By Anzel Lofas

2/18/14

I am so disappointed   in our city council members Rozzanna Verder-Aliga, Pippin Dew, Bob Sampayan and especially shame on Mayor Osby Davis.

Mayor Davis made all his travel arrangements to go to Bagamoyo, Tanzania on a “sister city” visitation at the Taxpayers expense. Then he put it on the 2/11/14 city council agenda as a “con sent” item. That meant he didn’t have to explain to the taxpayers why it should be approved. He was just going to slip it through. Why did Pippin Dew, Verder-Aliga and Bob Sampayan vote approval?

Are they also expecting a “vacation” on the backs of the taxpayers? The mayor brought in his “soldiers” to the city council meeting to support his vacation plans to a homophobic country in decline.

What is the “economic development” that is going to benefit Vallejo from a visit to Bagamoya, Tanzania; a depressed community that builds boats once-in-a-while. A country that makes the top 5 in human rights violations, kills gays, maims women and exploits children into the sex slave trade. A country where witch doctors are marketing albino skin, bones and hair as ingredients in potions that are promised to make people rich. A city that since the capital was moved to Dar Es Salaam, has been in decline with rampant unemployment and crime.

Vallejoans, don’t you recognize a boondoggle when you see it? Major Davis voted to approve dollars allocated for his “vacation.” Isn’t that a conflict of interest? If he had recused himself from voting, it would not have passed. Was our city attorney sleeping? Come on Vallejoans, this is the first step in setting a dangerous precedent

We are a city just coming out of bankruptcy, facing a 5.2 million dollar deficit budget and attempting to stave off another bankruptcy. What benefits can the taxpayers expect for their investment? Mayor Davis should not expect to travel at taxpayers expense when the city is facing a budget deficit. Call the mayor (707)648-4377 and tell him to give back the money and pay for his own vacation or stay home. We have a Vallejo Citizens Sister City organization that travels to sister cities at their own expense. Mayor Davis should follow the example of our citizens.

Google Bagamoya, Tanzania. There is absolutely no benefit to Vallejo. You had better speak out on this kind of flagrant abuse. This city council action orchestrated by Mayor Davis will set a precedent for any other city official to visit other sister cities at taxpayer’s expense without a clear benefit to Vallejo.

Thank you to Robert McConnell and Katie Miessner who were the only council members that stood fast and voted “No” on behalf of citizens’ interests.

Note: All opinions expressed in the "Primal Scream" column are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the Vallejo Independent Bulletin.