City Council: Ricardo Ortiz steps down. Now what?

B'game does not see a lot of mid-term resignations by city council members.  Mike Coffey and Jerry Deal did it, but those are the only ones I can recall.  Back then things were simpler.  We didn't have 80% voter suppression driven by the threat of a lawsuit from some lawyer from Malibu who we bent over for and went to district elections.  But before we get to that, here is Ricardo's statement as posted to his Facebook account:

Yesterday,I gave Mayor Colson my resignation letter. After 10 years as a member of our City Council, I have decided that with changes at work, it has become too difficult to fully serve the citizens of District 1 and the City at large.

 

It has been an honor serving all these years and I thank the citizens of Burlingame for trusting me. In these ten years, I have served as Mayor twice and had many regional leadership positions including Chair of the SFO Community Roundtable, Chair of the Central County Fire Board, Vice Chair of C/CAG. I have served on multiple sub-committees of which the Community Center and Broadway Grade Separation stand out.

 

This has been a very important part of my life and I am going to miss it. Mostly, I’m going to miss all the wonderful people I have worked with in Burlingame and beyond. I am proud to have served with an exceptional group of Council Members many of whom I consider my friends. Our City staff has been a big highlight. They are true gems and we are very fortunate to have their smarts and dedication. I can’t say enough about our department heads and their cordial working relationship. This is due to our strong leadership in our extraordinary City Manager. Lisa Goldman is not only brilliant, she has a keen sense of the politics involved in her job.

 

I have formed strong relationships with many of my counterparts throughout the County. I have many friends from Daly City to East Palo Alto and I will cherish the time we’ve spent together.  I will always look back at these ten years with pride in what we accomplished and nostalgia for the many relationships I’ve built. Thank you all for a great ride. Now it’s someone else’s turn.

 

Being a council member is a big responsibility so when someone realizes they can't do what they know it takes to be a full contributor; due to whatever else they have on their plate, it's the responsible thing to step down.  I thank Ricardo for his service and his honesty.  The Big Question stems from his last sentence:  Now it’s someone else’s turn.

 

Back in the day, pre-Shenkman, when we all elected every council member; the pool of appointees was the Whole City.  What to do now?  Special elections are crazy expensive and take a lot of time to queue up and execute.  Appointing a fill-out-the-term person, like John Root back in the day, is more expedient.  But should that person have reside in District 1?  Maybe we should ask Shenkman since he seems to call the shots all over California.  Just kidding.  Should the council put out a draft notice to District 1?  Hey buddy, wanna be on the city council?  What if no one volunteers?  Or worse, maybe the sole volunteer is.......ugh!    Maybe the seat would be less warm if the appointee was not from District 1 so they could not run in the next regular election?  Would Shenkman be OK with that?  All of this would have been easier if our Big Electeds (looking at Mullin, Becker, Papan, the County Supes, et al) had done something about the stupid law when he first started mailing threats to cities, school districts, fire districts and the dog catchers' electorates.

 

But here we are.  Uncharted waters.  Are they deep or too shallow for safe sailing?

Comments

[Spurinna]

I see in the newspaper that the “Civilian” not “Citizen” oversight committee for the Sheriff’s Office lets illegal immigrants legally oversee legally elected officials.

So why not appoint an illegal immigrant to the City Council just to be consistently absurd?

After all, the County Supervisors this month welcomed the influx of border invaders to our county.

[Joe]

Today's DJ has the story:

The City Council will put out a notice of application, interview candidates and vote on an interim councilmember to fill the District 1 seat by mid-April, Burlingame Mayor Donna Colson said. The city will then hold an election in fall 2024 for the remainder of the term, which runs until November 2026.

“We’re looking for all kinds of backgrounds, and the most important qualification to me is a passion for the city of Burlingame and a deep care for the people who live here,” Colson said.

Ortiz was first elected to the City Council in 2013 after an unsuccessful run in 2011, he said, and served as mayor twice during that time. His last City Council meeting will be April 15.

https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/longtime-burlingame-councilmember-steps-down/article_6d2c66b2-d1fe-11ee-8ea7-0ba8f194ff27.html?utm_source=smdailyjournal.com&utm_campaign=%2Fnewsletters%2Fheadlines%2F%3F-dc%3D1708700408&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline

[Joe]

By the way, here are the 2011 and 2013 posts about the elections:

2011: https://www.burlingamevoice.com/2011/11/election-2011-slight-shuffle.html#comments

2013: https://www.burlingamevoice.com/2014/02/2013-council-candidates-spent-150gs.html#comments

[Timothy Hooker]

With only four members who vote for a temporary candidate, how do you break a tie?

