Community Leaders Won't Cross Council Member Nora Davis

News Analysis/Opinion

She Who Must Be Obeyed

The rapidly approaching November $95 million bond initiative, characterized by proponents as a 'school bond' but is really a bond for the $125 million Emeryville Center of Community Life, has become a sort of litmus test for the independence of Emeryville community leaders. In coming weeks, Emeryville citizens will see this litmus test manifest in the Alameda County official voter guide, mailed to all voter's homes; arguments in favor of the controversial bond initiative will go unanswered by any arguments against.

And it's all because council member Nora Davis would not be amused if anyone had the temerity to offer a rebuttal of any kind. Debate about the Center of Community Life has been shuttered. All have fallen in line, none have dared step out of line.

Council member Davis, darling of conservative voters and arguably the most powerful person in town, has championed the Center of Community Life and this fact has so far kept all normally outspoken community leader would be critics of the Center silent. But it's not for lack of critics. East, west, north and south; Emeryville residents have almost universally expressed dismay at the $125 million dollar project. Citizen critics have far outnumbered proponents, especially by those on the fiscally conservative side owing to the costly nature of the construction project. Yet displeasure at the prospect of the $125 million construction project has only risen to the level of furtive murmurings from community leaders.

Fear Of Reprisals

This silence from fiscal budget hawks has caused some to wonder; where are those who would mind the ledger? The Tattler has learned they're out there, they're simply too frightened to make any disparaging comments against the Center of Community Life or the Bond Initiative for fear of reprisals from Ms Davis. Several community leaders have privately told the Tattler the reprisals they fear would take the form of shunning by Ms Davis when it comes time for appointment or reappointment to various city commissions, committees and task forces.

The fears of these people are not without merit. Council watchers over the last two decades have all noted how the process works; the rise to political power for would be leaders, especially conservatives, comes through the good graces of Council member Davis. First one must seek a committee or task force appointment, and that requires the support of Ms Davis. This is how one garners "experience", an absolute requirement for elective office if one believes Council member Davis and her conservative cohorts. This paradigm has been very effective in ensuring a conservative majority on the council over the years and keeping Ms Davis at the pinnacle of power in Emeryville.

Some may see a disconnect between this blind allegiance to a leader and the oft claimed conservative tradition of the sanctity of individualism but it should be noted that (party) discipline has often been the stronger tradition in conservative circles. In Emeryville, it's become very clear which tradition is stronger.

City Hires Big Guns To Move School Center Forward

Voters To Be Asked To Pass Expensive Fall Bond Initiative

By Mr X and Brian Donahue

When the pricey dream of a combined school campus crashed into financial reality and public skepticism, Emeryville officials changed course.

Rather than explaining how a $125 million building for the district's 770 school children would elevate academic performance, they hired a team of political consultants to sway public opinion. Or maybe they aren't trying to sway public opinion...it depends on which city council member you ask.

Part of the city's recent additional allocation of $1.35 million for "soft costs" associated with the "Emeryville Center of Community Life"---a combined elementary, junior high, high school, recreation center, library, health clinic and senior center ---is a contract with Oakland-based political consulting firm, The Lew Edwards Group. The move was roundly criticized by Councilman Ken Bukowski.

Under the contract, the firm will hold "living room conversations" with voters and conduct a series of polls to ascertain how much tax money city voters are willing to part with in exchange for new facilities. Presumably, ambitions will be scaled back to match the public's limited enthusiasm. All of this work will culminate in a November 2nd bond initiative for Emeryville voters.

The firm has been very successful at winning parcel tax campaigns and school district bond measures up and down the state. It is also no stranger to Emeryville. Lew Edwards took city tax money to help convince voters to extend Emeryville's utility tax and they also ran campaigns for both Ruth Atkin and John Fricke.

While public schools and seniors should be among every municipality's top priority, some have asked if combining so many functions under a single roof is a wise concept. There is a reason other cities do not combine students from age five to 18 on a single campus with senior citizens as well.

At a meeting Thursday of the City/Schools Committee, a body combining the city council with the school board, Mr. Bukowski questioned the consultants polling plans. After Catherine Lew, one of the firm's founders told members, "the surveys will not be designed to achieve a particular outcome," Mr. Bukowski appeared dumbfounded. "Why are we hiring this firm,?" he asked. Mr. Bukowski said that outside expertise should only be sought to help improve the likelihood that voters will approve the funding for the Center of Community Life. "We're hiring a professional company (to help with this) because we want to achieve a positive outcome," he told colleagues.

Councilwoman Jennifer West took umbrage, stressing that residents desires are sacrosanct. "We have to really listen to the community," she countered.

The 'living room conversations' will take place at various locations throughout the city, occasionally in actual living rooms. They are being touted as a chance for residents to express what they think about the proposal. Responding to criticisms that the Center of Community Life keeps marching forward regardless of community input, the committee indicated it will be a time for them to just listen.

The Committee has charged itself with helping to get ECCL built and has been working to get the price tag for the project under $125 million.

If the cost were to come in at that figure, it would equal $162,337.66 per pupil. About 40 percent of the district's students live outside of Emeryville. If non-Emeryville students are excluded, the per-pupil cost climbs to $270,562.77. These figures do not include the extra maintenance costs associated with a larger facility and these costs would be an ongoing extra expense.

Originally, ECCL was planned for the massive AC Transit yard on San Pablo Avenue. After efforts to move the bus yard to Oakland ran into opposition, officials looked into the efficacy of seizing PG&E's facilities on Hollis Street.

After that plan foundered, officials announced that ECCL would be built on the grounds of Emery High School. If a new structure is built, officials might abandon the Anna Yates elementary school where a $9 million renovation project was completed last year.