We are writing to bring attention to a matter of great concern regarding the recently issued Contra Costa Civil Grand Jury report on the City of Clayton, and to highlight what unfolded at the special City Council meeting on June 24, 2025.
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Clayton Watch Report - June 26, 2025
In a decisive supermajority 4–1 vote, the Clayton City Council approved its official response to the Civil Grand Jury’s politically charged and deeply flawed report. Led by Mayor Trupiano and Vice Mayor Jeff Wan, with support from Councilmembers Jim Diaz and Rich Enea, the Council delivered a clear and fact-based rebuttal that dismantled the report’s inaccuracies and exposed its evident bias.
Once again, Councilmember Holly Tillman stood alone in opposition.
Despite having spent over 15 months calling for an investigation, Councilmember Tillman attempted to backpedal, requesting a “softer tone” and offering edits that none of her colleagues supported. Her shift in tone reveals the uncomfortable truth: the investigation she called for is now undermining her own credibility.
Vice Mayor Wan presented the legal facts with clarity, while Councilmember Tillman offered no substantive rebuttal, only emotional appeals and theatrical rhetoric.
Even more concerning, Councilmember Tillman publicly stated that she would submit her separate response to the Civil Grand Jury.
Under California Penal Code §§ 933 and 933.05, official responses must come from the governing body. Any attempt to submit an individual letter, especially using city letterhead, would be legally invalid and potentially expose the City to liability.
This incident raises serious questions:
* Why is Councilmember Tillman consistently isolated from her colleagues?
* Why do none of her fellow councilmembers, across diverse viewpoints, support her positions?
* Is she using the City of Clayton as a political springboard rather than serving its residents?
According to reports, Councilmember Tillman has expressed interest in running for higher office, including governor. Her behavior increasingly suggests a strategy built on conflict, not collaboration, one focused on self-promotion and photo ops, rather than public service.
Adding to the concerns is the direct involvement of Clayton Pioneer owner Tamara Steiner. For two years, Ms. Steiner has used her platform to push for a Grand Jury investigation and has provided exclusively favorable coverage of Councilmember Tillman, while ignoring or disparaging other councilmembers.
Tamara Steiner has participated in past Civil Grand Jury orientation media panels, including one alongside current Civil Grand Jury Foreperson Peter Appert. At the time, Appert was a juror, not the foreperson. Sources report that she engaged directly with participants, offering input, posing questions, and exceeding the neutral role of a panelist.
Steiner’s influence in Clayton runs deep, bolstered by her and her husband’s long-standing leadership roles in the Clayton Business & Community Association (CBCA), he as a former CBCA president, and she as a vocal presence in city affairs. However, when the City Council revised the CBCA’s special event fee structure to make it more equitable for all organizations, their privileged position was diminished.
In apparent retaliation, Steiner’s reporting became increasingly combative and one-sided. Just recently, she was seen distributing printed copies of the Civil Grand Jury report at a CBCA General meeting, just days before the Council’s official vote, further blurring the lines between journalism and personal agenda.
Further complicating this matter is that Councilmember Tillman’s husband, Matt Tillman, currently serves as Vice President of Membership for the CBCA. This direct connection between a sitting councilmember and an organization deeply entangled in the political narrative creates a clear conflict of interest.
The CBCA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, which prohibits political activity under IRS regulations. Any partisan behavior coordinated through or influenced by CBCA leadership places the organization’s nonprofit status at risk.
Finally, the Grand Jury report makes over 18 separate references to the CBCA, while omitting other community organizations entirely. This disproportionate attention, combined with the above connections, demands serious scrutiny.
It is also worth noting that Peter Appert, the current Civil Grand Jury foreperson, is affiliated with a nonprofit organization in Lafayette that closely mirrors the CBCA’s structure and mission. That similarity, paired with the report’s excessive focus on the CBCA, raises even more red flags.
Was this report guided by objective inquiry or shaped by preexisting relationships and organizational bias?
