Straight Talk In Sunnyside

October 30, 2009 by Leave a Comment

Back on June 11, 2009, the Yakima Herald-Republic ran an editorial entitled:

Straight Talk May Clear the Clouds Over Sunnyside

In it, the Herald criticized the talent of the Sunnyside City Council for grabbing headlines, in part by saying:

The City Council has proven that grabbing headlines may not be the best way to conduct its business. It all started June 2 when the council, in a 4-2 vote, decided to fire its city manager, Eric Swansen, who had been on the job only 11 months.

The editorial then goes on to recap the resignations of the City Attorney (with 17 years experience working for the City of Sunnyside), the Finance Director, and Council Member Bill Gant, who all quit in protest over the firing of Mr. Swansen.

The Herald went on to ask if it is fair to blame Mr. Swansen for the stormwater plan that they approved.  I would like to point out that my opponent not only supported the flawed plan, but praised it, saying other communities would emulate the Sunnyside model for stormwater plans!

The editorial closes by suggesting Council Members need to be more forthcoming with the citizens of the community.  They also ask for more open government so the public will know why such major decisions are being made.

The current City Council cut the police department, despite public outcry to keep the officers on our streets.  Public safety, in my opinion, should be the number one priority in our City Budget.  The failure of this Council to protect its citizens and businesses has been a major focus of mine.

However, the “implosion at City Hall” as the Daily Sun News referred to it, can not be overlooked.  In the last four years, we have had four different City Managers/Interim City Managers.  We have seen the departure of senior staff, not because of the pay they received, but because of a revolt against the bad leadership decisions of the current City Council.

It is time to make some positive changes.  That is why I am running for City Council.  It is time to vote out the incumbents.

If elected, I will stop the practice of blaming past Council Members, former City Managers, and City Staff for problems.  I will take personal responsibility for my voting decisions.

It is time to do as the Yakima Herald suggested we do.  It is time for some straight talk with the public, and time to end the blame game.

We Deserve Better Government!

Filed under 2009 Election, Sunnyside Council, Uncategorized Tagged with , , ,

Sunnyside Traffic Stop Leads To Drug Bust

October 29, 2009 by 5 Comments

In a press release dated October 28, 2009, City of Sunnyside Police announced that a traffic stop lead to a drug bust.  During the stop, initially made for a defective brake light, the officer noticed baggies (used for packaging drugs for sale), and the smell of marijuana.

Sunnyside Police Drug Bust Photo

Sunnyside Police Department Photo

The vehicle registration even had bits of marijuana in the folds, as it was pulled out of the vehicle glove box.  Three of the four occupants of the vehicle were eventually charged with possession of marijuana.  $1,200 of cash was seized, as well as a box of .22 caliber bullets, and other drug paraphernalia.

This is further evidence of drug trafficking in the City of Sunnyside.  As police make traffic stops, and smell marijuana, drug busts can be made.  If this kind of bust can be made, just from what an officer smells, imagine how much more can be done with a fully staffed police department equipped with drug dogs!  With new leadership on the City Council, we can make that happen.

Congratulations to the officers involved in this most recent drug bust.  It is an example of what can be accomplished with greater frequency, with proper leadership on our City Council.  Vote out the incumbents.

We Deserve Better Government!

Filed under 2009 Election, Sunnyside Council, Sunnyside Crime Issues, Uncategorized Tagged with , , , , , , , ,

Drug Dogs Show Success In Yakima County

October 26, 2009 by Leave a Comment

The Yakima Herald-Republic reported recently on the successful use of drug dogs in Yakima County.  The dogs are part of the Yakima police force, and were temporarily reassigned to duty on highways in Yakima County.

During the month of September, the two dogs used in the interdiction effort resulted in 21 drug arrests being made.  $2,800 in cash was also seized, along with a variety of different drugs, and two pistols.  In addition, three vehicles were also seized.

The operation was conducted with help from the DEA, as well as Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Officers assigned to the drug dogs have extra training in interdiction, which focuses on making traffic stops that are intended to look more closely for drugs.

Interlocal agreements, mutual aid pacts, and other legal instruments can allow for officers to work outside of their normal jurisdictions.

This is a good thing, because as we all know, gangs and drug dealers do not stop at the city limits sign when in the act of committing a crime.

In Sunnyside, we have a tremendous opportunity to make a positive change for our community by restoring our police department to full staffing.  After reversing the damaging cuts inflicted by the current City Council, we can obtain drug dogs of our own to fight crime in the Lower Valley.

