Editor’s Note: The following post was written by Oscar Reyes of Anaheim and is published exclusively by TheLiberalOC in regards to the recommendation of the Oscar Reyes Map 2 for Anaheim Districts (click the link to read the agenda and report).
I want to thank the team here at The Liberal OC for this opportunity to make the case for the district plan I submitted entitled Oscar Reyes Map 2. First, to introduce myself, I am a lifelong Anaheim resident; I attended schools in this community including Loara Elementary School, Ball Junior High School, and Anaheim High School. I attended Cal State San Marcos and after graduating chose to return to the community I call home to make a difference. My mentor, Anaheim City School District Trustee Ryan Ruelas, introduced me to the political world. This past election, I served as the field coordinator for Mr. Ruelas, as well as Anaheim Union High School District Trustee Al Jabbar. Our team also helped promote the Yes on Measures L and M campaigns. After helping pass these initiatives, I wanted to help with the formation of the 6 districts. Thus, I submitted a plan on July 6 called Oscar Reyes Map 1. After some discussions with friends familiar with the process, I amended the plan to create Oscar Reyes Map 2, which was submitted on July 31st.
Yesterday evening, the Advisory Committee of five Retired Judges tasked with making a recommendation to the Council, unanimously approved the report recommending the map I introduced on July 31st, Oscar Reyes Map 2 as the map the Anaheim City Council should make the official Council District map. I am humbled and honored by their decision and honored by the widespread support of so many Anaheim residents.
This plan came about through discussions with many residents, community stakeholders and experts on this issue. I wanted to create a plan that embodied the promise made to the voters when they passed Measure L. I believe this map accomplishes these goals. Having two crossover districts along with one Section 2 district gives the Latino community more influence in more districts, as opposed to limiting their influence to just two districts. If Latinos are a little more than half the population of this city, it clearly makes sense to create three districts where they are a strong majority or plurality of the voters. This plan accomplishes this goal along while ensuring neighborhoods, landmarks and common community markers are kept together. Here are some examples.
The changes in West Anaheim in Districts 1 and 2 came about through multiple discussions with stakeholders and residents in West Anaheim. In District 1, the far western areas of the city, west of Magnolia stays together, as they expressed this is a cohesive community of interest, while many expressed the need to add in the neighborhoods north of Crescent between Brookhurst and Magnolia. The reasoning is the demographic and economic makeup of this area reflected more the area west of Magnolia. This also keeps the entire Anaheim portions of Savanna and Centralia School District, giving this area one point of contact on the Anaheim City Council who is from the area and will have similar concerns.
In District 2, the major goal is to keep the Little Arabia district together, as well as include Magnolia High School, where most of those who reside in Little Arabia attend high school. Also the attendance areas Walt Disney Elementary, Jonas Salk Elementary and Juliett Low Elementary which serve the Little Arabia community crosses both sides of the “County Island.” This is why it was important for District 2 to encompass both sides of the “County Island” that divides a portion of West Anaheim. The Brookhurst Corridor also remains together in one district.
In Central Anaheim, which is my neck of the woods, District 3 was designed not only to encompass the Colony but to include ALL of the historic areas of Anaheim, including Five Points and North Palm, even including the small portion of the North Palm historic district that is north of La Palma Avenue. It is important they have one Councilmember who is a point person on Mills Act issues. It was also a priority to keep the Colony together. People have overwhelmingly expressed the importance of the Colony staying together in one district, and this district accomplishes that goal. This is also the sole Section 2 District, as defined by the Federal Voting Rights Act of 1965. Latinos comprise 50.8% of the eligible voters in this district.
District 4 is designed to be a district that contains the Disney Resort but also meant to encompass (as much as allowable under population equality rule) the neighborhoods surrounding the Resort and are most affected by its presence. The neighborhoods targeted for this district include the Ponderosa neighborhood, the working class neighborhoods just south of the Colony and the working class neighborhoods just west of Disneyland such as Jeffery-Lynne. In these areas reside many of the people who work in the Resort District, so it is meant to have a Councilmember who represents the Resort but is chosen by the neighbors who are affected and the workers who help the Resort function. A reason for the configuration that allows for District 4 to go north along State College to Santa Ana Avenue was to keep certain elementary school attendance areas are kept entirely within the District boundaries. Speaking to some residents who are also parents, they expressed an interest in keep Stoddard, Palm Lane, Ponderosa, Olive Street, Orange Grove, and Roosevelt Elementary Schools as well as the bulk of the attendance area for Paul Revere in one district.
District 5, which is where I currently reside is meant to unify the eastern neighborhoods of Anaheim and the State College corridor, where many residents expressed to be a desire to be encompassed into one district. Many in the corridor west of State College send their children to elementary schools that are east of State College, such as those who reside in the Anna Drive neighborhood but attend school at Sunkist Elementary School, which is east of State College Ave. I believed it was important they have a Councilmember from this general area who will understand these concerns.
Last but certainly not least, District 6 is meant to encompass the eastern portion of the city, generally referred to as Anaheim Hills. This was the one area where there seemed to be consensus on how it should be shaped.
There was a debate about whether or not to create two Section 2 districts for Latinos under the Federal Voting Rights Act. While I understand the reasoning some people made regarding this overly strict interpretation of the law, I do not believe it is necessary. Reviewing some of these maps that created two Section 2 districts, it was clear neighborhoods and certain communities of interest would have to be divided to achieve these goals. This was not acceptable to me as a lifelong resident, and many of the people I spoke to agreed. Cohesive communities in compact districts matter more at the end of the day. This is precisely why this plan has garnered so much widespread support, among many community groups, stakeholders, and residents who call Anaheim their home. An argument was even made about the need to split the Platinum Triangle development in order to “protect” Latino representation. Communities of interest and neighborhoods should not have to be divided in order to “protect” another. That is not what this process is about. This is about representation, and to me community comes first, and this plan is meant to keep the promise of Measures L and M to create true community representation. That is the goal of this plan, to create a map that is beneficial to the Latino community without sacrificing other communities of interest and neighborhoods in the process. With this map, that goal has been accomplished.
This is why this plan is supported by Anaheim residents throughout the city including South Anaheim Neighborhood District Chairman Arturo Ferreras, South Anaheim neighborhood activist Martin Lopez, longtime Anaheim Hills resident and Vietnam Veteran Ron Bengochea (who started out as a skeptic on council districts), Rudy Gaona, Ada Tamayo, Genoveva Garcia, President of the Arab-American Chamber of Commerce Rida Hamida, Marisol Ramirez, Jason Mills, Deborah Phares, 30 year resident Betsy Martinez, Local High School Teachers and residents Karen Ridley and Jose Paolo Magcalas, community activist Patricia Adelekan, former ACSD School Board member Dr. Jose Moreno as well as community organization such as Orange County Organized for Responsible Development, UNITE HERE LOCAL 11, Council on American-Islamic Relations, Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice, Korean Resource Center, LOS AMIGOS, Orange County Asian-Pacific Islander Community Alliance, Youth on the Move Education International, and Orange County Congregation Community Organization all supported this map. As a speaker pointed out, this was not just a map with my name on it, this was truly the PEOPLE’S MAP.
Good work beother, and congratulations.
Hey, Vern —
As you know, I’ve endorsed the judges’ Recommended Plan (ne “Reyes 2”) and vowed to hold accountable any Anaheim City Council members who refuse to accept it.
As you may or may not have read in one of the long comments below, I invited our host to do the same. I figured that, since he posted Reyes’s letter, we must be on the same side at this point.
Can you double check his long reply to me — it’s also “fisked” on our site, to which you know I am not allowed to link — and see if you agree that he failed to make any such commitment?
This was so brazen and so unexpected that I didn’t even notice it at first. Can you just double-check to make sure that I didn’t miss something? Thanks!
Sorry, just saw this. Like I already wrote at our place, Dan doesn’t give a damn about Anaheim, and hasn’t the slightest idea of why districts were needed or what map might be best for the people of that town. Blogging is neither more nor less than a micturation contest for him, and sometimes I deplore you putting so much effort into getting anything across to him.
Yeah yeah, I know… the principle. And supposedly he has some influence somewhere, but I doubt it.
I have been a fan of Oscar’s efforts for some time; and I stayed out of this until the judges made their determination.
As for influence in the blogsphere; I’d say Oscar thought this site had some or he wouldn’t have written for us. Wonder why he choose our site over yours Vern?
Actually, I think it’s an understandable choice. People reading OJB already know that they should support the Recommended Plan (Reyes 2 map.) People who read this site probably still need some convincing. You included, as you seem to be hedging your bets until Jordan Brandman gives you the all-clear to support it. (If he does. If he doesn’t, you’re apparently in trouble.)
I don’t take direction from Jordan the way you take direction from Tait, Chuchua, Ward, Vanderbilt, Zenger and the other Republicans you support unconditionally. I actually think people who read OJ think they should be looking for ways to salvage one of your many plans so you can take credit
Vern, I understand some folks in Anaheim refer to you as El Mosquito or El Zancudo. I’m not sure of the context, but the person I heard it from knows how much time you spend on Anna Drive these days and shook his/her head when I mentioned you.
Continuing the thought from above: of course, I’m not saying that his choosing to publish it here didn’t have some extremely foreseeable downsides….
make up your mind Vern. Mr. Diamond must think so do to the constant volume and frequency of his comments. If I didn’t have influence, why bother? If you want to comment on a blog without influence, try TheBrean. Or Save Anaheim.
But Diamond said his plan was the most popular
Yes I did — after the first meeting when the various plans were introduced, which I think was back in mid-May. At that time, it was. But — Reyes 2 hadn’t yet been drawn. Once it was published and discussed, it became “the most popular” and I don’t think I’ve ever said otherwise, publicly or privately. But don’t let that stop you from making things up and distorting the rest, Pinkster.
You’re a lousy publicist. If you make the claim enough, it must be a fact doesn’t work. Be honest please. You are desperate to have your name attached to the final plan. You sought out Oscar for some sort of fusion plan and the kid was smart enough to stay away from you. The city council won’t support any plan that has your name attached to it because I’m sure they still remember your finger puppet play (which explains Chuchua). Go ahead a file a lawsuit. Everyone else managed to figure out the software except you. Tell me Greg, why couldn’t you answer the judges honestly when they asked where you live in Anaheim ( it’s on video)? Your response, “meet Brian Chuchua.” Too bad he never uttered a peep. Let’s give credit where it’s due…to a smart kid who though things through and did research, garnered support and won people over without trying to bulldoze them.
Nope. I’d think that you were lying here, but it’s possible that it’s brain damage or that you’re blinded by rage. Let’s fisk your comment.
1. You’re a lousy publicist. If you make the claim enough, it must be a fact doesn’t work. Be honest please.
I’m not a publicist at all; you’re the one who gets paid to spin and lie. And “making the claim enough that it becomes fact” is your strategy, not mine. Anyone can note how often you just repeat the same terse assertions over and over. It’s “weak tea.”
2. You are desperate to have your name attached to the final plan.
My names not even on there. I think you mean “to author the final plan.” Nope. At this point I think that the Council should stick with the Recommended Plan. Do you agree? Because Kring and Murray are liable not to vote that way — so maybe you can influence Brandman.
3. You sought out Oscar for some sort of fusion plan and the kid was smart enough to stay away from you.
Did he tell you that? Or are you making it up? I don’t believe that I ever sought out (or talked to) Reyes about collaborating or anything else. I think that I’ve said “good job” to him once and once (when I was sitting behind him when he was at the podium) tried to slip him my phone, which had some records on it that he was being asked about and didn’t seem able to find. I did talk to people around him about what I considered to be weak points of his plan — nothing that bad — but I did my own revision of his plan on my own. See Chuchua 9 and 10.
4. The city council won’t support any plan that has your name attached to it because I’m sure they still remember your finger puppet play (which explains Chuchua).
Putting aside that my name’s not attached to it, I hope that they don’t! They should approve the Reyes plan. (Although Lucille Kring seems to like Chuchua Map 4. Will you attack her if she goes for that one?) I sure hope that the four who were there do remember the finger puppet play!
