HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - June 3, 1987 (114)C!TY COUNCI,
OESON .,tayor
CITY O F L O D I
tr HN R 'RawN) SNIDER
.ti tic Or Pc Tempore CIT! HALL. 221 WFSt P2N! STREE T
DA',ID -M. ti HNr HMAN CAIL iiU\ 3iM,
}ANDS W PINKERTON Ir LODI. CALIFORNIA 95241-1910
:RED M REID (209) 334-5634
June 8, 1987 TELECOPIER r�133;ti-v,
The Honorable Peter R. Chacon
Assemblyman
State Capitol
Sacramento, California 95814
Re: A6 2190 (Chacon) District City Council Elections
Dear Assemblyman Chacon:
iHONAAS A P, TER SON
rite; Cierk
I - -SEt1`
_ 'City N ttornev
CIE _r?K
V P. - I
A person, much wiser than we are, once said "If it ain't broke,
don't fix it." Obviously, said person was not a member of the class
of '87 of the California Legislature. This classes' moto must be:
"If we think it's broke, we'll fix it, even if it's not". A62190
(Chacon) which will mandate district elections ;n all cities, is a
work of :',iis class of 1987. The authors of this bill were well
aware that cities have the present ability, and the mechanism to
choose to have district elected officials. These legislators are
also well aware of how well a majority of California cities work
with the present city-wide voting system. However, for some obscure
reason, these legislators just can't help getting themselves
involved in deciding what is "right", and thereby forcing district
voting down the throats of California cities.
It appears that the legislators believe in their heart of hearts,
that local governments' sole purpose in life is to exploit
minorities and to make certain that minorities are not represented
in government; and further to make certain that minorities never
receive essential governmental services. After all, they believe,
only a minority can represent a minority. If, however, they would
take a moment to look at the essential local services -- be it
police, fire, sewer, or water -- they would find that these services
are essentially colorblind -- and clearly, they would see that one
need not be a minority to make sure that the local services are
given to minorities.
These legislators need to be reminded that one reason that this
government has lost its competitive edge in the world, is that we
have become a nation of ethnicity, with each minority fighting and
suing the other minorities and the government, to ensure they get
their "rights", rather than being a nation of commonality, where we
would be Americans first, with common goals and desires. Wasn't it
a great man who said "A house divided will not stand"?.
The Honorable Peter R. Chacon
Assemblyman
State Capitol
Sacramento, California 95814
Re: AC 2190 (Chacon) District City Council Elections
Page Two
A82190 perpetuates the cynical belief that we are not Americans
first, but a nation of distinct minorities, all of whom must fight
for a piece of the pie, rather than working together for the
commonweal. District voting unfortunately provides the framework
for continuous devisive fifedom politics, where the district's
concerns will be seen as more important than the common concerns of
the whole city. We as Americans, if we are to survive in this
complex world of geopolitics, must begin again to learn to sublimate
our individual desires for the commonweal. Now, the question comes
up: Will district voting provide the necessary leadership in this
area?
We ask you to reconsider your position on AB2190, and if you cannot,
to let us know in writing, exactly the reason why you are supporting
AB2190.
Yours for good government.
JOHN R. Randy SNIDER
Mayor Pro Tempore
j i V'" l.wl / 'fir• �ri`f 1
J S W. PINKER , J .
ouncil Member
RMS/EMO/vc
ab219O/txta.Oly
Very.truly yours,, /
CJ! s�"tr^i'X
EVELYN M. OLSON
MAYOR
CITY OF LODI
ID HINCHMAN
Council Member
C.EII D '
Council Member
4:�
CITY COUNCIL
EVELYN M OLSON
joHN R (Rand,) St,IDER
Mayor P,o Tempore
DAVID M HINCHNtAN
JAMES W, PINKERTON. jr,
FRED M.REID
June 8, 1987
CITY OF I,Oi"'-
CM HALL 221 WEST PINE STRf•.EJ
CALL BOX 3066
LODI, CALIFORNIA 95241-1910
(209) 334-5634
TELECOPIFR f:091333-6793 CI " 'Err,•
li-
Editor
San Diego Tribune
San Diego, California
Dear Editor:
T.HONtAC A PETERSON
rty :ala Rd�fr
ALICE M. RELMCHE
City Clerk
RONALD .tit STEIrz
City Attorney
Enclosed please find a copy of a letter from the Lodi City Council regarding
A62190 (Chacon). It is ver important that the
Y P public be aware of the
legislation your Assemblyman Chacon is a co-author of. It is interesting to note
that in California, there are 444 cities and only 26 cities have any form of
district voting. Perhaps you can ask your Assemblyman why he is sponsoring this
bili.
Thank you.
Very truly yours,, /
EVELYN M. ULSON
MAYOR
CITY OF LODI
RMSJvc
enclosure