“Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realize we cannot eat money”
Archive for city of patterson
Stanislaus County Sheriff: The Death of Craig Prescott
Sheriff Adam Christianson has said jail officials followed department guidelines in trying to restrain and move Prescott. Take a look at the video below, are you comfortable with the guidelines Christianson speaks of.
The man is face down, handcuffed, peppered sprayed and tased with 8 deputies on his back, a struggle…….hardly. This is how he died. The same person in charge of the jail, is in charge of our streets. Settling and accepting this sort of behavior is simply inexcusable. Scott deserved better, Scott’s family deserved better, and Stanislaus County residents deserve better.
A Class Act: Annette Smith’s message from the podium
on January 23, 2009 at 5:08 pm sarakobiotch
Editor’s Note: If you follow the link above you’ll notice that this entry is no longer up, we got a copy before they erased it.
Smith feels if you got something to say, say it at the podium…wondering if she forgot about her former blogging entries. For more on this site and Smith, see the article below.
Patterson IrriTator 2.0
As many of you already know, the site will be in transition over the next month, primarily due to a change of contributors. As noted on my twitter account, we are currently planning a meeting to determine what are the next steps for this site. Many of you have contacted us with ideas and thoughts about the site’s current makeup, and it’s potential to do much more.
In order to put the site into the hands of those who live within city limits, we will be inviting folks to an informational gathering where you can ask questions about the site and it’s future.
If we don’t have your email, but you would like to be involved, be sure to contact me at pattersonirritator@yahoo.com. Folks from all interests are encouraged to participate, each of you possess a particular expertise that the community at large can surely benefit from.
General Plan up tomorrow, will they jam it down our throat before new elected officials are seated?
A Tribute to the Cool Ruler: Gregory Isaacs
Back in the early 90s at Patterson High, when most of my peers were listening to N.W.A., Too Short, Garth Brooks and Metallica, me and a small circle of friends were bobbing our heads to a different beat. It was a beat filled with love, peace and unity….reggae music.
It was during this time that Jimmy Lopez, a longtime friend, played a tape, yes a tape, with a voice so unique and pure, it could make the toughest, hardest dude melt. It was the sound of the Cool Ruler, Gregory Isaacs. Through his music I learned that love is filled with apologies, confessions, chances, departures, happiness, pain, moods, rumors, and substitutes.
For most of our adult life, Jimmy and I were determined to see the Cool Ruler before he passed, after all, we was getting up there in age and our time was running short. In 2002, we piled into my truck to see him in Sacramento, only to arrive at the venue to learn the show had been canceled due to a problem with Gregory’s Visa. We were beyond disappointed. We would have to wait to 2006 to get our next chance, and even though it was apparent that the cancer was getting to him, the cool ruler didn’t disappoint.
On October 25, 2010, Gregory Isaacs died in his home in London, England, he was 59 years old. He was known for several hits such as Night Nurse, Love Overdue, My Number, Border, and my personal favorite Top Ten.
They will bury Gregory Isaacs’ body tonight in Jamaica, but they will never bury his music and the simple delight, his music brought to my friends and I.
Editor’s Note: For a glimpse of reggae music coming out of Patterson, take a minute to listen to Irie Love.
Personal email accounts used to skirt Public Records Act request
Should personal email accounts be discoverable under the CPRA when used for governmental purposes? That’s the question we’ll soon be asking in an attempt to peel back another layer of secrecy at City Hall. One thing is clear, we have enough emails to show that council-members are indeed using their personal accounts to carry out the people’s business. By simply allowing our public officials to use their personal emails, we relinquish our right to monitor the manner in which they govern. Here’s an example below or read more about this topic here-> Government officials use personal email and texting to avoid public access laws. Why not use technology to enhance accountability instead of to subvert it? by Peter Scheer – California First Amendment Coalition
The Real Story: Patterson City Council Emails
Records requests yield thousands of emails – Patterson IrriGator article
Access to information concerning the conduct of the public’s business is a fundamental and necessary right for every person in the State. The greater and more unfettered the public official’s power, the greater public’s interest in monitoring the governmental action. – Summary of the California Public Records Act, California Attorney General’s Office.