If you want to see the full picture for yourself, without spin or speculation, the following resources provide direct access to the meeting, the City’s official response, and key background information.
Don’t take anyone’s word for it. Watch, read, and decide based on the facts:
* Watch the Full Meeting and Judge for Yourself: Watch the Special Meeting (https://claytonca.granicus.com/player/clip/111)
* The Civil Grand Jury Complaint: (https://www.cc-courts.org/civil/docs/grandjury/2024-2025/2505/2505-SmallCityBigConcerns.pdf)
* Read the City’s Response to the Civil Grand Jury Report: (https://legistarweb-
Further complicating this matter is that Councilmember Tillman’s husband, Matt Tillman, currently serves as Vice President of Membership for the CBCA. This direct connection between a sitting councilmember and an organization deeply entangled in the political narrative creates a clear conflict of interest.
The CBCA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, which prohibits political activity under IRS regulations. Any partisan behavior coordinated through or influenced by CBCA leadership places the organization’s nonprofit status at risk.
Finally, the Grand Jury report makes over 18 separate references to the CBCA, while omitting other community organizations entirely. This disproportionate attention, combined with the above connections, demands serious scrutiny.
It is also worth noting that Peter Appert, the current Civil Grand Jury foreperson, is affiliated with a nonprofit organization in Lafayette that closely mirrors the CBCA’s structure and mission. That similarity, paired with the report’s excessive focus on the CBCA, raises even more red flags.
Was this report guided by objective inquiry or shaped by preexisting relationships and organizational bias?
If you want to see the full picture for yourself, without spin or speculation, the following resources provide direct access to the meeting, the City’s official response, and key background information.
Don’t take anyone’s word for it. Watch, read, and decide based on the facts:
* Watch the Full Meeting and Judge for Yourself: Watch the Special Meeting (https://claytonca.granicus.com/player/clip/111)
* The Civil Grand Jury Complaint: (https://www.cc-courts.org/civil/docs/grandjury/2024-2025/2505/2505-SmallCityBigConcerns.pdf)
* Read the City’s Response to the Civil Grand Jury Report: (https://legistarweb-
* Learn why Holly Tillman has lost the respect of her peers and much of the community: The Truth About Holly Tillman (https://www.claytonwatch.org/p/a-record-of-division-troubling-behavior.html)
* See Holly Tillman in Action (Short Videos): She’s shockingly rude and belligerent, dominating every conversation, snarling accusations, never listening, and bulldozing anyone who dares challenge her. (https://www.claytonwatch.org/p/holly-tillman-in-action-her-words-not.html)
* Holly Tillman: All Talk, No Action: She makes big promises but never delivers. It's all noise, no results. (https://www.claytonwatch.org/p/holly-tillman-all-talk-no-action.html)
The June 24th meeting was not just another council session; it was a turning point. The Council majority stood united, grounded in facts, law, and the will of the people. Councilmember Tillman stood alone, disconnected, defiant, and exposed.
At Clayton Watch, we believe in truth, transparency, and accountability.
We believe public office is a place to serve, not a platform for political ambition. We encourage every resident to stay informed, ask tough questions, and demand better leadership.
Clayton deserves better,
Sincerely,
The Clayton Watch Team
Spot on!
ReplyDeleteExcellent!
