Don’t Be Fooled by their Lies
by Todd Hoover
With less than two months to go until the next election, I believe we are on the verge of some significant and very much needed change. After eight years of the Republican rule, our nation is left with one of the most costly wars in history, a complete meltdown of the housing industry, the collapse of several major financial institutions, massive layoffs and a serious economic downturn with no end in sight. With Obama ready to lead us all into a new era, we should see a strengthening of Democrats across the nation as people realize just how urgent change is needed.
As Democratic candidates across the country are getting ready to take charge, we need to not only pay close attention to the national race for president, but also the local political races. There are issues we currently face in California which have now become more critical than ever. We are presently facing a $15.2 billion budget deficit, which could easily mushroom to $22 billion if the prison healthcare receiver Clark Kelso manages to impose the additional $8 billion required to bring the deplorable condition of California’s prisons up to constitutional standards. To further exacerbate this catastrophe, the state legislature has been unable to pass a state budget and we are now more than two months past the deadline. Even though California State Controller John Chiang was able to prevent the absolute calamity that would have been caused if Governor Schwarzenegger had been successful in cutting the pay for all state employees to the federal minimum wage of $6.55 an hour, we are still in the midst of a severe storm. With House Democrats, and to a certain extent, even Schwarzenegger himself, currently very close reaching a compromise on the budget, House Republicans are continuing to block progress at every step.
This is why it is so important that we start paying close attention to our local candidates. We have several noteworthy candidates that we should rally behind. Running against Cameron Smyth to represent the 38th Assembly District, Carole Lutness is a strong advocate of campaign finance reform, and unlike her adversary, is not tied to “big oil” money. Hoping to win representation for the 37th Assembly District is Ferial Masry, who brings a unique perspective to the local political arena with her experience on the international scene. Also, as a high school teacher, she places a high priority on the importance of education. Finally the candidate that I think we should really focus on is Hannah-Beth Jackson, candidate for the 19th Senatorial District. Jackson has a very strong background in the legislature. She has served six years on the State Assembly. During her term she has introduced and gotten signed into law over sixty pieces of legislation dealing with important reforms for education, public safety, consumer rights, health care and protection of the environment.
Jackson has been a resident of the 19th Senatorial District for over 30 years. She has been married to Superior Court Judge George Eskin for 27 years, has a daughter, two stepchildren and four grandchildren.
In recent months, her opposition, Tony Strickland ran a particularly vicious and misleading TV commercial, falsely implying that Jackson supports tax increases. This anti-Jackson ad has absolutely nothing to do with the truth. The ad features a cartoon of a house and a car and makes claims that Jackson has been relentlessly voting to increase taxes. The ad claims that Jackson has voted to increase the car tax, the gas tax and goes so far as to imply she is actually trying to eliminate Proposition 13. In response to this misleading campaign, Jackson sent Strickland a letter demanding he immediately pull the ad and apologize.
To best understand this misinformation, one needs to examine each part: the gasoline tax, the car tax and the alleged “weakening of Proposition 13.”
The first part of the commercial alleges Jackson is responsible for an increase in the gasoline tax. The bills listed in the ad were as follows: AB 16, AB 1058, AB 1706, AB 1707 and AB1740. The purpose of AB 16 is to guard against oil spills, something that is both damaging to the environment and can be very costly to clean up. This bill requires offshore oil producers to transport oil by pipeline rather than by barge. This bill does NOT involve a gas tax of any kind. AB1058 required the Air Resources Board to comply with the state’s greenhouse gas reduction goals. Again, this bill would have no impact on the gas tax. AB1706 would have required the California Energy Commission to report back to the legislature on ways to lower gas prices. Jackson's vote against this bill was in no way a vote "to increase gas taxes." AB1707 was a bill to protect consumers from the release or sale of private financial information without prior approval. Jackson’s support of this bill again had absolutely nothing to do with gas taxes. AB1740 was simply the state budget for 2000-01. It did not raise gas taxes.
The commercial continues, alleging Jackson has somehow advocated raising the ‘car tax’. There is absolutely no validity to this whatsoever. The only thing cited was a vague reference to the “August 2003 Gray Davis Budget Vote.” This actually deals with the end of a temporary reduction in the vehicle license fee implemented by the State Department of Finance. This reduction was originally made in 1998, during a budget surplus, as a way of returning money back into the pockets of the taxpayers. When the state ran out of funds in 2003, the Department of Finance had no choice but to end this. Jackson did NOT "vote to increase the car tax."
The claim that Jackson “weakened” Proposition 13 is absolutely absurd. Her support of AB94 and AB822 were simply to provide an extension of an earlier court decision that certain jurisdictions could set a slightly higher tax rate to cover "indebtedness" incurred from pensions approved by voters before July 1, 1978. The impact of this extension was miniscule and in no way altered Proposition 13. Since Proposition 13 is part of the state constitution, changing it would require no less than a public election. The implication that Jackson's support of this in any way “weakened” Proposition 13 is ludicrous. Jackson's support of AB81 likewise has very little to do with Proposition 13. It simply dealt with whether property tax assessments on large electrical generation plants should be performed by local county assessors or the State Board of Equalization. It has no impact whatsoever on residential property owners. Perhaps instead of showing a family home, what the ad really should have shown was a big power plant with smoke billowing out of a couple large chimneys.
In a nutshell, what these bills deal with are the reduction of greenhouse gases, guarding against offshore oil spills, ensuring the proper handling of private financial information and guaranteeing retirees continue to receive their pensions.
To be certain, Hannah-Beth Jackson is not the only important candidate, but we most certainly need to give her our support. For us to succeed in taking back the government, we must elect good people at the local as well as the national level.
Todd Hoover, a resident of Castaic, maintains web pages for numerous local Democratic clubs and serves as a representative on the Los Angeles County Democratic Party Central Committee for the 37th Assembly District.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
ARE THEY PILING ON?
Are we actually watching ‘Hate’ get played out in the media, add any adjective before it, “black hate”with Jesse Jackson and “white hate” with Reverand Wright, “green hate” enviousness with Geraldine Ferrraro, “intelligence hate” with Rush Limbaugh, Carl Rove and John Hannity. Open your eyes; there is a lot of hating going on people. And they call it politics as usual, the usual that Obama is asking everyone to stop. . .
Sitting in a FOX STUDIO (yes of all places to be in) with a live mic on, Jesse Jackson was allegedly recorded as "See, Barack's been talking down to black people ... I want to cut his nuts off."
Again, due to advanced technology we are allowed to see what is really going on behind closed doors. Was this an “OMG” conversation caught on tape. Yeah, it gave Jesse 15 minutes of attention but what does this tell us. Jesse needs attention this bad? Jesse doesn’t believe is passing the torch after 1984 and 1988 bids for the presidential office. Shouldn’t he be passing on the wisdom of his experience to rally with Obama?
