Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz thought he could fly under the radar
this summer on a taxpayer-funded trip to Reno, Nev., and showed
poor judgment as a leader by even thinking to propose the $1,700
item in such difficult economic times.
Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz thought he could fly under the radar this summer on a taxpayer-funded trip to Reno, Nev., and showed poor judgment as a leader by even thinking to propose the $1,700 item in such difficult economic times.
Even more curious is that De La Cruz canceled a similar trip last year, for $2,700 to a National Association of Counties conference in Nashville, after his plans became public and questions arose about the message it sends to workers facing uncertain employment and pay cuts, and to taxpayers struggling to get by in a down economy.
Supervisors at a recent meeting put off a decision on the item while expressing concern about the cost, a small amount in the big picture but a slighting gesture without return that shows De La Cruz’s priorities are disoriented. The extent of his argument had been citing the importance of attending these meetings and hearing from other county officials. There were no specific issues on the agenda from which he could argue in favor of a direct benefit, financial or not, to San Benito County. So why even propose such a trip?
The District 5 supervisor last week attempted to bandage the public-relations wound – just the latest mark on his resume dimming prospects for reelection in 2012 – by canceling the most recent NACO trip, doing so on the day a story published in the Free Lance about his proposal and supervisors’ decision to request that he come back with ideas to cut the cost. It included $700 on lodging, $490 on registration, $286 on travel and $255 on food.
His reasoning for the cancellation further solidified suspicion of another ill-concocted, botched strategy for a taxpayer-funded getaway. “We need to evaluate all travel to see if it’s worth the cost,” he said.
The supervisor, however, initiated the idea on his own. Without an identifiable return on investment, he brought forward a plan to unnecessarily spend money in times when he should be focused solely on ways to spend less and generate more revenue. Why in such difficult times, and a year after he pretended to get the message by backing out of the Nashville trip, does he need supervisors and citizens reminding him about the fragile state of finances and the stated precedent board members have set over the past couple of years to closely watch every penny?
The irony of the board’s deliberation over the Reno trip was that 10 minutes earlier at the same meeting, De La Cruz openly questioned costs for a proposed trip to Sacramento by County Administrative Officer Susan Thompson to discuss matters regarding Williamson Act funds.
Her trip made a lot more sense. Besides a closer proximity and lower cost, Williamson Act funds directly affect the wallets of many county farmers and ranchers.
Some meetings or conferences might be worth attending, but there must be specific reasons with serious prospects of gaining something in return for San Benito County. Without it, officials would send a hypocritical message to county employees and residents in times when everyone else is sacrificing.
