Pasadena Sub Rosa

TREE HUGGERS IMPERIL ARROYO SECO HOMES

What to do about 1.5 million cubic yards of mud deposited behind Devil's Gate Dam after the 2009 Station Fire: 

Read about it here: 

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-devils-gate-20110501,0,4394274.story

 

DOES CALIFORNIA INFLATION MEAN ITS IN DEFAULT?

If you read the comments sections of local newspapers you will quickly become award of a growing divide in public opinion between the elites who write newspaper articles, do opinion polls, and are state officials and the average Joe Public or Juan Publica. Public officials claim the state is not insolvent and is not going to go bankrupt.  But the public disbelieves this and says the state is bankrupt.  Who is right?  And is there a way out of this morass without increasing taxes?  

Read here: Inflation Means California Default 

http://www.calwatchdog.com/2011/04/29/inflation-means-california-default/

 

PASADENA'S PERPETUAL PUBLIC WORKS PARADE

Pasadena is renowned for its Rose Bowl Parade.  But living in Pasadena one becomes aware that the city has an ongoing undeclared perpetual public works parade as its own local stimulus to unions. 

First it was PUSD’s $240 million Measure Y school improvement bond ($480 million with interest).

Then it was PUSD’s Measure $350 million Measure TT school facility bond ($700 million with interest).

Then it was Pasadena’s $117.5 City Hall Seismic Retrofit Project.

Then it was replacement of all water trunk lines in the streets ($50M).

Then it was replacement of all electric lines ($50 million).

Now its replacement of all fire stations for earthquake safety ($59M)

None of this seems to be making much impact in Pasadena’s economy.  Go here to read moere:

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_17937078     

 

MIDDLE CLASS FLIGHT FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

Public schools: Is California's middle class heading for the exits?

By Sharon Noguchi

snoguchi@mercurynews.com 

It's the hot topic outside the kindergarten room, at fundraising tables and after morning drop-off. Parents are asking: How much more can California lop off public education before they bolt for private schools?

For public schools, 2011-12 could be a turning point.

In recent years schools have endured incremental cuts and annual angst. But with dramatic reductions to the school year, program and staffing expected, many families are contemplating a deposit on a private school.

Local private schools report this spring that inquiries and enrollment are up, and one school that closed several years ago, Calvary Christian Academy in San Jose, even plans to reopen in August.

Bellarmine College Preparatory received a record 1,000-plus applications, most for its 400-member freshman class. Several other schools estimated that inquiries and applications are up 25 percent. That includes Valley Christian, which hopes to increase enrollment 5 percent annually for the next few years, Admissions Director Scott Wessling said.

At St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Saratoga, inquiries and applications are up 40 percent over last year, Head of School Harry McKay said. Although many private schools have closed admissions for 2011-12, some still have openings.

Granted, a decade of enrollment numbers point in the opposite direction, with the burst Internet bubble and economic downturn resulting in about 8 percent of K-12 students statewide attending private schools -- excluding home-schooled children -- compared with nearly 10 percent 10 years ago.

 

In Santa Clara County, the number of public-school students grew 4.2 percent, slightly less than population growth, in the 2000s. Enrollment grew the quickest and most consistently in high-performing districts like Palo Alto, Los Gatos, Cupertino and Fremont Union High -- likely propelled by the same quest for high-quality education behind the interest in private schools.

A domino effect

Middle-class parents in California traditionally have entrusted their children to public schools and voted for bonds and taxes to support them. If residents bail on public schools, it would have potentially dire social, economic and political consequences, UCLA professor Gary Orfield said. When middle-class families are the mainstay of public schools, they lend stability, raise standards, pursue accountability and anchor city neighborhoods.

"The severe decline in public education will make the entire state less attractive to middle-class families and good teachers in general," Orfield said.

Certainly, private schools have long enticed families with small classes, ethics and values instruction, tighter discipline and extracurricular activities. Now it's not only those features, but even the basics that attract parents anxious about cuts into the muscle and bone of public education.

"I wanted my child to have extracurricular things public schools don't offer, like Spanish, P.E. and art," said Loren Daugherty of San Jose, now a Valley Christian parent.

