Jim Alger on Measure R

Dear Neighbor,



I am, of course, deeply disappointed in the results of the vote on the Council File issue Wednesday. For those who supported us we owe our sincere thanks. A special thank you should go out to Janice Hahn and Dennis Zine, who fought to keep the motion alive by referring it back to committee, but all who spoke for the measure gave a strong and compelling case.

While their were a few City Councilmembers who were opposing the measure at this time based on “ethical” concerns, only one City Councilman fired a shot directly at the Neighborhood Councils. Jack Weiss, who according to reports has racked up over 30 ethical violations himself, demanded the City Attorney and DONE bring back to him a report of every complaint alleging ethical violations or conflict of interest of Neighborhood Councils. This aught to be fun. I can think of one Neighborhood Council who has a board member who feels the need to file complaints on every single petty thing that doesn’t go her way. What does this prove? Nothing.

More importantly this is the same City Council that had no problem bypassing the City Ethics Commission when it involved extending their terms. No, that sailed right through council while our right to be heard languishes in committee. As Neighborhood Councils the question inevitably becomes exactly how much more of this are we going to take? How much longer will we be held to higher standards than the City Council? And what are we prepared to do about it?

I think we have taken enough, it needs to end now and we can start by defeating Measure R.

On principle alone I can not support a measure extending the City Council terms that was crafted in a way that bypassed the City Attorney (in fact he advised AGAINST it), and defrauds the voters into believing this is some ethics reform package. Imagine for a moment your Neighborhood Council passing a motion in direct contradiction to the City Attorney’s advice, ignoring input and rammed through on a special meeting. How quickly would your council’s action be challenged or dismissed? If it involved your Neighborhood Councils elections forget it.

Secondly we can and must begin speaking with one voice. Solving our problems internally whenever possible so the City Council can stop pointing to 100 letters from a Neighborhood Council to prove the entire system is a failure (which of course it isn’t) and DONE can stop citing contradicting points from boardmembers at City Council meetings.

Lastly, we need to draw a line in the sand and get the Council File Issue passed. If City Coucilmembers have legitimate concerns as, for example, I believe Greig Smith has, we should sit down with him and find a way to abate those fears. BUT, for those City Councilmembers who wish to change the subject to a discussion of Neighborhood Council’s ethical standards, a word of caution…

We do not seek, nor will we provoke an outright battle with the City Council, but we shall not back down from one either.



Jim Alger