Good morning.  Thank you very much for your excellent editorial in today’s BEE.  We appreciate a fair and balanced opinion.

                             The Stanislaus Taxpayers Association works on specific issues that are either bad for, or good for, the taxpayer.  What happens too often, especially when elected officials have been in office too long, is that they forget they work on behalf of their constituents, many of whom are Taxpayers.  We fear that the current city council and its mayor, have simply disconnected with the Taxpayers.

                             The editorial correctly mentions each concern that the STA has regarding charging for a mandated speech.  A majority of voters voted for Ridenour on the theory that he was the best candidate to represent them (I am one who voted for him).  He must, apparently, be reminded that he is supposed to be the watchdog and ombudsman for ALL Modestans, those who voted for him, those who voted against him, and those who never voted. 

                             The mayor says the $40 dollar fee proves he is interested in jobs and economic development; too bad he has failed miserably in that effort for the last six years.  Just drive from 1010 10^th St to Needham.  I think you will count 18 closed businesses in those six blocks.  And, we just lost the best hardware store in the city; where was the mayor?  Perhaps he could give speeches at $200 per, and really stimulate the economy?

                             The mayor wants business to cooperate with government!  That is so wrong it is difficult to believe he said it.  It is precisely his city government who impedes business.  The mayor’s government burdens business’s with an immoral gross revenues or “mill tax”; its sign law is stupid; it is so inept that developers commonly wait 18 months for their plans to be approved; it cannot keep roads repaired, so businesses leave for locations outside city limits in order to be accessible; crime threatens business owners and their employees, while the mayor works for the Sheriff.

                             The editorial correctly addresses the mayor’s unbelievable “bellyache” comment.  This is exactly the disrespect demonstrated by his government and his council. 

                             We hope the mayor takes the advice offered in the editorial.  Let us see if he panders to the elite, or respects his constituents.

                                                Dave Thomas