At the June 16, 2026, Saratoga Springs City Council meeting Mayor John Safford introduced a resolution to adopt changes to the city charter recommended by the Charter Review Commission.
In a very strange incident, Public Works Commissioner BK Keramati vigorously attacked the resolution and then voted to adopt it. The resolution passed unanimously.
While I was pleased that Keramati voted for the charter changes, given how strenuously he had opposed passing the changes just before the vote, and given that he offered no explanation for his change of heart, this seemed especially odd.
I was especially curious as to why he changed his vote, because to date, he has loyally and uncritically supported the local Democratic Committee, whose opposition to the proposed changes was caustic. His vote had to have angered them, so it would have been truly revealing to know which of the committee’s false allegations Keramati disagreed with.
I wrote three emails to Keramati politely asking him why he changed his vote. I copied the other members of the Council on one of the emails.
Commissioner Keramati did not reply to any of my emails.
So, in the interest of pursuing the truth, I actually attended the last Council meeting to ask that he answer my question. (22 seconds)
Refusing To Answer the Public Why They Voted A Certain Way Is A Violation Of Trust
I was disappointed once again as Commissioner Keramati was silent, refusing to explain to the public his reasons for his vote.
Being a public official in this age of recrimination is not easy. They are the subject of continual attack, both fair and unfair. There are limits to the time they can devote to their duties as well.
Still, at the heart of democracy is transparency. For BK Keramati to effectively stonewall on the issue of the city’s fundamental document, the charter, and refuse to reveal why he voted the way he did, is most unfortunate.
Saratoga Springs Politics 