Error to cost county $20 million

A procedural error by San Mateo County will end up taking a big bite out of revenues for schools and other agencies countywide.

[Jack Kirkpatrick]

What is wrong with this statement? "I don't think it's appropriate to point fingers." That was our County Counsel Michael Murphy's response to a judgement favoring a Genetech lawsuit seeking back property taxes from 1994. It is a lawsuit that hits the bottom line, "hammering schools and cities" ("Error to cost county $20 million," July 3). Why did this happen? We forgot to respond to the lawsuit in a timely manner was their reply. You have already been to court on a continuum and had our attorney's present. How difficult is that to enter into your "to do" list and follow up?

"I'm dumbfounded and speechless at the verdict," said County Supervisor Jerry Hill. However, we are reminded that he is the front runner and wants to fill the termed out 19 District Assembly seat currently occupied by Gene Mullins come the November's General Election. I think not; this would be a terrible reward to a costly situation.

This failure is a continuing example of our countywide political gridlock and the failure of the Board of Supervisors not to work closely with their constituencies and stakeholders. There is no horizontal leadership that interlocks the cities with the county to work on progressive reforms. Our county officials and politicians who don't seem to have a time line matrix or an ability to measure performance standards of our employees!

It is time to point fingers and hold employees and politicians accountable for this and other under performing operations. It is time to conduct a failure analysis on what is happening in our county and city operations! It is time to have performance standards and the ability to measure those standards to ensure best practices in government and it politicians. Our political affiliation be damned; let the chip fall where they may so the electorate can make informed decision!

It is also time to remove some staff for their failures, remove or recall some politicians from their posts and deny others from advancing to higher office for their failure to create public trust and maintaining a higher standard of ethics!

[Map]

Ok. You start.

[Is is Only Money]

If Assembly member Gene Mullins can't pass a bill to restore the $20 million to the county and $1.2 million to San Mateo Union High School District, then Supervisor Jerry Hill, if elected to the 19th District, will try to pork barrel $20 million using the "immaculate conception" theory as one of his tools in his bag of political tricks!

As the presumptive winner in a county that is infused with near like minded Democrts, Jerry should know that "immaculate conception" only passes muster as a religious doctrine, so he better pray for "trickery" to recover that $20 million lost by the Board who is responsible for the neglect of the County Attorney's office! The Assembly has bigger issues -- if the legislature doesn't pass a bill abolishing "Sanctuary City" status that cities use to shield them from reporting immigration violations to ICE. then a people's proposition will be on next years ballot and likely pass!

[Jack Kirkpatrick]

Genetech should keep the $20 million reassessment money because the County's Board of Supervisors failed the accountability test once again as did the County Council who says, "I don't think it's appropriate to point fingers." That comment and Jerry Hill's comment alone, says that our politicians and appointees don't get it.

It is essential to hold our employees and the Board responsible for this mess -- it is $20 million in taxpayers money and it is no different from a loss of a few dollars here or a few dollars there!
If Genetech wants to forego the $20 million and donate it to another county where they do business for an endow a chair or scholarships that advances biochemistry, I would not object, but it should not go be spent in San Mateo County. In that way, maybe the electorate will understand that their politicians have to be held accountable even if we are punished -- they need a critical eye on who we elect!

Supervisor Jerry Hill said that gridlock is the biggest problem facing state government, but is also true that gridlock is a countywide problem and we went ahead and reelected the same politicians and I don't think they get it either.

Gridlock and political messes are everywhere so consider these developments created by our politicians and we continue to reelect them:

Redwood City has not resolved the Stufy and Century 21 impasse and is again being sued by Bob Bryant (Courthouse Cafe) for loss of business, damage....

Affordable housing a countywide city problem that has done little since 1973 except talk and pass rent control as an answer; immigration enforcement is shielded by "Sanctuary City" status and our county sheriff refuses to assist in mutual assistance with federal authorities!

Half Moon Bay lost a $37 million lawsuit that they are trying to reduce to $18 million. "The property was deemed wetlands even after the city already approved a development there in the early 1990's." Now Assembly representative Mullins has introduced AB 1991 to remediate the problem that will eventually require authorization for a possible selling of bonds and that is why it is in the Appropriation Committee.

Pacifica have been hit with allegations that they failed to remove wetlands accumulating at the Pacifica quarry 10 years ago, and they now face a lawsuit from quarry owner Peebles Development Corp.

Lack of immigration enforcement and not rescinding the business licenses from employers hiring illegal immigrants who may have stolen identities to thwart authorities.

We should also concern ourselves with the lack of public trust and ethics:

Sheriff Munks was not censor for his behavior at the Las Vegas brothel that besmirched our San Mateo County citizens and the Board of Supervisors gave more excuses that they cannot do anything. All one has to do is look to San Francisco at their latest scandal on juvenile illegal immigrants and shielding them from ICE instead of having them officially deported or dumping them on other San Bernardino County where they escaped with on returning to SF and was arrested!

Jerry Hill received from the Minks' family $4,500 in "Munky Money" when Hill was running for Mullin's Assembly seat. He did return it when it became public.

We then have Mike King, the former mayor of San Carlos, that lost his appeal on felony fraud and is now doing his probation.

Every time I listen to our "career" politicians looking for reelection or "promotion" to a seat in higher government and say, "I want to finish work I started," I usually know something is wrong with their thinking and performance. Yet, we returned most to their office in this last election!

[Bobby]

I've noticed that Jack likes writing then reading his own posts---no one else does...

[He Makes Sense]

Yeah, but he makes sense and he has forewarned the public that they better do something about waste in local governmant!

He usually make sense and is rational without name calling even if you disagree completly or in part. That $20 million is part of your tax money being wasted and no accountability. Why would you tolerate that fro your politicians and and their employees?

[Bobby]

If you think someone who rambles on, THEN changes his user name and replies to himself makes sense...

[Forensic Syntax]

Even if the forensic syntax may be a confirmation, you should make a stand. Explain why the county Board of Supervisors should not point fingers at people responsible including themselves and then hold everyone accountable!

Jack is not going away and he is going to hammer away at serious errors that cost citizens and taxpayers money. He is also going to give politicians a bad time if they don't break the countywide gridlock.

The more people reading the threads in the RCDN Forum and who focus on the problems and reply, even if they disagree or have ideas to advance best practices, the less you will hear from him!

[Bobby]

Jack is now Forensic Syntax. Get a life Jack!

[Forensic Syntax]

Bobby, that was my confirmation note to you and my "mission" will be to continue in the forum. I am going to pursue those matters that interest me even if I have to prime the pump to get others to respond to the threads. If they want to respond to me personally or use displaced name calling and the like, so be it. I am not that thinned skinned, but is always nice to be liked and respected; it is not a requirement. If they want to support my views, gloss over or ignore my postings, that is OK and some will. If you or others have better ideas or thoughts post them as that is what this forum is for.

It is time for people in the Forum to be heard -- they are being monitored by some of our politicians and their cronies, so I think it provides a value medium even in the overused phrase: the "marketplace of ideas!"

I did revise my thinking on using other names as priming the pump to illicit more dialog. It may be unethical, but it serves it purpose and I am responsible and if RCDN think I have violated the TOS, they will toss me!

Just remember, Bobby, the "broken window theory" and how delaying the solution to problems make them more difficult to solve latter!

Jack Kirkpatrick

[Silence is not Golden]

Throw most career politicians out of office, remove the County Council and fire members of his support staff that resulted in this debacle!

[Sparky]

Somebody needs to come up with the money to educate all the anchor-babies.