Jim Bonetti: Voters watching to see what mayors do about LAFCO, Beekman

So LAFCO tries to correct the formula for developer fees for turning farmland into residential housing. Hughson Mayor Matt Beekman believes developers pay too little to cities for the privilege of building, so he votes to increase the fees. Beekman was appointed to LAFCO by the other mayors; according to most of them, Beekman should do as he’s told.

So Riverbank Mayor Richard O’Brien doesn’t like how Beekman voted and has a tantrum and calls Beekman “un-American”! O’Brien and his mayor buddies get together and say “Hey, let’s dump Beekman.” They don’t want to be called “un-American,” so they go along.

So, O’Brien et al think voters must vote with the majority? Beekman doesn’t think so, nor do I. We’re not alone.

This is America, not some third-world country where you lose your hand if you don’t vote as you’re told. Every person in every city you represent are watching what you do at the next LAFCO meeting, where you plan to show Beekman who’s boss.

Developers are a dime a dozen. They would pay 10 times whatever fees were required just to get the chance to build something. They are motivated by one thing: money!

This story was originally published June 29, 2015 at 1:28 PM with the headline "Jim Bonetti: Voters watching to see what mayors do about LAFCO, Beekman."