Ewin: Until the PBID Process Is Done, Art Madrid Speaks Only for Himself

To the editor:

Due to the Brown Act restrictions, the current La Mesa City Council subcommittee for downtown La Mesa was given the responsibility to represent the council in a manner that would gather improvement-district information, report back periodically and ensure an appropriate educational and exploratory process provided by the consultant and assigned city staff.

Civility is always an expectation. To date, the council has not taken a vote to declare its position with what is now evolved to a PBID improvement district effort for the “Village.”

This is because your entire La Mesa City Council is charged with abiding by a legal process. Until the process steps are fulfilled and a vote(s) taken, Art Madrid speaks only for himself.

The comments and opinions expressed at council meetings, reporter coverages, requested staff council updates, blogs and contacts from many citizens while I walk, shop and or dine in La Mesa are much appreciated by this council member.

At times, some take exception to what I do or do not do and that goes with the elected position. Some of our commenting citizens have different tenures/ histories and La Mesa relationships—business, neighbors and council interfaces.

But their expressions of concern, relating experience with one or more council members, are unfortunate. The recent citizen personal comments/exchanges  in  La Mesa Patch regarding the “leaked” email following the last council meeting should be of concern especially given the “calling out” of one of those exercising their constitutionally guaranteed right of expression.  

Those of us who have lived in La Mesa for many years realize that this is not an isolated or first-time event and can cite examples—Chris Tanner, political opponents. 

Mr. Madrid even tried to involve the Council in collectively supporting his effort to assign the City Manager to investigate the last meetings comments of Mr. Maxwell. A review of the “leaked” email concerns me further, given Mr. Madrid’s  inclusion of two staff members and placing the Formation Committee in the awkward position of silent agreement or public comment and the risk of being “called out.”

Did his use of the words ”we, our,” possibly reflect a collective committee consensus or approval of the email’s content? A “church issue”?

As long as tactics of veiled color of authority, position and bullying use of a public ridicule/calling out are used to stifle La Mesa free speech, La Mesa loses. In addition to Civility, let’s weave Gratitude and Respect at this time of “Peace, Goodwill towards all mankind”—starting now.

Ernest Ewin 
La Mesa