Measure T lawsuit narrows to Collin v. SLT
By Kathryn Reed
There is now only one defendant in the case initiated by South Lake Tahoe City Councilman-elect Jason Collin in regards to the loop road.
This is the strategy concocted by Collin’s attorney.
“He said since the measure passed, it is the appropriate thing to do,” Collin told Lake Tahoe News.
The lawsuit was filed in July to prevent Measure T from going on the November ballot. It named supporters of Measure T in the filing. Those individuals are now no longer a party to this legal matter.
“Right now I have no standing to speak because I have been dismissed,” Bruce Grego told Lake Tahoe News. As of Friday afternoon he had not decided if he would still attend Monday’s hearing.
In August, El Dorado County Superior Court Judge Jim Wagoner ruled that Collin and his attorney did not provide enough reason to remove the question, and essentially said the voters have a right to cast a vote.
Voters approved Measure T, which in essence says voters will get to have a say in the loop road and it won’t all be up to the City Council – assuming the council ever has a vote in the matter.
On Dec. 5 there will be a court hearing in Placerville to decide how to go forward with the lawsuit.
“What we need now is the judge to give it clarity to say what the measure means. I’m not sure if he will do that Monday or if he will set another date to do that,” Collin said.
Ironically, Collin will take the oath of office to be on the South Lake Tahoe City Council a week after the hearing. He will not be allowed into the closed session meetings pertaining to the case.
Fellow voters and citizens of South Lake Tahoe. I have questions about what appears to be a huge backroom scam about to be perpetrated on us all by Jason Collin and the City Attorney with the consent and or urging by some of the Council. By dropping the citizens and El Dorado County from the lawsuit against Measure T it leaves only the City as a defendant. Obviously an underhanded deal is possible in violation of ex parte communications and the Brown act that leaves Collin and his slick Sacramento Attorneys to strike a deal with the City. It will be called a “settlement” and heralded as finally putting the suit behind us. In reality the settlement will be their mutual agreement to agree to weaken or destroy the voters clear direction to check in with the voters before any major decisions that would approve the loop road. 1,500 voters signed the petition and after vigorous debate Measure T won by an amazing 20%. That is a resounding mandate. Collin won by 1% and folks called that a mandate. To win by 60% to 40% is an amazingly clear direction. But there are those on the Council, and upper management who have chaffed at the voters actually giving the Council direction. And although they claimed that the City has no say in the Loop Road their frantic actions to destroy measure T and its clear direction from the close to 4,000 voters who voted YES shows that the City does indeed have a say in the Loop Road and the voters also want to have their opinion heard. So now fellow voters let’s see what they do. I wonder if the City Attorney understands that he will be setting up the several Council members who are colluding with him to NOT DEFEND WHAT THE VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED FOR. The word recall comes to mind with 4,000 angry voters looking to rid themselves of slick back room deals having the city pretend to settle but really allowing measure T to be emasculated. We are watching.
Remember “THE HOLE”!
And EVERYONE that was associated with that still existing MESS. EVERYONE
The measure was poorly conceived and written. Let’s wait and see what the judges ultimately rules.
The measure was well written and we the people voted. Is there something wrong with that?
If it was well concieved and well written and the people overwhelmingly voted then why didn’t the judge just rule on it? He could have easily said game over.
There are three branches of government. Mr. Collin should drop the suit, for everyone’s sake, he’s costing the city, he was elected to serve, needless money.
“Collin should drop the suit”, but it was absolutely OK for JoAnn Conner to initiate a lawsuit which cost the City money.
That’s rather hypocritical.