In Case You Have Forgotten….

Re-Published from 3/13/08, lets never forget …..

Since the facts are there, newspapers, Herald Tribune, the LA Times and Dr. Laura Schelssinger, we can bring up the question that Ms McGillivray seems intent not to answer.

There are the critics that insist this thread is irrelevant to being a Council person, however it is not irrelevant. When the Presidential Candidates or any other candidate for political office begins to express religious views, family values views or take a stand on abortion what happens? This Country goes nuts. Look at the rumor about Obama being a Muslim. It should not matter what his religious beliefs are, but it does.

So in that light why would MaryAnn McGillivray crusade in the late nineties to deny same-sex couples with kids or foster kids the simple right to call themselves a family. WHY?

Background: In 1997, Then Councilmember MacGillvray prodded the Sierra Madre City Council to adopt a definition of “Family” that excluded same sex marriages, foster parents and couples that, for whatever reason, choose not to marry.

She is quoted by Dr. Laura Schlessinger in the book “Stupid Things Parents do to Mess up Their Kids”.

“The redefinition was considered important because, as Councilwoman MaryAnn MacGillivray said, ‘We didn’t want to expand the definition of family into a garbage can situation…the fact is this community takes a moral stand.’”

So what is MacGillivray suggesting? What is wrong with alternative families? The quote implies they are garbage. How are you going to tell that to a 15 year old foster child who is having self esteem issues anyway?

It seems clear is that MacGillivray has no qualms at all about labeling people according to her personal moral views, and persuading others to do so as well. We the voters ought to think really hard about whether or not this kind of divisiveness has any place in our City Hall. Not to mention that it has no place in politics.
Some additional interesting quotes:

LA Times – 1997

“Councilwoman MaryAnn MacGillivray, who pushed for the separate definition of family, said the City Council should take a moral stand and use its power as ’small town lawmakers’ to maintain the definition of family as separate from any other living arrangement”

What will she try to use that power for next? Censorship?

LA Times 1997

“MacGillivray, however, demanded that the term ‘family’ be limited to those related by blood, marriage, or adoption, and that those living together in other relationships be called ‘housekeeping units’. She said using the word ‘family’ to describe those not related by blood or law ‘degrades the meaning of the term’”.

People were harmed and affected, the families that are a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, and co-residence, were degraded, and the whole family debate fiasco was an embarrassment and is remembered as a black eye on our community.

Herald Tribune

“The Supreme Court in its infinite wisdom, gave us a definition of family that we in Sierra Madre do not think is correct. Sierra Madre is much more adept at figuring out what is best for our community. We are tired of big government jamming these things down the throats of the small community. We don’t have to swallow that”

What will she pick and choose next? I am in shock and awe that she thinks she can take on the US Supreme Court. Who is “we”?

What about the waste of the Sierra Madre City Councils and staffs time and taxpayers money having this debate and adopting the definition in 1997, what might she do next to waste the time and money of our City Council and staff if she is elected?

Thankfully on November 25, the Sierra Madre City Council voted unanimously to repeal MacGillivrays’ definition of family. The blended, gay and lesbian, adoptive, foster and unmarried families in Sierra Madre are now and always will be, families, not housekeeping units.

So it seems she will stay silent about this “family debate” black mark on her resume, perhaps she will also stay silent on the fact that she was not only on the Council but on the General Plan Steering Committee which adopted the General Plan that helped One Carter get approved, and that she would rather litigate the City into bankruptcy than work and deal with the realities of what is going on in the City. Perhaps the next tax increase will be to pay for the attorney fees to litigate and prevent any further developments from occurring in our City.

Upcoming Events

Family Movie Fridays

The Family Movie Fridays series begins this Friday, April 23, 2010 and is open to all. All movies will be shown at 7:45pm in Kersting Court, located at the intersection of Baldwin Ave. and Sierra Madre Blvd. Where the Wild Things Are will be shown this Friday, April 23. All movies are shown at no cost, due to a very generous donation by the Sierra Madre Volunteer Firefighters Association.

