Here's something you might be interested in.
As the country in an unprecedented and inspirational move, overwhelming elects the first black president, San Diego overwhelmingly elects to keep their far right conservative power elite just the way it is. By a large and "un-moving" majority they choose ultra right wing and BIA favorite, Judge Jan Goldsmith for city attorney. But it doesn't stop there, the city also passes prop 8 and elects GOP and Building Industry favorite, Todd Gloria to council.
But the news isn't all bad. We miraculously elected Sherri Lightner in District 1 and Marti Emerald in District 7 to a developer friendly council. I am very excited that we now have 3 genuine Democrats and most importantly, good souls on council and I'm not counting Gloria because he has already shown us why the BIA and Jerry Sanders endorsed him.
Lightner and Emerald both showed up to community debates to answer questions from the public which their opponents Thalheimer and Boling refused to do. It was really exciting to see that the strategy of the GOP to lie low and snub the citizens did not work.
Note: somehow it DID work for Goldsmith who blew off any requests by communities to ask him questions. Suprisingly, I heard KPBS diss Goldsmith this morning for refusing to come on and be interviewed. (They may be regretting all their Aguirre bashing).
Listening to Emerald and Lightner at community forums was inspirational. You could tell these 2 citizens were running because they genuinely cared. Lightner reminded me of a 2nd grade teacher that you just knew was really looking out for your best interests, and would make every effort to always do the right thing by the people who elected her.
Emerald, on the other hand, was a spitfire. You knew that even if she disagreed with you that she would listen to compelling arguments and would be reasoned with. I know some in the preservation community were disappointed in the way she came out against the Mills Act, but I always knew that she was someone that would take the time to listen to all the facts and would always fight for the little guy over the special interests. I can't wait to see her go after the Grantville project. Archstone must be dying that Boling lost this one.
I can't wait to see Emerald and Lightner in action. I think the 2 will be the perfect addition to the current less than inspiring council (except Donna, Donna is the best thing to ever happen to this town).
Todd, on the other hand...I don't even think his own people will pay attention to him or will attend council meetings. I think they are just excited to have a friend that is so important and influential. Little do his friends realize that Todd's influence will probably be used to vote against them. We will see if we get anymore god awful condos like the one's that assault our sensibilities in the Whole Foods parking lot. (1 friend commented: is this now Communist Russia). And we will see if he actually takes a stand against Manchester.
And the big question...will he vote for Donna for Council President, the ONLY council member to stand against the Manchester Navy Broadway Complex or will he tow the party line and return the favor that got him the endorsement of the Labor Council by voting for developer friendly Young or Hueso. I can't wait to see this one. I have a feeling he will emulate his mentor Toni--he will ramble on and on about how Donna and the opponent are both so well qualified and its SUCH a tough decision, and then in the end he will vote FOR the developer's choice.
I don't know why Toni thinks people can't see right through that. At any rate, his supporters will see, at that moment, the sort of representative and person Todd will be. I hope he does suprise us and turn his back on all the money that put him in that office. I hope he grows a conscience and some B%$lls. I'm tough, but I'm not impossible. I will forgive Todd if he really represents the people. I want you to prove me wrong Todd.
Until then, you have alot of work to do. Not just for me, but for all the people that you let down and for all the people your team slandered in District 3. You're going to have to show us that you are better than the campaign you ran. Even the Progressive Democrats that endorsed you came out with a strong rebuke and admonishment against the sleazy tactics you guys used to beat Stephen.
You need to prove that you are better than the people that support you, that created a deceitful group called "The Voter Education Project", the supporters that tore all of our signs down continuously, and that logged on under several different identities copying and pasting the same nasty unfounded allegations against Stephen. You need to prove that you are better than Nicole Ramirez who instead of taking the high road on November 5th, took the opportunity to attack Stephen who ran the cleanest and most honorable campaign in town.
You can tell alot about someone by the kind of people around them, the decisions they make and the kind of money they take. Needless to say, alot of people are really concerned about you Todd. But the good news for you is that they are really good people, people that are concerned first and foremost with the greater good of the community. So if that is really why you are in office then you will be fine. But the problem is this: you made alot of promises to both sides and now its time to show us what you are made of.