ReplyDeleteThe opening paragraph here is the most important. 4 Council Members, a SUPERmajority, did not agree with Council Member Tillman on ANYTHING. Think about that. 4 different individuals who were elected, none of whom spent anywhere near the money Council Member Tillman spent to get herself elected twice, disagree with her. The idea this is all solely Mayor Trupiano and Vice Mayor Wan who drove the response is fatally flawed. Council Member Tillman's supporters have become so cult like and tribal, anything she supports that damages the city becomes their rallying cry. Tamara Steiner is the worst! It is eye opening what this article on ClaytonWatch exposes. Steiner hates the city of Clayton so much now for NOT making Holly Tillman dictator of the city and for making CBCA pay an equitable fee for using the city's streets for their events that she will no longer cover ANY events. Most recently, Steiner did NOT cover the Memorial Day Ceremony in Clayton but somehow was able to cover the event in Pleasant Hill that didn't have anywhere near the same attendance. Why? She must have known the Civil Grand Jury report was days from being released and did not want ANY positive news about Clayton at all. Instead, she pounced on the civil grand jury story and immediately promoted Holly Tillman's pre-scripted response. It's interesting that the other 4 Council members chose not to talk to Tamara. Why? Because they don't trust her Tamara at all. No doubt Tamara will write a story shortly still agreeing with the civil grand jury despite HARD evidence they used false financial data most likely obtained in manner that was not legal from our departed former City Manager. That is something that should be investigated. It does make sense that the way Holly Tillman behaves is because she is seeking attention outside of the Clayton to run for higher office. She spends MOST of her time outside of Clayton. Perhaps she is desperately seeking the attention of her political party to run for governor, even though it's laughable. And of course Tamara Steiner wants to be her media person. What's sad is how we the citizens of Clayton have to suffer through the circus of city council meetings where her supporters insult the rest of the council and demand the most outrageous things like hefty taxes and more investigations. What has Council Member Tillman accomplished? She couldn't even vote for the concept of the tax in 2026 yet she claims she is for raising revenue! She admitted this on Tuesday during the meeting. Double talk from her on this subject is all we get while her supporters continue to scream about the city being in dire financial straits when the "deficit" was 80k. Her supporters have ZERO interest in fact. It's all about how they feel. They feel she is the greatest and she should run the city. If we want to end up like NY, SF, Portland or LA, then yes, let her run Clayton. Sadly, we are stuck with her for 3.5 more years. We can all count to 4 but maybe we need to learn to spell the word: RECALL.
ReplyDeleteI agree, recall her.
DeleteI read the Civil Grand Jury report, I watched the June 24th council meeting and listened to the Council's response to CGJ report and I just read the editorial in The Pioneer by Tamara Steiner about CGJ report. It so obvious that Tamera is trying to destroy our town. How sad.
ReplyDeleteWhich is why we need to destroy the Pioneer by taking away all of he advertisers pr boycotting them. Never been a fan of this but this tooooooooo far.
DeleteIt looks like one of our city officials (Tillman) has been caught on camera trying to destroy our little town. And the Grand Jury report proves she was wrong all along. Shame on her for bringing big city politics to our small town.
DeleteI really would like to know what drug Holly and Tamara are giving their supporters to be blubbering idiots and agree to everything they say and do.
ReplyDeleteIt’s disturbing to see a media figure like Tamara Steiner playing both sides of the fence. Journalism should inform, not influence policy behind the scenes.
DeletePolitics at its worst. This reporter always wants to try and make up some news, but never wants to report the news. She seems like a big phony.
DeleteThis report cuts through the noise with facts, not politics. The Council majority did the right thing by standing up to a biased and flawed Grand Jury process.
ReplyDeleteCouncilmember Tillman asked for this investigation, and now that the facts don’t suit her narrative, she wants to soften the blow. Clayton residents deserve better.
DeleteA councilmember submitting a personal response to a Grand Jury on city letterhead? That’s not just bad judgment, it’s a liability. Glad the city is pushing back. Dan and Kathy
ReplyDeleteThe CBCA’s deep political ties, including Tillman’s family connection, deserve real scrutiny, especially when a nonprofit risks its status with partisan behavior.
ReplyDeleteRegardless of which side you’re on, the sheer number of red flags around the CBCA and this report should make any resident stop and ask serious questions.
DeleteThey are the most clicky bunch I've ever met. They do raise money for the community, but the games they play are unacceptable.
DeleteThe CBCA has a membership committee? Does this mean they have gatekeepers on who can join? Wow - Sounds a bit elitist or maybe even worst. - How ironic!
