By Bob Livesay
Special to the Herald

Mayor Patterson must be in shock. Why would I say that?  The mayor and her gang of 12 just got the shock of their life. Their attempt to hijack the City Council meeting went down in a big defeat, that being the Industrial Safety Ordinance (ISO).  Backed by her gang of 12 and about 70 former Crude-By-Rail suspects was not enough to sway the council on this hijack attempt.
The opposition was slim but very effective and to the point. What is in place now is better. Yes, Valero and city staff were put on notice, Valero to get the fenceline monitoring done in six months and  city staff to fix the communication issue.  This will all be done, and the “at least not yet” statement will go away big time.
The mayor and her gang of 12 have no respect for open government. They tried to bypass the public, City Council, city attorney, city manager and our wonderful city staff.  Mayor Patterson’s request to adopt her and  the gang of twelve’s request for their ISO was an attempt to say “We know better,” and they do not.
This ISO issue is going to become very political in the City Council election of 2018.  Any candidate backed by the mayor and vice mayor will have to answer to the public on this attempted hijack of the voters and residents. The Progressive Democrats of Benicia will try very hard to make a case that their candidate that could side with the mayor and vice mayor is the one  they want on the City Council.  Again, another attempt to hijack an election based on  this group’s personal ideals.  Many of the backers of the ISO are on the Steering Committee of Progessive Democrats of Benicia.  Take a look at the Steering Committee members. It will not be shocking, just the usual anti-Valero group. Any candidate that seeks the  PDOB endorsement and just talks safety without a clear plan will go nowhere. Neither talk nor an endorsement from the PDOB will not work.  An endorsement from the PDOB  or the mayor’s gang of 12 is  a sure loser. That group is for sure anti-Valero and city staff.  Why would anyone want that endorsement?  The winners will be the candidates that know what is working and what is not.
The results on Tuesday night showed the separation from the public and the mayor and vice mayor. The public won because of sound understanding of safety, monitoring and no use of scare tactics. Attach yourself to the thinking of the mayor, vice mayor and the PDOB, and you will never have time to explain away your reasons.  You will be on the defense and backed into a very tight  corner with no way out.
Tuesday night was a very big win for the voters/residents and will continue to build as all the issues will be resolved before the November  election, all in favor of the residents/voters and not for the hijack group.  Believe me, this group will have every excuse and a big time attempt to attack Valero and city staff.  They have had success in the past, but this time the hole is too deep.  Backing the city staff  and their expertise will bring very good results for the voters/residents.  Remember what I said: all talk and an endorsement are not the answers. Results are, and they will happen before the November election. I will be watching and writing.

Bob Livesay is a Benicia resident.

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