this was uncovered during an audit coming because of the Shirikawa scandal. The above article states:
"Kniss reimbursed the county for five credit-card charges totaling $569 that were not related to county business, and $150 for a dinner event hosted by the Bay Area Municipal Elections Committee, which is a political action committee and is not an allowable expense. "
The question is did Kniss reimburse beforehand or did she reimburse after the misuse was uncovered by the audit.
The big question is why the Weekly has not done a story on this matter. Given the close ties between the Weekly and our local political establishment (i.e. Kniss bought advertising space on this website during her recent council election campaign and received an endorsement from the Weekly), it is not surprising that they have chosen not to do an investigation into this matter. Or perhaps Gennady was too busy writing fluff pieces on our other council members.
Either way, Kniss should resign from her seat on the council.
Posted by Hmmm, a resident of East Palo Alto, on Jan 12, 2013 at 1:42 pm
You'd think that nowadays, officials would be paranoid about allegations of misuse, so that they'd be scrupulously careful NOT to misuse. Given Kniss's experience in politics, you'd think she'd have avoided such a freshman "mistake." I understand sometimes there might be some gray area in her job re who's responsible for a bill, but is that what happened here?
I recall a decade or so ago when members of the Ravenswood School District misused their District-issued credit cards as well. I don't think the DA charged any of them, but I especially recall Chester Palesoo doing this & he'd also just been charged w/a misdemeanor sex crime.
Posted by Not surprised, a resident of the Southgate neighborhood, on Jan 13, 2013 at 1:53 pm
The only thing that surprises me is that she was allowed to run for office again, and worse, that she was actually elected. She has too many conflicts of interest and too many other vocations to do a good job now.
Posted by Henry, a resident of the Downtown North neighborhood, on Jan 14, 2013 at 11:17 am
The voters of Palo Alto time and again elect City Council Members that are attractive, well spoken, politically savy, and financially connected to developers, Stanford, labor unions, and other local big money interests. This list of so called desirable traits does not include loyalty to the voters. The only exceptions on the current Council are Holman and Schmid.
We the people, need representatives who conduct the business of the city in the best interest of the city and ALL the people who live and work here. They represent ALL of us, not just the elite few who wield the power in their own best interest.
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