Pacifica Tribune, letters-to-the-editor, 3/13/12. "Recall update" by Therese M. Dyer.
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| Won't fix our city economy? Get rid of the other 2 now. |
My reasons are: why should we pay Pete DeJarnatt's salary and benefits until November when he can't vote on the assisted living development. Currently we have four council members that are at odds with each other two for development which is 50 years overdue and Pete and Sue who want more open space so no matter who they appoint there will be friction and we don't need that. The ideal scenario would be if he had an election; let the people choose. So I have to agree with Elaine Larsen on that one. The only way to do that is force Pete and Sue to step down now.
Do we want two more years of Sue? Please read the blog Fix Pacifica even the grand Jury: read that one. By the way, we are not being told the truth about the widening of Highway 1; ask Barbara, she's on the advisory board and as far as the General Plan we haven't had one in 30 years and we can't afford to finish this. I attended the General Plan meeting. Did you? How do you expect to get informed by staying home?
Next week I'll write about why I think we should think about becoming a Charter City instead of a General City. One thing for sure, we wouldn't have to pay for incompetency in our city council members. Why don't you ask Steve Rhodes, our city manager, about charter cities. He worked for one in Oregon. You can also look it up on League of Cities; we have the perfect demographics for it. Once again, I'd like to thank those who contributed financially: Bernie Sifry, Tod and Vicky Schlesinger, Kathy Meeh and all of you who signed the petition." Want to help? Therese's phone number is (650) 355-9668, or e-mail: theresedyer1932@gmail.com
Personal comment from Kathy: I think Therese has already won her recall effort without a formal recall. However, city council member Sue Digre has proven over 10 years she is incapable of understanding "our environment is not our economy". And, the long-term care facility deserves a fair hearing to move forward, which is impossible without a quorum. I applaud Therese for her civic courage, volunteer perseverance, and reflective intelligence. If you think the picture on this article is too wild, the choice was entirely mine.
Posted by Kathy Meeh
29 comments:
As much as I'd like to see Pete and Sue gone, I am cringing with embarrassment at this recall effort.
The explanation for the recall is a mish-mash of incoherence. It looks like the recall is being championed by people who are so angry, they can't think straight. I understand the anger, but it's not enough to base a recall on.
The charges leveled at Pete and Sue are the same generic charges that can be leveled at any politician, anywhere.
A picture implying that Pete and Sue are analogous to rats and cockroaches? Good Lord. It looks like the recall is being run by a bunch of little Rush Limbaughs.
Well Steve (123), 10 years of Vreeland, DeJarnatt, and Digre working to assure "no growth" city failure (when solutions were available), from my view warrants this edgy picture. The satire picture can be changed-out, the cruel economic facts and track record of these city councilmembers cannot.
As stated, I think the Recall advancement has served its purpose, although I would like to see Sue Digre step-down. I think the committee to Recall will collect signatures, because they would at this point like to see the long term care facility development progress and a quorum is needed. That's up to them, it is their organization.
Kathy, you don't need to tell me about the damage Vreeland, Digre and DeJarnatt have done.
I want to know why it's so hard for some people to disagree with others without demonizing them?
There's a long history of Jews being depicted as rats, which I'm sure has something to do with my disgust toward the picture you put up.
The use here is crass, insensitive and ignorant, but probably not anti-Semitic. Enlightenment can still happen.
I don't think the picture was meant to be anti-Semitic. I was giving an example of why comparing people with rats is objectionable.
The need to endlessly demonize others is what I get tired of. Associating Pete, Sue or anyone else with rats or cockroaches is below even my low bar of civility.
Steve (227) you're right, the general pest picture of a cockroach, black widow spider and rat is kind of "disgusting". I almost did not post it, but its satirical and not a true image of the principals.
Now, I didn't know about the ethnic, religious or tribal slur connection you mentioned-- or rejected it outright if I heard it. Interesting, I've lived close to Jewish people all my life and admire the cultural intelligence and ethics.
Rats are just rats, Steve. We seem to have pleanty of them around during this dry season along the coast. Its a cartoon, nothing more.
Then I guess you won't mind if I post some pictures of Obama as a monkey. After all, a monkey is just a monkey. And it would be done in a spirit of satire.
Wait just a minute. Some of my best friends are monkeys. I've lived among them all my life and I admire their cultural intelligence and ethics. And, I like bananas, too.
Steve (355)and/or Anonymous (415) we are all monkeys, get over it. And that's why you like bananas Anon. Interesting how you both moved the satire to a racial slur though.
Steve, hope you are not linking our President to the 10 year recession in Pacifica, caused by our "no growth" city council.
Do you want to keep playing with this, or shall we quit now?
Cramer says Pacifica actually caused the global recession. Yep, right here. Boo-yah!
oh you were going for satire. oops.
Oh Jesus Christ! Most of us want the same thing here. Why is it we must bicker about trivial crap. No wonder this city can never get anything done.
Digre and Dejarnett need to go now. They have violated the law, repressed progress, drove off business and then tried to tax us to death. All in the name of radical environmentalism.
Steve, you're always on people here about stopping development. Well these two are the king and queen of anti development. If you're serious about Pacifica moving forward you have to support this effort.
