Officials’ Financial Problems

Re “Mayor Files for Personal Bankruptcy,” April 4.

Help! Call out the exterminators! The bankruptcy beetle has infested Ventura City Hall.

It bothers me that financially inept persons sit on the City Council, in a position to spend our tax dollars, when they can’t direct their own financial lives.

Mayor Sandy Smith said, “I’ve learned a lot in the last few years and that can help the city.” How? By showing how to attain insolvency?

Councilwoman Donna De Paola’s problem seems to stem from her underwriting and promoting the Y2K bash at Seaside Park, a large-scale event she was obviously not capable of producing. At least, being an attorney she can save money by filing her own bankruptcy papers. Don’t give up your day job.

City Attorney Bob Boehm is following the usual bureaucratic practice of cover-up by excusing them both on the basis of their not being able to vote on matters that might benefit them financially (thank God for that) and also, that the city is prevented from contracting with companies that employ council members.

Perhaps Smith and De Paola should have consulted with fellow Councilman Jim Friedman, who is a financial analyst.

I believe that Smith and De Paola should resign to avoid further embarrassment for our city. Perhaps this is a good time to make a clean sweep of the entire council, along with City Manager Donna Landeros, who has not demonstrated the strong leadership we expect and deserve for our beautiful city of Ventura.

BYRON WRENN

Ventura