We here at the Patterson IrriTator want to formally apologize to Elias and Luis for any harm they have suffered from paranoid pseudo-political operatives. We admire your courage, remember:
“First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win.” — Mahatma Gandhi
DISCLAIMER: ELIAS FUNEZ ALONG WITH LUIS MOLINA HAVE NEVER CONTRIBUTED NOR ARE THEY AFFILIATED WITH THIS SITE.
With that short introduction, we felt that your (Elias) last post deserved the front page.
Well I had a little meeting with the Mayor Becky Campo today regarding the reason(s) that she chose not to re-appoint me given the fact that she never gave an explanation to the public during last Tuesday’s city council meeting regarding her and Dominic Farinha’s decisions.
She told me plain and simple, that she was afraid that I voted for Luis Molina during the last election and that I would be critical of her decision to let Luis go from the Planning Commission… so she decided to let me go as well.
She felt that I had a perceived ‘alliance’ with him because she ‘thought’ that I voted for him during the last election. I told her that who I voted for is completely my business and shouldn’t have weighed into her decision to let me go from the Planning Commission. I never wanted to compromise my role and source of income working for the IrriGator, so I made sure to not publicly endorse either Becky, Luis, or any of the other candidates for council.
I’ve never met with Luis Molina outside of Planning Commission meetings. If she were to perceive me as having an ‘alliance’ with anyone based on meeting them outside of city sanctioned meetings… then it should have been one with herself. Out of the current city council members and planning commissioners, Becky Campo is the only one I’ve ever sat down with before and had a beer, once at Johnny’s Club, and once at Mil’s Bar and Grill, and we never discussed anything to do with the city.
It’s a shame she couldn’t have had this meeting with me prior to my re-appointment interview, or bring up these grievances/issues with me during the actual re-appointment interview itself.
She also brought up some other things during our talk, saying that even though councilmember Annette Smith contacted her and told her to get rid of me, or “can me” as I think Becky’s exact words were, that Annette’s opinion mattered nothing in her decision to get rid of me… I guess the fact that I may have voted did though.
Another thing she brought up was that she feared that I was involved with this site, the Patterson IrrItator. While I commend who ever it is that is responsible for this site for providing yet another outlet for concerned folks to express their opinions and statements,… I will say that I am in NO way involved with this website or its creators besides the two comments that I have left here. In fact I’ve even left comments on Pattersons other blog site the Patterson Times, and many other blogs, every time using my full name because I am not afraid of people knowing who I am. Although I’m going to refrain from posting on the PattersonTimes website because I’ve noticed that they seem to edit comments that oppose anything that they are in favor for.
Given my crazy schedule that consists of running around for the IrriGator, 6 units of college classes at MJC East Campus, volunteering for the Patterson High School after school program where I mentor photography students, volunteering for the city’s planning commission, and going on trips for myself in order to keep my sanity… I couldn’t possibly have the time or patience to keep up a site like this.
Confusion, frustration, desperation of hope for our community…there aren’t enough words to explain how I feel right now.
p.s. Thank you Jeff Arambel for reading my earlier post, I value your opinions very much as you should value mine, but tell me if you think our Mayor was being “objective” or not when she made her decisions for re-appointment.
Editor’s note: Stanislaus Grand Jury may want to take a peak at this.
arseniomataka said,
January 23, 2009 @ 9:56 AM
Sergio and I made the latter half of the planning commission meeting last night. “Casting a wide net” = get your shovel ready. Get the EIR for the twenty year lands, after that it developed, if you want to carve up the mountains then another EIR will be needed. It’s my understanding that the PC recommendation was to study the 20 and 40 year lands, if this is incorrect, can someone please clarify.
This whole planning commission thing is out of control, I’ve never witnessed a body of government handle matters the way the city is handling them now. If half of Elias’s statements are true (I believe they are totally true) you have got to really ask yourself, why are individuals like this running the city of Patterson. Since when does a differing view make you ineligible or unqualified to hold a volunteer appointment. Everyone that doesn’t think exactly like Ms. Smith and Ms. Campo should take notice. What does that say about the people they recommended?
Lon said,
January 23, 2009 @ 10:15 AM
http://www.photoanon.com/images/2y151o737pxublb8iyvl.jpg
Jack Hammer said,
January 23, 2009 @ 11:29 AM
Interesting, how fast ‘competition’ being pushed away.
I wonder what kind pressure councilman Sam Cauella is under given his public support of Molina during last election.
Sam – you holding up good?
Eye of the Tiger said,
January 23, 2009 @ 11:32 AM
Lon,
That picture is probably the most hilarious thing I’ve seen on this site. Too funny!
Class of 85 Rocks!
sergiocuellar said,
January 23, 2009 @ 3:27 PM
Lets not let Dominic off the hook either! although with the Big Two out he would probably step down or be silenced more than he is, with out his mouth pieces there!
jrealini said,
January 23, 2009 @ 4:27 PM
If this is a recall, shouldn’t it be a general recall as the majority of the votes are all 5-0 or 0-5 except for abstentions? This is not a comment for or against a recall as I don’t believe the cost is in line with the possible benefit at this time.
The Big Squeeze « The Patterson IrriTator said,
October 19, 2009 @ 10:49 PM
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Toy Soldiers « The Patterson IrriTator said,
August 7, 2010 @ 7:43 AM
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