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Sweetwater board meeting times may change
I am surprised at the change of venue only for Salcido (of Southwestern indicted group) because at one time she was actually employed at/by the South County Court. However, her reputation there is not particularly wonderful. With regard to timtim's latest tantrum(s), he surely is cavalier -- if not downright snotty--- about the people he is supposed to serve. If he is indeed McCann, he should remember he is in service as a public SERVANT to all the people, not just those whose attire he approves, or the two or three family members who might agree with him. The conversation about meeting times does make me wonder about the seeming ample daytime availability of some board members, however. We know that Bertha is employed as a teacher in the National School District. Ricasa is supposed to be working full time at Southwestern College as an administrator. Pearl may have her days free as a so-called retiree from San Ysidro District. McCann and Cartmill...what in the world do they do for their so-called day jobs? My guess is that McCann has lots of time on his hands and might be pretty desperate just for the health/welfare benefits that come with board member status as he has a family of six; and Cartmill? Oh, I forgot, he is a 'national' speaker. What do their statements of economic interest say about sources of income? That would be California Form 700 and should be posted on the District's website. Are they?— January 29, 2013 12:20 p.m.
Sweetwater board meeting times may change
Remember the old adage about 'expecting sober behavior from a drunk'...or somethng about a tiger and stripes....etc.— January 28, 2013 10:48 a.m.
Sweetwater board meeting times may change
"Trust the Administration"....oh yeah. Then, when the collective bargaining agreement 'allows' the teachers time to come to board meetings. So what about the 'rank and file' of other public members...those who work in other daytime jobs? They cannot get dispensation to come voice their public opinion. No sir...no more 'trust' for the administration because they (he) have already trashed that trust. This administration has run aground. The public has a right to be heard, and just not on the administration's time calendar. The Brown Act trumps the administration's convenience. Think about it! And as far as the 'many positive Districting Initiatives'...like the Ipads, the Sweetwater University, the toxic dirt and other failed projects that lead to nowhere except lots of OUR money down the proverbial drain....that's exactly WHY we need the public input at public meetings.— January 27, 2013 8:02 p.m.
Sweetwater board meeting times may change
NEVERTHELESS, the public record is the public record and made ONLY at the public meetings. Those of us who are there and heard it know and can testify. We should be making our own tapes of the meetings if there is a concern about a Rose Mary Woods in the mix. Anything on social media is just that, and never, ever, can be used as official record. That suggestion is just another smoke screen set up to divert us from the task at hand...have public meetings when and where the public is able to attend.— January 27, 2013 6:27 p.m.
Sweetwater board meeting times may change
And further, WTFEd.....so where's the line forming for reps from those other districts who want to learn how to emulate the leadership shown at Sweetwater? Don't they wish they had 4 out of five trustees indicted, and join in the 'extortion' club? Such regional leadership matters are yet to be plundered, I suppose.— January 27, 2013 6:09 p.m.
Sweetwater board meeting times may change
The HUGE annyoance of WTHFEd's drivel is that he makes a specious argument (he can look it up) that Social Media should take the place of official public comment at public meetings, or at least hopes that we will buy that instread of having access to meetings that are scheduled when the public can comment. Social Media comments are in the realm of letters to the editor, or street corner gossip...they do not substitute for official comment. Any Facebook postings or tweets or whatever do not replace the public record that is made when citizens make official PUBLIC comments at official meetings. Again, watch the pea in the shells in the shell game. It's all about the public's right to know and to participate, and therein lies the rub for those who would have it be otherwise.— January 27, 2013 5:56 p.m.
Sweetwater board meeting times may change
WTFEd..... YOUR comments are more than troubling, and I suspect others will be troubled also. We are not going to follow your yellow brick road, smokescreen, or try to figure out what the hell you mean with your meaningless drivel. The Brown Act guarantees the public the right to participate in the public governance process and is law that assures the public's business is done in public. The pesky issue of 'agenda times' is one such indication of an attempt to subvert the process and is righfully in our sights as an important matter .... and certainly trumps any "Regional leadership issues"....you or your cronies may come up with to try an divert our focus. Again I remind folks to watch the pea under the shell in the shell games going on. WE THE PEOPLE are entitled to participate. Watch us now!— January 27, 2013 5:14 p.m.
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The Brown Act specifically prohibits more than two Board Members of a public agency from having a non-public communication (anything outside a regular meeting) about ANYTHING. This prohibition includes 'serial' conversations, email communications, etc. Brand should have brought the GCU proposal to the entire board, properly noted on the agenda, for an open discussion. The reason they have regular meetings is so that all board members can be properly informed and 'in the loop' and with proper Roberts Rules of Order and other such niceties that Brand seems to think are a bother.— January 25, 2013 3:23 p.m.
Sweetwater U partnership opposed by Freedom from Religion
FYI, Pearl's indictment for extortion certainly trumps the lesser (albeit still important) other charges. Sandoval, Ricasa, Gandara are also in the elite 'extortion' club. Quinones, Sandoval, Ricasa and Gandara did not merely allow themselves to be bribed and then lie about it (thus, the perjury charges), they actually ASKED for things of value while trading on their elected status. Not splitting hairs here, but I do think that extortion under official color (of office) charges tell us who are the worst of the lot. They all need lots of deodorant.— January 25, 2013 11:19 a.m.
Sweetwater U partnership opposed by Freedom from Religion
FYI, our local high school students may attend Southwestern College to accumulate college credits while still in high school, and they pay NOTHING. All they need to do that is to have a high school counselor and parent(s) sign off on the co-enrollment paperwork. Be advised that only a handful of GCU programs/majors are accredited. While those may transfer, why pay a premium to accrue credits that MAY NOT transfer. Further, Sweetwater District has NO LEGAL BUSINESS in using District resources ($$) to partner or promote (even with a website posting) a religious insititution regardless of what bells and whistles that institution might profer precisely because such a relationship clearly violates our right to separation of Church and State.— January 25, 2013 10:06 a.m.