From Clay To Mayor Sly . . .

Read the latest presser from Clay Chastain featuring even more ideas . . . He calls some of the transportation moves "Evil and Deceptive" and he wants a debate . . . Read the whole thing for yourself:

PRESS RELEASE: OPEN LETTER TO MAYOR JAMES FROM CLAY CHASTAIN

August 29, 2011

Dear Mayor James,

You vowed in the campaign to be this kind of mayor:

* A mayor who would bring people together and bridge the chasms that divides them.
* A mayor who would be sensitive to the needs and rights of the common man.
* A mayor who would not be afraid of great innovative challenges to move the city forward.
* A mayor who would not play politics with initiatives from the people or overturn a voter-approved initiative.
* A mayor who would promote infrastructure improvement projects to create jobs.

Mayor James the common man has presented your administration with a major infrastructure improvement project designed to energize the city, modernize its public transportation system, and create jobs for the great number of people out of work. And yet, the city is trying to keep this valid petition plan from being placed before the voters because of competing special interests. This dubious action by the city goes counter to the spirit of your new administration.

City Councilman Russ Johnson and his Transportation & Infrastructure Committee have not only delayed a vote on the common man's valid petition, but are also planning a hearing on its merit as well as considering a legal opinion from the city attorney in order to decide whether or not the city council should place this citizen-led initiative before the voters.

Putting Johnson and the city attorney in charge of judging this petition is like putting the fox in charge of guarding the chicken coop.

More importantly, even though the city charter does afford the city council the nonsensical prerogative to hold a petition initiative for 60 days, it does not authorize the city with the right to hold a hearing to judge its merit or block a vote. The only authorized action the city can take is to amend or repeal an initiative ordinance once voters have approved it. Johnson's actions are therefore illegitimate, and I refuse to participate in this illegal and deceptive September 22nd hearing.

Mayor James, may I suggest how we can bring legitimate closure to this long-standing and controversial issue:

Councilman Johnson and I participate in a public debate in which Johnson argues in behalf of the streetcar-based transit plan he and others support, and I argue in behalf of the competing light rail-based transit plan I and 3,700 other signed up voters support. This debate could be held on Nick Haines' Week in Review program, or at one of Johnson's Transportation & Infrastructure Committee hearings with Star reporter Dave Helling moderating the debate. Afterwards, the city council would place both plans on the up-coming February election ballot side by side and let the voters decide.

Mayor James, you are the only hope we have to bridge this great chasm that divides us.

Sincerely,

Clay Chastain
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