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https://n2v.almanacnews.com/square/print/2010/12/06/deconstructing-atherton

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DECONSTRUCTING ATHERTON

Original post made by Ed, Atherton: other, on Dec 6, 2010

It can be difficult to discern underlying themes over time.
I liked the suggestion someone made, to build a time line of events in the form of a chronological list of brief phrases describing Atherton's spiral over the past several years. This might provide context, perspective and possible understanding. While I would leave this task to others, I have tried below to construct a separate but parallel list of the turnover of Atherton Officials and Employees over just the past few years.
It is a body count.
Some left in disgust, some were sent packing, and others left to avoid pending scrutiny... but they all went away under pressure. Was it a domino effect? Were the departures related in some way? I will start the list with the unanimous council vote requesting a Building Department Audit, through the present. The list may be out of order and I am certain it is not complete.

Building Official Mike Hood
City Planner Neil Martin
Interim Building Official Gary Binger
Interim Building Official Mike Cully
Plan Checker Tim Wulff
City Manager Jim Robinson
Finance Director John Johns
Mayor Allen Carlsen December 2007
Office Specialist Lois English
Assistant Finance Director Paula Pierce
City Manager Wende Prostman
Police Chief Bob Brennan
Mayor Jim Janz December 2008
City Attorney Mark Hynes
Atherton's Outside Auditors
City Clerk Kathy Hamilton
Police Chief Glenn Neilson October 2009
Building Official Mike Wassman
City Manager Jerry Gruber
Assistant City Manager Eileen Wilkerson
City Attorney Wynn Furth
ex Mayor Charles Marsala

For a total of 22 Thats two City Attorneys --Two Police Chiefs--Three Mayors-- Three City Managers--and four Building Officials in only three years
What force was brought to bare on Atherton , as a result of that audit that could have
precipitated this chain of events? Is it only that the cover up is always worse than the crime
or was more square footage than anyone could ever actually need really worth all of this.

Comments

Posted by just a thought
a resident of another community
on Dec 6, 2010 at 10:00 pm

There is a one word explication.

Developers

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Posted by John P Johns
a resident of another community
on Dec 7, 2010 at 7:29 am

[Post deleted. Don't use Town Square to accuse people of crimes.]

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Posted by Ed
a resident of Atherton: other
on Dec 7, 2010 at 2:57 pm

To J.A.T.
If you did reverse engineer this list back to developers who were featured if the town's audit of the building department it is important to remember that a few threatened to sue the town on principal.
I was never clear on what this principal was--Manifest Destiny maybe?--because it really has turned out to be quite a manifest.
Anyway if this was the case, there would have certainly been needed the complicity of various County Officials, Town Officials and and the local Police Department for the lengthy perpetuation of this rationalization.
It is probably worth noting that approachable Police Chiefs with Real Estate Licenses and or powerful friends to please up at the County can become very a very costly way for any system of governance to continue to function.
Doesn't it seem a lot more efficient for everyone to either follow the rules to begin with or learn to simply apologize?

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Posted by just a thought
a resident of another community
on Dec 8, 2010 at 10:54 pm

ED:

You seem befuddled.

It's not that hard. They are a community joined by common position and similar interest. In this County, everything is connected. They've been building this for a very long time. EVERYONE is connected. People are selected for their willingness to be a player. Ethical people are ex-communicated. There is a lot of money available to those who are willing to be unethical. It's all about promoting power and wealth.

It's just not that hard to get.

There is no opposition party here. No divisiveness. No contention. Why? It's not like that elsewhere.

The County has a budget of 1,800 Million Dollars a year. Surely must be the top in the country or close to it.

Play along and get rich. "Those who matter".

JAT

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Posted by Ed
a resident of Atherton: other
on Dec 9, 2010 at 12:38 am

So then you think this might be the reason that no one even bothered to run against the sheriff or the District Attorney?

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Posted by just a thought
a resident of another community
on Dec 9, 2010 at 12:48 pm

Yes.

This is the modern equivalent of the smoke-filled rooms of Chicago.

The more control without voter approval the better.

JAT

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