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What REALLY is going on here? Does the BEE know? People like me actually do rely, at least to a large degree, on the local newspaper covering this kind of thing. I have my ear to the ground on the new Measure K, and it looks bad for it. the fact that they are relying on public money to run the campaign is evidence that they have no money from the private sector. And, trust me, we will fight the idea that Modesto will provide ANY money for the campaign. Thanks, Dave The Morning Mayor Show KMPH 840 AM Daily at 10 The valleys only local news and talk radio February 21, 2008 The Sabatino Report Bassitt denies DeMartini access to records Alliance CEO Bill Bassitt denies that mega-developer Gerry Kamilos has made any contributions to his organization. The Bee story below is reported on the internet, but has not been reported in the printed edition of the Modesto Bee. The Modesto Bee is on the list, characterized by Bassitt as a “list of potential donors”. Bee reporter Adam Ashton says, “My bosses say they haven’t given money to the Alliance for this drive, either.” Bassitt says the old fund raising drive is over and they are beginning a new “drive’ this year. If Ashton’s bosses haven’t given money for this drive, which drive did they give money to? It’s time to open the books. It’s time to be accountable. As the former Mayor of Modesto I will tell you that the Alliance has become a powerful shadow government. We need to talk to those who hired Bassitt and Sweetman. Bassitt: West Park not a donor to the Alliance Submitted by After_Deadline on Tue, 2008-02-19 12:55.
Posted in Modesto Bee Staff | Politics/Social Action | After_Deadline's blog » Supervisor Jim DeMartini didn’t take no for an answer when the Alliance told him it didn’t accept money from Crows Landing developer Gerry Kamilos. Instead, the supe pointed to a list that appeared to show major contributors to the Alliance, a public/private partnership that promotes economic development in Stanislaus County. That document identified Kamilos’ West Park PCCP as a $100,000 donor to the Alliance. To DeMartini, that check shows why the Alliance backs Kamilos. But Alliance Chief Executive Bill Bassitt says DeMartini is misreading the list. Bassitt said it’s a list of potential donors to the Alliance that an East Coast consultant crafted for a fund-raising drive. “This was a prospect list,” Bassitt said. The Modesto Bee is on the list, too, along with my publisher, Margaret Randazzo. My bosses say they haven’t given money to the Alliance for this drive, either. Nonetheless, the conflict between the list and Bassitt’s response to DeMartini’s request for information about West Park contributions was enough to get some attention from former Mayor Carmen Sabatino, and to maintain DeMartini’s skepticism about the Alliance’s motives supporting Kamilos’ proposal. “There’s more to this story than they’d like to explain,” DeMartini said. “I am extremely suspicious and rightly so.” The Morning Mayor Show With host, former Mayor Carmen Sabatino KMPH 840 AM daily at 10 209-527-8484
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