As the country in an unprecedented and inspirational move, overwhelming elects the first black president, San Diego overwhelmingly elects to keep their far right conservative power elite just the way it is. By a large and "un-moving" majority they choose ultra right wing and BIA favorite, Judge Jan Goldsmith for city attorney. But it doesn't stop there, the city also passes prop 8 and elects GOP and Building Industry favorite, Todd Gloria to council.
But the news isn't all bad. We miraculously elected Sherri Lightner in District 1 and Marti Emerald in District 7 to a developer friendly council. I am very excited that we now have 3 genuine Democrats and most importantly, good souls on council and I'm not counting Gloria because he has already shown us why the BIA and Jerry Sanders endorsed him.
Lightner and Emerald both showed up to community debates to answer questions from the public which their opponents Thalheimer and Boling refused to do. It was really exciting to see that the strategy of the GOP to lie low and snub the citizens did not work.
Note: somehow it DID work for Goldsmith who blew off any requests by communities to ask him questions. Suprisingly, I heard KPBS diss Goldsmith this morning for refusing to come on and be interviewed. (They may be regretting all their Aguirre bashing).
Listening to Emerald and Lightner at community forums was inspirational. You could tell these 2 citizens were running because they genuinely cared. Lightner reminded me of a 2nd grade teacher that you just knew was really looking out for your best interests, and would make every effort to always do the right thing by the people who elected her.
Emerald, on the other hand, was a spitfire. You knew that even if she disagreed with you that she would listen to compelling arguments and would be reasoned with. I know some in the preservation community were disappointed in the way she came out against the Mills Act, but I always knew that she was someone that would take the time to listen to all the facts and would always fight for the little guy over the special interests. I can't wait to see her go after the Grantville project. Archstone must be dying that Boling lost this one.
I can't wait to see Emerald and Lightner in action. I think the 2 will be the perfect addition to the current less than inspiring council (except Donna, Donna is the best thing to ever happen to this town).
Todd, on the other hand...I don't even think his own people will pay attention to him or will attend council meetings. I think they are just excited to have a friend that is so important and influential. Little do his friends realize that Todd's influence will probably be used to vote against them. We will see if we get anymore god awful condos like the one's that assault our sensibilities in the Whole Foods parking lot. (1 friend commented: is this now Communist Russia). And we will see if he actually takes a stand against Manchester.
And the big question...will he vote for Donna for Council President, the ONLY council member to stand against the Manchester Navy Broadway Complex or will he tow the party line and return the favor that got him the endorsement of the Labor Council by voting for developer friendly Young or Hueso. I can't wait to see this one. I have a feeling he will emulate his mentor Toni--he will ramble on and on about how Donna and the opponent are both so well qualified and its SUCH a tough decision, and then in the end he will vote FOR the developer's choice.
I don't know why Toni thinks people can't see right through that. At any rate, his supporters will see, at that moment, the sort of representative and person Todd will be. I hope he does suprise us and turn his back on all the money that put him in that office. I hope he grows a conscience and some B%$lls. I'm tough, but I'm not impossible. I will forgive Todd if he really represents the people. I want you to prove me wrong Todd.
Until then, you have alot of work to do. Not just for me, but for all the people that you let down and for all the people your team slandered in District 3. You're going to have to show us that you are better than the campaign you ran. Even the Progressive Democrats that endorsed you came out with a strong rebuke and admonishment against the sleazy tactics you guys used to beat Stephen.
You need to prove that you are better than the people that support you, that created a deceitful group called "The Voter Education Project", the supporters that tore all of our signs down continuously, and that logged on under several different identities copying and pasting the same nasty unfounded allegations against Stephen. You need to prove that you are better than Nicole Ramirez who instead of taking the high road on November 5th, took the opportunity to attack Stephen who ran the cleanest and most honorable campaign in town.
You can tell alot about someone by the kind of people around them, the decisions they make and the kind of money they take. Needless to say, alot of people are really concerned about you Todd. But the good news for you is that they are really good people, people that are concerned first and foremost with the greater good of the community. So if that is really why you are in office then you will be fine. But the problem is this: you made alot of promises to both sides and now its time to show us what you are made of.