I will try to comment on the article above this weekend, there is so much to discuss. The general reaction that I received more information than asked for is quite humorous. Smith needs to up her micro-managing, if she did she would have discovered that I submitted two (2) requests. The first request was for Smith’s emails, when it became apparent that my request would take close to a month, I sent a second request for the emails of the entire council.
Why are certain political officials so disturbed with the public taking a look at the manner in which they govern? Surely, a tea party supporter like Smith can appreciate this right. Nevertheless, we are willing to give the entire batch of emails to anyone who wants them. If you think I was selective in the postings, your right, we chose to not to post some emails that would not been in good taste. Smith and co. should be grateful.
The very suggestion that the emails posted are taken out of context…..is pretty hard to comprehend since we posted the entire original message.
The scariest thing to come out of all this, is that we got redacted emails, the Grand Jury’s version has got to be far juicier, after-all they have the ability to see the entire story, unedited.
No one said a word when John Ramos made public request act “shotgun style”, meaning he asked for everything under the sun…not a word from Becky, Annette, or Dom. (We’ll post his request soon).
The bottom-line: Instead of owning up to their comments, they make excuses about how the public shouldn’t have seen these emails. The councilmembers who don’t care about the emails have one thing in common, they’re not afraid to show the people of Patterson what they’re up to. Sadly, instead of owning up, Smith and Co. will desperately look for a sacrificial lamb, further damaging the public trust in their ability to lead.
Buehler, Buehler, Buehler & Patterson Planning Commission
PATTERSON MUNICIPAL CODE
2.40 PLANNING COMMISION
J. The term of a member of the commission who fails to attend three consecutive regular meetings or four meetings within any six-month period, without permission from the commission, will automatically be terminated; that finding to be made by the city council, upon notice from the commission secretary. This rule would apply to special meetings, if one-week notice was given for the meeting. (Ord. 678 (part), 2006; Ord. 588 § 2, 1999; Ord. 572 § 3, 1997).
Election Night in Patterson
Tonight, residents of Patterson voted to reclaim their city.
Now it’s time to make city hall free from individuals who seek to influence the council for monetary gain, and return it to the residents of Patterson.
Level heads must prevail to make this work, if elected officials choose to settle scores, the circus will continue. In his campaign, Molina promised to work with anybody who want to move the city forward, we hope he will keep this promise. However, we remain skeptical that the others can play nice.
Tonight I met some really dedicated community members, who spoke with their votes. However, the change they want will not come solely from a new mayor, it will come from their continued efforts to make this city exceptional again.
P.S Note to Councilmember Smith…throughout our email search, we ran across some very touching emails that you sent to our respective families when our loved ones were quite ill. Although we may disagree on city issues, your thoughts and concerns were deeply appreciated. Thanks.
Joe’s all access pass to City Hall continues
How many city residents can simply fire off a quick email and get a will serve letter, joe can. Everyone’s access to city hall not equal.
The Big Payback: Who gave John Ramos $27,000?
In September 2009, the Patterson City Council reimbursed local developer John Ramos $27,000 for legal fees he allegedly expended during his appeal of city staff’s approval of the health center’s move. But who really pushed to get JR his cash. Take a look below, it wasn’t King George. Despite the King’s legal advice, the three stooges chose to give away $27,000 in tax payer dollars, for what? A measly $500 donation every other election?
Dom Del Oh Please, The Big Boss and Patterson Planning Commission Application Process
We couldn’t make this stuff up if we tried. Only affirms what we already knew, stacking the Planning Commission deck was step one toward forming planning commission that would carry out Big Boss and Local Developer wishes. Dominic, what were you thinking? As a courtesy to you, we refrained from using many of your emails, not too flattering.
