Editorial: Brentwood’s Selective Amnesia Strikes Again

Even when we all may get what we want with a sales tax being pushed aside for the time being, I cannot help but have a bitter taste in my mouth after last nights Brentwood City Council Meeting.

For those paying attention to how council meetings are being conducted, like me, you are likely tired of the time wasters, the deflection games, surrogate public commenters on behalf of council members, and the consistent blaming of city staff who are following the direction as outlined by the city council.

Even when we all agree a sales tax is a terrible idea at this time, not needed and premature, it turns into a giant clown show with the council either forgetting the request or attempting to rewrite it or playing the blame game.

A report on a potential sales tax measure was never needed because it was never going to happen or hit the November ballot. Once the agenda hit the public, most people likely saw what was going on and were annoyed by it. Based on how the March meeting went down, I believe the item was not brought up as a future agenda request in the best interest of Brentwood, its businesses or residents, but rather out of spite of city staff for simply providing an option and use it as an agenda item to embarrass staff.

It was never going anywhere and would not even impact this sitting council. So I am sticking to my belief the item request was done out of spite, not logic or betterment of Brentwood.

Ironically, to save face, you have calls to “ignore social media” or “don’t listen to the blogs”. Its embarrassing to watch elected officials and their supporters deflect onto others when they essentially stepped in a pile of you know what. Instead, they should own the error of their ways, illogical requests, and just apologize for political posturing.

Last night, the community received the excuse that city staff did not place the agenda item correctly. And my favorite, that the media was making it something it was not for clicks. This is complete nonsense because the request is on video and the agenda is online for all to see. But sure, blame this publication for pointing out childish behavior.

Here is the request vs. agenda item:

At the March 26 Meeting, Councilmember Jovita Mendoza made the future agenda item request by stating:

• “Tim (Ogden) has brought up three times now about a sales tax, so I think what I would like to see a report of why you need a sales tax, what the money would be used for and what the impact would be on the average resident,” stated Mendoza. “I know its come up a few times, so lets talk about it. Lets see if its something we are on board with and if not we can just squash it ongoing.”

Tuesdays Agenda item stated:

• Item I.1: That the City Council consider and discuss a request from Council Member Mendoza, from the City Council meeting of March 26, 2024, related to a report from staff on why a sales tax measure could be needed, and what the funds could be used for, and the impact on the average resident.

If approved, staff wold have moved forward to create the report. Thankfully, it died.

But not before Mendoza changing her tone again after making the request then saying she wanted it to go away. She needs to make up her mind instead of wasting all of Brentwoods time. This is not the first time. About the only thing I agree with her on is no one wants the sales tax. But shes failing to even realize why staff keeps bringing it up–only as an option if needed.

“I don’t think we need to spend staff time on this anymore,” stated Mendoza. “I get it, someday we may need it, but we don’t need it right now.”

She attempted to put City Manager Tim Ogden on the spot by asking him if they had a sales tax what he would envision using the money for. He didn’t bite, and rightfully so because it would have been premature and he didn’t have direction.

“Councilmember Mendoza, this is your request to discuss, so I don’t have anything to add,” said Ogden.

Good for him, if Ogden and team he hasn’t done a report because first they need council direction to do so, figure out upcoming projects, possible funding options or how much money is needed or what money is allocated where, how can he answer her questions? Again, putting staff on the spot for no reason other than to make her error in request appear logical.

Mendoza who requested the item shared she “had no appetite for it at this moment and I don’t see a financial need for it at the moment”.  She wanted the item to be done with.

More disappointing was Vice Mayor Susannah Meyer who called the agenda item “misleading” and there was a “tendency for people to misread what they are seeing and publish it in a way that is more controversial and get more interest in it.”

She urged staff to better word agenda items to not allow members of the community to misread it and misrepresent it. But again, the request last night was identical to what Mendoza requested.

Meyer is smarter than this because she knows anytime a councilmember brings up a sales tax for discussion, regardless of the intention or purpose, people are going to be interested and go on high alert–after all, a report is the first step in in a possible tax. Deflecting to other peoples interpretation skills or blaming publishers for reporting on it is comical. So shame on her.

The only adult in the room, Councilmemeber Pa’Tanisha Pierson highlighted the elephant in the room which is the tension on the dais and the needed to figure it out or this type of conversation will continue. She is 100% correct.

Pierson also shared in the past, she has made requests for the agenda where she believed it was said one way only to show up on the agenda another way—she urged staff to re review the video before it goes on the agenda. Again, 100% correct.

Councilmember Tony Oerlemans shared it was clear no one wanted a sales tax but staff is asked to provide all the options and the sales tax was only an option and they moved on. The council opted to do nothing with the item.

At some point, Mayor Joel Bryant needs to step up and lead by highlighting staff did in fact place an agenda item on the agenda based on the request made.  Since Bryant is Mayor, he may want to pay more attention to agendas and requests if this issue keeps coming up.

I think back over the past 12-years covering Contra Costa County issues and I can’t think of a single time where all five members of the city council do not want an item only to have the item be requested by a councilmember for a possible agenda item. Its bizarre!

Might I remind the city council, a city manager and staffs job is not to look out for the city council’s next election, but rather look out for the city over the next 2-years, 5-years, 10-years, and 20-years down the road.

Pierson was correct, there is a tone on the dais that needs to be addressed, if the council fails to do this, voters will be forced to change the council dynamics in hopes of focusing on city business versus personal vendettas.

November can’t come fast enough. Hopefully voters don’t have any selective amnesia with the many shenanigans that have transpired over the last four years.

Mike Burkholder
Publisher of ContraCosta.news
[email protected]