HIDING OUT WORKS, BUT ONLY FOR SO LONG

By Bob Walsh

 

Stockton city council

 

The city of Stockton is strange.  It was at one time (back in the 19th century) the second largest commercial hub in California.  It was the jumping off spot for the gold rush.  Shit was happening here.  Shit is still happening here, but not the good, interesting kind of shit.

Stockton has about half of the total population of San Joaquin County.  Well over 300,000 people.  It is, according to the census bureau, the most ethnically diverse county in the United States.  It has two major freeways cutting thru, rail lines, a deep-water port and an excellent though severely underutilized airport.  

And a city government that I am not sure could run a 7-11 properly.  

The city went bankrupt some years ago.  Actually bankrupt.  The fire department (which is still pretty good) was downgraded due to staffing cuts.  The police department is severely understaffed.  Normally you can't get a cop in Stockton unless there is blood on the ground.  The school district just went thru some truly scandalous shit that is still echoing around and about.  And now back to the city again.

There is some friction between the city manager and much of the city council.  Allegations of spilling the beans and releasing info that shouldn't be released.  Financial irregularity.  Finger pointing.  There was a special city council meeting scheduled for this evening to discuss some of the bullshit, hopefully bring at least some of it into the light.  Didn't happen.  The mayor and three members of the council didn't show.  No quorum.  No business done.

 

 

                    

 

The local newspaper, The Record, is a joke these days.  It is a morning paper that is now delivered by the post office so you get it hours "late" and the news is at least a day stale anyway.  I haven't subscribed in a couple of years and I LIKE a hard copy newspaper.  I am old, I relate to it.  I just refuse to pay way too much money for a paper that is stale by the time I actually get it.  Hell, they don't even print it themselves any more, that is part of the reason I suspect why it is so stale when you see it.  

So, there it is.  There is something more than a little stinky going on AGAIN somewhere in city government.  I will follow along as best I can and report when interesting chunks float to the surface but even though I live here it is sometimes hard to care.  It's like the clowns are running the circus.