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Alliant University's San Diego campus could be sold
I'd like to bring out something you mentioned in the middle of your paragraph here...regarding why the board follows Brand's every whim. You say "because they believe that through Brand they will somehow get their legal fees paid" and "Brand thinks his importance to the DA's office lends him some protection..." My question is this, if Cartmill and Ricasa are going along with Brand simply because Brand promised to foot their legal bills if they continued to play his game, isn't that another illegal move? Couldn't Cartmill and Ricasa turn on Brand, turn state's witness and be in much better shape? McCann's situation is unusual in that his alliance with Brand appears to be unshakable, although he did bail out last month prior to the vote on funding the private investigators. While health reasons were given, I'm wondering if there wasn't a little more to it than that. Again I say, if Tri-City can fire Larry Anderson, anything can happen. But if Brand were fired, it would still be only the beginning of the house-cleaning.— October 17, 2013 11:46 p.m.
Alliant University's San Diego campus could be sold
Do you think the board actually really makes a decision on anything? They have long since abdicated any thought process and simply go through the motions and do as they are told--except for Bertha Lopez and the occasional attempt by Pearl to make amends...but, I know my bill is bigger this year. If Mr. Alt claims Sweetwater didn't raise their portion of Mello-Roos funds, that is indeed something. In an entirely unrelated matter, I did see that Tri-City's board fired CEO Anderson. So, dysfunctional boards do occasionally step up and do the right thing! Isn't it good to know!!!— October 17, 2013 11:33 p.m.
Sweetwater school district's real estate deals gain momentum
Do you know what, if any, purpose this land (pictured above, the property on 3rd avenue)was meant for? As in, has it been used for something in the past if it is not being used now? How many of these properties can the district clear away so we can begin to work on the clean-up. This district does not need to be in the real estate business. It should not be in the real estate business. It is delusional for a superintendent to think they should be in the real estate business using the funds meant for schools!— October 17, 2013 8:25 p.m.
Teachers for Sweetwater district face insurance cost hike
I'd just like to chime in and say that they aren't doing quite as much smirking these days. There might even be a thin layer of respect. The board and Brand do, however, need to be called on EVERY SINGLE THING they do which is even questionable, not to mention all they do and have done that is simply wrong. I have been to some meetings and spoken at some. I can't attend all the meetings, and sometimes I do not speak. But the more bodies that fill the room, the better it is for the community. Stare back if you are stared at. For some reason, this board and Brand and Brand's loyal henchpersons have the misapprehension that they are smarter than those of us in the community. They think they can continue fooling us with all their shell games, deals for friends, intimidation tactics and highhandedness. They are most assuredly wrong. They are deluded, thinking they are smart when in fact their thinking is massively occluded. Ignorance of the law is no excuse, as we know. Deliberate actions that demonstrate soullessness have clearly no excuse. We must let them know they have no excuse.— October 17, 2013 7:28 p.m.
Teachers for Sweetwater district face insurance cost hike
I'd pay good money to see Fast Eddy on the tennis court. That's got to be worth it for the comedic value alone--that, and well, I won't go there. But seriously, I have tremendous respect for all of the teachers who have been standing up every day in the classroom, teaching students subject matter, but also giving students the opportunity to see dedication and integrity face-to-face. Our students need that, because without it, there will be some who will get discouraged and fall by the wayside. We can't let Ed Brand win in any of this. A win for Fast Eddy is a loss for the betterment of humanity. Do you think I overstate the case? I don't.— October 17, 2013 7:09 p.m.
Alliant University's San Diego campus could be sold
Mr. Bauder, I can only say that I am not aware that Brand has ever made public his financial dealings. I think I would have remembered...cannot recall ever hearing, except his contract negotiations from a year ago. Of course, there are the rumors about the failed bank and the educational "foundation" that was supposed to support students in need (funded by a $1,000,000 donation from a very nice North County couple), of which perhaps $20,000 ended up going for scholarships, and the rest? So, yes, I am sure we could all learn a great deal from Fast Eddy's financial disclosures. At least it would be a starting point.— October 17, 2013 6:54 p.m.
Alliant University's San Diego campus could be sold
Ok, back to matters at hand, did anyone else get their property tax bill in the mail? Notice an increase? If you are in a Mello-Roos district, down here in Sweetwater country, you can thank Ed Brand for that. Because he increases it the maximum allowable every year, as a matter of course. Speaking of courses, of course we do not get to know how that money is being spent, or where it is being "housed". For all we know, Fast Eddy could be visiting the casinos with it. Is that why so much is unaccounted for? Of course, I jest! Imagine, why would anyone ever take public funds meant for schools and use them for purposes they were not intended for!— October 17, 2013 2:07 p.m.
Teachers for Sweetwater district face insurance cost hike
If you have attended school board meetings you should be familiar with the way Brand works to deny information to the Bond Oversight Committee. To the extent that they are allowed access, I think they are doing a phenomenal job. Does that mean I think Ed Brand has stopped mucking about? Not by a long shot. And, as another person mentioned, there is no oversight for the Mello-Roos funds, more's the pity. Eddy has been very busy destroying this school district for a very long time.— October 17, 2013 2:01 p.m.
Alliant University's San Diego campus could be sold
I second the motion!— October 17, 2013 1:48 p.m.
Alliant University's San Diego campus could be sold
Mr. Bauder, excellent point! Do you think that there would be any way that this board of trustees would ever be able to make this demand? The real question is, why can't this board of trustees demand Ed Brand reveal his investments...and the answer is: the majority sold out so long ago that they have actually shut down the individual portion of the brain required for such an act. They might at some future point become famous for being the only majority board who could be pronounced guilty in abstenia while being physically present! Yes, the marvels we see on the Sweetwater Board!— October 17, 2013 11:35 a.m.