While attending the City Council meeting on May 5, I was somewhat taken aback by Mayor Hand's comment on record during the prison expansion presentation that the Department of Corrections should build a village on prison grounds and that all the employees should be forced to live there to be "closer to their employment". Forcing people to live where they may not want to sounds pretty close to Communism where the State makes decisions for the individual. The question I have for Ms Hand;does this logic apply to all the citizens of Tehachapi or just the prison employees? If it does apply to everyone, there won't be much of a City to govern. Maybe it is that Ms. Hand just doesn't like the prison employees. I talked with several people I know that work at CCI and their reactions ranged from being indignant to anger to finding the comments humorous. Some even suggested that if the City Council does not wish the employees of the prison in town (I include the entire City Council as no one objected to Ms. Hand's comments), then perhaps they would honor her wishes and not go to Town. I thought a bit drastic and said as much, however I did understand their position. I contacted the prison and was told that there are 2000 employees at CCI and 53% live in the Tehachapi area. That is a sizable portion of the local population to have to re-locate. Perhaps Ms. Hand should rethink her position.

CAJ

That was the view taken by Mr. Beckham at the City Council meeting Monday when asked to comment on a school resource officer for the Tehachapi School District from the Tehachapi Police Department.  Mr. Beckham was, of course, against the proposal. He stated that the citizens of Tehachapi need to be served and the schools should handle their own problems. Excuse me Mr. Beckham but the students are citizens also. And with the school district willing to pay half the cost of the officer I would think it a fine idea. Mr. Beckhams shortsighted opinions of what the citizens in this town need and want are sadly lacking. He may also need to pay attention to what is happening at the meetings. While the council was discussing an ordinance on the agenda, (item 15 for those of you keeping score) Mr. Beckham commenced a tiatribe about CEO's of companies. When he finally realized that it was not the topic, he did stop and was allowed to continue during Council Member announcements. It appears to this layman that Mr. Beckham has his own agenda and that is the only thing that matters to him.

It is too bad that the recall vote promised by Mr. Reed has not come to fruition.

After attending several meetings of the Tehachapi City Council  I am wondering if Council member Beckham ever took any classes in government. He appears to be mostly uninformed and get his lessons in Tehachapi government during the meetings. One would think that a member of the City Council would take a little effort and become familiar with the issues prior to meetings. Not so with Mr. Beckham. I read in the agenda that the City Council meetings follow Roberts Rules of Order. Apparently that does not apply to Mr. Beckham. He repeatedly interrupts other Council members as they are speaking. Not only is this contrary to Roberts Rules of Order, it is just plain rude. Perhaps Mr. Beckham can enrol in Civics 101 and learn just how a government is supposed to work. And maybe the City can see fit to buy Mr. Beckham a copy of Roberts Rules of Order.