Well said, Hutch!
Sorry Hutch, but I don't have to support the recall. I think it's a waste of time.
The recall in 2003 was a disaster, because it showed council just how disorganized its opponents were. Council learned it could do what it wanted with no effective opposition.
I'm not so worried that this one will do much damage. What does worry me is when we come off looking like a bunch of uncivil, foaming-at-the-the-mouth extremists.
If laws have been broken, it is your duty to go to the San Mateo County District Attorney with your concerns (oh, don't forget the evidence while you're at it)instead of making a cheap and shabby stalking horse out of the accusations for your populist rabble-rousing.
But let's be honest; you'll never go to the DA because all you really want is to have your Two Minutes Hate, stamp your feet, and flip out with an ol' fashioned tantrum about how things just aren't going your way.
Hello Anon 8:58. The laws that were broken have already resulted in two law suits being lost by the city.
1. Illegally harassing building inspector (Mike Angel) who denied Jim Vreeland a building permit.
2. Illegally blackballing our former finance director Maureen Lennon when she applied for a job in Palm Springs.
And there are several others.
I've asked this several times before, and haven't gotten an answer. Let's try one more time.
What is the point of include Pete DeJarnatt in the recall? If he does run again, what's wrong with using the results of the regular November election to decide whether voters want him on Council or not?
Hello Hutch,
Both suits were settled out of court.
Exactly how does this prove your statement of a) illegality and b) that the City "lost"?
Take your time and explain it to me real simple-like -- you know, as if I were a recall supporter.
Hutch, you seem to be confusing civil and criminal law. Huge difference.
There's a lot at stake in this next election and that's where the attention and the effort should be focused. And that effort needs credible leaders, bullet-proof strategy, sharp organization, no ridiculous distractions or horrible PR.
"Both suits were settled out of court."
Anon (959), well duh, who paid? If the city paid, those "settlements" are losses. About 90% of lawsuits are settlements (information from an attorney friend). But, hey, the city finally won a 7 year defense of North Pacifica LLC, only cost the city (us) NET $1.5 million. DeJarnatt called that "our savings plan". Of course, we also lost the development revenue.
Anon (1020) with your criminal/civil legal "mumbo jumbo", you are confusing the simple "laws broken" comment by Hutch (926). And, it seems you have several comments attempting to confuse others.
Thanks to the 2002-12 city council, the city has been left with 60% open space and an inability to financially sustain itself and thrive. That's a clear city issue.
There's always a lot at stake in any election. For example, the last election. 5 potential pro-economy candidates, 3 city council positions open, and I believe you supported 2. Only 1 pro-economy candidate won. Double duh. Moral to this story: If a recall election co-exists with the election, so be it.
Preliminary work for the recall PAC is almost completed. That required GOOD ORGANIZATION. Part 2, the petition campaign has yet to begin. As Hutch said, too bad people with a common interest cannot work together.
Anonymous said...
"Both suits were settled out of court."
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Yes, the law suits were settled out of cout. Huge payouts were made by the City to these two employees because Dejarnett and Digre ILLEGALLY tried to blackball a former employee by telling her prospective employer in Palm Springs untrue negative things. And ILLEGALLY harassed another employee for not giving their buddy Vreeland a building permit.
Get it? Those things are ILLEGAL. Against STATE LAW. And Pacifica had to pay out tens of thousands of dollars because of these two ILLEGAL actions.
Comprende?
Hutch and Meeh, first go do some research on the difference between civil and criminal cases. Then, if you have any evidence, have the DA file charges. Next, drop this silly recall effort. It's a complete waste of money, is undemocratic, and is the equivalent of a spoiled child stomping their feet and crying when they don't get what they want.
Just an FYI for the anons:
Violations of law (statutory, regulatory or common) can be adjudicated in Criminal or Civil courts depending upon the offense.
As an example -- illegal downloading of music/films on the Internet; quite obviously considered "illegal" yet handled as a Civil matter.
"Dejarnett and Digre ILLEGALLY tried to blackball a former employee by telling her prospective employer in Palm Springs untrue negative things"
It was Cecilia Quick that bad-mouthed the city's former finance director and got Pacifica into trouble. I don't know that DeJarnatt and Digre had much to do with it.
"Meeh", Anon 1059?
You're taking to the wrong person. The visible principal of the Recall campaign is listed on the article with email and phone number. That information is good for people who volunteer for the campaign as well.
Personally if I wanted to stop the recall effort, I could not. I could not stop the recall, apparently any more than you can. So, enjoy it for what its worth.
The simple comment "laws broken" does not warrant the "drop into a rabbit-hole" comment from you serial Anonymous (1059): "first go do some research on the difference between civil and criminal cases. Then, if you have any evidence, have the DA file charges."
Spin to distract the issues, and promote YOUR political strategy? Even with evidence, the DA does not take many cases unless they are big. Does that ring a Bell? (Bell as in Bell, CA).
No laws were actually broken and no animals were harmed in the creation of this fantasy.
Yea, the city had to pay-off City Manager David Carmany too. Guess he was a little too pro-economy. Vreeland led that charge. Carmany left employment in 2003, another 10 year+ city council lawsuit plumb.
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