5. Go ahead a file a lawsuit. Everyone else managed to figure out the software except you.
I have no intention of filing a lawsuit if they accept the Recommended Plan (from Reyes.) It’s a fine map. As I have said repeatedly, including last night. If the Council chose a map that didn’t create substantial Latino pluralities in at least three districts — the rationale for what the judges chose — then I might volunteer to be part of a lawsuit, but more likely to push the Recommended Plan than my own.
6. Tell me Greg, why couldn’t you answer the judges honestly when they asked where you live in Anaheim ( it’s on video)? Your response, “meet Brian Chuchua.” Too bad he never uttered a peep.
I couldn’t say that I live in Anaheim because I don’t. (I’d told them before that I’m from Brea.) But Brian’s the co-author of the map — which is why I introduced him — and he does live there and is extremely knowledgeable about the city. (Residence in the city was not a requirement to submit maps, by the way — unless you also want to slam Zeke Hernandez and Art Montez, which I hope you don’t.) And Brian DID speak, addressing a question asked by the judges right after me. Did you stop watching the video a bit early? (It’d be sort of embarrassing if you did.)
7. Let’s give credit where it’s due…to a smart kid who though things through and did research, garnered support and won people over without trying to bulldoze them.
I give him credit for doing a good job. He certainly seems like a smart kid. Did he “think things through” himself? Of course not — he was part of a huge community data-gathering project, and that’s BETTER than if he’d done it himself. I don’t know what research he did personally, nor do I think it matters. (By the way: do YOU know? Do you care whether a statement is true when you state it definitively like that? Of course you don’t.) As for garnering support, unlike you I was actually there to see what went on, and that’s an area where I think that BY FAR most of the credit has to go to OCCORD, OCCCO, UNITE-HERE, and other groups he mentions. And there is nothing wrong, and in fact everything right, with them getting the credit they deserve for their wonderful community organizing effort. (I can’t believe that Reyes EVER said to you that “he garnered support” to the exclusion of others who were involved. Where do you get that?)
As for “bulldozing” anyone: I presume that you’re not serious and that this is one of the “say things often enough and they become true” PR tricks you mentioned at the top, but while I argued aggressively for my points I was clear from the beginning — and this is on the videos you haven’t seen and in the posts and comments that you haven’t likely read — that the purpose of the Chuchua Maps was simple: it was to put a check on the City Council (whose majority you generally support on contentious issues.) It was to come up with a map that met the criteria SO WELL that they would have to fear a challenge in court if they screwed around. I am thrilled that, if they choose the Recommended Plan, as they should, that will never become necessary. But I am HAPPY that Brian and I did what we could and thought we should to keep the Council responsible.
And let me remind you again: Lucille Kring says that she wants to reject the Reyes map and choose one that would put her into a better — meaning, from her perspective, whiter and less Latino — district. I’ll come down like a ton of bricks on her if she does. But if Jordan agrees with her, which I estimate as maybe a 40% chance, YOU’LL SHIELD HER, won’t you?
If you won’t — if you’ll rip Jordan a new orifice if he joins his coalition partners in mucking with this map — then take that pledge now. I already have done so. Get permission, if need be.
Blinded by rage? Over what? I didn’t put 10 or 11 maps together and lecture retired judges on why they were wrong…that was you cupcake.
I get paid to spin and lie? I don’t lie. Ask my peers. They’ll tell you I’m a very ethical public relations professional..my wife will tell you I’m a horrible liar (which is a good attribute in a husband). You’re squishy with the truth and it pisses you off when you don’t get your way. Better to be pissed off than pissed on. Make no mistake, you’re being pissed on here.
Folks I’ve spoken with in Anaheim throughout this process tell me you repeatedly referred to the Chuchua map as the Chuchua-Diamond Map. You did 99% of the talking and likely 99% of the work; and you’re so worked up about it you have to write a prolix comment about how you’re not the author of multiple maps. Sure Brian did everything. Sure he did.
I actually think Tait may not agree with the People’s map either because voting for it sort of hurts him with his Republican friends….the same ones you had pizza with last night because they were going to submit a map of their own; perhaps you wanted to sell them on yours? Yeah, I know about that.
Did you read what you wrote here: ” I don’t believe that I ever sought out (or talked to) Reyes about collaborating or anything else. I think that I’ve said “good job” to him once and once (when I was sitting behind him when he was at the podium) tried to slip him my phone, which had some records on it that he was being asked about and didn’t seem able to find. I did talk to people around him about what I considered to be weak points of his plan — nothing that bad — but I did my own revision of his plan on my own. See Chuchua 9 and 10.” So you stalked the kid. People kept him away from you. People protected him from you. You just don’t get that do you? Your own revision of his plan — voila! The Fusion Plan!
“But Brian’s the co-author of the map” I thought you said it was *his* map; so he’s the *co-author* (and you’re the other one) but your name doesn’t appear on the map and you did 99% of the talking???!!! You’re an attention whore. Blah blah blah.
” Did he “think things through” himself? Of course not — he was part of a huge community data-gathering project, and that’s BETTER than if he’d done it himself.” Sell this kid short huh? Honestly, the kid deserves way more credit than you give him. He led a huge community; he brought people together. He sought consensus. He researched. He did everything you did not. No one is going to follow you Mr. Pied Piper….it’s not happening. Shame on you for belittling Oscar’s leadership and work. It’s beneath you.
Greg, I have spoken with no fewer than 15 people closely associated with this entire process. If you have eyes in the back of your head when you speak, you’d see others rolling their eyes at you, checking their smart phones wishing you’d shut up or your time would expire, and many seated behind you shaking their heads waiting for you to shut up. I’m sure you invested hundreds of hours in this effort and it must be frustrating to come up empty. Imagine if you spent that time recruiting new legal clients and doing billable work? Maybe you could take your family on a nice vacation. But you do bully people; it’s probably why Chuchua says so little around you. Oh, he spoke once at one meeting. Bet you weren’t drinking water when he did.
Mrs. Kring is one of five votes; I suspect you’re right that she’ll vote no on the map. The notion of you coming down like a ton of bricks makes me laugh, especially the ton part but it will be a pile of shit and not bricks; Council members will likely vote based on how well they think they’ll do in the next district. I believe you sought Kring’s support for your map because it gave her a better chance; do you really think than any member of the council will approve anything with your name (or Chuchua’s) attached to it? If you do, then you are dumber than I thought.
I’m not shielding anyone on the council. Frankly, I think I already ripped *you* a new orifice and I must be close to the truth or you wouldn’t explode like you are now. So who am I supposed to get permission from Greg? I have no government contracts. I’m not appointed to any government body. I’m not elected to any city position. I don’t tell anyone how to vote. All I am is a Democrat who supports my party and my party’s elected and candidates … which is more than I can say for you.
Meet me down at the bottom. When your site has too many embedded comments, it becomes impossible to read on many smartphones. And I’ll want people to read this one.
And your temperamental comment entry box is lousy too. Lost my comment; I’ll reconstruct it and repost in the morning. (Or afternoon, whichever.) You have enough to chew on as it is.
2:28AM? Nap snap. Your comment section blows too
You are so desperately conventional. Seriously. The only other person I recall making fun of when I post sometimes is Moxley, so you’re in good company.
I find that late night in a quiet house is a good time to get things done.
Now go trumpet about how “normal” you are, how “just like a regular human being.”
The only other person I recall making fun of when I post sometimes is Moxley
— you’re not paying enough attention
I’m not counting those writing with untraceable pseudonyms as “persons,” given that they have no reputations to lose.
beother? Moo.
“Beother” is obviously a typo, with the “e” key being right next to the “r” key. Who makes fun of typos? Only the very petty.
When you published “Mooo” in a comment (instead of the very classy “Sooo…”) it was cuz you were using spell check… and I said “Real men blog sans spellcheck.”
But beyond that there’s you and Matt who think you’re the smartest damn people in the room, but don’t know the difference between “your” and “you’re,” or “its” and “it’s”. THAT is a shame, and tells us that you both should have paid more attention in school, and/or read more books when you were young. For now, and probably as long as you’re blogging, you two contribute to the demise of the English language.
I know; but you always find a way to trash me for typos.
Is Mimi Walters Abandoning Our Veteran’s?
By Tyler in Irvine – September 21, 2015
Posted in: Fresh Juice
Want to count the grammatical errors in this post? Het, you’re writing something fast and you want to put it out; editing your own work is harder than editing someone else’s. Point being, glass houses/stone thrower. That’s you.
“THAT is a shame, and tells us that you both should have paid more attention in school, and/or read more books when you were young. For now, and probably as long as you’re blogging, you two contribute to the demise of the English language.”
Comments written by your Prolix lawyer on your blog; can you spot the grammatical errors and typos?
“I had explained what I was intending to Jane at the time.”
“No, actually, Gore didn’t win in 2000. He would have won by every measure except the won that mattere, which meant that he lost.”
see Vern, typos happen. Auto correct screws things up. Glass houses Mr. Stone Thrower.
Wait until you see the video of Greg’s last stand. Priceless! You so have to do a post on that Dan.
I heard the judges made some kind of comment about Greg having to have the last word. I’m convinced Diamond uses Chuchua as a puppet so he can do whatever he wants. The bigger question is does Diamond use sticks and string or does Diamond open and close Chuchua’s mouth like Jim Henson used to control Kermit.
What a filthy thing for you to say. I’ll address this on OJB, since you can censor comments here.
I will instead post this here. Reyes mentions:
I know most of those people and people involved with most of those organizations. Are any of them willing to step up here and state whether that they think that our host’s criticism of Brian Chuchua is justified? (I don’t care what he says about me; I take it for what it’s worth.)
Since you’re all reading this, are you more impressed, on issues related to Anaheim, with the stances taken by Brian Chuchua’s friend and ally Tom Tait — or by our host’s ally Jordan Brandman, his semi-ally Kris Murray, and his friend but not admitted ally Matt Cunningham?
Normally, I wouldn’t ask this here, but he raised the issue, and mostly he gets comments from people using names like Pinky and Anaheim Insider. (And oh — do any of you know a politically involved guy named “David Vasquez”? I think that he may be pretending to be Mexican, and he’s likely to show up here too.)
I’ll also post this comment in the piece I just put up at Orange Juice Blog, where I set forth exactly how much and how well Brian has contributed to my understanding of Anaheim. (Our host does not allow me to post links to that blog here, so you’d just have to go find it there.) I hope that those of you who are inclined to defend our host’s take on the world will do so soon.
I don’t censor comments here; I do delete ones that are libelous or are over the top (and sometimes I delete them if them come from the same IP address as someone who’s excessive).
“I don’t censor comments here; I do delete ones that are libelous or are over the top.”
Sigh. Who wants to be the one to explain to our host what “deleting comments that are over the top” is called?
Some censorship of a private forum– as, for example, with libel — is OK. But don’t pretend that anyone can post something critical here and expect that it will stay up. That’s assuming that your audience is dumb.
I will give you credit for one thing: at least you’re better in this regard that your chum “Jubal” is.
for a guy that bans people at the drop of a hat, you’re one to talk. And your commenting page isn’t all hat great either.
Stanley Fiala. Mike Tardif. Rick Clark.
Who else in the past two years?
I’m chuckling reading Humpty Diamond’s whining about comment censorship. His solution, block anyone with opposing views.
Yes, I’m sure that you are as mirthful as all get-out. I can imagine the chuckles.
Opposition views are not a problem. Despicable lying and defamation and adding nothing useful to the conversation are problems.
Host, please acknowledge how happy you are to have Rick Clark commenting here. Not counting his writings on me, what’s your favorite piece he’s done?
You’re such a victim. Have you ever considered that you post inaccurate information that’s defamatory speculation that adds nothing to the conversation yet rail against anyone who doesn’t take your side?
Sure: considered and rejected as untrue, in fact.
Have you ever considered that your evaluation of people’s actions is entirely predictable by how much you like them or find them temporarily useful?
Don’t be so quick to dismiss pieces written about you… http://bit.ly/1gyUtMT as they offer a more clear view of Humpty Diamond than what you yammer about yourself.
Rick, no links to other blogs here. It’s blog whoring. This is your only warning
I love when you challenge people to come and comment here or on your site one way or another. They won’t. And I never notice any politico or elected of note commenting on our posts.
As for Chuchua, congrats on finding a guy with deep pockets who’s close to Tait to fund your effort when the Mayor doesn’t get his way.
