7/7/09

By Marc Garman

In his latest column, Times Herald columnist Richard Freedman made the following statement:

TAX AND SPEND ... V-Town City Council voted 5-2 to put binding arbitration on the ballot in 2010 instead of this year, saving the city several hundred grand, so I'm told. Guess who the two were and you can't say "Laurel and Hardy."

Of course, this is just Freedman's latest snipe at councilmembers Gomes and Schivley.  We at VIB love a good snipe now and then...only problem is Freedman got his facts wrong.  Had the Vallejo City Council voted to put binding arbitration on the ballot in November (as Gomes and Schivley wanted) the cost would be $53,619.  A measure placed on the ballot in 2010 will cost the taxpayers $375,333 (minimum).

If Freedman had watched the council meeting he would have heard Schivley specifically state her opposition to the added expense for the taxpayers.

Clearly, Freedman has total derision for Gomes and Schivley and was in too much of a froth to check his facts. And they say we're the haters?