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Wednesday, May 23, 2012
The invisible city manager?
by Kathleen Haley, published on December 9, 2009 at 5:50 PM
Storyline: Sacramento City Hall / Politics
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I have been trying to set up an appointment to meet with City Manager Ray Kerridge since Oct. 21. While I’ve introduced myself to him in the past, I haven’t had a sit-down meeting with him.
Since I cover city politics, I thought it would be good idea to have a conversation with the city manager. It just seemed, you know, logical for a City Hall reporter to talk to the city manager. After all, in lieu of a strong mayor, he is the city's top executive.
But my requests to meet with Kerridge have so far yielded no results. There was one meeting scheduled for Nov. 5 but city spokeswoman Amy Williams canceled on behalf of Kerridge.
After Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, I seized a chance to talk to Kerridge. And it was then that I learned why Kerridge hasn’t been able to meet with me.
As Kerridge was on his way out of the City Council’s chambers, I used a jovial tone to tell him that I wanted to meet with him. He responded, “I'm invisible.”
Yes, Kerridge appeared to be joking when he gave that response. But I still want to meet with the city manager because he runs the city government. Even if he is invisible.
Photo by Anthony Bento.
Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.
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No disrespect intended, but I dont think he thinks of Sac Press as a legitimate news outlet....yet. I have had that discussion with him. I told him that reporters that write for the internet are in fact journalists, (as determined by the Courts) and that the City should provide them with press passes and access to the press room at City Hall during council meetings. He agreed, (at least he said he did) and that he would update the City policy on Internet bloggers and journalists. Someone at Sac Press should follow up on this with him.
I actually suspect that you cannot get past his gatekeeper...It may not be Ray at all. City staff are often a pain in the A@@ ...especially the assistants to Ray. They wield a lot of power controlling who gets past them, they know it, and they use that power.
BTW... try Simons bar after any council meeting..or other Devores... He's often out throwing some back with Robbie Waters.
There are a number of things wrong with City Hall, but Mayor Fop is at the top of the list with a variety of well documented and far more insidious caprices and fiats than Kerridge.
Portland was identified as a 'city of interest' some time ago, and if he had anything to do with Portland's renaissance and revitalization, he should have very well been considered for his current role. We could do worse, especially if SMI passes, and especially if SMI passes with this current incumbent mayor holding the keys to such backroom deals and corruption.
I don't know the man from Adam, but at least Kerridge is subject to a very democratic process in carrying out his job. If you don't like what he's doing, I'd suggest talking to your council representative....
Kerridge no doubt figured prominently some of the more contentious development battles during his relatively short tenure, including K Street and the Nassi and Saca towers collapses, all of which are glaring failures whose numbers were not scrutinized effectively prior to the city's buy in. But while he may have had a role in these events and more, irresponsible developers are the ones holding the conch, and I believe they too share the burden of at least veracity in providing honest info for regulatory scrutiny prior to municipal participation in such enormous and impactful projects.
On the other hand, if he's slammin' back shots with the likes of Robbie (hiccup) Waters, he's probably someone I would hold in disdain as a matter of course...
I don't think Kerridge has much to fear from SMI, he and KJ seem to get along very, very well and they have a similar managerial approach--I wouldn't be surprised if their supporters include a lot of the same people. So no matter what happens in June, I wouldn't be surprised to see Kerridge remain as city manager.
Anyone ever check to see how many staff reports to council that he actually signed vs. asst. managers? On anything that has any measure of controversy, I've heard from staff in meetings that this curious omission (as top dog) is consistent with his direction which goes something like this: "go ahead, but I don't ever want to see my fingerprints on this."
That small list of mostly out of town real estate, developer and building interest that already have the access to the mayor. Some made "no bones" about disclosing who they were while others used various LLC's and corporations.
Case in Point, you won't find Angelo's name anywhere in the SAG disclosures statements created by Bell & Hiltachk, yet check out Angelo's major contributor filing statement form on the FPPC site within the Secretary of State's Site and you will see he has two (2)- $25,000 dollar contributions delivered to SAG on the same day that appear to be attributable to different LLC's.
50 Thousand Dollars-But I guess Reno's ok with that.
2nd Point-Planning Commission-someone and their relatives have contributed over $20K between SAG and a candidates election committee-and now they are that politician's selected choice for the City Planning Commission...I suggest you look at all of the commission candidate's applications objectively and see how they all compare.
Nothing illegal about it, fully available via public records to determine...if you are so inclined...but not transparent.
I don't think the residents want any political hack having 35 million dollars worth of city payroll to hand out to whomever. Even if we could afford it.
Concentrating authority in one person is a recipe for corruption, and this mayor has already demonstrated his proclivity for such corrupt conduct, in his private life and in public office.
Our charter has protected us from the likes of KJ and his ilk of scandal ridden suckups, and for no other reason it should be maintained.
Anyone can sign up for 2 minutes of public comment at City Council meetings.
I suggest you sign up, go up to the podium, and share this story in front of the council and city manager. That will embarrass him... perhaps enough to give you the time of day.
It's one thing if he's busy... and needs to respond to you in limited fashion, even by telephone or email. To ignore a prospective member of "the press" (no matter how mainstream) completely & repeatedly is asking to be called out.