When Not to Slam our Local Politicians

On January 31, I posted a regarding the letter Mayor Denise Athas sent to ABAG (Association of Bay Area Governments - if anyone doesn’t know this ponderous organization by now.) 

In her representative capacity, Athas basically said, “wait a minute ABAG, slow down here and let’s clarify these facts and figures you are throwing at us regarding job and housing growth projections in Novato, OK?” And I suggested that’s a good thing, because she is listening to the people of the city she represents who have become fed up with being told what to do and how to do it by ABAG. (Kind of like being forced to eat liver or drink prune juice as a kid if you get my dither.)

Now, presumably as a response to that letter, our City Manager revealed is that ABAG has cut their figures in half, more or less.

Brent Ainsworth quickly reported this under his story, Pressure Eases on the City’s Housing Quotas.

Meanwhile, under the turquoise dome at the Civic Center, Supervisor Judy Arnold, in her representative capacity, suggested the latest ABAG projections for the entire county’s job growth are “worth a reality check,” contending that both employment and therefore housing projections are inflated. She has asked the county staff for its own analysis and perhaps, that ABAG conduct an independent peer review. 

And I am thinking to myself, “this is GREAT news.” This means Judy is listening to and noting all of the discussion and controversy in Novato and the county, and ABAG’s total lack of objectivity, and Corte Madera’s dropping out of ABAG, and Denise’s forceful letter, and Dick Spotswood’s consistent, thorough commentary on the issue, (deep breath here as my sentence runs on ) – and is responding accordingly.

As I skim through the comments under the IJ article, I notice some guy, who uses a picture of a leopard or something similar to represent him, (maybe because he is scary?) writes: “She stuck her finger in the wind and changed her tune …. typical pol."

And I just want to shake that cute little cat until the PETA folks come after me and say, listening to the will of the people is what politicians are supposed to do! Don’t give her grief; applaud her for doing the right thing.

On every level, it’s hard for politicians to balance what they feel is right with what the majority of their electorate thinks is right. One need go no further than the ridiculous dialogue now going on with our national political duopoly regarding the cost of and/or morality of birth control. To which the majority of folks in this country would like to respond if given the chance, “who give a *&%# what some Georgetown law student pays for birth control - we need jobs, you donkeys and elephants – jobs!”

So I conclude by saying, kudos to Judy Arnold, kudos to Denise Athlas and most importantly, kudos to all of the people of Novato and Marin County who stand up at meetings, write letters and articles and take a great deal of slams because they know  we are a smart, educated and caring city in a smart, educated and caring county and no association of anything knows more about us and what is right for us, than we do.

Copyright March 2012
Christine Scioli
All Rights Reserved