All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.”

– Arthur Schopenhauer, Philosopher

I believe Vallejo Politics on other social media platforms is passing through the three stages of truth. At first many were ridiculed for bringing up the obvious, then they were banned because the obvious was not liked. I have started this page to bring Vallejo’s Political Conversations back to those that have been silenced. If you have a topic concerning Vallejo Politics you would like to discuss you can submit it at this link.

VALLEJO’S POLITICAL CLIMATE AND SPECIAL INTERESTS

For decades Political Action Committees(PACS) have slowly eclipsed Public Unions, Private Trade Unions, Developers, Real Estate,  wealthy Vallejoans, and local businesses in raising campaign money that contribute to candidates, tax measures, and bond measures. Today any one entity above can contribute to a PAC which can mask itself in a mission statement that contradicts the mission statement of the industry that contributes to it.

For example a PAC can call itself, “The Committee for a Better Vallejo”, but is it really? The only way to know is to look at who contributes to the PAC and what the contributors primary mission is. If a Public or Trade Union donates to the PAC and their primary mission is to promote better salaries and benefits for their members all of a sudden the mission of such a PAC is better revealed.

In 2020 for example the Measure G sales tax was put on the ballot and supported by a PAC called Jumpstart. In 2016-2018 cycle of elections Jumpstart contributed to a number of candidates in Vallejo. Some organizations that contributed to the PAC were public unions, Trades Unions, and the Operators of a proposed terminal and cement plant on Derr Street called ORCEM\VMT. The Vallejo School District also was struggling to put a bond measure and the ballot, as a slim School Board majority supported more bond accountability before they would vote to put it on the ballot.

The Jumpstart PAC supported candidates whose mission statements did not match the Candidates own mission statements. By November of 2018, Jumpstart had successfully elected candidates that furthered the welfare of Jumpstart and the special interests that supported it. The City of Vallejo weakened term and conditions of development on Mare Island, voted for relaxing Police accountability in their union contract, voted for raises in salaries and benefits to their employees. In 2019 the City voted to purchase for $15 million, a waterfront building not even suited for the purpose of a new Police station. The Special interest supported Council majority narrowly voted to essentially give away 157 acres on North Mare Island to a developer.

In Vallejo Schools a bond was put on the ballot and passed with projects going to interests that contributed to Jumpstart. During this gigantic spending spree from 2019 to recently there was plenty of money for special interests, and no one once brought up the condition of the City’s infrastructure, roads, and the lack of priority they received by the Council majority. This next election cycle, we will likely see new PACS with mission statements that do not match their donors mission statements.

Another tax is being proposed for the City of Vallejo, and candidates will be emerging that are supported by such PACS to make the focus of our elected bodies that of special interests, and secondary will be for the interests of the community. The goal of providing this website is to help Vallejoans pick candidates that are best suited to represent the best interests of the community as their primary function, and the interest of developers, the real estate industry, public unions, private unions, secondary or tertiary. We hope to expose endorsements of candidates backed by current and former elected officials in the voting records of their endorsers and if they better served the community or special interests. As we enter into the next election cycle remember your vote will be bitterly fought for in commercials, glossy fliers and lofty missions statements. We hope to help you see though all of that and vote on the candidates best for our community, not someone else’s industry.