Mayor Ron Morrison and elected/appointed officials
SEE THE LIGHT!
Editorial:
Email to: Herman Baca, Chairman of the Committee on Chicano Rights
From: George Eiser, City Attorney, City of National City
Date: July 19, 2010
Mr. Baca:
I am in receipt of your letter of July 14, 2010, in which you request a legal opinion regarding various aspects of red light photo enforcement. I regret to inform you that as a public agency attorney, I am legally precluded from providing legal advice, including legal opinions, to persons outside the City of National City organization.
You may be interested to know that the City Council is not currently considering red light photo enforcement in National City. Should this subject be considered by the City Council in the future, it will appear on a public meeting agenda and be open to discussion by members of the public.
George Eiser
After receiving the email, Baca declared a victory over the rush to install “red light photo-enforcement detectors” in National City.
Photo-enforcement detectors were slated for five of the busiest intersections within the city and would have resulted in a $445.00 ticket per motorist for running a red light in National City. According to recent reports, there were 28 collisions in 2008 involving red light violations and 33 collisions in 2009. The reports did not specify whether or not these violations occurred at the five pre-selected sites.
Baca argued that the “red light” tickets would have been ruled illegal by a three judge panel in Orange County, and would be another burdensome cost on residents of a city where the median income, $30,000, the lowest in the County. Adding insult to injury, the firm National City was negotiating with was in Arizona. As many cities in California have passed resolutions opposing Arizona’s SB 1070 and some are boycotting the state, Baca, a Chicano activist, saw the bid as an insult to the 70% of the population in National City of Mexican ancestry and that could not be ignored.
But the moral of this story is the impact that one man, one committee can have within a city!
The red light photo-enforcement issue is just the latest issue for Baca. Baca forced the city to stop overcharging a $10.50 “administrative fee” to renew business licenses (February 2010) for property inspections. As Baca stated “it wasn’t the amount, it was the principal behind the fee.” Not only did the city stop charging the fee but reimbursed 3200 business owners who paid the fee.
Baca serves as an inspiration to local citizens. He demonstrates to National City residents that by being aware of the issues, asking questions, and being involved in governmental process, change can occur and elected officials can be held accountable for their actions.