I have watched for years the cannibalizing of the young while a graduate student at CSUC. What I couldn’t understand is where are the young supposed to go after they have been selectively nibbled and chomped on? The beauty of Obama has been his ability to awaken these nibbled and chomped on youth to listen, to come out, to register, to vote, to participate, to believe and to energize enthusiastically others to the polling places. The young who have been told time and time again, “watch me” as an euphemism for get out of my way”, or “sit still” for “you are moving too fast for my ability to comprehend and shut you down”, to “you are not ready yet” and meantime “I’m going to steal and take credit for all your ideas because I have run out a long time ago” BUT never taking the time to teach the young the skills they lack, providing the direction and facilitating the guidance to spark alternative approaches to help them get there.
Yes, there will always be those youngsters that misinterpret their teacher’s motivation. But I’m telling you first hand, that Jesse, Tavis, Al, and Cornell need to comprehend that there is a new political movement of assertive, convincing, intelligent, polished, savvy, sharp, spiritual and compassionate young people coming into their own and they aren’t going to be guilted, intimidated and kowtowed by the last generation that “didn’t get it done”. I watched the last generation boast and brag in the few luxuries that were available due to the second call of affirmative action. And for reasons I’m not sure of, they didn’t teach their children what we economically, politically, socially and spiritually moved through to come forward in the 21st Century.
This was a cruel mistake to our young because they have not only become economically bitter when they don’t get “stuff” when they want it, but a harsh realty befalls them that “the world doesn’t owe them” and they must prepare, groom and be ready for opportunity which will often require the assistance of a gatekeeper. When the young degrade their parents, their parents’ friends are often open jawed. I’ve watched this with the children of my own sister, brother and cousins who in their border-line workaholism provided all the materialistic objects they believed they were deprived of. I have seen the effects of not delaying gratification, not appreciating and what happens when they don’t respect their elders. However I don’t believe it makes them experts, but I do believe the experiences that now comfort those of us privy to their shoulders should not go unnoticed. I believe there is this known quantum called “kiss my ring” and pay me homage if you want my support. Yes, I have noticed that Jesse and Sharpton haven’t been out strongly supporting Obama as I would have wished, but maybe Obama knows that African American politics are larger than the two of them. Obama knows that though he is a democrat this world doesn’t run on highlighting only the African American community but a community of disenfranchised, ignored and repelled individuals who too have had generational absence at the polls. I have wondered why it has taken that generation so long to pick up the mantel Martin Luther King, Jr. left where he saw the global picture and saw how collaboration of like minds works better than guilting the masses for the irresponsibilities of those men who haven’t taken on responsibility for their actions, creating another generation of ill equipped, spiritually broken and economically wraught black children.
"For any harm or hurt that this hot mic private conversation may have caused, I apologize," Jackson said in a statement issued to CNN. "My support for Senator Obama’s campaign is wide, deep and unequivocal. I cherish this redemptive and historical moment."
"My appeal was for the moral content of his message to not only deal with the personal and moral responsibility of black males, but to deal with the collective moral responsibility of government and the public policy which would be a corrective action for the lack of good choices that often led to their irresponsibility," Jackson also said.
"That was the context of my private conversation and it does not reflect any disparagement on my part for the historic event in which we are involved or my pride in Senator Barack Obama, who is leading it, whom I have supported by crisscrossing this nation in every level of media and audience from the beginning in absolute terms."
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: We want to get right back to another story we're following. Breaking news, the Reverend Jesse Jackson saying some very, very disparaging words about Senator Barack Obama, even though he supports him for president of the United States. CNN's Don Lemon has been working this story, together with a lot of us. First of all, Don, I know you're watching this story. Senator -- Reverend Jackson is about to join us on the phone. But just remind us, before you start talking to Reverend Jackson, what exactly he said on an open mic that's causing so much distress right now.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Well what he said to me earlier, and we're going to talk to him in just a little bit, we just got him on the phone, Wolf. The crude and hurtful comments he would much rather have made to the senator in private. He did not know the microphone was open. He said it was a hot mike, didn't realize it.
And what he said was that he wanted to -- he thinks that the lectures that Barack Obama has been giving lately to black churches and to black people, he thinks it needs to be a broader context. It's much broader than what the senator is saying.
But what is much better is probably that we get the words from the Reverend Jesse Jackson right now. Reverend Jesse Jackson is joining us from Chicago. Thank you very much, sir.
VOICE OF REV. JESSE JACKSON, RAINBOW/PUSH COALITION: Well, Don, how are you?
LEMON: I'm doing well. How are you is the question -- but first, I want to ask what you said, and why did you say it?
JACKSON: Well, you know, let me say first, this is a sound bite within a broader conversation about urban policy and racial disparities. And I -- feel very distressed because I'm supportive of this campaign and with what the senator has done and is doing.
I was in a conversation with a fellow guest at Fox on Sunday. He asked about Barack's speeches lately at the black churches. I said he can come off as speaking down to black people. The moral message must be a much broader message. What we need really is racial justice and urban policy and jobs and healthcare. There is a range of issues on the menu.
And frankly, I think that is his basic urban policy position. No one else has put one together except him in the situation.
And then I said something I felt regret for -- it was crude. It was very private, and very much a sound bite -- and a live mic. And so I feel -- I find no comfort in it, I find no joy in it. So I immediately called the senator's campaign to send my statement of apology to repair the harm or hurt that this may have caused his campaign, because I support it unequivocally.
LEMON: OK, Reverend.
And Barack Obama's campaign, of course, is saying that they don't have a comment now. And you know how quickly this spreads. We got -- I got the word through another source and then called you. And Wolf Blitzer also tried to get you on the phone.
And Wolf has some questions for you as well -- Wolf?
BLITZER: Reverend Jackson, why did you say these things? Because it's so crude, we can't even repeat it on the air right now, what you said on this open mike.
What was going through your mind?
JACKSON: Well, when I was asked about it, there was already some kind of (INAUDIBLE) reaction. The appeal in black America is record levels of unemployment, home foreclosure crisis, records of murders, and all kind of reprehensible actions for black America. A million blacks are in jail even as we talk today and 900,000 young black men. So we have some real serious issues, and not just moral issues --
BLITZER: Well then let me interrupt, Reverend Jackson.
JACKSON: -- Structural inequality.
BLITZER: Reverend Jackson, are you suggesting that Senator Obama isn't concerned about these issues? Is that what you are saying?
JACKSON: Not -- by any means (ph). He has dealt with it more effectively than anyone else has. Each time he gives one of these messages at a black church, it appears to be targeted and the media takes it and runs with it as a solution to a structural crisis -- you know -- his moral behavior.
To me it's like putting a size 10 foot in a size eight shoe. You need some structure, not just some challenges on -- which he understands so well, and that's why I regret so much this statement, which could be exploited or could be used to exploit our relationship and the campaign.
LEMON: Reverend -- and I want to jump in here and ask you this question because there has been some talk in the media, and also on the blogs, about the Reverend -- about Barack Obama playing to the middle, and not necessarily addressing issues that are important to the black community as sternly and as matter-of-factly as he should. And in some way, and I don't know if this is your opinion, that he may be shying away from this because he's concerned that it might hurt him in his run for the presidency.