Your claims of my influence on Fode & Mollrich and George Urch are false and funny as hell that you think you’re right. Losing a majority seat by a few hundred votes is a “massacre?” Really?
And let Mr. Zenger know for me I’m sorry his attempt to sue the county for $1 million for getting fired failed. I never played AYSO soccer; I did play five years of high school football and basketball (8th graders could play on the frosh teams) with a great bunch of guys. We were league champs or co-champs every year. Everyone of us on the starting offense made all-stars on the first or second team. My daughter wears my letter jacket from time to time. My trophies are in a box in storage. None of the colleges that recruited me for football had the major I wanted, so I did not play college ball, but unlike Zenger’s old boss, I don’ have old photos of my high school glory days n the gridiron printed up for political purposes.
“I love when you challenge people to come and comment here or on your site one way or another. They won’t. And I never notice any politico or elected of note commenting on our posts.”
I’m talking about garden-variety DPOC members and others of a level who do comment at times. I’m not expecting Lou Correa. I think that your comments above are execrable. I’m waiting for one Democrat to come and defend you under their own name. And waiting….
“As for Chuchua, congrats on finding a guy with deep pockets who’s close to Tait to fund your effort when the Mayor doesn’t get his way.”
It’s more like he found me. And the “we sue when the Mayor doesn’t get his way” is one of those “lies you tell repeatedly until it’s taken as truth” that you mention above. We don’t coordinate with him, get smoke signals from him, or anything of the sort.
“Your claims of my influence on Fode & Mollrich and George Urch are false and funny as hell that you think you’re right. Losing a majority seat by a few hundred votes is a “massacre?” Really?”
I don’t think that you have influence on Forde & Mollrich. I think that you want to please them and do their bidding because you crave respect and it makes you feel like a player.
2012 was a massacre because Democrats lost the majority after a decade or more. 2014 was a massacre because the Democrats lost the supermajority. If they listen to you, 2016 could be the year that Democrats lose all representation on the Council whatsoever.
“And let Mr. Zenger know for me I’m sorry his attempt to sue the county for $1 million for getting fired failed. I never played AYSO soccer; I did play five years of high school football and basketball (8th graders could play on the frosh teams) with a great bunch of guys. We were league champs or co-champs every year. …”
Thank you, Mr. Trump. Pass your own messages on to Zenger without me.
“I don’t think that you have influence on Forde & Mollrich. I think that you want to please them and do their bidding because you crave respect and it makes you feel like a player.”
— You are very mistaken. Forde & Mollrich are nice guys and I like them but they don’t impact my blogging or my business. Tell me Greg, are you a player? You’re content to tell everyone you’re always right and they are always wrong. I don’t see rank and file garden-variety DPOC members coming to your side in support of you for anything. I encourage my friends in the DPOC not to comment against you here because they don’t need your grief. If they do, they do so anonymously…and I have had to delete some comments.
You’ve “had to delete” what, exactly? Comments that DPOC members tried to post under their own names? Please do elaborate.
How do you know that your anonymous comments are coming from DPOC members anyway? Is there any reason to believe that they’re not all coming from associates of your Republican pal Matt Cunningham?
Greg — you don’t want to know. But comments about your wife are completely off limits (and damn IP anonymizers to hell because if the comments were from anyone I knew, I’d deal with in appropriately
On the contrary, I *do* want to know. You just don’t want to say. I’m interested in what sort of axes these alleged DPOC people have to grind.
I wonder why people imagine that this is a place where they might be able to publish (presumably racist and sexist) comments about my wife? But good for you for not publishing them.
Kinky Greg. Kinky
Uh … Ok …
I suppose that I have to go easy on you now that Dan has implied that you’re somebody associated with DPOC.
Hey, Anaheim Instigator! I almost left you out!
I asked our host to make this pledge:
So same question for you? Give us your priestly vow: if Kring tries to reject the judges’ recommendation of what was once the Reyes 2 map, and if Murray follows suit, will you condemn their actions (as I will) and join me in demanding that Brandman support the judges?
Come on — YOU CAME TO OSCAR REYES’S OWN POST TO COMMENT HERE! This is the time and place to say that you will defend his work, and the judges’ work, on AnaheimBlog. Won’t you commit, sir? Even though you’re anonymous, can’t you promise you’ll be on his side?
First. It matters GREATLY that this “social activist” Greg Diamond does not live in Anaheim. I am wondering who he works for?
Although from his unbalanced behavior at the presentation and now this, I suspect it’s a busy night at the local Brea Bar or Pharmacy!!
Unfortunately, like I teach ANAHEIM kids there is no magic pill that cures “assholerly”.
That cure is learned through hard work and life.
I am pleased to learn that there really is a “Joshua VanDerHam” in Anaheim. I hope that you’re really him. If not, I hope that he finds you and persuades you not to use his name — and especially not to use it to slag someone whom he may not even know.
But let’s presume that it really is you. You could fairly say that I’m “working for” Brian Chuchua here, working “on behalf of” Anaheim. I think that that sum up our roles pretty well. Brian wants to protect his city; I want to help him. See the OJB article for more.
I think it’s fair for me to assert that II care about Anaheim and its future — enough that people sought me, starting back in the “Take Back Anaheim” days, be to get involved here and use my professional skills on the City’s behalf. Whether or not you agree with me, I certainly ACT like I’m willing to give a lot of time and effort to what I think promotes its welfare, wouldn’t you say? And I know more about the state of the city’s current political issues than easily 99% of its residents. So what’s bothering you, Josh?
By the way, you do you think this blog’s publisher is “working for”? Does that matter to you too?
Does Brian Chuchua pay you your hourly rate for your time? Please tell me who you think I am working for…I could use a laugh.
Nope.
Alistair Crowley?
Of note, GD continues to be condecending and accusatory towards others he neither knows nor believes afe real.
In addition, his complete ignorance as to his behavior is almost unbelievable. When the judge quipped “I just thought you had to have the last word” his obvious sarcasm and disgust for Diamonds longwinded senseless ramblings went right passed him.
Oh did I mention the whole Two in the morning thing….Crazy stuff. Get a job.
And again, you are anonymous because…
Greg could take SUCH revenge on you if he knew who you were?
You are not REALLY proud to be saying what you’re saying here? Maybe not even an OC Dem? Who knows?
Or it’s just the CULTURE of this blog to throw rocks at people from behind a big bush.
I don’t think that you understand the “rocks from behind bushes” metaphor.
I rarely mentioned you at all on Orange Juice blog, let alone “scurrilously.” You have stated that you just participate to, what did you call it – “stir the shit” ? – and feel no need to participate in discussions in good faith at all. Everyone else on Orange Juice, even the ones who comment in facetious or funny modes, is trying to advance a group conversation in someway. That can be by disagreement, by meta-commentary, with jokes, by taking the piss out of people, by agreement, by extended non-sequitur (in one notable case), etc. each of us, however contentious, is trying to create jointly a product that will be interesting and useful for people to read.
You, by contrast, seem to have seen your political mission as sticking a wrench into the gears – trying to prevent rather than facilitate the creation of an overall interesting and useful comments section. You don’t WANT the project of creating a vibrant, interesting, heterodox, political blog to succeed. And you had been doing a great job of disrupting that process, before it became clear that you were completely, and irrevocably, Committed to participating in the blog in bad faith.
That’s why you were banned Mike. We have plenty of room for the conservatives, the Liberals, the leftists, the libertarians, The whatever the hell’s – so long as they are participating in good faith.
You weren’t. You wanted to make things worse and more painful for the blogs readers. And that is why — the *only* reason why — you were banned.
But, luckily, you have here found yourself a suitable new home, one that values your valuelessness.
Junior is fine Diamond. You just don’t like him
Just like I said … not worth spit.
Maybe someday his wife will figure out what a loser he is and leave
You string words together well – but there is no logical sense about those words.
None are so blind as those who pretend they cannot read. I think that I spelled things out pretty clearly and concretely there.
Pretending that you can’t understand what I wrote is probably your best bet at this point, so we can just let the readers decide whether their reading comprehension is better than yours.
Simply put, I do not publish my name because I am frightened of Greg’s retribution. I believe that Greg Diamond is (self admittedly) mentally unstable. There is no predicting what he may do. He (in this thread alone) researches commenters private lives. Claims to have “first hand” information about others.
Well! As much as I love Greg, I never thought of him as scary or powerful! Thank you for your anonymous, craven input.
We agree Vern. Greg isn’t scary or powerful
Do you have any information that people with treated (non-manic) clinical depression are “mentally unstable”? Or “unpredictable” or prone to violence? No, you don’t. It doesn’t exist. It’s sort of sad that our host allows that sort of bigotry from anonymous posters free rein on this blog, but that seems to be exactly the way he likes it.
Can you point me to where I’ve “researche[d] commenters[‘] private lives” here — other than to see whether a given pseudonym that purports to be a real human being actually seems to be anyone in OC? Please do so. I’d ask you to stop the false and defamatory accusations, but we both know you won’t — partially due to what I point out in the last sentence to the previous paragraph. Our host wants it that way; it’s now become part of the very design of the blog.
Greg, there are a number of commenters here — you included — that when they post a comment, it goes up. I sometimes don’t see them for hours. The only other solution is to put everyone on moderation which no one cares for. What would you prefer?
That said, I can point to a number of comments that you’ve written about me that are demonstrably false. And comments about me on your blog that are false. For example, Ricardo repeated a debunked claim I am supposed to be some sort of consultant to the OCYD. He linked to a post where I denied that in comments. Zenger alleged a roughed up a guy in a wheelchair at boot camp which is patently false. Libelous? Writing something knowingly false with intent to harm, I’d say a case can be made. Will I? No. The guy’s a jerk, still bitter about such a public firing.
You’re just upset your plan isn’t the one moving forward. I have several folks complain about your constant plan changes and updates. No one appreciated your lecture to the judges on your last trip to the podium. We offered Oscar an opportunity to tell his story. One anon comment and you blow a gasket.
For what’s it’s worth, I take a lot of heat on this blog from folks who comment here. I try to give as good as I get.
http://www2.nami.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Mental_Illnesses/Depression/Depression_Symptoms,_Causes_and_Diagnosis.htm
Depression can be difficult to detect from the outside looking in, but for those who experience major depression, it is disruptive in a multitude of ways. The symptoms of clinical depression usually represent a significant change in how a person functions. Sometimes individuals become so discouraged and hopeless that death seems preferable to life. These feelings can lead to suicidal ideation, attempts and death by suicide. The following are key areas where depression causes major changes in people.
•Changes in sleep. Many people experience difficulty in falling asleep, waking throughout the night and/or awakening an hour to several hours earlier than desired in the morning. Other people experiencing depression will sleep excessively–for much longer than they used to.
•Changes in appetite. Many people in the midst of depression experience a decrease in appetite, and sometimes, noticeable weight loss. Some people eat more, sometimes resulting in weight gain.
•Poor concentration. The inability to concentrate and/or make decisions is a scary aspect of depression. During a severe depression, many people cannot follow the thread of a simple newspaper article or the plot of a 30-minute TV show. Major decision-making is often impossible. This leads depressed individuals to feel as though they are literally losing their minds.
•Loss of energy. The loss of energy and profound fatigue often affects people living with depression. Mental speed and activity are usually reduced, as is the ability to perform normal daily routines. If you are living with depression, you will likely find that you response to your environment much more slowly.
•Lack of interest. During depression, people feel sad and lose interest in usual activities. You might even lose the capacity to experience pleasure. For instance, eating and sex are often no longer appealing. Formerly enjoyable activities seem boring or unrewarding during depression and the ability to feel and offer love may be diminished or lost.
•Low self-esteem. During periods of depression, people dwell on memories of losses or failures and feel excessive guilt and helplessness. “I am a loser” or “the world is a terrible place” may take over and increase the risk of suicide.
•Hopelessness or guilt. The symptoms of depression often come together to produce a strong feeling of hopelessness, or a belief that nothing will ever improve. These feelings can lead to thoughts of suicide.
•Movement changes. People who are depressed may literally look “slowed down” and physically depleted or, alternatively, activated and agitated. For example, a depressed person may awaken very early in the morning and pace the floor for hours.
Your point in posting that list being? Think carefully before you answer.
Shedding light on the challenges folks who are depressed faced. There is a lot of misinformation out there and it’s important to dispel myths, wouldn’t you agree? Wasn’t that obvious to you?
