A Reversal of Fortune in A Virtual World

In an amazing reversal of fortune, staunch defenders of the infamous Sunland Tujunga debacle: "Food Truck Night" (FTN)  have completely reversed their stand and removed their support of the hotly debated weekly event to join the side calling for the strong control of, or complete dismissal of, the event. Prominent community activists who previously attended every FTN and deliberately stood in view of passing traffic to show their patronage and support of FTN are now calling for "picket signs" and an organised effort against the Sunland Tujunga Chamber of Commerce who created Food Truck Night.

Recently 'talks' between two rival groups: one for the CofC and support of the Food Truck Night and the other for the merchants (brick and mortar stores) to contest the FTN, faced each other in a 'standoff' and ended the meeting in conflict and disagreement. The primary battle ground for this controversy exists in the virtual world as Facebook pages are created by the score to discuss talking points primarily with those of like mind. Facebook members of opposing views are either denied membership in the page and prevented from posting their views or are challenged by the majority in packdog behavior until every view but the one the page is devoted too is silenced. Excellent ideas for solution to the conflict are shredded without consideration.

The Meeting of Twelve as the talks between six merchants and six Chamber of Commerce members is popularly called, was mediated by a professional assigned to guide the talks by Councilman Alarcon. No record of the talks has been produced so any reports from participants is suspect as none agree on what was discussed, concluded, or carried over for further discussion. In fact the talks have been so hotly debated on Facebook by both sides that further talks may not be possible. Any invitation by the Chamber to 'discuss this face to face' (in the real world) is dismissed with suspicion by Facebookers who want an answer on the medium they have become accustomed too.

In truth, there is a third "member" of this controversy who is hammering at the virtual door of the meetings for admission. The General Public has not been represented in any formal discussion and is the driving force behind the social media use of multiple Facebook pages as they find a marginal way to air their views. More than that however, is the final straw in this huge pile of very real controversy: every Wednesday night hundreds of happy customers greet the food trucks with enthusiasm and buy the wares offered there; they have no idea what a brou-ha-ha this is. They do not participate on little-known Facebook pages; they consume goods in a real world and vote with their attendance. Their innocent delight is the one element of honest opinion expressed without rancor or agenda. They will be the ones who suffer the consequences of decisions made in ether.

Food Trucks and Fallacies

Human beings are 'fallible: liable to make mistakes or be deceived; liable to be erroneous or inaccurate' (Websters). What makes them so much better than imperfection, however, is their ability to rise above their situation and remedy it.

When the Food Trucks arrived I was enthused. It was something new and not just one new choice but 30 trucks at once. Wow. I attended every Wednesday night at first, in order to try several 'gourmet' foods. I had fun. I'd never eaten from food trucks before. I also did not understand why some people wanted to lock arms with me and "be seen at Food Truck Night", in my company. Apparently they thought I represented something.

The Facebook pages lit up in a new Sunland Tujunga controversy. Heading up that discussion is Tomi Lyn Bowling. Its not that Tomi means harm, she does what she deems best for others without consulting them. She is in a position of power when she does this and her views carry weight. She feels she always 'has the good of the community in her heart' while she affects change. When she is questioned she is hurt and the change she championed becomes secondary to her need for validation. Her fans surround her posts with affirmations and the true topic of discussion is lost.

Writers such as myself and Joe Barrett, will drop everything in such a situation as community controversy and become reporters. However, while informing readers all about it, we become part of the story as well. Our voices add weight to differing 'sides'. (Others such as Doc DeMulle, and Joseph Mailander from Los Feliz, deliberately report the side they favor.)

Other vocal community members like Robin Meares, Tom Borquez, Sharon Ratz and Joseph Sheppard weigh in and state their views. As vitally important as it is to hear that brick and mortar stores are determinedly opposing Food Truck Night (and 'why' they are doing so) their reasons are lost amid the sounds of battle. Tom is inspired to write a treatise on the secret meetings which eclipses Tomi's 'whole story'. A new round of controversy wraps itself around what they (and reporters) write, instead of the issue.

Sonia Tatulian, the Chamber President comes out fighting for ground on issues not even on the table for discussion. Personal insults become all that is exchanged and quiet excellent ideas from stakeholders like Cecile Vargo and Abby Diamond are lost like a flashlight in a forest fire.

What happens in this community is every issue is a stage for key players to fight over in order to be important in their own way. Its time for all the usual people to step away from the controversy and let others whose names are totally unknown to the Facebook crowd, take over. Let the quiet merchants who haven't been heard, the CoC members who have no self interest, the community members who have never dared voice an opinion... step up to the plate and take the reins. There are quiet people out there with an opinion... these are your new Unknown Leaders.

Brick & Mortar Stores Air Their Views

Food Truck Night (FTN) in the “small” town of Sunland has taken on an amazing number of opponents and proponents since its unheralded start at the behest of the Sunland Tujunga Chamber of Commerce a few months ago; Facebook pages by the score, blog posts, and news agencies large and small: report every nuance of its daily activity.