JACKSON: The basic issues he raises about an urban policy and jobs, no one else has addressed, has broad application. The crisis we've faced today, besides, you know, behaving better and doing the right thing, is jobs and investors leaving and drugs and guns are coming. The murder rate is up, taxes up, services down, first class jail, second class schools.
That requires some real heavy lifting that has to take place. When you are speaking to a black church, or to labor hall, or to a university, I'm appealing really for a much broader discussion. And I would say again, probably because of regard for him and the campaign, and I would hate it to be lifted out of context really on a live mike statement.
BLITZER: And -- Reverend Jackson, we're out of time, but a very quick -- if you could right now, speak directly to Senator Obama from your heart, what would you say to him?
JACKSON: That any hurt or harm I caused his campaign, I apologize, because I have such high regard for him. And this redemptive moment. I'm a part of it. And I cherish his role -- the role he's played in making the nation better and making the world rejoice.
BLITZER: Reverend Jackson, thank you for joining us for a few moments. We'll continue to watch this story.
Don Lemon, thanks to you as well.
This is a story that clearly is going to cause some controversy out there.
LEMON: Thank you, Wolf.
BLITZER: Thank you.
But I have also said, “does Obama require Sharpton and Jess to welcome him to the party or is Obama attending a soiree that Sharpton and Jesse only wish they could attend?
Rep. Jesse L. Jackson, Jr., D-Ill. just released the following statement as a reaction to the crude and disparaging remarks his father -- the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.
Says Jackson JUNIOR in a statement: "I'm deeply outraged and disappointed in Reverend Jackson's reckless statements about Senator Barack Obama. His divisive and demeaning comments about the presumptive Democratic nominee -- and I believe the next president of the United States -- contradict his inspiring and courageous career. Instead of tearing others down, Barack Obama wants to build the country up and bring people together so that we can move forward, together -- as one nation. The remarks like those uttered on Fox by Revered Jackson do not advance the campaign's cause of building a more perfect Union."
Concludes Rep. Jackson, Jr.: "Revered Jackson is my dad and I'll always love him. He should know how hard that I've worked for the last year and a half as a national co-chair of Barack Obama's presidential campaign. So, I thoroughly reject and repudiate his ugly rhetoric. He should keep hope alive and any personal attacks and insults to himself." The Obama campaign issued a statement late Wednesday, accepting the apology but continuing the underlying message. "As someone who grew up without a father in the home, Senator Obama has spoken and written for many years about the issue of parental responsibility, including the importance of fathers participating in their children's lives. He also discusses our responsibility as a society to provide jobs, justice, and opportunity for all. He will continue to speak out about our responsibilities to ourselves and each other, and he of course accepts Reverend Jackson's apology," said spokesman Bill Burton.
Minerva Williams
Sitting in a FOX STUDIO (yes of all places to be in) with a live mic on, Jesse Jackson was allegedly recorded as "See, Barack's been talking down to black people ... I want to cut his nuts off."
Again, due to advanced technology we are allowed to see what is really going on behind closed doors. Was this an “OMG” conversation caught on tape. Yeah, it gave Jesse 15 minutes of attention but what does this tell us. Jesse needs attention this bad? Jesse doesn’t believe is passing the torch after 1984 and 1988 bids for the presidential office. Shouldn’t he be passing on the wisdom of his experience to rally with Obama?
I have watched for years the cannibalizing of the young while a graduate student at CSUC. What I couldn’t understand is where are the young supposed to go after they have been selectively nibbled and chomped on? The beauty of Obama has been his ability to awaken these nibbled and chomped on youth to listen, to come out, to register, to vote, to participate, to believe and to energize enthusiastically others to the polling places. The young who have been told time and time again, “watch me” as an euphemism for get out of my way”, or “sit still” for “you are moving too fast for my ability to comprehend and shut you down”, to “you are not ready yet” and meantime “I’m going to steal and take credit for all your ideas because I have run out a long time ago” BUT never taking the time to teach the young the skills they lack, providing the direction and facilitating the guidance to spark alternative approaches to help them get there.
Yes, there will always be those youngsters that misinterpret their teacher’s motivation. But I’m telling you first hand, that Jesse, Tavis, Al, and Cornell need to comprehend that there is a new political movement of assertive, convincing, intelligent, polished, savvy, sharp, spiritual and compassionate young people coming into their own and they aren’t going to be guilted, intimidated and kowtowed by the last generation that “didn’t get it done”. I watched the last generation boast and brag in the few luxuries that were available due to the second call of affirmative action. And for reasons I’m not sure of, they didn’t teach their children what we economically, politically, socially and spiritually moved through to come forward in the 21st Century.
This was a cruel mistake to our young because they have not only become economically bitter when they don’t get “stuff” when they want it, but a harsh realty befalls them that “the world doesn’t owe them” and they must prepare, groom and be ready for opportunity which will often require the assistance of a gatekeeper. When the young degrade their parents, their parents’ friends are often open jawed. I’ve watched this with the children of my own sister, brother and cousins who in their border-line workaholism provided all the materialistic objects they believed they were deprived of. I have seen the effects of not delaying gratification, not appreciating and what happens when they don’t respect their elders. However I don’t believe it makes them experts, but I do believe the experiences that now comfort those of us privy to their shoulders should not go unnoticed. I believe there is this known quantum called “kiss my ring” and pay me homage if you want my support. Yes, I have noticed that Jesse and Sharpton haven’t been out strongly supporting Obama as I would have wished, but maybe Obama knows that African American politics are larger than the two of them. Obama knows that though he is a democrat this world doesn’t run on highlighting only the African American community but a community of disenfranchised, ignored and repelled individuals who too have had generational absence at the polls. I have wondered why it has taken that generation so long to pick up the mantel Martin Luther King, Jr. left where he saw the global picture and saw how collaboration of like minds works better than guilting the masses for the irresponsibilities of those men who haven’t taken on responsibility for their actions, creating another generation of ill equipped, spiritually broken and economically wraught black children.
"For any harm or hurt that this hot mic private conversation may have caused, I apologize," Jackson said in a statement issued to CNN. "My support for Senator Obama’s campaign is wide, deep and unequivocal. I cherish this redemptive and historical moment."
"My appeal was for the moral content of his message to not only deal with the personal and moral responsibility of black males, but to deal with the collective moral responsibility of government and the public policy which would be a corrective action for the lack of good choices that often led to their irresponsibility," Jackson also said.
"That was the context of my private conversation and it does not reflect any disparagement on my part for the historic event in which we are involved or my pride in Senator Barack Obama, who is leading it, whom I have supported by crisscrossing this nation in every level of media and audience from the beginning in absolute terms."
