We have an important City Council election in November. The overall tenure of the council has been dropping in the last few years and will drop to the lowest in memory come November. In a "throw the bastards out" environment that might not be a worry, but I know from watching the council for 20-plus years that knowing where we have been helps one decide where we should go. The recent affordable housing-rent control fiasco orchestrated by outgoing councilwoman Terry Nagel is a perfect example. We have an ordinance on the books that precludes rent control, so why did the council waste so much of their time and staff time on the issue? Lack of knowledge and poor judgement on Nagel's part. Result: a 4-1 vote to say "go away". So here is who I think should replace Nagel and Jerry Deal placeholder John Root:
Donna Colson, for sure, and Emily Beach with my fingers-crossed.
I've known Donna Colson for some time and have seen her in action getting things done. We've talked about many of the issues in town and I know she has a grip on a variety of issues along with the professional experience to handle some of the more detailed financial issues and questions as they arise. She is a no-brainer vote.
Russ Cohen and I sat down with Emily Beach for an introductory conversation about a week ago. I think we heard and reacted similarly, but here I am speaking for myself. He can weigh in at his leisure. Emily Beach comes across as having a good range of life experiences and some local experience mostly with school issues. She and her family have lived in B'game for eight years, so it is impossible to have that "institutional memory" I spoke of above if you were not here. So she has a lot of learn about the various issues, but I liked the clarifying questions she asked and her awareness that there are consequences to be considered that are not always obvious. That is especially true if someone brings them to her attention!
Lastly, I like that she lives on Cambridge Rd. just south of Village Park and just in from California Ave. She is not in one of the sheltered corners of west-side B'game. She has a front row seat for high-speed rail and congestion from over-development and sees the ill effects on the local schools from it.
One could say the same for Nirmala who is on a nearby street, but I have seen Nirmala in action the last few years and have been singularly unimpressed. One has to do more than show up for meetings and events. Everything I heard, wrote and agreed with in the press is still true and I do not believe she is prepared for hard decisions.
In a short field of four candidates for two open seats Donna Colson and Emily Beach get my vote. I believe they should get yours, too. If, like me, you had not heard of Emily Beach before she threw her hat in the ring, this is her.
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