2010 Art Fair and Mother’s Day a Perfect Fit

 “A good painting to me has always been like a friend. It keeps me company, comforts and inspires.” Hedy Lamarr Here’s the perfect Mother’s Day gift idea! Surround yourself Saturday, May 1, and Sunday, May 2, amidst the finest in Watercolors, Pottery, Ceramics, Gourd Art, Woodcarvings, Mixed Media, Glass, Photography, Jewelry, and Oil Paintings in the heart of Sierra Madre. The treasure of Sierra Madre will take on a whole new meaning as you as you shop the Sierra Madre Art Fair seeking the perfect gift for Mom.

Admission is free as the Friends of the Sierra Madre Library transform Memorial Park into an exquisite kaleidoscope of colors, shapes and sizes. 100 invited artists seek to amaze and delight your senses with their original creations. Those senses also include what you hear. The Art Fair plays host to musical performers Carbe-Durand, Ann Luke, The Tumbling Tumbleweeds, Jean’s Music, Banna Beg Mall, String Planet, and the Joel Penner Trio.

Tantalizing our sense of taste will include Taquito Lover, Hawaiian Shaved Ice, Chinese & Korean BBQ, North Shore Hawaiian BBQ. The Sierra Madre Historical Preservation Society will be serving up old-fashioned lemonade and coffee. And the Friends of the Library Food Booth offer up carrot, banana nut, zucchini, spice, cranberry and walnut breads. Also committed to helping encourage the artists of the future we have asked the Creative Arts Group to offer up a fun and imaginative craft activity for children.

“Fanciful Birds” invites our younger crowd to choose their favorite bird and decorate it with feathers, beaks, tails and wings that you can draw or cut out. Gift your mom this year with the opportunity to bring the Art Fair home in a memorable work of art: A keepsake that will prove a lifelong reminder of your love and devotion. Your participation and support of the Art Fair enable the library to add new acquisitions and additions to collections and support library services and programs.

Be sure to mark Saturday, May 1, 2010, 9:30 – 6:00pm, and Sunday, May 2, 2010, 9:30 – 5:00pm. Memorial Park is located in Sierra Madre at 222 West Sierra Madre Blvd. 1 long block west of Baldwin Avenue.

Mount Wilson Trail Race Kids Art Show

Are you interested in participating in the MWTR Kids Art Show? On Friday, April 30 youth will have the opportunity to decorate running shoes that will be displayed at the Mount Wilson Trail Race! The decorating day will be held in Kersting Court from 3:00pm – 5:00pm. All decorating materials will be provided at no cost and the event is open to all interested youth. For more information call 626-355-5278

Working Together

It’s good the City Council, old and new and City staff are working together towards the same goals, and checking in every few months to make sure everyone is heading in the same direction. 

PSN reports on the workshop….

SIERRA MADRE – City officials Tuesday made plans for the next six months hoping to roll out public service announcements, revamp police training and survey local businesses.

Elected officials and members of the city’s staff developed the plan in a six-hour session Tuesday morning. The draft vision outlines the city’s objectives for the next six months.

The draft plan will be presented to the City Council for approval on May 11th.

In recent years, the brainstorming exercise, which is led by a facilitator and dubbed “a strategic planning retreat”, has been conducted twice a year to review the city’s key goals and update its objectives.

“As staff, we always appreciate this,” said City Manager Elaine Aguilar during the retreat. “Hopefully, we’re all on the (same) ship together going in the same direction. This process … facilitates that.”

One of the city’s most pressing goals is to update its general plan, which was last revised in 1996, said Councilman John Buchanan. A general plan committee was appointed last winter and it was suggested Tuesday that the council hire a staff planner to allow a department head to oversee the writing and manage completion of the general plan.

“We need to get that done because it’s the foundation for a whole lot of other planning in the future, or (for) limitations we want to put on certain things in town,” Buchanan said.

