How They Voted

On election day 2012, we thought it would be nice to select a story from our 'How They Voted' archives.  Americans will likely split their vote for president today and here we highlight a split vote from the Emeryville city council:

Spend $30,000 To "Search" For

Pat O'Keeffe?

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 publish occasional short reminders on how the Power Elite in town have voted on these controversial issues.

In February, 2007, the issue before the City Council was:

Pat O'Keeffe:
Strangly, the most
qualified person in the
whole country to run
Emeryville was here
all along...so says
Nora Davis & Ruth Atkin

Should the City hire Pat O'Keeffe as City Manager after paying $30,000 for a nation-wide executive search that Council member Dick Kassis called a waste of time and money?

Nora Davis - YES

Ruth Atkin - YES

Dick Kassis - YES

John Fricke - NO

Ken Bukowski - NO

Pat O'Keeffe was working for the City for 11 years as the head of the Redevelopment Agency at the time and Mr Kassis said they should just vote to have Mr O'Keeffe move up to City Manager and not waste time and money on a phony executive search. He said everyone knew they would hire Mr O'Keeffe in the end anyway. He subsequently went ahead and voted for the search along with his colleagues and later they voted to hire Mr O'Keeffe (by the 3-2 vote). Council member Fricke revealed after Mr O'Keeffe was confirmed, of the several applicants that were considered, Mr O'Keeffe was not the most qualified applicant for the job.

How They Voted

Hear Ideas On Helping School Funding?

At the Tattler, we've noticed the city council and other deliberative bodies in Emeryville make controversial votes that sometimes 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 publish occasional short reminders on how the Power Elite in town have voted on these controversial issues.

In 2010, the vote before the School Board was:

Should the Board hear a presentation by a citizens coalition on  how to increase school funding by a 'Community Benefits' developer agreement?

Josh Simon - NO

Melodi Dice - NO

Cheryl Webb - NO

Pat Hooper - NO

Miguel Dwin - NO

The community group known as Residents United for a Livable Emeryville (RULE), concerned that the city council backed proposed expansion of the Bay Street Mall won't benefit Emeryville residents, conducted a town hall meeting to discuss the issue in 2009.  More than 100 residents participated.  The group also conducted a city-wide survey of over 400 residents about what benefits the new mall expansion should deliver for the city.  Residents put increased financial support of the schools at the top of their lists in their survey responses.

RULE then proposed a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA), an agreement between the developer of the mall, Madison Marquette Corporation and the residents themselves.  RULE identified more school funding at the top of the list in the CBA.

After compiling the CBA, RULE requested to make a presentation to the school district at a school board meeting but the school board members voted NO to even hearing about more money for the schools.  The Parent Teacher Organizations in town likewise said NO to hearing about more money for the schools.

The city council majority is vehemently against a Community Benefits Agreement, presumably because it represents a vote of 'no confidence' in the council, by the residents.  They no doubt see RULE as meddling.  The council's unwarranted effect on the school board is evident by this absurd vote of NO to even hearing about possible free money for the schools made by the school board.

How They Voted

Spend $30,000 To "Search" For

Pat O'Keeffe?

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 publish occasional short reminders on how the Power Elite in town have voted on these controversial issues.

In February, 2007, the issue before the City Council was:

Should the City hire Pat O'Keeffe as City Manager after paying $30,000 for a nation-wide executive search that Council member Dick Kassis called a waste of time and money?

Nora Davis - YES

Ruth Atkin - YES

Dick Kassis - YES

John Fricke - NO

Ken Bukowski - NO

Mr O'Keeffe-
Strangly, the most qualified
person in the whole country
to run Emeryville was
here all along...
so says Nora Davis & Ruth Atkin

Pat O'Keeffe was working for the City for 11 years as the head of the Redevelopment Agency at the time and Dick Kassis said they should just vote to have Mr O'Keeffe move up to City Manager and not waste time and money on a phony executive search. He said everyone knew they would hire Mr O'Keeffe in the end anyway. He subsequently went ahead and voted for the search along with his colleagues and later they voted to hire Mr O'Keeffe (by the 3-2 vote). Council member Fricke revealed after Mr O'Keeffe was confirmed, that of the several applicants that were considered, Mr O'Keeffe was not the most qualified applicant for the job.

How They Voted

Spend $30,000 To "Search" For

Pat O'Keeffe?

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 publish occasional short reminders on how the Power Elite in town have voted on these controversial issues.

In February, 2007, the issue before the City Council was:

Should the City hire Pat O'Keeffe as City Manager after paying $30,000 for a nation-wide executive search that Council member Dick Kassis called a waste of time and money?

Nora Davis - YES

Ruth Atkin - YES

Dick Kassis - YES

John Fricke - NO

Ken Bukowski - NO

Pat O'Keeffe was working for the City for 11 years as the head of the Redevelopment Agency at the time and Dick Kassis said they should just vote to have Mr O'Keeffe move up to City Manager and not waste time and money on a phony executive search. He said everyone knew they would hire Mr O'Keeffe in the end anyway. He subsequently went ahead and voted for the search along with his colleagues and later they voted to hire Mr O'Keeffe (by the 3-2 vote). Council member Fricke revealed after Mr O'Keeffe was confirmed, that of the several applicants that were considered, Mr O'Keeffe was not the most qualified applicant for the job.

