OPINION: Unpublished Letter for PCA Readers
The following Letter to the Editor of The Piedmont Post was sent to the Post, but was not published in the Post. It is published here for PCA readers.
VOTE NO on CC – Unacceptable City Charter changes.
CC – the “hire, but can’t fire” proposal – would unacceptably change Piedmont’s successful government by prohibiting the City Council from acting to retain or terminate their chosen Department Heads – Fire Chief, Police Chief, Finance Director, Recreation Director, etc.
Piedmonters should not enact this law. It promises problems found in other cities where councils have lost their authority and ability to act. A new government layer will separate Piedmonters from Council authority.
Only one person, the unelected City Administrator, would be allowed by Charter to evaluate, direct, retain and terminate Council-hired key employees -Police, Fire, Finance, Recreation, etc.
Piedmont’s current Charter works and is coveted by others.
With 22 years in elected office – Mayor, Council Member, Planning Commissioner, AC Transit President and Director, I have reviewed the Charter proposals and found proposals not in the best interest of keeping Piedmont a great place to live.
The Charter merits updating, but NOT as proposed by Measure CC.
Keep Piedmont’s Council strong. Await appropriate Charter change proposals.
VOTE NO on CC at the end of your ballot.
Alice Creason,
Former: Piedmont Mayor, Council Member, Planning Commissioner, AC Transit President, Director, Piedmont Beautification Foundation Trustee
