Hartnell changes course -- and meeting could not get tenser

In an earlier post, I speculated somebody had to change his/her vote in support of Project Labor Agreements. Otherwise, it would have not come back to the full board as it did on Tuesday.

Mystery solved. The swing vote was Elia Gonzalez Castro. Here's a partial video of her remarks explaining why her change of heart.




It was a tense meeting, without a doubt. Ron Chesshire of the Building Trades Council insinuated somebody must have received a threat. He also talked about coercion, intimidation, what not.




Paul Farmer of the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce said revoking the Project Labor Agreement was the right thing to do for the entire community, not just for labor.




Then Super Construction Magnate Don Chapin came to the podium and said he "never threatened anybody." At that point, I don't recall anybody mentioning him by name. Too bad I had ran out of memory in my iPhone.

Demetrio Pruneda told Board President Candi De Pauw "When we went to Las Vegas, you asked why our board is dysfunctional. Here's your answer."

For more on the decision, click here.