A Murder of Crows, A Plague of Politicians, an Augur of Activists

Where do good roads lead?

I love collective nouns. The poet Ogden Nash paid homage to a splendid selection of them. From time to time I add a few of my own to existing ones like ‘a Murder of Crows’. I favor: a Plague of Politicians, an Augur of Activists, and a Crisis of Community...

Did you know that somewhere between One Side and The Other, are people who feel no compulsion to take sides? They live out their lives in other pursuits. This kind of non-conformity intrigues me. (It strikes me as non-conformity because others are so quick to jump into the fray; those who think before they leap are rare.) Their lives are meaningful, even better than most. (Oh okay, maybe they are a bit boring…)

Then there are those who live on a steady, heady diet of political turmoil, self sacrificing activism, community uprisings… breaking news, emergency meetings, indignation, outrage, revolt… gossip, libel, slander… right, wrong, righteous, and renunciatory.

It’s heady stuff: this Crisis of Community. I was once in the thick of it. I paid the price. And I guess I really am glad others want to take up that mantle. But at what cost? I have formed surprising relationships with remarkable community activists and I care for those who are in it up to their um, Levis labels. I hate to see them sacrifice so much that can never be regained. The personal cost is tremendous. Is it worth it?

How do they do it? How do they dedicate themselves so fully to responsibility that was never theirs? Well, frankly… nothing else matters. (Apologies to Metallica.) Family is shunted aside, friends are forgotten, vacations postponed, jobs are lost, disability checks and unemployment checks become income, taxes go unpaid, homes are sacrificed to foreclosure, health issues are ignored, marriages are threatened, relationships ruined, and that’s just the beginning. It’s an addiction!

Is it wrong to do right? Well it is expensive. I’ve been watching the price others are willing to pay. Are the dividends a fair return? Beware the political promise of a ‘place at the table’, or the act of martyrdom. When the fateful and historic election/cause/controversy is over, no one remembers who led it, although many claim it. Community involvement as a whole is a given though later unacknowledged. 

Consider Home Depot, Commerce Avenue, the Senior Citizen Center, the FBCSP, Land Use Committees, STNC activities, Samoa SB1818, Mount Gleason, and more. And I'm not even mentioning politics. See what I mean? If you are Sunland Tujungan, chances are your blood pressure just shot up. Yet no one agrees on any of these issues nor who the champions were and are. It’s not that these efforts aren't meaningful, they are. But at such a cost. Who paid that price?

On the other hand I can’t stop reading Mop and Bucket, Street Hassle, the Foothills Paper, the Sunland Tujunga Alliance website, and the Sunland Tujunga Neighborhood Council bulletins... (I have cut the Foothills Forum from the lineup however, one must have values!)

And I can’t say I don’t get palpitations at the hint of a racy story or a new Joan of Arc pursuing the noble cause… Oh no! I’m hooked. I'm a Sunland Tujungan... Write on, all you political-activist-community-crisis-leaders, write on.

The community is reading.

http://www.rinkworks.com/words/collective

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!



 

Manipulation of the media is self serving behavior and a pattern for those not interested in furthering community education but causing community dissention.

Like most of us I have strong beliefs: a passionate interest, views on favorite subjects, and convictions on several. My passion may be different from yours, but I have a love for…

• The natural world, horticulture, environmental laws, the sciences, and the human element in it all;
• The written and spoken word, journalism, communication, human interaction by expressed thought; and
• Community and the larger world, human history, progress, and understanding.

You’ll see the common theme is the relationship of fellow man to his surroundings and fellow human beings. Naturally I've studied these subjects. Yet events in my own community are a mystery as I find humans can be an inflexible member of their surroundings and attempt to shape it to their plans rather than reverse. Of course in a healthy frame of mind this innovative behavior would be called ‘progress’ but in a self centered frame of mind it becomes ‘abuse’.

Where this human pattern becomes a concern is when strong individuals impact their community in such a way that thousands of unsuspecting members of that community are affected (often adversely) by the decisions of a few. This is happening to our community of Sunland Tujunga.

If I descend into specifics which are infuriating enough, I will set players up for criticism which has never improved a thing. Further, I’ve done no justice to the second item on the list and will have violated my principles by spreading gossip. But if I speak to the larger spirit of human awareness I still fail, for those who are guilty of misdeeds think I must mean someone else and those who are blameless wonder if I mean them…

So I employ an old psychological principle and address the behavior, and hope we all reconsider our own.

