Vitriol and Seethingness
Today's profile on The Guzz quotes him as saying this about housing: "My theory doesn't ruin the quality of life here," Mr. Guzzardi said. "I'd rather bet on my theory than theirs."
I somewhat agree with you but Joe -- housing above fire stations and elementary schools? I think we'd run across a Megan's Law problem here and there wouldn't we? I think this could cause people to seethe more than you've ever seethed before.
It's interesting that a large part of the article was on his personality -- how important is that here? Is that how we get to know someone few voters really meet?
I somewhat agree with you but Joe -- housing above fire stations and elementary schools? I think we'd run across a Megan's Law problem here and there wouldn't we? I think this could cause people to seethe more than you've ever seethed before.
It's interesting that a large part of the article was on his personality -- how important is that here? Is that how we get to know someone few voters really meet?
posted by Sara De la Guerra | 5/08/2006 07:23:00 AM
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37 Comments:
The "mixed use Firestation" or school idea flies in the face of so many logic and safety concerns one wouldn't know where to begin; so it really calls into question not only the wisdom of that particular idea; but also one wonders how a person with such a background in safety planning could utter such an idea. a disconnect somewhere?
Joe whereforeartthou? if you're here, tell us===how in the world would that work? are you aware of laws restricting adult presence on school grounds? would everyone and their guests be fingerprinted? what about pets? please inquiring minds do want to know
Rather than offer spin, here is some advice that I would give Joe. When discussing Joe the other day, someone asked me why not support Joe. My response was that I am not attracted to single issue candidates.
The job of county supervisor is complex. Over time, a supervisor will have to weigh in on a wide variety of issues, economic, social justice, environmental, etc. I want to have an idea where a supervisor will stand.
With Joe, he is a 1 ½ issue candidate. It seems that no matter what question he is asked, he ties his answer to housing and/or emergency planning.
I concede that these are among the most important issues. And I further concede that housing and public safety do have an effect on many of the other issues.
But at some point, Joe needs to be clear on what some of the other issues are and what he would do about them. What about jail overcrowding? What about the current transportation mess that will continue to exist, even if Joe gets his wish and all new construction ceases?
What would Joe do about the pension shortfalls, diminishing water quality or tensions between North and South County? It’s hard to know because Joe keeps tying everything back to just housing and emergency planning.
My advice to Joe would be: “Joe, your supporters can vote for you only once. Quite just 'preaching to your choir'. If you want to move beyond your core, you need to address these other issues we care about.”
How rich is it that Marty, the ultimate passive aggressive, calls into question Joe's "seethingness". Is that a word?
Joe is seething because Janet Wolf swept all the public safety endorsements. Joe, Das and CSP are now all coming after her because she is the front runner. You can expect this race to now get very dirty, much worse than the last SB City Council election.
PUBLIC SAFETY PRESS CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, 5/8/06 TO ANNOUNCE SUPPORT OF JANET WOLF FOR SUPERVISOR.
Representatives of the Santa Barbara County Firefighters Association, Santa Barbara County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, Santa Barbara County Deputy District Attorney Association, Santa Barbara City Firefighters for Better Government and the Santa Barbara Police Officers Association will hold a joint press conference on Monday, May 8th at noon at the County Courthouse to announce their support of Janet Wolf for 2nd District County Supervisor. Each organization had a separate endorsement process and each arrived at the same conclusion: Janet Wolf is the best choice for voters concerned about protecting public safety.
These public safety unions join an impressive list of community groups and leaders who are supporting Janet Wolf including Congresswoman Lois Capps, County Supervisors Susan Rose and Salud Carbajal, Former Supervisor Naomi Schwartz, Former Santa Barbara Mayor Harriet Miller, Santa Barbara City Council members Brian Barnwell and Iya Falcone. Other organizations supporting Wolf include the Sierra Club, Santa Barbara Women’s Political Committee, Carpenters Local 1062 and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund.
Wolf is trying to make history as the first Goleta Valley resident to serve as 2nd District Supervisor. Janet Wolf is an educator and small businesswoman who served for 11 years on the Goleta School Board. She has the most elected experience of any candidate running for supervisor, and has resided in the 2nd District for 25 years.
Please visit www.janetwolf2006.com if you have additional questions.
Everyone pace themselves. News-Press will have a profile of each of the 4 candidates every day or two. Blogabarbara should be consistent and initiate a discussion for each.
