Letter: Democratic process should be embraced

Re: “Water rates under fire,” Dec. 19. The Willdan report saga demonstrates that there is a lack of integrity so pervasive with the Glendale city mayor that it boggles the mind how he could ever be elected to public office.

The Willdan report had clear and unambiguous language that would hamper businesses with huge overcharges and faulty cost-allocation formulas that any second-year accounting student would find erroneous. Professor Harry Zavos presented it. I presented it as well. But then-Councilman David Weaver, who touts his experience as a civil engineer, did not demonstrate any eagerness to look into the claims that the report was faulty. Now sitting as mayor, he would use the flimsy excuse that the timing was not perfect for a public speaker to turn in a card and have his dissenting voice heard.

This is the same mayor who earlier this year declared before a police awards function that he wanted to “punch out” those gadflies who came to speak. On July 30 of this year, I filed a formal claim against the city as a result of the mayor’s violations of the Ralph M. Brown Act, the state law that encourages public participation.

Weaver, like Quintero before him, has consistently shown a disdain for the spirit of the democratic process that it makes us wonder why they sought political office in the first place. Good governance requires public participation and awareness. But I can understand why there is so little of it. Once elected, most politicians fight like hell to keep the public misinformed as they berate those who seek transparency.

Kudos to the city manager for the brief and shining moment of sincerity. We need more of that.

Herbert Molano
Glendale