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: We want to get right back to another story we're following. Breaking news, the Reverend Jesse Jackson saying some very, very disparaging words about Senator Barack Obama, even though he supports him for president of the United States. CNN's Don Lemon has been working this story, together with a lot of us. First of all, Don, I know you're watching this story. Senator -- Reverend Jackson is about to join us on the phone. But just remind us, before you start talking to Reverend Jackson, what exactly he said on an open mic that's causing so much distress right now.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Well what he said to me earlier, and we're going to talk to him in just a little bit, we just got him on the phone, Wolf. The crude and hurtful comments he would much rather have made to the senator in private. He did not know the microphone was open. He said it was a hot mike, didn't realize it.
And what he said was that he wanted to -- he thinks that the lectures that Barack Obama has been giving lately to black churches and to black people, he thinks it needs to be a broader context. It's much broader than what the senator is saying.
But what is much better is probably that we get the words from the Reverend Jesse Jackson right now. Reverend Jesse Jackson is joining us from Chicago. Thank you very much, sir.
VOICE OF REV. JESSE JACKSON, RAINBOW/PUSH COALITION: Well, Don, how are you?
LEMON: I'm doing well. How are you is the question -- but first, I want to ask what you said, and why did you say it?
JACKSON: Well, you know, let me say first, this is a sound bite within a broader conversation about urban policy and racial disparities. And I -- feel very distressed because I'm supportive of this campaign and with what the senator has done and is doing.
I was in a conversation with a fellow guest at Fox on Sunday. He asked about Barack's speeches lately at the black churches. I said he can come off as speaking down to black people. The moral message must be a much broader message. What we need really is racial justice and urban policy and jobs and healthcare. There is a range of issues on the menu.
And frankly, I think that is his basic urban policy position. No one else has put one together except him in the situation.
And then I said something I felt regret for -- it was crude. It was very private, and very much a sound bite -- and a live mic. And so I feel -- I find no comfort in it, I find no joy in it. So I immediately called the senator's campaign to send my statement of apology to repair the harm or hurt that this may have caused his campaign, because I support it unequivocally.
LEMON: OK, Reverend.
And Barack Obama's campaign, of course, is saying that they don't have a comment now. And you know how quickly this spreads. We got -- I got the word through another source and then called you. And Wolf Blitzer also tried to get you on the phone.
And Wolf has some questions for you as well -- Wolf?
BLITZER: Reverend Jackson, why did you say these things? Because it's so crude, we can't even repeat it on the air right now, what you said on this open mike.
What was going through your mind?
JACKSON: Well, when I was asked about it, there was already some kind of (INAUDIBLE) reaction. The appeal in black America is record levels of unemployment, home foreclosure crisis, records of murders, and all kind of reprehensible actions for black America. A million blacks are in jail even as we talk today and 900,000 young black men. So we have some real serious issues, and not just moral issues --
BLITZER: Well then let me interrupt, Reverend Jackson.
JACKSON: -- Structural inequality.
BLITZER: Reverend Jackson, are you suggesting that Senator Obama isn't concerned about these issues? Is that what you are saying?
JACKSON: Not -- by any means (ph). He has dealt with it more effectively than anyone else has. Each time he gives one of these messages at a black church, it appears to be targeted and the media takes it and runs with it as a solution to a structural crisis -- you know -- his moral behavior.
To me it's like putting a size 10 foot in a size eight shoe. You need some structure, not just some challenges on -- which he understands so well, and that's why I regret so much this statement, which could be exploited or could be used to exploit our relationship and the campaign.
LEMON: Reverend -- and I want to jump in here and ask you this question because there has been some talk in the media, and also on the blogs, about the Reverend -- about Barack Obama playing to the middle, and not necessarily addressing issues that are important to the black community as sternly and as matter-of-factly as he should. And in some way, and I don't know if this is your opinion, that he may be shying away from this because he's concerned that it might hurt him in his run for the presidency.
JACKSON: The basic issues he raises about an urban policy and jobs, no one else has addressed, has broad application. The crisis we've faced today, besides, you know, behaving better and doing the right thing, is jobs and investors leaving and drugs and guns are coming. The murder rate is up, taxes up, services down, first class jail, second class schools.
That requires some real heavy lifting that has to take place. When you are speaking to a black church, or to labor hall, or to a university, I'm appealing really for a much broader discussion. And I would say again, probably because of regard for him and the campaign, and I would hate it to be lifted out of context really on a live mike statement.
BLITZER: And -- Reverend Jackson, we're out of time, but a very quick -- if you could right now, speak directly to Senator Obama from your heart, what would you say to him?
JACKSON: That any hurt or harm I caused his campaign, I apologize, because I have such high regard for him. And this redemptive moment. I'm a part of it. And I cherish his role -- the role he's played in making the nation better and making the world rejoice.
BLITZER: Reverend Jackson, thank you for joining us for a few moments. We'll continue to watch this story.
Don Lemon, thanks to you as well.
This is a story that clearly is going to cause some controversy out there.
LEMON: Thank you, Wolf.
BLITZER: Thank you.
But I have also said, “does Obama require Sharpton and Jess to welcome him to the party or is Obama attending a soiree that Sharpton and Jesse only wish they could attend?
Rep. Jesse L. Jackson, Jr., D-Ill. just released the following statement as a reaction to the crude and disparaging remarks his father -- the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.
Says Jackson JUNIOR in a statement: "I'm deeply outraged and disappointed in Reverend Jackson's reckless statements about Senator Barack Obama. His divisive and demeaning comments about the presumptive Democratic nominee -- and I believe the next president of the United States -- contradict his inspiring and courageous career. Instead of tearing others down, Barack Obama wants to build the country up and bring people together so that we can move forward, together -- as one nation. The remarks like those uttered on Fox by Revered Jackson do not advance the campaign's cause of building a more perfect Union."
Concludes Rep. Jackson, Jr.: "Revered Jackson is my dad and I'll always love him. He should know how hard that I've worked for the last year and a half as a national co-chair of Barack Obama's presidential campaign. So, I thoroughly reject and repudiate his ugly rhetoric. He should keep hope alive and any personal attacks and insults to himself." The Obama campaign issued a statement late Wednesday, accepting the apology but continuing the underlying message. "As someone who grew up without a father in the home, Senator Obama has spoken and written for many years about the issue of parental responsibility, including the importance of fathers participating in their children's lives. He also discusses our responsibility as a society to provide jobs, justice, and opportunity for all. He will continue to speak out about our responsibilities to ourselves and each other, and he of course accepts Reverend Jackson's apology," said spokesman Bill Burton.