Her daughter attended public kindergarten. "I loved, loved, loved her teacher -- and she got cut in the layoff," Daugherty said. But with 30 or more children in classes, teachers' attention focuses on students who are lagging or acting out, while other classmates may be put on autopilot. "Teachers are pulled in so many directions, they weren't being supported enough," Daugherty said. She also worried about safety and communication, made difficult by thin staffing.

Many parents anguish over their belief in supporting public schools and their impulse to do what they think is right for their children.

Sherrie Carreno pulled her 8-year-old son out of public school after three weeks last summer -- even though she and her husband, Luis, had moved into their Willow Glen home precisely for the schools. She liked her son's teacher at Booksin Elementary in San Jose. "It's not her fault that she can't have one-on-one time" with students, Carreno said. A class of more than 30 second-graders and a week of furlough sent Carreno and her husband packing for the private Challenger School in Palo Alto.

Threatening to leave

Seeing parents flee schools is frustrating for public officials.

At a forum last Tuesday on the timing of furlough days next year, parents said they would pull out their children if San Jose Unified again bumped up class sizes. That's not what the district wants to do, spokeswoman Karen Fuqua said. If parents would invest the private tuition they pay -- from $5,000 to $30,000 a year -- in the district instead, class sizes wouldn't have to be raised, she said.

That is not likely to happen.

In the meantime, parents still are beating a path to private schools. Whether that trickle turns into a gusher depends on what happens with the California budget -- if "tax increases pass, or if that all crashes and burns and K-12 education takes another big ugly hit," said Jim McManus, executive director of the California Association of Independent Schools.

"I think it would be just devastating," said McManus. Even among private school operators, "to a person in our schools we would like to see strong public schools for everyone. That's the backbone of our society."

For the Carrenos, private school is a worthwhile sacrifice. Providing the best education, Sherry Carreno said, "is the most important thing we can do for our children."

Contact Sharon Noguchi at 408-271-3775.

 

BOYCOTT PWEEKLY'S ADVERTISERS THAT SUPPORT SMEAR MACHINE

Below is a list of advertisers from The Pasadena Weekly "Senior Issue."  It is suggested that you copy this list and email it to whoever you wish and ask them to boycott patronizing businesses and nonprofit organizations that support Pasadena's Political Smear Machine with advertising revenues.

The businesses and nonprofit organizations on this list support "incivility" in political conversation that can lead to political violence such as the recent horrific murders in Arizona.  

There is no external authority to appeal political smearing tactics to.  We live in a state of political anarchy when it comes to so-called "civil" politics.  Any candidate outside Pasadena's oligarchy can smear an outsider candidate and get away with it.  This is not to say the the recent candidate for the PUSD Board of Education didn't also undermine his own candidacy with his record.  But the political smearing was unnecessary and not an isolated case.  

Stop smearing of political candidates in newspapers.  Stop ridiculing political outsiders in Doo Dah Parades. Stop hate filled politicians from using city funds to sponsor art, music, and drama presentations before city meetings that are intentionally meant to negatively caricature or smear political opposition.  Stop businesses that promote a culture of political incivility by sponsoring "chalk art festivals" that are used to send political hate messages (Paseo Mall).  

PWeekly online advertisers 

1.  City of Pasadena - "Stop B4 the line" pedestrian v. auto campaign

2.  W Hotels

3.  Bonqo.com classifieds
4. Pasadena Educational Foundation (PEF) 

 

Businesses For Seniors
1.  Regency Park Senior Living
2.  Redstone Senior LIving Community
3.  Presidio Home Care
4.  The Oaks of Pasadena Assisted Living
5.  The Terraces at Park Marino Senior LIving
6.  Villa Gardens
7.  Jimmy C. Ting Long Term Care Insurance
8.  Smooth Transitions - Household Downsizing
9.  Hear Center
10. Ace Senior Care Manor
11. Sincere Care Service, Inc.
12. West Arcadia Pharmacy & Health
13. Bill Fisher Senior Advocate
14. Seniors Helping Seniors
15. San Marino Home Health
16. Love Hearing Services - Lyric Hearing Devices
17. Three Sycamores Assisted Living
18. Hollenbeck Palms Assisted Living
19. Sunrise at San Marino Assisted Living
20. Belmont Village Assisted Living
21. Forever Active
22. Braille Institute
23. Arcadia Medical Supply

