at
heart. To quote from a letter dated September
26, 2007 and sent to voters in Emeryville,
the CLC is backing Mr. Patel because he
will: “…solicit our input, listen to our ideas,
and promote our values.” We need an
independent-minded councilmember who will
vote to keep Emeryville on the healthy and
prosperous track; NOT one beholden to
outside organizations which do not have the
best interests of THIS community at heart.
Accepting a huge amount of support from
outside organizations which are looking to
drive a stake through the economic heart of
Emeryville is not acceptable. Other than
incumbent Councilmember John Fricke – who
has formally endorsed Mr. Patel and is listed
as an in-kind contributor on Mr. Patel’s most
recent campaign filing, we can discern no true,
meaningful grassroots support for Shilen
Patel from within Emeryville.
of September 27th, the vast amount of Mr.
Patel’s funding comes from outside of
Emeryville. In addition, Mr. Patel has
received the endorsement of the Alameda
County Central Labor Council (CLC), and
should he be elected we believe his actions
will be directed by outside organizations that
do not have Emeryville’s best interests at
heart. To quote from a letter dated September
26, 2007 and sent to voters in Emeryville,
the CLC is backing Mr. Patel because he
will: “…solicit our input, listen to our ideas,
and promote our values.” We need an
independent-minded councilmember who will
vote to keep Emeryville on the healthy and
prosperous track; NOT one beholden to
outside organizations which do not have the
best interests of THIS community at heart.
Accepting a huge amount of support from
outside organizations which are looking to
drive a stake through the economic heart of
Emeryville is not acceptable. Other than
incumbent Councilmember John Fricke – who
has formally endorsed Mr. Patel and is listed
as an in-kind contributor on Mr. Patel’s most
recent campaign filing, we can discern no true,
meaningful grassroots support for Shilen
Patel from within Emeryville.
Emeryville can take care of itself. We do not
need outside forces foisting unqualified candidates
on the electorate. You may have already received
a letter, phone call, or visit on behalf of Mr. Patel
for City Council. But beware: The “Friends of
Shilen Patel” are not friends at all – perhaps friends
of the Central Labor Council, but not friends of
Emeryville. Trace the money, letters and phone
calls, decide for yourself, then decide to whom
Mr. Patel will owe his allegiance: the Emeryville
electorate, or his out-of-town supporters.
need outside forces foisting unqualified candidates
on the electorate. You may have already received
a letter, phone call, or visit on behalf of Mr. Patel
for City Council. But beware: The “Friends of
Shilen Patel” are not friends at all – perhaps friends
of the Central Labor Council, but not friends of
Emeryville. Trace the money, letters and phone
calls, decide for yourself, then decide to whom
Mr. Patel will owe his allegiance: the Emeryville
electorate, or his out-of-town supporters.
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