With teamwork, we can potentially conduct operations like the one mentioned in the Yakima Herald article.  It is time for better results.  We simply can not afford to allow the criminals to continue to gain the upper hand by having a  Council that is not focused on public safety.

This is why I support the proposal by some of the other candidates to obtain and use drug dogs during traffic stops in Sunnyside.  With a fully staffed, and better resourced police department, we can turn the tide against gangs and drugs.

Vote out the incumbents.

We Deserve Better Government!

Reference:

Yakima Herald-Republic: YPD reports results from interdiction on highways

Filed under 2009 Election, Sunnyside Council, Sunnyside Crime Issues, Uncategorized Tagged with , , , , , ,

Sunnyside Planning Chair Urges Voters To Oust Old Guard

October 24, 2009 by 3 Comments

Brent Cleghorn, the Chair of the Sunnyside Planning Commission, has urged voters to oust the “Old Guard” in elections this year.  In yesterday’s Daily Sun News, he wrote a guest editorial with stinging criticism of how the current City Council is operating.

It is rare for Planning Commissioners to publicly criticize the City Council, as they are appointed by the City Council to serve.  This is an interesting turn of events.  I commend Mr. Cleghorn for standing on his principles.  He is sure to face some backlash for taking such a strong stand.  We need more people like him that are willing to go “all in” to make Sunnyside a better place for everyone, not just a select few.

Some members of this city council have made mistake after mistake running Sunnyside.  It could cost the taxpayers millions before it’s done, and I am frankly tired of their short sightedness.

It’s time for change.  Time to elect a council that will put the citizens of Sunnyside before the special interests who think they own our community.

-from Brent Cleghorn, Chair, Sunnyside Planning Commission, Guest Editorial printed in the Daily Sun News

Filed under 2009 Election, Sunnyside Council, Sunnyside Planning Commission, Uncategorized Tagged with , , , , , , , ,

Yakima Herald-Republic Reports On Sunnyside City Council Candidates

October 14, 2009 by Leave a Comment

The Yakima Herald-Republic has reported on the Sunnyside City Council Candidates.  To see the article, visit: Sunnyside candidates promise to end turbulent times

Election ballots have been mailed, and voters will receive them soon.  Your humble blog editor is Jason Raines, the Sunnyside City Council Candidate in District 1.

An old joke goes, “Vote Early, and Vote Often!”.  On the serious side, I appreciate all my readers’ support and encouragement.  Together, we can bring back the police officers that have been cut by the current City Council, restore sound budgeting at City Hall, and solve the leadership crisis created after the firing of the last City Manager.

WE DESERVE BETTER GOVERNMENT!

Filed under 2009 Election, Sunnyside Budget Issues, Sunnyside Council, Sunnyside Crime Issues Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hancock Was For It, Before She Was Against It

October 4, 2009 by Leave a Comment

Theresa Hancock was for cutting police officers, before she was against it.  She sat by quietly on September 16, 2008 while her hand picked City Manager briefed her and the rest of the Council about cuts he was making to the police force in Sunnyside.  Not once, did she voice a concern about this.  In fact, at the meeting, she seemed more upset about the loss of code enforcement officers, than the fact that public safety was being compromised by laying off police.

Hancock was also in favor of the much maligned storm water tax.  Not only did she vote for it, she complimented the City Staff on what a good job they did, further saying that other communities would follow the Sunnyside model as well!  Now, she is running scared, and says she was leading the charge to have the bad tax scheme repealed.  Another case of being for it, before she was against it.

In the case of the City Hall leadership implosion, Hancock was at the center of it all.  She was part of the Council that forced out Bob Stockwell.  After that, she and the rest of the Council had the freedom to recruit a new City Manager, that would not have any ties to preceding Council Members.  After conducting a search, and getting their number one choice, they sold him out in only 11 months.  Eric Swansen was fired by Theresa Hancock, and three other Council Members, in a divided vote this past June.  All of Sunnyside’s problems, were being pinned on this new scapegoat for Theresa Hancock.

She was for Eric Swansen being City Manager, before she was against him.  Ms. Hancock always has someone to blame, while never looking in the mirror.

It is time for change in Sunnyside.  It is time to elect Council Members who will take responsibility for their actions.

Vote for better government this fall.  Vote out the incumbents.

WE DESERVE BETTER GOVERNMENT!

Filed under 2009 Election, Sunnyside Budget Issues, Sunnyside Council, Sunnyside Crime Issues, Uncategorized Tagged with , , , ,

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