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Commissioner's ouster threat triggers protest
| Tuesday, Apr 22 2008 7:23 PM
Last Updated: Tuesday, Apr 22 2008 7:26 PM
Letters began arriving into the Opinion section Friday after The Californian reported that Councilman Ken Weir would ask his Bakersfield City Council colleagues to fire Planning Commissioner Russell Johnson. These letters were grouped together in the single package to appears on today's page. As of 3 p.m. Tuesday, when production of this page was finalized, only one letter was received supporting Weir's action. It was written by Hank Londean.
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What did Johnson do wrong?
Thank you, Californian, for asking the question: What has Planning Commissioner Russell Johnson done wrong? Many in Bakersfield want an answer. Councilman Weir's request seems unprecedented. There must be more to the story. Certainly the City Council will never go along with Johnson's removal.
Government only works when we have differing opinions. They should be cherished not punished. We, the residents of Bakersfield, have been blessed with City Council members and planning commissioners of the highest caliber. Russell Johnson is a continuation of that pedigree.
SCOTT A. UNDERHILL
Bakersfield
Johnson's ouster justified
Three cheers for Councilman Ken Weir! He's set off all those hair-pulling shrieks heard throughout the halls of The Californian. How? Simply by going after one of its toadies on the city's Planning Commission the ethically flexible Russell Johnson, by name.
Johnson, for one, has heartily endorsed the fuzzy concept of "viewshed" and other property rights takeaways included in the flawed Hillside Ordinance, supported by his current boss and former councilman, Mike Maggard. The ordinance has been tossed back by a court because its passage lacked the required environmental review.
Maggard has moved on to supervisory office in the county. But Russell Johnson lurks behind at the Planning Commission, saying he "serves the people." Really! He works for Maggard and has publicly embraced Maggard's pet anti-property-rights projects, but he "works for the people." Looks like a conflict of interest. Ken Weir is right to want him out.
As for the hollering from The Californian, who pushed hardest for the Hillside Ordinance and wanted to undermine the proposed development of the bluffs? It's none other than the doyenne of The Californian and certain members of her sycophant staff who want to preserve their precious, pristine panorama of that "viewshed."
Oh, does that reveal past backroom dealing (to use the words of loose-cannon columnist Lois Henry) by these unelected "journalists," threatening the wrath of the press on politicians to push for their private desires at the expense of the property rights of others?
HANK LONDEAN
Bakersfield
Weir's tactics unprofessional
Councilman Ken Weir doesn't seem interested in serving the needs or desires of his constituents, of which I am one. He seems more interested in the financial interests of developers. It seems he wants to push off a planning commissioner to nominate one who will better reflect his pro-development view on The Canyons project.
I have been amazed by the lack of professionalism and diplomacy Weir has shown in the way he has attempted to force Russell Johnson into leaving the Planning Commission. I do not know Johnson, but have followed planning commission decisions. I have not seen anything from Johnson that should warrant his dismissal. He doesn't seem controversial at all.
Johnson has given freely of his time, serving his community on the Planning Commission. He deserves more than the humiliating public spectacle Ken Weir has made out of this issue.
Anybody who has driven along Panorama Park can see what an asset it is to the community of Bakersfield to have a place along the bluffs the public can enjoy. It doesn't make any sense to fill in canyons, which can result in unstable land, and build homes to block the public access to the bluffs. You would think the developers and Weir would want this, too.
Oh, I forgot, the primary developer doesn't live here. Only Weir and his investor friend do.
CAROLYN BELLI
Bakersfield
Johnson backs public safety
Why is the removal of Planning Commissioner Russell Johnson on tonight's agenda of the Bakersfield City Council?
Has he committed a crime?
The only thing he has done is supported the Hillside Ordinance in September 2006 and some special interest groups do not like that.
Russell Johnson has a non-partisan approach to the planned development of Bakersfield. He put the public's best interest before the profits of out-of-town developers.
The Bakersfield firefighters support Russell Johnson and his common-sense approach to development with public safety in mind.
Please call your Bakersfield City Council member at 326-3767 or e-mail city_council@bakersfieldcity.us in support of Russell Johnson.
BILL MACAULEY, chairman
Bakersfield Firefighters
Legislative Action Group
Give Weir the boot
I have been following with much interest the story unfolding around City Councilman Ken Weir and his machinations to unseat Planning Commissioner Russell Johnson. Has Johnson committed an illegal act? Has he violated his oath? Has he voted unwisely or unfavorably? Has he engaged in conflict of interest? Has he not served the public well? Has he been self-serving? I think not!