DeleteMatt Tillman is the VP of membership, which is quite ironic given the Tillmans' desire for control over this town. We simply cannot allow this to continue. Their actions are never motivated by altruism; it's always about advancing their own agendas. If they are truly dissatisfied here, they should seek out a community that aligns with their needs rather than attempting to undermine Clayton through lies, deceit, manipulation, and divisive tactics. Enough is enough!
DeleteJust opened my email. WOW! Thank you Clayton Watch for keeping an eye on our city. Mark and Cheri, Easley Estates
ReplyDeleteAs a concerned citizen, I just want to say that, for what it’s worth, I’m genuinely pleased that all four council members took the stance they did. Something doesn’t sit right, and it feels like there’s more going on beneath the surface. This seems to be less about what’s best for the community and more about power and influence. The folks over at the Court House need to understand that the public is paying attention, and we’re not going to just look the other. - Rod
ReplyDeleteThank you Clayton Watch for caring about our community. Politics sucks!
ReplyDeleteI clicked on the link and watched the council meeting,, and I clicked on all the links, and all I can say is “holy cow” the gal has got to go.
ReplyDeleteRecall
DeleteAnd to think she wants to be our mayor.
DeleteTimman will never be the Mayor of Clayton. She prioritizes her own wants and needs above everyone else's, demonstrating that she lacks the qualities necessary for true leadership.
DeleteI hope the judge comes down hard on Peter Appert. From everything I’ve seen, he either completely neglected his responsibilities or deliberately acted in bad faith. Either way, it’s disgraceful behavior, especially from someone in a position of trust in Lafayette. He needs to be held accountable.
ReplyDeleteThe three stooges, Cloven, Tillman and Tamera just got handed their hat by the four council members. The three stooges must have a real chip on their shoulders to continue running down a dead end street. I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I know when it is time to pick another street. It is pretty funny that Tillman thinks she can run for governor. She can't even pick the right street to run down. Thank you Clayton Watch for watching.
ReplyDeleteClayton residents had the option to reject Tillman, and they undeniably made the wrong choice!
ReplyDeleteHolly Tillman spent a lot of money the two times she ran for council. Last year, she had plans to hold a fund raising dinner at $75 a plate! This is the kind of corrupt politics that happens in a big city. Why would anyone need to raise so much money to run in Clayton? Most past candidates don't even bother to raise funds and stay under the $2,000 limit. Jeff Wan has run twice and both times taken first place and done so without raising money or going over the $2,000 limit. In 2020, Holly Tillman and Peter Cloven spent $25,000 combined to get elected! Of the 5 candidates who ran for office in 2020, only they raised and spent that kind of money to get elected and couldn't even get first place. This last election, Holly Tillman spent quite a bit of money, used phone banks and other tactics that only big city politicians use. No other candidate spent anywhere near the money she did yet she did not manage to come in first. Sadly, she was re-elected. Clayton citizens need to ask themselves do we want politicians who buy their way onto the council? And make no mistake, this nonsense will continue for the next 3.5 years. Tamara Steiner will continue to write falsehoods attacking every other council member and smearing the city while making Holly Tillman out to be a hero. Citizens need to start emailing Holly Tillman expressing their frustration with her antics and writing letters to the editor to Tamara Steiner expressing displeasure at her biased rag of a newspaper.
DeleteEven if we did submit letters, Tamara rarely, if ever, publishes them. I’ve tried before, and it went nowhere. Most of the letters she features seem to come from her inner circle or from folks in Concord, who have no real connection to Clayton. It’s incredibly frustrating to see how biased and exclusionary the publication has become. At this point, it feels less like a community platform and more like a personal echo chamber. I genuinely hope readers start to see through it and take their attention elsewhere. - Pat and Steve C.
DeleteI asked Tammy if she would publish Jeff Wan’s rebuttal to the grand jury report and she said no. I then said she is a coward. She blocked me
DeleteA evil, disgusting excuse for a publisher.
