In the movie Heathers, about an evil clique of three high school girls named Heather, one angry student famously asks the lead Heather: “What is your damage, Heather?!”

I remember wondering the same thing as I watched the movie for the first time. Out on the front porch, the Heathers seemed so docile, sweet and innocent; but in the backyard out of view they cultivated a garden of contempt, intimidation, and jealousy that would inevitably spiral out of control, and lead to their downfall.

Ok, granted Sacramento’s Heather is not the weapon-toting wacko Winona Ryder was in the movie, I get that. BUT, given the shameless way she has conducted herself in the past month or so, I think most people find themselves impelled to ask our Heather the same question, “What’s your damage, Heather?”

Be specific, Joe. Ok. I’m referring to Fargo’s:

• Silence in the face of the vulgar printed and online attacks against Kevin Johnson’s personal character.
• Abuse of mayoral position and power when she and Rob Fong unilaterally decided to enlist police to RE-investigate a case they had closed a year ago.
• Her divisive, non-consensus-building approach to conflict resolution that has clearly pitted one city official against another, and enabled the town newspaper to publish inflammatory articles about her opponent that have led to further unchecked smearing of him in the newspaper’s comments section, where users are allowed to call him a pedophile, pervert, sicko, and other vulgar things with no repercussions whatsoever.

“OK Joe, maybe you’re right. But wait!” you shoot back. “There is another side to Heather you are neglecting to talk about!”

“Yes, I realize she has at least two sides, but please continue,” I reply.

“Maybe Heather does play dirty, and maybe she hasn’t used the best of judgment this election season, but don’t forget her 19 years of experience in the city government. Heather is a seasoned politician who loves our city dearly.”

Look, I readily acknowledge Heather’s love for her Downtown Partnership lobby, and the pursuit of a centerfold spread in Forbes greatest cities list, but I think the neighborhood by neighborhood voting results reflect she cares little about the urban sprawl areas such as N Natomas (which she used to call “The New Sacramento,” but now only calls “ugly”).

I also fully acknowledge Mrs. Fargo’s marathon run in the city council, but even the dimmest among us (me included), question the value of that experience given her alarming naivety about Sacramento crime, and outrageous statements about the $58 million city deficit.

Have a close look at a recent statement she made in response to a rhetorical question KJ posed about the deficit during their KCRA debate….

Johnson: “Who do we hold accountable for the city deficit? The mayor? The city manager..?”
Fargo: “What happened is that because of the mortgage crisis and other issues, we’ve flat-lined in terms of our revenues…We saw this coming last fall – we put our hiring controls in place. We’re aiming to reduce the number of city employees by 500 – we have about 100 left to go.”

Last FALL?!

OK granted, I am not an economics major, nor do I listen to Tom Sullivan as a rule, but how could ANY conscientious public official living in California miss the tidal wave of analyst warnings about the real estate bubble in Sacramento? As early as 2004 (probably earlier), the voices of doom were all but guaranteeing an eventual “price correction” of epic proportions. How many times did we see national publications citing Sacramento as one of the most volatile markets due to its staggering housing prices that were—at one time—40% higher than their actual values?

Then again, Fargo’s startling confusion over the economy and its effects should come as no surprise given her “Spending was consistent with revenue” answer when a reporter asked her to explain the budget deficit. Yikes. My 10 year old son is a better saver, and his piggy bank has a hole in the bottom. Apparently Rancho Cordova and Elk Grove are, too. Rancho just announced a $35,000 SURPLUS and Elk Grove is giving their entire city staff a pay raise. Apparently these cities got the news about the housing bubble earlier than Fargo.

Back to my question: Is Fargo a pitbull politician, or sincere public servant? I say neither. And I don’t think she is of the “nuts-and-bolts” variety media commentators paint her as either (which is complete fallacy). In my opinion, she is pie-in-the-sky idealist administrator type who let the position of mayor, and the allure of magazine cover recognition for her pet projects, go to her head (”I may not be a cover girl, but my city sure is!”). And while I will refrain from the psycho-analysis part where I wax psychologically about her propensity for playing house with downtown, I will submit that her record reflects her lack of devotion to all the diverse people in Sacramento, especially in the urban sprawl areas outside the jurisdiction of her beloved Downtown Partnership organization.

Heather has showed us her damage, It’s everywhere you look. I see it every day at Truxel and I-80. She herself takes responsibility for the nightmare that is the Wal Mart Walk Smart Shopping Center in Natomas. When a reporter asked how the center was ever approved in light of its dangerous pedestrian/accessibility shortcomings, she responded, “I’m embarrassed about this one, I should have caught it, but when you’re the only council person, and the plans are coming at you so fast..”

Everything comes at Fargo too fast——-except syndicated news about the economy and public safety.

Sources: ALL quotes attributed to Fargo have appeared in Sacramento Bee articles and Youtube videos that are easily accessible with a simple Google search.

PS: Facts about Fargo and council’s failed commitment to N Natomas here