This BAPAC E-News blast (copy following this email) entitled “Why BAPC is supporting Corky Booze,” is so ridiculous, it is worth sharing.

BAPAC’s endorsement of Booze is quite a turnaround from 2010, when BAPAC wrote (http://richmondconfidential.org/2010/11/01/bapac-attacks-two-council-candidates/):

The email questioned Booze’s dedication to poorer neighborhoods and asserted that he lacked leadership experience. It also criticized his role in the tent city anti-violence protests and his alliance with the Richmond Progressive Alliance.

“Corky is intimidating and his actions or inactions are excessively influenced by Tom Butt and the so-called Progressive Alliance,” the email read.

BAPAC has always been closely associated with Chevron, and Booze was running his 2010 candidacy as less than a 100 percent Chevron supporter. Booze responded to BAPAC’s criticism:

“They [BAPAC] are funded directly by Chevron Corp.,” Booze said. “They are afraid of me because I am willing to say how they are profiting for themselves at the expense of the citizens of Richmond.”
BAPAC President Lloyd Madden says his group’s email speaks for itself.

“It is what it is facts are facts. It’s our opinion and nothing else needs to be said,” Madden said.

It is true that more than once, including the 2010 election, I endorsed Corky Booze as a City Council candidate. So did Gayle McLaughlin and Jovanka Beckles. When Corky sided with those of us who ultimately opposed the Pont Molate Casino and vigorously denounced those who were printing despicable hit pieces against McLaughlin, we thought he could be part of a City Council working for a better Richmond.

For the first few months of 2011, after taking office in January, Booze did not make a single vote that diverged from the Council’s progressive majority. But in September of 2011, Booze and Ritterman got into it over an alleged shakedown by Booze of Cybertran, a fledgling startup company in Richmond with a plan for a pioneering transportation system. See:

• http://richmondconfidential.org/2011/09/15/ritterman-files-official-complaint-against-booze/ 9/15/2011
• http://richmondconfidential.org/2011/09/22/booze-ritterman-feud-flares-over-cybertran-vote/ 9/22/11

That was when Booze snapped. He proceeded to not only take on Ritterman but also the other two members of the Richmond Progressive Alliance (McLaughlin and Beckles). And for good measure, he apparently added me to his enemies list. Bates, whom Booze had repeatedly and even viciously attacked prior to 2010, became Booze’s new best friend, and they proceeded to form a two-member voting block that continues to exist.

He proceeded to put to rest BAPAC’s concern that he was sucking up the RPA too much and not sucking up to Chevron enough.

At about the same time, August 11, 2011, Chevron made a $200,000 commitment to RichmondBuild, handing the first $100,000 check directly to Booze (http://richmond.chevron.com/Files/Richmond%20YouthBuild%20News%20Release.pdf). From that day on Booze also became Chevron’s new best friend.

You can actually see this sea change in Booze’s demeanor by tracking votes since 2010. Until exactly September 10, 2011, Booze was part of the Council majority, with Bates typically the only dissenter on split votes. The last time Booze voted with the Council majority on a split vote was September 13, 2011, as follows:

• September 13, 2011: The matter to receive a report from staff regarding existing bases for terminating Veolia's contract with the City and either: 1) Terminate the City's contract with Veolia; or 2) Direct staff to present a report at the December 6, 2011, Council meeting regarding Veolia's performance, an update on Veolia's compliance with legal requirements, and determine at that time whether to terminate the Veolia contract. Bates – No.

On November 11, when the next split vote occurred, Booze joined Bates in opposing the City of Richmond Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan.

• November 1, 2011: The matter to adopt a resolution adopting the Mitigated Negative declaration for the City of Richmond Bicycle Master Plan, City of Richmond Pedestrian Plan, Harbour Way Project and Carlson. Boulevard Project.  Bates and Booze  - No

In the space of two months in 2011, Booze quickly distanced himself from the RPA and from me, embraced Chevron, and proceeded to run amok for the next three years.

From then on, Booze and Bates became an inseparable team, opposing any legislation or public policy initiatives that benefitted the environment, parks, public health, historic preservation or sustainability, and they always voted to support Chevron. They both voted against adopting the General Plan 2030, and they took a special dislike for City Attorney Bruce Goodmiller and voted against a contract with him to retain him as city attorney.

