Integrity and honor serve as the bedrock of trust and ethical decision-making in government. These principles guide our interactions and shape our leadership. Unfortunately, the story of City Council District 10 candidate, George Casey seems to illustrate the dangers of straying from these ideals.
Effective leaders need to make ethical choices and demonstrate a history of doing so. As the senior advisor to the CEO of a company known for exploitative practices, Z&L Properties, Casey chose to work for an organization that previously relied on human trafficking, housed its workers in shipping containers that stripped away their dignity, engaged in wage theft, and bribed city officials. There are just some companies a leader should never work for, and this is one of them. Casey’s decisions seem to expose a willingness to prioritize profit over ethical responsibility.
Casey’s current company has been accused of predatory lending practices via unregulated Home Equity Agreements (HEA), targeting individuals and families who are already struggling and cannot qualify for traditional regulated loans. The Northwest Consumer Law Center has called HEA companies "deceptive and predatory" and that they perpetuate cycles of debt and undermine those who should be protected by ethical standards in business.
When leaders prioritize self-interest over integrity, they undermine public trust. How is Casey supposed to unite our labor and business communities to speed up the production of housing and lower costs when the actions of his companies have so troubled our community?
Casey’s pattern of unhonorable behavior continued when he displayed endorsements that he did not earn on his website from organizations like the California Apartment Association and the San Jose Downtown Association. These endorsements were removed only after community scrutiny and raised serious concerns about Casey’s integrity.
Casey applied for appointment to council but was not selected. After he lost, he claimed that Batra was "appointed by City Hall insiders." The fact is that only existing councilmembers can appoint a vacated seat. Batra earned the votes of Mayor Matt Mahan and Councilmembers Sergio Jimenez, David Cohen, Dev Davis, Bien Doan, and Pam Foley to be appointed to the Council. Such dishonesty not only misleads the public but also undermines our democratic process.
When people like Casey operate without honor or integrity, they create an environment where fear and exploitation flourishes. Vulnerable members of our community bear the burdens of these unethical practices while those seeking power benefit at their expense.
We must advocate for accountability, championing the values that foster trust and cooperation. Only then can we create a community where integrity and honor are not just ideals but lived realities.
I urge the residents of District 10 to vote for Councilmember Arjun Batra.
Claude Fletcher
Former Councilmember District 10
Comments