Oh the Crimes, They Are a-Changin’!
By Sierra Madre Weekly
Published: Wednesday, April 7th, 2010
There’s a new breed of criminal in town and I for one would like to officially propose that we change the laws in order to publicly dishonor those responsible for character assassination on the internet tubes. If it’s spoken, it’s slander and if it’s in print, it’s libel, both of which are punishable in court. But how do we brand attacks on personal character and dignity that exist only in cyberspace?
We are, of course, talking about the downright transgressions of political pundits, hacks and hopefuls during Sierra Madre’s election season. Those with enormously big mouths, long blogs and small ideas spewing from anonymous commenters or those with pseudonyms like “el Kabong” (who, by the way, we have it on good authority is none other than current City Councilman Kurt Zimmerman. Sorry to expose you, Mr. Zimmerman, but the ‘net leaves a trail a million miles long, and in this case, straight to the doorstep of Aramark Uniform & Career Apparel, your current employer.)
We’re feverishly working on tracking down the true identity of Mr. or Mrs. “anonymous” in the Sierra Madre phone book, but for now we’re left only with our informed suspicions.
Whether at the state, national or local level, everyone’s doing it. And they’re doing it online, bashing their opponents until every last shred of decency either side may have had is spent or degraded.
Unlike the Obama campaign, to which Councilman Zimmerman contributed some greenbacks, where civility was the very core of the pursuit for office, the latest spring elections in our local foothills city of Sierra Madre, the tone is downright nasty, narcissistic and about as far from respectable as one could get. While it may be true that children see through to things like character and honesty with an unfiltered eye, they still have no business running our cities.
It should be considered a misdemeanor at the very least to defame one’s opponent to the extent that some in Sierra Madre are doing in blog submissions, from comments overheard to general heresy. Perhaps this is why blogger/candidate John Crawford is now trying to sing a different tune, threatening to ban comments altogether on his blog, sierramadretattler.com.
It could also be an offense to publicly attempt to humiliate a fellow councilmember (especially one whom you happen to openly oppose and seemingly disapprove of) punishable by writing “This is not my council meeting; it is the people’s meeting” 100 times on the blackboard.
Matriarchal Mayor MacGillivray owes not only Joe Mosca but the entire city an explanation for her self-indulgent outburst during the last city council meeting. A disgraceful attempt to put down a political opponent in a public setting is unpardonable, and sadly, unforgettable.
Perhaps it harps back to MacGillivray’s idea of what a “family” should be. Think back to the mid 1990’s – Take a look at city archives, you’ll be surprised what trinkets lie in the vaults of city hall and the library.
This now, brings us to the issue of suppressed feelings of homophobia and racism. Both of which exist in Sierra Madre; despite what a select few have offered as inconclusive evidence against such allegations.
Few will admit to being homophobic, but it’s there.
Even fewer will admit to being racist, but of course it’s there! We are still and may always be an imperfect animal, and denying that fact will do no good towards enlightening ourselves, our city and our country.
The fact remains that like many small towns and cities, Sierra Madre is a microcosm of American society complete with its bigotry. Insular and Lilly white and not terribly well represented by minorities – that’s Sierra Madre and many small towns in America.
Here’s a sampling of some recent and rather clumsy comments on Candidate Crawford’s caustic chatter-lounge:
“Yep it’s funny too that Terry Miller and the DIRTS complain about how poorly Joe is being treated in the press, but they never made a peep when Dunn, Angus, Watts and Zimmerman were blasted in the Downtown Dirt or in the Cumquat.”
We’d love to know who wrote this gem. Joe has been treated well in the press and blasted on blogs like Crawford’s! For the record: Blogs are not “Press.”
“Oh yeah? those of us who actually read the Tattler have been blown away by the comprehensiveness and daring of its reporting. All of the “abuse” has come from the other, jealous, side.”
“Comprehensive and daring” sounds like a slogan but forward in lieu of actual news and between talking heads who’s makeup can barely hope to cover the wandering, contrarian soullessness that hides just behind.
“Another observation: MaryAnn is a strong woman and Joe is a weak man who is not the most intelligent. It is somewhat obvious he has always had someone behind him to enable him. It has been tough for Joe to be sitting at a table with a bright articulate woman who is 1000 steps ahead of him. He cannot handle the emotional psychological impact of a woman quicker/brighter/more informed than him. Imagine his psyche when Ms. Moore/Ms. Angus arrived at the podium. His entire synapse shut down and all he could do was go into baby-babble temper tantrum mode.”
Any student of history knows that a strong leader must rarely use the ceremonial gavel or threat of police action. On the contrary, it is only by example that one leads with an authority that will be respected even once the sash has been passed.
We humbly propose, for your consideration, a kinder, gentler approach to politics in Sierra Madre. Let’s be fair and honest, not critical nor callous like those who frequent Crawford’s critique. And finally, Mr. Spin Doctor, I propose apunishment for your crimes and misdemeanors be some hard-earned volunteer work for the Sierra Madre Fire Dept. I’m sure the boys down at the station could use a good hose-wrangler. Kudos to Bill Coburn for his recent editorial defending those incredible men and women who volunteer their time to protect our community but also putting Crawford in his rightful place.
But before we go, let’s have a look at one last comment scraped from the Tattler’s barnacle-clad underbelly:
“I kind of like Terry Miller’s stories, too. They remind me of a guy writing half drunk, which I believe to be an established journalistic tradition. Just don’t take it too seriously – people will pick out the parts they like anyway – like Cameron’s bouillabaisse.”
