I wrote this letter back on September 27, and sent it to both the Star-News and Tribune.  It was written specifically in response to a Steven Ly letter, but it also addresses the perspective expressed by many Wal-Mart/Gary Taylor/Jay Imperial supporters at the last Rosemead City Council Meeting.

It appeared in the Pasadena Star-News on October 5.  It hasn't yet appeared in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.

Wal-Mart sock puppet Steven Ly came to city council last night, and informed us that, based on his long hours at Wal-Mart, on all days and at all times of the day, it was clear that Wal-Mart should be permitted to "extend its hours."

No doubt he perceives the 24-hour operation as a "compromise," and part of the process of "healing" the city.

After four years, it's time for a break.  So the weekly meetings at the Amberwood complex on on hiatus.  We're not sure when we'll begin regular meetings again.  But this website and the e-mail list will continue.  And, of course, we still have the phone tree.

There are also tentative plans for a potluck picnic in October.

It'll be fun to have some purely social time together.  I'll post more information on the picnic when it becomes available.

By this time, I'm sure most of you already know the recall election results.   Specifically, the recall of Jay Imperial received 2513 "no" votes and 1735 "yes" votes.  The recall of Gary Taylor received 2467 "no" votes and 1718 "yes" votes.  Polly and Victor represented us all diligently and passionately throughout this recall season.  I sincerely hope they both run in future Rosemead elections. 

Here's a letter I wrote a few weeks back.  Obviously, it's not going to show up in the paper before the election.  I kept it short, but I made the "mistake" of including facts.  The editor of the San Gabriel Valley Newsgroup papers (SGV Tribune, Pasadena Star-News, etc) doesn't like facts.  He prefers unsubstantiated allegations (really:  he wrote this in a column he entitled, "The College of Letters" a few weeks ago).

http://www.sewerwatch.blogspot.com/

Obviously here's a topic I don't know anything about, except for the electoral shenanigans look awfully familiar.  There, as here, an intransigent majority played the delay-game to try to prevent the people from ever getting a say on a major project.  I think their project will probably have a smaller long-term effect on their community, but it's the same issue:  Why would people like Imperial and Taylor be able to vote on the date of their own execution (their recall election date)?  It seems like a built-in conflict of interest, but it was legal under California state law (not ethical, but legal).

Rosemead Sock Puppets Against the Recall, also known as "No on Rosemead Recall," sent out another mailer last week.

This one included separate letters, signed by Jay Imperial and Gary Taylor.  The content of the letters, yet again, makes me laugh.  No need to go point-by-point, because I think we've rebutted all their claims already.  But I did need to note that our esteemed mayor misspelled "congratulations" in his letter.  Twice.  In CAPITAL LETTERS!  I suppose this proves that he actually did write this letter on a typewriter.  Either that, or he just doesn't know how to use spell check.  What's even funnier is that these technological troglodytes want to claim that THEY were behind our city finally getting a website.  LOL!

Late last night, after the city attorney assured everyone that Wal-Mart would not appear on that night's agenda, and after nearly all honest citizens of Rosemead had gone home, Maggie, Gary, and Jay snuck Wal-Mart back on the agenda and then granted them their certificate of occupancy.

If they're so proud of what they're doing, then why do they keep trying to hide it from the people?  Cockroaches.