Now there’s a mental image I wish that I could unsee….
Diamond isn’t worth spit.
DC: “I actually think Tait may not agree with the People’s map either because voting for it sort of hurts him with his Republican friends….the same ones you had pizza with last night because they were going to submit a map of their own; perhaps you wanted to sell them on yours? Yeah, I know about that.”
Dan, you know about what exactly? For those not aware of Dan’s bizarre idea of a conspiracy over pizza, I showed up before the meeting with a couple pizzas and sodas because the ARA meeting normally scheduled for that night shifted to the Districting meeting to let our members watch the last meeting and participate. I knew my friends were coming directly from work and would be hungry. I fed them. I fed all of them, including my ARA buddies and Greg when he arrived. I also offered pizza to OCCORD people, where is the conspiracy?
I am not sure what the point of any of this was. The Oscar Reyes map was a good one, I wish the Resort and Stadium had been in one district so we don’t have two for sale to big interests, but otherwise I had no complaints and I like that you published the young man’s explanation, showing the map designer clearly thought this through carefully. You could have left it at that. Instead you have to take the opportunity to smack Greg (who is generally fair game since he can give as good as he gets) but then you have to drag Brian into your petty pissin’ match, and that is where you buy the ill will, sir. Brian is a one of the good guys, he has spent his entire retirement period working to make Anaheim a better place, whether by supporting non profits already doing good work or starting new ones when he sees a need to be met. You want to pay yourself on the back for some coaching and a few mattresses, Brian’s contributions to any number of good causes runs circles around you, and he takes orders from nobody. He also doesn’t show up on the blogs, which I know he ignores for the useless waste of time they are (why I get sucked in is anyone’s guess)
but my point is that Dan’s ugly side creeping up here with comments that didn’t add anything to Oscar Reyes’ very nice commentary says more and Dan and his readers than it does about Greg and Brian and unfortunately cheapens what should have been a relevant debate on the merits of Mr. Reyes’ commentary and the map itself.
But hey, thanks for our efforts to make Anaheim “better” with your participation. I’s sure somewhere in your mind this qualifies as raising the bar.
Cynthia, just how much work did Brian put into the maps compared to Greg? I’m going to guess he lent his name to the map and showed up for some meetings after offering some guidance.
Cynthia wasn’t involved in creating (or promoting) the Chuchua map. I believe that she favored Benita Gagne’s map, which was a respectable choice — in stark contrast to some of the other conservative maps offered.
Are thoseIRS forms filed yet Ward?
Given the likelihood that CATER will bring future litigation against the city, and that you yourself are potentially (for all we know) a target of such litigation, it would not make sense for Cynthia to answer here and now what you should have to raise, if you must, in a deposition.
Now if you can get Todd Priest and Curt Pringle to answer MY anonymously posed questions, then perhaps we could work something out.
Getting us all back on track, Oscar did a great job on building he People’s Map. He did everything right. Perhaps if the Chucahua maps were actually advocated by Chuchua, they’d be better received by he judges. But Mr. Chuchua was largely silent.
Sorry you had to witness all this stupidity and pettiness, Oscar, if you’re still reading! Welcome to the OC blogosphere…
Mr. Diamond,
Please stop trying to “pigeon hole” me as some kind of political activists. I have repeatedly told you, I am not (at least three times).
I AM A VOTER! A REGISTERED VOTER BELONGING TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
Period. Yes, I have two close friends who are associates of you at the DPOC and much of my opinion has been formed from their (and their colleagues) comments, experiences and experiences with/about you.
We have not met, but more than once you have stood next to me, I have watched you in live action. It is worth mentioning that it not incumbent upon me to introduce myself nor acknowledge you publicly, nor do I have ANY desire to.
To steal a from a Chinese proverb: Greg is the “Dog who can bark but can not bite”.
If you are going to call me out by name, please be accurate and honest as I am when I say: my impression is you are not well regarded in democratic circles, are an extremist (ala’ Westboro Church maniacs), and clearly suffer from some kind of mental illness, which keeps you up t night and spending an inordinate amount of time blogging.
Stop accusing me of being something I am not, I have NEVER claimed to be associated officially with the DPOC, rather I have painstakingly taken measures to show I am not.
Pop another chill pill Diamond.
Your degree and scope of insider information belies your claim. I think that you’re lying. Others share that view. One of your “two close friends” in the party can defend you; apparently they and I don’t get along, so they really have little to lose. You’re taking advantage of the use of a common Latino name to assert at various points that you speak for Latinos, and yet there’s no way to take you on (without collateral damage.) It’s a nice trick, but a cowardly one, and I’ll continue calling you out on it.
Or, heck, our host can vouch for you personally! I’d like to see that happen, for what are probably obvious reasons having little to do with my being able to find you.
When and where did I ever claim to be Latino, mention Latino’s or introduce race, heritage or identity to my comments?
YOU on the other hand are a RACE BAITER, looking for the cheap, quick shot, Diamond, want to talk about hypocritical? Who is to say the Vasquez family (Me) are not fifth generation Californians? Longer than your Polish Jewish ancestors were in that land (not by their fault). I neither resent nor respect your silly comments. Rather, I have decided to let your words speak for themselves.
I have THREE in particular, which I suspect will come back to haunt you. The trouble with being a BIG MOUTH is sometimes stuff spills out.
Unless you’ve gotten our host to delete your comments, you’ve done in repeatedly in responses to other posts.
No one seems to know a “David Vasquez” who would be in a position to, among other things, name-drop Joe Dunn’s wife (as I recall your doing.) Maybe you are him; but there’s reason to doubt it. Maybe you are from a five-generation (or it could be much longer, obviously) Californio family that has been here since 1769 — but I doubt it. Or maybe you’re someone making up a false identity for political purposes — and I suspect it.
(My ancestors were not really “Polish Jews” for the most part, by the way, although the borders did spring back and forth across that area from time to time.)
I have deleted a few Vasquez comments based on content. I’m sure he/she knows this. I don’t know this person. I don’t encourage this person to comment. I don’t restrict him/her from commenting.
The person who is the most personally insulting on this blog is you, Mr. Diamond. Followed by Mr. Nelson. And many thanks for continuing to show the coalition of folks in Anaheim behind the Reyes #2 map that you aren’t really an ally to their side. Your continued description of the process is at odds with several of the folks I talk to but they honestly don’t need your grief because Florice Hoffman was completely right about you and 70% of the DPOC central committee agreed.
I’m glad to hear that you don’t know Mr. (or, as you point out, potentially Ms.) “Vasquez.” So if I were to consider myself to have been defamed by him, her, them, or it, what would you have me do to vindicate my rights? You know where to serve the restraining order you contemplate below against me, after all — but I don’t have that potential defendant’s address.
As for this:
Before you purport to stand up for the interests of the Anaheim “Reyes 2” coalition, don’t you think that you ought to address the question I pose in the comment I left in response to Vern’s first comment to Reyes’s post? I’ll reiterate it here: would you, or would you not, strongly condemn and work to oppose Jordan Brandman (among other Anaheim Council members) if they reject the judges’ “Recommended Plan” of adopting Reyes 2? I’ll promise to come down hard on Tait if (as seems highly doubtful) he tries to subvert the judges. Will you say the same of Brandman?
By publishing this piece, you intended to put yourself forward as being “an ally to their side,” right? Do you plan to live up to that, if the need arises? Or is your support just “puffery”? And is your publishing the gracious victory statement of the proponent of the “Recommended Map” just a PR stunt?
I would seriously like to know the answer. I suspect that I’m not alone in that. To take just one example, I’ll bet that Oscar Reyes would like to know the answer too.
This from an email received from a Kris Murray supporter:
“During last November’s general election, Anaheim voters went to the polls and approved changing how the city was governed from an at-large system, to a council structure governed by district.
Following that election, the city engaged the greater Anaheim community to assist in the development of maps to determine district boundaries that complied with applicable state law and to receive comprehensive input from residents and stakeholders in Anaheim.
There were more than 30 maps submitted for consideration by a panel of independent, retired Orange County judges, who were assisted by city staff and a professional demographer to review and conduct a thorough analysis of each. Following 10 community meetings with significant public testimony, one map was approved by the committee for council consideration. That map, and the final report recommended by the judges on September 17, will be scheduled for council review on Tuesday, October 6.
Following that meeting, three public hearings required by state law will be held for full public review before final approval by the council, in preparation for the next general election in November 2016. Dates for each meeting will be announced as part of the October 6 council meeting materials.
While I opposed this type of district-based system in Anaheim, the voters approved these changes and I support their decision. My sincere appreciation goes to the judges who gave of their time and expertise over the past six months to ensure a fair and balanced process, as well as our city staff who worked countless over-time hours so that the districting process would be successful, and to the community members citywide who engaged in developing maps for consideration and making their voices heard throughout the months of public hearings.
In particular, I would like to acknowledge Justice Edward Wallin, Committee Chairman, as well as Judge James Jackman, Judge Nancy Wieben Stock, Judge Stephen Sundvold and Judge Thomas Thrasher, City Clerk Linda Andal and the city’s demographer Justin Levitt, National Demographics Corporation. A special thanks also to City Attorney Michael Houston, outside counsel Ben DeMayo, as well as the staff of our Planning Department who aided in the production of maps for review.
Having reviewed the committee’s recommended map, I believe it is a good solution for the city and I support it. However, we need to hear from the public at our upcoming hearings, so I plan to listen to those who give testimony before I make a final decision.
Kindest regards,
Kris Murray”
Greg — I am not your monkey. I am not going to do things you demand of me to do. Go screw yourself. In publishing Oscar’s piece, its obvious to everyone save you which plan I support. It’s not a PR stunt…it means the Reyes team doesn’t trust you or care for you that much. Face facts.
The notion of you coming down hard on Tait means you’ll just fold his laundry instead of putting in away. Frankly it wouldn’t surprise me if the Reyes #2 plan is a 5-0 vote.
[Note: because our host takes an “all-or-nothing” approach to censoring comments, and because I do use the word “shit” (within larger words) a few times in the comments that follow (as did he, though not within a larger word, in his comment to which I reply), I’m breaking up my response to his long comment above into a bunch of smaller comments. This will also facilitate discussion, if anyone really cares to participate in it. This also appears in its whole form on Orange Juice Blog, to which I will not even attempt to link.]
1. Blinded by rage? Over what?
Over years now of being called out on your bullshitting and your increasingly less and less watered-down trickle-down economic Republicanism, “cupcake.”
2. I didn’t put 10 or 11 maps together and lecture retired judges on why they were wrong…that was you cupcake.
Putting aside that lecturing non-retired judges on why they are wrong when an adverse tentative ruling comes out is part of what lawyers do — so much you don’t understand — I have felt exactly zero “rage” or even irritation towards the judges. I think that they did a very good job — and, as I said in my public statement two weeks ago, if I had to choose only one map to recommend to the Council I think that, given the community involvement in it, it would be Reyes Map 2.
I think that, as they themselves may well realize three months from now, they should not have trusted in the City Council to respect the output of this fair process. I asked them for exactly two things last Wednesday:
Neither of those are even “telling the judges that they are wrong.” It’s lobbying for a strategy that would better protect their maps — one that they think unnecessary because the Council would not be so politically foolish as to undercut this process. They don’t understand that this Council’s motto is “if I arguably can, then I certainly will.”
3. I get paid to spin and lie? I don’t lie. Ask my peers. They’ll tell you I’m a very ethical public relations professional..my wife will tell you I’m a horrible liar (which is a good attribute in a husband).
Technically, your ability to convince yourself of absolutely anything the allows you to celebrate those you like may exonerate you from “lying.” You’re more of a bullshitter: what is true simply has no bearing on what you’re wiling to say. I can believe that you don’t lie to your wife. That’s very different from lying to strangers for political gain.
4. You’re squishy with the truth and it pisses you off when you don’t get your way. Better to be pissed off than pissed on. Make no mistake, you’re being pissed on here.
Don’t even know what you mean about squishy. Pissed off when I don’t get my may? Sometimes, when I’m fighting to what’s just and merciful and fair. It’s not a bad trait in a lawyer. As for “pissed on,” I’ll try to say this kindly: perhaps I’m being pissed at, but not on. I’ll do you a favor and refrain from clarifying.