Booze also quickly got over his election year suspicion of Chevron and became the company’s most fervent supporter.

If Booze had simply changed his political stripes, there wouldn’t be much of a story here, but it was at the same time, September of 2011, that Booze first went off the tracks defying parliamentary procedure and City Council rules by routinely interrupting, talking off topic, engaging in rambling rants and accusing individual councilmembers, including me and the mayor, of mistreating him and, as it suited his fancy, playing his ever ready race card – even against black councilmembers (“Bates & Booze accuse fellow African-Americans Beckles & Myrick of not being black enough” – Carolyn Said, San Francisco Chronicle).

In the face of mounting criticism of his new persona, he asked me if I would survey my E-FORUM readers as to his performance as a first-year city council member. A few months later, I obliged him, and the results were published in Results of Corky Booze Survey, April 14, 2012 (Also Click here for Results of Corky Booze Survey resulting from my April 6, 2012, E-FORUM).

The fact is that Booze changed from a generally reasonable person who had taken an interest for years in rooting out corruption and mismanagement in government to an out-of-control tyrant who takes everything personally and has no regard for the civil discourse required for an effective legislative body.

I have no idea where BAPAC got the idea that Corky Booze “served Butt faithfully” or that he had “had been consistently serving Tom Butt.”

I can’t wait until the next edition of BAPAC E-News to find out “what happened between Councilman Tom Butt and Councilman Corky Booze.” As described below:

Remember if you can watch the movie produced by Brad Pitt and directed by Steve McQueen entitled 12 Years a Slave you will understand what happened between Councilman Tom Butt and Councilman Corky Booze. Part three in next week's issue of "Did You Know."

Lloyd Madden, President   ---  Jake Sloan, Vice President   ---  Joe Fisher, Treasurer   Subscribe to Our Newsletter! Did You Know Why BAPAC is Supporting Corky Booze     Corky Booze Last week BAPAC reported that the relationship between Butt and Booze had spoiled and bottomed-out after a long and respectful relationship and that Corky Booze had served Butt faithfully for many years. There are many reasons why BAPAC is supporting Corky Booze for re-election to the Richmond City Council in the upcoming election but did not support him in the 2010 election. You may remember some years ago BAPAC supported Tom Butt and Corky may have been responsible for us establishing that supportive relationship. A few years after we endorsed Tom Butt BAPAC determined that Tom Butt did not support our mission or purpose, so we terminated our support for Tom Butt and along with him went Corky Booze.   Tom Butt BAPAC has known for years that Corky Booze has consistently fought for a better Richmond, specifically for more and better jobs, education and training for all of Richmond's residents but especially African Americans. BAPAC has known for years that Corky has a quality that most of us do not possess, that is the ability to stand and fight for what he believes is right regardless of who the opposition is or the adverse outcome. BAPAC has watched Corky Booze for the last few years and how he has handled adversity. Attack after attack and hit piece after hit piece Corky is still standing. Most of us would have quit or compromised. BAPAC is standing with Corky because he is a man who is willing to be on the front line speaking up for those of us who are afraid or lack the courage. We all know that Corky Booze is aggressive and abrasive at times, but he didn't just get that way. Remember Corky Booze had been consistently serving Tom Butt until that relationship spoiled, after he was finally elected to the City Council in 2010. BAPAC determined that now like the lost sheep or Prodigal Son, Corky Booze is here with us. He belongs to us and he will fight with us for a better Richmond. Remember if you can watch the movie produced by Brad Pitt and directed by Steve McQueen entitled 12 Years a Slave you will understand what happened between Councilman Tom Butt and Councilman Corky Booze. Part three in next week's issue of "Did You Know."   BAPAC welcomes comments and or corrections to BAPAC E-news alerts on political and community issues including community events delivered to your email address. You can also email the name and email address of others who would like to be placed on the distribution list. Feel free to visit BAPAC's website at:  www.bapaccc.com. Subscription to this service is at the personal discretion of the recipient and may be terminated with the SafeUnsubscribe link below.