Max's Mother pleads case to Council

If Dina and her sister had killed RZ, I highly doubt she would be trying to get this case reopened, JMO
 
If Dina and her sister had killed RZ, I highly doubt she would be trying to get this case reopened, JMO

That seems reasonable, except that she isn't advocating for both deaths to be reinvestigated, only Max's death. Rebecca's death is currently not being reopened or reinvestigated either. The best course of action, IMO, is for her to partner with the Zahau's to ask for both death investigations to be reopened. There is great strength in numbers. If both families cooperated in their lobby to reopen the deaths, it would be much more persuasive, IMO.

Why wouldn't Dina want to partner with the Zahau's to reopen BOTH investigations? That is very puzzling to me.

It's also puzzling to me that Jonah is silent on all aspects of Max and Rebecca's death investigations.

The Zahau's have said they are not opposed to reopening BOTH death investigations. I hope Dina considers a partnership with the Zahau's to reopen both deaths. Maybe then the authorities would give more serious consideration.
 
I'm also curious. What authority does the city council have over the investigations of the police department? Can the city council "vote" to force the police to reopen a death investigation? I don't think that would be the proper channel in my location for making something like that happen.

I'm also confused as to why Dina would refer to herself as a "scientist" in her remarks to the city council? And is she really a Coronado property owner?

"As a mom and a scientist, I couldn't make sense of the conclusions the experts had reached."

Read more: http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/regio...e-open-sons-death-investigation#ixzz26tXF18Wg
 
Dina Romano is a scientist? AND a child psychologist? Who owns property and is a resident of Coronado?

Who knew o_O?
 
I'm also curious. What authority does the city council have over the investigations of the police department? Can the city council "vote" to force the police to reopen a death investigation? I don't think that would be the proper channel in my location for making something like that happen.

I'm also confused as to why Dina would refer to herself as a "scientist" in her remarks to the city council? And is she really a Coronado property owner?

"As a mom and a scientist, I couldn't make sense of the conclusions the experts had reached."

Read more: http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/regio...e-open-sons-death-investigation#ixzz26tXF18Wg

"I am a scientist"..............I almost choked when she said that....Dina DOES NOT OWN PROPERTY IN CORONADO, NOR DOES SHE OWN PROPERTY IN PARADISE VALLEY, AZ. All 3 houses (Spreckels, 1124 G Ave, and 6135 E Caballo Drive) are owned by the Jonah Shacknai Trust. Dina stayed in a hotel in downtown SD on this trip: she no longer has access to the G Ave pad. And she is not a resident of California. This is all public record, so why lie about "facts" that can be verified?
 
Update: Council in Awkward Spot After Shacknai Mom Makes Her Plea

http://coronado.patch.com/articles/mother-of-late-max-shacknai-pleads-her-son-s-case-to-council

Members face a difficult choice. If they acknowledge a grieving mother's request, they risk undermining their own police department. If they set her concerns aside, they could appear callous or dismissive.

Mayor Casey Tanaka signaled Monday that he is inclined to support the department, while Councilwoman Carrie Downey questioned the propriety of politicians inserting themselves into an investigation run by experts in police work.

The council appeared somber during Shacknai's remarks, only responding when Tanaka asked her to wrap up her statement, as she began to exceed the three minutes allotted to each member of the public.

She is looking, she said, to exhaust all her options with law enforcement agencies, rather than filing a lawsuit to seek a remedy. Civil court, she said, “would be the court of last resort.”
Dina Shacknai said she has not been in contact with her ex-husband and that he has not helped with the expense of her independent investigation into how the boy died.
 
Was this a favor by Mayor Tanaka? Interesting to note the mayor has signed Dina's petition.

Snip- City councils do not traditionally hear appeals from grieving parents angered by investigations, but Mayor Casey Tanaka said it is appropriate for the panel to take any concern from the public into consideration.

Councilwoman Carrie Downey, also contacted via email, noted that Dina Shacknai, like any member of the public, will be welcomed, but added “the council does not get involved in police decisions to investigate or the district attorney’s decision to prosecute based on the evidence developed.

“Those decisions should not be influenced by the political process and should be made by the experts trained in those fields,” concluded Downey, an attorney.

http://coronado.patch.com/articles/mayor-expresses-support-for-coronado-police-in-shacknai-case
 
Was this a favor by Mayor Tanaka? Interesting to note the mayor has signed Dina's petition.

Snip- City councils do not traditionally hear appeals from grieving parents angered by investigations, but Mayor Casey Tanaka said it is appropriate for the panel to take any concern from the public into consideration.

Councilwoman Carrie Downey, also contacted via email, noted that Dina Shacknai, like any member of the public, will be welcomed, but added “the council does not get involved in police decisions to investigate or the district attorney’s decision to prosecute based on the evidence developed.

“Those decisions should not be influenced by the political process and should be made by the experts trained in those fields,” concluded Downey, an attorney.

http://coronado.patch.com/articles/mayor-expresses-support-for-coronado-police-in-shacknai-case

And then:

Mayor Casey Tanaka signaled Monday that he is inclined to support the department, while Councilwoman Carrie Downey questioned the propriety of politicians inserting themselves into an investigation run by experts in police work.

http://coronado.patch.com/articles/mother-of-late-max-shacknai-pleads-her-son-s-case-to-council

I think I read somewhere that Mayor Tanaka is currently up for reelection.