5. Folks I’ve spoken with in Anaheim throughout this process tell me you repeatedly referred to the Chuchua map as the Chuchua-Diamond Map.
First, I doubt that you spoke with “folks in Anaheim” at all, let alone “throughout this process.” I don’t recall calling it the “Chuchua-Diamond Map” at all — except perhaps once where I was quoting verbatim from the description given to Chuchua Map 2 in one place in the website. So I think that you’re either being lied to, or making up a lie yourself, or doing something that would be a lie if done by someone with a superego.
But I suppose that it’s possible. So if anyone thinks that they heard me say this — especially “repeatedly … throughout the process” — please let me know where, when, and in front of whom. Maybe it will jog my memory. Or maybe our host is … hallucinating?
6. You did 99% of the talking and likely 99% of the work
I did do 99% of the talking. No way did I do “99% of the work,” unless you’re limiting “work” to mean simply twisting the Rubik’s cube of the mapping process enough times until a solution emerges. The other half of the work involves knowing the city like the back of one’s hand, knowing what’s going on within it both publicly and privately, and being able to evaluate whether someone’s ideas are appropriate or not. That’s where Brian’s applying his masterful knowledge of Anaheim came in so useful. Starting back in the Angels Stadium days, he’s driven me around every region of Anaheim giving me its history, its current status, and its projected future. That on-the-ground knowledge is absolutely key to the process: Brian told me that Euclid Avenue was the appropriate place to carve off the western third of Anaheim when I had thought that it was probably I-5. But your certainty about something about which you know nothing is … echt “you.”
7. You’re so worked up about it you have to write a prolix comment about how you’re not the author of multiple maps. Sure Brian did everything. Sure he did.
I never said that “Brian did everything”; that’s a straw man argument. Your insulting Chuchua like you did is disgraceful — happily, lots of people seemed to response appropriately. Not only is Brian well-loved in Anaheim, but he known far more about Anaheim than you do about Irvine, and even with the eyes of an old man he sees his own city far more clearly than you see yours.
8. I actually think Tait may not agree with the People’s map either because voting for it sort of hurts him with his Republican friends…
What did Tait say at the beginning of the process? Well, of course you don’t know. He fought hard for an independent judicial panel and indicating that he was strongly likely to defer to them. Vanderbilt, while he likes to be an independent thinker, probably will defer to what voters wanted as well. You know who won’t? At least one, probably two, and maybe three of the members of the Council majority that you celebrate.
em>9. … the same ones you had pizza with last night because they were going to submit a map of their own; perhaps you wanted to sell them on yours? Yeah, I know about that.
I had pizza in the City Hall plaza Wednesday evening with Cynthia Ward and Benita Gagne, because (a) I had skipped dinner due to a client call keeping me at home late and (b) Cynthia was nice enough to have procured one vegetarian pizza for her Republican flock, and of course it had gone uneaten. Benita’s map, like mine and Brian’s, did not make it beyond the semi-finals; no maps were submitted on Wednesday the 16th, making your statement especially bizarre. For the same reason, there was no reason to try to “sell them on mine”; the process had ended.
As for your “Yeah, I know about that”: someone who has as much of a head start on creepiness as you do should take real pains to avoid sounding like a stalker.
As for your “Yeah, I know about that”: someone who has as much of a head start on creepiness as you do should take real pains to avoid sounding like a stalker.
10. Did you read what you wrote here: “I don’t believe that I ever sought out (or talked to) Reyes about collaborating or anything else. I think that I’ve said “good job” to him once and once (when I was sitting behind him when he was at the podium) tried to slip him my phone, which had some records on it that he was being asked about and didn’t seem able to find. I did talk to people around him about what I considered to be weak points of his plan — nothing that bad — but I did my own revision of his plan on my own. See Chuchua 9 and 10.”
10a. So you stalked the kid.
YOU THINK THAT I STALKED HIM? I’ve barely interacted with him. Once, when we were all invited to defend our plans and he seemed unable to access the figures that he needed to answer a question posed by the judges’ panel, I found the necessary figures on my phone and then tried to hand it to him with the screen on, allowing him to answer the question. By the point, he had just located it. That’s a courtesy, you imbecile!
11. People kept him away from you. People protected him from you. You just don’t get that do you?
Oh, bullshit. Again, I doubt that anyone even told you that. I’d certainly dare them to acknowledge it. If they said this, they were either mistaken, or someone did so foolishly and unnecessarily, or they were lying. Did these supposed sources say why? Were they worried that I was going to knife him? This is shameful idiocy on your part.
12. Your own revision of his plan — voila! The Fusion Plan!
There was a “Fusion Plan” — but it didn’t involve Reyes 2. When the “Ponderosa Community” came up with their map for the South District, I drew a map that adjusted Chuchua Map 2 to accommodate their preference. This was Chuchua Map 4 — which I referred to as “the Fusion Plan”; apparently one of your sources (if they existed) mangled up what I had said at different times. At the same meeting where I presented Chuchua Map 4, the Ponderosa Community representative came forward and said that they were changing their mind because they were convinced that the Reyes 2 map could do a better job. So at that point the Chuchua 4 map lost its reason for existing.
Why so? I’ll explain this to you carefully: as I stated several times both verbally (to the judges) and in print, the purpose of the Chuchua Map was not to strive to be selected, but to keep the City Council as honest as possible in its deliberations by ensuring that a competing map that met the legal criteria for selection as strongly as possible was present in the mix. One of those criteria is deference to what the local community identified as “communities of interest.” Once the Ponderosa people changed their mind, the Chuchua 4 Map no longer reflected the local community’s community of interest. It was at that point significantly inferior to the Reyes 2 Map. That’s why I thought that it should be withdrawn as “semi-finalist” in favor of Chuchua Map 6 or Map 9.
By the way, we were all invited to use things that we liked in other people’s maps. The point wasn’t to win glory, it was for Anaheim to get the best map. Once it became clear that Reyes Map 2 had so much popular support, you’re damn right that I tried to see if I could tinker with it and improve it. I think that I succeeded; those promoting it didn’t want to mess with success. That wasn’t unreasonable.
13. “But Brian’s the co-author of the map” I thought you said it was *his* map; so he’s the *co-author* (and you’re the other one) but your name doesn’t appear on the map and you did 99% of the talking???!!! You’re an attention whore. Blah blah blah.
Yes, Brian is the co-author of the map — the map is imbued with his knowledge of Anaheim, supported by my technical skills doing districting and public speaking — but he is the official proponent of the map. Why does one make that distinction? Because, as the Anaheim resident, he is the one who would have standing if a lawsuit became appropriate. If Reyes had gotten help from people in Los Angeles or Sacramento to do the technical part of the mapping, would it no longer be “his map”? Of course it would still be “his map”! If you think that there’s something wrong with that, you’re absurd.
14. “Did he “think things through” himself? Of course not — he was part of a huge community data-gathering project, and that’s BETTER than if he’d done it himself.” Sell this kid short huh?
Oh, wow. This is amazing. Look, I was there at meetings with OCCORD and OCCCO and other groups where they talked about the enormous and amazing project of getting information from the local communities. That’s what makes the map so impressive. Do you think that Oscar Reyes knocked on all of those doors and interviewed people by himself? That’s insane. Why would they do it that way?
15. Honestly, the kid deserves way more credit than you give him. He led a huge community; he brought people together. He sought consensus. He researched. He did everything you did not. No one is going to follow you Mr. Pied Piper….it’s not happening. Shame on you for belittling Oscar’s leadership and work. It’s beneath you.
Honestly, neither you nor I have any personal knowledge of exactly how much credit he deserves, but he deserves a lot of it. But I find it offensive — and typical of PR bullshit — to downplay the contributions of the broader community so as to celebrate a single figure. Lots of people “brought people together” and “sought consensus.” From all accounts, he was certainly a rallying point and a good representative of the movement — so I’m not going to argue about what doesn’t really matter.
I note that you say that “He researched” and I “did not.” This may encapsulate your willingness to bullshit better than anything else you’ve said. I didn’t research? I showed my work, you cretin; publishing my conclusions and their basis both in OJB and in letters to the judges. That’s called “research,” you bullshitter.
16. Greg, I have spoken with no fewer than 15 people closely associated with this entire process. If you have eyes in the back of your head when you speak, you’d see others rolling their eyes at you, checking their smart phones wishing you’d shut up or your time would expire, and many seated behind you shaking their heads waiting for you to shut up.
I honestly don’t care about the opinions of people who would seek you out to listen to their confidential hatchet jobs. Those people, like you (though less so), are part of the problem. I don’t care whether their heads shake, their phones rattle, or their eyes roll.
Partly, I don’t care these 15 or more because, given your fanatical devotion to bullshit, there’s a good chance that most or all are fictional. Partly, I don’t care because I’ve seen you (and read emails from you) threatening people who don’t give into your bullying as a “citizen-hatchetman-journalist” and they may be willing to tell you anything you want to escape. And partly I don’t care because the legalities, technicalities, and political context of this process is pretty complicated — and if people get bored because they can’t understand the discussion that’s the price of sitting in a room where people are supposed to figure out how to construct the best map possible for the city.
17. I’m sure you invested hundreds of hours in this effort and it must be frustrating to come up empty. Imagine if you spent that time recruiting new legal clients and doing billable work? Maybe you could take your family on a nice vacation.
I challenge anyone to watch the videos of the meetings where I testified, from the first one onward, and listen to other people as well. The points that I was making to the judges early on were eventually the ones that magically matched where they ended up: particularly the call for compact and geographically identifiable districts, Euclid Ave. as a full border, and — most critically — the importance of having three districts with substantial Latino pluralities (one a majority), in part because even a strong Latino majority district could be beaten by tactics that have been common in Anaheim for quite a while. As I wrote — you didn’t read it, most likely — after the Western High meeting where semi-finalists were chosen I felt that I’d won most of what I wanted.
But, again, the purpose of the Chuchua map — as I said publicly and in print WAY before this month — was not necessarily to be chosen, but to fundamentally keep the Council honest if it screwed around by maintaining a threat of litigation with a map that followed the rules scrupulously. So that’s what we wanted. We may yet have to use it. (But not against Reyes Map 2 — the Recommended Plan — which is fine!)
18. But you do bully people; it’s probably why Chuchua says so little around you. Oh, he spoke once at one meeting. Bet you weren’t drinking water when he did.
I remember when Florice Hoffmann accused me publicly of “bullying” while leading a lynch mob against me at the DPOC as I stood there and — yes, loudly and without capitulation — demanded my procedural rights. Your accusing me of bullying, while funny, is still not as funny as that was.
You should just not talk about Chuchua at all. He spoke at more than one meeting. He’s spoken — for years — on many important issues at City Council. As for your going back once again to claim that I’m Brian’s ventriloquist — you are a low, low life form, or an effluent from one, and I’m going to enjoy reminding people of how much so. News flash, already reported elsewhere: most of what CATER has done has originated with Brian. Because, unlike you, he understands his city.
and CATER’s track record is one of pretty much abject failure. Ohh you were able to delay the convention center expansion. And you plan to sue the city again….come back to me when you’re in compliance with the IRS and some of the cowards who are part of the group are willing to lend their name to the organization. You rail against anonymous commenters here, but hide non-existent members of CATER to make it seem the group has more than 4 members. At some point, your advice is going to cost Cynthia actual money and that would be a shame.
19. Mrs. Kring is one of five votes; I suspect you’re right that she’ll vote no on the map. The notion of you coming down like a ton of bricks makes me laugh, especially the ton part but it will be a pile of shit and not bricks; Council members will likely vote based on how well they think they’ll do in the next district.
Let’s work through this masterpiece backwards so that we’re all clear on why you should never write about Anaheim politics:
You really think that “Council members will likely vote based on how well they think they’ll do in the next district.” Let’s work through the math.
Next: many things make you laugh, I’m sure. I’m glad this isn’t a squirrel getting fried on an electrical line or something. “Cupcake,” I think you called me: if Kring were going to laugh me off, she’d already have done it. She’s not laughing. Incoherent, perhaps, but not from laughter.
But most importantly: Kring is not merely “one of five votes,” she is “one of three members on the governing coalition.” She has every right, every opportunity, and every motivation to call in her chits from Brandman and Murray to save her from having to campaign to a substantial plurality of Mexicans.