Manipulation of the media is self serving behavior and a pattern for those not interested in furthering community education but causing community dissention while drawing undeserved media coverage to themselves. I know of no less than six media outlets that have been manipulated and coerced to print the “news” in our community of Sunland Tujunga including the City Council website, two local newspapers, three blogs (including my own) and an on-line forum. The countless articles, posts, comments, and more were the product of deliberate dissemination of misleading information presented to the media.

Some people will never be newsworthy except by discord. They tell the press “something is going to happen” then insure it. Furthering their own views at the expense of others, they deny debate and are willing to sacrifice their own valuable and worthy contribution to the same muck they throw at their opponents. Community meetings are not a stage, even the best performance is not reality.

There has got to be a way to bring errant community meetings under control. Self control is an obvious but somehow unattainable answer.The FBCSP meeting even ended early last night (they had the room for an hour but adjourned forcefully at 30 minutes). And the agenda included a document called "Ground Rules" (which are the same things you learned in kindergarten). Demands for mediators revealed a need for outside control of an internal problem. The demands for the removal of one should cause all to be dismissed. There are no longer any 'good guys' or 'bad guys'. The community deserves better than this... the gentleman from Sun Valley said it best: "Why can't you all just be nice to each other?"

SB 1818 vs. The FBCSP

The Ad Hoc Land Use Committee Sub-Committee to oppose the SB 1818 Samoa Affordable Housing Project met for the first time tonight. Do not for a minute think you as a stakeholder cannot attend or participate and give your input. If this is a project that concerns you (and it should) then be bold: get involved and show your support for these dedicated volunteers vs. the Goliath housing project.

Despite some contentious beginnings the group managed to get through an entire list of nine Discussion Points. Bill Skiles has been elected as Committee Chair. Volunteer committee members Dean Sherer, Elaine Brown, Cindy Cleghorn and Stakeholder Kathleen Travers were assigned research projects of considerable magnitude while shared information from several knowledgeable members benefited the committee as a whole. Proceedings will be reported here in greater detail as the members begin to act upon them (the opposition is likely to prepare a defense by previewing this report so detailed information will be described when the committee has implemented it.)

The SB 1818 Samoa Project intends to build a massive 4 story complex of “affordable housing” on Samoa Street in Tujunga just 200 yards from historic Bolton Hall, a stone building that is priceless to the community and requires protection from the impact of increased traffic, parking, and land use that the proposed project would bring to the neighborhood. Of major concern to the committee is the impact of the Samoa Project on this historic resource.

Other impacts to the neighborhood include changing the flow of rainwater runoff which is already a problem, the magnitude of a four story building in a two story neighborhood, increased population (64 3-4 bedroom apartments or 200+ people but less than half the required parking spaces) increased vehicular traffic in a single lane roadway, failure to address fire truck access to the back of the structure, and numerous other issues.

What constitutes “affordable housing” was also discussed as it is reported the local residents in need may not necessarily qualify for residency in the project and of special concern are the veterans in need for whom no apparent provision appears in the project description. 

The project is inconsistent with the Foothill Boulevard Corridor Specific Plan which allows a maximum density of 55 multi-family units in this location. Although SB 1818 overrides the Los Angeles Municipal Code according to Dean Sherer, SB 1818 vs. the FBCSP is another issue, as Councilman Krekorian approved the Samoa Project with a letter of recommendation that it adhere to the FBCSP.

There is a probability there will be an attempt to push this project through without a public hearing but this Ad Hoc Committee will work to thwart that action and bring it to public review. Of special note is the appeal process; the Sunland Tujunga Alliance cannot file an appeal as they have done with other projects. A Planning Directors administrative decision on an SB 1818 project can only be appealed by an adjoining property owner.

The next meeting of the Ad Hoc Land Use Committee’s Sub-Committee will be on August 30^th at 7:30 pm in the North Valley City Hall.

Questions For Fresh & Easy

We owe it to ourselves as a community (and by community I mean every one) to research thoroughly every advance we make toward improvement. I desire the same things as other stakeholders in Sunland Tujunga: including a purportedly wonderful food market with fresh new ideas and merchandise. However, according to the simple research I have done about Fresh & Easy, we all need to ask more questions of them. An article from the Sunday Times in the UK dated August 4, 2007 when they first decided to take California by storm is revealing both in its scope and personal experience from Fresh & Easy’s country of origin.

