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New blood for Sweetwater district?
Thank you for your reply. I am not sure what you mean by 'favored' candidates, as I am unaware of anyone doing any favoring, except perhaps the puppet master Ed Brand behind the scenes for Cartmill in your race and Grossman in area 1. For sure we have learned never to underestimate Fast Eddy Brand and co...surely he wants to have board members who will further his real estate empire rather than expose the conspiracy for what it is.— August 22, 2014 12:30 p.m.
New blood for Sweetwater district?
My first thought upon hearing about Nelon's comments was that it was inappropriate from the dais. However, I also believe she happens to be correct from a strategic point of view. I do agree with Schilling that there is a lot of blame to go around for this situation, but the greatest share is allotted to Judge Espana "They (Cartmill and Lopez) weren't as bad as the others"....my, what a fine quality for someone to have a position of public trust. As I analyze the potential in area 3 (Rancho del Rey and Eastlake) there are 5 candidates: Richard F Arroyo; Jim Cartmill; Greg Martinez; Chris Schilling; Frank Tarantino (in alphabetical order). According to the judge (Espana) Cartmill got more than 100 loyal backers to write letters of support to her prior to his sentencing. I am assuming he has a cadre of backers who will try to get him elected again, even in spite of the indictments, trials and his guilty plea bargain. In any election with one 'known' candidate and four others, the one known candidate has an obvious advantage. It seems to me that even if there were just three (say Cartmill, Schilling, Tarantino - I think Schilling and Tarantino are probably the strongest challengers) odds will still favor Cartmill. It will depend on the nature of the campaign, if the challengers are willing to have 'hit' pieces about Cartmill's evil past in spite of being a so-called 'pastor', and if the community in area 3 is awake enough to choose wisely. In my opinion, it will take some very well targeted campaign pieces, and money, to win what is essentially a race of four against one, with the four splitting the votes not garnered by the one. There is a somewhat similar race shaping up in area 2 (Bonita, CV east from third ave to Hilltop area) with Araceba; Bertha Lopez; Kevin ONeill; Kevin Pike and Dana Toogood. I think Bertha has less of an organized following than Cartmill. O'neill can with a good campaign take that one, again if the residents are paying attention. What seems pretty scary to me is Area 1 (National City, Western CV) with Burt Grossman, Arturo Solis and Jerome O Torres). We know that Grossman is a loyal Brand henchman ..that could be a race to watch that Grossman doesn't take it. At worst, the new board would have Cartmill, Grossman, Lopez majority. There are also 5 unknown candidates in area #4 (Otay Mesa) although one has run unsuccessfully for office several times before and he seems to be a 'wannabe' politician. Area 5 (IMperial Beach, Montgomery) has four candidates, which include one perennial 'wannabe' politician. Ms Neylon raised an important issue about election strategy and the reality of politics. I do agree that she ought not to have been paid for missed meetings as the 'service' on the SUHSD board is so much 'overtime' for the CBOE Members assigned to this special duty. Did anyone speak against that payment during public comment at the Board meeting?— August 22, 2014 10:21 a.m.
New blood for Sweetwater district?
You are on spot, anniiej. I think we are also talking about conspiracy, multiple conspiracies, gifting of taxpayer monies, grand theft of public money! Much of which is not 'simple' (as judge espana would argue) failure to report gifts over the limit. Eastlaker has called multiple times for forensic audits...that is what should happen as soon as possible. That's how they got Al Capone! it was in his books! This is big-time felony breaking of many, many laws, not to mention the public trust that has been shattered and the potential of so many children in our schools put at extreme disadvantage as a result of felonious greed. Won't it be nice to get back to 'normal' that is not about greed, conspiracy, schemes to defraud the public coffers? In order to get there, we must elect new board members who are dedicated to public service and who will not 'go along to get along' when they smell something amiss. (I see that there are strong candidates in new area 3, who may split the vote and allow Cartmill to slither back in. That would be a set back, thanks to Judge Espana giving him a 'pass' on his misdeeds. Geesh!)— August 21, 2014 3:15 p.m.
New blood for Sweetwater district?