Now here is how that is likely to go. Murray will likely go along with her, because — even though Kring has nowhere else to go (she gave up the chance to caucus with Tait when she betrayed him to cozy up to Curt Pringle), she’s a better coalition partner if she’s not abandoned. Anyway, Murray knows that Brandman probably won’t go for Kring’s plan because undercutting Latino power comes across as sort of — well, “racist.” So he will tell Kring that he’s SO SORRY that he can’t support her on this, but it would just WRECK his campaign for Congress — and we can all agree that that’s what’s most important!
But that’s only “probably.” If Kring somehow gets Brandman to go along — I’m not sure how that would even theoretically work — then it is almost unthinkable that they would be in the minority while Murray sided with the Mayor. So, essentially the decision as to the new district lines — at least prior to litigation — lies with Jordan Brandman. (O happy day!)
As you can see, Murray s behind the Reyes #2 plan….which destroys your premise doesn’t it?
20. I believe you sought Kring’s support for your map because it gave her a better chance.
While you believe many things that are dumb and strange, this is among the best of them. Hey, boyo — we have never sought Kring’s support for the Chuchua map. She came up with this on her own.
21. do you really think than any member of the council will approve anything with your name (or Chuchua’s) attached to it? If you do, then you are dumber than I thought.
If it’s a choice between one of the Chuchua maps and the Reyes 2 map, I certainly hope that they won’t! I think that at this point, the Reyes 2 Map — or, rather, the Recommended Plan — is the only reasonable choice. This is despite the fact I like a few of my maps better — because Reyes 2 is a perfectly good map and I respect the community’s choice.
22. I’m not shielding anyone on the council.
There we agree! Of course you aren’t! That won’t happen until and unless Jordan Brandman decides to support the map Kring prefers. If he does, you’ll immediately snap into line like a 1950s girdle.
23. Frankly, I think I already ripped *you* a new orifice and I must be close to the truth or you wouldn’t explode like you are now.
If you were ever close to the truth, it could cause a massive “matter/anti-matter type” explosion. But I don’t actually believe that you think anything. I believe that you say things that you think are useful for you to say, based on your own interests and aspirations. You know: PR.
24. So who am I supposed to get permission from Greg? I have no government contracts. I’m not appointed to any government body. I’m not elected to any city position.
You’d need to get permission from Jordan Brandman’s campaign manager, would be my guess.
25. I don’t tell anyone how to vote. All I am is a Democrat who supports my party and my party’s elected and candidates … which is more than I can say for you.
Does that mean that you’ll commit right now to supporting Bernie Sanders for President if he wins? You’re a Democrat who tries to prevent the Democratic Party from being anything more than the Republican Party with a fondness for reproductive and LGB (but not necessarily “T”) rights. And if the party electeds do the same, more’s the pity.
* * * * * * * * *
I’m so glad that we’ve had this chance to chat! My apologies for the delay in responding, due to work and family obligations.
wow, quite a few messages in a short period of time. I’ve been in meetings all morning and then my email exploded, mostly with messages of people laughing at you. At. You.
I’ve just read every comment.
Please take your medication and think happy thoughts. It’s clear you’re off the rails and I just might need that restraining order.
One thing — for what its worth, I fully support the T in LGBT rights. I’m a Hillary guy but if Bernie Sanders becomes our party’s nominee, of course I’d support him. I think Hillary is better suited to be president and I’d like to see my party nominate and elect a woman as president. Will you support Hillary if she’s the party’s nominee?
Just speechless watching this breakdown happen in real time
Would that you were speechless. But let’s be clear on what you’ve done here:
At 12:16 pm, you opine (anonymously, for your reputation’s protection) that I’m having an emotional, mental, psychological — whatever you meant — “breakdown in real time.”
(Don’t worry, anyone who might; I’m not. I just truly believe that the only way to deal with bullies — especially cowardly and camouflaged ones — is to hit them back hard. I believe in the power of comprehensive refutation. And I basically don’t give a damn WHAT it looks like.)
Then, 66 minutes later, you say:
(For the record, denied on all counts.)
If you truly believed that I am in the midst of a “breakdown,” why would you for any reason address me in such a fashion and to such an end? What would you be trying to accomplish here? What sort of a person are you, then?
And why, almost 2-1/2 hours later, does your comment still remain visible on this site?
Of course, the answer is that you don’t actually believe a damn thing that you’re saying, which is why you’re willing to say things that, if you DID believe them, would be calculated to drive your target to suicide. It’s just “politics” to you and your patrons.
As this is a “Democratic blog,” I have a message to my fellow Democrats: we have a deep sickness in our county party. Our host says repeatedly that that sickness is me, and that I am — I quote — a “Cancer on the Party.” I take that for what it’s worth — less than nothing — but there certainly is a sickness out there and this is one of its most obviously manifest symptoms. I suggest that you look closely at this exchange and ask yourselves — be you my political friend or foe or somewhere in between — whether you’re at peace with it.
I would suggest that people speak up if they wish to object, but I completely understand why people would not want to subject themselves to this sort of abuse. It takes a lot of time and it can sap a lot of energy. I certainly feel the impetus not to resist this sort of thing sometimes myself, but I an determined not to back down from such thuggery.
At least this time, probably by reckless mistake, the thuggery has become too blatant for anyone to deny.
No one is going to speak up on your behalf; you have burned way too many bridges. The deep sickness in our county party is you and your failure to accept any sort of Democrat or Progressive that doesn’t mirror your own views. We agree on many many things, but you belittle and deride anyone who might be moderate or a pro-business Democrat; you antagonize Democrats who must compromise with Republicans to get a positive result while being in bed with conservative Republicans yourself — conservatives who vote against any Labor contract and other socially progressive items. You can’t expect those bridges you’ve burned to remain standing after you torched them. The comments in question are opinion — not libel. Put on your big boy pants and stop crying. I’ll remind you there’s a comment on your site for days suggested I assaulted someone in a wheelchair that isn’t remotely true. Why is that one still up hotshot?
Post a link to the offending comment and I’ll take care of it. If it’s the guy who is obviously satirizing you, I’ll just note it.
As for the rest: Fellow Democrats, this is the guy who the OC Register thinks speaks for the Democratic Party in OC blogging. If you’re comfortable with that, it comes with its own “reward.”
Read your own blog. I’m not your monkey. If you believe that comment is “satire” then you can be assured commenters here are writing “satire” about you.
The OC Register thinks Henry speaks for the Democratic Party; they think I speak for TheLiberalOC. I’ll remind you that 70% of the DPOC Central Committee voted to oust you from a leadership position — you being gone from that position of influence was its own reward. Additionally, its hypocritical for you to continue trying to lead Democrats down a path while you carry water for Tom Tait, James Vanderbilt, Doug Pettibone, Brian Chuchua, Cynthia Ward and other conservative Republicans.
Well, I don’t recall such a claim being made about you and, based on how off-base you routinely are, I have no strong reason to believe that it exists.
I can easily testify to the difference between actual “satire” and the sort of vicious invective commonplace here. I think that you’ve just stated here that you can’t tell the difference. I’ll file that information away.
Martin Wisckol, apparently still unaware of Chris Prevatt’s unfortunate departure, still refers to Lib OC as the county’s “leading Democratic blog.” If people join me in wishing that Wisckol would recognize and accept your disclaimer of responsibility for representing Democratic positions, I guess that they’d have to write him directly. Until then, the assertion stands.
I’ll remind you that the DPOC Central Committee not only violated Robert’s Rules of Order, its own Bylaws, the State Party Bylaws, its recent relevant precedent, and any semblance of adherence to due process in its removing me from office — but it also violated campaign finance laws by allowing people to make contributions to the DPOC on behalf of others to allow them to vote. (Henry made at least one such contribution.) And Henry’s mentors from the Los Angeles and San Diego Democratic Parties, brought in for the occasion to serve respectively as Chair and Parliamentarian, blithely let it all happen.
The Republicans you mention act, within the confines of Anaheim’s municipal politics, for the most part very much in accord with Democratic Party values. In so doing, they are generally politically allied with Democratic electeds in the city such as Dr. Jose Moreno, Al Jabbar, Ryan Ruelas, and other of the City’s leading Democratic lights such as Amin David.
They DON’T act in accord with Jordan Brandman — acolyte of Republican Curt Pringle, political BFF of anti-union Republican Kris Murray, and majority-mate on Council with racist proto-fascist Republican Lucille Kring. So what you can fairly accuse me of is not hypocrisy, but relevant knowledge.
Have you asked Oscar Reyes what he thinks of Mayor Tait? Or are you just using him as a political shield, when (and only for so long as) it is convenient?
The Republicans you mention act, within the confines of Anaheim’s municipal politics, for the most part very much in accord with Democratic Party values….They DON’T act in accord with Jordan Brandman — acolyte of Republican Curt Pringle, political BFF of anti-union Republican Kris Murray….
I’m sure the OC GOP will be pleased to hear that Tom Tait governs according to Democratic Party values when he in fact does not. You refer to anti-union Republican Kris Murray when the anti-union Republican on the council is Tait himself. Tait votes consistently against new contracts for Anaheim’s public employee unions; he votes against proposals supported by Julio Perez and the OC Labor Fed and Tait’s voted against items before the council supported by the building trades. This is call you out on your bullshit because the record shows Murray and Brandman in support of these votes.
http://voiceofoc.org/2012/07/how-did-anaheim-city-employees-negotiate-such-a-good-deal/
https://theliberaloc.com/2014/02/04/taits-usually-a-lone-vote-no-against-anaheims-public-employee-unions/
You know who else is anti-union? You. And that’s why the unions demanded your ouster from the DPOC leadership post. So good of you to mention all the bylaws you say were violated. You fail to mention the attempts to violate bylaws in negotiated to try and keep you on the Central Committee offered by your Brother-in-law; and what about the violation of bylaws from your idea to send $5k to Ferguson, MO. The DPOC is about electing Democrats to office.
So defend a Mayor who is clearly anti-union. Defend Republicans who share his vision. Disregard your party and those members who hold elective office. I realize you think you are a White Knight but your armor is rusty, dirty and full of holes.
It was a pretty easy “cut and paste,” actually, as the entire piece was already up at OJB.
A bunch of your contacts who are afraid to be identified are allegedly laughing at me. How sad I must be over that. If you’re making that up, though, that’s even sadder.
A restraining order? OK, see you in court.
P.S. Sure, I’ll support Hillary if she’s nominated. I just probably wouldn’t have much luck convincing anyone who doesn’t already support her to do so.
Anytime you want to address the substance of any of my responses to your “ton of shit” comment, just let me know.
Pathetic barely employed loser Failure as a lawyer. Failure as a stepfather. Failure as a husband. Failure as a DPOC central committee member. Failure as a blogger worthy of respect. Failure as a human being.
OK, Dan, I’ll accept for now that you don’t know Vasquez — but I’ll bet that you know who THIS charmer is, right?
Wow.
Say it: “I’m not crazy, I’m not not crazy, I’m not crazy” believe it…..nobody else does.
As you’re not an identifiable person, I can in good conscience tell you to go hang yourself.
Seriously, enough. The entire post has been hijacked by the Bloviating Bloviator. Dan, you don’t help. 25 comments in a half hour, seriously Greg, I am going to call you Stan, like the Eminem song. As for Dan, IGNORE HIM! You don’t help by continuing to argue with a nutcase. You come off just as bad. Just my two cents.
Again, that was one long comment (which had already been posted on Orange Juice) divided into 25 parts, so that if our host found part of it to be objectionable he could delete just that part rather than using it as an excuse to delete the whole thing.
Those are the rules he sets up here. I don’t agree with them, and in fact I think that they’re somewhat ludicrous, but if I’m commenting here then I do have to play by them.
As for the rest: you’re uninformed, at a minimum, and it certainly does makes sense for you not to write such tripe under your own name.
I’ll make it very simple for you. You can challenge me to join you to do anything and I’ll decide what I want to do. Posting Oscar’s piece was something in the works for weeks until the conclusion was reached, By posting it, I offer my full support for the recommended plan.
