Opinion and Commentary by Samuel Strait – July 12, 2024

It is often difficult to judge what exactly it is that will fill the Board of Supervisors meetings with outraged citizens.  Having sat through the entirety of many such meetings over the past few years, I, myself, and a few others who are private citizens are more often out numbered by employees of the local government by a wide margin.  Apathy reins supreme more often than naught in the local Board room inspite of the fact that our local Board by votes of 5-0 regularly commit the local taxpayer to millions in misspent tax dollars in theory to “make our lives better”.  I am never sure whether or not the five members even listen to their respective constituents any longer as too much is spent with no apparent reason other than just to spend money because it happens to find its way on their agenda.  Once there, it is rarely questioned, and never put to the test of what it hopes to accomplish for how many and how much.

The July 9th meeting of the Board of Supervisors was such a meeting.  Chairs filled with the Public, an under current of suppressed rage, illegal fireworks the topic and a “Public Comment Period” full of “finger pointing”.  More on that later.  First, another hire by the County,  Board reports, then on to another rubber stamping of the Consent Agenda.  The Consent Agenda was a paltry fifteen items nine of which emanated from the Department Of Health And Human Services.  Once again the Board was asked the question, “how are members of the Public expected to comment on loaded Consent Agendas, fifteen items this time, twenty six at the previous meeting, in three minutes?  A request was made to the Board to consider changing this policy.  Now we will see if they are listening.  The Agenda itself, was a laundry list of contracts and plans, all costing the taxpayers thousands of dollars with no rational for why any were necessary.  Quickly dispatched 5-0.

On to the “vital” paving projects at the Veteran’s Hall and the Sheriff’s station.  It appears to consume $387,000 of Measure “R” money.  While there was a brief discussion as to whether or not the County could accomplish the task at a lesser cost.  The suggestion was quickly put to rest with, the County has the equipment for the job, but not the man power, and besides, it costs more than $300,000 and by regulation must be put out to bid.  Looks like the County doesn’t really need a Maintenance and Roads Department with that attitude.  Nor the County Engineer.  Save some money and contract it all out?  Then again, what is so “vital” about the Veterans Hall Parking lot, or the Sheriff’s for that matter?  Another example of the fraud within the County’s expenditure of Measure “R” money.  Vital anyone?

Thirty or more locals showed up to “rake the Board over the coals” following the mishap that occurred on the evening of the Fourth of July.  Fourteen people were injured on South Beach after fireworks exploded on the crowded Beach.  A child was seriously injured.  For years this kind of unregulated and poorly monitored activity has dominated the local Fourth of July.  It has attracted thousands of people each and every summer for decades and poured countless dollars into local pockets.  Up to the current year the County and the City have dodged the bullet of a major accident until now.  While there is plenty of blame to go around, now is the time to see if the current Board is listening, and what will happen going forward.  In the past, there isn’t much evidence that the Board is filled with listeners which often results in them only hearing what they want to hear. if they hear anything at all.  The voting record of this Board does not inspire much in the way of hope.

Public Comment was followed by a flashy report on the state of the Border Coast Regional Airport Authority.  None of which addresses the current problems that the Airport currently has, a short runway, an Oakland destination, less than ten thousand enplanements per year, the Medford Airport, and the convoluted new service to Hawthorne in the LA region. These few items make Crescent City particularly uninviting to regular passenger flying in and out of Jack McNamara Field.  We will see if Supervisor Howard’s claim that enplanement was up 50% since Advanced Air took over, or whether we will see yet another carrier try their luck a couple of years down the road.

Moving on.  A Board of Equalization item and a lame report on the County’s Strategic Plan.  Quarterly we are told.  Most of the attendees have left.  A short discussion about putting the Ambulance service up for bid.  Not many minds on the Board changed since taking this action earlier in the Spring.  3-2 vote to spend $50,000 to $150,000 taxpayer dollars to fund the adventure, likely to end with the same service we have now.  A limit of $300,000 was placed on this futile expense based on the fire departments inferiority complex.  Short, Borges, and Starkey leading the futility.  After all it is only the taxpayer’s dime.  Is anyone listening at all?

An update on the County’s grift to the Federal Government.  Money for the County Jail.  Not enough to do the entire job, well short of the total estimate.  I’m sure the County can find some other way to tap the taxpayer to cover the rest.  The critical and vital need to refurbish Pyke’s Field, more money for the Veteran’s Hall, a maybe later, and no money for the South Beach entrance to Town.  Wonder where Last Chance Grade figures in all this.  What a line up, vital to the needs of the County’s population?  Two hours and forty five minutes and we are at the end.    One more Board Meeting this month then over to Medford to fly away.