Everybody loves everybody else in SB
This reporter did not attend Monday's entire City Council meeting in order to work on another assignment dealing with local reactions to the General Motors bankruptcy.
However, during the portion of the meeting that this reporter was present, City Attorney James F. Penman remarked that a new spirit of cordiality gripped the dais during new City Manager Charles McNeely's first day on the job.
"There's been no personal acrimony, and I'm just as guilty of that as anyone else," Penman said.
Possibly at the risk of watching the tenor San Bernardino politics change into something like that in Redlands or even Yucaipa, Penman also said that he proposed a deal to McNealy to make everybody play nice.
"I said, you work on the mayor, and I'll work on Mrs. McCammack," Penman said, as if Mayor Pat Morris and Seventh Ward Councilwoman Wendy McCammack don't always see eye to eye on the issues or even the rules governing parliamentary procedure during council meetings.
Morris said in reply that with McNeely in town, the city has a new principal and all the politicos were on their best behavior.
This reporter needs to mention that he had to leave the meeting before its conclusion, so it's possible that a new dispute has erupted between those remarks and this posting.
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Andrew Edwards. E-mail Andrew here.
Oh, there was an underlayer of spite and, "You just wait until he sees what a brat you are..." We'll see. However, I believe it had more to do with the new police chief than McNeely.
San Bernardino politicians can be compared to children at school, always wanting the new kid to be on their side and bullying the others. At least kids at schools come together to complete group assignments. San Bernardino Politicians it's time to grow up and act like adults!
Yes, Andrew, your last sentence indicates you know your politicians well. After you left, Ms. McCammack started her beligerent behavior towards the mayor, Mr. Penman started his anti-Mayor and anti-corruption routine bringing up the Gang of Four from the 1990's, Ms. Estrada insulted our congressman and Chas Kelly chatted with a girl in the audience, requiring staff to explain everything again.
Another great day in SB City Hall!
I think that Chas has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and someone needs to glue his butt to his chair,
Just because Wendy McCammack doesn't agree with Morris doesn't mean she's belligerent. She just cares about San Bernardino's future, which is more than I can say about others. Sadly, few understand that the reason these individuals sit at those seats is not because they all agree with one another. With any luck, none of them will agree with the mayor, either.
Of course just because Wendy McCammack does not agree with the Mayor doesn't mean she's belligerent. However, you have to look at her body language, facial expressions, tone of voice and take into consideration if she is often confrontational with the Mayor to conclude if she is overly belligerent.
She probably has good intentions and wants the best for San Bernardino but for various reasons operates the way she does. She has always been overly close to some union groups and representatives who have at times had agendas and motivations to accomplish their goals. But if you challenge her on that she will simply downplay it as normal business and why shouldn't she meet with these people on the surface.
If McCammack or Penman do not run for Mayor they will find another and closely advise that person so Mayor Morris is not re-elected.
Joe Said:
You are so right. Chas is very inconsiderate to his colleagues and ward residents, to be wandering around, and acting like he is working the room rather than being at the dais.
I noticed Ester caughing a lot, and she has had similar episodes or been away from dais , not feeling well . Is she ok? I know she is no spring chicken and I admire her drive. Just wondering about her health.
Been There aka "Old Horse":
It'll always be about the unions, huh ? Your personal agenda and motivations, not to mention body language and tone of voice, were the WORST of all. But luckily for most of us, that's in the past now. Thank you, and I really mean this, thank you very much for teaching us how a leader SHOULDN'T be to his men.
Pink Mist
Whatever that means Pink Mist I'll go with it. It's not always about the unions as you should know but occasionally it is. Also I have no personal agenda but alot of knowledge based on years of experience and information you apparently aren't privy to. By the way who is "Old Horse"? I honestly do not know. I was simply referring to actions I saw take place and you made it personal. Seems to me you are the one with an agenda and motivations. One can learn alot by my above comments if one is only willing to open their eyes and ears. Good luck with that. Now if your last comment is referring to the change at the police department you to are misguided and ill informed. But thats OK because it's nice to sit back and watch the hypocrisy not to mention a crime rate that will unlikely start to rise.
My observation of Wendy McCammack, regarding those groups, is that she wants to know everyone's perspectives. Remember when she said she went to the firehouse and did a ride along, or something to that effect? She actually talks to everyone she meets about their opinions and I think, in her case, it IS normal because it's EVERYONE's opinion that she wants, not just the unions. God forbid a politician actually consider the thoughts of their voters.
Oddly enough, Dennis Baxter brought up a situation where he was listening to his residents' wishes, too. I've never seen him consider his voters like that before. Good for him.
Dennis is listening to the residents in his ward because it's an election year - and he's running for re-election....if he wins (and who else would run in the 2nd ward?) wait til next year - back to quiet Dennis except for "seconding"...gotta have your name on the official council meeting minutes SOMEWHERE!
My girl friend in the 5th ward told me of a meeting she was at recently and how they were told by Kelley, how he took money from the 4th ward to repair Kendall or widen Kendall rd and bragged about it being a trick on his part.
I asked how she would feel if Shorett stole money from the 5th ward , when or if, there was no council person to defend their money like Kelley did when the 4th ward had no representation. She agreed that it was more like treachery on Kelley's part, to pull a stunt like that.
I don't see that as every body loves every body. More like stabbing another "ward" in the back!