Most surprising in their determined stand are the opponents to FTN. Opponents are a quiet and stubbornly persuasive lot (consisting of brick and mortar store owners and their followers) and their message is being heard. They will not ‘yield the floor’! Councilman Alarcon has again arranged a meeting between six Brick and Mortar store owners (who object to FTN) and six members of the Sunland Tujunga Chamber of Commerce (who organized the event and support it).

This meeting, held a couple of nights ago afforded representatives from “both sides” of the argument to hear and be heard by those expected to carry the message of the meeting back to their side, and to the community. The community of Sunland Tujunga is unrepresented in these meetings and is the only group held captive to decisions affecting them without a voice in the matter apart from Facebook.

One of the most respected members of the brick and mortar stores told Brock Baj’er that the primary negotiation points are the location for the food trucks and the number of times a month they appear. Surprisingly, the complete discontinuation of the food trucks is not an issue! This contradicts the many heated arguments on community Facebook pages which (not surprisingly, since they have no representative to inform them) are unaware that argument is no longer discussed as a main point.

Many merchants including my source have conceded the influx of customers to FTN is making more residents and outsiders aware of the community and the businesses that are always here, not just on Food Truck Nights. They appreciate this marketing potential but, “every week, every week, every week… is just too much: too much traffic, too much stress, too much loss of revenue,” this restaurant owner explains. “Customers spend their dollars at food trucks every Wednesday, I loose customers Tuesdays and Thursdays too because they spent their money at FTN on Wednesdays. The whole week, every week, my business is affected.”

My source reports: the likely outcome of these meetings will be a reduction in the number of times a month the food trucks are allowed to sell in ST and the favored location being discussed is Sunland Park, not Foothill Blvd. This would reportedly satisfy many members of both sides and community response remains to be heard.

The Quiet Man is the Best Man... Vote for Mark Seigel Saturday August 4th!

As a writer I depend on inspiration; I let words fill all that clean white space on a page with lines of thought, insight and information. That said, I am inspired to write to you of someone I feel I just met even ‘though I’ve known him for years: The Quiet Man aka Mark Seigel. I will definitely vote for him on Saturday, August 4th at North Valley City Hall, 7747 Foothill Blvd. Tujunga from 2:30pm to 8:30pm. PLEASE VOTE FOR MARK SEIGEL on that day!

A few days ago I interviewed Mark Seigel who is running for the Sunland Tujunga Neighborhood Council’s all important office of President. Once you get him talking, Mark is the most engaging candidate on the roster. But he works in such an unassuming way that he is sometimes thought of as The Invisible Man…

How will he fare as a candidate? Well in a community rife with controversy, angst, and turmoil, Mark Seigel is the Voice of Reason; a quiet voice, like your conscience. It is a relief to talk to him about issues and have no gossip or vitriol clog up the conversation. Yet he could go unnoticed for that praiseworthy reason.

I’ll tell you his platform, his views, his assurances, plans, and campaign promises in a bit; before I do I want you to know the person I interviewed on a stakeholders level: Mark is a fascinating man possessed of untapped potential this community must consider!

There are a lot of things Mark Seigel is not: he is not angry, loud, or dramatic. Mark has no hidden agenda. He is straightforward and responsive to the stakeholders. Mark is no grandstander: requires no blog or Facebook page to publicize his views, and simply shows up to every meeting on time and prepared to do the job he is elected to do. What more can a voter ask?

In a moment of passion at the Sunland Tujunga Neighborhood Council “Meet the Candidates” on Wednesday July 11, Mark Seigel declared to the audience “YOU are the Neighborhood Council, we are just the tools you need to use, to make it happen.”

Later I interviewed Mark and asked what made him decide to run for the office of President, Mark replied “the catalyst was when Tomi Lyn Bowling pulled out after Doc’s article.” The Foothills Paper publisher Doc DeMulle ran a controversial article concerning Bowling the week before. She reportedly felt her “presence was detrimental to the Board based on the content of the article” and withdrew her candidacy. Later she allowed herself to be persuaded by community members to change her mind and run. This is not the first time Bowling has resigned, called for a vote of confidence and reinstated herself in the council. She can’t make up her mind.

For this election Bowling retrieved the candidacy she had cast aside. She reinstated her intent to run… how does that affect Mark? “Well I’m not pulling out; I’ve developed more relationships with service organizations in the community than Tomi has. I have more exposure to the American Legion, the Elks, Scouting, Masons, Chamber of Commerce, and others. I have experience others don’t realize.”

“I also know how to resolve conflict. I understand interpersonal dynamics; I was an ombudsman for years. I seek positive change and I reason with all sides. I emphasize solutions not problems and want both sides to feel their differences are resolved in a win/win manner.” (This is in sharp contrast to Tomi Lyn Bowling who rejects members from her community Facebook page if they disagree with her.)

