Dellums: The Do Little Mayor

One of my strongest regrets is that I voted for Mayor Dellums (mayor of Oakland, California). Chip Johnson who writes for the San Francisco Chronicle calls him The Quiet Mayor. I call him the Do Little Mayor. I invite you to read Johnson's column in today's edition of the Chronicle: "Oakland Mayor - pompous, not politic." I have many reasons for disliking the job that Dellums has done. Here's a small sample from Johnson's article:

Dellums seems to have a blind spot when it comes to understanding how his own conduct and behavior - from excessive spending on lavish travel to his steadfast refusal to publicly discuss a $240,000 federal tax lien - reflects the very worst that exists in Oakland government.

From September 2008 to September 2009, Dellums and his wife spent nearly $60,000 in city funds on travel. San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed spent $5,800 in the same time period, said Michelle McGurk, a spokeswoman in Reed's office. And, in calendar year 2009, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom spent $5,400, said Joe Arellano, Newsom's press secretary. In Sacramento, Mayor Kevin Johnson, a former NBA player, pays for his own travel and accommodations, said a staff member.

He displays that characteristic that I absolutely abhor in politicians and others: he has forgotten how the rest of us regular folks live. He has forgotten about our daily struggles to keep a roof over our heads.

I guess it's too late to dump him ... we'll have to ride this out. I pledge to vote more wisely next time. (I should have listened to my friend, Barbara, who suggested that I vote for Nancy Nadler.)

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