The Santa Ana City Council is at it again. They will be meeting on Monday as the “Community Redevelopment Agency” to vote on an “Agreement with the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce for continued support and promotion of the CityLine newsletter.” And they did not want us to know about it.
You cannot find the agenda for this meeting on the City’s website. And they did not mail the agenda to me, although as a Housing and Redevelopment Commissioner I normally do receive this agenda via U.S. mail. Incidentally they DID mail me the agenda for their “Housing Authority” meeting which is on the same night.
My co-blogger, Thomas Gordon, called the City Clerk’s office today and asked for an emailed copy of the agenda in question. He has yet to receive a copy at the email address he gave them, so he drove to City Hall tonight and copied down the relevant information from the posted agenda.
This item was continued, you might recall, from the Santa Ana City Council meeting that was held on August 20. Sean Mill wrote about how inflamed Mike Metzler, the Exec. Director of the Chamber, got when his request for $82K to publish his CityLine propaganda was continued.
Mill also wrote about how Metzler has used the City Council to advance his own political agenda.
I continue to be amazed at the lengths the City Council will take to funnel money to their political hacks – Metzler chief amongst them. Earlier this week Mill revealed that the Chamber doesn’t even need our tax money. You can read their CityLine propaganda online.
I wish I could tell you that the City Council will make the right move on Monday. I really do. But they worked very hard to bury the Redevelopment Agency agenda and that makes me wonder if they were trying to give Metzler the money without any of us taking note?
Memo to Metzler and the City Council: please consider the cat to be officially out of the bag. The CityLine publishes their political endorsements in the CityLine using OUR tax money. That is NOT RIGHT. If the City Council votes to give Metzler this money they will be issuing a big slap to our collective faces. If they have the money to burn on Metzler, why did they just raise our water rates?
Art,
We must keep our eye on the ball. This whole dog and pony show about our commission appointments was likely created so that we would lose focus on issues like Metzler’s shakedown. Metzler was one of the people pushing for our removal and I am quite sure that the cocky s.o.b. played a hand in the whole thing. If they give him the money the flood gates will be opened on this blog and they can take that to the bank.
Thank goodness you guys are on top of this stuff!!! Kudos to Thomas for making the effort to drive down to city hall. I hope we have a huge crowd out to speak on this issue. Let’s hope several people have video cameras they can also take down to youtube the council remarks and body language during this item. Might be nice to have someone taping Mr. Mezler as well. Good work boys!
you know Art, I will be frank I often dislike the vitriol that exists among the people who blog here. Emotion and knee jerk comments often replace logic and common sense. That is just my opinion BUT I must honestly commend you for bringing the public actions of the Santa Ana City Council to light. This is a worth while service to the community. Before many things got done in the dark. Now they can no longer do so. For that you must be commended. KUDOS!
Metzler’s relationship with certain members of the City Council appears to be “I’ll take care of you if you take care of me.” Here we go again…
Poster 3,
Thank you for the kind words. I do not take offense at your wise assessment. We are indeed a bit rough around the edges. But we continue to evolve. God only knows what this blog will look like a year from now.
“Service to the community” IS our goal – I am pleased you noticed that.
Fellas,
Council cannot take action (vote) on any item that is not on the agenda. The public must be informed, 72-hours prior to any public meeting, about pending action items.
There’s plenty amiss with the government of Santa Ana, however I think they are somewhat diligent about being Brown Act compliant. Nonetheless, nothing surprises me when it comes to Metzler. 20 years at the helm of the Chamber is too long! Metzler needs to go.
#3
Blogging is an inexact practice. Art and gang do their best to present controversial and sometimes very important local issues in ways that get people to think!
I don’t always agree, either. However these people have the intent of making their city better and more accountable, so I think that is the most important thing to consider.
I am looking forward to the first person who sues this blog. It will put this thing on the map. So much corruption has been exposed here and a lawsuit will get those dastardly deeds their due attention!
Santa Ana has been held hostage by a small group of greedy outsiders who don’t care for their community members or for the greater good. They should expect to be continually exposed until they stop stealing from the inhabitants of Santa Ana.
#7
I agree, Santa Ana has been held hostage, too long, by greedy and malicious outsiders; Santa Ana’s city manager tops the list. They should all be exposed.
#6 is correct that Agenda’s must be posted 72 hours before any meeting unless there is an emergency. Not having all the details my wing it comment is that redevelopment agency funds should not be used for any Chamber of Commerce activities.
Every city or county ‘watchdog” should be commended for keeping tabs on their actions.
I played a minor roll in exposing a Brown Act violation in our city. It is not easy to nail them, but nail them we did and they were forced to audio tape Closed Session activities for a full year,
I predict a 6-1 vote in favor of giving the cash to the S.A. Chamber. Tinajero will be the only no vote. Martinez will give a speech with pros and cons but will in the end (thanks Al Amezcua!) vote to give them the dinero.
Who are you kidding, AlAmezcua has NO influence over Martinez.
Dear Anon. 6:12PM,
I hope you are correct. Only time will tell.