Your 10 or 11 plans were designed to keep the city council honest? Too bad none of those plans will be reviewed. If they aren’t even going to be seen by the council, the plans won’t accomplish what you thought they would. And Kris Murray has come out in support of the recommended plan which blows more of your theories out of the water. At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if its a 5-0 vote or if Tait somehow votes no with pressure from the Lincoln Club and other GOP interests making it 4-1. Will you come down on Tait like a ton of bricks? No you won’t. You’ll find a way to justify Tait’s vote somehow and use if as an opportunity to promote version 4 or 9 or 11 of your plan.
You posted all these comments on the OJ yet felt compelled to come over here and do the same. You are clearly unhinged.
I offer my full support for the recommended plan.
GOOD for you! So will you continue to hold that position if Jordan joins Kring in opposing it? Or do you plan to get really quiet all of a sudden.
The Council will receive all 30 maps, including the 10 Chuchua maps. It is astounding that, if you’ve actually watched the video of the past two meetings, you do not already know this. Ask your “no less than 15 sources” about it.
I HOPE that they put aside all of them except for the Recommended Plan. But Lucille Kring has said that she won’t — and she’s part of the three-person majority on the City Council.
The Chuchua maps wouldn’t be raised at the Council stage, but at the legal challenge stage if the Council were to do something seriously screwed up. This too should have been obvious to you. (For one thing, I’ve said it here.)
Kris Murray’s support was provisional and equivocal. (I had written a reply to your post about that, but I think that it got fried somehow. I’ll go address it later.) She left herself plenty of wiggle room.
At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if its a 5-0 vote or if Tait somehow votes no with pressure from the Lincoln Club and other GOP interests making it 4-1.
Anyone with any knowledge of Anaheim politics would be laughing at you over this. Seriously. Hey, who did the Lincoln Club endorse for Council last year?
Yes, if Tait opposes the judges’ plan, especially if he is a deciding vote, I will come down on him hard. Everyone who knows Anaheim knows that if there is a split, he’s not going to be siding with Kring against OCCORD and OCCCO.
“You posted all these comments on the OJ yet felt compelled to come over here and do the same. You are clearly unhinged.”
You made this the official venue of Oscar Reyes’s victory statement — and you wonder why I posted here? Seriously? The question is: why did I post THERE as well? That answer is that you can’t be trusted not to delete items that you dislike if you think that you can get away with it.
I totally understand the full council will get every copy of every plan submitted and they will, with the possible exception of Tait, spend the time of your plans required to turn the page to the next one submitted by someone else. Your plans have less a chance of success before this city council than a snowball does in Hell.
Murray’s support was provisional in the sense that she, and other council members, have to receive and review the documents. Her support is no less provisional and equivocal as Tait’s.
You posted here because you still prefer your plan over Oscar’s. You don’t like the fact this blog was chosen to air his message directly. You’re a sore loser.
Oh, so by “my plans won’t get reviewed” you mean only by the Council majority. That’s not what you wrote. Look, again: I hope that mine AREN’T reviewed. I hope that NO plans are reviewed other than the Recommended Plan, which earned unanimous approval. Kring disagreed with that — indicating her interest, in fact, in one of the Chuchua plans that gave her a less Mexican constituency! (So much for your argument.) But let’s play out your scenario: the Council, in a really unfortunate action, decides to consider other plans on an equal footing. Let’s say that Tait moves, and Vanderbilt seconds as a courtesy for purposes of discussion, the Chuchua 6 or Chuchua 9 plan. Your prediction is that the other Council members would refuse to even look at it? Oh, please, God — make THAT happen! That would be fantastic in court!
The Council has to RECEIVE the documents. They don’t even have to review them! They can just take the judges’ recommendation, based on far more hearings and far more consideration, as the final word. Tait said before this process began that he intended to do just that. Murray did not. So if we see yet another organized turnout (complete with seat-savers) from the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce and Disney arguing for the worst possible plan for Latinos, Murray is entirely free to change her mind. Tait would be going against what I consider to be a pledge.
How many times do I have to say this? While I prefer chuchua Maps 6, 9, and 10 over Reyes 2, I DO NOT PREFER THEM to the Recommended Plan. That has both the community’s and the judges’ imprimatur, and that puts it ahead. If the Council was to choose Chuchua 9 — which is not that different from the Reyes Plan — I would be more upset than happy. NOTHING other than Reyes 2 should be chosen at this point.
I’m not sure that Jordan agrees. Maybe you should ask him — before Kring gets to him!
It doesn’t really bother me that Oscar (or whoever) chose this blog. The fact that it has allowed me to press you to commit to opposing Jordan, if he opposes the Recommended Plan — which you haven’t quite done (as I’ve done regarding Tait) — more than makes up for any bump you get in readership. Beyond which — it’s simply not that big of a deal.
GD: “Those are the rules he sets up here. .. I think that they’re somewhat ludicrous ..”
THAT’S the pot calling the kettle black for sure.
I was curious about something…..
Greg routinely parody’s you with a nickname from a 1960’s cartoon. This is widely accepted on his “above board blog” and is done under the cloud of what he calls “satire”. But, if the shoe were on the other foot and someone were to assign and publish a nickname and accompanying graphics to Greg, how would that be accepted? We saw his response to BIZARRO……
So here is what I am thinking, there was a product when we were kids, maybe still around, Coco Puffs, a breakfast cereal. It’s mascot was a silly bird who would go “Cuckoo” for Coco Puffs. “Cuckoo” , the birds name was funny and conniving. Now this is fitting on so many levels as I am given to understand, that Greg operates his Law Firm from his kitchen table (Get it!!!!), Greg appears to be someone that will say or do nearly anything to get what he wants (in this case not chocolate cereal), Greg is relentless, just like Cuckoo.
Now the differences are obvious, Cuckoo is height weight proportionate, he has no beard and generally avoids an unkept appearance. But there are similarities: Unfashionable striped shirts, that annoying whine or shriek when speaking and his zany obsessions.
So what do you say should Greg be rebranded and addressed as Cuckoo, or is that just sinking to his childish level? I think the latter, but, I also believe his hypocrisy would come out in colors, along with a poorly written lawsuit, which would consume another week of his workless life.
“Vasquez” — I’ll explain the derivation of that name to you, but first let’s test your expert knowledge. Who, for quite a while, was our host’s editorial partner in this blog, prior to his having to leave due to election to office? Get this one right and I’ll explain the rest — which arose earlier than you may have thought.
(No cheating by asking anyone!)
If you think that a nickname that plays on our host’s last name is comparable to the intimations of mental illness that you and your fellow Klan-hooded commenters love to toss around, that just tells us more about your twisted mind. But if you think you can make a nickname stick, it’s your right to try.
why the nicknames? Isn’t that a sign of a weak argument to begin with and a clear example of what bullies do? Since you weren’t a stepparent when kids are in early elementary school, assigning a derogatory nickname to someone is what schools talk to kids about not doing when discussing and educating on bullying. Hence, descriptions of you as a lousy stepparent move from opinion to fact.
“I’m cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs” was a marketing campaign and very effective. Your nickname only sticks on your blog with a small number of under or unemployed losers. I honestly don’t care what they think.
CHMieLEwskI. It’s an approximate abbreviation of your hard-to-spell last name. The unvoiced vowel in English (as between CH and M), in this case a very short “uh” sound, is often written as a “U”.
But it’s also because it reminds me pleasantly of your old partner (until you bought him out) Chris Prevatt, whose presence here I truly miss. He looked (especially when juxtaposed with you) like Tennessee Tuxedo, and you (in comparison) like You Know Who.
Beyond that, you had been very rude for a long time, even before I settled on that name. You’re in no position to complain about anyone’s rudeness. That too, I suppose, is subtext.
I will continue to call Greg Diamond by his name, counselor, and occasionally something like cupcake or sweet cheeks. I’d prefer he disagree with me on policy and avoid the personal insults, because it’d be that much easier to not listen to him whine when he’s verbally admonished.
Oh yes David, I will delete any post of yours where you allude to “proof” of one of your claims with a link to back it up. I will delete the link later or you can email it to me. But it’s hearsay otherwise
I understand.
I believe the comment I was alluding to was published here as well as Greg’s home blog, that began with his attack on party members. I am most certain, he leveled those words, they need not be rehashed, but should be known by other members of the DPOC. For reference, I believe, the article in question was DIAMOND THE CANCER – STAGE TWO. Where GD himself, in his words, leveled those descriptions. I have NO vested interest in this other than not wanting a guy like Greg to destroy what has been an uphill fight for decades in this “RED COUNTY” and now I watch a Johnny come lately, try and tear down progress with his divisive words and behavior. Please don’t confuse me with the stable of internet blog commenters who have more time than money, I am jus calling it like I see it. If you see or read anything deemed inappropriate from me, by al means delete it. It is your blog.
Thanks for letting me say my peace, I doubt same courtesy would be afforded me elsewhere (although I am told Vern Nelson a writer at Greg’s Blog defended his vitriolic attacks on Chris Norby, I suspect, Diamond backed off, like any true bully would when called out).
“.. I am told Vern Nelson a writer at Greg’s Blog ..”
ha ha … yeah ….
Thank you for understanding
That was weird — and I can’t really even figure out parts of what you were saying.
I was ready and willing to give this silliness up, I a have a job to do (a business to run) and a family to raise, which consume most of my life, I value my free time and I find myself here, that could and should be a sign to me.
With that said, I have become concerned at the prospect of “BLOWBACK”, since I began posting comments here, I have received EMAILS, SOCIAL MEDIA and TEXT MESSAGES. Overwhelmingly bashing Greg Diamond as a “crank” to put it simply, from “extremist” to “a$$hole” to “nice, but lost” and on and on. And for this I remember Dan Ackroyds famous line regarding Bob Woodward’s portrayal of John Belushi in his book WIRED: “I am beginning to think Nixon got a bad rap”.
With this in mind, I have a serious, albeit personal question for Mr. Diamond. It is something I can’t escape or explain on my own, I understand if Greg refuses to answer on privacy grounds, but he has repeatedly put himself forward as a “voice of the people”, a public figure and so on.
HERE GOES:
Mr. Diamond, you seem to spend an inordinate amount of time blogging. How do you find time to make a living? Just this week alone, you have posted comments on multiple websites at 1:26AM, 1:44AM, 2:18AM on weeknights/workdays. The following morning in one case you were responding to a non-response at 8:44 AM (my guess is your antagonists were safely in bed). You repeatedly post thousand word (sometimes 10,000 word) articles which involve significant research and development. This is no small feat, they are well written and thought out, albeit unbearably long.
My estimate is you spend 30-50 per week “blogging” or otherwise commenting on the internet. That is a generous (to you) guess. You appear to bounce back and forth on social media and the local blogs, allthewhile monitoring National events. How is this possible.
You claim to be raising three (or four, I can’t remember) daughters, some of whom are in college, you must have rent/mortgage to pay, as well as a steep Edison bill in this HOT summer. How???
I suppose you could forgo the Palm Springs weekend with your wife, but, that can’t come close.
So here is the LOADED QUESTION:
Are you on public assistance? Do you receive welfare? (IE. Food stamps, Medi-Cal, SS etc….) Do you now or have ever claimed workmans comp/disability for your mental illness? I’ll be blunt: are California taxpayers paying you to blog all day?
The math doesn’t add up, I have kids in college and work DOUBLETIME, as does my spouse, to make ends meet some times ($4,800. for a freakin’ sorority Vanessa!!!!!). I have to wonder what allows you the freedom to be the activist you claim to be: A generous/hardworking wife? Taxpayer subsidies? or maybe you are paid to do this. Whatever the answer, I can’t figure out how a guy can BLOG 1500 hours per year and still earn enough to pay for a family.
I think I was fair and honest in asking, I think in the interest of transparency you will answer openly and honestly.
Well, if you really have your own business to run, that rules out the only “David Vasquez” I saw in OC that I believed you might plausibly be. (But, then again, you could lie about your “business” as much as about anything else.) That person works for a large local entity. I haven’t contacted them, nor do I intend to. Even if I lacked the requisite empathy — as did our host or one if his friends when it came to a friend of mine — not to try to ruin someone’s job, I don’t think that I need to do so to have my desired effect on the world. Frankly, having you guys opposing me the way you do probably makes what I write more effective, outside of your small circle.
