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Ed's gone, but this Sweetwater shenanigan isn't
It also seems to me that EVEN IF the County Board of Education was not in a position to take official action, as they claimed, they did and do have a 'bully' pulpit from which to shame or preach to the districts in their jurisdiction when so much is going amiss. It also seems to me that the State Superintendent of Public Instruction has the same 'bully' pulpit. (a platform from which to lecture or preach, even if one does not have legal authority). No thanks to Tom Torlakson for so conveniently ignoring the SUHSD mess.— November 20, 2014 4:29 p.m.
Ed's gone, but this Sweetwater shenanigan isn't
Speaking of litigation: I am not a lawyer, but it seems to me that if the requisite public hearing to declare a property or properties 'surplus' was never held, doesn't that negate every deal that went down without the public hearings? That may seem too easy, but it does seem quite logical to me. Just sayin'.— November 20, 2014 4:05 p.m.
Ed's gone, but this Sweetwater shenanigan isn't
And let's not forget another 'elected official' who sat in the South County Rep seat on the County Board of Education and did nothing to assist....hmmmmmm....I think he was just defeated in the run off for mayor! That person couldn't find it in himself even to return calls seeking assistance for the travesties unfolding at SuhSD. He wouldn't even LISTEN!!!— November 20, 2014 3:17 p.m.
Ed's gone, but this Sweetwater shenanigan isn't
Nice analysis Susan. I would hope that the public's right to KNOW and to comment on the status of property the public owns would TRUMP any so-called 'benefit' of the 501(c)3 status of the holding which on its face is designed to secrete the arrangement. Your term 'squirreled away' is apt, by the way. It seems to me that if the District would like to determine that public property is in fact not needed for educational purposes, (one criterion for determining if it is in fact surplus) it is begging the question to try and 'hide' it from other public entities that would be otherwise entitled to bid on the property. It appears that the logic of the Plan/Nine California Trust regarding the benefits of their convoluted arrangements is to HIDE from public view what the public needs to know! Isn't that an admission of attempts to get around the rules? And YES, the district DID hold the somewhat flawed, as you note, 7-11 meetings which does indicate that the district was aware of its obligation to determine if the property was surplus --- and then proceeded to flaunt its action in the public's face by its subsequent deal with Plan Nine! The whole point of public ownership, I would think, is that it is PUBLIC ownership and does not belong in a quasi-private holding . Thanks for taking the time and effort to work your way through the morass fast Eddy and his ilk created.— November 20, 2014 12:12 p.m.
Ed's gone, but this Sweetwater shenanigan isn't
I continue to wonder why the transfer of property to the so-called 'trust' (now there's a word for you!) can't be undone because there was never a public hearing by the board of Trustees (that word again) as required by law to declare the property surplus. Simply put, we the people never had the opportunity to comment on the proposed surplus status which is a pre-condition of disposing of any property owned by the public (that would be us). I would think that absent the requisite process, the transfer is null and void and Mr. Lichtman can just go away. It also appears that 'fast' Eddy is indeed good at sleight of hand with the 'arrangements' for the properties (all in the 'package) and it is likely he is or has been personally profiting from whatever arrangements he facilitated so deftly. With regard to the County Board of Education, we know that those folks and the superintendent they employ are certainly not even caretakers as they bask in total denial of their responsibilities toward the pubic they are supposed to serve. At a minimum, we south county voters should turn our so-called representative, Lyn Nealon out of office as soon as possible, as she is part of the do-nothing crowd at the County. I believe she will be up for office in 2016, along with another one we should remember with our 'no' votes at the polls, her honor Judge Espana. Yep, there is much yet to be reckoned with.— November 20, 2014 10:57 a.m.
Ed's gone, but this Sweetwater shenanigan isn't
And the core principle of the Brown Act is that "The public's business be done in public." Sigh— November 19, 2014 8:20 p.m.
Dollars and nonsense in Chula Vista
As of Nov 19, it is even with approximately 100 votes to count county-wide.— November 19, 2014 6:55 p.m.
Dollars and nonsense in Chula Vista
According to the SD Registrar of Voters website this evening, one vote separates McCann who has the very tiny lead, and Padilla, with approximately 1,000 left to count.— November 18, 2014 6:43 p.m.
Dollars and nonsense in Chula Vista
To Darlene Sanchez-Harris, in the Facebook comments: It is disheartening to think that those who have been elected as our representatives are not the best decision makers! Unless the City Charter has a provision for the voters to over rule (and I don't think there is any such provision) an action of the City Council, the only recourse we have is to show up at City Council Meetings and make a very big noise. Sadly, in this instance, the Council went against the advice of its own Planning Commission. If I were one of those commissioners, I would be quite unhappy about it, especially because their job is difficult and time consuming...if I were a commissioner, I would also show up for the second reading and protest during the public comment part of the meeting.— November 16, 2014 4:41 p.m.
Dollars and nonsense in Chula Vista
I think that Mr. McCann's votes are directed by Mrs. McCann and by those who have the most money for the McCann family benefit.— November 12, 2014 7:38 p.m.