City Proclaims Mosquitos Suck

With a move usually reserved for lauding libraries or philanthropic endeavors, issued a proclamation Tuesday that reserves a week in April for West Nile Virus awareness.

“We want to honor the work that’s done and the fact that we don’t have a lot of vectors around here,” said Mayor , as she handed the proclamation to Valentina Cogoni.

A vector is any animal that can transmit a disease to animals or people, according to the San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District’s website. Valentina Cogoni is the city’s representative to the San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District. She was first appointed in June 2005 and remained as the city’s advisor, after the district failed to notify the city that her term was almost over, city staff said Tuesday.  

“City records reflect no action taken by the City Council to consider an appointment in 2010,” reads a staff report prepared for Tuesday’s meeting. “As with the City Advisory Bodies, Ms. Cogoni has continued to serve during this period in which a replacement was not considered.”

Cogoni accepted the proclamation, as well as a reappointment to her job last night; the council voted unanimously to keep her on board.

She said she was proud to be the representative for Menlo Park, “despite .”

“I really hope this year we can resolve this big crisis that we have placed on us,” Cogoni said. “We’re working very hard to try to restore not only the financial aspect of it, but also the psychosocial,” she added. The district fell victim to an  scheme late last year.  

n extended her personal thanks to Cogoni. “Thank you very much for being a capable watchdog for the tax dollars in San Mateo County,” Fergusson said. 

West Nile Virus and Mosquito and Vector Control Awareness Week in Menlo Park started April 22 and ends on April 38, 2012. Yes, that is what the proclamation reads. (See photo.) 

Cogoni’s term could conclude in 2013. 

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