What Are We Doing?

‘Transparency is job No. 1’ (May 31, 2015)

The Daily Press quoted Apple Valley Mayor Pro Tem Barb Stanton as saying she was troubled by accusations of non-transparency regarding the hostile acquisition of Apple Valley Ranchos Water Company. According to your article, ’We must do better,’ she said. ’Transparency is job No. 1.’ (Town to make offer for Apple Valley Ranchos, Daily Press, May 27, 2015)

We heard similar claims from Obama and his administration, with about the same level of truthiness — which is to say, none.

Maybe she missed the May 26 issue of the Daily Press, which contained a brief item, Attorney: Town of Apple Valley to ‘vigorously defend’ against lawsuit. The lawsuit in question is one asking that the Town be forced to produce documents related to the proposed seizure of Ranchos. In the spirit of Obama-era transparency, the Town’s $300-per-hour attorney has responded, Heck no.

Outright refusal is apparently more efficient with taxpayer dollars than producing redacted invoices. All that document production and redacting, who has time for it when you’re trying to build an empire?

Of course, Stanton sees the unredacted versions, and she might not be aware that lesser life forms such as citizens and other taxpayers are being protected from the facts by the Town’s attorney and $300,000-per-year town manager.

Count me be among those urging Stanton to direct the Town’s attorney and manager and everyone else to apply themselves to job No. 1 effective immediately.

— Greg Raven is Co-Chair of Apple Valley Citizens for Government Accountability, and is concerned about quality of life issues.

Published in the Daily Press.