The word in academic circles is that the CSUF is busted. Or at least it doesn’t have the wherewithal to swing a deal under consideration to buy back property it once owned across Nutwood Avenue.
The site is the current home of Hope University and it contains some wonderful buildings designed and constructed as part of a modernist master plan. The rough idea was that the CSUF Auxiliary would acquire the property, and, after a lease-back period to Hope, would start knocking everything down – presumably to throw up more out-of-scale, hideous erections. We first wrote about it here. And our expert consultant defined the term “exaggerated modern” here.
So the recession may have a silver lining anyway – at least as far as historic preservation is concerned, but we shall see what the future brings.
In the meantime, just to the south, the giant hole in the cityscape left by the demolition of perfectly fine modern-style buildings to make way for the Jefferson Commons swindle are a silent yet eloquent testimonial to the lack of foresight exercised by our elected leaders.
I received this email Saturday from our Friend Chris Thompson, and I would have posted it yesterday, but I was called upon to attend a bloggers party to be the master of the barbecue and ended up staying for dinner and drinkies, enjoy:
This morning at the Tea Party Rally in Fullerton, Harry Sidhu’s Deputy Campaign Manager actually told me that he knows that Sidhu will probably lose and after a half-hearted defense, essentially acknowledged that the Carpetbagger assertion wasn’t unreasonable.
I saw this overdressed guy dramatically shaking his head in reaction to Villa Park Councilwoman Deborah Pauly’s characterization of Sidhu as a Carpetbagger. I asked Admin who he was and he told me that he worked for the Sidhu campaign. I decided to approach him and ask him why he was supporting a guy that didn’t live in the 4th. After kindly asking him to dispense with the crap about the specially rented domicile, he said…and I’m paraphrasing, but I’m very close…”Can I be honest?” “By all means.” I say.
He said, “I really need a job. I called every candidate and the Sidhu campaign was the only one that would hire me.”
After telling me that he was a PoliSci grad from CSULB, I told him that in this Tea Party era, he might want to consider hooking his train to somebody that was conservative AND honest. He said, “I know we’ll probably lose, but maybe afterwards I’ll earn the reputation of being an effective campaign manager.” I asked him why he thought Nelson never called him back and he said, “It might have something to do with the fact that I did calling for the Linda Ackerman campaign.” I told him that may have something to do with it. He said, “I was the Orange County Republican Party Volunteer of the Year.” I was impressed. I said, “You know, I want to know why Nelson didn’t call you back. Give me your name and number.” He wrote it down for me on the back of a Sidhu flyer.
Hey you kids, get out of my aviary!
I called Nelson and he informed me that this individual never called his campaign to ask for a job. Now here’s the part of the story where it becomes very clear that Shawn is smarter than me. I said, “Call him. He’d probably jump ship. He acknowledged they were probably going to lose and that Sidhu was running a charade with this rented home.” Nelson says, “Why would I want to hire a guy that just said all of this stuff to you?” Ummmm…..good point Shawn.
I’ve been fighting (mostly losing with a couple of great wins) political battles in Fullerton for 10 or 12 years. It’s only cost me money and time to do this. I have little sympathy for a guy wanting to get paid to work for a candidate who is violating a principle of mine, much less opposing a guy I know to be an enemy of big government. Probably time to move on, Mr. Deputy Campaign Manager.
There is a study session at the police department’s mural room. You can participate in three areas of discussion to fix the broken housing and redevelopment system.
“Staff will provide further update regarding housing policy issues, including 1) the status of progress by the City in meeting its Regional Housing Needs Assessment obligations; 2) an overview of the federal tax credit programs; and 3) proposed next steps for the use of current and future redevelopment housing set-aside funds.”
It is an opportunity to voice your concerns about management or mismanagement as it may be of tax dollars spent tearing down low-cost apartments, displacing tenants, and building more costly condos.
In the regular meeting the consent calendar has, among other things, several parking issues as well as public works projects.