Restaurants, Businesses and other:
1.  Pita Jungle
2.  Milestone Theatre Company
3.  Linden Optometry
4.  King's Row Pub
5.  Oh You Beauty Med Day Spa - Dr. Kojian
6.  L.A. County - Energy Upgrade California
7.  California Green Designs
8.  CalRecycle (State of California grant)
9.  Bonnie B's Smokin' BBQ Heaven
10. Big Mama's Rib Shack
11. Margarita's Mexican Restaurant
12. New Delhi Palace
13. Third Generation 
14. Pasadena Ballrom Dance Association
15. Pasadena Health Center - Arcadia Health Group
16. Gina J. Zhuang, Attorney
17. Root Beer Joe's Sandwich Shop
18. Avanti Cafe
19. Magic Cleaners & Laundry, Inc.
20. Burrito Express
21. Saladang
22. Perdue's Barbeque & Catering
23. Altadena Guild Annual Home Tour
24. Marilyn A. Mehlmauer, M.D. - Sogol Saghari, M.D.
25. John J. Guagenti, M.D.
26. V. Henry Bilemjian, D.M.D.
27. No Joke Fitness
28. Tinzee Nail Salon
29. Webster's Community Pharmacy
30. Body Kneads Massage Therapy
31. In Style Dental - Dr. Brian M. Kar
32. Doctors of USC Family Medicine
33. Foothill Transit - Ecoliner
34. World Caravan Outlet
35. Bar Celona
36. Villa Sorriso
37. Tibet Nepal House
38. AIDS Service Center
39. Advanced Laser - Robert B. Seltzer, M.D.
40. American Red Cross
41. Himalayan Cafe
42. Kabuki Japanese Restaurant
43. 'Round the Clock Cleaners
44. Maid Brigade
45. Bua Na Thai Cuisine
46. The Fairbanks Group
47. Pacifica Graduate Institute
48. The Ice House
49. Dr. A's Thera-spray (treatmyherpes.com)
50. A' Float Sushi
51. Pantages Theatre
52. T. Boyle's Tavern
53. Luckman Fine Arts Complex

Church Advertisers for Easter
1.  La Canada Congregational Church
2.  All Saints Church
3.  Pasadena Presbyterian Church

Larger Classified Ads
Pamela Royce, Attorney
Pasadena School of Tai Chi Chuan
Greg Carlsson, LMFT
Pataya Thai Massage

And...... TWO (2) FULL PAGES of hooker massage ads!
Won't list them all separately

TOM-FOOLERY: WHAT IS SELINSKE GOING TO DO?

Now that PUSD Board President Tom Selinske has been predictably re-elected what is he going to do? 

I believe that Sean Baggett's own record contributed to his losing the runoff despite my defending him from a vicious smear campaign in the newspapers. Other than a dying newspaper needed a scandal to sell online hits and to get people to read its claptrap, there was no need however to smear Mr. Baggett. His record should have just been presented on its own, without smearing him and libeling him. 

But smearing Baggett has been a successful diversionary tactic from what the PUSD Board President is going to do with the declining fund situation of the State Budget. Forty percent of $89 billion state budget is about $36 billion guaranteed under Prop 98 for K-12 school funding. But what happens if State revenues decline to, say, $75 billion because CalPERS pension obligations start crowding out school funding and take priority over Prop 98?

Prop 98 has three funding formulas for K-12 schools, oversimplified below:
Test one, used only for 1988 to 1989, requires spending on education to make up 39% of the state budget. Test 2, used in years of strong economic growth, requires spending on education to equal the previous years spending plus per capita growth and student enrollment adjustment. Test 3, used in years of weak economic growth guarantees prior years spending plus adjustment for enrollment growth, increases for any changes in per capital general fund revenues, and an increase by 0.5 percent in state general funds.

