Alice Eve speaks out on Star Trek underwear scene!
Matthew Lickona 2:29 p.m., May 24
oneoftheteachers
bonitaresident Sept. 13, 2012 @ 10:29 p.m.
10News and Sweetwater's John McCann, True Patriots?
Wabbit - Another group that should be included on the thank you list are all of the SUHSD employees who bravely came forward with information. I would like to think that if given the opportunity I would have done so as well. Their honorable efforts will do much to clean out the corruption and bring about the change that is coming.
Jmbrickley Sept. 12, 2012 @ 11:33 p.m.
What The Heck is Going On at the Sweetwater Union High School District?
John McCann cherry-picked the audio. While the Pledge was being recited no one did anything except to say the pledge. The issue was that the community had to remind the board that the pledge was overlooked during the opening of the meeting. If anything, it was Pearl Quinonez who "disrespected" the flag. Pearl had already gaveled the meeting closed when John made his request. The public laughed at the awkwardness of the situation. If he was going to be upset, he ought to have directed his "attitude" towards her. Instead, John, played his patriotism card, turned it against the community, cherry-picks the audio, and goes running to the nearest television camera so he can get his face in front of the public. Too bad John McCann doesn't take his responsibilities to the community more seriously. He ought to be disgusted and appalled about that.
As to the issue of John and Pearl and the pledge... Here's one for you. Bertha Lopez is the only board member who has consistantly and faithfully fought for the publics right to know what the board is doing. She is a champion for the students and staff of the district. I have been attending these board meeting for almost 2.5 years, and not once has the president of the board asked her to lead the pledge. NOT ONCE! John McCann was president for an entire year and he ignored her for the entire year. Pearl has now been board president for nine months and has never once asked for Bertha to lead. Arlie Ricasa was president for a full year before John and she too never asked Bertha to lead the pledge. NEVER!!!!!!!! The three of them use the leading of the Pledge as a tool to promote each other in the public's eye. If anyone is violating the very meaning of the Pledge it's John McCann, Pearl Quinonez and Arlie Ricasa. John's behavior last monday night was just another reminder of that.
joepublic Sept. 25, 2012 @ 3:42 p.m.
Sweetwater School Board Awards 2-Year Contract to Ed Brand
Why did the public have to wait until the wee hours of the morning for this? What was the need for negotiating through dinner, and a half a normal night's sleep? Couldn't the board have passed out the proposed contract to the public, recessed, and returned another day to receive input as well as give themselves a fresher look at the proposal? The answer is this school board has absolutely no respect for the public, and the deal was probably done from the start. It is really a shame that these three board members -Cartmill-Ricasa-McCann- are not up for re-election in November. If they were, they certainly wouldn't have so boldly shown their contempt for the people they are supposed to represent.
eastlaker Sept. 25, 2012 @ 10:49 p.m.
Sweetwater School Board Awards 2-Year Contract to Ed Brand
Yes, it was GREAT to see the high school kids speak up and speak out repeatedly, giving the board the full force of their dissatisfaction. Gives me hope for the future, especially with the promise that more students and parents will attend subsequent meetings.
If the reproofs from the adults don't get through to Ricasa, McCann and Cartmill, maybe the words of the young people will.
And then to listen to the comments from the board members, such as when Cartmill wants us to improve the level of discourse, or some such...the level of discourse can be improved when the board's decisions have been improved upon, when the board members themselves act in ways that are not corrupt, insulting and contemptuous of the public!
Nothing like blaming the victims! Just another attempt at manipulating the public, trying to take away the public's right to comment, respond and demand responsible, ethical and responsible decisions.
Try doing the right thing, then perhaps the criticisms won't come at you so fast and furiously! Accept the responsibility of your position, don't palm it all off so easily the way you just did.
Cartmill, Ricasa and McCann, you have earned every bit of the public's wrath.
oneoftheteachers Sept. 14, 2012 @ 6:04 a.m.
10News and Sweetwater's John McCann, True Patriots?
I too attended that meeting and others where McCann shamelessly used his military service to promote himself. I too am not a member of Occupy Sweetwater, and I too sent a letter complaining about the newscast to Channel 10. Whenever McCann is criticized, he covers himself in our nation's flag and makes accusations against his opponents. Do you hear echoes of Joe McCarthy? I do. " Are you now or have you ever been a communist?" " Are you now or have you ever been a critic of the leadership of SUHSD?"
Mr. McCarthy, excuse me, Mr. McCann needs to understand that he is a member of the Board of Trustees, not a member of the House Un-American Activities Committee.
oneoftheteachers Jan. 16, 2013 @ 6:15 p.m.
Serious supporters of Sweetwater trustee Pearl Quiñones
I witnessed the verbal attack from the counselor when the teacher mentioned that Pearl had only won the election with 35% of the votes. That was the comment that unleashed first a verbal attack and second a stare down. I commend the teacher for keeping her cool and not responding in kind.
