Sometimes it seems as if watching the City Council is a lot like watching the Kremlin in the "bad old days." The parallels are actually numerous: secret meetings and accomodations, business conducted in closed session that shouldn't be, decisions announced at Council rather than developed there, even the much-loved unanimous votes.
But maybe the most visible manifestation power, and the biggest ongoing joy to Kremlin--sorry--Council-watchers, is this: who is sitting next to whom on the dais?
If there is a coherent theory to the seating arrangements at Council, it escapes the Insider. At least at the Supreme Court, Justices are seated by seniority. As they become more senior they move more to the center and closer to the Chief Justice of the United States. The most senior justice is on the immediate right of the Chief, the rookie is at the far left of the Chief. The Insider believes this seniority rule is also observed in Congressional Hearings.
So, what happened at Claremont City Council at its first full meeting last night?
Well, the lineup when the new Council was installed on March 15th was Calaycay, Taylor, Yao, Elderkin, Pedroza. This was in the Courier:
However, at the first full meeting on March 27th, the order was Pedroza, Taylor, Yao, Elderkin, Calaycay.
Why did Pedroza take Calaycay's seat? And why is Calaycay now relegated to the distant chair on the Mayor's left? Enquiring minds want to know. And who decides this stuff anyway?
Possible answers:
- Taylor can control Pedroza better if he is right next to her. Suggestion of former council member.
- Calaycay got too much face time with the City Attorney when he was next to her.
- Napoleon Yao. It's his way of "running this city".
- Baldonado's former chair, now Calaycay's, is designed for people of slighter build.
- The Supreme Court rule is followed but it's based on age: Yao in the middle because he is Mayor, then the most esteemed (and aged) elder directly on his right, the next-oldest to his immediate left, then next-oldest further to his right, then the youngest on his far left. (The Insider doesn't want to post the members' ages. You've got to trust us on this one. It's amazing what you can find on the Internet.)
- Boy-Girl-Boy-Girl-Boy doesn't entirely explain this choice.
One thing you can be certain of: this did not happen accidentally. Like the Kremlin, there are forces at work here that we can only perceive, dimly.
Maybe someone will ask for an explanation at the next council meeting.
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