Some separation was obvious between those who've already batted on the city commission and those hoping to get into the on-deck circle. The eager newbies made some mental errors, something to be expected from someone not yet in the game.
We'll use one question to pick out a few intriguing responses, but first, let me share a sample Code of Ethics from Oakland, CA, published in 2012. It's very basic, but touches on points none of the commissioner prospects thought to include in their answers to Larry Jokl's question about how important they valued ethics and why the City of Brownsville still had no ethics code.
As for the last half of the question, I spoke up from the audience to say Brownsville finally did have an ethics code.
 |
| Larry Jokl |
Later, several commissioners and commissioner prospects gently corrected Jokl, stating that, indeed, the city now had an ethics code. Jokl, like many proud, older men, used to being in control, never retracted his stateme
City Commission Code of Ethics(Oakland, CA, c. 2012)
Each member of the City Commission has a duty to:
1. Respect and adhere to the American ideals of government, the rule of law, the principles of public administration and high ethical conduct in the performance of public duties.
2. Represent and work for the common good of the City and not for any private interest.
3. Refrain from accepting gifts or favors or promises of future benefits which might compromise or tend to impair independence of judgment or action.
4. Provide fair and equal treatment for all persons and matters coming before the Council.
5. Learn and study the background and purposes of important items of business before voting.
6. Faithfully perform all duties of office.
7. Refrain from disclosing any information received confidentially concerning the business of the City, or received during any closed session of the Council held pursuant to state law. 8. Decline any employment incompatible with public duty.
9. Refrain from abusive conduct, personal charges or verbal attacks upon the character, motives, ethics or morals of other members of the Council, staff or public, or other personal comments not germane to the issues before the Council. 10. Listen courteously and attentively to all public discussions at Council meetings and avoid interrupting other speakers, including other Council members, except as may be permitted by established Rules of Order
11. Faithfully attend all sessions of the Council unless unable to do so because of disability or some other compelling reason.
12. Maintain the highest standard of public conduct by refusing to condone breaches of public trust or improper attempts to influence legislation, and by being willing to censure any member who willfully violates the rules of conduct contained in this Code of Ethics.
Now, the forum's discussion of ethics and the ethics code:
"AS A COMMISSIONER, WHAT WILL HOW DO YOU VALUE ETHICS AND WHY DOES THE CITY STILL NOT HAVE AN ETHICS CODE?" (Larry Jokl)
Since several participants said basically the same thing, we will quote only the noteworthy, unique responses to this question. Please compare what you know about this person with their response:
Ricardo Longoria, Jr.: "When you're an ethical person, you don't need a code of ethics. When you live your life ethically and morally you don't need a code."
Observer: This comment reflects zero understanding of the purpose of an ethics code in the first place. It is not some kind of Sunday School checklist, but designed to send a message to those doing business in the city that political connections should and will be not connected to city contracts. It has nothing to do with practicing the "Golden Rule." Geeze, Rick!
Pat Ahumada: My track record is beyond reproach. I never took anything from a vendor, but ethics is what has been lacking on the City Commission for the last 8 years. It is now controlled by special interests.
Observer: Ahumada makes a good point about special interests. Mike Hernandez III, among others, has tried to get his grubby, little fingers on the City of Brownsville.
But, Pat, you have a "track record beyond reproach?"
Hell, no. You deposited a check for $26,139 from a vendor into your account in 2008, proceeding to spend a substantial part of that money before Police Chief Garcia arranged for the monies return to the city.
I know you were acquitted and have totally rationalized this in your own mind, blaming the incident on not having your glasses, on City Finance Director Pete Gonzalez and the teller who filled out your deposit slip. But, please!
Jessica Tetreau: The ethics code is nothing I've ever broken or got close to breaking. It is so strong a commissioner can be removed."
Observer: Like the others, misses the point of the code.
Caty Presas: "Ethics is more about how you were raised. I didn't do it at the school district and I won't do it here. As realtors, if we do anything unethical, we can lose our license."
Observer: Still not focused or even understanding the purpose of a Code of Ethics for the City Commission.
Jessica Puente Bradshaw: She mentioned twice that she favored an "ethics committee." She may have been confusing the "ethics code" with the "audit committee." Said she had not yet read the new ethics code.
Ismael Hinojosa: Stated clearly that he "had read the ethics code," but felt it did not go "far enough." He noticed a restriction on previous city commissioners sitting on city boards within two years of being in office and wanted that raised to four years.
ADDITIONAL NOTEWORTHY COMMENTS
William Garza: If elected, Garza wants to open a city office in District 1, Southmost, where citizens can bring complaints or receive guidance on permitting, etc.
Nurith Galonsky: Her mother was born in Matamoros, her dad in Russia, but has lived in Brownsville 50 years.
Michael Rodriguez: Used his final wrap-up to hit the permitting issue again. He mentioned that the city's Permitting Department had lost his paperwork, allowing his business to sit idle while he paid $10,000 in rent.
"I told the city had done everything right and was on the verge of a lawsuit if they didn't get their act together."
Jessica Tetreau: "I'm so nervous," she exclaimed at one point, later explaining her child had a 103F temperature which she'd been monitoring throughout the discussion.
Pat Ahumada: I ran to give the voters a choice, but also to bring back international flights and the Weir project.
Jessica Puente Bradshaw: "I have the passion!"
Nurith Galonsky: "I've worked on the P.U.B. board six years. We've weighted impact fees away from established areas like downtown to the areas where new utilities are going in. Impact fees are not the problem with housing so much as getting loans."
Ismael Hinojosa: "Just like it was stated at the 1776 Constitutional Convention, we have too many divisions. We need to come together, show unity."
Caty Presas: (getting very emotional) "We need to stop absences on the GBIC Board(an obvious reference to City Commissioner Jessica Tetreau)."
Jessica Puente Bradshaw: "We've finally got the food trucks, but we need kayak rentals on the resacas and open air, pet-friendly restaurants."
Pat Ahumada: "If you want to blame someone for the impact fees, blame me. We had 20 years of developers passing these fees onto the rate payers in the form of higher utility rates.
Developers were paying only $250, while the utilities were charging $10,000 per lot to connect. If you want to change it and go back to the old way, so be it, but you will payer higher utility rates."
Ricardo Longoria, Jr.: "I admit I opposed new bike trails for the longest. I said 'let's do potholes and sidewalks, infrastructure first before bike trails.
Finally, Commissioner Gowen got through to me, that if we don't make our neighborhoods attractive to new business by providing these amenities, they will go elsewhere.
Also, will respect to the permitting and other problems, just know that we went through a period with only an interim City Manager. That has changed now with the new appointment, but for the problems you experienced, let me just say "I'm sorry!' "
No comments:
Post a Comment