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/retailing/article2189609.ece

I’ve been advised that an STNC board member has taken my inquiry in a personal way; such is not my intent as I do hope Fresh & Easy will overcome obstacles and become our new neighbor. But I naturally want my new neighbor to abide by the rules of my neighborhood, not change the rules to their benefit and my detriment. According to the calls and e-mail I’ve received, Sunland Tujunga has issues with alcoholism, underage drinking and DUIs. It does not bode well that an Assembly Bill concerning liquor licensing has to be created for the sole purpose of dealing with an issue arising from a merchandiser from another country. 

I also feel empathy for the other markets in the same census tract that should be equally supported by our STNC and FBCSP. Smart and Final, Foothills Market, and Albertsons are stakeholders too; in fact Albertsons was a model of decency when they bought the whole rundown Luckys site, remodeled it to perfection, then rehired all of Luckys displaced employees to serve our community faithfully. To allow a foreign market to move in without due diligence at the expense of an established American one is just plain wrong.

Questions to ask Fresh & Easy:

*Why can’t you have one or two manned checkouts for customers making alcoholic purchases?

*What percentage of our community do you intend to hire for a store in our community?

*Why can’t they have more than 20 hours of work?

*Are benefits full? Partial? Paid for by Fresh & Easy? Paid for by the employee?

*What percentage of middle and upper management is American?

*What will you do if unions (which are protected by American civil rights) petition to organize in your stores?

*What support (Youth, Arts, Schools) do you intend to give back to our community who supports you with our purchasing dollar?

Here are some other links to Fresh & Easy information sources:

 http://www.licensesandpermits.com/how-to/get-local-zoning-permit-approval.aspx

http://ceres.ca.gov/planning/cup/condition

http://www.aroundthecapitol.com/Bills/AB_183

[EDIT: here are more telling and interesting links; the first is F&Es own blog as they go after Targets interests and marketing strategy: http://freshneasybuzz.blogspot.com/
And here is one detailing behind the scenes health issues http://ocvoice.wordpress.com/2008/03/06/tesco-invasion-critics-say-fresh-easy-same-as-wal-mart/ and comparison to Wal Mart practices http://www.forbes.com/2008/01/14/tesco-walmart-arizona-markets-equity-cx_vr_0114markets19.html ]

An editorial of sorts...

As compelling as it is, I’m setting aside the issue of the whole overgrown idea that is the Foothill Boulevard Corridor Specific Plan (FBCSP). It is becoming unwieldy and is taking on the shape and incredulousness of that damn mammoth zucchini no one wants in the back yard.

What with the infamous proposal and the weird cast of characters on both sides (some with rage issues); the twists and turns and secrets galore; the query ‘to open or not to open’ the FBCSP; and whether residents or businesses get to be on top; it was hard to know where to begin and end. I will report the ‘leaks’ promised to come my way, but I will leave it to others to analyze them.

I feel those already well versed in the telling of events should continue on that topic while I take on a subject much nearer and dearer to my heart. You will find the very best background information on the FBCSP on Joseph Mailander’s site Street Hassle http://street-hassle.blogspot.com/

Meanwhile, I will report on the homeless in our community and what they face daily just to survive. Their story resonates with me and yields more promise and less dementia if only because they give real perspective to our community’s regard (or not) for others on a basic level.

Oh there’s still controversy if that’s what you crave, and drama, and a colorful cast of characters… but there is genuine life and death decisions made and more at stake than you know. It will be a worthy read. I promise.

The Foothills Paper 'Goes Silently Into That Goodnight'

[EDIT: There has been a recent (tremendous) surge of new interest in this: the first article on Brock Ba'jer which launched the site. Please note the edits to the article now added: four months later...]

[On August 10, 2012 Terre Ashmore formally entered the debate as an opponent to the continued publication of The Foothills Paper and exercised her right to boycott the continued publication of The Foothills Paper.]



Where is The Foothills Paper?!

The Foothills Paper is no more...

The Foothills Paper claimed a readership of 4000 local residents (out of 65,000) in the twin cities of Sunland and Tujunga, two communities with a rural backdrop and residents boasting generations of residency in the outskirts of Los Angeles, California.

But in a dramatic gesture ‘Doc’ David DeMulle, editor of The Foothills Paper ceased publication of his rather famous (some would say infamous) newspaper July 22, 2011. [The Foothills Paper was not printed for four weeks then resumed following publication of this article on Brock Ba'jer. The Foothills Paper does not generate enough to pay for itself.] In a special staff meeting on July 25, Doc informed staff he could no longer afford to pay for the production of The Foothills Paper out of his own pocket, adding it cost him about $1000 per issue to produce.