No problem here. This rather elegant piece of prose posted on the Easter weekend edition of the Tattler Blogomatic Regurgitator passes our rigorous editorial process. (That is, two parts whiskey, three parts scotch.)
6 Responses for “Oh the Crimes, They Are a-Changin’!”
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A seriously excitingpost – but one I cannot say yeswith I’m afraid.
(Dear Editor: I hope that you are able to print my letter as it appears below. I understand that it is a bit long. Thanks very much.)
I am a Sierra Madre registered voter who has done her homework in regards to our upcoming election. I have not allowed anyone to tell me how to think or how to vote. Instead, I have used rational, independent thought to come to my decisions. In the past, my vote was manipulated by a campaign. Afterwards, I regretted my decision because I realized that I was duped. That candidate, or those supporting or against a ballot measure knew how to manipulate voters. I have vowed that that will never happen again.
As I do my homework on the candidates, I think of it as a job interviewing process. It is important to do a background check and decide whether or not each candidate will do the best job for our city. Does this person have the right experience, temperament and references for the position? Do the candidate’s views and goals align with one’s? What does the candidate say? Is the candidate’s platform based on fear, misinformation and lies? What do others say? Are negative things said used as a smoke screen to make another candidate look better or is there some merit there? I tend to dig deeper and not take things at face value.
For example, Councilmember Mosca, who seeks reelection, has come under attack for not allowing a citywide vote on the Downtown Specific Plan (DSP) as he had promised during his previous campaign. My recollection was different. During the June 13, 2006 City Council meeting, when Councilmember Zimmerman asked that the DSP be put in the form of a referendum on the ballot, Mosca said let’s wait until the process is complete. He didn’t want the city to vote on the DSP, which was still in draft form. He wanted the plan to be completed, as was adopted in our Master Plan in 1996, and then go forward on it. You can’t vote on something that isn’t a complete project. The snippets on YouTube don’t give the full story and are taken out of context. Mosca went as far as putting together a timeline with completion dates. If you want to see for yourself, go to the library and pull the complete video or City Council meeting minutes.
I have found it helpful to meet the candidates, watch the two candidate forums and city council meetings online, and read as much as I can to arrive at my decision. But I am very careful of where I get the information. For example, a candidate’s blog is not a reliable or accurate source of information. The candidate’s ultimate goal is to get elected. Therefore, the blog cannot be used as a way to come to a logical decision. Instead, I read all the local papers and gain insight as I read each one. Of course, the media does have some bias, but I try to glean whatever information I can each time I read an article. For example, every local paper and an Internet site have unanimously endorsed Josh Moran, Nancy Walsh and incumbent Joe Mosca. How often does that happen?
On April 13, I urge you to vote that ticket: Moran, Walsh, Mosca. They will lead our town honestly and rationally.
Maria Decker
Sierra Madre
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Neighbors in Sierra Madre – the election Tuesday may be the most important since we came here 21 years ago. The announced positions of the candidates do not seem to vary much.
However, what we have seen in the last two or three weeks shows that the decision we will be making is a choice of whether the conduct of our city affairs is to be a reasonable opportunity for civilized discussion of our mutual business, or whether, instead, City Council meetings and other bodies are simply going to be an opportunity for political posturing and abusing those one dislikes on either a personal or policy basis. Her honor the mayor made it clear to all of us where she stands on this and who she supports to continue more of the same.
I don’t think we can afford to continue this uncivilized and unbusiness like conduct of our municipal affairs. Vote to reelect Mosca and elect Walsh and Moran to get this city back to the kind of place we want to live in.
Eric Olson
Sierra Madre
According to Sierra Madre city council candidate John Crawford, I am crazy if I do not vote for him. This candidate claims to be running a campaign based on the issues at hand, but he lacks substance and specifics in how he will act and vote as a councilman. When I have asked for specifics, I am told to read his blog. The blog is a rant-filled abomination with opinions not based on fact. His writing is horrific. He does not understand the easy concept of introducing the topic clearly and cocisely. He also fails to provide actual verifiable facts to prove he is correct. Call me crazy, but I will NOT be voting for John Crawford and his bullying supporters who attack anyone with a different point of view.
Didn’t Glenn Lambdin sign that ‘definition of the family’ thing? I think Terry has his facts all bolloxed up again. But look, when you have to defend “Poor Joe,” the guy who promised the good people of Sierra Madre a vote on downtown development when he ran in 2006, only to renege after he was elected, facts can be inconvenient.
Thanks Arcadia Road Runner……
Just a clarification. I was never the “Cumquat photographer”. Jim did use a few images of mine, however. Please get the facts first, then attack, if you feel so inclined. You obviously have totally missed our point!
Then Councilmember MaryAnn wanted to change the definition of family. See, Los Angeles 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’”.
From the Herald Tribune 1997: Herald Tribune
MacGillivray said: “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.”
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.
For your comment about Councilmember Mosca, go to the Sierra Madre Library and pull the complete video from the City Council meeting or the meeting minutes from 2006. You will see that Joe wanted to wait to vote on the DSP when it was completed and not in its draft form as Councilmember Zimmerman wanted. Councilmember Mosca put together a timeline of completion so we could vote. The snippets on YouTube are taken out of context and don’t give a complete picture.