Well just as I was preparing to comment on the news that BJ Nathanson resigned in disappointment from the Pacifica Planning Commission (noting that "As years went on, however, new people came on, the tenor of the commission just kept changing and changing and changing and not for the better, It completely tilted in one political direction and lately, the current commission...I have found a few commissioners who are just refuse to follow the rules.") . . . an early Christmas gift fell into my lap.
The tax returns for the Pacifica Chamber of Commerce for 2006, 2007, and 2008:
PACIFICA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2006 form 990
PACIFICA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2007 form 990
PACIFICA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2008 form 990
Some analysis of these returns unveils some very interesting information.
As Pacifica's business community was quickly dying from 2006 to 2008, Chamber of Commerce CEO Don Eagleston was given a raise in salary and benefits from $83,413 in 2006 to $94,424 in 2007, to $103,799 in 2008.
During the same time period, the Visitors center lost $1,425 during 2006, $46 in 2007, and did manage to eke out a $543 profit in 2008.
Also noted in the 2008 return is the participation of Councilwoman Julie Lancelle, the City of Pacifica's liaison to the chamber, of approximately 2 hours a week. You may recall Ms. Lancelle was very upset that, despite the weak endorsement from Don Eagleston of the proposed sales tax in May of 2009 (Measure D), it failed by over a 60%/40% margin. Perhaps she did not spend enough time with the Chamber of Commerce discussing actual ECONOMIC BUSINESS PROPOSALS that didn't include regressive taxes.
So apparently the one person who profited most by Pacifica's lack of attention to the needs of the business community was its Chamber of Commerce's own CEO. And as the Chamber of Commerce was co-opted by the same non-profit environmentalist community supported by the liaison Julie Lancelle, I have to revisit Nancy Hall's whiny diatribe in the Tribune a few weeks ago and wonder who's fault was it really that the business community was not competently represented the past 8 years???
Article from Jeff Simons, http://jeffsbigmouth.blogspot.com/2010/11/pacificas-chamber-of-commerce-good-for.html
Submitted by Jim Alex
74 comments:
Either Jim Alex and Jeffrey Simons are the same person or else Jim is blatantly plagarizing this article:
JEFF'S BIG MOUTH
Jeff ran for council and then moved to Texas and I am right here.
Your anonymous chicken chit post is probably one of the stupidest in the history of the internet
Just for you annoymous Idiot. I asked Jeff, for permission to post it on Fix Pacifica.
So when we read I was preparing... and I have found a few commissioners... and I have to revisit Nancy Hall's whiny diatribe... in a post with your byline, we are to magically know these weren't your thoughts, but Jeffrey Simons'?
Good thing you attributed the post to him... except you didn't.
Exactly who is the "Idiot" here? (to use your words)
Just an author identification error that can be fixed, guys. "Submitted by" means someone else wrote it (I think).
Eagleston, the ex-v.-p. of the chamber, was described to me by a fellow merchant as a "doorstop."
But like many doorstops in positions of authority, he knew where his own self-interests would be served. That is, by bleeding the suckers in the organization clueless enough to hire him.
I wouldn't blame Ms. Lancelle for her "work" with the chamber; she wouldn't know a good idea if it hit'er upside the haid.
Jim don't take logic lessons from Monty Python unless you want to write comedy.
Todd, when you are dirty and call high school girls strippers and hookers. You shouldn't mouth off. Now crawl back under the huge rock you came from.
Okay now you're even, let's move on. The Chamber of Commerce is a whole lot better under new management.
That's a matter of opinion. Some people think it's a whole lot worse.
If having the interests of the business community as opposed to the interests of the environmentalists, city staff and local politicians means the chamber is now a lot worse then give me what you're smoking. I see Len Stone got in and Leo did not.
It looks like Todd Bray's hit the trifecta and is concurrently engaging in childish pissing matches on all three local blogs. At a certain point, he might want to step back, look in the mirror, and say "Physician, heal thyself."
It also looks like Ian Butler finally graduated from the Nancy Hall School of Hit and Run Arguments. The way these people insult the people with which they disagree and then ask for civility used to shock me, but I guess it's pretty much the definition of a NIMBY to say "this is how it should be, except for when it applies to me."
