Just Some Stuff

Mr. Brian Campbell responded to both myself and Mr. Marshall in a way that made both of us comfortable with what he wrote individually, to both of us.

So let's move on and consider some other things that seem to be happening.

Mr. Pete Fer, who lives on a very important and much traveled intersection in the eastern portion of R.P.V. finally posted several Brian Campbell lawn signs to go along with the Anthony Misetich lawn signs that have been around for a couple of weeks now.

Might yards having both Anthony Misetich and Brian Campbell signs demonstrate something similar but different than yards like mine that have both Jeff Lewis and Paul Tetreault signs?

I think so.

I have a pretty good understanding now that there at least two sets of candidates that make up (sort of) teams seeking the two seats to the City Council.

It is no secret that Mr. Misetich and Mr. Campbell represent the more conservative views of most of the Council candidates while Mr. Lewis, Mr. Tetreault, and even Mr. Knight represent the more progressive views of the candidates.

But I take heart in the concept that there are 6 great candidates that can be considered, no matter which side of the center line in politics we are.

I have corresponded with a VERY conservative friend of mine about the election for Council seats and the TOT increase.

Naturally we disagree on everything, but I found his thought to be things that provoked new ways of looking at the candidates and the very important issues.

What will be interesting to find out is whether the electorate brings forth two more conservative candidates to seats on the Council after the election of Mr. Wolowicz, Mr. Stern, and especially Mr. Long.

I opined to my friend that I appreciate the number of lawyers serving or wishing to serve on the Council because of the giant issues that folks like me don't understand the way more educated folks do.

I think we need the best minds serving the residents revolving around the issues of the Monk's Case, Marymount, the landslides issues, and the continued operation and support of Terranea.

But I also feel candidates with a business and fiscal background can also provide great judgement.

And having an engineer understanding some important dynamics of things is also something to consider.

I continue to plead with east side residents, ESPECIALLY Eastview residents to vote in this election.

The fantastic residents of the Miraleste area have had much more opportunity to vote in elections as they have been part of R.P.V. for a much longer time.

Eastview voters have the opportunity to 'call the shots' ONLY if they come out in numbers and vote.

In this case, calling the shots doesn't necessarily mean Eastview voters will determine the outcome of the Council races or the TOT increase.

It means that if a good showing at the polls by Eastview voters happens, then we/they can demonstrate that they wish to be included more in the governance of our city.

It also means that we would wake up to the possibility of eventually becoming a force that will finally allow us immersion into the School District, rather than what has been for far too long.

Why doesn't PVPUSD want the portion of the property taxes I pay for education going to their district instead of LAUSD? I don't have any kids attending either district schools and I want Eastview residents helping to pay for PVPUSD schools rather than LAUSD schools.

Studies have illustrated that about 80% of school-age kids living in the Eastview area attend PVPUSD schools.

I understand that the State reimburses PVPUSD for Eastview kids attending those schools, but property tax payers in Eastview watch their portions going to public schools, going to LAUSD, a failed system and district.

Just think of the income PVPUSD could enjoy from all of us currently paying into LAUSD, then having our portions go to PVPUSD.

Our kids keep Miraleste M.I.S., Dapplegray E.S. and two high schools open (rather than just one).

The Eastview parents of kids attending PVPUSD schools should have the same rights and responsibilities as other parents who send their kids to PVPUSD schools.

And I think we all want to have the vote to say which folks site on the Board of Education of PVPUSD.

There is nothing we can do about having two LAUSD schools in our city, but Eastview residents should have a say about PVPUSD schools where so many of our kids attend.

The only way for representatives of the school district and the governors of the cities on The Hill who represent communities associated with PVPUSD can be shown how strong our resolve is to become truly part of PVPUSD is to VOTE.

After the election I will post the turnout for the precincts in Eastview. I hope that is shows many more times the number than have been shown as recently as our last Council election.

11% is awful, horrible, and shameful. It needs to change.

For those of you who want to stay informed about Ponte Vista at San Pedro, please visit:

www.pontevista.blogspot.com

I post a weekly update called "Odds and Ends" every Friday.

Nothing much is going on in public with Ponte Vista at this point. But I try to keep folks informed about Ponte Vista and other development news and some other news on that blog.

Now would Mr. McTaggart please step aside and allow the 6 other candidates to serve, just like he took the chance to, so many times.