Item 9 is an alley abandonment related to a redevelopment agency proposal. The reason stated behind the abandonment is to save the city maintenance costs. However, an abandonment now makes it that much easier for a private developer to build.
I didn’t know that the City of Fullerton has lobbyists but that is what the supporting documentation for item 10 states. I urge you to read the details of what legislation your City supports.
Item 11 is for a community garden. No surprise that Keller and Quirk Silva are backing this. If it passes, we will all have a place to sow our seeds.
If the Transportation Center and high-speed rail are important to you, take notice of item 12.
“The purposes of this item are to: 1) provide the Agency with a description of the proposed public review process for the Fullerton Transportation Center Specific Plan/EIR and solicit suggestions or comments, if any, from Agency members; and 2) describe the public outreach program being contemplated by the California High Speed Rail Authority in connection with proposed Anaheim to San Francisco high-speed train service, including possible development of a Fullerton station stop.”
Seven lieutenants and captains at the police department have agreed to take a 5% pay cut. Item 13 makes it official.
Lastly, item 14 is the financial report for the first half of FY2009-2010. I haven’t read the entire report yet but I wonder how many tax-dollars have been funneled from the general fund to the Redevelopment Agency.
As always, chime in and let me know if I missed anything or if you have some details that shed light on any of the items listed.
Several hundred people showed up for an “paycheck protection” rally yesterday behind the Slidebar in Fullerton’s Transportation Center. The small but enthusiastic crowd got to hear from several state and local political leaders including Fullerton’s pension spiking spoiler Shawn Nelson, pension crisis watchdog OC Supervisor John Moorlach, Assemblyman Chris Norby, Assemblyman Chuck Devore, gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner, Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, and a very energetic Villa Park Councilwoman Deborah Pauly.
The event was sponsored by the Tea Partiers, but the focus was to those in attendance to go out and gather signatures for the paycheck protection initiative that would protect union employees from the union automatically taking dues from the paychecks of their members and use the money to fund political campaigns that might be distasteful the members..
DeVore, who is running to unseat Senator Barbara Boxer, read from old Abe’s famous “four score and seven years ago” speech and then related that to the current cycle of of money and politics that has pushed California and many local governments to the brink of fiscal collapse.
Devore explained the deal works:
Public employee unions take money from their members without consent.
The union then donates money to politicians of both parties.
These politicians enact a pro-union agenda which generally entails richer salaries and benefits and more union members. The unions increase in wealth and power all at taxpayer expense.
The funnest part of the event was confronting a Harry “Carpetbagging” Sidhu paid staffer who was handing out Harry fliers. I asked him if he knew where Harry lived, at first he gave me a line of baloney about how carpetbagging is a good thing and then admitted that he knows all about carpetbaggers because he worked on Ackerwoman’s scampaign, and that Harry’s probably going to lose, but he needed a job and Harry has deep pockets.
Shawn, please explain to our readers how you got involved in the Tea Party movement?
Shawn: To begin with, there was no Tea Party movement that I was aware of at this time last year. Last March people across the country and certainly in Southern California were reeling from the constant beat down of small business people and this unending talk of raising taxes, bailouts, and the government taking over everything from the auto industry to banking.
As a small business man myself I began to sense there were a number of my peers that had not been typically politically active but had suffered through all they were going to take. KFI’s John & Ken were focused on the same issues that were troubling me and so many others and the talk began to be that they should have some kind of rally to protest. I thought this was the perfect time to do exactly that and that people that had never participated in such things might be ready to scream they wanted the nonsense to end.
I got together with a fellow business owner in Fullerton and we sent an e-mail with photos of other events that had been held in the Fullerton transit center to the producer for John & Ken. It took a few days but they finally responded and were psyched up about the idea and the location. 12,000 people later on a beautiful Saturday in Fullerton I realized we were on to something. The people that attended last spring’s Tax Revolt 2009 in Fullerton were folks that in most cases had never protested anything before. They were people that run businesses and raise families and are usually willing to leave the protest stuff to the activists. They were ready to engage and I was thrilled to see them in action. These were my kind of people.
