Special meeting sparsely attended

One more point worth making about the City Council's special meeting decision to green-light a business incentive program: lack of public involvement.

As noted in today's Tracy Press story, only four people attended the meeting, which was called Monday, publicized Tuesday and held Wednesday, at a time two hours earlier than normal because of the normally scheduled Planning Commission meeting. Also, three of the four people in the audience were members of the Press.

The city manager suggested that the special meeting was necessary because the opportunity presented to the city might slip away if the council waited until the regularly scheduled Jan. 1 meeting.

Still, the timing of the meeting -- one day after the canceled regularly scheduled council meeting - was curious, and its last-minute nature contributed to the lack of public scrutiny on what could prove to be a huge deal for the city of Tracy.

Local newspapers still have special place

Reports of the demise of the printed word might be greatly exaggerated, at least when it comes to community newspapers.

A recent industry survey found what some local newshounds already suspected: When it comes to tight-knit communities, readers prefer a local newspaper when it comes to getting their information about their town as well as advertising specials.

Just one more reason I'm thankful to be part of the Press.

A timely downtown cleanup

Leaving the Press on Thursday, the leaves downtown had been piled into huge drifts by the winds blowing through the previous two days. Fun for shuffling feet through fall foliage, but rather unsightly.

On Friday morning, they were gone, collected by city crews.

Seems that somebody knows small, daily maintenance is as critical to a welcoming business district as is million-dollar makeovers.