Housing above fire stations? Excellent idea... but how many new fire stations really are going to be built? They already "house" the firefighter staff working overnight shifts. But new facilities would be good for new employees, considering that the affordability of housing for the most sympathetic government employee, the firefighter, is a hot issue.
Housing above schools? Not exactly, but like example above, new schools could be two or three levels high with totally separate entrances, with the rest of the real estate saved for school employee housing. But, schools are closing regionally, so no new schools really will be built.
The Guzz needs some more issues to talk about, or at least pick some better examples. So what are the odds Guzz will get more votes than Wolf, or by what margin?
Nice wishful thinking about "going after" Wolf.
During the forums and debates, any "going after" is targeting Secord, especially during the past two weeks.
SEETHINESS... sort of like TRUTHINESS
Guzz indeed was mean campaigner during the City Council elections 10 years ago. He has matured and mellowed since then, but still is having difficulty expanding a base of support, but he will garner votes within 3% of Wolf.
oh Valerio your true bias is showing.....and you must not have witnessed Das' statements over the weekend. Or hear the same sort of negative whisper spin that others are. Its turning off mainstream voters, by the way.
Please stop the spin and especially the faux polling numbers.
everyone hear travis armstrong got a DUI over the weekend - hey it turns out there is a god
Wow, the line would go for miles. I mean who wouldnt want to live above a fire station. By why limit it. Let's do the samething above animal shelters, jails, the water department,city hall and the courthouse. What a joke. Only das has a proven plan to provide housing that improves our quality of life. Joe's plan isn't a plan it is just....whatever.
Only das has a proven plan to provide housing that improves our quality of life.
Yes, with the help from Aquaman, Das will command the sea creatures of the briny deep to pull the shore out another mile, so that everyone can live well clear of the dreaded animal shelters.
Mike Pinto says...
Joe, when can we build housing above 7-11's, car washes, and prisons. Wait, I want my home above Dan Secord's. Joe can you arrange this?
LOL 1:17......FYI to you and Das: plans aren't "proven" until they are no longer plans.....
I for one would live above a firefighter anyday. Would even pay more rent to slide down the pole and have special preference when my fire needed to be put out.
I am from the "briny deep". May I live in Joe's swimming pool?
Is Anonymous 12:10 speaking of Das's accusation that Janet lied about being endorsed by the city police? Or his comment that the police were not going to endorse anyone, but if they did it would have been him?
Hmmm...a funny thing happened on the way to the press conference, it appears that the Santa Barbara police officers ARE endorsing Janet.
Reality check--
According to the NewsPress article:
"You have to have growth for public safety to grow," said Rob Heckman, president of the county Firefighters Association, explaining that the department relies on property tax revenues to fund its programs. The group has endorsed Janet Wolf.
...Okay, so here you have it, folks. The Firefighters Association favors Wolf because they crave the property taxes generated by new development. Holy slip-of-the-lip, Batman -- no need to read between the lines -- Heckman just gave away the truth that the FA craves the tax MONEY from new development. No mention of workforce housing. No mention of limiting growth in the name of public safety.
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This is primarily a one-issue race--all the candidates are focusing on development, traffic and environment--not just Guzzardi. But Guzzardi is the only candidate consistently echoeing the concerns of the voters that HE WILL REPRESENT if/when he gets the sup seat.
Nice KEYT coverage of Janet Wolf tonight. Having all those endorsements sure doesnt hurt!
Nice blog coverage of Janet. Nice endorsement coverage of Janet. Nice political machine pushing a nice lady with no backbone on a district sorely lacking representation. Yeah, very nice.
If you are thinking of voting for Janet, I have to wonder if you believe in voting at all. Just let the party in power choose your next pretend rep.
Marty's attacking Guzzardi's character with nothing to back it up. And Sara is underscoring that with the title and topic of this blog entry.
Want to know about Joe's character? Well, Sara, you asked. He's straightforward and friendly, has a great sense of humor and quick wit. Watch him in the forums and you'll see that he keeps cool and thinks fast on his feet. He's steadfast in his positions and doesn't cater his answers to the group he's speaking to. I can imagine that he's turned some people off with that honesty, since he doesn't just tell people what they want to hear. But there's no evidence of Marty's childish claim.
He is the grassroots candidate for a reason. The most politically active people regarding the most politically charged issue have, in large proportion, chosen to support him. These people have been following and studying the housing issues moreso than any other non-paid persons, so they know what they are dealing with. But is housing enough? Take a look at his resume and experience, and you'll see that he has a great background for this office.