I am not Todd Bray. But if you think the Chamber of Commerce is effectively serving the interests of the business community, you must be Alice in Wonderland.
The ones quickest to accuse are those most guilty themselves. That applies to both Todd and Jeff.
Steve
Todd does the classic Nancy hall hit and run.
Todd, is quick to dish it out but he can not take it.
Jim
Jim, I disagree with Todd on lots of things, but at least we can get along and discuss differences civilly. (Same with Butler, Maybury, Underhill, et.al.) That can't be done with Jeff. He throws a tantrum and makes an enemy of anyone who has even the smallest disagreement with him.
Additionally, Todd doesn't go around making irresponsible criminal accusations the way Jeff does.
That reminds me, I promised several people that I'd take down Jeff's video after the election.
Scotty, you can use your real name. It's okay to be yourself.
Jim Alex said "Todd, when you are dirty and call high school girls strippers and hookers." Besides Jim and Drama the only record of anyone saying these sorts of things to my knowledge are Jim and Drama. I never did anything like this, ever.
Steve
Bray, needs to man up and fess up.
He did get removed from the planning commission didn't he??
He did make inappropriate comments about the girls Peebles had stand in Vallemar on election day.
I am not talking about Jeff.
Todd, do you want me to go to City Hall and have Kathy, pull the checks you cashed from the City Of Pacifica????
Quit while your ahead you are only making a bigger ass of yourself
this is hilarious! Sinai repeatedly pilfers content from Simons and then trashes him, knowing full well he will delete any comments Simons will make to defend himself. No wonder this blog is a joke. at least Simons had the guts to run and stand up to the nobies in pacifica. what has sinai done? oh, i forgot. he made friends with todd bray and they respect each other. how awesome for pacifica.
Jim you are caught up in some kind of dream. I never did anything at all to anybody on route one on any election day, nor any day leading up to an election. Unfortunately for you you want to say and do these things for your own pleasure. And pull all the checks from City Hall you want.
Oh and I wasn't removed from the planning commission. But hey, why let reality into your life at this point. Dream on Jim.
todd bray answer simple question: why you resign from planning commission??
Jim Alex was the one who pilfered the article from Jeff's blog, without attribution.
Jim probably knew that I wouldn't have posted the article if I knew where it came from.
"...at least Simons had the guts to run"
...away from Pacifica.
"Jim Alex was the one who pilfered the article from Jeff's blog, without attribution.
Jim probably knew that I wouldn't have posted the article if I knew where it came from."
why don't I believe this for one second?
"...at least Simons had the guts to run"
...away from Pacifica.
SS list of accomplishments:
#1 - . . .
Steve
I asked Jeff, if I can post it
You bitch about Riptide and you do the same damned thing
Pathetic bunch of hypocrite
Again, I encourage you to identify the common thread in all three of these juvenile arguments before you start whining about how you're being treated, Todd.
Here's a hint: it's you.
Scotty, I'm neither whining or complaining. There are a handful of sicko's here defaming me and I'm simply responding to their misinformed opinions. Opinions are not facts Scotty no matter how bad you or others may want them to be. Jim, Laurie, Mike O, Jiff and a few others have all publicly used these words above to describe their feelings about younger people but have used me as an excuse to issue them. I have never done, said or implied any of these things about anyone regardless of age, gender of ethnicity. Look to these others for those types of statements. They belong to them not me. There is video and written statements by the above clearly showing them as the culprits of such utterances, not me. The written and video record of all this none sense goes back to Oct 2006, that's how stale this story is. And Scotty why hide behind a false identity unless you are a public official? Or maybe 10 years old. It doesn't hurt to use your real name.
why can not bray answer question? why bray resign?
Ah, yes... The ad hominem personal attack -- now that's a sure sign of someone in the right. Todd will probably turn to Godwin's Law next and compare someone to Hitler.
hahahahehehe, 10 it is.
hmmmm, todd bray refuses to answer a direct question about why he resigned from the planning commission . . . and he calls other people 10 yr olds???
Jim, every time something from Jeff's blog gets posted here, it results in a bunch of degenerate comments and childish fights. Do us all a favor and stop submitting his crap.
Then have Todd, answer the question. Why did he quit or why was he forced to quit the Pacifica Planning Commission?
Do I have to get the council meeting minutes.