Thanks for letting me know. I believe that you have defamed me on this blog, so please consider yourself to be under a litigation hold and do not destroy those “EMAILS, SOCIAL MEDIA and TEXT MESSAGES,” which you suggest may in whole or part be motivating your actions here. Note that this is the only way, at present, that I have to contact you. As for the content of those documents; a lot of people who match the descriptions you offer dislike me. That sort of cowardly character assassination attempt is unfortunate, but public defamation is more so.
I don’t credit your estimate of my time, even if you included in “blogging” what I consider to be political activism and research. (If you’re referring to Facebook, I hop in and out between other tasks, mostly to “recharge” myself.)
As for late night posting: I nap. I usually get 4-5 hours of sleep overnight and the rest of what I need during the day (including evening.) the midnight to 3 a.m. hours often fall in the middle of these sleep times. Like other “night owls,” I find that I’m at my most creative and productive at night — especially because the house is quietest then.
You apparently think that that is weird and somehow discrediting. I simply, honestly, don’t care. I think that your and our host’s interest in that is far weirder and far more discrediting.
As for my long articles — I’ve been blogging since 2003, much of that time on the major liberal national political blog, and by now it comes easy to me. By and large, so does the research because of my background in law and as a political science professor and longtime activist. It may be “inordinate,” but it’s not all that uncommon among people who have had success as national bloggers. As for monitoring national (and international, and state and local) events — I’ve been doing that since I was 8. I love solid news; I love provocative features; I love smart opinion writing. “Keeping up” is a pleasure, not a chore. It’s time I’d otherwise spend doing something that made be no happier but left me less satisfied. (Margaret Thatcher, believe it or not, has a great quote along these lines. Too bad her values were not correctly wired.)
Writing — to educate and to bear witness and also just to hang out and play around online with my many brilliant, compassionate, and often very witty friends — is also something that I really enjoy and find fulfilling. I used to watch a lot of sports; I still like it, but I don’t much anymore. I used to read a lot of fiction; I still like it, but again I’ve moved away from it. I used to go out a lot, especially going to grand events and great restaurants when I worked in Manhattan. (My law firm used to hand out those sorts of things like candy to thank us for working 70-90 hour weeks sometimes.) That’s largely out of my system now; it’s a “want,” but nothing like a “need.” Aside from cable at home, I have a large an interesting family here, and I just like hanging out with them, which is usually free. So the things that take up other people’s time and require their money just mostly don’t apply to me.
I went through much of my life hampered to some extent by fears of losing my job or losing my clients — just like everyone else who isn’t independently wealthy or so sociopathic that they will do whatever people want in order for them to enjoy wealth and success. I’ve sort of gotten over that. Call it “getting religion,” if you want, but I’ve decided over the past few years that the gifts I’ve been given shouldn’t be used to ensure a long and luxurious retirement or to have spoiled kids — but to improve the wold through acts of “civic courage.”
That term, attributed to Otto von Bismarck, is contrasted to battlefield courage. Most of us, I believe (as did the much more qualified to judge Bismarck), could show courage on a battlefield if we were put on the position of either risking our lives by fighting or risking being shot as a deserter or insubordinate. Few people — and fewer still with a lot of skills — are willing to risk losing their livelihoods, their comfort, etc. by standing up for their principles in the face of powerful opponents and long odds. But that’s what I think that, as a religious matter, I am charged to do. Taking on Curt Pringle, Arte Moreno, Dwight Manley, Tony Rackauckas, etc. — these are not “wise career moves.” But so what? That’s not my concern in life. My concern is that when people like that are riding roughshod over the public interest based on their presumption that no one with much ability to oppose them will stand in their way, I can do a great amount of good by exhibiting civic courage — and resilience when those people paid (like Matt Cunningham) or otherwise induced to support them take their shots at me. Regardless of what our host thinks, I never do it gratuitously; I don’t have time for fights I don’t need to have. But just standing up to people who never expect to be challenged does a lot of good. And so does repeatedly getting up when knocked down.
I achieve (or at least further) much of what I want to do by organizing and documenting online. I wish I got paid for it, but I’m not on the side of the political divide where that happens. And that makes me — for, again, reasons that we might as well call religious — feel great about what I do, because so few other people are going to do it without either being already rich or getting paid.
We have three daughters at home; an elder daughter and son live in the Philippines. One finished nursing school; one has graduated college. The other is just starting college tours as a junior. If she doesn’t get a scholarship somewhere, she’ll probably do the JC/CSU track that still makes California great.
Paying bills can be difficult, but I have savings, about a dozen active cases (some hourly, some contingency), and I help good people out pro bono when I can. I definitely sacrifice income for Quality of Life, which for me means largely the time to pursue my political interests and NEVER having to take on a client that I don’t really want or don’t think has a good case. (The good money, for all but a rare few, is in doing one of those two.) I’ll be able to retire in the Philippines, most likely, so I’m not that worried about retirement income. I’m OK with not living past 70, which seems a more than fair draw if it happens. I don’t need my Golden Years to be ones where I finally get to do things that I always wanted to do; I’ve already had plenty of such time.
No, I’m not on public assistance. Not, I don’t receive any welfare. My depression wouldn’t qualify me for any benefits because (1) it’s very preexisting and (2) it’s manageable with SSRIs. Before I got on that medication, I might have been able to, but I never did. So: no, California taxpayers aren’t paying me to blog.
If the math doesn’t end up, it may be because I saved by far most of the money I made while working at a top law firm in Manhattan. I presume that you’ll allow me not to share those details. My daughters are not in, nor likely to be in, sororities. They don’t need the help in socializing. Our not being more than lower middle-class these days solves one of the main problems that I’ve seen with kids in OC; they’re hardworking, non-cosseted, and know how to stretch a buck. They can take pleasure in relatively inexpensive things. Rather than buying designer fashions, they learned how to shop at Goodwill and Marshall’s and the like — and to take pride in the fact that, for example, my youngest could get the award for “best-dressed freshman” while spending less than $300 on clothes in a year. (Admittedly, she had some very nice hand-me-downs — but they were also bought using skill instead of the force of big money.)
They’re not spoiled — but also not overly resentful about not having things that other kids do. (True, they do get invited out to do some nice things with friends, but that’s because they get sought out as good an interesting company. Plus the “gay uncles” thing, for the last couple of years, helps keeps them from being sullen.)
It probably comes through without my re-emphasizing it, but I LOVE how they are growing up — that they have solid middle-class values and empathy for those with less. I’ve told my wife that if I did have a huge stockpile of savings, I’d have hidden it to ensure that our kids have grown up as they have. Harry Potter was wealthier than Draco Malfoy, remember, but he didn’t act like it!
“I think I was fair and honest in asking, I think in the interest of transparency you will answer openly and honestly.”
I don’t actually “owe” you the transparency that I demand of the government, because I’m not the government. But I do, oddly enough, want to thank you for throwing me what our host thought was a hardball that I’d have to duck. I enjoyed writing this. I enjoyed “bearing witness” to the way that I think that life and people blessed with it should be. And yes, this is another — well, it’s not really two hours, but let’s round up! — of blogging, but does this really seem like two hours misspent to you? If it seems like an exercise that I found worthwhile, then you probably do have a sense of how and why I choose to live the life I do.
And do you want to know what’s REALLY going to be funny? Despite that I haven’t tried to write this as a chest-beating competition, watch our host now try to demonstrate that his life is better and more worthwhile than mine, mostly due to his higher income. I LOVE this part!
why not retire to the Phillipines now. No one will miss you here.
fair questions that he won’t answer. Remember, Greg tells people what to do. Ask the same question of Mr. Nelson.
I would like to know how these guys expect to pay their bills in retirement?
In retirement? That’s easy, I’m going to hire you at minimum wage to dress up as my monkey, and I’m going to charge people a buck a pop to fling wet trash at you.
(Just kidding. Part of my retirement plan would be no contact with you — a luxury I can afford!)
you can’t afford to pay minimum wage
Jesus Effing Christ Dan, shut down comments already. You, David V., Greg and Vern have completely butchered a completely good story. Moral here, BLOGS SUCK!
Tait exhibits (1) anti-corruption values (which Jordan Brandman pointedly does not); (2) valuing significant aid to the needy (which Correa voted against); (3) reining in police abuses (which most non-liberal Democrats voted against); and (4) preventing public money from being squandered — including on HUGELY City of Bell level munificence toward pensions for the very top public safety union employees at the expense of the lower echelons — that the unions that don’t get their money up front (i.e., everyone but the Building Trades) are likely to eventually lose what they have bargained for in a civic bankruptcy. (You don’t follow the recent court decisions like I do — and Tait does — so don’t even bother arguing.)
Yes, those are Democratic Party values. They are ALSO the values of some very good Republicans, such as the ones you mentioned my affinity to. They are NOT the values of the “SKIM THE MONEY AND SCREW THE PUBLIC GOOD” Party to which too many Republicans and Democrats belong.
What do you know about Kris Murray’s role in the public pension fight countywide? She is in favor of REPUBLICAN-LEANING UNIONS such as public safety and (too often) the Building Trades, the latter of whom let themselves be used by the Disneys and Angels and ACCOCs of the world in exchange for table scraps for their workers and warm champagne for themselves.
Julio Perez is the OC Labor Fed’s Executive Director and the OCLF has largely been taken over from the Iron Pants squad of the Building Trades. Tait’s voted against items before the council supported by the building trades. This is call you out on your bullshit because the record shows Murray and Brandman in support of these votes.
The Voice of OC story was about the deal that Nick Berardino made with the City to give up its support of the Take Back Anaheim campaign, which would oppose the massive giveaways to wealthy commercial interests (which have just accelerated since then.) Berardino was not in his position just to be a do-gooder, but to represent his flock. If the Council was willing to give away an enormous amount of money to the OCEA in order to retain the right to give away an even more massive amount of money to its big-donor commercial interests, there’s a reasonable case to be made that he HAD to make the deal, even though it was effectively a bribe to his union with public money on the condition that they look the other way while they shunted money to their friends. Tait was absolutely right to oppose it — although I’d hope that he’d have supported it WITHOUT all of those pro-Giveaway strings attached. No way would Murray have supported it if it wasn’t tied to a giveaway to her political patrons. Brandman — who knows?
Your story says that Tait voted no on two Police Union and one Firefighter Union contracts with sweet deals for upper management. Those aren’t Democratic unions, and the top management that did best there are not Democratic interests. The AMEA pullbacks approved there are the sorts of things we’ll see because the City Council, over Tait’s objection, keeps giving away its future tax revenue (as with the TOT rebates and the rebate to the car dealerships) that would otherwise go to employees, and because the City tries to give away its resources to Arte Moreno (even if the Angels leave) and to avoid public scrutiny and voting on its Convention Center expansion. Who gets hurt by those in the long-term? No one more than public employees like AMEA!
The Building Trades opposed me over trying to get the Convention Center deal to go to a legally (by CA constitution and city charter) required vote. They were not acting in the public interest. Usually they do — but not when they have unholy alliances with those like Pringle and Rackauckas. My platform as DA was pro-union in every respect except supporting ripoffs of the middle-class to poor done with the junior partnership of the Trades. So they supported the union buster who won’t lift a finger on labor issues. They, sadly, were “anti-union” there.
I never negotiated to try to violate the bylaws; that’s a lie. Have Henry tell you the story and publish it here and I will take it apart for you. Meanwhile, do you even know how I assert that the DPOC violated its Bylaws? Or are you happier in ignorance?
Sending $5000 (or less, as I explained) to Black candidates in Ferguson, a few months before their municipal elections, to fight their white minority dominated government would have been a public relations coup. It would have FINALLY put the DPOC in a position to gain publicity and contributions likely FAR IN EXCESS of what was contributed, because we would have been taking the lead nationally in doing the right thing — which has been the thing that the DPOC has been LEAST expected to do. Asserting that it would have violated the Bylaws is stupidity. County Parties in Del Norte and elsewhere send gobs of money out of their counties to other candidates; do you think that that violates their bylaws?
“Defend a Mayor who is clearly anti-union”? He isn’t.
“Defend Republicans who share his vision”? Where appropriate, sure.
“Disregard your party and those members who hold elective office”? When kit comes to the corrupt ones (Brandman, Daly); the ones clearly opposed to Democratic values statewide and in their own communities (Correa); and the treacherous lying backstabbers (Solorio); I don’t mind if I do. It’s the only way for the rest of our party to thrive — as was demonstrated very well in 2014.