Opinion and Commentary by Samuel Strait – April 22, 2022 I don't often comment on the doings of the City's Council as I haven't, up until recently, been all that interested in reporting on the minor league version of the "clown show" in Del Norte County. In any event, I've taken in the last few meetings just to get a sense of how far out of touch with the public, that the City Council is. As an aside, it would be nice if when the Council met, excepting of course Mayor Greenough, that they did not dress like a group of beggars after a days work and a late afternoon trip to the local watering hole. Back to the business at hand. Over the course of the last few meetings, including the most recent effort at bungling in the public's arena, the Council has managed to hire several more executive and senior management thanks likely to the space given over in the City's General Fund by Measure "S" funding use in areas that rightfully belong solely to the General Fund. In addition to the wildly out of control spending on the City's Pool and Beach Front park, now nearing $10 million, the Council has been laser focused on spending millions on Front Street and all it's "new" parking lots. It may not be exactly what Measure "S" was thought to produce, but language in the ordinance "allows" the current City Council to spend it pretty much how ever they please. Thought the Citizen's Oversight Committee was supposed to prevent such happening? Not a chance. The City has insured that the COC is composed entirely of "rubber stampers". Anyway, on to the most recent City Council Meeting where after the formalities were rendered, an item from the "Consent Agenda" was removed to enable the Council to gush euphorically over their most recent hire, a new Economic Development and Recreation Director, like the City really needs to bumble through those two areas of concern. The charade was only notable in that the passage of Measure "S" was the most likely reason that the City managed this "new" hire. The remaining items for the City's review were a presentation, for nearly an hour, over a possible "new" business wishing to grace our City's streets and bike paths, twenty five e-scooters for rent. While the presentation by Bird Inc, was interesting, I am not sure exactly who will be renting the "e-scooters" to the extent the investment will be worthwhile for the company. Sure in summer time perhaps, but at other times of the year? Renting the scooters appears easy enough with the use of an application and a "smart phone". From there Granny can tour the City limits to her hearts delight, as long as she does not cross the line, that is between the City and County. No trips to Walmart or the Hospital for Granny then. But maybe that will not be a bulk of the usage, at least in the City's limits. Only time will tell whether or not this benefits City and County residents. At least it doesn't cost the City's taxpayers more of their hard earned money, yet. The remaining item on the City Council's agenda was talk about "military style" equipment at the City's Police Department, which they do not have any currently. Chief Richard Griffin did his best to lead the Council through the intricacies of this often misinterpreted subject, assuring the Council that tanks, artillery pieces and missiles were not on his wish list. He would; however, like to be able to navigate the deep waters of government regulation to obtain certainly less lethal equipment to use for the benefit of his department and his serving officers. I did not notice any extreme hyperventilation by the Council over Chief Griffin's explanation of the equipment and its intended use, whew, another bullet dodged. After nearly an hour of heavy lifting by all in attendance, the meeting wheezed to its conclusion. All votes taken were 5-0. It is not that anything occurred during the meeting that was earth shaking, it merely is the fact that the City Council remains tone deaf in their expenditure of Measure "S" funding, which does affect those that live in the City and the County in an increasingly acute way. As more money is drained from local pockets and those that visit, the question remains, "Was Measure 'S' being expended the way local voters thought when they approved the Measure in the first place? Do those voters who voted for passage of the measure recognize the effect it is having on local businesses? How much more tax flight to Oregon will it take to wake up the City's voters, that most of the expenditures by the City are barely useful to a majority of the affected populations? As inflation increases, Do those that passed Measure "S" recognize that the sales tax burden will only increase and take a larger share of every one's income in order to pay for necessities? All that being said, the City Council's path is clear, expand government and provide the proverbial "bread and circuses" that will ultimately distribute a growing level of pain to your pocket book.