When asked what is the first thing he would do if elected Mark firmly stated “I would educate the [new] Board on the parameters for being able to execute their jobs and I would empower them so they don’t sit idle; they can get out there and DO something; they can do it now: they can engage the community! The Board can be a help to the community, not a target for the community!”

That impassioned statement is a far cry from the light statement made by Tomi Lyn Bowling during Meet the Candidates: she said about her current Vice-Presidency and Chairmanship of the Board, “We have a good time, don’t we? Don’t we?!” And Tomi concluded with “I want to see more of what we need on Foothill Boulevard and less of what we don’t need on Foothill Boulevard!”

Mark however, is “divided” on the Food Trucks Issue and wants “to hear a lot more from both sides at STNC meetings not on Facebook pages”. He refers back to his earlier statement that he knows how to resolve conflict with a win/win solution and looks forward to input from the whole community on this issue.

On the subject of “Development” Mark Seigel is strong minded. “Any development must be community oriented. Development can help or harm our community and we have to get past the buzzwords developers use to take advantage of the community. We can’t have too much, too fast. This isn’t Beverly Hills. Sunland Tujunga is an old-fashioned homey community with 90% residential, 9% business, and 1% commercial properties. There are 56 different ethnicities in Sunland Tujunga. There are a lot of different ideas we need to hear”

Finally when asked what is the most important thing he can do if elected, Mark Seigel reiterated a favorite topic by stating two things he considers vital to leadership which he feels fully capable of: “A leader needs to recognize another’s strengths and LET them use them. And, a leader must guide and empower the Board to reach its full potential as a community resource.”

The best candidate for the position of President of the Sunland Tujunga Neighborhood Council is Mark Seigel. PLEASE be sure to vote on Saturday, August 4th, from 2:30pm to 8:30pm. AND get all your friends and neighbors to vote as well… it is a great first time experience for young people who must be 16 to vote. See you at the polls!

http://markseigel2012.blogspot.com/2012/07/

Food Fight

Okay so I wasn’t going to write about the latest Sunland Tujunga controversy but how can I resist? When I research this story I get to eat crepes and other cool food while observing the Sunland Tujunga masses.

I kept thinking ‘there is a great story here’ while I researched the various gourmet fast food trucks and watched all the cool people. There were several hundred locals, out-of-towners and food truck followers milling in and out of the tangled and congested walkway alongside the food trucks. Pedestrians tripped over broken concrete, nearly got hit by confused and increasingly heavy Foothill Boulevard traffic and rerouted food trucks swerved in and out of spaces (their parking slots were blocked by protesters' vehicles).

The lineup of food trucks was marred by protest vehicles parked where food trucks were supposed to be. Tomi Lyn Bowling reportedly was warned that protestors in the form of ‘brick and mortar store’ owners would disrupt the night this way so she showed up to prevent it at 2:00 pm but several still evaded her and parked in the food truck slots.

Chamber of Commerce President Sonia Tatulian called LAPD Sergeant Eggers who was unable to persuade former CofC President Kathy Anthony’s son to move his truck and flatbed. It seemed to be a showdown between present and former CofC ruling parties. Sonia looked like the “angry birds” game as she expressed her displeasure. Then the Advertising Director of Voice of the Village (the “Good News” newspaper) angrily added her parked car to the mix and jammed her truck’s front bumper up against the flatbed so neither could be moved; everyone used them to lean against while eating their food. Ah, ingenuity. What fun!

I met The Fish Lady, Barbara Johnson for crepes. We were going to have lobster but that truck was a no show. Bummer. I shared fries with Abby Diamond, avoided eye contact with Kim Oglegee, discussed history with Cecile Vargo, discussed Sunland Tujunga’s castles with Tara Greer, shared vendor info with Dazey Carnes, befriended Mary Louise Burdi, saw Tomi, Sonia, Jan, Doc, Ron of Marcus Lane, and many others. I heard Doc DeMulle was blocking a parking space but when I went to check it out at the end of the row he was interviewing Tomi and his vehicle was no where near them.

For the uninitiated, Food Truck Night was orchestrated by Chamber Champions: Tomi Lyn Bowling, Sonia Tatulian, and Jan Wunderlich. It’s a huge success… at what cost remains to be seen, but there is no denying it brings paying customers in droves and we mostly have Tomi Lyn to thank for it all.

Food Truck Night invites 2-3 dozen out-of-town gourmet food trucks to the twin targets of Sunland and Tujunga every Wednesday night for great food, camaraderie, mischief, great food, mayhem, gossip, great food, mingling, favoritism and um, well yes… great food…

Oh yeah and it doesn’t hurt that these are mostly voters and the Sunland Tujunga Neighborhood Council elections are in two months and Tomi Lyn Bowling wants to be president. Opps, well hell I said the thing no one dares to say… Tomi Lyn will yelp like someone bit her and holler “I do so much for the community!” which no one denies. It will also get her elected. Heck, she has the vote: whether throwing a party, or campaigning for one: Tomi Lyn Bowling is very good at what she does.