Maybe Cheaters Do Prosper

While most people aren't aware that part-time elected officials are getting perks worth thousands of dollars at taxpayer expense, other hard to justify "arrangements" have lately been well-exposed. A million dollar severance for an ousted BART director seems inappropriate. San Bruno residents have reason to be outraged about the ousted PG&E chief executive's 35 million dollar package.

Whoever took part in crafting those outrageous packages and getting them past ratepayers and taxpayers, would have to admire what the City of Fremont did to unsuspecting citizens. It tried to sneak a $2 million skateboard park into a quiet established residential area. Then when residents eventually found out and resisted, the city sidestepped a multitude of obvious concerns (especially late at night) brought up by EVERY resident in that area by rescinding the project and then reissuing it under a different number to remove all complaints associated with the previous project number. (Some say that is a criminal maneuver, and for the city to do that on such a simple project speaks volumes of what they would do to further benefit their own interests. It does add to mounting distrust.)

Where is the honesty in any race where one entrant, intent upon "winning" at the detriment of everyone else, sneaks off to a major head-start? This was the case when the city had months to build up momentum before residents even got word of the goings on in their own front yard and even that was only by accident. Then the city lied to the media and claimed that they had informed impacted residents months earlier even though no one in that area had EVER been informed by anyone in the city. (Other citizens have come forward to say that the city had also lied to them on other projects.) While the rest of the public may only be aware of the last half of the race, ALL the residents in the impacted area, know that they weren't even invited until the race was half over and the "winner" already decided.

If the city was honestly interested in ALL its citizens, the skateboard park would be in the more prominent and appreciated (by all) area between Stevenson Blvd and the "Teen Center". This is near the tried and proven temporary site where it peacefully existed for years. The city staff publically admitted that the full one-acre skateboard park was doable in this area and could be done on-schedule, which means that it could have been completed this year.

Residents along Paseo Padre Parkway know first hand that the city cheated and lied (and more) to get their way on something as simple as the location of a skateboard park. The multitude of problems associated with having this free skateboard park adjacent to the paid Aqua Adventures Waterpark have been well-documented. This location was not thought out very well and is not what is best for ANYONE in the community. Those few city "leaders" in Fremont are setting up an "arrangement" that will be regretted by all.

Why are these improprieties tolerated? Why do we let cheaters prosper? Can something be done?