Friday, July 15, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Protect Our Coasts - just a thought.
"Fighting to protect and preserve our coasts isn't the same thing as a sunset walk on the beach. It entails long, boring city council meetings. It calls for people to organize others. Protecting our coasts asks us to step into positions of leadership in ways that we may never have thought we were capable of.
It's hard." - Jim Moriarty, CEO of Surfrider
I feel like this is the story of my life right now, so I decided to share. Here is the latest entry in Jim's Blog. Jim Moriarty's Blog
It's hard." - Jim Moriarty, CEO of Surfrider
I feel like this is the story of my life right now, so I decided to share. Here is the latest entry in Jim's Blog. Jim Moriarty's Blog
Monday, July 11, 2011
The ABCs of Oceanside Politics
Here's what's going on in Oceanside... these are the people and organizations responsible for systematically ruining our beautiful little beach town.
ABC stands for Associated Builders & Contractors.
“YES ON K” was the Proposition that decided Oceanside would become a Charter City thus allowing the Oceanside City Council to make decisions independent of California State mandates or Oceanside Voters.
Bill Baber:
· Is listed as the "Director of Government Affairs" of ABC on their web site.
· Is a registered lobbyist for ABC (as per official City Clerk documents)
· Is Treasurer for Oceanside Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility OCFR (Located in La Mesa, California)
· Was investigated and reprimanded by Fair Political Practice Committee FPPC for failing to identify ABC as an over 80% contributor to “Yes on K”.
· Failed to report two contributions from OCFR (for which he is Treasurer) $6920 on 5/10/10 & $4325 on 5/18/10
Bill Baber wrote the Charter for the City of Oceanside.
Gary Felien (current councilmember):
· Is an officer of OCFR Oceanside Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility
· Is an officer of “Yes on K”
Both OFCR and “Yes on K” share the same office in La Mesa California & Both are sponsored by Associated Builders & Contractors!
This is why Oceanside is pandering to the building industry. These are not people that are concerned about our communities. They have their own plan for Oceanside.
Welcome to ABC West
Formerly Known as Oceanside
If you follow the money… you see exactly where their loyalty lies. It's time to take back Oceanside.
ABC stands for Associated Builders & Contractors.
“YES ON K” was the Proposition that decided Oceanside would become a Charter City thus allowing the Oceanside City Council to make decisions independent of California State mandates or Oceanside Voters.
Bill Baber:
· Is listed as the "Director of Government Affairs" of ABC on their web site.
· Is a registered lobbyist for ABC (as per official City Clerk documents)
· Is Treasurer for Oceanside Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility OCFR (Located in La Mesa, California)
· Was investigated and reprimanded by Fair Political Practice Committee FPPC for failing to identify ABC as an over 80% contributor to “Yes on K”.
· Failed to report two contributions from OCFR (for which he is Treasurer) $6920 on 5/10/10 & $4325 on 5/18/10
Bill Baber wrote the Charter for the City of Oceanside.
Gary Felien (current councilmember):
· Is an officer of OCFR Oceanside Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility
· Is an officer of “Yes on K”
Both OFCR and “Yes on K” share the same office in La Mesa California & Both are sponsored by Associated Builders & Contractors!
This is why Oceanside is pandering to the building industry. These are not people that are concerned about our communities. They have their own plan for Oceanside.
Welcome to ABC West
Formerly Known as Oceanside
If you follow the money… you see exactly where their loyalty lies. It's time to take back Oceanside.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
SB 833 - What I said to the Oceanside City Council re: Gregory Canyon Landfill
Last week, the Oceanside City Council voted to switch their supportive position on California Senate Bill 833 which says that landfills can not be built within 1,000 feet of a water supply, and they can't be built on sacred Indian ground. Oceanside spent over millions of dollars fighting this battle over the past 20 years. Now that we have a council majority that is grossly out of tune with the citizens of the city, they decided to establish Oceanside's position against SB 833. A project that SB 833 would stop dead in its tracks is the Gregory Canyon Landfill.
The Gregory Canyon Landfill would literally be built on the San Luis Rey River which dumps right out between the Oceanside Harbor and the Oceanside Pier.
Here is what I read to the city council on Wednesday:
"It is absolutely deplorable for you to sit on our Council and act like you are not foolish for even bringing this to the table given our city's location and history.
I can not believe that you continue to use your position on this council to make decisions about projects that will hurt our communities when you DEFINITELY will not be here to maintain or oversee them. It is as though you believe that you can just pass on such responsibilities to future generations when really the TRUE responsibility lies in your decision tonight to prevent this from even happening! You can not be serious when you say that there will be no environmental impact to our coastlines and our water supply with a TRASH DUMP.
In today's world people with no regard to the environment which are all people probably very similar to you.. are throwing away batteries, computers, tvs, electronics, and although they may be doing so irresponsibly and incorrectly, THE CHEMICALS AND REMNANTS of such products can and will end up on our beaches and in our oceans. Seriously. Think about it. And it's not just electronics... Diapers...? Dog Waste...?
