Sacramento Press / Nestlé at the City Council: Public Discussion or Backroom Deal? - Part II:
"Who is to Blame?
Nestlé was recruited by the Sacramento Area Commerce and Trade Organization and the Economic Development Department, one of a series of bad projects they have brought here that include the municipal waste burning incinerator and the natural gas storage facility beneath homes in South Sacramento.
The EDD worked with SACTO in secrecy to convince Nestlé to choose Sacramento over Roseville or Stockton. Since the project has been announced Johnson has been Nestlé's only public supporter. He glowingly informed us of Nestlé's arrival in the SACTO press release in July and solemnly apologized to them at the council meeting for being forced to temporarily obey the law."
He also is the connection to their sole benefactor in town, the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce. Five days before the meeting, one of Johnson's top advisers, Michelle Smira, left city hall to work as a paid consultant for Nestlé. Smira is also the head of the chamber's powerful political action committee. As soon as she got on Nestlé's payroll the chamber sprang into action. Speaking Out Against Nestlé After Nestlé had got what it wanted in the back room, public comment on the plant was allowed. The mayor said there were 16 speakers on each side of the issue — although who knows what the accurate break down was, because a number of people speaking against Nestlé were called forward when it was the other side's turn to speak. Each side was given a total of 10 minutes to speak.
"Who is to Blame?
Nestlé was recruited by the Sacramento Area Commerce and Trade Organization and the Economic Development Department, one of a series of bad projects they have brought here that include the municipal waste burning incinerator and the natural gas storage facility beneath homes in South Sacramento.
The EDD worked with SACTO in secrecy to convince Nestlé to choose Sacramento over Roseville or Stockton. Since the project has been announced Johnson has been Nestlé's only public supporter. He glowingly informed us of Nestlé's arrival in the SACTO press release in July and solemnly apologized to them at the council meeting for being forced to temporarily obey the law."
He also is the connection to their sole benefactor in town, the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce. Five days before the meeting, one of Johnson's top advisers, Michelle Smira, left city hall to work as a paid consultant for Nestlé. Smira is also the head of the chamber's powerful political action committee. As soon as she got on Nestlé's payroll the chamber sprang into action. Speaking Out Against Nestlé After Nestlé had got what it wanted in the back room, public comment on the plant was allowed. The mayor said there were 16 speakers on each side of the issue — although who knows what the accurate break down was, because a number of people speaking against Nestlé were called forward when it was the other side's turn to speak. Each side was given a total of 10 minutes to speak.