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Happy Labor Day, Anaheim Democrats!
This month, September 2019, is a huge month for Anaheim Democrat activism. Hence it’s no surprise that our next meeting, Saturday the 7th at Haskett Branch Library, is, even more than usual, NOT TO BE MISSED.
It’s hard to overstate how ANTI-DEMOCRATIC (small-d but all caps) our current five-member Council majority is, from their constant betrayals of the people of Anaheim in favor of their wealthy benefactors, to their chronic and illegal secrecy, to their muzzling of dissenting voices on the dais.
Hence I submit that this Club’s number-one priority this coming year must be TAKING BACK THE COUNCIL MAJORITY for good government and democratic values. That means taking district 4 from the termed-out nightmare Lucille Kring, and beating the kleptocratic Stephen Faessel in district 5, with GOOD Democrats – meaning Democrats who really stand for Democratic values!
This Saturday our featured speaker will be Jeanine Mercado Robbins, a very strong Democratic candidate for District 4 and a Club member. You probably already know Jeanine from her activism against STR’s (short-term rentals), for housing and human rights for the homeless, and other important local issues.
Relatedly, we’ll be voting Saturday on our own resolution against STR’s, a destructive special interest that helped bankroll the election of our current majority, and in return got their phase-out rescinded. [The resolution is reprinted at the bottom of this letter, in case you need to see it again.*]
Wait, isn’t September also the month that we Anaheim Democrats vote for our new executive officers? Damn, you’re right! And this time we have at least two great candidates for each of the five offices … and it’s not too late for you to nominate someone else, or yourself!
- President: Ed Lopez (incumbent) vs. Steve White
- Vice-President: Joese Gloria Hernandez vs. Vern Nelson (incumbent and the writer of this letter; NB Vern will vote for Joese.)
- Recording Secretary: Marisol Ramirez vs. Jorge Gavino
- Roster Secretary: Wes Jones vs. Ashleigh Aitken
- Treasurer: Steve White (incumbent) vs. Wes Jones.
Rest assured that with any of these candidates the Club will keep its good-government and progressive values, while adding to the ranks of Democratic voters in Anaheim!
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A high point of most of our meetings, including this one, is Councilman Dr. José Moreno‘s update on recent and upcoming Anaheim issues, and the questions and discussions that follow. This time around José is sure to discuss his efforts to make the City’s negotiations with the Angels transparent and in the people’s interests – probably a quixotic endeavor with only one ally on the dais (Denise Barnes.) But remember, the last attempted Angels swindle (2013-14) was stopped when Mayor Tait was only one vote out of five – because he had the People with him, just as we must stand behind José and Denise!
And one of the two September Council meetings (probably the second one, September 24) will be D-Day for José’s grand project to Clean Up Anaheim Government! When the public finally sees all the accumulated evidence of the Sidhu Council’s corruption, the effect will be staggering. Again, José’s and Denise’s efforts at reform will probably be equally quixotic, but it’s vital that we TRY, that the People know about it, and that YOU AND I are part of it! (We’ll send out a special mid-month update with more details as D-Day approaches.)
Now, if we do take District 4 next year, we still won’t have a majority, and we’ll still be just as screwed, if we don’t also defeat Steve Faessel in district 5. Although he manages to come off as smoother and more likable than his fellow kleptocrats, Faessel still votes lockstep with them on every important issue.
Well, one brave man who has thrown his hat into the ring to run against Faessel is Democratic Club member and activist Kenneth Batiste – you may know Kenneth from his stirring oratory at Council meetings. He’ll be announcing his candidacy at Saturday’s meeting.
And let’s TAKE BACK ANAHEIM!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Club Meeting, Saturday Sept 7, 12:15 to 1:45 pm;
Haskett Branch Library, 2650 W. Broadway
City Council Meetings – Tuesdays September 10 and 24, 5pm!
Monthly Anaheim Democrats Mixer – to be announced!
District 2 Town Hall – Wednesday, September 4 | 5:30pm – 8:30pm
Brookhurst Community Center, 2271 W. Crescent Ave, Anaheim 92801
District 3 Town Hall – Wednesday, September 11 | 5:30pm – 8:30pm
The Ebell Club, 226 N. Helena Street, Anaheim 92805
District 4 Town Hall – Wednesday, September 18 | 5:30pm – 8:30pm
Ponderosa Library, 240 E. Orangewood Ave, Anaheim 92802
District 5 Town Hall – Wednesday, September 25 | 5:30pm – 8:30pm
Calvary Baptist Church, 2780 E. Wagner Ave, Anaheim 92806
District 6 Town Hall – Wednesday, October 2 | 5:30pm – 8:30pm
East Anaheim Community Center, 8201 E. Santa Ana Canyon Rd, Anaheim 92808
*Appendix: Resolution on STR’s
to be voted on at our Sept 7 meeting (in case you missed it)
WHEREAS Short-Term Rentals (STR’s) negatively impact the integrity of Anaheim neighborhoods, causing disruption in the lives of the residents who’d purchased homes in a regulated R-1 (residential) zone;
WHEREAS the Anaheim City Council previously voted, responding to over 1600 resident petitions, to BAN NEW STR’s from R-1 zones while phasing out the existing ones;
WHEREAS the current City Council majority, after having received over $100,000 in campaign contributions from STR owners, overturned the previous Council’s phase-out, and will now allow indefinite operation of Anaheim’s 200 existing STR’s while granting them a monopoly;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
- The Anaheim Democrats Club calls for an immediate re-instatement of the phase-out of existing STR’s in our city;
- Pending phase-out, existing STR’s must be subject to stringent regulations enforced in a timely manner;
- A public list of each STR and its address must be made available online including any infractions and permit revocations.
