Volume Seven, Number 7                                  What ElseYou Need To Know                           February 12, 2009

 

Our goose appears to be cooked. This election was the perfect storm.

In the November election, we found ourselves at the confluence of public education that graduated uninformed students, or more appropriately, propagandized students, a media (populated by those same students) in the tank for one party and ideologues of that party, and a black man, without portfolio, but who was not Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton.

Civics education was highjacked many years ago. A politically correct curriculum has replaced a traditional curriculum to explore constitutional government. Federalist Papers? At most, the Federalist Papers occupy a few paragraphs in today’s texts replaced by affirmative action, and all of the justices including environmental justice, social justice, and cultural justice.

For 40 plus years, high school journalism classes have been the dumping ground for incorrigible or educationally deficient students. At the university level, many students overcame this stigma, graduating to a media all too happy to play a part in victimhood having fallen victim to it when affirmative action reigned in the newsrooms. It is from this “we shall overcome” perspective that today’s journalists approach reporting the news. If there are no victims, they create them and it is no real chore.

The Democrat party is the party of victims and saviors. With a willing press, the Democrats have had no trouble haranguing about society’s misdeeds and communitarian remedies.

That brings us to today. Along comes President Barack Obama. In his race for the White House, Mr. Obama outlined a legion of societal misdeeds. His solutions for those imagined and real issues were far from specific. Hope and change were about as deep as he dare go for fear of exposing himself as a conventional politician in direct contradiction to his transitional hyperbole. His solutions are conventional but, again, at odds with his radical ideas for America’s perceived ills. He succeeded in offering this message and solution because ill-educated media sycophants chose to ignore his sea of qualifications was only an inch deep. Moreover, he was not the Rev. Al Sharpton or the Rev. Jesse Jackson, the long-discredited black leaders whose reputations not even the leftist press could resurrect.

What chance does the conservative electorate have with neo-Marxists at the bully pulpit?

It just might be too late. Government schools show no signs of reversing course. Universities, run by firmly entrenched leftists, churn out teachers even more in sync with the leftist agenda than they ever have been. Media moguls, covering their bets by supporting both sides in cultural and political wars, have no incentive now to attempt objectivity. (They have also been cowed by newsroom demagogues.)

Republicans were not up to the task. They lost their bearings during the last 10 years. Their unanimity against the pork-laden stimulus bill in the House of Representatives in a good sign that they might be re-gaining their mojo. Their near unanimity in the Senate was also a good sign—we knew that the Maine ladies and Arlen Specter were not up to standing firm against a leftist onslaught.

However, we should reserve judgment until we see how they approach the Democrats censorship proposals (Fairness Doctrine). Because, without talk radio, the Republicans must carry their own water and mount a costly marketing and advertising campaign to overcome the Democrats and neo-Marxists strangle hold on the media that most Americans rely upon for their news. With ex-president Bill Clinton jumping into the fray with demagogues in congress, the Republicans should have a target-rich environment with which to make their anti-censorship case.

Counselor Matt Sullivan is a dupe. What is worse, we just re-elected him to the council.

Too many times, we have editorialized how Mr. Sullivan is an obstructionist. Last Tuesday’s City Council meeting is proof positive that Mr. Sullivan will do everything he can to stand in the way of development.

This time, Mr. Sullivan is bowing to the pressures of environmental wacko groups including the Alameda Creek Alliance, Ohlone Audubon, and, of course, the Tri-Valley Sierra Club who wish to scuttle Staples Ranch development--this time because of the Spearscale.
Spearscale is a plant that is suspected to be “threatened.” We are going to risk everything positive about the Staples Ranch development because of a suspected “threatened” plant?

The time has come to be blunt. Environmental groups might have been well meaning a few years ago. Today, over the top on almost all environmental issues, they are simply ridiculous preferring insects, amphibians, and plants to man. It is time that clear thinking people call them up short instead of humoring them. Of course, in Pleasanton we cannot count on Mr. Sullivan for that. It will take the remaining four counselors. The February 24 City Council meeting to discuss the Staples Ranch development (including the long-planned extension of Stoneridge Drive) will be an important one to attend and make your feelings known.

The wackos will wear their ridiculous red shirts (that once intimidated the council.) Do not be intimidated. Simply show a sensible regard for the environment that places man on the top of the chain. More importantly, demand that council adopts the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) including the extension of Stoneridge Drive (paid for by Alameda County) and that they do it that evening.

The eco extremists succeeded in running off IKEA several years ago. Do not let them succeed in sinking this latest Staples Ranch development proposal including a senior living facility, an auto mall, an ice skating facility, and most importantly, a neighborhood park. Were this plan scuttled, Pleasanton will have all of the negatives (whatever traffic and bad air quality accrues) and Livermore or Dublin will have all of the revenue. Alameda County and the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) are serious as sore tooth about this development being annexed to either of our neighbors if we do not want it.

