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New Sweetwater boardmembers pitch in to money pit
So, if many people are reaching the conclusion that Ed Brand's role in all of this is far from unwilling participant, or observer, or even partner in crime, but something far more along the lines of CEO in charge of Expanding and Extending Fraud, Waste and Abuse in Sweetwater...why didn't any of those charged actually state what was going on? Pearl Quinones said to me once, that "Dr. Brand never told me how to vote". So by what means did he maintain his hold on the board, and how does he still maintain his hold on these former board members? Is Brand still in a position to offer favors/jobs to those who refrain from telling the truth?— June 11, 2014 12:23 p.m.
New Sweetwater boardmembers pitch in to money pit
And yet, Brand does not seem to have any 'public defenders' as it were...his friends must want to keep that side of things private. Hmmm. Why would that be.— June 11, 2014 12:13 p.m.
New Sweetwater boardmembers pitch in to money pit
Does the temporary board have the gumption to really look into things and reign in Brand? Supposedly Brand has friends everywhere, which would explain why he isn't already behind bars.— June 11, 2014 11:52 a.m.
New Sweetwater boardmembers pitch in to money pit
Interesting. I was told that Brand and henchmen didn't raise Mello-Roos during 2013, for the first time in forever. So, we got one year with no increase, is that right? We pay more and more so Ed Brand can steal more!— June 11, 2014 9:59 a.m.
Kevin Beiser –from math teacher to political powerhouse
Yikes! Looks like Beiser is going to reach for the stars--except, having a background that includes Sweetwater, he may have learned all the wrong lessons.— June 11, 2014 8:30 a.m.
New Sweetwater boardmembers pitch in to money pit
You are so right!— June 11, 2014 8:16 a.m.
Who killed this boy?
What enormous pain these families must continue to go through. There was an article in the UT recently about how many hit and run fatalities there have been this year in San Diego County alone. Apparently the number is frighteningly high for this time of year. I am sure the new chief of police is busy, but I would think that a good sit-down with the sheriff's office and the highway patrol might be in order. Maybe when there is a hit and run, we should have immediate reports as there are with child abductions and attempted abductions? This situation should not be allowed to continue, with families struggling for years with no answers, and the perps just driving off.— June 10, 2014 3:56 p.m.
New Sweetwater boardmembers pitch in to money pit
From the headline, I couldn't tell which money pit this would be about! There are far too many. Yes, bbq, excellent examination of the problem of L street and the other problems. But--do we know "who holds the paper"? anniej started asking that question some time back, and it has been repeated by many, but we have yet to hear the answer. Shouldn't that be public knowledge? What if some of the familiar names are involved in this? Are they trying to keep something quiet? I think I know the answer to that question. Yet...with all the gargantuan messes in Sweetwater, what do they do but give out a press release about the new athletic hall of fame...read all about it in the Star-News. It takes real guts to ask the public to contribute to another Ed Brand boondoggle, while we don't even know the depths to which we are under water in all the other real estate fiascos. Can anyone look me in the eye and tell me this isn't rather conspiratorial? Why bring back Ed Brand? Because he is the prime mover in the Sweetwater mess, perhaps? Why send things down to Chula Vista and Espana? Because that would ensure the real dirt would remain hidden? This whole thing is so completely sickening. Wrath. Vengeance. Justice. There is supposed to be some sort of cycle that allows for the public to be brought back into a state of equilibrium, but it certainly isn't happening here.— June 10, 2014 3:31 p.m.
South Bay politiscape on election day
Now that some of the hubbub has died down, the inimitable Fast Eddy has sent out a press release about the Sweetwater Athletic Hall of Champions or some such. They are asking for donations for display and some names to get things going. Does anyone think this is the best way to spend money when we have all sorts of real problems? IMO, a hall of fame for district athletes isn't a terrible idea, but it is something that is done when you have solved the big problems...and we are nowhere near that point. It is another Ed Brand distraction, and another opportunity for a friend of our own Fast Eddy to glom on to a paying job. Ridiculous. Who ok'd this nonsense? McCann, Cartmill & Ricasa, right? What about defunding this and applying the funds for students who are actually trying to learn something, and have not yet graduated? You can read more in the Star-News, which published the press release untouched, as far as I could tell. Perhaps because, after all, where does one begin to dissect the idiocy of this particular move. Anyone care to add anything?— June 10, 2014 3:05 p.m.
Super Bowl "wish list" items are requirements
All the perks are one thing--but as the weather could be very uncooperative--to the tune of 40 degrees below zero at worst--I have to wonder at what cost this could be for the players. The fans can just go inside somewhere. I think the NFL is nuts to hold the Superbowl in an open air stadium in Minnesota. But then I only occasionally experience cold temperatures and when I do, it is by choice.— June 10, 2014 9:02 a.m.