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It is generally not the policy of Transparent Tracy to disclose its readers, but there is an exception to every rule. When we received this notice from Facebook about our newest follower we decided to share this news with you. Our article on Mr. Dean and his mind numbing treatment of marijuana dispensers and fumbling of housing projects and the aquatic center must have caught the attention of City Hall.
See the notice we got:
Interestingly, not long after the City of Tracy followed our page, we received a complaint notice from Facebook about our cannabis post. Coincidence? Not likely.
While we’re flattered that the City is monitoring our page, we are certain there are better things staff can be doing than wasting taxpayer surfing Facebook and Twitter.
Not all change is bad, particularly when it comes to Tracy City Hall.
It’s been a busy year of shake-ups at City Hall. Former City Manager Jenny Haruyama left for Oregon this past summer and, in late October, City Attorney Leticia Ramirez announced her resignation effective November 14. Sources at City Hall tell us that Ramirez is frustrated with certain members of city council. To say that she is ‘frustrated’ by certain council members is likely understated. No one in her position would walk away from a job she has had for five years just for being ‘frustrated.’ Things must be bad. Really bad.
However, the departure of Ramirez is not terrible for Tracy. Ramirez moved forward Haruyama and Vargas’ agenda too often, ignoring the will of the people. She is as guilty as anyone working in City Hall who have created an environment where nothing gets done. In the end, her departure, like that of Haruyama’s, will be good for Tracy in the long run.
As the paper indicated, the City has narrowed down the City Manager candidates to four. Fortunate for taxpayers, the City hired a recruitment firm to assist with the process. Perhaps this will remove Vargas from being tempted to meet personally with any of the candidates, as she did with Haruyama when she was a finalist.
The next position the City needs to focus on hiring is a full time Development Services Director. The Interim Development Services Director is Bill Dean. The city cannot afford to keep Dean in this position, and instead needs to hire someone who knows how to manage a growing city of Tracy’s size. Or, put another way, someone who isn’t influenced by the likes of Veronica Vargas or Mike Sandhu.
Bill Dean, Interim Development Services Director