Minerva Williams
Sunday, July 6, 2008
A Walk in the Park – No More
During my afternoon walk I noticed that while walking along part of the perimeter of Castaic Lake park that there was this big fence. It looked like it had just appeared out of nowhere. As I was walking I was wondering to myself if I had just not noticed it before and if it had been there all along. Perhaps it was just something I hadn’t really looked at previously, and now for some reason I was just noticing it. As I was mulling this over and contemplating my apparently not so great memory, I came to a point where I normally enter the park when I take my morning hikes over the weekend. There it was; the entrance was fenced completely off. They sure got this fence up fast! I’d never really thought about it before, but I would have normally thought of a fence like that as something that would take at least a week or so to put up. It sure as heck wasn’t there yesterday. I went out a little later to look at a couple other entrances to the park and they were also fenced off. I was wondering if the hikes I take Saturday mornings would no longer be possible. Will I now have to pay at the gate to walk into the park; I know they have always charged for vehicles to enter, but I’d always thought it was free to just walk or hike through. I then went to the guard at the gate and asked her; she assured me that they were only charging walk-ins for the Fourth of July event tomorrow, but not normally. Is all this new fencing just so they make certain no one gets in free for the Fourth of July event, no matter what! I looked at the fencing and noticed how ugly it looks. I suppose it’s not a total loss; heck with all the carefully guarded entrances and this nice new imposing barrier, maybe they could house inmates to help stem the prison overflow, build a training facility for Blackwater, or maybe if they get really ambitious they could build that ever-elusive Castaic High. All that’s needed is a little barbed wire and a few Rottweilers!
Scenic trails with a view of the lake have always proven excellent for hiking and jogging. Now I’m wondering if these ‘instant’ fences are going to start showing up within the park; so even if you can get past the gate, you’ll still just come to another fence. I am quite disappointed. When I moved here a couple years ago and discovered all the nice hiking trails I figured I’d come to the right place. Now I might as well move back to the San Fernando Valley. The little parks there are canopied with the brown haze of LA smog and are not nearly as picturesque, but at least they’re not all fenced off.
Todd Hoover
Castaic
Scenic trails with a view of the lake have always proven excellent for hiking and jogging. Now I’m wondering if these ‘instant’ fences are going to start showing up within the park; so even if you can get past the gate, you’ll still just come to another fence. I am quite disappointed. When I moved here a couple years ago and discovered all the nice hiking trails I figured I’d come to the right place. Now I might as well move back to the San Fernando Valley. The little parks there are canopied with the brown haze of LA smog and are not nearly as picturesque, but at least they’re not all fenced off.
Todd Hoover
Castaic
Sunday, June 29, 2008
THE WORLD WANTS TO KNOW …GOT HOPE?
By Minerva L. Williams
The world wants to know. . . how many American women will show up to vote in the 2008 Presidential election? It amounts to, will women vote hope as strongly as they are responding in national polls, state rallies and town hall meetings?
Those that supported Hillary are vowing to not even go to the poll or expressing overwhelming support for McCain. Young women are most interested in Barack Obama. What the pundits say is how largely young women showed up for Obama in Iowa and the same group didn’t show up at all in New Hampshire. So what happened that made the same group of women vote largely in the first state and not at all in the second state? Where is the pattern?
The world trade balance is off, economies are low, job rates are inching higher, and the policies of the Bush Administration are still not reflective of the American people’s wants. Bush’s popularity poll numbers are the lowest of any president ever!
Mortgage rates are so over the top that millions are loosing their homes daily. Gas prices are out of site. The cost of food, transportation, and supplies are rising. Media exclaims that McCain is 4 more years of Bush policies. Does anyone want to see more attempts of bankrupting the country? Although the captains of industries appear to be doing a great job. Check out your stock portfolio if you dare.
Am I witnessing the insurgence of the Naomi Klein’s warning of the national “shock and awe syndrome” because the students of University of Chicago’s professor Milton Friedman’s philosophy are coming of professional age hence, it will require another University of Chicago’s professor Barack Obama who believes in community organizing to organize the United States to try to save us from Friedman pirates?
I agree that Obama more forceably needs to address Social security, poverty and minimum wage but he also needs to address the millions of jobs going overseas.
Do check out the interview with Chris Matthews: June 16, 2008 http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2008/6/16/amy_goodman_on_msnbcs_hardball_with_chris_matthews_at_5_30pm_est_repeated_at_7_30pm_est
Women are opposed to war and overwhelmingly so. McCain says he sees Iraqi withdrawal tables non negotiable and dangerous to publically discuss but he says we will be in Iraqi for 100 years, if necessary. Isn’t this a public answer?
How many more women are willing to send their children to a war that obviously was based on a huge lie ala Scott McClellan ,the present bearer of Bush first hand bad news, to satisfy our addiction to oil, at the expense of millions of Iraqi women and children who have had to flee their country due to our bombing and blasting them out of their homes or to increase the Bush family financial legacy?
Isn’t this the same family that benefitted from the economic increases during the German war? Why isn’t the media talking and reminding us of this?
Women under 50 may not know that at one time abortions were illegal and women rights advocacy in the 60’s and 70’s made Roe vs. Wade (1973) overturned. Women under 50 have seen women in powerful positions, heads of corporations, political leaders and may take it for granted that McCain wants to over turn Roe vs. Wade, where back alley abortions were unsafe and the norm. These same young women don’t know when women had to fight for equality in wages although in some industries women still aren’t in parity to their men counterparts.
Check out “Standing up to the Madness” by Amy Goodman, reknowned “DemocracyNow! Radio and television commentator, if you wish to know more details on why so many voters should pay close attention to what is politically going on.
Hillary is out on the trail to shore up her 18 million supporters to encourage them to support Barack Obama the first trip being Unity, New Hampshire this week but the follow through of the ladies and gentlemen of Obama supporters is supreme to the election numbers being not only a big deal but the next four years with a Democrat in office. Some republicans say “let them have it”, while they blame the aftermath of Bush’s policies on the Democrats. You hear this now, with Republican leaders blaming Pelosi and Harry Reid for “the nation falling apart”. And what planet are these Republican leaders on? Are they getting their footage from Mars?
Republicans did their dirty here in California under Pete Wilson’s utilities scandal, Davis never was able to figure it out. Even with the Governator play to the partisan legislators, Californians are still in a tales spin; drought imminent, billions in educational cuts, families loosing their homes to mortgage rate manipulation, jobs being packaged to India and China, and oil prices affecting everything from food supplies, cost of food and traveling expenses. But hopefully with a lot of educational forums, classroom sessions, and family dinner discussions the voting age American women will not only wake up but smell the coffee and take charge to the ballot boxes this November. What does it take to get these women’s attention that their voices must be heard at the ballot box or we are going to be seeing more of the past seven years? The world wants to know. . .Got Hope?
Minerva L. Williams is a freelance writer, residing in Santa Clarita Valley who is a strong advocate of Barack Obama and says change is something you can believe in, because it is inevitable.
The world wants to know. . . how many American women will show up to vote in the 2008 Presidential election? It amounts to, will women vote hope as strongly as they are responding in national polls, state rallies and town hall meetings?
Those that supported Hillary are vowing to not even go to the poll or expressing overwhelming support for McCain. Young women are most interested in Barack Obama. What the pundits say is how largely young women showed up for Obama in Iowa and the same group didn’t show up at all in New Hampshire. So what happened that made the same group of women vote largely in the first state and not at all in the second state? Where is the pattern?
The world trade balance is off, economies are low, job rates are inching higher, and the policies of the Bush Administration are still not reflective of the American people’s wants. Bush’s popularity poll numbers are the lowest of any president ever!