For too long, she and her husband have controlled the narrative in this town, and now she’s struggling to accept that the power dynamic has shifted. The CBCA is crumbling, and it's clear that the old guard is losing grip. Let’s not forget, four out of the five council members in the past have been CBCA members. Now that they’ve lost control of the city council and their primary vehicle for promoting their own, they’re effectively dead in the water. Carl Wolfe’s time is up. He’s dug himself into a hole so deep he’ll never get out of it. A new president is needed, immediately. -From a Past Loyal CBCA Member.
DeleteIf they want to survive, CBCA must eject the Tillmans, Wolfe, and Stiener.
DeleteCBCA needs a new board of directors! Carl Wolfe, Matt Tillman and Ed Miller are the political arm of CBCA. Remove these three and replace them with three new board members who truly care about the organization and not some political vendetta. They need to kick out all the members that are hyper political as well.
DeleteIt was clear that both Holly and Peter Cloven were primarily focused on the CBCA, neglecting to address the pressing issues facing Clayton and failing to help with creating progress for our small town. CBCA does not run or control the city. They do many great things for the Clayton community, but they need to learn to stay in their lane.
DeleteHolly Tillman should be reminded to refrain from spreading false information about our small town; our community is thriving, our police don’t profile, we are not a sun down town, and we are not racist, and we are not going broke. While Clayton has its challenges, we are demanding that everyone work together so we can heal the divide and move forward. #recallholly
ReplyDeleteNot too long ago, Holly Tillman told everyone to only vote for her, the #OnlyHolly campaign. #OnlyHolly has since brought Clayton nothing but accusations. #OnlyHolly didn’t stand with the supermajority to vote for a response that told the civil grand jury how absolutely wrong they were. Why? Because #OnlyHolly cares about #OnlyHolly, not our wonderful little town. Her supporters don’t care about the city of Clayton at all. They care only about their ideology. They are blind to the fact Holly is using them. She will drop them when she decides to run for another office. How much did #OnlyHolly have to do with the original complaint to the civil grand jury?
DeleteIt appears all her supports have gone into hiding after the truth was exposed. They all drank the kool-Aid and now they have to suffer the consequences.
DeleteTillman, Cloven, Tamera and former city manager Bret have been working together on their campaign to destroy our wonderful little town. The Civil Grand Jury investigation did not turn out the way they wanted, so I am sure they are looking for a new destructive narrative to push.
DeleteClayton's biggest problem is Holly Tillman and she needs to go. We do not need an obstructionist on the council. Recall
ReplyDeleteVice Mayor Jeff Wan’s write up of the special meeting to discuss and vote on a response to the civil grand jury explains it best. Here’s the link: https://www.jeffwanforclaytoncitycouncil.net/2025/06/my-special-meeting-summary-62425.html
ReplyDeleteHolly’ Tillman and her supporters made up a narrative, ignored facts and could only talk about changing the tone of the city’s response. 4 Council Members voted for and strongly supported the response as written. The reason was clear, the civil grand jury did not to its job at all. It was a blatant witch hunt and all of us should be concerned about how corrupt the system is that such a poor report came out of this civil grand jury. It is legit to ask the question if someone influenced this jury. Was it Tamara with the help of the foreman? Was it someone who is perhaps a member of some of the same radical groups Holly Tillman is a member of like Our Revolution? Or was it a phone call from one of our board of supervisors who have stuck their noses in our politics recently by demanding Holly be made the mayor? The title alone gives it away. Antioch had real corruption yet the civil grand jury last year adopted the title “Challenges in Antioch” vs the title they put on the report for Clayton that insinuated things are far worse. It’s clear that someone was out to help Holly Tillman, the CBCA and make 4 other council members look bad. Jeff Wan’s write explains the justification for the tone which communicates clearly that the civil grand jury failed miserably in this inquiry. If anything needs to be investigated, the way this civil grand jury behaved should be. But all involved will circle the wagons. Every citizen should be writing letters to the court demanding an investigation of Tamara Steiner, the foreman and any of the jurors connections to Holly Tillman.