I forgot you and Bray are good buddies now Steve
I find very few places in Pacifica that I actually want to go to. High Tide, Mc Donald's for their coffee and Mazzetti's are pretty much it. Ross is a dump inside. The city council should take a lesson or two from Burlingame in mixing in the old, the new and the big brand retailers.
Cute, Jim Alex, you caused the problem with this post. Then once again you chose to attack, in an attempt to embarrass others. And, under this article, you also aggravated your attacks under anonymous names-- just as you tried to do under another recent article. STOP, this dirty work makes YOU look like a complete jerk.
Today I'm a "good buddy" of Todd Bray too, he consistently uses his real name. He did not target others on this blog article like you did. As Steve said "civil" conversations should be encouraged. You own us all, especially Todd, an apology.
Thank you Anon 5:22pm for posting an intelligent comment.
Kathy
Jeff was your "good buddy" also and you turned on him.
Just like how you turned on Tod S
Well now, Todd Bray is my "good buddy" thanks to you and your devious methods, Jim Alex. This conversation is about YOU Jim Alex, not others.
Do YOU have any real comments or ideas about this article you posted, or did you just set it up to attack whoever seemed to be opportunistic to you?
Anon 5:22pm, I think you make an interesting point. 30 empty stores here, new city council member Len Stone, and the Chamber of Commerce (including their President, Susan Vellone) have some ideas to begin to fill these. Don't think city council has done much to move this city retail forward over the past 8 years-- except for activity from city council member Nihart (over 1.5 years) since she's been in office. We have hope. Burlingame is a mid-peninsula city, we are a coastal city. There may be differences in what is possible.
why wont todd bray simply explain why he resigned from the planning commission? he didnt go in a blaze of glory like bj. and he certainly likes to talk about himself a lot
"Jim, Laurie, Mike O, Jiff and a few others have all publicly used these words above to describe their feelings about younger people but have used me as an excuse to issue them."
As conspiracy nuts go, you take the cake pal. Martyr yourself much? So at least a half dozen people have made these comments and 100 people signed a petition (according to Simons) making the same allegation . . . but its all of THEM who are lying. Gotcha.
"Not me", Jim, Jeff or whoever 8:33pm, you can't do better than that? People signed a petition promoted by Jeff Simons against Todd Bray based upon a serious "name calling" allegation. That happened 4 years ago. Why would you drag-out this piece of "garbage" from that campaign period now?
Think about this, 4 years ago, enough-- its over, move on. You sure messed-up this article for reasonable comments ALL DAY, thanks for nothing.
And Jim, any reason you posted this article, other than to make trouble for others? Now I've asked you this question a couple of times, but you don't seem to answer, because that answer is NO.
why won't todd bray, who is fond of the sound of his own voice, explain why he suddenly resigned from the planning commission??
Kathy
You also forgot to mention why you never addressed the fact how you turned on Jeff, your good buddy Tod S.
First of all I left around 10 to go over to the Cal game came back around 5 had dinner and watched OSU kick USC's ass.
I posted the article because I wanted everyone to know what was going on with Don, and the chamber. A strong Chamber will bring more business into Pacifica. Don was grossly incompetant to run the Chamber and had zero ties to Pacifica.
Kathy, you are just like Todd Bray, you don't like the message and you shoot the guy who hands it to you?
BTW Kathy, have you been to a council meeting since your buddy Jeff left town?
Apolgize to Todd Bray, Me? Sure as soon as he refunds the $4,000 he took from the city.
He started it with me when the beaches where covered in the foot deep foam on Memorial Day weekend. Him and the other resident expert Loeb, tried to thrash me cause of the foam on the beach, but then again that didn't happen either right??
How did Cal do?
No Jim, you needless drug-up an irrelevant, out-of-context, hurtful event. You were predatory, attacking someone (for no reason whatsoever) who was posting comments. That happened to be Todd Bray this time. This follows the fact you posted an article recently with the PURPOSE of attacking someone else (for no reason). Fortunately attacks on that article (mostly under your anonymous names) were wiped off; whereas, these comments seemingly are being left as a record.
Really, you can't do this kind of stuff and continue to get by with it, Jim. Look at what you did. Along with your attacks on Todd, you brought-on other attacks to other people (also for no reason). These attacks were again out-of-context and with the intent to degrade, embarrass or harm (worse most of these comments were false or ill-informed). You voided any possible positive reason you may have had for submitting this article. You abused people you singled-out, the readership and the informational purpose for this blog.