So if Gov. Brown gets his $5 billion continuation of increased sales taxes and vehicle license fees, but pensions add, say, $10 billion to state expenses, this will start crowding out revenues for Medi-Care, CalWorks, etc.  The Prop 98 funding formula guarantees no decrease in revenues, at least on paper. But what if there isn’t enough money to go around for other programs?  What if there is a cram down on K-12 funds?  K-12 funding has been reduced in other lean budget years by promising to pay back the reductions by a loan.  But how would they reimburse K-12 schools if there is no money because pensions are crowding out the budget?

The Cal-PERS and Cal-STRS pension programs are rolling the dice with risky investments in the hope of plugging the unfunded gap in their funds.  Cal-PERS reportedly made 12% to 13% return last year.  But to give you an idea how risky that is, that is 12 to 13 times the net return on an Inflation Protected Security after adjusting for income taxes and that pension funds are tax exempt.  An investment that is 12 to 13 times more risky than a safe rate is going to have the risk of wipeout maybe every 8 years or so.  That is what happened in 2008 when Cal-PERS’ risky investments in speculative land developments and real estate resulted in a $56.2 billion loss of principal.  Coupled with a $43.4 billion loss in the teachers pension fund, Cal-PERS and CalSTRS lost about $100 billion.  The two giant pension funds might be able to again plug that loss, but with highly speculative investments that again may come cascading down on them.  Then what?

What is PUSD going to do? Well the State Legislative Analysts Office has recommended cutting out $7.4 billion by eliminating categorical jobs programs and mildly increasing class sizes. This deregulation does not involve having to layoff any core teachers.

Is PUSD President Selinske going to advocate the LAO's recommended budget cuts or ruinously put yet another Parcel Tax on the ballot that would be DOA?  The voters who elected him are probably largely those who are voting for their ancillary jobs and consulting contracts with the district.  But that doesn’t reflect the larger vote of the home owning and taxpaying public that have given no mandate for raising taxes.

Selinske's election is no referendum for a parcel tax given that only 13,000 voted in total.  PUSD can amass that amount of votes merely from parents and employees.

PUSD can survive the coming fiscal shocks by advocating the legislature for a second round of deregulation of "Categorical" programs and modest increases in class sizes. But will Selinske advocate for another round of deregulation of mandated education programs that have nothing to do with core teaching, or will he push for a reckless parcel tax and waste yet another half million dollars on a useless campaign? 

California residents will soon be facing a continuation of $5 billion of supposedly temporary increased sales taxes and vehicle license fees, an electricity rate increase to pay for Green Power of $5.7 billion to $9.1 billion beginning in 2012, and no plan from Gov. Brown or the legislature as to how to meet the looming half a trillion dollar pension Tsunami to arrive in 2014 and thereafter. 

Selinske "won" but has no platform to responsibly address the situation school districts are now facing. He’s like the proverbial king with no clothes on – only he’s the king without a platform other than to resume the deluded push for parcel taxes.  Winning a dirty campaigned election is one thing. But now Selinske is going to have show leadership and responsibility. 

In the past Selinske and his Board have just created a media climate of hysteria that the sky was falling, but had to lay off no core teachers.  The colluding newspaper media, however, have never informed the public that there were no layoffs.  I guess journalistic ethics got in the way.

If PUSD were ever able to push through a parcel tax it would eventually change the complexion of its Board.  Homeowners, small businesspersons, and the elderly would push for representation on the Board, unlike today where unions and special interests predominate.

We will have to wait to see what other “Tom-foolery” will emerge from PUSD’s Board or if there is going to be an eventual recall election if Selinske again pushes for a parcel tax. 

P.S.  FOR THOSE OF YOU FOLLOWING THE POST-ELECTION BANTER, IT IS APPARENT THAT PEF MEMBER LARRY O'BRIEN IS THE LEADING CANDIDATE FOR WHO "PASADENA MOM" AND "ANONYMOUS" IS AT THE SIERRA MADRE TATTLER AND SUB ROSA BLOGS.  O'BRIEN IS A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR AND HEADS THE DIRTY TRICKS DEPARTMENT OF PEF.  HAVE A NICE DAY LARRY. 

"PASADENA MOM" OUTED AS A POLITICAL SMEARER

The following is a response to a comment posted on this website by "Pasadena Mom." 

