Is Santa Ana Unified School District Trustee John Palacio the anti-Pulido? L.A. Times columnist Dana Parsons posed that question in an interesting column this week devoted to Santa Ana’s wisest local politician.
Palacio and Pulido clearly are polar opposites. Parsons noted that when he interviewed Pulido a few years back he was in a suit, while Palacio showed up at a Denny’s in jeans and a t-shirt. But there differences go much deeper than their wardrobe. Palacio actually cares about the people of Santa Ana, while Pulido sold out years ago.
I ran against Palacio, and Nadia Maria Davis, for the SAUSD School Board many years ago, back in 1998. He and Davis raised a ton of money. Davis is now married to Bill Lockyer, who is one of many Democrats vying to replace Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger when he terms out. And Palacio is the last voice of reason in a city full of lame elected officials.
I used to malign Palacio for his connections to recalled SAUSD School Board Trustee Nativo Lopez. But looking back at the recall of Lopez it is obvious that while Lopez was extremely arrogant and overly partisan he was not the problem that his enemies made him out to be. The SAUSD is today the worst school district in Orange County. And Lopez has been gone for years.
As for Palacio he recently voted against Measure G, as a Trustee, and he convinced fellow Trustee Rosie Avila to do the same, forcing the backers of the fraudulent bond measure to get more voted in order to pass this tax increase. Why would Palacio not get on the tax increase bandwagon?
It turns out that Palacio is not a partisan. Sure he is a Democrat, but he puts the people first. That’s why he did not think it made sense to raise the taxes of one of the poorest communities in Santa Ana – particularly during the Bush depression. Santa Ana leads the county in foreclosures – and Palacio knows full well that Measure G will lead to more foreclosures as the working poor fail to keep up with ther increased property taxes. And renters too will pay the price as their landlords hike up their rents, after doing so once before this year when the City Clowncil raised our water rates.
Palacio has been in the minority on the SAUSD School Board for years. But he has never given up. He keeps trying to bring common sense to a school board dominated by hacks backed by Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido.
I hoped that Palacio would run against Santa Ana Clowncilman Carlos Bustamante this year. Alas he knows what he would be up against in such a race – the entire Pulido machine. And Palacio rather keep trying to help our kids by serving as the voice of reason on our school board.
Be sure to read Parsons’ column. It is full of nuggets of wisdom from Palacio including this bit about Pulido’s constant push for more luxury condos and townhomes:
Santa Ana lags behind other Orange County towns in the percentage of people who live in houses they own. If city officials want to upgrade housing, Palacio says, “Why are we building housing to encourage outside residents to come to Santa Ana, rather than housing for people who already live here to buy?”
Thank God for Palacio. If only we had more local elected officials like him. Unfortunately he is an island in a sea of rank stupidity. Imagine if some of the lame SAUSD school board candidates in the race this November actually get elected? Avila was bad enough. But Cecilia Aguinaga? Roman Reyna? The “reformed” chola? Palacio will have his work cut out for him…
UPDATE:
Be sure to check out what James Spady, a professor at Soka University, has to say about Palacio and the dreadful Santa Ana Renaissance Plan over at his blog, the Sunken Road.
John is the only … absolutely the only … member of the school board who regularly communicates with teachers to keep himself informed of what’s happening in the classrooms. He is the only member at school board meetings to tenaciously question district managers and administrators when its obvious they’re being deceptive. I wish he had more influence.
It seems that unlike every other clown in SanTana politics, Palacio is content with doing his duties and not career advancement. Just look at the clowncil:
Papi Pulido wants to be rey
Clownia wants to be state assemblymember or judge
Busty Bustamante wants to be supervisor
Sal was on the SAUSD board then moved up to council
Michelle wants to be mayor
Benavides wants to save souls for his homo-hating church
Vince Sarmiento…any insight to him, Art? Seems the least scummy of the bunch, even though he’s a Pulido ally.
Gustavo,
Vince has visions of either being Miguel’s successor or Sacramento ambitions. So does David Benavides and Jose Hernandez. Now that the 69th AD is safe for the Dems, all these folks now dream of skipping up to Sacramento, except Palacio. I bet Carlos Bustamante is regretting that he chose to be a Republican when he entered politics.
Gustavo,
#3 is right. Sarmiento is as bad as the rest. He is however a better public speaker than the lot of them.
Locally, Sarmiento’s family made their money running a questionable banquet hall.
It is widely thought that Pudrido is grooming Sarmiento to take over as Mayor one day, but I think he has his eye on Solorio’s Assembly seat.
John, seems to be just as advertised.
John added me to his email list a while back, even though I live in the GGUSD, and communicates back regularly to my comments. He speaks plainly and he understands what’s wrong at SAUSD. I would guess from our communications and what I read, he is the only sane and sensible individual on the board.
If I had the chance to vote for him for office I would, even if we have some issues we disagree on, he listens and reasons well. Something all to rare these days!
Sorry John, if by saying your a good guy, I somehow taint you because other folks think I’m a rabid conservative.
Carl –
I’ll vouch for you. You are NOT a rabid conservative. You’re a Libertarian and a fair and reasonable one at that.
SMS
I have met John Palacio a few times too at community events, and if I’m not mistaken, he was involved with some activities at UC Irvine.
He does seem much more committed to public service than the Pulido Team. Team Pulido reminds me of those clowncils in cities like Bell Gardens, South Gate, Maywood, etc.
As for urban development or renewal, it will only succeed with the cooperation and a buy-in of existing business owners and residents. I recently read that the city of Baldwin Park is trying to do something similar, but they pretty much have sold out to corporate restaurants and retail outlets. Why can’t there be a balance?
#5
John added me to his email list regarding local educational matters and I believe it’s the best PSA in the city. That’s what elected officials should do — communicate with their constituents.
It’s disturbing and shocking that SAUSD has failed to regularly communicate with its constituents. But, they certainly have the knack for joining forces with Pulido and raising $250,000 to peddle a bond that will raise our property taxes.
How many students walked this past month or will the district continue to play games about the real graduation rate in SAUSD. And they claim … it’s all about the kids.
John Palacios is a hero. He listened to staff at various sites with some of the very worst administrators and there was forward positive action because of his willingness to be aprised of the issues.
I have written to him. I have spoken to him. He is a man who cares about truth and his community. I encourage anyone who has concerns or issues to contact him directly thru phone or email for a conference. He cares. He knows how punitive this district is against those who bring facts to levels of authority who can make the changes, but refuse to do so because of selfish reasons or other political agendas. He will not betray you and he can actually give you solid advice and direction on what can be done.
He’s a gem among a lot of dung.
John is an amazing person! I wrote to him with a problem at my site and he replied the very next day! We need more JOHN PALACIOS on our SAUSD board…He really is for the Teachers and KIDS…While the others are only in it for themselves!
Ditto to #9!