From: Mark Landman
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2023 10:14 AM
To: Kevin Patterson <[email protected]>
Cc: Damien O'Bid <[email protected]>; Susan Harvey <[email protected]> Subject: Public Comment For Tonight's Meeting
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Hi Kevin,
Could you pass this along to the council and include it as public comment for item 10.A tonight? Dear Council,
I’ve become aware that Michele Berman has been selected as a potential candidate to be ratified by the council as a Planning Commissioner tonight.
Unfortunately, Ms. Berman was involved in a significant political money laundering scandal in 2010, which took an illegal $1000 cash donation from George Barich and distributed it to others to then contribute under false pretenses. Ultimately the FPPC found her to be the cause of the reporting and fined her $15,000. Full details may be found in this 2010 Press Democrat story- https://bit.ly/3R5AM2l I want to be clear that personally I believe people should be forgiven for past mistakes in judgement, and I see no reason why Ms. Berman shouldn’t be involved, participate and speak at city meetings. But I do also feel some mistakes should have consequences, and being disallowed to sit on a city position seems appropriate here.
I would strongly urge that the council delay appointment, re-open nominations for the commission, and reconsider the item at a later date.
Sincerely,
Mark Landman
Cotati CA 94931
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