Letter to Editor: Buongiorno Defends Recall Effort

Antioch resident Rich Buongiorno submitted the following Letter to the Editor to defend the actions of the recall of Mayor Wade Harper.

ECT’s editorial opinion on Sunday seems a bit flawed and lacks a significant amount of facts. For the sake of brevity, I will address that which is salient.

It is obvious that ECT is not aware of the election code that states an official can not be recalled if they were recently voted into office. That would preclude two of the council members. The cost involved would have been excessive due to the fees and publications involved for the other two. So, at best we can only change make the council a little more middle of the road and ensure the remaining council is open to listening to what their constituents want.

So, a vendetta? Hardly, even by definition, “a prolonged bitter quarrel with or campaign against someone”. Sounds like ECT is attempting to use Harper terminology. Having addressed Mr. Harper on behalf of over 250 specific responses received in September, barely 4 months ago AND the recall has yet to be authorized, which is why the names of the potential candidates has not been revealed. It would be political suicide to make an announcement like that before the recall has even become official.

It is evident that the council plows ahead with what they want. This was demonstrated with the feral cat issue that has gone on for months and cost an incredible amount of time, effort and energy. Was crime and violence mentioned in those 6 to 9 months of feral cat issues – no. Was crime and violence a priority during that time when they showed they were hell bent on putting condos on the lot down town. Same with a dilapidated restaurant, a priority over crime and violence.

People keep referring to the lack of authority and/or power that the mayor does not have. It is obvious by his campaign platforms (for city and council and for mayor) he was more than willing to come in and take over. Even as demonstrated by changing the council agenda requests by making them a majority agreement for the last 2+ years. The forceful nature in recommending the utilization of Strategic Management at Deer Valley Plaza.

Referencing Chief Cantando, he is not in an elected position. Can’t be recalled. He is a public servant, hired by the city and can only be fired by the city. If ECT feels he should be fired for non-performance, well, Harper has been at it longer than the chief. To the best of my research, the chief never said,

“Something must be done now – Antioch needs a zero-tolerance approach to drive crime out of our city. As your mayor, I will: Hire more police – We cannot say we are going to have zero tolerance if we don’t have enough police officers. Attracting new business and jobs – There is a lot of talk about bringing businesses to Antioch and creating new jobs. This is a worthy goal. But our challenge, again, is in our high crime rate. If we succeed in lowering the amount of crime in our community, business will want to locate in Antioch, bringing the new jobs with them. We have an emergency on our hands.”

People want to blame the council for the woes of city and seem to forget that Harper was on the city council 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 – FOUR years on the council.

ECT states, “The silly part of trying to move Antioch forward through a recall is you have former elected officials assisting the recall proponents–elected officials that have put Antioch in today’s mess.”

Hello, Harper has been part of that mess since 2011, having been elected to the city council in late 2010. Comparing 2010 year end overall crime against 2014 year end overall crime – during the years of zero tolerance and being tough on crime, overall crime is UP 27%.

Maybe it is down compared to last year, but look at the overall performance. What was the sworn officer staffing level in 2010?

In October, 2010 right when Harper was touting what he was going to do, ” I will: Hire more police” the level was 98. Per Harper on January 16, 2015 the staffing level was 89. Sure looks like the 22 officer from Measure C never happened. To claim there was no money to hire officers is smoke and mirrors.

The City of Antioch, in 2011, 2012 and 2013 paid out in overtime ONLY (not benefits or base pay, etc.- overtime ONLY) those three years over $4,300,000!! And yet we needed Measure C and then measure O?

The plaintiff cries of the council showing their appreciation for the employees and all they did to stop the bankruptcy. How did the city show their appreciation? They withheld information from the public after receiving property tax payments in the amounts of:

• Apr, 2014 – $2,698,000+
• Jun, 2014 – $550,000+
• Oct, 2014 – $269,000+

Yes, the city could have gone back to full service after receiving the April payment, or the June payment or October. Remember it was costing only $800,000 to return to full service. They had over $3.5 million and did not let the public know because they were afraid Measure O would not pass. So, they not only withheld the information until after November 4th, they waited until January 15, 2015 – nine months of waiting – before returning the employees to 40 hours work weeks.

This is what appears to be the care and concern of the Mayor and the City Council – greed. If we as constituents don’t show the strength the voters have then the waiting game is worthless.

ECT says wait and do it in 2016. Then what? We find out the new mayor is as bad as the previous ones and we wait another 4 years? Remember the election code is very specific. We would have to wait until almost the end of 2017 to do another recall. We have sat back and waited and reelected and waited. It is time for change.

They say we can’t afford it. The cost is not $199,000. There is every indication it will be about the same as our last election, roughly $45K. They want you to believe it is 5 times what it is going to be.

More lies.

Rich Buongiorno
Antioch Resident