It appears that Weir has a personal agenda. And that agenda is to further the development concerns of his clients without any regard for protocol, propriety and professionalism. He continues to show bias in all of his dealings with land issues involving his beloved General Holding. He has clearly a conflict of interest that should not be tolerated.
It will be a crying shame if the city lets Weir get away with this Tomfoolery! Weir should get a taste of his own poison. Remove him from the City Council.
AUDREY WATERS GRAY
Bakersfield
Bakersfield is not a dictatorship
Has Russell Johnson done something wrong? Or is it that the planning commissioner doesn't vote as the councilman wants him to vote? Dissent is the foundation of a free democracy. Maybe Weir favors a dictatorship over freedom of choice. Consider this when the next election comes!
BETH FREEDMAN
Bakersfield
Johnson protects citizens
The Bakersfield City Council, particularly Councilman Ken Weir, is at it again. Now they want to get rid of Planning Commissioner Russell Johnson. I have had some dealings with the City Council and I hope I never have to live within the city limits.
Ken Weir and the rest of the City Council are nothing but a bunch of puppets to City Manager Alan Tandy, who is looking to make Bakersfield bigger and bigger and bigger. He's not worried about the better part, much to the delight of Mr. Developer.
Johnson is the only member of the Planning Commission who gives honest consideration to the people affected by Tandy's grandiose ideas. If Johnson goes, we will really be at the mercy of an arrogant, self-serving city department.
SUSAN CASTRO
Bakersfield
Don't tolerate Weir
It is apparent that Councilman Ken Weir does not understand or respect the law or the legislative process he has sworn to uphold.
Although Weir repeatedly denies that his course of action regarding the ouster of Planning Commissioner Russell Johnson is about the proposed Canyons development in northeast Bakersfield, the history of his actions contradict him.
By its abuse of power and "end justifies the means approach," General Holding, through its puppet Weir, is undermining public trust. Is Weir so arrogant to believe the community will tolerate his hubris?
Unfortunately, absent a sex scandal, politicians of Weir's ilk rarely step down voluntarily, so it is unreasonable to expect that he will resign. However, the handwriting is on the wall and the time has come for those who elected him to decide if he is meeting their expectations.
Election law provides a process for the voters to cast their vote of confidence in the form of a recall election. If ever there was an elected representative who should have his future in office be determined by the voters, it is Weir.
BRUCE BLYTHE
Bakersfield
Who does Weir represent?
Why does Councilman Ken Weir want to boot Russell Johnson from the Planning Commission?
Does Weir realize the majority of his constituents does not want The Canyons project to move forward as the developer proposes? Does Weir represent everyone in his ward, or only his friend and former client, developer Gordon Downs?
RANDY KAYSER
Bakersfield
Johnson's ouster wrong
From zoning to general plans to approving new housing developments, the decisions of the Bakersfield Planning Commission affect everything, including private property rights, air quality, traffic, the environment, roads and infrastructure.
That is why it is imperative that we have planning commissioners of integrity and independence like Commissioner Russell Johnson who look out for the public's best interest -- not special interests or the interests of politicians who want to have their political will imposed upon the commission.
Commissioner Johnson has rendered thorough and diligent planning service and should be allowed to fulfill the remainder of his term, free from outside political influence.
Commissioner Johnson comes from a proud history of community service. His grandfather, Bill Park, served on the Bakersfield City Council, representing Ward 3 from 1965 to 1967. This family tradition of service still is at work today, with Johnson's grandmother, Myrt Park, who has served on the board of directors of the Kern Autism Center for over 20 years.
Planning commissioners are not appointed to be the voice of the elected official. They must remain objective and fair in the items that come before them.
Ken Weir's attempt to remove Johnson, as well as his flawed proposal to change City Council procedures, allowing the removal of a commissioner with the vote of only four of the seven council members, instead of the current five council members, is not in the best interest of the Bakersfield Planning Commission or the community. It creates a poor public image of the commission and ultimately does a disservice to staff, applicants and the public good.
SEN. ROY ASHBURN
Bakersfield
Deal has bad smell
Old-fashioned, smoke-filled back-room politics has reared its ugly head. Councilman Ken Weir has shown his audacious ambition to control land use in Bakersfield. He wants to get rid of opposition to a "pet" project and take autonomy away from the Planning Commission.
