Mayor “Bully” O’Brien
Riverbank Mayor Richard O’Brien says, “It’s not the American way, to go against the majority”. 
If that were true, America would still be a British colony. But what Mayor O’Brien is referring to is Hughson Mayor, Matthew Beekman’s vote on LAFCO. On March 25, 2015, Matthew Beekman, who serves on the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), cast one of three votes supporting an equal farmland mitigation formula which applies to the nine cities in Stanislaus County. LAFCO policy requires that one acre of farmland be set aside and preserved for each acre that is lost to residential housing development. The formula was discussed and implemented because the City of Patterson was requiring too little in mitigation fees from developers to preserve equal quality farmland. Read the Modesto Bee’s April 11, 2015 “Our View: Trying to overturn LAFCO vote is wrong” on the reverse side of this flyer for more on the issue. Matthew Beekman followed LAFCO rules which state pursuant to Government Code Section 56325.1:
“While serving on the Commission, all commission members shall exercise their independent judgment on behalf of the residents, property owners, and the public as a whole in furthering the purposes of this division. Any member appointed on behalf of local governments shall represent the interests of the public as a whole and not solely the interests of the appointing authority.” The mayors of six of the nine cities in Stanislaus County are caving to pressure from developers and are holding a hearing to remove Matthew Beekman from LAFCO. Riverbank resident, David Tucker is embarrassed by the mayor’s words and actions. He wrote the following letter to the editor of the Modesto Bee on April 6, 2015:
Re “Mayors move against ag vote” (Page A1, April 5): I am ashamed to be a citizen of Riverbank. Our mayor, Richard O’Brien, implies that fellow mayor Matt Beekman of Hughson is unAmerican communist for supporting ag-land preservation by his LAFCO vote.
DAVID TUCKER, RIVERBANK
Matthew Beekman followed the rules. He voted his independent judgment. He voted for fairness in preserving ag land. And now our mayor wants to make him pay for his vote.
If you disagree with the mayor’s words and actions as David Tucker does, let Mayor O’Brien know. Write him an e-mail at: robrien@riverbank.org and/or write a letter to the editor of the Modesto Bee before May 13. On this day, the hearing will be held to remove Beekman from the LAFCO board. You are welcome to attend and voice your opinion. Wednesday, May 13, 2015 at 6 pm Turlock City Hall Chamber 156 S. Broadway Ave., Turlock
Eye On Modesto 
SO, THE REST OF THESE UNDER LOVED MAYOR’S WANT TO DUMP THE GUY THAT DOESN’T SUCK ASS. WHY NOT RECALL A SUPERVISOR INSTEAD?? TOO TOUGH FOR THESE GUYS? THEY DON’T WANT TO BITE THE HAND THAT THEY MIGHT NEED FROM TIME TO TIME, BUT THE DISSENTING MAYOR, HE’S EASY TO CORRECT. DEVELOPERS DON’T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THE PEOPLES VOICE’S AGAINST PAVING OVER PRIME FARM LAND. THE ONLY THING THEY WANT IS MONEY!!! SPARE ME ALL “GOODNESS” THEY WILL BE DOING FOR THE COMMUNITY BULLSHIT!! ITS JUST CRAP, THEY KNOW IT AND SO DO ALL THEM MAYOR’S!!! MAYOR’S LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE!
NOT YOUR LEGACY!!!
So did Mayor O’Brien also arrange for his developers to pad the campaign funds of the mayors who gave favorable votes at the LAFCO meeting a while back?? Why would they get so pissed off at a citizen voting his conscience?? What, now they don’t get favors from O’Brien?? Politicians do suck each others eggs and that’s ONE thing I hate about politics! When you do a favor you better be ready to get on your knees for the other guy!