Charleen Raines Attacks Waterfront Developer
— by Jeffrey Wisniewski — 1 February 2011 — 15 comments below »
Former councilmember Charleen Raines is trying to pin the recall efforts — which has already garnered more than 2,000 signatures for both Don Kuehne and Joanne Ward in less than a week — on the waterfront developer, AndersonPacific, in a letter to the editor:
Some 10,000 robocalls, 10,000 e-mails, voter rolls by precinct, rental of City Hall, etc. — this kind of organization is expensive. So who has the most to gain to get rid of Don Kuehne and Joanne Ward? The only answer I can come up with is the waterfront developer, Anderson Pacific.
It is not true. Just another distortion from the city council no one trusts. (Raines was a councilmember from 2004 through 2008 and approved the Red Barn deal.)
But on another point, Raines did inadvertently admit — er, confirm — that both Kuehne and Ward are against the waterfront project. They should have just come out and said it themselves; it’s been obvious.
Charleen Raines is trying to cover her own behind. She needs to be quiet – no one buys her load of bull. If she thinks the recall is about Amderson Pacific then she is way dumber than I thought she was when she was on the council.
Looking for facts…the financial backers of the Recall will eventually be disclosed. The FPPC requires that all contributions over $100.00 be reported. According to the Recall’s website, they have obtained an FPPC ID number. Before we start calling people names, let’s see the facts. I sure hope she is wrong about Anderson funding the Recall, but I’m waiting for some facts before I form my opinion. If she is right, a lot of people have a lot of explaining to do.
@ looking — And until that time, it is baseless, and a means to distract attention from the disaster they created.
Charleen Raines made the comment “The only answer I can come up with is the waterfront developer”. This comment is her speculation. Charleen should be more responsible and stick to the facts. Commenting on what she KNOWS is ok. Commenting on her opinion of what should done be is ok. Speculating in private discussions is fine. One does need to figure out the questions to ask and speculating is a way to get to the questions. But speculating in a public forum is just another way of her saying “I have no idea what is going on”.
I speculate that she is not well informed about what she is saying. ( – :
Charleen Raines is trying to stir the pot here. Well, she should have done this when she was a member of the city council who created all these mess we are in right now as far as I am concerned. Nice try but it’s a bit too late Mrs. Raines. Herculeans have expressed their will. Isn’t that good enough for you?
Question by Charleen Raines on her editorial: “So who has the most to gain to get rid of Don Kuehne and Joanne Ward?” 1) Hercules City Hall—it’s credibility will be restored because when he’s gone, citizens will step up and run for a seat even if they know there’s a big mess and not because they’re pushing for AP 2) Most Importantly, the citizens of Hercules will be the winners if he leaves even before the RECALL petition reaches 2,500 signatures. That would be sweet!
It is offensive to me personally that Ms Raines thinks that Anderson Pacific is behind the recall. Like the citizens of Hercules can not think for themselves? Come on give me a break.. This recall is not about that – its about taking back city hall from the council, city manager and city attorney who put us in the predicament that we are in now. Ms. Raines get your facts straight.
I gladly contributed $50 and will gladly contribute $50 more and I don’t even know AP’s phone number! Charlene, can’t you see the groundswell here? This is purely grass roots.
This would be funny if it wasn’t so sad. She doesn’t understand so she just made something up or she just parroted what Kuehne made up! I am on the leadership team. We have a very highly organized leader in Anton who has spent a lifetime as a financial expert. We are totally grass roots. Our budget must be disclosed by law. We have nothing to hide and unlike some council members, are totally transparent. Before she wrote a public piece she should have taken some time to research the facts Now, she’s going to just look silly. Its too bad. At one point I supported both her and Kuehne. How times have changed!
Well said Susan – she is covering her own behind – she has as much on her as Batara and all the rest…..
I am disgusted that a former city council person would make such a public indictment without any evidence whatsoever. This is yet another example of the long-standing incompetence and mean-spiritedness of this city’s leadership.
Raines shoots her mouth off without bothering to do her homework or get the facts. Sad that this is the kind of representation we’ve had in the past. Intellectually lazy. Isn’t it refreshing to watch Delgado and de Vera showing they have a grasp of the issues and have read the staff reports?
It is reckless and irresponsible for a former councilmember to editorialize that the Recall Movement is supported by a Developer, without providing any substantiation or evidence. Charleen Raines’ cynical take on what is truly a grass roots movement shows that she is out of touch with the community and the need for change. She has chosen to resort to “dirty tricks” to support her friend, Don Kuehne, rather than concede that this movement is Powered by the People. She is spreading unfounded rumors based on a Big Lie. This is beneath her and I am surprised and disappointed she is behaving in this manner.
When the financial statements are made available to show that the Recall group has not received funding from the waterfront developer, Ms. Raines should issue a public apology, for maligning a group of citizens who are only trying to change the culture of corruption at city hall.
We’re operating on donations and our own out of pocket expenses which hopefully, we’ll get back! So please, donations are gratefully accepted!
The citizens of Hercules (and their hard earned tax dollars) have a lot to gain by making certain that there is transparency in city government decisions. Maybe Charleen is doesn’t care where or how her taxes are spent, but I certainly do care!