I encourage you all to consider heeding the support of a group a hard-working activists who don't just come out at campaign time. They know that Guzzardi is exactly the right kind of person to have in the supervisor position.
attention 'clean campaign watchers':
Das needs to take a breath and do some homework before accusing fellow candidates of lying about endorsements....in fact, thinking before speaking-especially in a public forum-and doing homework arehandy traits for Second District Supervisor ones that Das has not yet acquired.
It will be a delicate dance for those who want to deny the significance of Janet's across-the-board public safety endorsements, but not to paint themselves as anti-public safety.
How about just letting the record stand for what it is---all local Fire, Police and D.A. associations went through thorough processes and endorsed the same candidate--Janet Wolf.
Let the voters decide if that is meaningful.
Now will be the true test of "clean campaign promises" either manifesting or being trashed.
How about just letting the record stand for what it is---all local Fire, Police and D.A. associations went through thorough processes and endorsed the same candidate--Janet Wolf.
And it is becoming clear why they have chosen Wolf.
"You have to have growth for public safety to grow," said Rob Heckman, president of the county Firefighters Association, explaining that the department relies on property tax revenues to fund its programs. The group has endorsed Janet Wolf.
As much as she would like everyone to think they like her because of her stance on public safety, it is all because of money that comes from growth. In 2004, the property tax revenues for Santa Barbara County were $410 million, and in 2005 it was $440 million. Isn't that enough of a growth rate without the need for new development?
Why don't we let the voters decide based on what is really going on. A giant development machine that has its fingers everywhere, including Janet Wolf. What better image to put up as an excuse to develop the last remaining open space than a bunch of firefighters, working hard, saving babies etc.
Why do I get the strange feeling that I will see 250 condos on the Tatum property and 300 condos on the MTD land for some extremely sympathetic reason if Wolf gets elected.
Oh and by the way, saying that you will protect More Mesa and Gaviota is meaningless. More Mesa is protected by the financial might of Hope Ranch (aka Little Montecito) and Gaviota is not even in the second district. Why don't you tell us you're going to protect Yosemite while you're at it.
Wife: there goes that siren again.
Husband: Oh no.
Wife: Joe never told us living above a fire station would be this noisy.
Wife: He said we would get the smell the scent of the firemens daily barbeque wafting up to our fourth floor flat.
and a afternoon of boy like- man squels from firemen playing basketball all day.
Husband: and don't forget the laugh, perhaps guffaw from the fireman who turns fifty and realizes he can now collect a $100,000 pension. He can hardly wait to hook up his speed boat and jet to the lake.
Wife: I want to move.
Husband: Not so fast sweetie pie. We paid $925,000 for this firestation flat. Who would buy it? We would be homeless. Remember back in 06 when Das was sworn in as a supervisor.
Wife: Who could ever forget it. He hypnotized brooks firestone and the entire board with his wolf tie. They voted to forever ban building in our county.
Husband: Wait a minute...One of Governor Das's last acts before being named King of England was to build eco friendly homeless shelters for small business owners like us who pay our employees a living wage of $87 an hour. We are saved.
Paid for by those who think santa barbara holds no future for them.
News Flash to 8:15 am anon:
Time to stop the spin that has unsuccessfully tried to equate "nice" with less favorable traits. It doesn't work--especially with a candidate of the caliber of Janet Wolf; clearly you have no knowledge of Wolf's "backbone" that she demonstrated over and over again during her eleven years in public office and while building her business.
Five independent public safety agencies, and the Women's Political Committee, and numerous other groups and our Congressperson and sitting Supervisors seem to agree on Janet Wolf's "backbone"--and skills and intelligence and effective public service RECORD---that's why they endorsed her.
Why not celebrate that fact and join an effort to propel the candidate with the strongest RECORD OF SERVICE and roots in the Second District...
It is amazing that one short quote from Rob Heckman can be characterized as a giant developer driven conspiracy with the firefighters and cops as Potemkin villagers. Spin away Das and Joe. You were both crushed not to get the endorsements of people you work with and you will do anything to devalue people whose support you fought over only days ago. Sounds the public safety made the right choice.
It is amazing that one short quote from Rob Heckman can be characterized as a giant developer driven conspiracy with the firefighters and cops as Potemkin villagers.
I remember a little while ago while Susan Rose had her meeting about rezoning at the Goleta Valley Commmunity Center in October 2004. Remember?
