By Roz Rogoff
About this blog: In January 2002 I started writing my own online "newspaper" titled "The San Ramon Observer." I reported on City Council meetings and other happenings in San Ramon. I tried to be objective in my coverage of meetings and events, and...
(More)About this blog: In January 2002 I started writing my own online "newspaper" titled "The San Ramon Observer." I reported on City Council meetings and other happenings in San Ramon. I tried to be objective in my coverage of meetings and events, and saved my barbs for my Commentary page. I had some political differences with the City Council at that time and particularly with the majority dubbed "The Gang of Three," by the San Ramon Valley Times. In 2003 new Council members were elected and the Council was more balanced and fiscally conservative, but I continued to write the Observer until 2009. At that point I decided I wanted to concentrate on my commentaries. So I requested a meeting with the editor and publisher of the Danville Weekly about taking over the San Ramon Observer. My timing was very apropos since the parent company, Embarcadero Media, was planning to release an online San Ramon Express that April. I was offered a "blog" under the name "San Ramon Observer" for my commentaries. I like to inform residents about what is happening in San Ramon, especially on city government and local politics. When I don't have anything to write about on those topics, I just write about anything I am doing or thinking about.
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I attended the special City Council meeting on Monday night at the Community Center. The huge Fountain Room was filled to overflowing with residents and luminaries. Karen Stepper, Mayor of Danville, and Marshall Kamena, past Mayor of Livermore both spoke in Public Comment about working with Abram Wilson and Carol Rowley.
Carol was given a standing ovation at the end of her farewell presentation, ironically lead by her opponent in the Mayor's race, Bill Clarkson.
Mayor Abram Wilson gave an inspiring speech about San Ramon reflecting the quality of its residents. He praised the audience for making San Ramon such a great place to live and work. He too received a standing ovation.
Then newly elected Councilmember Phil O'Loane was sworn in with the help of his wife, followed by reelected Councilmember Scott Perkins and his wife. Newly elected Mayor Bill Clarkson was sworn in by his daughter and the rest of his family.
Clarkson was sworn in as "Bill" and his nameplate also says "Mayor Bill Clarkson." That may be an indicator of the kind of down-to-earth accessibility Bill will bring to his role as Mayor.
I was invited to the reception following the meeting, but my feet hurt from wearing new boot (but they looked great), so I left and came home.
Both Bill Clarkson and Phil O'Loane asked about changes I hinted at for the Policy Committee. I told Bill he would like them. I shall write up all of my concerns for the next Council meeting on December 13th, but basically I'd like some clarification about putting items on the Council Agenda. Right now the process is a mystery, and I'd like the mystery solved.
