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Video of CHP officers confronting Mike Aguirre
How could this have remotely been considered a legal request?— June 24, 2014 12:45 p.m.
Woes at Bridgepoint, United States University
Minor, yet interesting point--when I happened to notice Mr. Clifford's comment above (in the facebook comment section), it became immediately apparent that for someone who claims to be promoting education, he himself could use some assistance in reviewing certain basics with regard to communicating in the English language.— June 24, 2014 12:43 p.m.
The piper must be paid
That Ed Brand Jobs for Friends Program has great perks!!— June 23, 2014 7:16 p.m.
The piper must be paid
I had a moment of panic, because I went to the district website, and the calendar didn't show anything for June. Then I clicked on agenda, and that listed 6/30, 5 pm for closed session and 6 pm for open session. So--what if they "handle" this in closed session? Will there be any way to find out beforehand?— June 23, 2014 6:14 p.m.
Agrarian’s lament
If the city of Encinitas is basing their claim that for 120 days in the past 10 or so years, this acreage was not being farmed, wouldn't they be required to prove that? I.e. determine the specific 120 day period in which the land was not being farmed? I would think the burden of proof must be on the city, rather than on those who farm the property. Really, in this climate, something is growing. If it has been planted, it is under cultivation. If it was previously planted and the farmer is waiting to plant, according to plant life-cycles, that needs to be considered. It sounds to me like the neighborhood complaints do not hold water. I hope Lauren Mehl's ability to farm this historic family farm will not be constrained by newcomers. Why should her livelihood be attacked?— June 23, 2014 12:02 p.m.
The piper must be paid
We--ostensibly--have the "power" of local control. While it seems we have a rather thin hold on it at present, a thin hold is better than no hold. If we were to let go, how do you think we would get it back? Not easily, if at all. Both political parties have been very good at ignoring our pleas for help to clean up Sweetwater. Why is that? Because party heads like to set things up and run them in ways that suit themselves? People, give voice to your beliefs on the subject of Sweetwater and how public schools should be run. Demand answerability! Do not put up with blandishments that merely attempt to disguise the fact that nothing is being done to solve Sweetwater's problems! Sweetwater's books need to be opened up! All the real estate deals and the names of those involved need to be exposed! We need to know who has been behind these DECADES of defrauding the students and the taxpayers.— June 23, 2014 11:16 a.m.
The piper must be paid
Now--back to the topic of the Mello-Roos areas becoming their own school district. Please bear with me. These special assessment areas are supposed to be for defined periods of time. When we purchased our home, we were told one thing, and we found out something quite different...but when it comes to figuring out how long we are supposed to pay, most people are told they have 20 years. However, according to how things are set up in each Mello-Roos district, that time can be up to 30 or so years. I believe where I live, it is supposed to be over after 20 years. (Which is why the Bond measures that we vote for are also very important. More about those items later). So, if this is correct, we only have a couple of years left to pay. Does it make sense to create new school districts each time a Mello-Roos district has timed out? Of course not. But Mello-Roos funds MUST be applied correctly. The financial people in this district need to apply the funds as they are meant to be applied, not play games with them and use them for their own purposes! No more Ed Brand Real Estate Schemes, as packaged by Russo, or anyone else!! Fiscal integrity needs to be reestablished in Sweetwater, along with every other sort of integrity. Bring all the schools up to snuff--open enrollment as a way to bypass standards is not the way to go. (Even if many people think those standards have just been a step in the game of disestablishing a solid public school system so that it can be sold out to private businesses). People, we all need to wake up! Get our neighbors to wake up! Perhaps Sweetwater is the canary in the mine. Let's hope the canary can be revived with fresh air and light and finally getting the deceptive practices of Ed Brand (and all who go along with him) to cease once and for all. Have all of you seen that there is an effort to dismantle all school districts? There would then be no local control. No local "ownership". If we want local school districts, we need to ensure they are run correctly, or else we are giving ammunition to those who want them shut down. Again I say, wake your neighbors. I am not an alarmist. But I read, and care very much for the future of this country.— June 23, 2014 10:10 a.m.
The piper must be paid
Precisely.— June 23, 2014 9:51 a.m.
The piper must be paid
Espana's actions are just too, too conveniently mild.— June 22, 2014 11:30 p.m.
Woes at Bridgepoint, United States University
That might just be a clue regarding how unstable these two entities are. If two very precarious objects lean on each other, they might keep from tumbling for a short time.— June 22, 2014 10:17 p.m.