In an email sent that evening to staff and columnists who missed the meeting, Doc made an appeal, “The Paper is the last bastion of information to rally the citizens” he wrote. “We're dead in the water. What this means to you, is this.  We are going to have to cut back on paid columns and ask every writer to come help us put out The Paper every other week.  If you can't or won't help, we will drop your column to save printing costs.  We need to fall back and re-form or we die.”

But few replied and only two showed up to work on Wednesday. Doc was packing to move. His advertising department (the lifeblood of a newspaper) had already departed weeks before. Efforts to send out billing by those unfamiliar with the task fell short and advertising customers simply failed to pay their bills. Monies that might have saved the publication went uncollected.

To aggravate a tense situation, The Paper’s phones and internet went down the entire week as well and all efforts and repairmen hired to reinstate the service met with escalating electrical and technical problems. Jokes about “the ghost in the machine” became prophetic as the bastion of communication became unreachable.

More than the aggravation of phone problems and the mismanagement of advertising dollars however, Doc cited the overwhelming numbers of news stories waiting to be researched and written by too few staff writers as his greatest concern: "The corruption we've uncovered is more than we can handle by ourselves. We have no salespeople. People in S-T are too poor to advertise and the surrounding communities look down on us as being crass, stupid and poor." 

In a lengthy list of the stories of local corruption and waste he had planned to publish, he gave priority to the proposal to amend Sunland Tujunga’s Specific Plan.

“The Foothill Blvd. Corridor Specific Plan will destroy the residents up to 4 blocks above and below Foothill Blvd.; The Ralph's Center is 90% vacant. The Commerce Center is 95% vacant. Commerce is 65% vacant... We're being set up for redevelopement!" Doc declared to staff. Doc himself is a stakeholder in the community who adamantly opposes the proposal. [The street of 'Historic Commerce' is a ghost town. Doc previously published a scathing expose' about the group called COBRA which collected monies to restore this original main street of Tujunga. Doc claimed COBRA drove business owners away with anonymous Building and Safety complaints and harassment. The improvements have all been allowed to decline; expensive planters are filled with dead plants, street trees are butchered by unskilled pruners, graffiti is left unchallenged, and the elaborate sign was stolen and never replaced.]

Interestingly, the most suspect of events expected to shut down The Foothills Paper, did not. Three months ago a group of local activists, enraged at Doc for the “slanderous lies” they were the subject of in The Foothills Paper, organized a boycott against the advertisers of The Paper to force them to drop their ads and cause The Paper to fold. Led by Joe Barrett and Robin Meares, the boycott had the opposite effect, polarizing the community and causing advertisers to dig their heels in. [In a surprise move the writer of this blog Terre Ashmore later supported efforts to shut down The Foothills Paper after previously defending it.]

The Foothills Paper has recently had a surge in readership after covering the opposing view to the hotly debated proposal made by The Sunland Tujunga Alliance, The Chamber of Commerce and partial board membership of the Sunland Tujunga Neighborhood Council (STNC).

Their proposal to amend The Foothill Boulevard Corridor Specific Plan (FBCSP) is countered by members of the STNC Board who did not agree to the proposal. The opposing side is led by David Cain, 2^nd Vice President of the STNC who wrote a counter letter to Councilman Krekorian which was published in the Foothills Paper. [Councilman Krekorian never publicly acknowledged or replied to David Cain's letter.] [Cain later resigned and disappeared into obscurity.]

The debate was played out on The Foothills Forum: a community forum where thousands of views and hundreds of posts kept moderators busy. Any inquiry related to either view became anathema and many secret meetings have been conducted by both sides in an effort to win the Councilman over. [ 'Secret meetings' was the original text now hi-lighted. This article alerted the public early to this but no one caught it.]

With so much happening in the community it seems tragic somehow that any voice is silenced, even one so controversial. Recently, Doc made several comments eliciting an outraged response from the subjects he targeted on the Street Hassle blog. He used the penname Devils Advocate. How apropos as he is certainly the "person who often argues the 'wrong' side, perversely or for arguments sake". Whatever your take on his style and character, Doc is a writer who is read and reread.

What more can a wordsmith ask?

[Doc continues to publish The Foothills Paper at his own expense...]