More of the same

[Paul Maguire]

This recent passing of the Wal Mart application by the Planning Department seems to circumvent the legal process that the first application and building permit was stopped for by the court.

It does not appear the city has made a good faith effort to address the issues raised by the court. and apparently now wishes to bypass the court with this newest application.

The original notice was too short and the matter had to be continued. Legal council was given 400 pages of documents to review in 5 days.

Nothing has changed here, has it. Short notice, excessive documents, little or no time to review, then the naysayers will bring up" you did not bring that up at the meeting" ( of course not, no one can reasonably go through that many documents in that short of period) and of course, that was the intent.

I have never seen a city in this day and age that skirts or in some cases outright breaks the law for the sole purpose of expediancy. Certainly no city is perfect, but American Canyon seems to have a pattern and practice of routinely doing so. And of course, time and time again, the courts have pointed that out, and the city has lost in the legal arena.

More unbelievable, is the continued arguments of rightness in the face of flagrent wrongness. THe city claims it was right all along, in spite of its court losses. Arrogant, oh, just a little.

Scott Hankins, a reporter for gods sake, argues in the Echo about how bad it was for the city to be sued- a suit based on the same constitional issues that allow him to print the dog doo doo he does from time to time- like this latest article. Wouldnt he be the first to jump up and down if American Canyon passed an ordinance that his articles could not be published without City Council approval, or that his free speech is only allowed on certain days and certain times for part of the year. So lost.....

Well, Back to Walmart; Whatever happens with this latest application, the city did get some concessions, and this is better than the first. But will it pass the muster with the courts. I am doubtful it will.

And lastly, off we go, now commiting 12 million dollars to a big grey elephant, an incredible lack of fiduciary responsibility. Meanwhile, other more important issues are left unresolved, and campaign promises about Oat HIll, Town Center, Traffic, Parks- well, not much happening there.

Rather, sewer rates are set to be raised, water rates are set to be raised, traffic continues to get worse, much needed public facilities which are part of the Oat Hill Plan are stagnent now including much needed sports facilities.....

Yup, more of the same......