The Orange County Sanitation Districted voted a fee increase on Wednesday night and it was not without a bit of controversy. At the center of the storm is La Habra Councilwoman Rose Espinoza and her changing her vote from an “abstention” to a “yes” vote. The local blogosphere has weighed in on the issue from Thomas Gordon at the Orange Juice to Jubal at Red County. Even Chris Prevatt discussed it here at the Liberal OC.
Some of the folks in blogosphere have decided to get creative and simply make up a story as to how Rose Espinoza came to change her vote from an “abstention” to a “yes”. Not surprisingly the most creative of these folks was Art Pedroza from the Orange Juice. Rather than sticking to the facts he chose to make things up as he went along. According to Pedroza Rose Espinoza is not responsible for her vote and he explained it with this, “But don’t forget the real villain in this story. Sal Tinajero talked her into changing her mind.”
I have spoken to people that were there including Thomas Gordon and Sal Tinajero and both deny that Sal talked her into changing her mind. In an effort to get the whole scoop I just called Sal Tinajero again and asked if he could clarify for me exactly what happened so that I can clear up any confusion that folks may have. Sal voted “yes” and he is not ashamed of his vote in any way, shape or form and he has no problem with people if they want to take him to task for his vote, he does however deny that he urged Rose Espinoza to change her vote to a “yes”.
Here is the actual account of what happen in that board room. The vote to increase the fees was taken and the vote was 16 “yes”, 6 “no” and 1 abstention (Espinoza). After the vote was taken there was some grumbling in the room and according to Bladerunner, “After the vote, several directors very angry with the outcome started to badger Rosie. Chairman Ferryman asked for it to stop”. Rosie leaned over to ask Sal what was going on and he informed her that the measure had failed. She said she did not understand, there were 16 “yes” votes to 6 “no” votes, how did it not pass? Sal explained to her that it failed to get the 66% needed for passage.
Earlier in the evening during the discussion of the measure Rose told Sal that she was not too comfortable voting on the issue because she was new to the board. She did state that Steve Anderson, the La Habra councilman who passed away and whose place she took on the board, and her fellow councilmembers in La Habra supported the measure. She still was a bit uncomfortable in voting. Sal told her that if she was not comfortable voting on it that she should abstain.
However when Rose discovered that her abstention was the difference between passage or failure she decided that she needed to vote “yes” because her colleagues and Anderson wanted the measure to pass. She asked Sal to call for a re-vote and the chairman said that Sal could not do that since he had voted in the affirmative, so Rosie called for a re-vote and Sal seconded her motion. The vote was taken and the measure passed.
At no time did Sal pressure Rosie to vote in the affirmative he simply explained to her what was happening. That is what they were discussing, he wasn’t twisting her arm. Rosie was new to the board and was unsure of how things worked, Sal simply clarified things for her. There is nothing sinister about it no matter how hard Pedroza tries to insinuate there was.
I must say that folks sure do think Sal has a lot of power and sway with his fellow electeds. I hate to say it but you are giving him far too much credit.
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Interesting spin. The truth is that right after Sal whispered to Rose she put forth a motion to do a revote. And guess who jumped up and seconded the motion? Why Sal of course.
Also, if the other La Habra council members were OK with supporting the rate increase, why the Hell did Rose abstain? She was nervous? Why run for office if you cannot make decisions when called upon? Sounds like Sal and the other Pulido hacks who are too nervous to allow all the SA City Council meetings to be televised.
We will never know what Sal really told Rose. I for one don’t believe a damn thing that either Sean or Sal have to say about this or anything else. Sal and Sean were both affiliated with Measure D – which was the biggest pack of lies I have ever seen.
Sal has a history of flip flopping and lying. He was first elected to the SA school board with money from the Lincoln Club. Then he won and right away he affiliated himself with the Nativo faction. Until the recall came along. Then he left Nativo to his own fate.
Sal is for Sal. I don’t think he EVER stops to think about doing what is right or doing what the people want. In fact a lady from SA was at the Sanitation meeting. She begged the directors not to pass the increase as it would hurt poor people like her. And of course Sal did it anyway.
Spin as you please Sean. Sal is still the villain in this rate increase story.
Art,
If there is anyone in the OC blogging community less believable than you, I would like to meet them. If there was an award for B.S. blogging you would be my first nominee. I am also sure you would win by a much greater margin, in both actual votes and percentage of votes, than Janet Nguyen got in the February First District election.
The sad part of this story is that people once upon a time actually respected you, your opinions, and The Orange Juice blog. That isn’t the case very much any more.
