Young does not do his homework

This is in response to the March 1 letter, “Young does his homework,” as well as the Feb. 28 council meeting. Sorry, if Councilmember Steve Young had done his homework, he would have not had to ask all the tagged finance questions
at the Feb. 21 meeting. All he had to do was sit down with the finance director and the questions, and they would have been clearly answered before the council meeting.
I do understand questions being asked, but his approach is a long, grandstanding approach. Council meetings are very important and should not be used as a training ground for a new councilmember. He should know better and do the groundwork to get acquainted with any questions he has.
His approach does leave negative feelings. If you noticed at the Feb. 28 meeting, the presenter of the CalPers portion of the meeting was very thorough. It was an informational meeting, and questions by Councilmember Young were minimal, which may indicate he either did understand or did not understand. I think the later is the answer.
The finance director also gave a very good presentation. When those type of informational meetings are being presented, it is very important to ask questions.
Now, Councilmember Young is new and he must catch up quick. The resources for him to do that are available. Yes, other councilmembers did ask questions, but we must remember they had history as members and did know what had happened in the past.
The important thing that came out of these presentations was that the city is in a world of hurt. This short-term thinking must stop, and we must come up with long-term plans. One councilmember did mention the past Seeno project, and its financial help was down the road. If that project a few years back had been approved, it could very well be giving the city the boost it needs now. It is going to be very interesting how they tackle this big issue. The options are limited. Are increased fees the answer? No. Are cuts to the 207 employee base the answer? No. Another hit in the employee benefits the answer? No. Could outsourcing some of our departments be the answer? Maybe. Could cutting services be the answer? No. It’s a kiss of death for any councilmember in favor of that.
Better long-term planning is the answer.Economic development and maybe outsourcing of some departments. We must remember that the mayor said the budget was balanced a few years back with a $1.2 million adjustment. Guess what? Someone looked under a desk blotter and said “Gee? guess what I found. Another unfunded 2 million.”
That was the beginning of the next two years hit of 10 percent. Turns out it was just a short-term solution. It looks as if that did not help. We are right back in the same place. When is this council going to learn that?
There is light at the end of tunnel down the road, but in the meantime get ready for some drastic cuts. It will not be pleasant. Sorry, Mayor Patterson and councilmember Young. Valero is not the Bank of Benicia, but Councilmember Tom Campbell may have found a new bank. Try Amports. I do like his idea. Good luck, councilmembers. You were voted into office to face the problems and solve them. You did sign up for this.
I will be watching as The Owl always does.

Bob “The Owl” Livesay,
Benicia

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