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Corruption cut from Sweetwater schools?
Any news on Mr. Cartmill and Ms. Lopez? Shouldn't the same section 1770 apply to them?— May 2, 2014 9:49 a.m.
Opera members advise: fire the Campbells
Well, yes I did, thanks! And the half-way point is getting close!— May 2, 2014 6:38 a.m.
Opera members advise: fire the Campbells
Well, the tally is now at $480,000, so if things continue at this rate, it looks good to me. I am risking sounding like one of those superficial booster types, but I am proud of what people are doing to contribute to the survival of the SD Opera.— May 1, 2014 7:12 p.m.
Opera members advise: fire the Campbells
I think after being booed at the first performance of Don Quixote, Campbell realized that addressing the audience from the stage would be a big mistake--so he didn't give the later audiences an opportunity to boo him. On the topic of the fundraising campaign, it looks to me like things are chugging along, with the opera's website showing over $400,000 having been raised.— May 1, 2014 2:47 p.m.
Base Details
Thanks for the poetry.— May 1, 2014 10:46 a.m.
Corruption cut from Sweetwater schools?
My question then becomes, does the judge's lack of knowledge then negate all the rulings? Could all these people file appeals now? Could Sweetwater be paying court costs forever on this? Followed by, how could a judge be so ignorant, when all the legal questions can be answered via state of the art computerized access? As I understand it, it is really only a rather simple computer search. Next question: was sending all these cases down to the South County Court done by someone with the express purpose of pointing out how incompetent Judge Espana is?— May 1, 2014 10:42 a.m.
Opera members advise: fire the Campbells
With a large side of venality.— April 30, 2014 11:56 p.m.
Opera members advise: fire the Campbells
If there is an actionable offense involved here, it might have something to do with the two lines of activity that it appears Mr. Campbell was following. But I am not a trained legal mind. Attempting to profit from the demise of the opera and the sale of sets and costumes can't really be looked upon as a great achievement in the annals of artistic leadership. Forcing the departure of one board president who was trying to address the problems, and then installing another board president who would do exactly as she was told...well, some people might think that could be considered shifty. As I say, I am not trained in legal matters. But it all looks rather overly convenient--and then we have the lovely effort of trying to hurry the shut-down through without even consulting the membership of the opera...because the board vote *must* be able to carry the day. Yet, bylaws indicate otherwise. So how much were the attorneys being paid for this thoroughly messed-up proceeding? I cannot comment on what is actionable and what is not. I can comment on what an enormous disappointment Mr. Campbell's course of action has been. The board was weak because that was how Mr. Campbell liked and wanted the board to be. It does look engineered to me. Not accidental. Not happenstance. Not an amazing series of coincidences...it looks to me like a really sweet set-up that almost paid off big for Mr. Campbell. And still might. But I hope the San Diego Opera will prove bigger than Mr. Campbell's ego.— April 30, 2014 11:50 p.m.
Corruption cut from Sweetwater schools?
Came across an interview with Mike Rowe (of "Dirty Jobs" fame) on CNN. He has a few things to say about education. I hope the link will work. He says there is a "skills gap". http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/business/… The problem is...how can schools be all things to all people? I don't know, but they need to try--not that people haven't been trying.— April 30, 2014 9:22 p.m.
Opera members advise: fire the Campbells
"well-intentioned boosters like eastlaker"--nice dis. I supposed I could respond with a "Don, why bother having a discussion with confirmed Campbell apologist monaghan, it only emphasizes the status hierarchies which have been such a problem for SD Opera--to its great detriment..." So here is what I think: Ian Campbell, a talented individual with much knowledge of opera, did some great things with the San Diego Opera, but his ego and temper allowed or brought him to take paths that ultimately were unhealthy for the survival of SD Opera. Instead of openly acknowledging that and working to widen the base of support, he preferred to stick with the comfy upper class set. Mixing with the public must be difficult when one is so grand... Yet blindsiding hundreds of people by declaring their jobs gone is somehow "dignified"? Only to the most brazen of egotists. All in good fun. Love a good debate and thanks for underestimating me. Oh yes, and we still have not learned about the expense accounts/entertainment amounts that were in addition to the healthy salary and other perks. My guess is that that has substantially boosted Mr. Campbell's cost to the SD Opera.— April 30, 2014 12:26 p.m.