News Opinion

 

So many creeks to restore and so little money

Mayor Jennifer Hosterman, fresh off her re-election victory in November, has announced that that is time to hunker down to ride out the downturn in the economy.


If Ms. Hosterman means keeping our creeks in their current condition, keeping all of our roundabouts, and relegating sustainability to dustbin of failed socialist ideas, we could not agree more. If she means the we should stop the Stoneridge Drive extension (Staples Ranch) project, stop the search for a permanent home for the ACE train station, or a City Hall/library/transportation hub and train station on the Bernal property, she should seriously review the city’s priorities.
It is not a depression. Yet.


Downtown will end its malaise when landlords adjust their rent demands to meet today’s economic realities. Businesses will become interested in Main Street property/development just as soon as City Hall begins processing and issuing permits in a timely fashion. Finally, businesses will become more interested in Pleasanton’s quaint downtown when City Hall gets serious about a bold development plan that accentuates Pleasanton’s historic feel but provides a business climate (retail businesses and ample parking) that is more conducive to today’s business model.


Stanley Boulevard needs trees and no wires

Undergrounding the wires and planting trees along Stanley Boulevard will stimulate the local economy as well as improve public safety. Moreover, by the time that the ACE station is built out there the trees will hide it and the parking facility from the McDonalds at the corner of Bernal/Valley and Stanley.

Hate to see you go Jerry but…

Jerry Iserson, longtime city planner, retired. We wish him well. Now let us get on with getting the planning and building processes moving to encourage development in downtown and elsewhere. Mr. Iserson was a part of the “things happen slowly in Pleasanton” crowd at City Hall.

 

Feature Opinion  

 

You cut the crap Pat

Pat Kernan, Pleasanton Unified School District board trustee, has strong opinions regarding a parcel tax to close the district’s budget deficit estimated to be $8.7 million over the next year and half. He favors it. A few weeks ago, faced with opposition to the tax increase, Mr. Kernan expressed his viewpoint in a colorful manner. He apparently behaved himself in the January 28 meeting. Oh, he was still passionate about the parcel tax but his language less colorful. However, an exasperated Mr. Kernan said that the parents would have to decide what kind of schools they want.


No, Mr. Kernan. The parents have always been crystal clear about the schools they want. They want the best. It is your job to make that happen. You cannot be a trustee only in the good times. You have to do some dirty work too. Make the necessary cuts and increase the reserves to cover us during the continued turmoil at the state level (it will not end soon) and do it tomorrow. Dragging this out will only prolong your agony.
The parcel tax does not appear to be a slam-dunk. Last year, the board decided against putting it on the ballot because their consultants gave them the tough news that the tax would only garner 53% support. With the economic meltdown since that time, it is even less likely that a parcel tax will pass in June or even in November. However, that will not deter Mr. Kernan and his supporters from going back to the well one more time rather than make the cuts needed for the district to have a balanced budget.


Bloggers backing the parcel tax are pulling out all of the stops. First, they introduced “it’s for the children” demagoguery. Then they went to our good schools account for our high home values. They are working on class-size reduction will be a catastrophe now. A smattering of “our larger classes will mean fewer teachers and that is not fair” is making its way into the blogosphere. Teacher pay has even entered into the discussions because teachers might have to take a pay and/or benefit cut. Anti parcel tax bloggers are more succinct: we really do not care how you do it but cut expenses so that the budget is in balance.
Mr. Kernan, we want the best schools our current finances will allow. We are leaving it up to you and your fellow board members to make that happen. If you choose the parcel tax route, you will only be postponing making those tough decisions you need to make because the parcel tax will not win.

Guest Opinion

 

It has been a rough month for the new president

Can the president find appointees who have paid their taxes? How many times has he sought and received waivers for lobbyists for top-level positions? He did not have contact with Governor Blago? Right! Change? Only in the worst way.

President Obama’s first executive order was to reverse the ban on funding abortion abroad. In a letter to the editor of the Pleasanton Weekly, Candyce Roberts said it best, “did supporters envision restoring our “damaged reputation” with nations...by helping kill their unborn children…” It only got worse by his signing the SCHIP legislation to finance health care for illegal aliens and children over 21 years old. And, then to top it off, he has slipped in a socialized medicine tenant into the so-called stimulus package.

Michael Duarte, in his Pleasanton weekly letter to the editor, said of the president “…the love fest will end” and Representative McNerney will suffer for two years of failure. Mr. Duarte suggests former Assemblyman Guy Houston might be a great alternative.

Normally there would be several congressional investigations (lead by Waxman, Obey, and Conyers) by now but the president now has a D after his name and not and R.

 

 

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