Dear Mr. or Ms. Smearer:

Thank you for reading this blog even though your Internet I.D. address is in the City of Ventura but you use the online moniker of “Pasadena Mom” perhaps falsely indicating you are a Pasadena parent with a child in the school district.  

I can always tell an Elitist like you who wants to tell others what they should believe and know.  But let's try and have a conversation anyway. 

You claim I didn't get the facts correct about Sean Baggett.  I paid the L.A. County Superior Court about $5 to look up the legal record of Sean Baggett at the Criminal Defendant Index.  I consulted a prosecutor who went over Mr. Baggett's record with me.  Being curious I also looked up the names of other public officials in the Pasadena area to check if they had similar court records as Mr. Baggett.  What did you do to get the facts to be so arrogant as to charge I didn't get my facts right?  

After reviewing Baggett's record I found that the newspapers, particularly the Pasadena Weekly, were smearing Baggett with regard to insinuating he was a felon (he is not), he is a registered sex offender (he is most definitely not), and he would be banned from entering any PUSD campus (not consistent with other public officials who have visited PUSD classrooms and also have similar court records as Mr. Baggett).  So it is your facts and allegations that do not hold up not mine.  

On this website I repeatedly made efforts to not gloss over Mr. Baggett's legal record. Just go back over the posts since the March 8 primary election and read them.  Neither did this website or blogger endorse Mr. Baggett. I merely advocated that he should get as fair a shake as other "elites" already holding public office in Pasadena. And if you don't like my using the word elite to describe elected public officials in the Pasadena area who work their way up a ladder of patronage and privilege what would you call it?  Please don't dignify such with the term "public service." Even liberal Common Cause wouldn’t agree with you after they won a lawsuit to prohibit undisclosed conflicts of interest in Pasadena but the City just refused to comply.

By the way I'm a long-time government civil service worker, a union member and a former social worker.  What are you?  It would be more helpful if you would use your real name otherwise one can only surmise you are a relative, fellow traveler, or board or PEF member with Mr. Selinske. Why else would you cover up your identity?  So you already have very little public "virtue" or credibility with readers when you fail to disclose your name.  Sure I often don't use my name on this blog but anyone who looks around can find it. 

Bloggers like me are attuned to the Pasadena political smear machine.

I opposed taxes in Pasadena in 2008 only to find that I was nominated to ride in the Doo Dah Parade as the "Thorny Rose," to be publicly ridiculed, which I refused.  

I had my property broken into with nothing taken but a message left to intimidate me.  

I had my property regularly bombarded with litter and trash and my walls graffitied. 

All this stopped when the election was over.  It's the "Pasadena Way" of ruining candidates who are outside the privilege system in Pasadena from ever opposing taxes or running for office.  And this is done with the collaboration of newspapers and other so-called non-partisan organizations, even some churches. 

In my experience I have found this same crowd are the ones duplicitously deploring the lack of "civility" in political conversation as a leading cause of fallaciously labeled right wing violence, such as the horrific attack on Rep. Gabriela Giffords and murder of many others (committed by an apparently Leftist leaning individual by the way).  The elitist rule of political conversation: "civility for me, uncivility for thee."  Smearing can lead to violence. 

You use straw man statements in accusing me of excusing illegal behavior and mediocrity of the candidate. I did nothing of the sort. Once again, go back and read what I wrote.  Do not put the words of a straw man or a puppet of your own making in my mouth. The whole point of what I have written about Baggett's candidacy is that whether he should be elected or not should stand on his record, not on malicious smears. If Mr. Baggett has such a horrible record then why would you and others need to smear him and not others who are already elected but never smeared?  Because he is an outsider to the system of collusion and the Oligarchy that runs Pasadena and its schools.  And that is threatening. 

Your comment maliciously and anonymously charges Mr. Baggett with many things (including again inferring he is a sexual predator like a Catholic priest), which cannot be substantiated and is possibly tantamount to committing libel -- an illegal act.  How can you judge Mr. Baggett's crimes while committing your own? So much for your moral superiority. 

Contrary to your statement there is no public verifiable information that Mr. Baggett is a "parasite" on the public.  Where is the substantiation that Baggett has ever received a kick back, an insider consulting contract, abused perks such as use of a credit card, filed a false mileage or per diem claim, or filed a false Conflict of Interest statement?  We have no knowledge of such for you to smear Mr. Baggett as a "parasite." Again you reveal yourself as one of the Smearers. 

