That sounds like an awesome perk! Cool picture too.

Congrats John! That kind of a flight is one to remember forever. The stall is fun too!

Well, it's a pretty bribe.

Seriously, my eyes rolled so far into the back on my head upon reading this. This jet is for the executives at Google? Maybe in case they need to escape the Google campus in a hurry? Give me a break. When is the city going to stop bending over for Google?

Great story!

I don't understand how this isn't a gift of value. If our elected MV officials don't make enough money, the city of MV should pay them more. They should not be able to accept gifts from companies that deal with the city.

At the very least, Inks should recuse himself regarding any discussions or votes that are related to Google. At worst, Inks cannot be impartial. At best, there's an appearance of impropriety.

How many other MV council members have received "gifts" that were considered gifts? Who gave these "gifts"? What were these "gifts"?

I think the public deserves to know!

Remember, that jet is for scientific purposes. No, really.

Web Link

And if you believe that, I've got this bridge in Brooklyn I'd like to sell to you. For you, half off!

Note that "the engine stalled" is almost certainly erroneous. More likely, there was an aerodynamic stall of the wing. Pilots often talk about stalling and it never refers to the engine, always to the wing.

Web Link

"You're a pilot, would you like to go into the alpha jet?" Inks recalled Ambrose asking. "I said, 'Yeah, are you kidding?'"

That doesn't sound like "informational material".

Hope you had fun, John. That little trip'll cost you about $3500

Web Link

Seems like "transportation" is considered a gift.

"Example: An official is given an informational tour of a new facility in order to see how it functions. The tour itself is "informational material." Therefore, it does not constitute a gift to the official.

However, food, beverage, and transportation to and from the site would be considered gifts to the official. "

Also - Moffet Field is reachable by commercial transportation

"... except insofar as such transportation is not commercially
obtainable"

Until the VOICE started allowing these blogs, I never knew how petty our Mountain View residents were.

Since none of you will actually take on the job of City Council - where they get tons of grief, very little money, and honestly, even less power (it is Mtn View), I think you all should just allow a bit of fun where they are offered it and
STOP BEING SO PETTY !!!

I don't blame the councilman for taking this trip, I mean, c'on anyone would do it!
- Yes, he might lean towards Google, but they're the single largest contributor to the City! Imagine what Mt. View would look like w/o them around?
Last, Mt. View residents have the power to vote anyone in or out of office, vote!

Being a council member is a 2nd job to those elected and most of them work for very high profile companies - they are not broke - they do not need a raise from the City and they need to do their jobs - work for the citizens of Mountain View.

I want a ride too. I think they should randomly select a MV resident every month for a joyride. :)

Why don't some of you "mean spirited MV residents" run for council? Really, anyone in a similar situation would gladly accept the invitation for the flight and learn something informational about the hangar operation........are you just jealous that he got an opportunity that you will never get?

That sounds very cool.
I'm jealous.
And all you people whining about it, good grief. Get a life.

I remember hearing the jets during the time the googlers were flying. Why do they get to have priviledges that the ordinary people do not - when it impacts all of us? These same googlers believe that ordinary people should drive less and buy expensive hybrids when they get to play with jets that burn enormous amounts of fuel?

"Imagine what Mt. View would look like w/o them around?"

Ok...hey, I remember! Just like it is now, but with less smug. Thanks for helping me take a trip down memory lane.

> And all you people whining about it, good grief. Get a life.
> Why don't some of you "mean spirited MV residents" run for council?
> STOP BEING SO PETTY !!!
> I don't blame the councilman for taking this trip
> And all you people whining about it, good grief. Get a life.

So it's okay for elected officials to accept $3500 jet rides? How about playoff football tickets? How about cash?

There's a reason that the FPPC does not allow transportation as "material information".

"FPPC determined the flight was 'informational material,' not a gift," Inks wrote in an email.

My five year-old does that. "Mom said it was ok for me to have twelve cookies".

Classic palm greasing of a public official. They all have a price. You just have to know what it is.

Here's some more gas to add to the fire for mean spirited MV residents. I hear the council members eat for free at Google. Some of them make excuses to visit Google and then just have to stop by for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Also they get free dinner at council meetings. They extort local companies to provide food.

