Blog Posts - May 2011

WELCOME TO WATSONVILLE WHERE YOUR VOICE MATTERS AS LONG AS IT CAN’T BE HEARD

By Emilio, on May 29, 2011

MEMORIAL DAY THANK YOU

Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. soldiers who died
while in the military service. It was first enacted by former enslaved Africans to
honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War.

There cannot be enough gratitude to the men and women who gave it their all for
every one of us to enjoy our freedom.

Proposed Budget

By Emilio, on May 19, 2011

 

NEWS FLASH

This afternoon City Manager Carlos Palacios will be announcing a proposed budget that includes laying-off 7 police officers and 4 firefighters. He and his management staff will be taking an additional 1% deduction from their salaries. Also, the Committee consisting of Mayor Daniel Dodge, and Council Members Manuel Bersamin and Eduardo Montesino have proposed a 20% cut (around $55,000) to Social Service Groups. I wonder if they will be labeled “malicious bullies”.

RALPH WHO or WAS BROWN JUST A CLOWN

By Emilio, on May 18, 2011

 

City Attorneys, according to the Public Law Journal, also fall within the jurisdiction of the Brown Act, not just elected officials. The column by lawyer Julia Sylva writes about “Key Definitions-Meetings”, the “Rights of the Public”, and “Closed Sessions” which included:

·        “The city council may conduct official business only through the participation of a quorum. A quorum of a public body is 50% plus one”. Which means we need 4 votes, not 3, as City Attorney Smith surmised when he approved our city council could vote with only three members present. Council Member Nancy Bilicich took exception to City Attorney Smith’s opinion. 

·        “The city must provide to the public on request copies of any contracts, settlement agreements, or other documents that were finally approved in closed session”. 

·        “If the city council takes action and votes on a particular issue in closed session, it must publically report the vote or abstention of every member present”. In the two plus years as a city council member I do not ever recall City Attorney Alan Smith ever reporting how we voted. Read further about this one.

WILL WE SEEK A HIGHER STANDARD OR A DOUBLE STANDARD?

By Emilio, on May 11, 2011

In wake of all the media on the alleged "code of ethics violation" that I committed, I wanted to post an article that was published in the Watsonville Pajaronian back on Jul 28th, 2009 that I wrote. 

You Be The Judge

By Emilio, on May 5, 2011

 

As many of you know, I am facing a Code of Ethics violation because I allegedly “disrespected” Elias and Heidi Alonzo. Here is my response to the allegations. 

Click on to read all of documents that are “attached”.

You be the Judge.

Emilio

ALLEGATION BY COUNCIL MEMBER MANUAL BERSAMIN:

The Truth About Fluoridation in Watsonville

By Emilio, on May 2, 2011

On February 02, 2010 the following editorial was published in the Santa Cruz Sentinel regarding fluoridation in Watsonville. Emilio Martinez wrote:

The Sentinel's editorial regarding our city of Watsonville and fluoridation Feb. 24 is in need of clarification and additional facts.

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