"We're almost Out Of Red Letters For All The Red Letter Days"

I gotta say, our fair city is special...

People have responded in a number of ways in regard to Tuesday's city council meeting and Tazer Friend Inge Oliver has expressed things all of us can probably agree on with this piece (we apologize for the delay. Our Blog editor was down) :

The city's politicians got their way last night, despite the boycott, they voted for the $185,000
consultant contract to basically do a survey for the right way to setup the Office for the Violent Prevention Coordinator, which takes, based on Mr. Muhammad's (Director of the Mentoring Center/Oakland) approx. ten (10) months; and they succeeded with their proposed 8% annual increase of the sewer fee!

What a shame!

A) What do we need a survey for? It is already more than clear what and where the hot-spots are.

B) Do they really care about the residents, who voted them into their paid position, the grieving families, the ongoing killings in our streets? I say no, they don't! But they care enough for their allowances for cell-phones, travel expenses, domestic partners benefits etc., to spend almost half an hour discussing the issue.

C) The Mentoring Center's survey( under Mr. Muhammad) next year in April (2007!) will show in increase of violence during the summer-break of the schools, as happened in the past, but as of now, there are no preventing programs scheduled by the city.

The only positive thing happened so far, is Chief Magnus' reorganization of his department.

TAZER NOTE: While not violence prevention related, This sewer fee increase info has been allowed in this instance due to the fact that the council has OFFICIALLY said it's ok to take YOUR MONEY and you can't do a damn thing about it. Re-watch the meeting when you have a chance.

D) Regarding the sewer fee increase: I would like to know where the 1999 bond-money ($37million) went.

Based on Veola's list of accomplishments for 2005, $755,000 alone went for upgrading their own equipments, and the total of repairs is specified with $7millions.

Richmond residents, wake up and smell the coffee!!!!

To me it's very clear, the city's politicians are not serving the city's residents, we, the resident's
are serving the politicians with our hard earned tax-money, and this will go on and on......

Sincerely,
Inge Oliver
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TAZER NOTE: Thank you for this piece Inge. The Tazer wonders aloud:

Dear City Manager,

Have you finished negociating that contract with Mr. Muhammad and his group? I know it's only Friday after you and the council were smellin' yourselves cause you think you did something Tuesday, but PEOPLE ARE STILL DYING OUT THERE. So, how bout it huh? We're ok for the work on the coordinatin' of the office coordinator to coordinate the coordinatin' to start anytime.

Signed,

Many pissed off Richmond residents who are smart to your REALLY BAD HUSTLE and the 170 + dead bodies over the last 5 years