I feel better already. ;-)

I agree with those of you that question both official approval and more importantly, any perceived quid pro quo influence regarding Google business with the city.

I supported the Charleston site ground lease and am aware of Google's considerable presence in Mountain View, assistance to schools and science, technology and math outreach. I can claim that I'm impartial, but there's no way I can be completely objective. I'm more reportable to you than the FPPC in that regard. I'm very interested in hearing from any of you further on this matter.

We have an agenda item Tuesday regarding an encroachment permit for Google to build bridges over Stevens Creek to their future Bay View development on Moffett. I have prepared well for this very unique project (concept only, nothing approved). I have numerous questions for staff and Google and think it's important that I participate. However, I am also genuinely interested in hearing you out regarding the permit and/or my participation on the item.

Regards,

John
johninks@sbcglobal.net
650.941.4167

Thanks, John for the invitiation to contact you with concerns. We should continue to discuss transparency and ethical actions from our elected leaders.

I disagree with those who claim that discussion about your flight is just sour grapes and jealousy. Like many, I can afford my own flight (if it were available) and as an ordinary citizen I pay for all forms of my travel/entertainment (concerts, meals, and flights.) Like most oridnary Mountain View residents, I don't have insider access to special events....which is fine since offering this special flight to all residents wouldn't be practical.

So my question to John Inks....since there's a perception that you might not be impartial in dealing with Google and Google having many items before the City Council, do you regret taking this free flight from Google? Are you willing to recuse yourself from discussing or voting on Google issues?

Thanks for participating in the forum!

So, if we are saying that John is considered tainted by accepting a 'free ride' by Google, does that mean that we should recuse ourselves from voting in regular elections on things that affect Google if we have a free g-mail account &/or use their free city-wide wi-fi network to access the internet?!? Aren't many of us getting something for nothing from Google (do you know how much Comcast charges for internet access!)?
At least John is forward-thinking enough to study up on the issues that will come before the council, instead of just listening to what's presented before the council & making less-informed decisions. And,if nothing else, I'd say this dust-up will probably make him more prone to being very impartial, since he'll probably need to explain every decision he now makes on Google issues to at least one of you!

As an elected public official, Mr. Inks has a different threshhold than us on these matters. He's (presumably) taken the conflict of interests course required of public officials, and should've had better judgment. A $3,500 airplane ride isn't something available to the rest of us for free, and I have a hard time digesting that it was truly necessary for research. He should've erred on the side of caution and declined (or offered to pay for) this perk. Considering the uproar when Councilmembers get a few free Shoreline tickets, I'm surprised so many feel this is OK. It's really not...whether by law or by public perception.

I don't want to see him have to recuse himself. Maybe an apology and an offer to pay a portion (can't expect him to now fork over $3,500) of what the ride would normally cost. It's possible the FPPC manuals might describe corrective actions.

Bruno,

Not QUITE like it is now. Take a good look at our schools. Google has been generous to our School District and our School Foundation.

Your trip down memory lane does not include EVERYTHING in Mountain View. Just because YOU have not personally benefited, does not mean that Google is not benefiting our city.

Yes, Google donates to the schools. So did SGI, Sun, Intuit, Adobe, and whoever else was the "it" company in town at the time.

And yes, Bruno, I do remember the less smug. And less private jets! I'd bet anything that those riding on the jets don't live in Mountain View.

@Bruno

Just because a company contributes to the city doesn't mean the rules can be broken. It sounds like you and other think it's ok.

This fighter jet is just a toy disguised as an elaborate tax deduction with the help of NASA.

And if Inks ever votes in favor of anything that benefits Google it will be suspect from now on.

I'm not looking to benefit from Google. I understand how they operate and I don't care to use their services. It's my personal choice.

MV Mama, You are absolutely correct. They do not live in Mountain View, and for that we should actually be thankful. Ask our neighbors in Palo Alto how they feel about Larry Page's 3 year secret construction project that has leveled an entire block in a residential neighborhood and is still under way to this day. As you can probably guess, they aren't too crazy about it.

Any professional will tell you that accepting gifts from clients, companies or organizations that you do business with directly is unethical. There's not much to debate here honestly. I'm sure Mr. Inks considered this before he decided to take the ride, but it didn't deter him when it probably should have.