Hi Henry,
Youve made some brilliant observations once again. Implementing a more
robust participatory democracy, as you suggested with the Town Hall Meeting
process, would be an excellent first step. Our city council model in Palo
Alto undermines any change at true democracy. The current council seems
more focused on protecting the elite, leaving the rest of us with just
crumbs.
Now, how can we prevent "Queen Vicki" from ascending to the throne in
January 2026?
Aram
On Wed, Aug 6, 2025 at 2:05 PM Henry Etzkowitz
wrote:
> Hi Aram
>
> Jeanne Fleming, United Neighbors entrepreneur, has a longer term idea,
> that she shared during a recent visit to Triple Helix Institute: make the
> Mayor more responsive to the public and at the same time create a
> countervailing power to reign in the out of citizen control consultocracy,
> our de-facto Palo Alto governance modality.
>
> The consultocracy, firms hired by the city Manager, with nominal Council
> input, provides narrow, virtually indistinguishable options, (cf airport,
> Cubberly). Operating at the behest of permanent city management, long term
> direction and priorities as well as specific project design are
> accomplished through a vitiated representative democratic guise (city
> council).
>
> Jeanne suggests (presuming it to be in the public domain to reiterate and
> credit her perspicacity) a more powerful elected Mayor that could be
> balanced by a yearly town meeting decision making assembly of voters, aka
> the New England town meeting. Having Participated in and observed this non
> representative, all citizen,
> Direct democracy format in Nantucket (with its quasi parties, virtually
> exclusive of summer residents, held in winter); it is nonetheless
> inspiring and potentially transferable.
>
> Both ideas would surely give pressing public issues like Gaza cease fire
> now
> And move Palo Alto airport to Moffett field, higher priority. At least
> that is the hope and intention. Of course there may be other ideas to
> accomplish the objective of a leaner, more productive, government.
>
> Cheers
> Henry Etzkowitz
> “Back to the Agora”
> 2024 Palo Alto City Council Candidate
> Neighbors for Environmental and Social Justice
> Mark your calendar for One October when Elon Musk/Tesla have a date in San
> Jose Superior court (civil) judge Monahan has admonished a judgement in
> default if no show a second time.
> Www.triple helix.net
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Aug 6, 2025, at 8:39 AM, Aram James wrote:
>
>
> Another excellent piece, Henry! The coronation of the gutless “Queen
> Vicki” for mayor in 2026 seems inevitable. What can we do as a community to
> push her towards declaring in favor of a ceasefire and finally speaking out
> on the ongoing genocide happening in real time before the eyes of the
> world. Even the far-white-wing Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene has called
> the slaughter of Palestinian children a genocide. How can we allow our city
> leaders to remain silent on this issue without protests and push back.
>
> Avram “Just Say No To Queen Vicki for Mayor in 2026. “ Finkelstein
>
> Source: ajc Marjorie Taylor Greene breaks from party by calling Gaza
> conflict a genocide https://share.google/k741qbCv5jWfOMXlY
>
> On Wed, Aug 6, 2025 at 12:54 AM Henry Etzkowitz wrote:
>
>>
>> >
>> > The stellar legitimation of Israel, uniquely democratic among
>> undemocratic states longe has lost face validity. The Knesset and courts
>> have failed to remove Benjamin Netanyahu as Prime Minister, hiding in
>> plain sight from international justice.
>> >
>> > But failure to follow international rules of justice, although serious,
>> is relatively minor in comparison to virtually uniform active and passive
>> support for a leader who is carrying out a so called “Hannibal policy”
>> against its own citizens, concomitant with steady escalation to a “Final
>> Solution” in Gaza through food deprivation by withholding nutrition rather
>> than air denial by forced
>> > gas.
>> >
>> > Cease fire Now:flood in food!
>> >
>> > Who will be the contemporary Herbert Hoover to accomplish this
>> objective? Given Stanford’s unique history, iconic tower and Institute in
>> his honour, the University should speak out institutionally as Washington
>> University, St Louis did in leading a university-industry coalition to
>> oppose the Vietnam war
>> >
>> > In this era and region, Stanford should invite Palo Alto and its
>> Silicon Valley spinoffs to call with one voice for Gaza cease fire.
>> >
>> > Sincerely
>> >
>> > Henry Etzkowitz
>> > 1766 sand Hill Road
>>
>>
>> >
>> Palo Alto CA 94304
>>
>> > 646 701 2695
>> > Neighbors for Environmental and Social Justice
>> > 2024 Candidate for Palo Alto city council
>> >
>> > www.triplehelix.net
>>
>