City council takes sides on ballot measures

Next week, California voters have a choice between two California constitutional amendments, both purporting to reform eminent domain abuses. The Sonoma City made its choice last week.
At its May 21 meeting, the council considered the proposal put forward by council member Stanley Cohen that the council officially oppose Measure 98 and endorse Measure 99. But as it turned out, none of the council members had actually read the text of those measures, each one running about three pages.
Instead, those supporting Cohen’s proposal relied on the recommendation by the League of California Cities, a political advocacy group to which the City of Sonoma pay annual dues. “We believe Proposition 98 has long-term, harmful consequences,” said Amy O’Gorman, Regional Public Affairs Manager for the organization.
Mayor Joanne Sanders chastised the council members for wanting to take a vote on the matter. “I am appalled, a-palled, that this council is taking a position on a proposition they have not read.” But council member Ken Brown saw no need to have read the material, saying, “It is the League’s job to bring these issues and highlight them. It is our job to support her.”
Council member Barbose concurred, saying, “Life is complicated – we can’t all read everything. But there’s not one policy maker I have heard of that is in favor of Prop 98.”
Council member Sebastiani abstained from voting altogether, saying to O’Gorman, “This is what we pay you to do. If everything the League does has to be reinforced by the City, I don’t see how efficient that is.”
Ultimately, the council took the action recommended by the league, by a vote of 3 ayes, 1 nay (Sanders), and 1 abstention (Sebastiani).