North Central Recorder

COMMENTARY:

Hollywood Park deal not "win-win"

Thursday, 11 December 2008
By Edmond Ortiz, Editor

Transparency and foresight. Those are big buzzwords in political circles nowadays. It's critical for leaders in any organization to possess a thoughtful regard toward his or her future actions and to make their decision-making processes easily understood to constituents.

Perhaps Hollywood Park Mayor Richard McIlveen possesses neither trait in a controversy that focuses on city property at 104 Sunway next to City Hall. As reported in the North Central News, City Council in April authorized buying the property with reimbursement from the local Economic Development Corp. The land hosts a house that the city plans to hold for possible future city usage.

All well and good except where council in October voted 3-1 for a residential lease between the city and David and Tracy Ballard at 104 Sunway. David Ballard is the son of Mayor Pro Tem Ken Ballard and presides over the EDC board. He and his wife are living there while their house is being remodeled.

Councilwoman Ellen Alkire cast the dissenting vote, saying the couple is paying just $500 a month though the property is appraised at $235,000. She said monthly rent should run between $1,400 and $1,700. Alkire added that the couple was already living at the house before council approved the lease.

While McIlveen called the deal a "win-win" situation that would help bring the city extra revenue, Alkire said the agreement "doesn't pass the smell test" and that "it sounds like a pretty good brother-in-law deal to me."

Many residents wanted to formally address the issue at last month's council meeting, but couldn't because that meeting's agenda didn't include a forum for public comments on non-agenda items, which has been customary in the past.

It didn't help matters that Ken Ballard presided over the meeting in McIlveen's absence and when he and city attorney Ryan Henry said only the mayor sets meeting agendas. Alkire responded the absence of an agenda item strictly for public comments is a "disservice to the citizens."

One audience member jokingly wished the city could give her a deal similar to the one the Ballards have. The mayor's silence on this debate was compounded when he didn't reply to a reporter's request for remarks.

"What win is (McIlveen) talking about?" asked Hollywood Park Homeowners Association President Tim McCallum in the city's latest newsletter. "The loss of confidence in government alone destroys any benefit that $500 a month will bring. The mayor and council must know how bad this looks."

That's not all. At the same November meeting, some residents protested the city's permitting of one hotel to be built next  to another proposed hotel near an already congested freeway intersection.

And lest we forget the move that Alkire made during a July council meeting -- criticizing McIlveen for not placing an agenda item to then award a street-repair bid. She then promptly called for the mayor's resignation.

A resignation from McIlveen isn't necessary. But answers on the Ballard lease are. Transparency and foresight are among highly sought qualities in institutional leadership from the White House to suburban government. Hollywood Park residents deserve to know the rationale behind these issues that have caused some discord, and not just among constituents. It doesn't help when residents aren't afforded the full legal ability to interact with their elected leaders either at government meetings or through local media.