The Planning Commission should be insulated from elected officials' pressure applied to city development decisions. This incident prompts the question: What benefit does Weir receive by orchestrating a Planning Commission decision? Maybe nothing. But when you consider his former relationship to the developer, it creates a huge ethical question.
Russell Johnson's term on the commission is due to expire in April 2009, so why the rush? When you start rushing in politics, usually it is because something is sour and soon will begin to smell.
JOEL PARK
Bakersfield
Personal agenda put first
Councilman Ken Weir's attempt to remove Russell Johnson from the Planning Commission is unacceptable. He's basically trying to change the system to benefit his personal wishes.
The push to get approval of The Canyons development should have no bearing on who serves on the Planning Commission. The reason for the present appointing system is to protect against these situations. Why would Councilman Weir want to change these rules, if not to benefit his friends and a former client who are investors in The Canyons?
Weir also wants to reduce the number of City Council votes needed to remove planning commissioners from five to four. He knows he can easily get four votes, but can't always count on five. The Planning Commission would become a haven for bribery and collusion. Johnson should be allowed to serve out his term and fulfill his duty to Bakersfield. Anything else would reek of unethical politics.
MICHAEL REEVES
Bakersfield
Maybe Weir should go
Why is Ken Weir in a hurry to run Russell Johnson off the Planning Commission? Weir said in an e-mail to The Californian that voters want smart development and preservation of property rights. That is exactly what Johnson has been doing.
If by "voters" Weir meant campaign supporters, like Gordon Downs and General Holding, then that is why he does not want Johnson on the Planning Commission. Johnson is not owned by some special interest group concerned only with maximizing profit, while disregarding the rest of the community.
Ken Weir has shown in his short time in office that he does not care about playing by the rules. Remember his failure to properly disclosure his financial interests, as required by state law? And remember his arrogant replies in The Californian when questioned about it? He seems to care only about the deep pockets that put him in office, not about the people he is supposed to serve. Johnson should stay. Kick Weir off.
ALLEN MONTES
Bakersfield
Time to resign, Weir
Planning commissioners shouldn't have to worry about being removed from their positions just for making good decisions on building projects. The proposal made by Councilman Ken Weir to challenge this process is out of line.
Weir is trying to remove a commissioner just to get someone who will vote for the General Holding project. Decisions should be made based on what is best for the city and its residents, not what is best for General Holding or Weir.
Weir better watch out. "We the People" will not stand for crooked deals that harm our community. How about Weir resigning?
CARRIE C. MORRISON
Bakersfield
What's with the rush?
I never write in to respond to articles, but Councilman Ken Weir's latest cluster has me all riled up. When Mike Maggard was on the City Council he actually displayed some backbone and character by standing up to the huge developers and attempting to bring balance to protecting both property owners' rights and the best interests of the community.
It appears Weir not only has little interest in what's right, but he is too arrogant (or too stupid) to realize the public is noticing this back door crap!
I hope the media investigates to determine if his antics are illegal or at the very least tainted by a conflict of interest that would prevent Weir from exercising influence that benefits his clients or himself.
GEOFFREY WELCH
Bakersfield
Council needs civics lesson
The City Council's rules call for planning commissioners to be appointed to four-year terms. Commissioners can be removed by a vote of the City Council, but not "fired" by a single council member.
What if every time a councilperson and a commissioner disagreed, the commissioner could be dumped and someone "who shares the same vision" appointed? The commission might as well be disbanded.
If the City Council folds and cuts a deal with Weir, it calls into question their ability to govern as individual representatives of their wards and for the betterment of the community as a whole. It may be naive to hope our leaders follow proper process, but I am hoping.
KAREN WASS
Arvin
What does Ken Weir fear?
I am appalled at Ken Weir's attempt to remove one of Kern County's brightest and most inspiring planning commissioners, Russell Johnson.
I have witnessed first-hand Johnson's maturity over the past decade.
I have seen Johnson actively participate in a variety of community and political causes, including a top-level position with the Steve Forbes campaign, another post under state Sen. Roy Ashburn and as an active member in a variety of other community and state-wide organizations.
Johnson has the exposure and background to understand the needs of the voters and the community. He has the experience and knowledge to make the right decisions for the Bakersfield community.
What is Ken Weir afraid of? Does he think Russell Johnson is planning to run for his seat?
Hmmm, not a bad idea.
JEFFREY S. CHAVEZ
Bakersfield