Maloney Begins Term with Old Tactics (Photos – Frank Qiu, cityofalhambra.org).
The Alhambra Chamber of Commerce brings back it’s State of the City fundraiser. On Tuesday, April 12, 2022, the Chamber will host Alhambra’s new mayor, Jeff Maloney, for a review of City accomplishments in the last year and a “look forward to what’s next.”
By Ari Gutierrez Arambula
Sponsors who pay $50 per ticket or $1,000 per table of 8 will get direct access to and likely the privilege of some one-on-one time with Alhambra’s new Mayor as he promotes City accomplishments. This is wonderful news if you are a moneyed interest or powerbroker who wants to schmooze with Alhambra’s top decision-maker without the presence of peasants raining on your privilege-parade. It also works out well for the Mayor who gets to curry favor with well-heeled special interests.
Private Access to Public Information
Likely to preempt protests, which always come, The Mayor’s state of the city address is on the City Council meeting agenda for Monday, April 11, 2022. However, access to public officials and information is limited at Council meetings. The published Council agenda does not provide a hint of information about the Mayor’s State of the City report nor the City’s priorities in the next year – not even an outline. The format also limits public participation to the protocols of council meetings, where comments are limited and direct access to elected officials is not allowed.
Alhambra’s Pay to Play Past
As reported by ColoradoBoulevard.net, the City of Alhambra and Chamber of Commerce were previously called out for selling access to local politicians and public information though the duos’ joint State of the City/annual corporate fundraiser. On that 2019 occasion, the Chamber, likely through pressure from the City Manager, quickly amended its advertising of the event to offer free access to anyone who agreed not to eat at the luncheon event (no such offer is advertised this time). In another attempt to save face in 2019 (before public gatherings were limited), City Hall subsequently hosted a second state of the city event in its council chambers that was free to regular folks.
Alahambra Chamber-Ad for State of the City (Photo – alhambrachamber.org)
Conflict of Interest Abounds
Membership in Alhambra’s Chamber of Commerce or any kind of paid access should not be associated with government business. The Chamber of Commerce of course has every right to boost business interests and grant its dues-paying members privileges purchased with that membership, but City Hall should not be a willing collaborator in that exclusive special-interest scheme. As a public entity, the City of Alhambra should not provide private or favored access to moneyed interests with business before the City, which presents a conflict of interest and at least the appearance of pay-to-play.
The Alhambra Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors includes real estate professionals, developers, and city contractors including Mark Paulson (former councilmember turned entitlement consultant), Republic Services (the city’s trash contractor) and an executive from the Ratkovich Company, which is suing the city over the failed The Villages development. The Chamber itself is a paid city contractor through a no-bid agreement.
The City’s path forward should NOT be directed by those who can afford $1,000 sponsorships and have monetary interests with City Hall. Instead, the priorities and accomplishments of a City should be directed by a majority of its residents and voters. In his second term as a member of the Alhambra City Council and his second turn as Mayor, Mr. Maloney knows better – or at least he should.
Public comments
Public comments on this and other agenda items may be made by attending the Council meeting at Alhambra City Hall on Monday, April 11, 2022 at 6pm in person or by raising your virtual hand if attending the Zoom Webinar ID: 897 4143 7787, Passcode: 913811.
I guess a zebra never does change his stripes. A fund raiser for a state-of-the-city address? Ridiculous. But then, the Chamber never misses a chance to make money. Here in San Gabriel, the City provides food at the address, and there is no cost to attend. As it should be. Mayor Maloney might want to look to his neighbors for guidance on this.
Mayor Maloney should know better ! In his first run for office he took thousands of dollars from developers that were bringing their projects to him for a vote. Despite overwhelming public testimony against these projects he voted for all of them saying the campaign donations had no bearing on his vote. One of his major campaign contributors was later arrested by the FBI for bribery. Mixing a corporate fundraiser with city business is wrong on so many levels. What a shame Mayor Maloney learned nothing from his previous mistakes.