The city manager, with input from department heads and the Chamber of Commerce, would also conduct a survey of local businesses to determine what would stimulate their business as well as the local economy, according to the draft plan. The city manager would present the survey results, along with current economic data, to the City Council for discussion and direction by the end of August.

“I’d like to see green jobs come to our town because I think it would fit with our image,” Buchanan said.

Councilman Joe Mosca said he was concerned about the likelihood of doubling pension costs due to stock market dips, which would be a large burden for the city. He is also concerned about delayed maintenance projects, such as the paving of city streets, which cost more to upgrade over time.

According to the draft plan, the city manager would present a comprehensive fee study to the council in June to determine whether the city is charging what it should be.

“We have to make sure that two years out, we are not seeing deficits,” Mosca said. “That we are not having to dip into our reserves.”

Other objectives in the draft include hiring a part-time interim police lieutenant to develop and train sergeants, presentation to the council of a new filming ordinance and developing job descriptions for the city’s volunteers.

Local News – Get in the Swim

A few items of local interest:

• Every time I have attempted to comment on the “Tattler” since the election I have been “moderated”.  I was just trying to make a point; that The Weekly was not running for council but the Tattler was…. So I suppose open and seemless government is not what Sir Eric wanted, but moderated and hushed opinions is.
• Jobs Available:
• The City of Sierra Madre is now accepting applications for the following positions: Head Swim Coach, Assistant Swim Coach, Shift Leader, WSI, Lifeguard & Cashier.  For more information on the various positions please refer to the attached job flyer.
  Application deadline: Monday, April 26, 2010 at 4:00 p.m. Candidates should send a completed application and current resume to Rosemary Garcia, Community & Personnel Services, 232 West Sierra Madre Boulevard, Sierra Madre CA  91024. Applications can also be faxed to 626-836-6656 or submitted on the City’s website at www.cityofsierramadre.com under the City Employment link.
• Lifeguard Training Course
  The Sierra Madre Aquatic Center will be hosting an American Redcross Lifeguard Training Course.  The course will be held on the following dates: April 24 and 25 and May 1 and 2.  Participants will need to attend all four dates, from 9:00am-5:00pm.  The cost of the program is $171 per person.  Call 626-355-5278 for more information and the registration process.
• Water Safety Instructor Course
  The Sierra Madre Aquatic Center will be hosting an American Redcross water Safety Instructor Training Course.  The course will be held on the following dates: May 9, 23, and 30 and June 6.  Participants will need to attend all four dates, from 9:00am-5:00pm.  The cost of the program is $171 per person.  Call 626-355-5278 for more information and the registration process.

The Road to Civility May Have Some Bumps

The Pasadena Star News said it all.  Funny though that this morning Sir  Eric came out of the closet, so to speak. Supporting Obama and Gay marriage rights.  Apparently, Sir Eric will be taking a page out of the playbook of Obama’s opposition, and will become a one-man Party of No.  And he won’t be changing his opinions, even though his blinders block his ability to see other points of view.  Sounds like he’ll continue with his unrelenting isolationism and paranoia.  And the Pasadena Star-News’ hope that the mudslinging will fade away may be premature.

From the PSN:

But in neighboring Sierra Madre, no one was really sure what precisely the status quo was anymore.

Was it down-the-middle, Kiwanis Club-attending, community voluntarism? For maintaining, as ever, the foothill village atmosphere that no sane Sierra Madrean would ever give up, but not waving the bloody shirt about it?

Or was it the much more radical vision that had lately seemed to take hold of Sierra Madre politics, as chiefly exemplified by the blogger who calls himself the Sierra Madre Tattler? Those politics are actually hard to put a name to – one commentator has labeled them an odd combination of hard right wing and no growth.

In the other election Tuesday in Sierra Madre, Measure ED, citizens overwhelmingly voted against the city ever using eminent domain in a 2,245-372 tally. It was a curious measure, in that there was no threat of City Hall using eminent domain in the first place, if an easy one to say yes to. Still, symbolism is important.