It wasn’t until last summer that I remember folks beginning to use the word Tea Party to describe the anger of the people and the new activism but I was thrilled to see the movement was not just a one day thing.
Prior to last springs’ Tax Revolt, I hit the radar screen of the Tea Party folks because I stood up against and stopped an attempted retroactive pension spike in the city of Fullerton 18 months ago. Since then I have been seen as one of the few people that will actually take political risk when it comes to all things union run.
What are thoughts about the paycheck protection initiative?
Shawn Nelson: I believe unions have a right to participate and should. My family’s business, Daily Saw Service (yes I am a Daily) has been union since just after World War II. Paycheck protection will end the strong arm tactics of the union presidents who can at a moments notice raise millions of dollars whether their members are in favor of an issue or not. Right now, unions can literally control the election process in many cities. counties and state wide by their sheer ability to take their members money and throw their weight around. If members had to actually cut an after tax check before a union boss could use their money, I for one do not believe the faucet would be stuck in the “on” position like it is now.
Are you going to the rally this weekend?
Nelson:I will be at the event on Saturday, 10:00 a.m. in the Fullerton Transportation Center. Please say hello to me if you stop by.
What are people looking for in a candidate?
Nelson: Fullerton is the same as the nation. Folks are tired of people who make their living in politics. A career spent in government affairs is exactly the type of background that has Tea Party types furious with their election choices.
I think people are looking for someone straight forward and honest. Some one who as actually run a business and who is about results not measuring intentions and effort. I think people are tired of voting for a person just because he/she is moving to another office in politics. They want to vote for someone that will get things done, not accommodate those that make their living in the system.
It is too much to ask a guy that has spent his career stroking his political friends to break ranks and disappoint by cutting programs that are not needed, reducing staff when it is feasible etc? This is the reason I am willing to give up my law practice and run and the reason I think I will win. I will say no to the cronies at the county and particularly any union boss who places protecting salaries and benefits above the taxpayers need for service.
There are a lot of candidates moving or claiming to move their residence to run for office lately. Would you be willing to move to run for office?
Nelson: No.
Why not?
Nelson: I live right near where I grew up in a home one of my best friends was raised in. I chose where I wanted to live based on the community, my children’s well being, proximity to friends and family trails, parks etc. Where I chose to live had nothing to do with politics or running for office. I cant imagine being so self absorbed as to move my family specifically to run for an office in a district outside of where my home is. Maybe worse than that would be to pretend I moved but not actually do so. Anyway, gimmicks are not what I am about.
Why do you think you will win?
Nelson: It really is time for some bold changes in who runs, who we elect and what the people we elect have the guts to do. For too long we have elected supposedly conservative people and what we get is constant cow-towing to unions and interest groups that are close to bankrupting government at every level. We need people who are giving up more than they get from public service, not folks that win elections and get a raise.
Can we consider you a friend?
Nelson: Sure, I am a Friend of Fullerton’s Future.
State Assemblyman Chris Norby just told me that he is endorsing Bill Hunt for Orange County Sheriff.
Apparently Norby was impressed with Hunt’s no-nonsense position on the failed “War on Drugs”. Earlier we noted an interview with Bill Hunt in which he acknowledged that it is wrong for local law enforcement agencies to collaborate with the federal government in arresting lawful users of medical marijuana. Clearly Hunt respects California voters’ assertion that medical marijuana is a state’s rights issue.
Norby also pointed out that Hunt is the only candidate who has ever received more than 3 votes. “That’s all Hutchens ever got, and 2 of those surely regret it now” he said, referring to the current Sheriff’s appointment to the position after Mike Carona was forced to resign in 2008.
Chris also gives Hunt credit for challenging Carona in ’06, back when most of the political establishment (including Norby) still endorsed Sheriff Mike.
