DOES COUNCIL JUNKET DUPLICATE THE JOB (AND EXPENSE) OF CITY LOBBYIST?
By LBReport.com
Although Long Beach already has a six-figure deal with professional legislative advocate (read: lobbyist) Michael Arnold to represent City Hall’s interests in Sacramento, taxpayers will spend again for much the same thing when three city councilmembers take a trip to the state capital to push for a slate of issues just approved by the council.
Councilmembers Robert Garcia, Patrick O’Donnell and James Johnson will be traveling on the taxpayers’ dime—actually, many, many dimes—and it remains to be seen whether city staff will accompany them, which would obviously increase the cost of travel, food and lodging.
What will this contingent be pushing? LBReport.com has the list, which was approved by a 9-0 vote at the council’s Jan. 18 meeting. The news website also has a simple question: Do these positions match yours?
2 Comments
I think lobbying is an important and necessary aspect of the relationship between Sacramento and Long Beach. However if the “six figure deal” mentioned is accurate, I think we pay far too much for our lobbyist.
I also think that paying a lobbyist should not preclude sending elected officials to Sacramento from time to time to more directly represent our interests and our concerns there. However, when we send someone to Sacramento, I think it should be either the Mayor (a citywide elected official) or the Vice Mayor (a Council person chosen from among his or her peers to occasionally stand in the Mayor’s stead) and, if necessary, one additional person.
Three Councilpersons (and, perhaps, supporting staff) for such a mission seems excessive to me, particularly since we remain deeply in structural debt.
How many Council Members does it take to screw in a lightbulb? (Oops, I mean screw the public) Ans: Three plus one lobbyist
With this City’s budget deficit and the economy dying a slow death, this “junket” is inexcusable. They need to select and send just one Council Member or the lobbyist who is greatly overpaid. Maybe they should just fire the lobbyist!
Isn’t there an old adage that has become the Council mantra–”do as I say, not as I do.”