Politics & Government

Council Members Face Occupy Resolution Again

The group discussed the issue with Redlands Mayor Pete Aguilar and Mayor Pro-tem Paul Foster during the most recent Coffee with the Council event. Plus, candidates pick up endorsements.

According to a handful of dedicated Redlands residents, Coffee with the Council events used to be a lot quieter.

Not so during the last two meet ups. About 20 people packed into Innabi Mediterranean Grill on Colton Ave. in Redlands on March 17 for a chance to speak with Redlands Mayor and congressional candidate Pete Aguilar and Redlands Mayor Pro-Tem Paul Foster.

The council members again faced question on a resolution created by Occupy Redlands and supported by several in the community denouncing Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision -- a Supreme Court decision that prohibits limits on independent spending for political purposes by corporations and unions.

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This was the first opportunity Occupiers had to ask Foster his thoughts on the resolution.

“I have read it and my effort has been to share it with other members of the community that I respect and to get feedback from them,” Foster told the group. They have been members of his church, Kiwanis and his neighborhood, he said.

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“I’ve gotten some mixed feedback, some positive, some negative,” he said. “At this point I have to say I haven’t made up my mind yet entirely how I feel about it.”

The councilman did say, however, that he was unclear how it was pertinent to what they were charged with doing as council members.

Foster and Aguilar said they were not fans of the decision and the idea of unlimited amounts of money getting poured into campaigns, but were not convinced a resolution was the answer.

Occupy Redlands committee members reminded the council the group wanted to be placed on the agenda so the council could at least vote.

“I know you guys have heard us come and speak many times in front the council,” said Kent Marten, committee member with Occupy Redlands as he showed some frustration. “I’ve stood there personally and said you guys are focusing on campaign finance reform. What we’re trying to explain to you, and we feel we still have to do this, is that this is about democracy."

"We see you standing up for transparency and budget issues … that have been voted on and talked about that aren’t as important as democracy,” Marten said.

When democracy is affected, then the residents in Redlands are affected, he said. This is about having a unified voice, he told the councilmen.

That prompted the obvious question.

“If it did come before council and it was voted down would you think that that means that we are not supportive of the democratic process?” Foster asked.

“No,” Marten said. “I don’t think that.”

The candidate endorsements are beginning to pile up.

Associated Builders and Contractors’ Political Action Committee, or ABC PAC, and the political arm of the National Association of REALTORS, RPAC, endorsed Congressman Gary Miller (R-Diamond Bar) for re-election to 31st Congressional District.

Pete Aguilar (D), City of Redlands Mayor got the backing of Colton’s leaders. Those include Mayor Sarah Zamora, Mayor Pro Tem Frank Gonzales, Councilmembers Susan Oliva, Alex Perez, David Toro, Vincent Yzaguirre and City Clerk Eileen Gomez.

Businessman Russ Warner’s campaign announced the San Bernardino-Riverside Central Labor Council has endorsed him. Warner is running against Assemblyman Mike Morrell (R-Rancho Cucamonga) for the newly drawn 40th State Assembly District.

Meantime, Third District Supervisor candidate James Ramos picked up a endorsement from Supervisor Josie Gonzales, chairperson for the Board of Supervisors.


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