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Stop blaming Arroyo Grande police officers

November 27, 2014

ag police 1OPINION BY OTIS PAGE

We have a potentially paralyzing issue in Arroyo Grande that may have a significant effect on Mayor-Elect Jim Hill’s future administration and work with the council.

That issue is outgoing Mayor Tony Ferrara’s continued animosity directed at Hill and the Arroyo Grande Police Officer’s Association, as evidenced in his interview with the Tribune on Nov. 26. Ferrara is quoted saying, “A perfectly functional, ethical, and effective city council and city government has been hijacked by a rogue police union and a group of individuals with self-serving agendas.”

Commenting on Hill’s formal acceptance of mayor on Dec. 1, Ferrara said, “And in my view that is not cause for celebration or ceremony and certainly not one that I want to participate in.”

Ferrara implies he will continue to be active along with his supporters in the future.

And there lies the issue of his animosity towards the police officer association and that of certain council members, such as the princess Kristen Barneich, who was reportedly hostile to Hill supporters and the police officers’ association as exemplified by her father’s (Chuck Fellows) web site.

Further, it is reasonable to be believe Ferrara’s story line is the one he gave to the California League of Cities as an excuse for his losing its presidency.

I am frankly very uncomfortable proceeding without “smoking out” and discrediting Ferrara’s bitterness — as particularly employed against the police officers’ association.

Ferrara’s political hostility towards Hill and his supporters may be explained by the fact that some, like past mayor Mike Lady, who was no buddy of Ferrara’s, coming to his aid, because of his not liking Hill and his wife. That is an unfortunate political manifestation. This is a factor Hill and his supporters must live with.

Ferrara’s ridiculous claim there was no coverup was directly contradicted by Councilman Tim Brown’s confession at the Nov. 19 council meeting. The fact is that by Ferrara’s strong influence the council accepted the original investigation on July 8 that Adams was innocent of any infractions and confirmed that gag orders were issued to quiet the matter.

Here is the net of the issue as I see it: Should we let the issue regarding the police officers’ association stand?

There is no formal written report regarding Government Code 54957 (a law that requires must government actions be conducted openly) items to the council. There should be one.

Where Sintra orally praised the police during a council meeting, that record should be formally established that Ferrara is wrong in saying, words to the effect, that the write-in election of Hill was caused by “a rogue police union” that framed Adams indiscretion.

During the Dec. 1 council meeting confirming Hill, should we address this matter in public comment with the objective that the council should set this straight — and that those who will not — such as the Councilwoman Kristen Barneich– should resign?


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Walking the mile…walking the mile…the old mayor and his entourage are walking the mile….


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When there is an extraction of an infection such as what occurred in

Arroyo Grande, the infection can become messy in the removal process. The disgusting aftermath is not pretty, yet a healthy part of the process.


Ferrara has become irrelevant, but he will be true to his Narcissism and seek to remain important. Adam Hill and Bruce Gibson, among a myriad of others have taught us this.


Like the others, Tony may calm down, but he will never get it.


Congratulations A.G. Well done.


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Well stated. Ferrara, by all of his actions and words since being beaten by write-in

Hill, has made it crystal clear that he is still in Stage 1 of accepting his fate – blame it on

somebody else. Hopefully, he will not be able to do much more as he finally has to

reach the only plausible reason for his defeat – himself.


And you are also so right that there are several others in elected or appointed positions

in this county that think the same way as Ferrara – they are completely innocent of any

thing they may have said or done – it is always someone or something else that is to

blame.


If this county is to ever reach it true potential as a great place to live – then there are

several other narcisstic ‘leaders’ that need to be removed ASAP.


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As I am a supporter of our Mayor elect Hill,

I guess that makes me one of those “self serving individuals Ferrara refers to.

For once Ferrara is right!

Here’s my agenda:


Do the right thing

Tell the truth


This is why I voted for Jim Hill, this is what I expect from him and our council.


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In the comments following the Nov. 26 CCN article titled “Mayor Tony Ferarra Resigns Before Term Ends”, Mary Malone stated:


“We cannot have the kind of accountability we worked for without scrubbing away the infection in the city council and city counsel and exposing their putrid dealings to the healing power of sunlight.

If we don’t, we are giving them a blank check to continue doing what they’ve been doing all along…screwing us over.”


Mary is right. Folks, resist the temptation to fall into the Kumbaya trap in a vain attempt to smooth over the rough edges of the past several months. Ferarra seems to indicate that he is planning to remain an active player in AG politics, albeit in a different role. Well, as long as Ferarra keeps a high visible profile, then the more he remains as a fair target for anyone and everyone who views him as AG’s own political pinata.


Tony, several times leading up to this point you had the chance to do the right thing, and invariably you made the wrong choice every time. You have no one but yourself to blame for your disgraceful exit as mayor and president of the League of California Cities.