Do you want to keep looking like a jerk, or do you want to sincerely apologize, give us more reason to trust you, and move forward?
Jim said "First of all this guy started it with me back when the foam was on the beaches. Like Mr Bray knows everyone, like he is a biologist and like he is a water expert."
Is this why you are angry, Jim? If I remember this issue of the seasonal brown foam that appears every now and then you were somehow attempting to blame the council for the foams natural occurrence.
Kathy, I'm currently lying on the floor. Thank you for your clarity, I appreciate it. I don't need an apology from Jim, but thanks for the thoughts.
wow fix pacifica is now in bed with the people who broke the city in the first place. this is hilarious.
when did todd bray go from being part of the problem to being part of the "fix"? I must have slept through that meeting . . .
Todd
Explain to us once and for all the reasons why you where forced to leave or pushed out of the Planning Commission. Don't make me waste Kathy's time on pulling the minutes and documents tomorrow.
Jim
Well, goody for you you question my "judgment". I hope this is the last of this nonsense dialog, Jim.
Apparently Todd Bray worked on a contracted service for the city. To my knowledge Tod Schlesinger and I are friendly. Jeff Simons caused inflexible problems with regard to this blog. Now it would be nice if you actually think about what you are saying, and consider whether its 1) verifiably true, 2) appropriate to the context of the article or conversation.
Jim or clone, now you're attacking Todd on physicality (weight). When does it stop, and who is next? STEVE, WILL YOU STOP THIS.
Todd Bray at 11:11am said "If I remember this issue of the seasonal brown foam that appears every now and then you were somehow attempting to blame the council for the foams natural occurrence."
That's right, Jim Alex tried to make a "big deal" out of that too. He didn't check that information either, he was wrong then, and he is wrong now. He has made this article conversation ugly, which reflects on him-- not you, or not on others. And, he is not grown-up enough to say I'm sorry.
Kathy, I seem to recall you signed the petition to have Todd Bray removed from the Planning Commission.
Todd,
Once again you are trying to twist everything to your benefit. First of all the foam was never a foot or two deep in Rockaway Beach. Never!!!
The foam has got much worse since the new plant has been built. Are you going to deny that the plant has known problems? Are you going to deny that the plant has never worked right?
Let's see I called the Fish & Game. The Lt. said it was an algae die off. When I started asking Fish & Game Biologists in Monterey & Sacramento they said it could have been caused by either an oxygen depletion or do to pollution. When I asked them could it be some chemical used by Waste Water Treatment plants and they said, that could be. Being that Ocean Beach has a lot of the foam by the SF plant, We have a lot by Pacifica's plant and The coast all the way to Monterey. From what I learned most Waste Water Treatment plants use the same chemicals in the treatment. They also told me being your plant in Pacifica has never worked right, that was a good place to look.
Also Todd, in case you didn't know my dad also grew up in Rockaway. He said he never saw foam that thick that bad ever. Also I called many many life time fishermen who have been fishing the beaches for 70+ years. No one has ever seen that foam that bad before.
Also you are talking to someone who has spent almost every day before and after work either fishing on the beaches or scoping out the action.
Todd, I have asked you please give me your credentals on Ocean Water.
I also asked you for your reason why you where replaced or forced to quit the Pacifica Planning Commission.
Kathy, I also asked you questions and you refuse to answer. You always complain about the Republicans and the tactics they use and you are worse.
Todd, are you also going to discount me on being a fisherman or are you better then everyone else at that also?
Anyone have a copy of this mythical petition demanding my resignation with all the signatures? The city never received one I'm told so where is it? And Jim, if you need to pull something be my guest.
Jim, I'm done talking to you, because you're an idiot and a total waste of time. See my comments at Noon.
has todd bray done anything here except deflect a simple question on why he was forced to resign from the planning commission?
The algae bloom happens seasonally. The foam has not gotten worse since the plant was built. Like everything else, it goes in cycles.
What does hell does Todd have to do with sea foam? If the algae bloom and sea foam were confined to the Pacifica area, I'd suspect the WWTP might have something to do with it, but I recall that the foam went all the way down to Monterey, so there must have been a bigger cause than the WWTP.
