Nexus Between Votes to Cut Minimum Wage/Votes Against Family Housing & Campaign Coffers?
Bauters, Martinez May Be Looking to Expand
Political Careers Beyond Emeryville
Bauters, Martinez May Be Looking to Expand
Political Careers Beyond Emeryville
Beginning earlier this spring, Council members John Bauters and Dianne Martinez have been on a tear, working collaboratively to roll back the progressive agenda in Emeryville. First the two moved to roll back Emeryville's General Plan provisions designed to make housing more family friendly, then they moved to roll back Emeryville’s progressive Minimum Wage Ordinance designed to help the working poor among us. These two Council members’ attempts at taking down these two central pillars of Emeryville’s progressive framework, represent a curious and abrupt turn around for these self styled progressives. The duel action by these Council members against the progressive Emeryville body politic has drawn ire and concern from citizens and labor groups, some of whom are pointing to evidence the two may be looking to start up respective campaigns for higher political office outside of Emeryville, a charge neither has publicly confirmed or denied. This shifting to the right could represent the first inklings by these two Emeryville politicians of the classic 'pivot to the center' political tactic well trodden by progressive politicians.
Mr Bauters, elected in 2016, who arrived on the Council after the landmark Minimum Wage Ordinance (MWO) took effect as well as the family housing unit mix regulations (both enacted in 2015) has shown us that he considers Emeryville too progressive, at least on these two fronts. Ms Martinez, now in her second term, is also is showing us she considers Emeryville as too progressive but her advocacy in rolling back the progressive agenda, reveals a change of heart. The Councilwoman, first voted into office in 2014, personally voted for both the MWO and the family housing unit mix during her first term.
Both these legislative votes at the Council were unanimous, it should be noted.
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Emeryville City Council Members' Political Contributions and Cash on Hand (in dollars) From most recent Form 460s The three on the left voted to cut minimum wage workers' pay. The two on the right voted to save Emeryville's Minimum Wage Ordinance and protect working poor families. Is Mr Bauters headed next to the State Senate race? Perhaps Ms Martinez too or someplace comparable? |
Rumors have been swirling that these two Council members, who’s voting records have taken a turn towards helping the business community could be setting themselves up for their respective futures in politics. A check of their Form 460 political campaign records of monetary contributions and cash on hand hints there may be something to the rumors. John Bauters, the most vocal of the two in mounting anti-progressive policy and rhetoric shows a campaign war chest of $25,399.46 cash on hand as of January and Dianne Martinez shows a total of $12,723 in monetary contributions. By contrast and taking up the rear, Vice Mayor Christian Patz, who has most vigorously defended family housing and the wages of the working poor against the attacks by Mr Bauters and Ms Martinez, shows $753.17 in his campaign coffers while Mayor Medina, who also voted NO to rolling back the MWO, has just $79 available. Mr Patz, on a side note, won election to the City Council after raising only about $8300, the lowest by any Council member seeking election in recent history.
The Tattler will continue to follow the suspicious nexus between campaign funding and policy that benefits developer and business interests. We expect to see these funding numbers change as these proposed policy changes grow more pressing. Watch this space.
What the fuck John Bauters? What kind of shit is THIS?!? Another story about the Bauters shitshow. You really have turned on him Tattler. Maybe now you can take back the earlier story when you told us he walks on water.
ReplyDeleteCouncilman Bauters is not a cartoon character. He has right and left wing proclivities obviously. He had us until this naked turn against families and the working poor. The Tattler is never going to give carte blanche support to anyone. They have to earn it and continue to earn it.
DeleteExcept that John's war chest was donated almost entirely by one group, on one day, by every officer of one company, all related to one set of political favors that have nothing to do with the MWO.
ReplyDeleteYou smelled the smoke, but you misidentified the "fire". You're looking in the right place but at the wrong forms.
(And maybe lay off the small businesses and turn your attention to beating up the people who are actually making some money in this town. It ain't them.)
Yes, we intend on reporting on this. We expect the money to increase over time and we will report on the sources. We also expect both Council members will receive money based on their actions on the Council, but not in a strict quid pro quo manner. It will be hard to make a direct connection but the recent and future actions will likely be reflected in future donations and we'll keep an eye on it as the required forms come in. Thanks for the pointer.
DeleteRE: small businesses- We're not interested in punishing businesses that are 'making money in this town', rather we're interested in identifying businesses that are working to take over the commons and/or against the resident's interests. We don't care how much money they're making.
I suggest making a public records act request with the CA Dept. of Industrial relations to check out how many restaurants in Emeryville owe back wages to their hard working employees. Ask for the past three years of wage claims filed with the Labor Commissioner's Office. Make sure to name the restaurants you want to look into and provide their addresses.
ReplyDelete