Who knew that Sal was such a scheming puppetmaster?
Someone should explain the concept of ZERO CREDIBILITY to Art Pedroza.
I’m starting to wonder if he might be in need of professional help for his pathological ways. I think all of the pajaritos are inside his own head.
Sean – I am not so sure this story is any better….if she can’t follow along at a meeting and understand what is going on then WTF? And she is a Mayor??
BUT I love that this blog is becoming the pound Art into the ground blog! Maybe I should write an anti Pedroza article on ocblog! 😉
Flowerszzz,
It appears from the account Sean got from Sal Rosie thought that her vote would not make a difference in the outcome. Once she learned otherwise she voted. I have no way of knowing if staff, or the chair, had informed her of the 2/3 requirement. I do believe that if she had understood the significance she would have voted with the majority in the first place.
Chris,
Meet them? One of them writes for you! I used to think Sean was an agent of change. I now realize that all he ever wanted was a measure of power. Well, I hope becoming a planning commissioner was worth losing his dignity and respectability.
I have no doubt that you and your ilk no longer respect me. I can live with that. But you don’t speak for everyone. I know who my friends are. And now I know who my friends aren’t. And I know that you are no arbiter of credibility. You are a partisan. You don’t care about what is right. You care about accruing power, just like Sean. The people be damned as long as you and your union buddies come out on top.
I think you and Sean are both well out of touch with regular folks. You guys are an echo chamber for each other’s spin. It is grotesque.
Well Chris I again say she is a Mayor it is her job to know these things and how can her residents have faith in her if she cannot figure that out. It seemed everyone else at the party knew what was up…just not her? It looks to me like she wanted to stay out of it…not take responsibility…but then realized she had to and could not dodge.
Art – your list of friends ebbs and flows or pings and pongs as it were, quite frequently. At somepoint you have to take a look in the mirror and figure out that you are the common factor in all your arguements with everyone.
Flowerszzz,
Looks like I was right about Jo Ann Galisky. I wonder when Chris Prevatt will apologize for supporting her? Her resignation speaks volumes. You guys can slam me all you want, but I am right more often than not. And I was sure right about Galisky. Good riddance!
“Looks like I was right about Jo Ann Galisky.”
A blind squirrel finds a nut every now and again. Can we now talk about all the ones you got wrong? Wait! I don’t have that much time.
Sean,
Can we talk about why Pulido and his cabal are going to GIVE Ware disposal FREE land worth millions, next to the 55 fwy? And she will STILL be able to develop her land in Logan into luxury condo towers…
Now we know what Ware got for their investment in Measure D.
When will you tell the truth about what Pulido and Sal are up to? I won’t hold my breath…
Let’s see, the post is “Why Did Rose Espinosa Change Her Vote? The Truth.”
Art, you comment, or should I say puff, about Jo Galisky, and then add a tablespoon of Judy Ware and a dash of your favorite cabal. Having trouble staying focused?
Where’s Gila the content gatekeeper when you need her anyway?
Relax, BR, and consider it a compliment. Some people’s one track minds can’t be influenced. You, on the other hand, have at least a track and a half.
“A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject.” (Churchill)
Rose Espinoza is an adult. She made her own decisions at the OC San District vote, whether one agrees with it or not. It doesn’t really matter what Sal Tinajero did or did not say. At the end of the day, Rosie had to make her own decisions, so the responsibility is with her.
The ultimate decision for Rose’s vote came from Rose. It sickens me how many elected officials do not vote what they truly believe. Elected leaders are elected to make decisions. From what is being stated in the blogosphere, Rose had hoped that the decision to significantly increase taxes would pass without her vote. Since this is the Liberal OC, can somebody ask Rose (D) to give her own account of what happened with that vote on here?
It’s my understanding that this was Rose’s first meeting on the board. She was appointed to replace Councilman Steve Anderson who died suddenly a few weeks ago. So a reasonable person would understand an abstention the first time around.
Gila,
I live by a different mantra: “Yield not to evils, but attack all the more boldly.” (Virgil)
Art,
Nice mantra…except you’re not living by it.
You attack ignorantly, not boldly.
Some, I think many on this blog supported Rosie in her run for supervisor. Could one of the progressive bloggers invite Rosie to post her position on this item. I think if Rosie ever wants to again run for higher office she should put an end to this discussion. As an elected it is fair to support or attack her on her vote, but in this case were discussing what was in her mind. Think only Rosie can answer that one!