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Sweetwater trustee reports stolen property to police
Shineqi - your post was beyond good. Your insightful thoughts should give readers pause to reflect and consider all that is going on.— June 25, 2013 8:55 a.m.
Sweetwater runs afoul of state Public Records Act
Jim Cartmill, Arlie Ricasa, John Mccann and Pearl Quinones have consistently gone above and beyond when it comes to alienating the taxpaying public. Board meetings have deteriorated to the point of a 3 ring circus. Our last board meeting was proof positive that if it were not for the public and Lopez the monthly meeting would be over within an hour and that includes Closed session, since I have no doubt everything would be on the consent calendar. These persons are not really interested in serving, quite frankly I have no idea what their interests are. No doubt Cartmill, Ricasa, and Quinones's attorneys have advised them not to step down out of fear that it would make them appear guilty of the criminal charges that have been filed against them. Mccann on the other hand was looking to use Sweetwater as a spring board for higher office, alas he personally torpedoed that goal. It is amazing how when it comes to, lets call them. missteps at board meetings, we are advised "there was a problem with the audio". 'Problem' my foot, as with recent public record requests Ed Brand has for the past several weeks attempted to keep the public at bay by telling them, 'due to graduation the information you requested will not be available until June 28th.' Those who are looking for change at Sweetwater are detested, and every road block possible has been used to circumvent their efforts.— June 25, 2013 8:02 a.m.
Sweetwater trustee reports stolen property to police
BBQ - Coaches are a special breed and so important to the youth. It takes a great deal of time, effort, patience and money to serve as a positive mentor for young athletes. Coaches are a valuable asset and I Thank You for your efforts.— June 24, 2013 7:47 a.m.
Sweetwater trustee reports stolen property to police
To date no reasonable rational has been given as to why John Mccann blanketed the South Bay with his illegal outdated campaign signs. UT quoted him as saying "the occupy folks did it" - that is true, they did put up signs and within one hour Mccann had called the city and had them taken down. Then the board secretary was sent to collect them. Kind of strange don't you think? When the occupy folks went to claim their signs they were advised it was illegal, no more signs were placed on city property - when you know better, you do better. Now back to the question at hand, why did Mccann do it? He is a seasoned politician, he knew the rules of the city, and he knew the rules of running for office. Does he consider himself above the law? This bizarre action of Mccann's has garnered quite a bit of attention. When you add his irrational behavior over one of those signs at the board meeting - well folks what we have is someone who needs to retire from the political arena in the best interests of those he represents. A list has been compiled of Mccanns questionable behavior, it does not look pretty on paper. Wonder what it might look like on a mailer? I believe Mccanns acting out this week has been the nail in his political coffin.— June 21, 2013 6:16 p.m.
Sweetwater trustee reports stolen property to police
oskidoll - agreed— June 20, 2013 8:10 p.m.
Sweetwater trustee reports stolen property to police
oskidoll - please do not take my comments to mean I am anti Chamber, I most definitely am not. They have a purpose and it is a good one. The most expensive Chamber is San Ysidro. While I understand your inviting them to the table, I would reply, why should the residents have to ask? Chamber dynamics are similar to family. i.e. - Jaime Ortiz sat/sits on the Chula Chamber - while they may not like all he contributed to the corruption at Sweetwater, (his boss did plead out) the Chamber is not going to come out publicly with any statements against him. Additionally a phone call to other high school districts would expose that the majority of them do NOT use taxpayers dollars for memberships - I know, I called. One of the largest districts locally replied "with al of our cut backs, this community would hang us out to dry". Another "Sweetwater does? Well they tend to do things differently there". I have read ALL released transcripts and I am amazed how often organizations, memberships, and all that goes along with them were mentioned. Again, I am not saying Chambers are bad, I am simply saying not on my tax dime. I appreciate our discussion.— June 20, 2013 6:56 p.m.
Sweetwater trustee reports stolen property to police
oskidoll - we will have to agree to disagree on this one. Again I say 'in these times of limited financial resources Chamber of Commerce memberships brings nothing into the classroom yet lots into the world of politics. If they want the memberships, then by gosh let them write the check out of their own bank account. What has the Chamber done for us since the corruption was made public? Continue to smile in the faces of those indicted at the meetings, how does that benefit the students? Just my opinion— June 20, 2013 5:55 p.m.
Sweetwater trustee reports stolen property to police
Reader 2 - no that group is not associated with the BOC. The current BOC is basically being shackled. To vote in 60k+ for memberships and then turn around and have John Mccann and Pearl Quinones vote NO for the $500 the BOC chair was asking for is highly questionable. Many in the audience voiced the opinion that the interaction between the board members appeared staged; almost as if they practiced their vote. Keep in mind the current BOC chair testified before the Grand Jury, in his testimony he indicated that certain processes for selection of those who participated in our bond seemed to be scewed ( my words, not his ). Hmmmm could that be the reason why the expenditure was denied? You be the judge. Also of note is the fact that our BOC has asked for a small legal financial budget to be used as a resource for the committee to obtain independent legal services. That too was denied. Now I bet if they would have been asking for Bonnie Garcia as their legal counsel Mccann and Quinones would have been all over it with approval. The BOC is our only defense against corruption, and yet the District appears to be limiting their ability to 'oversee'.— June 20, 2013 5:47 p.m.
Sweetwater trustee reports stolen property to police
60+k was spent on memberships at Monday nights board meeting. Memberships to groups and associations, memberships to Chambers of Commerce. Volumes 6 and 7 of the Grand Jury transcripts make mention of a couple of these groups; other volumes mention others. There are references to a San Diego Bay cruise and other social events where attendees were able to rub elbows with other politicians. For some strange reason I take exception to my tax and bond dollars being used to party. Math and alcohol, since when do the two mix? When Brand first returned he vowed to limit such memberships, alas the memberships and costs have grown. This is but one example of why we need new blood sitting at the dais. What is needed are individuals that are committed to the task at hand which is providing the best education possible by spending the monies in the classroom or supporting the classroom - ,not in memberships. If Brand, Board members or staff want a membership in ANYTHING let them pay for it. Case in point how much does the District offer in financial support for teachers needing to keep their credentials updated. The answer is ZERO. So you tell me who has their priorities confused.— June 20, 2013 1:34 p.m.
Sweetwater trustee reports stolen property to police
mko - any person(s) attending graduations at the Sleeptrain Amphitheatre can attest to the signs and where they were placed. Contrary to Jihn Mccanns alleged claims they were NOT ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. No doubt the police investigation will clearly show NO THEFT was committed. Yet, once again, our cities resources are being unnecessarily taxed by a grown mans irrational behavior. The question remains - What was their purpose? Why did Mccann attempt to blanket routes and streets surrounding high schools with illegal, out dated campaign signs? When you trace the craziness of the board meetings incident back to the root cause - the root cause has clearly been established - ILLEGAL, OUTDATED campaign signs approximately 17 months prior to the election being blanketed across our beautiful city by John Mccann, a man who clearly knows better. Hopefully those with influence over Mccann will encourage him to stop with the melodrama. No doubt THE JUDGE who ruled on the TRO has been told of this unfortunate incident, I believe her admonition to Mccann was something akin to 'knock the childish behavior off' (she phrased it far more legal than I), We have many legitimate important educational issues that need addressing. Hopefully Mccann has learned a good lesson and will begin to serve the taxpayers and the students of our district.— June 19, 2013 8:59 p.m.