Posted by
Mark on Thursday, July 03, 2008 11:58:03 PM
In the July 3 edition of the Placer Herald, reporter Michael Althouse interviewed Rocklin City Councilman Scott Yuill and Councilman George Magnuson about the group called “Rocklin Citizens for Council Change.” This group is looking to replace all the incumbents up for re-election this November. The incumbents are Peter Hill, George Magnuson, and Brett Storey.
Rocklin Citizens for Council Change believes the Rocklin City Council is out of touch with the people of Rocklin. I agree with them. Hill has been on the council for 15 years, Magnuson has been on for 17 years and Storey has been on for 8 years. In the past, the council has done a good job and listened to the voters of Rocklin. Just like other politicians this group has lost touch. This group feels so secure in their positions on the council; they believe they no longer need to listen to the voters.
Councilman Scott Yuill, who was elected in 2006, said the council is not out of touch. This is a perfect example of how strong the good ole boys network is in Rocklin.
The Rocklin City Council is protecting each other. They all tried to raise our taxes with the park tax. They wanted to increase our sales tax. They spent almost 1 million dollars at Rocklin Road and I-80 moving rocks around, while not helping the flow of traffic. They want to impose an occupancy tax. Does this sound like they are in touch with Rocklin voters?
The Rocklin City Council would not support the Western Sierra Collegiate Academy (WSCA). WSCA is a public tuition-free charter school of choice for students in Rocklin and Placer County. This charter school would bring additional jobs to Rocklin. That would help our slumping housing market. Have you noticed all the vacant office and retail space? The families that would attend this school would be spending their money in our restaurants, our drycleaners, and other retail establishments in Rocklin.
For the record, Councilman Scott Yuill is an advisor for the WSCA. He would not even voice his support for the school when the WSCA leadership team presented their charter to the Rocklin School Board. Why bother to be an advisor when you will not support the cause? Is Mr. Yuill trying to build his resume for a higher office? Mr. Yuill has been on the council for less than 2 years and he is already out of touch with people of Rocklin.
Let’s not forget that Magnuson, Hill, and Storey supported taking thousands of cars off I-80 and Highway 65 and bringing those cars through the center of Rocklin. Sure seems like that vote was out of touch with the majority of Rocklin voters.
These are just a few issues that demonstrate the Rocklin City Council governs with imperial authority. On a local scale, they have become what our elected officials in Washington have become, out of touch with the average citizen.
Lets thank Magnuson, Hill, and Storey for their service to our community. Over the next 4 weeks you will see at least 3 candidates identify themselves as leaders with a vision. It is time to change the imperial nature of the Rocklin City Council to one that will listen to the voters.
Mark Klang
Rocklin Resident