Elected Yuma officials can't be trusted

This evening the elected officials of the city of Yuma will meet in a public session to adopt an ordinance to stifle the voice of the citizens of Yuma.

Why do Councilmen Johnson, Beeson, Thomas and Stuart wish to avoid having former mayor, Phil Clark, remind them that the agreement with the California-based developer, Craig Clark, breached the agreement with the city of Yuma by not making his construction loan payments and paying property taxes on the hotel and conference center?

At the last meeting, Councilman Thomas opined that his reason was that Mayor Krieger allowed citizens to criticize the city council, where former Mayor Nelson protected the city council.

At the end of this meeting the qualified electors will be faced with three choices of action:

• Do nothing.

• Mount a referendum petition to have the qualified electors make the decision.

• Begin an initiative petition to amend the city charter to have a call to the public at each and every city council meeting.

The choice is clear to me.

The elected officials of the city of Yuma cannot be trusted.

If you want accountability in the city of Yuma, join me in placing the following charter amendment before the qualified electors of the city of Yuma:

"Shall Article VIII of the Yuma City Charter be amended to be:

"Sec. 3. Meetings.

"(a) The City Council shall, by ordinance, provide for the time and place of holding its meetings and the manner in which its special meetings may be called. All sessions of the City Council, whether regular or special, shall be open to the public as provided under state law.

"(b) The City Council shall be attentive to the voices of citizens at a "Call to the Public" immediately following the Roll Call at each regular meeting, work session, or special meeting or work session.

"Upon passage of this amendment, the City Council shall amend the city code to fully comply with this action by the qualified electors of the city of Yuma."

Remember the city of Yuma resolution to build a $100 million arena?

Jack Kretzer

Yuma