Sjtorres Jan. 26, 2013 @ 10:37 p.m.
Sweetwater board meeting times may change
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
anniej Feb. 8, 2013 @ 10:10 p.m.
Sweetwater school district’s weird, failed real estate deals
bvagency: when all else fails, blame it on the unions. How about placing the blame on the shoulders of those who have steered this ship into the rocks - Brand and the majority of the board. JOHN McCann, Mr fiscal conservative NOT, where are you???????? Brands decisions are draining us dry.
TIME FOR BRAND TO GO! TIME TO CUT OUR LOSSES.
Our board is not representing us, they have failed to carry out the responsibilities they were charged with when they took office. They have become invisible and expendable. Whose interests are they representing, NOT OURS......
anniej Feb. 18, 2013 @ 10:43 p.m.
Sweetwater school board to address campaign spending limits
Hats off to Ms. Adato - her tenacity has resulted in the board being forced to deal with the very foundation of the alleged corruption - campaign donations. past elections gave the elections the appearance of being bought via contractors excessively large campaign donations - some as high as 20 - 30k.
Allegedly John McCann promised many that he would not take campaign contributions from contractors, see Registrar of Voters for proof that the promise was broken.
ALL EYES WILL BE ON THESE BOARD MEMBERS tomorrow night. While many believe that this is the end of the road for them running for board seats again; no doubt McCann will attempt to run for mayor of CV - hope he realizes that he had better wait until all is revealed regarding the corruption case before throwing his hat in that race. Following him will be many questions I.e. WHY HE MET WITH ALVEY, prior to being voted in? WHY HE MET WITH BONNY GARCIA, prior to being voted in? WHY HE FAILED TO GO TO THE DA once he saw first hand what was going on? AND WHY HE FOUGHT THOSE THAT DID GO TO THE DA and FBI - like STUART PAYNE so hard? Mccann had the nerve to try and have a restraining order placed on Payne, and HELLO! WE, THE TAXPAYERS FOOTED THE BILL (which was authorized by Brand).
joepublic Feb. 19, 2013 @ 9:40 a.m.
Sweetwater school board to address campaign spending limits
Ms Adato and all those who have unselfishly sacrificed precious time and energy standing up to this school board are owed a great deal of thanks from the community. Thank you, all.
erupting Feb. 19, 2013 @ 9:20 a.m.
Sweetwater school board to address campaign spending limits
Bravo Maty,but do not hold your breath. My trust level is zero on four of these board members. Lopez will do the right thing,Pearl is iffy or a recuse myself. If Cartmill and Arlie are not going to run again they should be on board. This will be interesting to see. The would be future CV mayor Mc Cann might be the swing vote. What an interesting event. Either way thanks Maty.
anniej Feb. 19, 2013 @ 10:17 a.m.
Sweetwater school board to address campaign spending limits
MATY ADATO FOR SUHSD SCHOOL BOARD!!!!!!!!!!!!
while I know that Ms. Adato has fought the good fight out of a genuine concern over how the district has been governed and how our tax dollars have been spent - I do believe it is time for persons such as she to fill the board seats. Hopefully she will consider this recommendation - I mean after all, isn't she, in essence, already doing the job they were elected to do?
anniej March 15, 2013 @ 7:23 p.m.
Sweetwater school district board seeks to silence opposition
No doubt when Jim Cartmill, Arlie Ricasa and John Mccann decided to bring Brand back they believed it would quiet the community. Brand came in promising changes, what we received instead was more of the same - the only difference between Brand and 'the gandara' - Brand is smarter.
Brand intimidating the female, nice, intelligent, professional, community volunteer is UNACCEPTABLE! But as they say this is how this board rolls - they try to intimidate.
Those that are speaking out in favor of the students and fiscal responsibility- will not be intimidated!
What has Cartmill, Mccann and Ricasa done to prevent Brand from lashing out at future speakers - not a thing!
My fellow neighbors, at least on the Prop O front we are being protected. Gone are the days when Ricasa's husband sat on the Bond Oversight Committee. Gone are the days when sorority sisters and other districts NOW INDICTED board members serve - now we have EXPERTS overseeing our bond dollars. And Brand - HE OBVIOUSLY HATES IT!!!!!
anniej Sept. 13, 2012 @ 10:20 p.m.
10News and Sweetwater's John McCann, True Patriots?
Wabbit: her heroes, the ones we should all THANK are such folks as Fran Brinkman, Maty Adato, John Brickley, Stuart Payne, and SO MANY OTHERS.
these are the folks who have unselfishly fought for the students and the taxpayers of the south bay. the amount of time and energy they have expended to bring about positive change simply can not be measured.