My question is, what exactly can the Coronado City Council even do? I suppose there is always unofficial posturing, urging, backdoor pressuring, etc. But short of firing the police chief, which I DON'T think they will seriously consider, what can the council do?

The medical examiner is part of the San Diego county government-- and that is who would potentially reclassify Max's death a homicide, not Coronado, right?

I understand part of the goal for Dina was likely keeping Max's name in the public discussions, raising the profile. It will be interesting to see if the city council issues any kind of public remarks in response to Dina's comments.

I still think that if Jonah were by her side, and the Zahau family as well, all of them together pleading for the cases to be reopened, there would be a much better chance of persuading the relevant officials at all levels.
 
Mayor & City Council of Coronado:

Mayor:
Casey Tanaka

City Council Members:
Carrie Downey
Al Ovrom, Jr.
Mike Woiwode
Barbara Denny

• City Council Meetings: Regular City Council meetings are held the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 3:00 p.m., in the Council Chambers at the south end of City Hall. The regular meetings are broadcast live on Time Warner Channel 19 on the day of the meeting, and rebroadcast the following day at 5:00 p.m. The meetings are now available as live and archived webstreams.

• Agendas are posted a minimum of 72 hours in advance of Regular City Council Meetings and at least 24 hours in advance of Special CityCouncil Meetingsat City Hall, the Coronado Public Library, and on this website.

• Minutes are presented to the Council for approval at the next regular meeting, and are posted after they are approved.

http://www.coronado.ca.us/council/
 
I'm also curious. What authority does the city council have over the investigations of the police department? Can the city council "vote" to force the police to reopen a death investigation? I don't think that would be the proper channel in my location for making something like that happen.

I'm also confused as to why Dina would refer to herself as a "scientist" in her remarks to the city council? And is she really a Coronado property owner?

"As a mom and a scientist, I couldn't make sense of the conclusions the experts had reached."

Read more: http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/regio...e-open-sons-death-investigation#ixzz26tXF18Wg

I am verifying myself as a professional poster here regarding elected officials in city government.

It depends on the city's charter and the city's ordinances governing their police force. I am not very familiar with this case so I assume it is a city police department? If it is county, they have less authority to question.

BTW, the minutes from the meeting are public. They are probably available on their city's website. If not, you should be able to contact the city recorder and ask for them. I wouldn't trust only reading the MSM because they might leave out some chunks of information that will help you understand the council's decision.
 
And then:



http://coronado.patch.com/articles/mother-of-late-max-shacknai-pleads-her-son-s-case-to-council

I think I read somewhere that Mayor Tanaka is currently up for reelection.

My question is, what exactly can the Coronado City Council even do? I suppose there is always unofficial posturing, urging, backdoor pressuring, etc. But short of firing the police chief, which I DON'T think they will seriously consider, what can the council do?

The medical examiner is part of the San Diego county government-- and that is who would potentially reclassify Max's death a homicide, not Coronado, right?

I understand part of the goal for Dina was likely keeping Max's name in the public discussions, raising the profile. It will be interesting to see if the city council issues any kind of public remarks in response to Dina's comments.

I still think that if Jonah were by her side, and the Zahau family as well, all of them together pleading for the cases to be reopened, there would be a much better chance of persuading the relevant officials at all levels.

Jonah said through a spokesman this week he had "no comment" on his ex-wife's efforts. Here is the link:

http://wwww.signonsandiego.com/news/2012/sep/18/mom-makes-tearful-plea-mansion-death-case/?ap
 
Thanks, Kimster. Good advice.

Here is a link to the City of Coronado, and City Council minutes and agendas. The agenda for yesterday is posted. Minutes are supposed to be posted before the next meeting, and meetings are twice a month on alternating Tuesdays. So, minutes and any official comments about Dina's remarks should be available by Oct 2 meeting.However, I don't see anything that says that the council MUST respond to public comments in the minutes, just that there will not be discussion by the council during the public comments. I think maybe it is up to the council whether or not they choose to respond to citizen comments.

Link to yesterday's agenda. I don't see Dina listed by name on the agenda. I'm assuming she approached the council under the #6 item, "Oral communications" section, in accordance with the 3 minute timeframe for open comments. It wasn't a big secret to anyone that she was coming, though-- there have been news reports for a couple days, and TV cameras were there. But interesting that she was not on the agenda by name. In my location, you must be on the agenda by name, or you are not allowed to speak.

http://www.coronado.ca.us/egov/documents/1347660253_05354.pdf

http://www.coronado.ca.us/egov/apps/document/center.egov?eGov_searchDepartment=2&eGov_searchType=71

http://www.coronado.ca.us/council/ Photos and infor about council members here.
 

Staff online

Members online

Online statistics

Members online
163
Guests online
2,001
Total visitors
2,164

Forum statistics

Threads
590,070
Messages
17,929,708
Members
228,055
Latest member
vconners
Back
Top