My post "Sean Baggett's Crime" was not a "populist rant that goes nowhere." It was intended as serious political conversation about how we can obtain broader political participation and conversation.  I proposed to create a new at large seat on the Board of Education similar to the Roman Tribune. What I also should have proposed is a civil court, not part of the state courts, that could vet false accusations, smears, and calumnies and issue corrective statements during political campaigns.  The problem is in Pasadena it would just be used as a Kangaroo Court. 

What do you have to contribute to serious conversation other than smearing? Unsurprisingly, your closing statement infers you favor political censorship over dialogue and discussion. 

By the way you can read some of my other serious writings (not letters to the editor) in the L.A. Business Journal, Orange County Register, Sacramento Bee, CalWatchdog.com, Privatization Watch, the USC Journal of Planning and Markets, Public Utilities Fortnightly, and many other newspapers and professional journals. Where have you written something serious? 

For the record I am not a member of the Tea Party. I have attended their meetings and am sympathetic with their cause, as they are the only ones raising responsible questions about the fiscal sustainability of government at all levels. I don't like social movements - Right or Left - and am not much of a joiner.  But maybe you would like to be transparent enough to disclose your own political persuasion?  

If you don't like the name, theme, background music, recommended books, or the content of this blog don't read it (to borrow a phrase from New Jersey Governor Chris Christie).  Your comment actually is providing material to out you as just another of the political Smearers, which we thank you for profusely. 

Write your own blog each day and find out how many people are willing to read your vindictive and malicious thoughts over and over like a broken record.  Good luck to that! 

You criticize me for citing the 15th Century political thinker and playwright Niccolo Machiavelli.  As an aside, have you ever read any books by Machiavelli? Any of his plays, music, or political works? I doubt it.  I would suggest reading his Asino d'oro - The Golden Ass - it might fit you.  Otherwise I would not suggest reading his book The Prince, which was written when Machiavelli was put in prison by the Medici family - the elites of Florence, Italy.  He wrote the book to get out of jail and it has been misunderstood ever since.  

You might also try reading liberal political scientist John P. McCormick's book Machiavellian Democracy (2011) which explains about the creation of the position of Roman Tribune to get more "egalitarian" (your term) political representation.  Machiavelli was an advocate for the People (the Popolo), not the elites or the plebians. Or you might try reading liberal philosopher Erica Benner's book Machiavelli's Ethics (2009).  Yes, contrary to popular notions Machiavelli had ethics, something you apparently lack.

Please don't leave any more comments on this website trying to also smear it.  If you want to have an honest dialogue, fair enough.  But you apparently do not know how to converse with anyone without smearing, caricaturing and scapegoating them.  This is not a good reflection on you.  

Thank you again for your comment, which allows us to out you as another of the Smearers.  

PASADENA MOM’S COMMENTS  - BELOW

Get your facts and be careful not to excuse poor performance and lack of any accomplishment with snobbery and perfection. Surely one doesn't need to be perfect in order to contribute to the school board; the more egalitarian an institution, the better. But asking for some merit--in Baggett's case any at all--isn't elitism. It's appropriate when we seek to build the very common-man meritocracy you evoke yet elude with this poor example. 

But Mr. Baggett's criminal record aside (because unsavory and illegal behavior is somehow a public smearing), evidence of professional accomplishment is wanting. If this is what counts as you imply, then where’s the beef? The continuation school that has employed him has floundered in program improvement for years; it hires teachers from abroad with anchors of visas to address high turn-over; he's well-known within that organization for his lack of work evidenced by numerous Facebook postings from golf-outings during company hours, refusing to attend mandatory meetings, and bragging how he's managed to 'succeed' in a system known to shuffle lemons such as himself more than the Catholic church does its priests. That urban public education doesn't attract elite leadership is one of the many causes of its malaise. A little elitism would go a long way to improve a system led by the den of fools from where Baggett hails.