Mortgage rates are so over the top that millions are loosing their homes daily. Gas prices are out of site. The cost of food, transportation, and supplies are rising. Media exclaims that McCain is 4 more years of Bush policies. Does anyone want to see more attempts of bankrupting the country? Although the captains of industries appear to be doing a great job. Check out your stock portfolio if you dare.
Am I witnessing the insurgence of the Naomi Klein’s warning of the national “shock and awe syndrome” because the students of University of Chicago’s professor Milton Friedman’s philosophy are coming of professional age hence, it will require another University of Chicago’s professor Barack Obama who believes in community organizing to organize the United States to try to save us from Friedman pirates?
I agree that Obama more forceably needs to address Social security, poverty and minimum wage but he also needs to address the millions of jobs going overseas.
Do check out the interview with Chris Matthews: June 16, 2008 http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2008/6/16/amy_goodman_on_msnbcs_hardball_with_chris_matthews_at_5_30pm_est_repeated_at_7_30pm_est
Women are opposed to war and overwhelmingly so. McCain says he sees Iraqi withdrawal tables non negotiable and dangerous to publically discuss but he says we will be in Iraqi for 100 years, if necessary. Isn’t this a public answer?
How many more women are willing to send their children to a war that obviously was based on a huge lie ala Scott McClellan ,the present bearer of Bush first hand bad news, to satisfy our addiction to oil, at the expense of millions of Iraqi women and children who have had to flee their country due to our bombing and blasting them out of their homes or to increase the Bush family financial legacy?
Isn’t this the same family that benefitted from the economic increases during the German war? Why isn’t the media talking and reminding us of this?
Women under 50 may not know that at one time abortions were illegal and women rights advocacy in the 60’s and 70’s made Roe vs. Wade (1973) overturned. Women under 50 have seen women in powerful positions, heads of corporations, political leaders and may take it for granted that McCain wants to over turn Roe vs. Wade, where back alley abortions were unsafe and the norm. These same young women don’t know when women had to fight for equality in wages although in some industries women still aren’t in parity to their men counterparts.
Check out “Standing up to the Madness” by Amy Goodman, reknowned “DemocracyNow! Radio and television commentator, if you wish to know more details on why so many voters should pay close attention to what is politically going on.
Hillary is out on the trail to shore up her 18 million supporters to encourage them to support Barack Obama the first trip being Unity, New Hampshire this week but the follow through of the ladies and gentlemen of Obama supporters is supreme to the election numbers being not only a big deal but the next four years with a Democrat in office. Some republicans say “let them have it”, while they blame the aftermath of Bush’s policies on the Democrats. You hear this now, with Republican leaders blaming Pelosi and Harry Reid for “the nation falling apart”. And what planet are these Republican leaders on? Are they getting their footage from Mars?
Republicans did their dirty here in California under Pete Wilson’s utilities scandal, Davis never was able to figure it out. Even with the Governator play to the partisan legislators, Californians are still in a tales spin; drought imminent, billions in educational cuts, families loosing their homes to mortgage rate manipulation, jobs being packaged to India and China, and oil prices affecting everything from food supplies, cost of food and traveling expenses. But hopefully with a lot of educational forums, classroom sessions, and family dinner discussions the voting age American women will not only wake up but smell the coffee and take charge to the ballot boxes this November. What does it take to get these women’s attention that their voices must be heard at the ballot box or we are going to be seeing more of the past seven years? The world wants to know. . .Got Hope?
Minerva L. Williams is a freelance writer, residing in Santa Clarita Valley who is a strong advocate of Barack Obama and says change is something you can believe in, because it is inevitable.
Friday, April 4, 2008
DUMBO OR PINOCCHIO
MEDIA PRESSURE: Does the media 24 hour pressure and no off camera moments everywhere cause politicians to make hyperbolic, lying, making up the truth, mistruths, stretching the truth, fast and loose with the facts, malicious misleading statements act like Dumbo or Pinocchio? Well I started paying attention to this recently.
HILLARY—In a CBS poll 48% say she is honest, 42% say she is phony.
Clinton’s staff claimed Obama is a Muslim and only changed his religiosity when he decided to run for President of the US. Obama is apparently making a deal with African Somalian leaders because a picture of him trying on a turban, Somalian dress, and adjusting a sword all part o a gifted outfit when he was visiting the country. Obama was taught at an early age to hate Americans by his mother and father enrolling him in a madrassa school; this was why in kindergarten he wrote an essay “Why I want to be President”. He must have some tie to the bin Laden 9/11 plot because his middle name is “Hussein”. Do you know how many people in the world have Hussein in their names? His stepfather was a Muslim so he was being raised as a Muslim too. He was possibly selling drugs when he was a community organizer, Wink! Wink! Nod…says by Bob Jones, former founder of BET. She lies on herself too. She had to duck and cover to get to an awaiting car when she arrived in Beirut during the fall of the country to meet the U.S. troops, so she is “battle hardened” well Chelsea was there too, what does that make her a stellar member of Black Water now?
OBAMA--Father’s trip to the US was funded by the Kennedy family. A misspeak? Why even say it? 1965 March on Selma inspiring his parents to fall in love with one another however 4 years before that is when Obama was conceived. Although Reverend Wright was his mentor and great spiritual advisor and friend “like an Uncle to me” for years, he never heard him make accusations that “the US be damned” and other diatribes against the US domestic and foreign policies?
What about Experience and Readiness for office, isn’t this more important that what my minster said today? Doesn’t his legislative record in Illinois count for anything, don’t they vet candidates anymore? Compared to Clinton’s claims if she was Pinocchio should have a tree encircling her head.
McCain Al-Queda is a threat to Iraq and will do everything possible to take over the country. A larger misspeak to cause individuals to say he is now the McBush? And we all know that following Bush’s plan is not well respected of likened by either side of the aisle. However when the candidate is charming, well liked by the media these kinds of comments are slimed down to “obnoxious, overly optimistic and controversial statements. Then I heard a revelation: Trustworthiness and strong leadership qualities are the key factors voters will be looking for in the Pennsylvania contest April 22nd, 2008. Thank God, I thought it was going to be “the greatest story ever told”.
HILLARY—In a CBS poll 48% say she is honest, 42% say she is phony.
Clinton’s staff claimed Obama is a Muslim and only changed his religiosity when he decided to run for President of the US. Obama is apparently making a deal with African Somalian leaders because a picture of him trying on a turban, Somalian dress, and adjusting a sword all part o a gifted outfit when he was visiting the country. Obama was taught at an early age to hate Americans by his mother and father enrolling him in a madrassa school; this was why in kindergarten he wrote an essay “Why I want to be President”. He must have some tie to the bin Laden 9/11 plot because his middle name is “Hussein”. Do you know how many people in the world have Hussein in their names? His stepfather was a Muslim so he was being raised as a Muslim too. He was possibly selling drugs when he was a community organizer, Wink! Wink! Nod…says by Bob Jones, former founder of BET. She lies on herself too. She had to duck and cover to get to an awaiting car when she arrived in Beirut during the fall of the country to meet the U.S. troops, so she is “battle hardened” well Chelsea was there too, what does that make her a stellar member of Black Water now?
