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Chula Vista University, anyone?
Superb idea to focus on a CalPoly campus as a desired and appropriate institution for the goals set for this 'university' site!— July 17, 2015 12:44 p.m.
Chula Vista University, anyone?
City Manager Halbert should learn his history! The City had the property 'assembled' at the beginning of the Otay Ranch development project...all 400 acres were to be gifted by the Baldwins, the purchasers of the United Enterprises properties that comprised the Otay Ranch in the late 1980's. The 'gift' was to be contingent upon commitment by the UC system to site a four-year university on the site following the development of the Merced UC campus. The land so gifted was fraught with environmental issues, so the gift was to make it more likely to pass environmental muster...the Baldwin folks knew it would never be acceptable environmentally for housing development and it made a nice quid pro plan to entice the city to accept. Subsequent defaults on loans and other deals led to the less than 400 acres now in the so-called grant, as well as arrangements and side deals by the City and who knows who else? The original 400 acres were to be immediately adjacent to the Otay Lakes and the Olympic Training Center, but it does not look like that is where the subject property is located now.— July 15, 2015 8:16 p.m.
Eastlakers don't eat what the suits serve up
It is important to note that the overcrowded conditions in the Sweetwater Union High School District secondary schools are due to the total lack of responsibility shown by the prior SUHSD administration in offering 'open enrollment' throughout the District instead of shoring up neighborhood schools in other areas and working to correct deficiencies there. Once so many schools on the west side became 'needs improvement' status, parents understandably moved their students to the better performing schools....hence the overcrowding in the schools with better academic records. It really is not fair for families who are paying extra Mello Roos taxes specifically to provide for adequate schools in their neighborhoods to have to accommodate the influx of students moving from schools in other neighborhoods. And it is absolutely not fair for students in ANY school in the District to have to attend a school that is in 'needs improvement'. What a mess!— May 8, 2015 11:18 a.m.
Next up: Sweetwater's sodbuster supe
Wow! what a shock and surprise. Hope we will have the benefit of your reporting in another venue. Thanks for all you have done for us.— March 23, 2015 7:48 p.m.
Next up: Sweetwater's sodbuster supe
I agree with your comments of March 23 regarding the Harold Place property lease and the questions it generates. Good catch! I do see that the closed session items for the next board meeting include several for 'property valuations' and in all cases the district's named negotiator/point person is Calhoun,(a worry in itself); and the other named party is Voight... presumably that is a real estate company. Does anyone know any of the particulars? Is Voight also the realtor representing the Harold Place property? Why Voight for all of the named properties? Did the District seek proposals from several real estate representatives? If not, how did Voight get all the work which would seem to generate handsome commissions?— March 23, 2015 12:26 p.m.
Next up: Sweetwater's sodbuster supe
Watch very closely Lora Duzyk, assistant superintendent business (money stuff) at CBOE...reputed buddy of Ed Brand and Dianne Russo. The plot thickens!— March 21, 2015 10:39 a.m.
Next up: Sweetwater's sodbuster supe
Agreed, Visduh....that is exactly why I had hoped the Board might issue a 'blanket' March 15 that would apply to each and every member of the District staff until the new superintendent has an opportunity to evaluate their potential, as well as their past ties to Fast Eddie, the Gandara and the legacy of perfidy. As it is now, the District is 'stuck' with all of these administrators or will have to buy out their contracts if and when the superintendent and/or board determines they are not part of the solution!— March 19, 2015 10:32 a.m.
Next up: Sweetwater's sodbuster supe
I agree that the new Board of Trustees must be vigilant and detail oriented, and especially wary of proposals and programs that percolate up thru the staff, the 'old guard' as it were. IF the District had not been riddled with sleight-of-hand, outright corruption and other perfidy, it would be a different story and the Board might take a lighter hand. Sadly, the District has been 'managed' --- and I use that word cautiously --- by those whose interests seem not to be objective or in the best public interest--- and the current "Sweetwater way" should be closely watched, even with a suspicious eye. I do hope the Interim Superintendent, and whoever follows him in that office, will HELP the Board direct and when necessary even micromanage the renegade staff who have been running the asylum for their own purposes for too long. As anniej says, "Just my Opinion".— March 18, 2015 10:25 a.m.
Next up: Sweetwater's sodbuster supe
Yes anniej, we should remember well the perfidy that began in the Trujillo era, in the 1980's with the computers-to Mexico shenanigans; then in 1990, Sandoval and Cartmill were elected to the Board, quickly engineering the firing of then superintendent, the late John Rindone. Soon thereafter the reign of Brand I began....when the law got too close, he abandoned ship for a gig in North County, and was followed in the superintendent's office by Gandara, another crook...and for the past several years we had another era of Brand II, thanks to board members Ricasa, Sandoval, Quinones and Cartmill, all of whom pleaded guilty to their self-dealing, corruption and other sins in Superior Court last year. John McCann was surely complicit even if he was 'come lately' and evaded indictment. So if we tote it up, it's more like 25-plus years of perfidy to the detriment of the entire South County. An entire generation of SuHSD administrators and others have learned 'the Sweetwater way', which is shameful indeed and characterized by cronyism and self-dealing. It will take an entire culture change to right the ship and will not happen overnight and will take continued vigilance by the entire community. As you say, 'just my opinion'— March 16, 2015 11:11 a.m.
Next up: Sweetwater's sodbuster supe
Welcome indeed! How refreshing to have someone from the outside. Mr. Stover will have a full plate. Let's hope the Sweetwater 'old guard' is ready to be dissolved, break ranks, and actually help undo the past 'bands of Brand'. Interesting note about the IRS take on the bond sale...we knew it smelled fishy and so now do the Feds. Interesting also is the designation of the sale as 'taxable private activity'...so who are/were the private parties who would benefit? I'm guessing there is more to come as the real estate deals unravel.— March 15, 2015 10:52 a.m.