Things are getting hectic for me, so I'm not sure when I'll be able to write a full post-mortem.  But I didn't want to wait to extend some thank yous.  First, I want to thank Edie and the rest of the Amberwood crew for manning the clubhouse over the past few YEARS!  In particular, I would note that during the past two months, just having a kitchen with a loaf of bread, mayo, mustard, turkey slices, and cheese wafers made for some very satisfying lunches after a hard day of walking precincts.  Thanks for keeping the kitchen stocked and for cleaning up after all the little mess-makers in SOC:  The sweeping, the mopping, the paper towels. . . .   Thanks for all of those pots of coffee in the winter and iced tea in the summer.  Thanks to all of the bakers who brought in so many different cakes, cookies, brownies, and other assorted sweets to eat.  Special thanks to whoever kept making those smores over the past few weeks.  Yum!

Please vote YES to recall Jay Imperial.  Then vote for Polly Low.

Then, vote YES to recall Gary Taylor.  Then vote for Victor Ruiz.

You need to mark your ballot at FOUR different spots to get the change Rosemead so richly deserves.

Also, pleased be advised that some polling places have changed.  Check the back of your sample ballot to confirm your polling place.  Also, many of our supporters should have had a door hanger placed and at least one mailer sent that also had their polling place.  I would also hope that signs have been posted in multiple languages at common voting places directing you to the one being used for this election. 

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!

Today at 10:00 am Wal-Mart in Rosemead, California opened it's doors to the public.  It's hours today are 10:00 am to 10:00 pm.  The store carries the full complement including produce and meats.  It does not have liquor and a Wal-Mart employee said it had no liquor license yet

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.

http://www.sgvtribune.com/news/ci_4322758

This story appeared in the September 12, 2006 San Gabriel Valley Tribune.  The story begins:

"Wal-Mart has poured a record $200,000 into the campaign effort to keep two City Council members from being ousted in a recall election next week, campaign finance records show."