Chris decided to make the endorsement after he and his wife met with Bill and Debbie Hunt recently at the Twisted Vine and Continental Room in Downtown Fullerton. “They are such nice people,” he said.
Those rascals in the white van have been hard at work lately. Or a least that’s what they keep telling us; and we keep providing them with vicodin tablets and Everclear.
Our narcotic investment seems to have paid off the other day for the boys have provided us with the the transcript of a conversation between members of the Tom Day for Supervisor campaign and a blogger from what used to be known as “Red County.” The conversation here seems to be about how the latter can help the former. Believe it or not.
John Lewis: Okay. Chris are you with us?
Chris Jones: Yeah I’m here.
JL: Okay, good. Raining up there? Aw, who the hell cares. Okay. Matt Cunningham is, um, here too.
CJ: Yeah. Hi Matt.
Matthew Cunningham: inaudible, high pitched squeak.
JL: Okay. Let’s get to it. We need some blog presence to go after Nelson, right?
CJ: Yeah. I’ve been trying for almost a year, you know, anonymous comments here and there. No traction, you know.
MC: And you got busted for that.
CJ: So did you, Jerbal.
JL: Forget it. Cut it out. We’re supposed to be working together. You both screwed up. Okay. What we need is a real person to start hitting Nelson on Red County.
MC: We’ve gotta be careful, not too obvious. Chip might pull the plug. He’s not too smart, but I think he’s starting to get, you know, um, suspicious.
CJ: Yeah, but it’s gotta be a real person. Then we’ll start commenting under different names.
MC: I can’t do it. What about Gordon?
JL: Gordon? Who the hell is that?
MC: Some dummy that used to blog for Pedroza. From Santa Ana. Doesn’t know his ass from from a pothole on 5th Street. He doesn’t know anything about the 4th District.
CJ: Perfect. Can he write?
MC: No. Well, sort of. You’ll have to write it for him.
JL: He may not want to attack a Republican. Will he want something?
MC: Dunno. He’s not too bright but he’ll probably want something. We can tell him he’s getting even with Pedroza for something. That’ll work. If he wants something you can offer him a, um
CJ: A banana?
(general chuckles)
JL: Okay. Jones writes the thing up then stupid puts his name over it. Great. Good. Okay. Then Jones and you can add to the threads anonymously. You’ve both had practice with that. If, er, whats’ his name?
MC: Gordon?
JL: Yeah, Gordon. If he wants something we’ll tell him Daly’s gonna give him a job if he gets in.
MC: Hey wait a minute. What about, you know, Laura? How many jobs is Daly offering around?
JL: Oh hell don’t worry about it for chrissake. Nobody’s gonna hire…
MC: Gordon?
JL: Right. Gordon. He’s just a plausible…you know…
CJ: Stooge?
(more general chuckles)
JL: Okay. Lets get, um, him on the phone.
MC: Gordon?
JL: Yeah, him. Hmm, looks like the cable company’s working outside the office again. Okay let’s make the call…
At this point transmission was disrupted by interference, rendering the balance of the transmission inaudible.
For the past six weeks I have been visiting the Fullerton Collaborative website periodically to determine when, if ever, the Collabricorns were actually going to put any activities on their calendar. It was a complete blank. For the whole year. And that was interesting because the blurb above the calendar ever so earnestly solicited public participation in the many upcoming Collaborative events.
Mick said to paint it black...
I couldn’t figure it out. The Collaborative has a well-remunerated Executive Director, Pam Keller, and surely that type of administrative chore would fall under her job responsibilities. Having no calendar of events didn’t look too good. Was Keller just too darn busy? Too lazy? Does the Collaborative really not care much about public participation? Or was there just really not much going on?
Now we may never know. On my visit to the website – www.fullertoncollaborative.org – yesterday, I was immediately shuffled off the the Collaborative’s “Facebook” page. Now that looks pretty bush league for a non-profit to suddenly take its website offline.
Will it be back? I sure hope so because I want to keep the dark calendar meter running – 35 days and counting.