Steve
He said that I lied about that and blamed the council. I went to the council and asked them what it was???
Fish & Game Biologists said it could be a due to one of the chemicals used in Waste Water Treatment plants, they said it was harmless but pretty ugly
still waiting for bray to answer a simple question: why did he resign from the planning commission? oh wait, hall monitor steve is watching. bray doesn't have to explain anything now.
anonymous...I have an idea, why don't you hold your breath while you're waiting. oh wait, be sure to look up the definition of harassment while you're doing that.
"oh wait, be sure to look up the definition of harassment while you're doing that."
i did. aint even close, but keep threatening legal action. it works on cowards but not me.
anonymous @ 8:04PM...interesting how you went to the legal definition, other definitions also apply. Are you playing cagey games with what's legal and not legal?
"i did. aint even close, but keep threatening legal action. it works on cowards but not me..."
Funny coming from someone (t.s.) who posts anonymously.
i am legally asking why bray resigned from the planning commission. he likes to talk about everything else except that.
Wow... 66 comments of petty bickering. I'm not even sure it matters who is right. The meanspirited comments by both sides really aren't advancing their cause. Can't you just set aside your differences and agree to disagree? It just takes one to stop. I have a headache!
Oh for pity's sake. During the run up to the election on Measure "L", Todd Bray saw some young ladies in Catholic school uniforms on the side of the road at Vallemar and posted something naughty on the "L" list likening them to pay for hire strippers one would get for a party. I've seen the screen shots of what he posted, they were just tacky and ill advised. Nothing more. People who knew who the girls were and what they were doing got offended and took it to some way out there form. The rest of the story is that the girls were doing some volunteer work for their government class at, I believe, Mercy HS in Burlingame. The girls and their families didn't take it seriously, so they (wisely) let the matter stop with them.
The issue of him performing work (providing an architectrual rendering for some pet project of Scott Holmes) for the City while a sitting planning commissioner is not illegal, but perhaps ill advised at best.
Now, can we get to what is really important? Fixing Pacifica and stopping all the petty bullshit?
Gee, thanks.
ok now that everything is clear, we can move on
I'm with Anonymous @ 11:30.
Well said Anon, 11:30am, and thanks for your crisp memory of this event. This account seems correct.
Civility. Continuing the trend of Heather's 9:58am comments, here's a separate issue response on Pacifica Patch blog from BJ Nathanson, who recently resigned from the Planning Commission.
"Folks, this is the whole problem. This is not personal, and personal vendettas are destructive. They do not serve to provide a solution. We can disagree, but we must always respect each other. That is what I experienced on my first commission, where there were many different points of view, but everyone listened and respected each other. That is why we are all still friends and why we were able to make good decisions. If you want to attack someone, you are part of the problem, not the solution. Come up with ideas to help, don't waste everyone's time in personal attacks. They are counterproductive. Let's be adults here. Or there is no discourse at all."
Jim Alex and his "friends" owe Todd Bray an apology, Todd won't get that apology but at least the rest of us now know and understand that part of the story.
Anon at 9:58 AM, you are not helping when you further the lie. If you go back and re read the post it should be clear to anyone that I am making fun of paid political activists, adults engaged in legal commerce, not children. However the comment about the Yessie's, (Yes on L folks) at the time completely going overboard is equally clear by the comments posted over the next 24 hours on the same site by the likes of Sue, Laurie, Drama and others. Where they got the idea I can't say.
And does anyone have this mythical petition on them demanding I be removed from the PC with the mystery signatures? The city never got a copy. I'd be really interested in whom ever put their name on that little defamation time bomb. I saw one version a friend brought over that have names filled out but no actual signatures.
Todd, I think you mean 11:30am (the lower time), and that's what we understood at that time. Also, I believe the comment on the L list was circulated (possibly with the petition, I can't remember).
The complaint petition was circulated from Jeff Simons, and my understanding is it was sent to city council members. I can't remember the wording, whatever it was I signed-it.
This kind of old history ambush, and the targeted attack is a bad habit of Jim Alex and some of his friends. Hopefully as Anon 11:40am suggested, maybe we can move on now.
Understood Kathy, Thanks again for the clarity. Moving on.
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