Commentary and Opinion by Samuel Strait – February 22, 2024 Apologize for the delay in addressing the latest attempt at governance by our local Board of Supervisors where no one listens, except when it is something that they want to hear. Opening with the usual ceremonies at 10:00 am on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, the Board initially entertained us with a veritable parade of new employees, most of the Health and Human Services variety with few exceptions. More people with titles that give little in the way of information as to what these new employees actually do for their money. Not much progress in finding victims to work in departments that seem to actually need help……the Sheriff maybe. The Board reports, Supervisor Starkey, long winded as usual, Supervisor Borges, silent and stoic as usual, Supervisor Howard, on vacation, as usual, Supervisor Short, lost as usual, and Chair Wilson, explains all, as usual. Board of Supervisors, minus Chris Howard – on vacation The Consent Agenda appeared to be not so straight forward as it more often should be. Items appearing on the agenda that regularly lack transparency are often more palatable to the public when someone other than the Board has the opportunity to question an item. Often the Board members have little expertise with regard to questioning items placed as non controversial by government employees on the agenda that the public might find just a wee bit problematic. While the Board has the opportunity to gain some understanding prior to a meeting, the public is rarely afforded that opportunity. Five of the twenty item agenda were pulled for separate scrutiny; however, it was much to do about nothing as most were rolled back into the original agenda after questions were asked and only two items received more than passing examination. A concern over transmission of health information between Sutter Health and Department of Health and Human Services was quickly passed over the objections of Supervisor Starkey and another letter to the Pacific Fisheries Management Council about near shore fishery closures. Other than that more Health and Human Services, a meager seven items, more employee raises cloaked as employee reclassification's, some travel authorizations, and a million plus dollar software purchase requested by half the County's department. Scheduled items consisted of the usual efforts by local citizens to steer the Board's decision making towards a more representative light, fat chance. A discussion of the questionable direction embarked upon by the Tri Agency and their obsession with Off shore wind power. The hope that after expending $400,000 to resurrect the Agency, economic development would consist of more than money thrown down the drain pursuing off shore wind power that was very unlikely to materialize. That, and pointing out that the Tri Agency "successes", the harbor reconstruction, the airport terminal, the waste water treatment plant and the County's sewer system have come back to haunt both the City and County in addition to the "lender of last resort program". With those kinds of "successes" can we really afford more from the renewed efforts of the Tri Agency? Perhaps the County's Board might wish to focus on issues that actually do matter. Public Comment was followed by the latest useless effort to make our local airport meaningful in this Community. Wow! Another airline that will fly us to the Bay Area, Oakland. Then the cherry on top, two weekly flights to Hawthorne a suburb of LA. No interline agreements, more frustrations, and likely very little improvement over Contour. For some unknown reason the "powers to be" do not understand that going to the Bay Area and now, to the vicinity of LA may not coincide with many travelers flight plans. Seems like there might just be a few other places in the United States and else where that passengers on the North Coast may wish to go. Perhaps that may be "Why" many potential passengers travel to Medford in order to travel more seamlessly to the outside world. Just saying. And then the Board proceeded to make more trouble for themselves by allowing a portion of the County's homeless to occupy County property on Williams Drive. One would think the County's leadership would learn from experience that becoming a landlord to the County's Homeless was a very poor idea, but, No, 27 homeless at the Legacy to the tune of millions of dollars, now 110 more to push the dollar amount to near $20 million, maybe a couple hundred million will solve the County's housing shortage. No one would have to buy a house or rent, when the County would just give them one. Then on to another of the DHHS's current crisis, the upcoming vote on Proposition 1. A Bond measure put before the voters to build mental health facilities and to throw more money at housing the homeless issue. If it passes, what could possibly go wrong? $6.38 billion with a "B" which would be funded by stripping funds from already existing programs at the County level, return the money back to the State, add it to the already breath taking amount of bond debt by the State, and increase the debt repayment of the State by $310 million annually for thirty years, what a deal. How can Sacramento be even more of a train wreck than it already is? And just in time for the State Controller's Office to announce that the State has increased it over budget total to $72 Billion, up from the previously reported $68 Billion. On to General Business, another hire at the DA's Office, more turmoil over the County's Campground program guide. Another opportunity for Supervisor Starkey to pitch a fit. Finally a pot hole and road repair item? Oh, Wait, those pesky non County maintained roads have $50,000 to be spent up road repair. Wondering why the County roads that were supposed to be maintained by the County by the Measure "R" funds appear to be left out? Oh, that's right, too expensive! *Animal Control, budgeted $100,000, expended $100,000 *Capital Improvements, budgeted $400,000, expended $0 *Code Enforcement, budgeted $150,000, expended $100,000 *District Attorney, budgeted $15,000, expended $15,000 *Jail, budgeted $170,000, expended $125,000 *Juvenile Hall, budgeted $80,000, expended $50,000 *Office of Emergency Services, budgeted $90,000, expended $90,000 *Planning, budgeted $80,000, expended $50,000 *Probation, budgeted $85,000, expended $60,000 *Infrastructure budgeted $760,000, expended $0 *Sheriff budgeted $$400,000, expended $260,000. Looks like Measure "R" essential services, Police, Fire, Emergency Services, and road repair to me. Then on to the party request by Supervisor "On Vacation" Howard. It looks like three of our illustrious leaders were invited to a party in Sacramento where a good time was had by all. In order to finance this little shindig, Supervisor Howard using the County's "Travel and Training" budget wished to be reimbursed for his out of pocket expenses for this extravaganza. While "missing in action" when the Board took up this stinker, Supervisor Short, another attendee, tried mightily to justify "party expenses" as an effort to schmooze with the "Big Wigs" to curry favor "for the County's welfare… It went down hill from there. Claiming weakly that he "really didn't expect this to fly, he was stepping in for his buddy Supervisor Howard since it was on the Board's agenda. Then came the prize statement of the day authored by Supervisor "the government can fix everything" Starkey, who realized that the optics of the request was looking pretty bleak, chipped in with "I really didn't expect to be reimbursed, but the County's manual says…….". No one on the Board was willing to follow that lead with even a suggestion of a motion, let alone a second. Unfortunately, this is a huge sign that our current Board cares little for those they are tasked to represent, by placing themselves first in line at the public's expense. After that debacle, there wasn't much the Board could do but "spend money like a house afire". Seven budget transfers, one totaling nearly $!.4 million. One hopes that the voters in the County are paying attention when it comes time to vote, because this train wreck has been going on for awhile in a County that can't afford its government.