SACRAMENTO-
Sacramento’s Clunie Clubhouse was packed Thursday night, but the man who could benefit most from the discussion – nowhere in sight.
Instead, surrogates stepped in at the Eye on Sacramento forum to back Mayor Kevin Johnson and his push to have more control over budgeting and hiring through Measure L- otherwise known as the Strong Mayor proposal.
Some loudly lauded Johnson’s economic vision of using a new Kings arena as a job engine, but others fear what may happen if – minus a powerful city manager – Johnson’s opinion is the only one that matters in controversial development decisions like McKinley Village.
“It’s much easier to influence one person behind closed doors than it is to make your case to a majority of the city council and make your case to the public,” said Paula Lee with the League of Women Voters.
Her groups strongly opposes Measure L.
Others insist governance can be accountable without a concentration of power.
“Look at Joe Serna, look at Heather Fargo. These are people that could lead in the community. These are people that could get things done and they did it by building compromise and consensus,” Michael Murphy, of the New Era Park Neighborhood Association, said
“Council members are likely not to be as heard or as considered as much by city staff in a strong mayor system,” said Craig Powell with Eye on Sacramento.
Powell offered that critique in what his watchdog group billed as an impartial discussion of a report they released on academic analysis of the strong mayor plan.
The panel assembled was touted as representing both sides of the issue, but it often didn’t sound that way.
Powell opposed the use of city funds for a new Kings arena, something the mayor secured and Johnson supporters see this report as another jab, not an independent take.
“I think it’s just a chance to talk to voters and that’s all that the ‘Measure L’ campaign has wanted for six years,” Kunal Merchant, one of Mayor Johnson’s representatives, said Thursday.