Holly Tillman consistently fails to support her statements and actions with facts; it’s all based on her personal feelings and beliefs. This delusional stance is echoed by her followers, and it raises serious concerns about Ken Carlson's deep involvement in Clayton city government. Shouldn't he be focusing on more pressing matters in his district? Additionally, Shenelle Scales Preston, a new supervisor, is being dragged into Clayton affairs, seemingly as part of Holly's strategy to advance her own agenda and seek a higher office. We need to send letters to both supervisors demanding they refrain from interfering in Clayton City matters. Alternatively, we should consider filing a CGJ complaint for their breach of governmental protocol.
ReplyDeleteI don’t care for either supervisor you mentioned, but an elected official engaging in politics within their district is normal behavior. There is no such thing as government protocol in this context. We are all free to express our feelings and opinions, even politicians.
DeleteYour disapproval is not an actionable item.
If politicians and/or the media spread false and misleading information, if a crime was committed, you better believe we the people have standing.
DeleteNot telling the truth is only a crime if done while under oath. Get a clue.
DeleteAnd do you think the Civil Grand Jury took an oath?
DeleteNow you’re on a different page. We were talking about elected officials. Changing the subject isn’t helping your argument.
DeleteJurors serving on a civil grand jury are required to take a sworn oath of office, just like any public official. This oath commits them to act impartially, honestly, and in accordance with the law. If they breach this oath, by engaging in misconduct, leaking information, or failing to carry out their duties with integrity, they could face serious legal consequences. Violating the oath could result in criminal charges or other penalties, as they are expected to uphold a high standard of confidentiality and responsibility. In this sense, the oath isn't just a formality; it's a serious commitment to ensuring justice is served fairly and without bias. If a grand juror breaks that trust, the consequences can be severe, ensuring that the integrity of the process is maintained. Peter Appert must be held accountable..He allowed this to happen.
DeleteOnce again, you’ve changed the topic because there was no avenue for you to be correct. Now you’re bloviating on something everyone already knows.
DeleteOnce under oath, lying becomes perjury. Not a crime until that happens.
Good luck arguing with a door nob. I’m certain you’ll claim you won that argument too.
Supervisors are meant to serve their constituents, yet Ken Carlson and Shanelle Scales Preston have clearly been manipulated by Tillman to advance her personal agendas. It's becoming increasingly obvious that Carlson treats our current mayor poorly as he aligns himself with Tillman in his supervisory role. Furthermore, both are actively attempting to undermine our mayor in various board positions she has held for years, all to curry favor with Tillman. This behavior is unacceptable and utterly disgraceful.
DeleteI have an idea. If this is the case, that Tillman is in cahoots with these Supervisors then let's have a Council vote. By a 4-1 the Supervisor "Kenny" and "SSP" get the Tillman(s) and they all leave us alone.
DeleteNot possible
DeleteNot possible they will all leave us alone? ... I tend to agree with you. So maybe it's time to turn up the pocketbook attacks. I know let's start with Tammara .. wonder how fast she will fold on the CBCA, the Clovens, the Wolfe's, the Denslow's and yes the Tillmans. We will shall see.
DeleteAs a new resident of Clayton, I moved here with hopes of joining a peaceful, well-run community. Unfortunately, it hasn’t taken long to notice troubling issues in our local government, particularly surrounding Councilmember Holly Tillman.
ReplyDeleteAfter attending recent council meetings and watching past recordings, I am appalled at the tone, conduct, and divisiveness displayed by Ms. Tillman. From what I’ve read and observed, her behavior has been problematic since she took office. Rather than collaborating or leading constructively, she appears more interested in confrontation, self-promotion, and stirring conflict. I am deeply concerned that such an approach is not only counterproductive, but detrimental to the progress and unity of our city.