I am a Surfrider Foundation member. I get weekly emails from them and this week's email has some information I believe needs to be passed on to you. The Natural Resources Defense Council's annual survey of water quality and public notification at U.S. beaches found that the number of beach closings and advisories in 2010 reached 24,091 — the second-highest level since they began tracking these events 21 years ago. This confirms that our nation's beaches continue to suffer from pollution that puts all ocean users at risk. Stop ignoring these facts. You are not entitled to your own facts and you don't get to avoid this responsibility. As a coastal community it is OUR responsibility to stand up and protect our coastlines. If we don't, who will?
OCEAN... SIDE... IT'S IN OUR CITY'S NAME. It is impossible for me to imagine the density one must have to live here, love living here, and feel no urge to protect our coastlines. So, sure. Our beaches are clean... FOR NOW. Our water quality is acceptable... FOR NOW. Our kids and neighbors can enjoy programs like the Junior Lifeguards all summer long... FOR NOW. We can enjoy the economic benefits of year round tourism... FOR NOW. But here's what really matters... when WILL it be too much for you? When will you put your foot down? I am pretty confident you don't even have a threshold. I bet you haven't even drawn a mental line in the sand and for that reason alone, you are absolutely not qualified to make this decision. Let me help paint a picture for you...
Do our beaches have to close regularly and consistently before you start to protect our coast? Do our residents' and tourists' children have to come down with disgusting skin rashes and serious viral and eye infections after a day at our beaches for you to understand the effects this will have on future generations living here? Do our businesses have to wither up and close because the tourists stopped coming? Does our harbor have to empty because the water's so gross? Do we have to lose all of the tax revenue from our beachfront businesses because our water smells so bad? Can you imagine what this city would even look like if we allowed previous councils to get away with this type of crap? I know I can't.... because that's not the Oceanside ANY OF US WANTS. You have to answer to us... whether you like it or not. Reversing the city's long standing position on the Gregory Canyon Landfill is a decision you will NEVER be able to run away from.
Good luck."
Jack Feller, Gary Felien, & Jerry Kern all suck.
The Gregory Canyon Landfill would literally be built on the San Luis Rey River which dumps right out between the Oceanside Harbor and the Oceanside Pier.
Here is what I read to the city council on Wednesday:
"It is absolutely deplorable for you to sit on our Council and act like you are not foolish for even bringing this to the table given our city's location and history.
I can not believe that you continue to use your position on this council to make decisions about projects that will hurt our communities when you DEFINITELY will not be here to maintain or oversee them. It is as though you believe that you can just pass on such responsibilities to future generations when really the TRUE responsibility lies in your decision tonight to prevent this from even happening! You can not be serious when you say that there will be no environmental impact to our coastlines and our water supply with a TRASH DUMP.
In today's world people with no regard to the environment which are all people probably very similar to you.. are throwing away batteries, computers, tvs, electronics, and although they may be doing so irresponsibly and incorrectly, THE CHEMICALS AND REMNANTS of such products can and will end up on our beaches and in our oceans. Seriously. Think about it. And it's not just electronics... Diapers...? Dog Waste...?
I am a Surfrider Foundation member. I get weekly emails from them and this week's email has some information I believe needs to be passed on to you. The Natural Resources Defense Council's annual survey of water quality and public notification at U.S. beaches found that the number of beach closings and advisories in 2010 reached 24,091 — the second-highest level since they began tracking these events 21 years ago. This confirms that our nation's beaches continue to suffer from pollution that puts all ocean users at risk. Stop ignoring these facts. You are not entitled to your own facts and you don't get to avoid this responsibility. As a coastal community it is OUR responsibility to stand up and protect our coastlines. If we don't, who will?
OCEAN... SIDE... IT'S IN OUR CITY'S NAME. It is impossible for me to imagine the density one must have to live here, love living here, and feel no urge to protect our coastlines. So, sure. Our beaches are clean... FOR NOW. Our water quality is acceptable... FOR NOW. Our kids and neighbors can enjoy programs like the Junior Lifeguards all summer long... FOR NOW. We can enjoy the economic benefits of year round tourism... FOR NOW. But here's what really matters... when WILL it be too much for you? When will you put your foot down? I am pretty confident you don't even have a threshold. I bet you haven't even drawn a mental line in the sand and for that reason alone, you are absolutely not qualified to make this decision. Let me help paint a picture for you...
Do our beaches have to close regularly and consistently before you start to protect our coast? Do our residents' and tourists' children have to come down with disgusting skin rashes and serious viral and eye infections after a day at our beaches for you to understand the effects this will have on future generations living here? Do our businesses have to wither up and close because the tourists stopped coming? Does our harbor have to empty because the water's so gross? Do we have to lose all of the tax revenue from our beachfront businesses because our water smells so bad? Can you imagine what this city would even look like if we allowed previous councils to get away with this type of crap? I know I can't.... because that's not the Oceanside ANY OF US WANTS. You have to answer to us... whether you like it or not. Reversing the city's long standing position on the Gregory Canyon Landfill is a decision you will NEVER be able to run away from.
Good luck."
Jack Feller, Gary Felien, & Jerry Kern all suck.
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