My ten “Songs of the OC Homeless” are almost done. Here’s a “demonstration” of the third one, “The Cop in the Hat,” Written 2018 and based on Dr Seuss and an idea from Mike Robbins. It’s just a “demonstration” because it needs two singers – male and female; and tells the history of a typical OC homeless couple circa 2016-18.
(Male & Female together:) The sun was too hot, there was nowhere to stay,
So we stood on the sidewalk that hot humid day,
And I stood there with Sally just outside the school zone,
And we wished we had some kind of place to call home.
Then we sat on the ground and I felt like a jerk,
Cuz we could not make rent no matter how hard we worked,
And we stayed there all morning with the tweekers and drunks,
And one guy lit up something that smelt like a skunk.
Then someone went “HEY!”
And that “hey” made us say, “What was THAT?”
and we saw him – the Cop in the Hat!
W: And he said to us
M: “Why do you sit there like that?
I remember you two and you both need a lesson
In giving the tourists a better impression!
Municipal Code five-two-six is enough
To toss you in jail while I ‘store’ all your stuff!”
W: Well I got out next morning but I could not find Bill,
With my meds confiscated I felt rather ill,
Took a bus to the storage, when I got there they said
Half our stuff was thrown out, but I got back my meds.
M: And then I found Sally near the Baymont Hotel,
With two bags in her arms and not looking real well.
But we got some advice and we found us a tent,
And with hope in our hearts to the river we went!
M&W: Now the Riverbed Trail seemed a fine place to stay
While we looked for more work and kept out of people’s way.
There was only one bathroom for a thousand of us,
But we cared for each other and avoided a fuss.
(la la la la la la…)
M: But then there were TWO
W: And we looked, to see who?
M: It’s the Judge in the Robe W: and the NIMBY* in Drag! *”Not In My Back Yard”
W: “Now please keep your distance you dangerous freaks,
I bike on this trail and you give me the creeps.
That fellow right there is for sure on a bender,
And the crazy-eyed Supe [Todd Spitzer] says you’re all sex offenders!
Oh think of the children, oh think of the kids!
I’m sure that you’re here cuz of something you did.
I worked my whole life so that I’d never be you,
I vote and pay taxes and don’t want to see you! (3X)
Your honor?”
M: [Judge Carter clears throat] “These unfortunate humans have rights just like you.
They’ve each got a story of what they’ve been through.
You shall not move these people till you show me a plan!
… … … ok now you can.”
W: So we got thirty days in the Baymont Hotel
No way the OC could pay more.
And that month it went by in the blink of an eye
Till that nine-o’-clock knock on the door:
M: Knock knock!
W: Who’s there?
M: The Worker!
W: The Worker Who?
M: “I’m the Worker in Blue, with a voucher for you,
This voucher will get you a place,
Though it may take ten years or perhaps a bit more –
Till then have a toothbrush and wait.
Your time here is up, you may stay here no more.”
W: And with that we were out on the street like before…
M&W: The sun did not shine, it was too cold to play,
So we paced back and forth all that cold rainy day,
Then we sat on the sidewalk cuz we did not have rent,
And we said “How we wish we had some kind of tent!”
Then someone went “HEY!”
And that “Hey” made us say, “What was THAT?”
and we saw him – the COP IN THE HAT!
The 4th song from my “Songs of the OC Homeless,” entitled “OUTSIDE THE OFFICE PARK.” Could use a better singer.
(Look … over there …)
Every morning in the office park I watch them trickle in
With their briefcases, their laptops and their suits,
The girls in heels, prepared to start the day,
Prepared to make the wheels of commerce turn.
And I know you won’t believe me but I once was one of them.
In fact that was my office right back there.
My business thrived, I had a home, a wife,
Employees who depended on me, ‘til it all came crashing down.
And it ended with the crisis of two-thousand-eight or nine,
When I gradually lost everything I had.
I’ve got this bench, ‘til the city takes it away,
That bush is where I sleep, I’ve got this flask…
And I know a girl who’s sleeping underneath the freeway bridge,
But damn she has a temper and a half.
I’ll let her sleep, she’s been through so much pain.
I’ll just sit here and watch the wheels go ‘round, and finish off my flask.
5th song of my “Songs of the OC Homeless,” entitled “QUEEN OF THE BOULEVARD,” in memory of Alice Armenta. This needs a good female singer!
You saw me alive on State College igniting the night,
Or just over there on La Palma preventing a fight.
I’m burning my candle at both ends, just look at this lovely light!
With my head in the sky and that’s probably why they call me the Queen of the Boulevard!
Ah, baptized as Alice this street is my palace which makes me the Queen of the Boulevard!
I live for my boys and my girls, but I fear I’m not long for this world!
St. Peter back off cuz I’m going aloft, make way for the Queen of the Boulevard!
My reign of protection extends as far as you can see.
If somebody fucks with a woman they’re fucking with me.
If he’s such a tough guy then let’s see him take on Her Majesty!
I make everyone high and that’s probably why they call me the Queen of the Boulevard!
Ah, baptized as Alice this street is my palace which makes me the Queen of the Boulevard!
I strive all my life to be free, and paradise calls out to me!
St. Peter back off cuz I’m going aloft, make way for the Queen of the Boulevard!
I’ll give you the shirt off my back, it’s just how I am.
Don’t say no, I need to give.
You think I have nothing, but what does a person need?
I have the moon, the sun and the clouds,
The trees, the grass and the rain,
And I have the winds, the wild SanTana Winds!
[piano solo]
Ah… they call me the Queen of the Boulevard!
Ah… I must be the Queen of the Boulevard!
I live for my boys and my girls, but I fear I’m not long for this world!
St. Peter back off cuz I’m going aloft, make way for the Queen of the Boulevard!
I’M FREE (x8)