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Ed Brand’s time at Sweetwater is over
anniej is right, everyone. She has been right all along. So, if there is anyone out there who can shed some light on all of this, now would be a great time to come forward. Timing won't get any better. People have been working for years now to turn things around in Sweetwater, and that will happen. Mayor Cox stated last night that the community wants full, independent auditing of the financials and the real estate deals in Sweetwater. That should prove very illuminating, indeed.— July 1, 2014 3:51 p.m.
Ed Brand’s time at Sweetwater is over
Campaign donations for 'remaining true to the cause'?— July 1, 2014 2:27 p.m.
Ed Brand’s time at Sweetwater is over
Indeed, anniej, McCann seemed to have very little command of the means by which a board meeting is run--which is somewhat amazing, considering the amount of time he has spent on the Sweetwater Board, as well as his time on the Chula Vista City Council. It appeared he was unable to follow procedures, and that he tried to ignore the Bond Oversight Committee resolution 3543. Then, of course, tried to explain his reasoning in support of this resolution because there were 'qualified people who lived in this district'...when we all know it was a direct effort to remove O'Neill and Marinovich from the BOC--as they have very much caught on to all the tricks of the previous Sweetwater administrations. [Resolution 3543 had the intent to disallow anyone to serve on the Bond Oversight Committee who lives outside the boundaries of Sweetwater UHSD]. Yup, John McCann, true apologist for the sins of Brand, Gandara, et al. Isn't it somewhat perplexing that McCann remains entrenched in some of these positions when it is very clear that the temporary board members have ideas? What is in it for McCann to stubbornly insist on some of these positions? Does he think he will be rewarded by (someone) for his loyalty?— July 1, 2014 1:50 p.m.
Ed Brand’s time at Sweetwater is over
What more can I say?!— July 1, 2014 12:50 p.m.
Maybe Potrero citizens sensed something
That, and the personal issue the Bush family had with Saddam Hussein. And the younger Bush's confused, end-game religious thinking.— July 1, 2014 12:24 p.m.
Ed Brand’s time at Sweetwater is over
What has been overlooked a bit in all the uproar over the exodus of Fast Eddy is that Mayor Cheryl Cox gave a thoughtful and welcome presentation on the community meeting which was held about a month ago--on the subject of what this community wants for the school district. What the community wants, pretty much, is a complete turn-around from what we have had. She mentioned there would be another community meeting in a couple of weeks, and welcomed more participation from the community. Sweetwater Board, you can learn something! Don't attempt to stifle the community, this community has knowledge and understanding to share, for the betterment of all. And again, McCann put his foot in his mouth while introducing the Mayor. I don't need to repeat his exact words, but McCann is just such a total embarrassment. Tin-ear and massive self-promotion, what a combo. The old one-two punch of the completely ineffective politician. McCann, you really could learn something from Mayor Cox, who didn't make a fuss, who sat quietly, not drawing attention to herself, until it was time for her presentation. The behavior of a civilized adult--something that has been greatly lacking on the Sweetwater Board for many, many years.— July 1, 2014 12:16 p.m.
Ed Brand’s time at Sweetwater is over
No doubt the books have been cooked in such a way to make it look like this for this report--a possibly quite temporary situation. Never underestimate the ability of Ed Brand to cook the books.— July 1, 2014 11:51 a.m.
Education, a dead-end business
One more thing--thanks so very much to the Bond Oversight Committee, the members of which worked tirelessly to document the many problems in Sweetwater--while being openly ridiculed and undermined by most of the people seated on the dais. They showed great courage under pressure, integrity, wisdom and intelligence to continue to go forward while the board and Gandara and then the board and Brand tried to call a halt to their efforts. McCann voted repeatedly NOT to pay expenses for this group, so people paid out of their own pockets to carry on with the business of reporting honestly what was taking place. To borrow from David Letterman, I have seen weasels behave better than some of our Sweetwater officials and administrators.— July 1, 2014 11:49 a.m.
Education, a dead-end business
Yeah, baby!!!— July 1, 2014 11:42 a.m.
Ed Brand’s time at Sweetwater is over
Oh happy day! That Brand is on his way out the door! Guess he will have all sorts of free time to use that unlimited CIF pass he was awarded a couple of days ago! (For being such a supporter of athletics in San Diego County--ha! That was all just part of his Jobs For Friends Program)! My guess is that Brand agreed to leave if the new board agreed to go forward with the property in Eastlake--that is the sort of deal-making that would work with our own Fast Eddy--so his claws will be into the district for at least the next 20 years. I did hear that quite a few people question the ability of the temporary board to ok such a decision, with such long-standing consequences. There may be more litigation in the future. When will Sweetwater ever learn! And-- we still need to untangle all the remnants of the Ed Brand Empire--clean sweep, fore and aft--dismantle the Brand's Jobs For Friends Program, go through the bank accounts, figure out all the "private" real estate deals done with public school money, find the missing Mello-Roos $50 million, track down the $40 million that was "borrowed" from the Teachers' Retirement Fund...oh, there is much to be done! Oh, yes, and track John McCann, documenting his every attempt to change the public record so that it reflects sweetly on him, instead of reflecting the truth. We need to watch that guy, as the lies fall fast and furiously from his lips. I saw it and heard it last night, as he tried to paint honest people as trouble-makers! McCann, honest people speak out when there is a problem, they don't vote in lock-step to curry favor with criminal ringleaders. Guess McCann just can't learn, but still likes to give the impression he has all the answers. Yet, on the whole, there was celebrating, as the miasma is finally shifting.— July 1, 2014 11:25 a.m.