Times Editorial: DA, FBI and grand jury must probe Hercules dealings
— by Jeffrey Wisniewski — 26 December 2010 — 6 comments below »
The Contra Costa district attorney, the county grand jury and the FBI need to carefully review the city’s insider dealing under the tenure of outgoing City Manager Nelson Oliva, whom we hope will finally be out for good on Jan. 9. And the city must bring in financial experts to determine the full extent of Hercules fiscal woes.
As for leadership, City Attorney Mick Cabral, who publicly excused Oliva’s behavior, must go next. And Mayor Ed Balico should submit his resignation immediately. If he doesn’t, he should be recalled along with council members Joanne Ward and Don Kuehne, as we said about two weeks ago when we took the very unusual step of calling for removal of elected officials from office.
Wow!
We certainly need this kind of reporting and editorializing to get the word out about what has been and is continuing to go on in the Hercules government…the criminal conduct of the Council, the City Attorney, and the City Manager, specifically. As painful as it is to constantly be asked, “How could this happen; wasn’t anyone aware?”, I am proud to be a resident and homeowner in Hercules. We will prevail; we just have to keep on track re: the recall; raising to issues before the Grand Jury and the CA Attorney General. The FBI…that’s a new one to me.
Long overdue- as a Herculean I am embarrassed by the behavior of our so called city leaders. Enough is enough. Bring on the investigation and let’s see what is really going on!
I predict Balico will not step down until a lot more pressure is applied. Cabral can be fired by the Council but with the old members voting as a block? Who has the courage among them to do it? Balico to put on a show? Ward because Ward ? Kuehne? Kuehne’s comment have only created more cause for concern. I support the Recall and will participate in it.
The phrase that rings true for me and encapsulates this whole entire mess is that Balico, Ward, and Kuehne: “… lack the moral leadership essential for public office.”
Two of the council members are clueless and one is dumb as a fox …. You decide who is what……
I can’t wait for the financial audit and investigation by the AG, DA, Grand Jury and or the FBI. I hope that the players who have lined their pockets with gold at our expense are indicted and charged with the crimes they are guilty of. The on going games have been played here for years. This is not something new that has just started. Let’s hope that this sorry saga will soon be ending in our town!