[Phinancier]

Paint ball pistols at twenty paces?

[Just Sayin']

Ricardo's abdication is way way overdue. He has been phoning it in for years. Those committees he has been on have not delivered anything. Rosalie was more effective when she could barely make it to meetings. Just Sayin'

[hollyroller@ gmail.com]

Is there a minimum amount of "Investments In Town still necessary to throw a "Hat in the Ring?
Can a Renter run for the opportunity of representing renters in COB?
How much does it cost?

[resident]

I'm always disappointed at how hollyroller can read this website for years and years but cannot seem to comprehend what she reads. That disappointment is second only to the feeling that she can still vote. Can a renter run to represent the renters? Are you suggesting renter privilege is OK? How renterianism of you.

[Timothy Hooker]

Let us become the first City in the USA who fills a council position with an Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning Engine. Sounds a bit silly at first but I suspect it will happen sooner than you think. So I asked Ella; our company's AI engine if its a good idea and she said:

Using AI to replace a City Council position is a complex and controversial topic that touches on the intersection of technology, governance, and ethics. While AI can assist in various aspects of city management and governance, such as data analysis, predictive modeling for urban planning, and streamlining bureaucratic processes, there are several considerations to keep in mind:

1. **Decision-making and Ethics**: AI lacks the ability to make ethical decisions and understand the nuances of human values and community needs in the same way a human can. City Council positions often require judgment calls based on ethical considerations, understanding of local contexts, and the ability to balance diverse community interests.

2. **Accountability**: AI systems operate based on the data they are trained on and the algorithms that drive their decisions. If an AI were to make a decision that negatively impacts the community, determining accountability could be challenging. Human council members can be held accountable for their decisions through democratic processes.

3. **Representation**: City Council members are elected to represent the interests of their constituents. They engage with the public, understand their concerns, and advocate on their behalf. AI cannot replicate the personal connection and representation that human council members provide.

4. **Complexity of Governance**: City governance involves complex, multifaceted issues that require creative thinking, negotiation, and compromise. AI currently lacks the ability to fully grasp and navigate these complexities in a manner that aligns with human values and societal norms.

5. **Public Trust**: Trust in governance is essential for a functioning democracy. Replacing human representatives with AI could erode public trust, as citizens may feel disconnected from decision-making processes that significantly impact their lives.

While AI could significantly enhance city governance by supporting council members with data-driven insights and efficiency improvements, completely replacing a City Council position with AI raises significant ethical, practical, and governance concerns. The integration of AI into governance should be approached with caution, ensuring that it complements rather than replaces human judgment and democratic representation.

----------

Maybe we can use it to enhance our Government officials and not replace them yet. Meanwhile we will working to train AI to be ethical and follow the human virtues we find valuable in life.

[Joe]

Reading back to the May 14th DJ for something else, I realized I forgot to add the news to this thread:

In other business, Andrea Pappajohn was sworn in as a Burlingame councilmember, replacing the outgoing District 1 representative Ricardo Ortiz, who resigned earlier this year.

“We welcome, with enthusiasm, our new colleague, and we look forward to a collaborative and productive council running for the rest of the year,” Mayor Donna Colson said.

The city will hold a fall 2024 election for the remainder of Ortiz’s term, which runs until November 2026.

[Peter Garrison]

Met the Pappajohn’s at our Burlingame Hills Memorial Day party.

High-energy and charming couple.

[resident]

Burlingame Vice Mayor Emily Beach is resigning from the City Council effective July 14, she announced Monday.

Beach, who will begin work as the chief communications officer for the San Mateo County Transit District on July 15, said the decision was emotionally challenging — her 8 1/2 year tenure on the City Council has been the “honor of a lifetime,” she said — but the right choice.

“Once I walked through the potential conflicts of interests with the city attorney, it was really clear an early resignation was the only responsible and ethical thing to do,” she said.

The City Council will meet July 1 to discuss next steps for seating an interim councilmember for the remainder of Beach’s seat until the upcoming November election, Mayor Donna Colson said, with a goal of swearing in the new member by Aug. 19.

[Man Up Burlingame]

You just gotta read through the list of "accompishments".

https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/burlingames-vice-mayor-emily-beach-to-resign/article_6fee28e8-3362-11ef-b869-a7c1a7fa0718.html

[Paloma Ave]

We must also remember Ms. Beach has been active in taking away choices on how you power your home, she was one of three council members who voted to ban natural gas in new housing (I guess freedom of choice only refers to 'somethings'.) Also, our road diet on California Dr, where traffic is usually clogged, while invisible bicyclist utilize those new bike lanes?