How They Voted

Widen Streets In Emeryville?

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 publish occasional short reminders on how the Power Elite in town have voted on these controversial issues.

On March 18, 2008 the vote before the city council was:

Should Emeryville rebuke the findings of the just commissioned $70,000 'Nelson-Nygaard' Traffic Study and engage in a street widening campaign to encourage the use of more cars in the city?

Nora Davis - YES

Ken Bukowski - YES

Dick Kassis - YES

Ruth Atkin - NO

John Fricke - NO

Note: In addition to ignoring the taxpayer funded traffic study's recommendation, the three council members also rebuked the unanimous vote of their own Bicycle/Pedestrian Committee by voting YES to widen the streets to encourage more cars.

How They Voted

Hostile 'Private To Private'

Eminent Domain?

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 publish occasional short reminders on how the Power Elite in town have voted on these controversial issues.

In November 2008, the vote before the city council was:

Should a private landowner, who has made a request for approval of a rehabilitation development of his existing historic brick building be denied and instead have his property taken away in a hostile eminent domain and given to another (but much larger) private developer, Wareham Development Corporation?

Nora Davis - YES

Ken Bukowski - YES

Dick Kassis - YES

Ruth Atkin - YES

John Fricke - ABSTAIN (conflicted out)

Note: The owner of the building wanted to rehab the existing historic brick building, but in addition to the forced sale, new owner Wareham Development was also granted permission to tear down the building and construct a new building. The council also voted to permit Wareham to exceed the zoning ordinance height allowance for the proposed building. This building will be on the Emeryville Greenway and has been shown that it will block sunlight on the Greenway. It should be noted that the General Plan calls for rehabbing these older historic vernacular brick warehouse buildings in our town.

Council member Fricke previously had a law office in the building and didn't vote.

How They Voted

Demolish Historic, Architecturally Significant Building?

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 publish occasional short reminders on how the Power Elite in town have voted on these controversial issues.

On January 20, 2009, the vote before the council was:

Should Madison Park Development Corporation be granted permission to tear down a two story brick building at 3900 Adeline Street, deemed by the city to be one of the few remaining "architecturally significant" and "historically significant" buildings to build another condo podium development?

Nora Davis - YES

Ken Bukowski - YES

Dick Kassis - YES

Ruth Atkin - NO

John Fricke - NO

Note: The General Plan calls for rehabilitating this building but Madison Park Development, a politically well connected corporate power player in Emeryville stated their profit margin wouldn't be as high as it would be by tearing down the building. The three council members were impressed enough with this argument to say YES.

How They Voted

Widen 40th Street Bridge For Cars And Reduce Bike/Pedestrian Safety?

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 publish occasional short reminders on how the Power Elite in town have voted on these controversial issues.

On November 24 2009, the vote before the council was:

Should two traffic lanes be added to the 40th Street railroad overpass, crowding the bike lanes and pedestrians with high speed vehicles against the unanimous decision of both the Bike/Pedestrian Committee and the City Engineer?

Nora Davis - YES

Ken Bukowski - YES

Jennifer West - NO

Kurt Brinkman - NO

Ruth Atkin - NO

Note: This was a request of Madison Marquette Corporation, the developer of the Bay Street Mall. They thought if more high speed traffic were put on the bridge, there would be more shoppers at the mall. The City Engineer proved that due to other constriction points on either side of the bridge, there would be net no increase in traffic flow and for safety's sake the bridge should continue at two vehicle travel lanes instead of four. The two YES voting council members didn't care about that, they wanted to vote how the developer told them to.

How They Voted

Scrap The New General Plan To Accommodate One Developer?

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 publish occasional short reminders on how the Power Elite in town have voted on these controversial issues.

On October 6, 2009 the issue before the council was:

Should the brand new General Plan be amended to allow for a specific parcel of land to be increased in maximum building height allowable from 75 feet to unlimited height with no findings whatsoever other than the one developer, John Nady's desires for more profit?

Nora Davis - YES

Ken Bukowski - YES

Dick Kassis - YES

Ruth Atkin - NO

John Fricke - NO

Note: Work on the General Plan took more than five years and was completed just weeks before the vote. The Plan took thousands of hours of resident volunteer work and many millions of dollars to complete.

How They Voted

Tattler Featurette

Bike Lanes On Horton Street For Safety?

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 publish occasional short reminders on how the Power Elite in town have voted on these controversial issues.

On November 17th, 2009, the issue before the Transportation Committee was:

Should the unanimous vote of the Bike/Pedestrian Committee to uphold the Bike Plan by installing bike lanes on (the southern part of) Horton Street be obeyed?

Nora Davis - NO

Ken Bukowski - NO

Note: The Transportation Committee is comprised of only these two council members. Bicycle advocates are still waiting for the bike lanes, since the council has not ruled on this yet.

How They Voted

Tattler Featurette

Kill Biking On Spur Alley?

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 publish occasional short reminders on how the Power Elite in town have voted on these controversial issues.

At the July 17, 2007 council meeting, the vote was:

Should the Bike Plan be overturned and the former railroad spur east of and parallel to Hollis Street called Spur Alley, a public easement, be given away to a private developer for private parking instead of a bike path?

Nora Davis - YES

Ken Bukowski - YES

Dick Kassis - YES

Ruth Atkin - NO

John Fricke - NO

How They Voted

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