What concerns me even more is her reported close alignment with the owner of The Clayton Pioneer. If a local representative is tied so closely with a media outlet that gives her favorable coverage while disparaging others, then both her conduct and the coverage warrant serious scrutiny. Transparency should never come at the expense of honesty, professionalism, or fair journalism.
It’s disappointing to feel like I moved away from dysfunction only to find it here in my new home. I know Clayton is better than this. I urge community leaders, fellow residents, and Ms. Tillman's supporters to hold her, and all public officials, accountable for actions that reflect poorly on our city.
I care deeply about the future of Clayton, and I hope to see a shift toward respectful, cooperative, and balanced governance.
If you truly care about our community, steer clear of the CBCA, along with the Tillmans, Clovens, Stieners, Millers, and Denslows. These individuals are delusional, dishonest, and manipulative, and they will exploit any disagreement to undermine you.
DeleteYou have to ask: What is Tillman's end game? In my opinion, she will only be happy if she becomes Clayton's mayor and she has at least three of her supporters on the council. She had her chance to be part of the council majority for two years and failed miserably. I would like to know how much her political witch hunt cost Clayton taxpayers. It is time for her to pay for it.
ReplyDeleteHolly is heavily aligned with Barbara Lee, the new Oakland mayor. Could she be headed to Lee’s staff, perhaps a deputy mayor? We will wait and see.
DeleteThat would be two jackasses working together
DeleteWasn't Peter Cloven the mayor when all these problems supposedly took place? And if I’m remembering correctly, Holly was the vice mayor at the time. Rather than addressing the real issues, they avoided responsibility and focused on empty proclamations.
ReplyDeleteLet’s be honest, Peter and Holly should have never passed up Jeff Wan for mayor. We needed strong, principled leadership then, and we still do now.
Clayton deserves better. We can, and must, do better.
They were, and they did absolutely nothing but pose for pictures. Cloven is now on Facebook and ND, making outrageous claims that he had no part in the mess and division. Cloven is a bloviating, pompous ass!
ReplyDeleteDon't forget "loose with the truth" 😒
DeletePeter Cloven, Holly Tillman and Tamara Steiner are the past. They have their “connections” to do harm to our town. It’s highly likely the “complaint” was authored by Peter Cloven and Holly Tillman and pushed forward by Tamara Steiner and her connections on the civil grand jury. It’s too coincidental she wrote the article calling for it and magically it happened. But they are past. 4 council members voted to send a response denouncing the inaccuracies and false findings. The city moves forward. Tamara will keep writing stories saying the city is in decline and in dire financial trouble all while the new staff is now on their second year of good work. There is no more turnover because the staff is competent. So Tamara Steiner will keep printing lies, Holly Tillman will keep talking word salads about transparency and Peter Cloven will keep trying to be relevant. Meanwhile the city gets better and it will be without these three characters. Holly Tillman is rapidly headed for irrelevance. What has she accomplished in 4.5 years? NOTHING!
ReplyDeleteI disagree, Holly has done a lot: She pushed for a political witch hunt Civil Grand Jury investigation, she tried to destroy our town's reputation by accusing Clayton of being a racist town, she demonized the Police by accusing them of profiling, she accused Clayton of exclusionary zoning, she spread lies throughout the county about Clayton financial situation, she constantly accuses fellow council member of nefarious actions and violations of the law....
DeleteI can't think of any positive contributions she has made.
You left out one of Holly Tillman’s favorite lines. “We need to have a conversation”. She’s just a bag of hot air and is a failure for Clayton. Can’t believe she got reelected. She brings absolutely nothing to the table except conflicts and toxicity.
DeleteWasn't that Cloven’s mantra? Everything with him was “we need to have a conversation,” but he made no decisions except for passing judgment on Jeff Wan
DeleteClassic Holly . . . always leading with her favorite catchphrase: ‘I don’t understand.’ At this point, we’re starting to believe her.
DeleteIt’s always been about power and control. Period.
ReplyDeleteIf you’re still wondering why Clayton feels so divided, maybe it’s time to stop ignoring the obvious.