OBAMA--Father’s trip to the US was funded by the Kennedy family. A misspeak? Why even say it? 1965 March on Selma inspiring his parents to fall in love with one another however 4 years before that is when Obama was conceived. Although Reverend Wright was his mentor and great spiritual advisor and friend “like an Uncle to me” for years, he never heard him make accusations that “the US be damned” and other diatribes against the US domestic and foreign policies?
What about Experience and Readiness for office, isn’t this more important that what my minster said today? Doesn’t his legislative record in Illinois count for anything, don’t they vet candidates anymore? Compared to Clinton’s claims if she was Pinocchio should have a tree encircling her head.
McCain Al-Queda is a threat to Iraq and will do everything possible to take over the country. A larger misspeak to cause individuals to say he is now the McBush? And we all know that following Bush’s plan is not well respected of likened by either side of the aisle. However when the candidate is charming, well liked by the media these kinds of comments are slimed down to “obnoxious, overly optimistic and controversial statements. Then I heard a revelation: Trustworthiness and strong leadership qualities are the key factors voters will be looking for in the Pennsylvania contest April 22nd, 2008. Thank God, I thought it was going to be “the greatest story ever told”.
Miscellaneous Thoughts
This morning, Alex Benepe, intercollegiate Quidditch commission oversees kids at Princeton and Middlebury playing a championship Quidditch at Amherst College (estab.1821). To date there are eighty college locations where participants challenge one another with this game.
Yes, Harry Potter’s 400 million worldly books has spawned a strategic air broom game to a new fantasy amazing “ground” sport not played by “magicians” but young college athletes. Keeper or goalie protects the three golden rings; Chasers take the soccer looking ball and passes it back and forth to their players to throw it through the hoops to make points. Seekers are the people opposing the Chasers. Meantime everyone must keep a broom with one hand in between their legs. The Beater with the bludger (person with red ball) hits the seekers and chasers so they must run back to their perspective goal post and run around the post before reentering the game. The Snitch (representative of the golden ball that everyone was pursuing) is a guy with a sock tucked into his back waistband that is the gold sock is last object to attain to running over the goal line and winning the game. What you say? This is a combination of Dodge ball, soccer and rugby without the pads or helmets but gloves, a pair of cleats, shorts and great running quickness definitely suggested. How’s that for sport?
I got weepy watching a 10-year old brain cancer daddy’s girl seeking her “last wish” to have 20 minutes with her father, who was in a minimum security federal prison miles away. His sentence ends in August, mind you this is March. He was serving a five year sentence for drug possession. The warden said they allowed him free phone calls to the hospital (but we don’t know how many). The family apparently financed four visits to the hospital during this grave period. Why didn’t they allow this man to go to a supervised halfway house within walking distance? American compassion? And you still don’t believe the stories at Guantanamo? Think again.
At last night’s meeting, our resident attorney in the our local democratic club brought up last night that that 49.8% of the vote is what is separating Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton! If not we stand to have McCain referred to now as McBush for another 8 years with 2 more Republican selected Supreme Court judges. The Democratic candidates’ personal attacks are demoralizing voters to possibly go to McCain. Remember once upon a time McCain was revered by Feingold, Clinton and Kennedy. 800 Superdelegates are believed to be deciding whom they are supporting. 350 still haven’t said whom they are pledged to but before the July national convention scheduled in Denver Colorado, 450 superdelegates are poised to cast their votes. Howard Dean met with the two candidates but no one is saying what the outcome is. Meantime McBush is running all over the world looking presidential and vomiting Bush’s rhetoric of “democracy for all”. Democrats, this isn’t watching sausage anymore this is borderline party suicide. To hell with the egos the party needs unity. The Green party is looking for new registrants, what did I do with that membership envelope?
Yes, Harry Potter’s 400 million worldly books has spawned a strategic air broom game to a new fantasy amazing “ground” sport not played by “magicians” but young college athletes. Keeper or goalie protects the three golden rings; Chasers take the soccer looking ball and passes it back and forth to their players to throw it through the hoops to make points. Seekers are the people opposing the Chasers. Meantime everyone must keep a broom with one hand in between their legs. The Beater with the bludger (person with red ball) hits the seekers and chasers so they must run back to their perspective goal post and run around the post before reentering the game. The Snitch (representative of the golden ball that everyone was pursuing) is a guy with a sock tucked into his back waistband that is the gold sock is last object to attain to running over the goal line and winning the game. What you say? This is a combination of Dodge ball, soccer and rugby without the pads or helmets but gloves, a pair of cleats, shorts and great running quickness definitely suggested. How’s that for sport?
I got weepy watching a 10-year old brain cancer daddy’s girl seeking her “last wish” to have 20 minutes with her father, who was in a minimum security federal prison miles away. His sentence ends in August, mind you this is March. He was serving a five year sentence for drug possession. The warden said they allowed him free phone calls to the hospital (but we don’t know how many). The family apparently financed four visits to the hospital during this grave period. Why didn’t they allow this man to go to a supervised halfway house within walking distance? American compassion? And you still don’t believe the stories at Guantanamo? Think again.
At last night’s meeting, our resident attorney in the our local democratic club brought up last night that that 49.8% of the vote is what is separating Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton! If not we stand to have McCain referred to now as McBush for another 8 years with 2 more Republican selected Supreme Court judges. The Democratic candidates’ personal attacks are demoralizing voters to possibly go to McCain. Remember once upon a time McCain was revered by Feingold, Clinton and Kennedy. 800 Superdelegates are believed to be deciding whom they are supporting. 350 still haven’t said whom they are pledged to but before the July national convention scheduled in Denver Colorado, 450 superdelegates are poised to cast their votes. Howard Dean met with the two candidates but no one is saying what the outcome is. Meantime McBush is running all over the world looking presidential and vomiting Bush’s rhetoric of “democracy for all”. Democrats, this isn’t watching sausage anymore this is borderline party suicide. To hell with the egos the party needs unity. The Green party is looking for new registrants, what did I do with that membership envelope?
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Time For New Leaders (Santa Clarita)
HOSPITAL PARKING: TimBen Boydston expressed the city and county formulas regarding the "lack of adequate parking" for the hospital. If you have used the hospital campus facility you factually know this. Adjacent residential neighborhoods are being daily inconvenienced with the hospital overflow in the front of their homes.
G&L Realty isn't responsible for the lack of parking at the hospital but they are in the position to remedy it. G&L is a business so their interest is in getting their financial return for keeping the hospital afloat. Unfortunately the really don’t exhibit goodwill towards the citizens of Santa Clarita. However the hospital is still in the arrears. The hospital staff were asleep at the switch when prior hospital expansions were made, so inadequate parking is exponentially lacking at approximately 500 spaces. You ask why would a business not want to make it convenient for customers? Because the business is lopsided in their thinking, that of only making money. Parking needs to be remedied.