It's an insult to categorize Baggett's parasitic public career as "the working class route to social mobility". Sadly, he and those like him are able to receive praise from writers like you not due to professional effort and results on their part nor journalistic effort on yours, but rather because a lay reading without the facts dovetails into lame quotes by Machiavelli and a trite, populist rant that goes nowhere.

And by the way, what's up with the rant on elitism while citing Machiavelli, playing music by Liszt, creating look-what-sophisticated-works-I-read book lists [eye roll: the Medici family] and a Latin moniker? Please. Don’t knock elitism when you evoke it yourself but decry it all the same because it keeps mere bloggers like you off the New York Times.

 

 

 

BAGGETT LAGGING IN PUSD RUNOFF

9:23 p.m. - 15 More Precincts Now Reporting - With nearly half of the precincts reporting and over 10,000 votes now counted, Tom Selinske's lead continues to hold strong.  Here are the latest totals with 35 of the total 72 precincts reporting.

Tom Selinske: 5,869 votes, 57.7%

Sean Baggett: 4,301 votes, 42.2%

 

WILL BAGGETT'S SEAT BE GERRYMANDERED OUT OF EXISTENCE?

If elected, will Sean Baggett's seat on the PUSD Board of Education be gerrymandered out of existence? 

CITY OF  PASADENA  PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE

NEWS FOR RELEASE:  April 18, 2011

MEDIA CONTACT:  Ann Erdman, (626) 744-4755

PASADENA CITY COUNCIL SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR TASK FORCE ON CHARTER AMENDMENT AND DISTRICTING

The Pasadena City Council, which has been seeking applicants to serve on the Charter Amendment and Sub-Geographic Districting Task Force, announces a deadline for receipt of applications.

 

The nine-member Task Force will study changing the selection method for members of the Board of Education for  Pasadena   Unified   School District  from the current at-large method of election to district-based elections. 

 

To be considered for a City Council appointment, task force applications from  Pasadena  residents must be received in the Office of the Mayor and City Council,  100 N. Garfield Ave. , Room S228, Pasadena   CA   91101  by 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 25.

 

Three positions will be filled by council appointment. The task force will also be composed of three positions appointed by the PUSD Board of Education, two by Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich and one by the Sierra Madre City Council.

 

At the February 15, 2011, joint meeting of the PUSD Board of Education and the Pasadena City Council, the governing bodies approved initiating the process for a charter amendment and sub-geographic districting for the PUSD Board of Education members.  

 

The taskforce will Review the 1999-2000 City Charter Amendment proposal (Measure BB) for sub-geographic district elections of PUSD board members and determine what changes are necessary in order to forward to the voters; and determine, through the use of 2010 Census data and receiving community input, the geographic regions for the seven PUSD Board of Education seats, ensuring compliance with State and Federal Voting Rights Act provisions.

 

The  Pasadena   Unified   School District  intends to implement geographic region elections for the PUSD Governing Board for a March 2013 election. To meet the 2013 deadline, the task force will complete its work over the next 14 months.

 

The Pasadena City Council’s application form for the Charter Amendment Task Force is available at www.cityofpasadena.net under FYI Pasadena. For more information call (626) 744-4311.

 

 

PUSD BOARD COUP!!!

 

The Sierra Madre Tattler has a column up this morning indicating a coup is in the works among the members of the PUSD Board of Education to oust President Tom Selinske and form a new coalition. 

http://sierramadretattler.blogspot.com/2011/04/pusd-board-of-education-election.html      

Is it an end to the graft, corruption and patronage system? 

Here is the tantalizing news:
 

"Abendschein also reports that almost half of Sean Baggett's total contributions of $17,692 came from three PUSD School Board members. Kim Kenne, Ramon Miramontes and Scott Phelps have all donated heavily. Something that should make you wonder why Selinske's fellow Board of Education members would be shelling out their own money so heavily to defeat him."

Who knows if the Phelps-Kenne-Miramontes contingent is a positive one?  But if they form a coalition with Sean Baggett and the Tea Party it could change the policies of the Board of Education.  No wonder Edwin Diaz and a bunch of staff and principals are leaving.  Did they see the handwriting on the wall?  

All of this news has been covered on blogs and the newspapers missed it.

Has Sean Baggett just been used as a scapegoat to cover the sub rosa coup on the Board of Education?