For those who haven’t read “Why is Clayton so Divided?”, here’s the link.
Do yourself a favor and read it.
ENJOY... or don’t. Just don’t pretend you weren’t warned.
https://www.claytonwatch.org/2024/04/why-is-clayton-so-divided-is-it-about.html
She (Holly) loves the spotlight, makes big promises, and talks a good game, but when it’s time to actually deliver? Crickets.
ReplyDeleteHer so-called “accomplishments” read more like a highlight reel of missed opportunities and empty gestures. A real leader gets things done. Holly just gets defensive.
https://www.claytonwatch.org/p/holly-tillman-all-talk-no-action.html
She's not a diamond in the rough; she’s a distraction in the way. Decide for yourself.
She didn’t vote for the budget two years in a row! The second year it was because she was too busy with her social calendar and events she couldn’t show up to the city council meeting prepared. But according to her supporters, she’s done more than all other council members combined! Laughable. She will take credit for this year’s budget but she didn’t do any of the work.
DeleteHolly's strategy is to make grand promises, fail to deliver, and consistently lie, deny, deflect, and shift blame onto others for her shortcomings.
ReplyDeleteI think the community deserves clarity: Who exactly filed the complaint, and why didn’t the grand jury thoroughly verify the information before moving forward? There appear to be serious flaws in this process, and something just doesn’t sit right.
ReplyDeleteFrom the outside, it looks like Tamara and Holly may have played a major role in driving this. If that’s the case, it’s disappointing to see individuals attempting to divide our town. As one commenter rightly pointed out, this seems to be more about power and influence than genuine concern.
The CBCA has lost the level of control it once had, and now it's being asked to contribute fairly for its use of public space, something that should have happened long ago. It’s unfortunate that instead of working collaboratively, some individuals, including Tillman, her husband, and Tamara Steiner, seem more interested in stirring conflict than finding solutions.
Our town deserves transparency, fairness, and unity, not political games. #recallholly
Ms. Tilman is in over her head. She does not possess the professional capacity for the council member role. After over 4 years in the position, there have been no deliverables, only divisiveness.
ReplyDeleteTillman is too stupid to realize she is over her head and should step down. In her mind, she is the greatest since sliced bread.
ReplyDeleteHappy 4th of July. What a great city council we now have with the four in charge and the leadership our wonderful Mayor Kim and Vice Mayor Jeff. Keep up the good work and thank you for all you do for our great little town. Enjoy the parade.
ReplyDeleteMore Tamara Steiner bias! Her coverage of 4th of July parade would make anyone think we have only one council member, of course Holly Tillman. What a sad state for a dying newspaper and a subpar council member with zero accomplishments. Of course they both say Clayton is in decline. Maybe they need to look in the mirror to see the real decline: Tamara’s newspaper and and Holly’s political career.
ReplyDeleteTamrat's biased paper and reporting only feature true CBCA loyalists and, of course, the Tillmans. It should be renamed the Tillman Times. Tamrat is so infatuated with them that it borders on psychotic.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone heard the news around town? The Pioneer paper is closing down! Tamara is finally stepping away from it, and it's about time! Thank the good Lord!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat news.
ReplyDeleteIt is great news if true - but I will be sad I won't have the paper to burn this winter
ReplyDeleteOh no, what a tragedy. I use my copy of the Concord Clayton Pioneer at the bottom of the bird cage. It’s the only thing that really brought dignity to the mess under the parakeet. Now I guess I’ll have to find another way to keep the cage clean, maybe the birds can learn to compost?
DeleteAlso, can we talk about the name for a second? “Concord Clayton Pioneer?” Why not “Clayton Concord Pioneer?” Oh right, that’s because she ”hates Clayton.” We all see it. The birds see it. Even “they're” offended, and they poop for a living! Have a great day. Rob
Tamra has brought this upon herself through her biased and malicious reporting. What will the Tillmans do now that the free publicity is gone? I can only hope they retreat back to the same cesspool they emerged from.
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