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Letter to the editor: City council term limits needed
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Posted by jimr Tue Jul 10, 2007 15:12:28 PDT
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Voice your concerns -To the city council

 

Here I go again. To all those who write the blogs and just whine (anybody want some cheese with that?) and moan and complain among themselves..and us, will not accomplish anything definitive. It will not change anything in the long run. There is only one way to do that. Attend the city council meetings and stand up and speak your piece. I urge everyone in attendance, if they agree with the speaker, Stand up and applaud. That’s the only way to get the attention of the city council and let them know it is not just the one opinion of the speaker, but that person is speaking for all of us.We are the electorate and we tell the council what is important to us.

 

I know that the 6 p.m. Monday evenings are not the best possible times for these meetings since many of you commute to work and are busy driving on the freeways at that hour, and many others are busy cooking dinner for their families. I approached Councilperson Hand at one point and asked her to introduce a motion to change the meetings to Saturday afternoons so that more people who would wish to attend could do so. She responded that it would not be a good time for her. Humph! I guess her business interests come before the interests of the city. She is so busy she can’t even wait to cross the railroad tracks while waiting for a train to pass.

 

Stan Beckham can’t do it all by himself. He needs our support and encouragement. Most of the others on the council seem distant and disinterested. That’s because they’ve been there too long (Smith will mark 24 years by 2010) and need to be replaced. The interests of the electorate must be made to be their number one priority…and they need to be reminded of that. We need to term have limits for the city council.

If those of you who live outside the city limits think that you have no rights or concerns for attending the city council meetings, you are very wrong. Any decision made by the city council will ultimately affect everyone who lives within the perimeter of the greater Tehachapi area. We are all one people and must act in each other’s best interests. What affects one, affects all. So, once again, I urge everyone who possibly can, to attend every council meeting and either write ahead to place your concern on the formal agenda, or stand up at the appropriate time and voice your oral agenda. It’s time we let them know who is the boss!

 

Respectfully,

Jim Richards

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Comment From: shoegirl

As a new resident, I was unaware of the meeting times but will make it a point to attend the next meeting.I am so glad I read your post! No term limits on city council??? I had no idea!  Do you or anyone reading this post know what the process is to add term limits to the city council? Perhaps, by the next election?  Or, let me guess...is this something the City Council must vote on??? ;-) Comment From: jimr

CITY COUNCIL TERM LIMITS: Yes, and I am presently working on a legal proposal to present to the Council as soon as it is ready. I am paying for this out of my own pocket($1,000.00 for openers) because I believe so strongly in it. I put my money where my mouth is. Or, in this case, my keyboard!. I will be happy to show anyone my cancelled checks to prove it. I will need a LOT of citizens to support this when the time comes and will post it here for all to see and hope that EVERYONE who can attend the meeting, will do so. Thanks, Jim Richards