Now, Tony, once again, the ball is in your court. You can choose to either:

1) keep seeking ways to put yourself in the spotlight and take the resulting hits like a man, or

2) just sit down and STFU and allow Arroyo Grande to move on and re-establish a clean, orderly and functional city government.


Tony, if you choose option #1, then don’t keep whining like a little crybaby, and be prepared to see other folks who used to support you just begin to gradually drift away one by one like unanchored sailboats in the night.


And for the folks of AG who labored so hard for this impressive victory, the battle has been won, but the war remains. It may take awhile, and at times it may not be pretty, but nothing worthwhile ever comes easy.


Carry on, Arroyo Grande. Carry on.


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The ridiculous attempt by both Adams and Ferrara to blame the AG police officers association in an effort to defray attention from their own shortcomings onto someone else, is disgraceful. It was Adams who initiatives the reason for a assistance call on July 3rd. It was Adams who betrayed the Mayor and City Attorney by not being able to separate from Mrs. McClish.


So yes Mr. Page this must be answered and I sincerely hope the AGPOA who took such a courageous vote of no confidence of the two will call for the community to have their backs.


The community does not have Ferrara’s back. So Tony, do you want to see of we back Kevin Mc Bride over you? Do not even try.


We must demand a written report from Sintra. There was enough there to let Adams go (finally!). Hookstra exonerated the police and closed his summary stating:”However, no one we interviewed,either in the Council or other City employees, had anything other than praise for the police officers involved in the incident.”


Enough Ferrara! Stop your pity party and shut up!


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So let’s get the record straight.


JULY 3RD WAS NOT THE. FIRST TIME the MAYOR and the CITY ATTORNEY had to deal with Adams on his extra special intimate relationship with his employee.


BROWN and GUTHRIE admitted this at the special meeting on NOVEMBER 19th.


The $17K SONTRA INVEStigation did not have a written report other than the one the PUBLIC VIEWED. Closed session confidential discussion was ORAL ONLY.


Remember August 26th when all 5 of the City Council said they wanted to be transparent?

FERRARA said “We will try our level best to be as transparent as the law will allow us to be.”


He has been nothing but an embarrassment of self serving arrogance with absolute disregard for the concerned citizens of Arroyo Grande, not to mention his Council.


SHAME ON YOU TONY FERRARA.


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Tony,

Do you what the difference is between you and the Arroyo Grande Police Department?

THEY are our city’s finest.


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Ferrara is quoted saying, “A perfectly functional, ethical, and effective city council and city government has been hijacked by a rogue police union and a group of individuals with self-serving agendas.”

Wait a minute, back up the morality mobile.

Is the fact that two married (not to each other) members of city government who chose to become intoxicated and then use City Hall after hours, only to be caught by law enforcement officers while in a state of undress, best describe a perfectly functional, ethical, and effective government?

Perhaps it was your attempt Mr. Mayor to cover up and minimize the incident while questioning the integrity of the police department, that more accurately reflects a perfectly functional, ethical and effective government.

Maybe it was the removal of the chairs from the council chambers in order to stifle the opposition’s voice that makes your government perfectly functional, ethical and effective.

I could go on and on and on, but the most obvious, and telling of all has been your reaction to the community of Arroyo Grande. YOU have proven that YOU, your government, and city council is ANYTHING but functional, ethical, or effective. Talk about self serving!

Cheers


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I find it so very strange that Ferrara has directed such hatred toward the AG Police Officers. Given that he was once in the profession (Los Angeles Deputy Sheriff) one has to wonder why he left after only serving 20 years? Was he fired or given the option of quitting? It would be interesting to know why he actually left LASO and how he was percieved by other deputies and management. Maybe it would shed some light on why he has come to hate the officers in his own city.


I wonder if he hates all police or just the ones in AG?


Truthfully … Ferrara’s behavior of late, kind of scares me.


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Ferrara is spinning out of control.


Must be the impact of so much of that orange tanning product…no one can think straight when they look like an Oompa-Loompa.


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I think Tony will unfortunately try his best to keep Jim from being able to do much while in office. Tony will always think this is someone else’s fault he lost the election, not the fact that he is not liked by many people, including the merchants.


Kristen Barniech will either get on board and try to work with the mayor and new council member or she won’t. I believe only tony and her were the only ones not to congratulate Jim, but she needs to mature some also.


I hope we can move forward now that the election is over with, and move in a more positive way, and only time will tell.


For today, I want to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving.


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The write in candidate Jim Hill and now the Mayor Elect offered Arroyo Grande a choice they had not had for years.

Over 3,000 voters were looking for that alternative.


Dogeatdog is right…


Tony is not nice and lots of people do not like him.


Get over it. Move on or move away!


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