But when it came to the City Council, Sierra Madre voters soundly rejected the Tattler style – snarky, funny, eloquent, nasty – by giving the Tattler’s author, John Crawford, the least votes of any major candidate.

Somewhat amazingly, they also ousted a sitting councilman, Don Watts, a Crawford ally, and resoundingly returned incumbent Joe Mosca by giving him the most votes of any candidate. Crawford had been withering about both Mosca, his sworn enemy, and associated “Moscateers,” acting as if they had no chance.

Instead, radicalism was rejected. Extremely slow or no growth was not – that’s what the moderates who were elected stand for as well, and that’s what’s best for Sierra Madre. The election of the sensible, hard-working Mosca along with longtime civic volunteers Josh Moran and Nancy Walsh is a victory for common sense. Here’s hoping the misplaced mudslinging introduced to town in recent years will fade away.

 

Spring Cleaning!

   Well it looks as if that was accomplished last night. Sir Eric called it renovations.  Either way the dust is gone!

Interestingly while driving to work this morning at 7 am not  single Crawford, Watts or Alcorn sign was in sight, huh I suppose the elves were out all night “spring cleaning”.  Fastest disappearance in history. 

Reality sucks sometimes, I guess.  Sir Eric was so full of himself, and the bootlickers who commented on his blog regularly probably gave him this feeling of invincibility and righteousness.  That balloon really got popped last night.  I am sure he’ll come back, and spin it as the “Dirts” having stolen the election again.  No recognition that maybe, just maybe, his particular brand of isolationism and paranoia may be out of the mainstream.

We’re Back!

Many congratulations to Mosca, Moran and Walsh!  Clean campaign, integrity and civility.  You guys ROCK.

RED Flag Alert

9:30 am SM PD just finished a drive through the canyon  announcing condition  RED and voluntary evacuations are in place.  The storm that will be moving through today in tomorrow is anticipated to drop 2-3 inches of rain.  The City PIO site does not have the alert status posted but does have the weather forecast up.

Just spoke to a representative at the City.  The Red flag alert was called because ot the potential of debris flow and amount of rain predicted.  If there is a flow there is also a possiblity of Canyon closure.

Here is the e-mail alert:

The City of Sierra Madre spoke this morning with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works who is expecting a Phase 1, possibly a Phase 2 mudflow prediction for Christmas Eve. LACDPW will not actually make the forecast until the National Weather Service provides a more accurate rainfall estimate for the area.

Currently the rainfall range is 2-3 inches tomorrow, 12/24  through Thursday, 12/25. In the case of mud and/or debris flow the City will clean up the streets as soon as possible once the rain stops and it is safe for crews to enter the mud areas. This may mean that clean-up efforts may not begin until after the holiday.

The City urges all residents in the potential mud flow areas to be prepared for heavy rains and to stay tuned to the City alerts via email, flags, electronic billboards, the City website at www.cityofsierramadre.com and the Emergency blog at http://www.sierramadrepio.blogspot.com.

In the mean time the City of Sierra Madre wishes you and your family safe and happy holidays.

Thursday Morning

As of 7 am this morning we are still at a yellow alert level. Iam going to assume with no new rain forcasted that that will change by noon today unless there is some instability on the hillsides. 

It looks as if we made it through this big storm with no significant slides.  Take alook a the the lovely dusting of snow on the mountains today, since much of that will melt off as soon as it warms up!

Back to Yellow – UPDATED

Rain continues to fall this afternoon and is expected to continue this evening.  As of this afternoon no mud problems have been reported. I took a drive around the canyon about 1 pm and there was no evidence of any flows, just wet dirty streets in some areas. 

*******

As of about 6:30 pm last night the City reinstated the yellow alert level. Police came through the canyon twice with their bull horns announcing the change.   As of this morning at 6 am there had been very little rain, but now at 9 am it is raining quite a bit. This status will remain until further notice. Don’t forget the parking restrictions are in effect. Rain should be clearing by later tonight.