Anniej....while none of us may be happy about it, the Brown Act DOES give the board the right to discuss property and other negotiations in closed session. I agree that it seems unfair given the millions of our $$ they are talking about. Of course, the board COULD opt to have the discussion in public, that is their option, but it might compromise the legal position or strategy they are discussing. I say let this board go ahead and try to figure out, even in closed session, how they might plan an escape from the property monster the former sup and board put in charge of the hen house, and how to disengage from the looters who are still attached to the deals. You are absolutely correct in your summation of the work the 'antagonists' have done to expose the corruption and to regain control of the district the public owns. I also believe Round 2 will be all about the property because none of it passes the smell test. I read that the former sup of San Ysidro pleaded guilty to corruption in the FEDERAL court...let's see how his sentence plays out. Let's hope the Sweetwater property perps once they are in court find themselves face to face with the FBI in FEDERAL District Court....I don't think the Feds play as nice as Judge Espana!— August 21, 2014 12:57 p.m.
New blood for Sweetwater district?
A great post Susan! I entirely agree that the process and property schemes have been flawed in many ways, especially the point made in your last paragraph above. My point about the lack of a public hearing to declare the properties surplus should have included that it is obvious the non-profit holding of the lease was done as part of the overall intent to defraud the taxpayers of the right to participate in the decision about possible sale of said properties, and to thereby create a smokescreen to hide the true nature of the scheme....clearly an intent to deceive all around!— August 21, 2014 11:58 a.m.
New blood for Sweetwater district?
anniej.....while it is frustrating, to be sure, the Brown Act does entitle the board to discuss property negotiations in closed session. It also entitles the board to discuss personnel and matters of anticipated or current litigation in closed session. The Brown Act makes it clear that closed session is to be used sparingly and is limited to a few topics precisely because the public's business is otherwise to be conducted in public. good point about bus transportation....Calhoun seems full of hot air and seems to make stuff up on the fly without adequate (or any) authority; and Ms Neylon needs to come to the table ready to represent the people...after all she is elected to represent OUR area of the county on the County Board of Education and so far seems pretty naïve or without any backbone.— August 21, 2014 10:58 a.m.
New blood for Sweetwater district?
I am not sure Glover's plan for a 'letter describing the asset utilization plan' to be 'published far and wide' is an adequate substitute for the state-required public hearing to declare public properties 'surplus' prior to any sale. As I have stated before, any plan to sell any of the district properties must follow such a public hearing. I don't think 'publishing' a plan far and wide meets that standard. I think any plan to sell the properties without due process and formal public hearing would be null and void.— August 21, 2014 9:36 a.m.
Villa V
There are also home movies that include several exterior shots of 545 San Antonio during the 40's - 70's that I have put onto a cd.— August 20, 2014 10:34 a.m.
Villa V
Hello carlh, Congratulations on your purchase. Unfortunately, I have no photos of the interior of the house, only memories. I think you are to be commended for your intent to restore to original design. I believe the home was constructed sometime in the 1930's -- perhaps there are plans/records on file with the city? It was purchased by my aunt and her husband in the 1940's and was in their possession until about 1973. Our large extended family enjoyed many holiday and other special events there while I was growing up, including birthday parties on the beach below the sea wall. If you will send me an email address I can use I will look thru family photos to see if there are any that might give clues. Otherwise I could attempt to draw what I remember. I plan to be in the San Diego area in early November and would be willing to meet you in person to describe what I recall about the home.— August 20, 2014 10:31 a.m.
Sweetwater district’s mellow ruse
An important element in the real estate shell game perpetrated by Ed Brand and others was to seemingly ignore the state law that requires public property to be formally declared 'surplus' in a public hearing. At that time, members of the public would have an opportunity to weigh in on the decision before the board made the declaration identifying the property as surplus and declaring intent to sell. I believe other public agencies would have first chance to acquire such 'surplus' properties. However, that was not to be in Sweetwater. Whatever shell the properties have been hidden under, and whatever manipulations were made in their title to avoid the public process is part and parcel (pun intended) off the shysters' intent to avoid the mandated requirements. I believe any action on the three real estate parcels should be declared 'null and void' until the law is correctly and properly followed.— August 18, 2014 11 a.m.