As soon as somebody was making a valid point about the lack of need for destroying the remaining open space in Noleta, during public comment, Susan Rose conveniently propped up her local fireman, all dressed in yellow shirts, to drown out the person trying to make a logical point. Susan cut the person off and asked the firemen to explain to the crowd that they couldn't afford a new home. It was a staged act. It's not the first time and it won't be the last. I'm just surprised that Heckman was foolish enough to reveal his true motivations.
It's not a conspiracy, it's an agenda, and I'm pretty sure that Janet Wolf will be more-of-the-same. The firemen are being used as poster children for the critical workforce.
Dear 7:59--
Heckman said they favor growth because of tax revenue, plain and simple. No spin on that.
Yes, I am a Joe supporter. Obviously, the endorsements of public worker associations aren't swaying me. I've been lucky enough to find the time to research and interview these candidates on my own. But the endorsements do sway people, so I think it's important to at least understand why a candidate is endorsed. Heckman's statement definitely sheds some light. Can't you admit that?
1009 what silly logic; we're talking about FIVE SEPARATE PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES endorsing Janet---and you're trying to reduce their independent decisions to one sound bite? might work for you---fact is, some voters tend to pay attention to such unanimous decisions by people whose judgement they rely on for safety and protection. Face it-- no matter who they would have endorsed, if it wasn't your guy you'd find a way to dismiss it.
who cares about police and fire endorsments. most pople see thru tthem as just big labor looking to put a pol in their pocket. Das has ideas. Janet can set back on June 9th and ask " but police and fire endorsed me, i was law enforcements choice" go back to putten out fires and writing tickets.
Local politicians, Supe candidates, campaign managers, journalists, seasoned campaign watchers, and aware citizens ALL know that the public safety groups had been planning for months to endorse the same Supe candidate as a show of solidarity. As silly as it might seem, Rose and Carbajal were able to influence fire to go with their hand-picked candidate. It was then a foregone conclusion that the rest would fall that way too. It may look good to the unsuspecting public....but the real story is that public safety groups are losing their credibility.
anon 0718: is that the pot calling the kettle "big labor" or what???? Guess Das has no interest in ever having their endorsements in his future attempts to "go where he is needed"?
what about all the "big labor endorsements" (whenever before did UAW endorse a local candidate??)
handed to Das on a silver platter---with no process, no interviews of other candidates, whatsoever; could it be they know he is not only in their pocket, he IS their pocket(book); he is still on the payroll of C.A.U.S.E. the Ventura County living wage advocacy group? http://www.coastalalliance.com/contact.html -how did Barney miss that one?
0718, Interesting that in the City Council elections SEIU was repeatedly called the largest employee union. I guess when they endorse Das they are called "small labor". What, no mention of payback for the living wage?
Well since they did endorse Das without a process, and very shortly after the Living Wage passed..Yes it was payback for the Living Wage and a meaningless resolution on Prop 75 that did nothing but cause anger and acrimony.
Lies can't be left hanging in the last comment of a topic. Just because you disagree with the outcome of an endorsement process doesn't mean it didn't happen.
Local SEIU members WORK FOR THE COUNTY, and are not paid for their work on SEIU boards and committees. They back candidates because they care about issues important to the county workforce. It's a shame when VOLUNTEERS are demeaned by joe supporters, especially when they are his peers in the county workforce. Das has done more for county workers in his prior work with SEIU, living wage or otherwise, and it showed in the endorsement PROCESS. I wasn't a part of it this time, but I know of the hardworking people that travel from all over the county to make the endorsement process happen. Your lie drips from a sour grape.
uh, hate to break it to you 1116, but SEIU did NOT do interviews or candidate questionnaires---it was a farce, even some of their staff were ashamed. so, take it up with the SEIU 'brass'.....but there was not even a whiff of fairness in the 2nd District SEIU endorsements...
I dont see how Heckman;s comment is a autamatic link to big growth and urban sprawl. The quote looks like a factual statement regarding how the fire dept's budget is linked to public safety. Even with slow growth and the increase in property values, property taxes would go up.
Das showing up at an exec board meeting, asking for an endorsement and getting it does not qualify as a process.
But who cares? Das has been good for SEIU and SEIU did him a solid. Not a big deal.
Each campaign (except Joe) has endorsements.
The funniest thing about this campaign is watching Joe pander to the Democratic Central Committee for their endorsement and then saying he is a "non-partisan" candidate because he didn't get it. The 2nd funniest thing was seeing Joe claim to be an SEIU member when he wasn't!
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