Following “Coffee with the Supervisor” Monday morning, during which members of the public presented Supervisor James Ramos with individual concerns, local media had their own time slot in which to ask questions. In this second of three-part report, Dan Stork says that reporters used the opportunity to probe Ramos in greater depth on regional MACs, discretionary funds, and hotel tax diversion…
Supervisor James Ramos explained to assembled reporters his rationale for Regional Municipal Advisory Committees: “The area is facing regional issues, just like solar. That’s not just one community—that’s a regional issue.” He added that he is considering allowing regional MACs to create additional small “ad hoc” committees to address specific local issues. In response to a question about supervisors’ discretionary funds, Ramos acknowledged that they have been all but eliminated, and lamented that new supervisors are being penalized for the misdeeds of (unspecified) predecessors. In compensation, he will try to make sure that county agencies have enough in their formal budgets so that emergency infusions will not be necessary. Following up a query about the expected diversion of a portion of hotel taxes to a tourism consultant, Ramos’ Deputy Chief of Staff Chris Carillo urged local participation in the forthcoming Marketing Zone Subcommittees, in order to influence that consultant’s direction. Carillo also prompted Ramos to describe plans for a “Give Big” Day scheduled for next May, during which residents will be able to go on line and directly donate to local non-profit organizations of their choice.
COFFEE WITH RAMOS 2 OF 3, REGIONAL MACs, DISCRETIONARY FUNDS
