Opinion Piece By Linda Sutter – June 13, 2017 –
I guess I had a lot of expectations because when King Howard (Board of Supervisors Chair Chris Howard) and Humpty Dumpty Hemmingsen (Supervisor Gerry Hemmingsen) went to Washington DC it was specifically for the Last Chance Grade. I was expecting a full report.
- Who did they talk to?
- What was said?
- How they are going to help us?
- When can we expect legislation to go through that will benefit our county’s demise of the Last Chance Grade?
Pretty important stuff wouldn’t you think?
Well think again. It was so important to discuss that King Howard didn’t bother placing the BOS reports until the end of the June 13th Supervisor meeting, after public comment has already been offered. In fact King Howard didn’t bother placing the BOS reports on the agenda at all. Yes, King Howard sat on his razzle dazzle royal smug bottom throughout the whole BOS meeting only to say at the end of the meeting, “We’ve made contact with the right people.”
UNACCEPTABLE!
What people, who, and why is it a secret? Because it was only a 30 minute meeting with staff. Howard and Hemmingsen were more mesmerized with the fact they sat at a table with Senator Ted Cruz.
But that’s not all. We had a surprise visit from our $72,000,00 a year Lobbyist, Greg Burns. Yes. Greg Burns came all the way out to Crescent City to tell us all about how he showed Howard and Hemmingsen around Washington DC and that we received funding for the EAS (airport) to continue until the year 2019. Greg Burns also informed the public that Hemmingsen and Howard met with people that could give them help with the forgiveness of a $270,000 Tri-Agency loan compliments of Supervisor Lori Cowan who went bankrupt on their Micro-Brewery business. But, not much to tell on the Last Chance Grade other than, “They met the right people.” Again, no names of the people that Hemmingsen and Howard came in contact with, what they have planned for the Last Chance Grade nor what needs to be done. It was the smoke up your ass dog and pony show once again for Del Norte County.
In the meantime, King Howard has been very busy with the budget proposal for the Board of Supervisors. Yes, in 2015 the budget for the Board of Supervisors was $388,000. This year the proposed budget for just the board of supervisors is $743,000. I am beginning to see Bel,l California. Anyway get on the computer and check out item # 24 on the agenda. Click for documents. The 4th page down reveals the new proposed budget.
So, here we are 2017. The Last Chance Grade issue was the reason for going to Washington. How much they spent has not yet been revealed, but when I get the receipts we will see how much this trip cost the taxpayers. And then, I hope the voters of Howard and Hemmingsen’s district will want to vote them out in 2018.
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