I have been busy around town lately, and this article is to update everyone about some of that activity. Also see the Parks and Open Space article below this one.
1. The next City of Napa budget workshop has been postponed til June 4 at 6:30 p.m. This was the meeting I announced that originally was planned for May 15. This is the most critical event coming up right now, please mark your calenders and plan to be there. I am preparing a response from the NVTA for the City, and hope to have it finished by Wed or Thurs of this week to be sent around.
2. Leon Brauning, Don Clark and myself will be meeting with the six City of Napa union representatives Wed night.
3. I have been out giving speeches and meeting with individuals involved in the issues that I am working on. My main topic is government employee compensation, especially pensions, and the fact that we can’t afford them, and that they are heading toward financial disaster if we don’t do something about it. My message has been very well received.
I spoke with the Chamber of Commerce legislative committee last Wed am, which included their President Kate King. I ran into her the next day and she told me that my speech had had an impact and that they were going to put the issues I raised on their next board agenda.
At this meeting I pointed out that the City of Napa is depending on all this new development to bail them out, and I was concerned that no one had really pencilled it all out and made sure that it would in fact bail them out. Their pension and medical liabilities are growing rapidly, and with all the new construction they are doing they are going to need more infrastructure and more employees. Someone in the community needs to get into that and make sure that we know what employee costs are going to be to make sure we don’t stay perpetually in a low budget situation.
I also spoke that day to the noon Rotary meeting, courtesy of Steve Orndorf, the incoming President who invited me. Brad Wagenknecht was at both the Chamber meeting and the Rotary meeting, so he got to hear me twice in one day. I want to give him a special mention for that. Right now he is my biggest fan:)
Based on the response at the meeting and emails I received after it appeared to be a great success, and because there were so many in attendance who are in important government and business positions around town I felt that my concerns were being widely broadcast to the community at this event. Here is one email I received from an attendee after the event:
"The group was really impressed that you knew the facts and figures, governmentese names of things, people in the know and the trends. There were some very key people in the audience and you made a big impression. Not blaming was a major stroke of genius for you. The facts and figures overwhelmed everyone and gave lots to think about. You gained a lot of support today by the way you approached the issue. You should come back again when you are ready to implement ideas for solutions and I am sure you will get lots of influential help."
4. I have gotten a lot of feedback on my vision statement, almost all of it very positive. I did receive two emails that contained some criticism, both criticizing my view of the Republican party. Here are some selected quotes from those emails, the first I will identify as from Janet Kirtlink, Chair of the Napa County GOP Central Committee, because I have her permission:
"Very well said. As the Chair of the local Republican Party. Everything you have perceived is very close to accurate. Here is the reason many Republicans are dedicated to our conservative principles. Can we win elections on this no, but we will strife to move forward no matter what because it is down deep rooted inside belief in the republican ideals. I do believe though that through strong leadership and getting the message out through better organized grassroots efforts we can energize and mobilize an army of volunteers that could change the Republican party in California. But being inclusive is key. Because we need moderates and conservatives to work together. But we don't have to lose the core of the party in doing so. I hope you willl continue on with everything."
I would only add to this, that we need moderates, conservatives, AND liberals to work together as well.
Other messages included:
"I think we should be honest. We are a Taxpayers
group. We are dedicated to keeping taxes down.
Everyone pays taxes. Renters should be educated that
they also pay taxes. Since we all pay taxes, it is
our money and it should not be wasted. People should
get their hands out of our pockets.
Something has to be done about the excessive pensions
but taking on safety unions does not seem to be a
popular way to start. Maybe a maximum or a two tier
system. After all in the two tier system the guys who
are in now will get their ill gotten windfall but we
won't be stuck with it for new hires.
We are not a special interest group trying to get
government money for our pet cause. We are the people,
trying to keep money to use for our own needs and
families."
and this
"I agree with your vision for NVTA 100%....
It is a worthy role for NVTA to take up the cause of the general public in Napa County, which needs a coordinated voice in order to oppose special interest groups with narrow, but expensive, objectives.
As a matter of practicality, you are right to take action issue by issue, while keeping an eye on all of Napa County's activities, whether they involve expenditures or not."
Thank you for all the feedback. I received more but this is fairly representative.
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