HOSPITAL BUILDING: Speaking of money, Seaver is anguished over the City Council fight and the G&L Realty medical business venture which require tight rope walking to keep the hospital afloat with hundreds of millions in the red each year. The "outsider" realty group controls the hospital and interested in making a profit by creating medical buildings to attract other professional medical practices and clinics. It is presumed once built; they will encourage the sale of the hospital. Without the medical buildings G & L says the hospital isn't a buyer’s magnet. The City is willing to bail out the hospital if it guarantees that a prenatal section, improved surgical care, and needed beds are added immediately. However, G&L says this isn’t a selling point. Consequently, the hospital's future is in the hands of ‘a white knight outsider’ who rescued the hospital from closure. The community demands more beds, improved services, and more medical professionals and experts that otherwise are located in communities 20 and 30 miles away. To establish these businesses locally you need added incentives to bring them here.
I would be a crying Seaver also with this dilemma. But in my humble opinion, having a major “insider” Santa Claria player buy out G&L Realty, sell bonds, whatever it takes and complete the needs of SC with a nonprofit hospital that needs biotechnological updating, specialized medicine, and state of the art customer care.
Second, buy out the MRF builder project and put the bed expansion project in Canyon Country, an area in desperate need of medical attention.
Third, take the space that G&L owned and put your hospital parking spaces there. Plan and build to the least amount of congestion on the back side of the hospital, more hospital beds. Do not remove or kill the trees. Come to a firm conclusion of the parking structure's height and build the medical office space in Newhall, near enough but where the increased revenue will rejuvenate a dying economic area. Put jobs up for bids, rookies need not apply, cut out the cronyism, set a deadline and demand the builders stick to it.
Do not put Ender on the City Council. She is not her own person or up on the issues. I can't believe Congressman Buck would demean her publicly by saying she is the instrument which he can use to deal with CEMEX. The woman isn’t a dummy she just isn’t up on the ramifications of large issues. Give her time to grow more
Remember Feinstein said even if CEMEX is bought out, another entity can come in and buy that same space and the city will have to revisit the issue again. Understandably, the City doesn't have the money to purchase the CEMEX mine. Find a mega billion dollar environmental entity to buy out CEMEX that isn't interested in the mines contents, but for the sake of the residents (yeah I maybe dreaming here) and then have the city to purchase the mine outright.
Release Kellar from the City Council so he can make personal money in real estate; continue developing huge community fundraisers and building the Art Center with the assistance of his realtors for a City War Chest. Recognize that Bob Spierer is a great manager not a leader and encourage him to make money with Kellar building the Art Center, a state of the art police station and developing community safety fundraisers.
And last but not lease, vote a third time for Maria Gutzeit, an independent chemical engineer, a policy wonk, who has carefully representing the interests of this community and doesn't mind stepping on a few toes because she is not owned by any of these aforementioned groups.
And then let's figure out in two years how to sweep out the disgusting obnoxious behaving of Mayor pro tem Frank Ferry from the City Council and the Lauren "taming of the shrew" West. Then let us put our heads together to find two financial law-abiding, tested, compassionate leaders that Santa Clarita who we can be proud of. TimBen will you be available in two years? Now who is the second person?
Minerva Williams,
Mighty Thunder
G&L Realty isn't responsible for the lack of parking at the hospital but they are in the position to remedy it. G&L is a business so their interest is in getting their financial return for keeping the hospital afloat. Unfortunately the really don’t exhibit goodwill towards the citizens of Santa Clarita. However the hospital is still in the arrears. The hospital staff were asleep at the switch when prior hospital expansions were made, so inadequate parking is exponentially lacking at approximately 500 spaces. You ask why would a business not want to make it convenient for customers? Because the business is lopsided in their thinking, that of only making money. Parking needs to be remedied.
HOSPITAL BUILDING: Speaking of money, Seaver is anguished over the City Council fight and the G&L Realty medical business venture which require tight rope walking to keep the hospital afloat with hundreds of millions in the red each year. The "outsider" realty group controls the hospital and interested in making a profit by creating medical buildings to attract other professional medical practices and clinics. It is presumed once built; they will encourage the sale of the hospital. Without the medical buildings G & L says the hospital isn't a buyer’s magnet. The City is willing to bail out the hospital if it guarantees that a prenatal section, improved surgical care, and needed beds are added immediately. However, G&L says this isn’t a selling point. Consequently, the hospital's future is in the hands of ‘a white knight outsider’ who rescued the hospital from closure. The community demands more beds, improved services, and more medical professionals and experts that otherwise are located in communities 20 and 30 miles away. To establish these businesses locally you need added incentives to bring them here.
I would be a crying Seaver also with this dilemma. But in my humble opinion, having a major “insider” Santa Claria player buy out G&L Realty, sell bonds, whatever it takes and complete the needs of SC with a nonprofit hospital that needs biotechnological updating, specialized medicine, and state of the art customer care.
Second, buy out the MRF builder project and put the bed expansion project in Canyon Country, an area in desperate need of medical attention.
Third, take the space that G&L owned and put your hospital parking spaces there. Plan and build to the least amount of congestion on the back side of the hospital, more hospital beds. Do not remove or kill the trees. Come to a firm conclusion of the parking structure's height and build the medical office space in Newhall, near enough but where the increased revenue will rejuvenate a dying economic area. Put jobs up for bids, rookies need not apply, cut out the cronyism, set a deadline and demand the builders stick to it.
Do not put Ender on the City Council. She is not her own person or up on the issues. I can't believe Congressman Buck would demean her publicly by saying she is the instrument which he can use to deal with CEMEX. The woman isn’t a dummy she just isn’t up on the ramifications of large issues. Give her time to grow more
Remember Feinstein said even if CEMEX is bought out, another entity can come in and buy that same space and the city will have to revisit the issue again. Understandably, the City doesn't have the money to purchase the CEMEX mine. Find a mega billion dollar environmental entity to buy out CEMEX that isn't interested in the mines contents, but for the sake of the residents (yeah I maybe dreaming here) and then have the city to purchase the mine outright.
Release Kellar from the City Council so he can make personal money in real estate; continue developing huge community fundraisers and building the Art Center with the assistance of his realtors for a City War Chest. Recognize that Bob Spierer is a great manager not a leader and encourage him to make money with Kellar building the Art Center, a state of the art police station and developing community safety fundraisers.
And last but not lease, vote a third time for Maria Gutzeit, an independent chemical engineer, a policy wonk, who has carefully representing the interests of this community and doesn't mind stepping on a few toes because she is not owned by any of these aforementioned groups.
And then let's figure out in two years how to sweep out the disgusting obnoxious behaving of Mayor pro tem Frank Ferry from the City Council and the Lauren "taming of the shrew" West. Then let us put our heads together to find two financial law-abiding, tested, compassionate leaders that Santa Clarita who we can be proud of. TimBen will you be available in two years? Now who is the second person?
Minerva Williams,
Mighty Thunder
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