Putting The 'Pay' In Taxpayer

Since San Jose Revealed didn't exist last year at this time, we never got the chance to bring up a classic example of Chypocrisy (which is our attempt to combine 'Chuck' and 'hypocrisy').

Shortly after his inauguration, Mayor Reed decided to change how the annual State of the City Address functioned. Mayors Hammer and Gonzales made the event a free, public speech with refreshments, in an attempt to encourage public participation and accessibility. Not so Mayor Reed. He announced that, like the addresses of lobbyist Tom McEnery, his event would be a breakfast that required attendees to pony up.

At first, he made no exception for those unable or uninterested in paying, but public outcry (a month into his tenure, mind you) forced him to allow a limited number of seats for those interested in attending only. They, of course didn't get breakfast. No limit was announced for those willing to pay.

This year's breakfast follows the same mold:


Reed, of course, has never had a problem with the taxpayers paying for meals - but he's never really been interested in paying for them himself. Here is a sample, from just the first 18 months of his time as a Councilmember, of other meals that Reed enjoyed on the taxpayers' dime.

(Love that Mr. Chow's!)

In total, Reed was reimbursed for thousands of dollars of meals while a Councilmember. Enough for over a hundred folks to attend a 'Community Breakfast'.

So, somehow we doubt that Reed is paying $25 for this year's meal. And, if he does, Lee Price may as well have his reimbursement check cut in advance. Or maybe he's sitting in the free seats. Let's hope Pete Furman sets one aside for him.