No 2 Home Depot Video Raises Questions for Barrett and Alger
Here's a No 2 Home Depot "victory" rally. It brings up some questions.
I always thought that Joe Barrett's beef was this particular project that it was wrong for the site it was on, the zoning issues, the whole thing.
But why does Joe talk about taking the fight against Home Depot to other communities? Why is it that everything is about fighting Home Depot specifically - as opposed to fighting a particular bad project?
Why is this effort funded and supported by businesses that COULD be (and that's questionable) hurt by a Home Depot as well as union interests? But when Home Depot hires folks to speak for them, they're astro-turfing.
More importantly, why is Jim Alger suggesting that city neighborhood council funds be spent on emergency supplies at Do-It Center? Why would this expense of public funds be made without regard to cost, quality, etc.? Why do Neighborhood Councils need to spend money on emergency supplies? I sort of figured that's my own personal responsibility. But I digress. The most important question is next.
Why is my good friend Jim Alger then suggesting that a "deal" be made with Do-It - to spend these public funds - upon the condition that Do-It donate funds to the No 2 Home Depot campaign and the LA Neighborhood Council Congress? This is all very curious.
I always thought that Joe Barrett's beef was this particular project that it was wrong for the site it was on, the zoning issues, the whole thing.
But why does Joe talk about taking the fight against Home Depot to other communities? Why is it that everything is about fighting Home Depot specifically - as opposed to fighting a particular bad project?
Why is this effort funded and supported by businesses that COULD be (and that's questionable) hurt by a Home Depot as well as union interests? But when Home Depot hires folks to speak for them, they're astro-turfing.
More importantly, why is Jim Alger suggesting that city neighborhood council funds be spent on emergency supplies at Do-It Center? Why would this expense of public funds be made without regard to cost, quality, etc.? Why do Neighborhood Councils need to spend money on emergency supplies? I sort of figured that's my own personal responsibility. But I digress. The most important question is next.
Why is my good friend Jim Alger then suggesting that a "deal" be made with Do-It - to spend these public funds - upon the condition that Do-It donate funds to the No 2 Home Depot campaign and the LA Neighborhood Council Congress? This is all very curious.
Posted by Mayor Sam @ 6/01/2007 12:51:00 AM
63 Comments:
Mayor Sam and friends...
please don't let the no home depot people paint you a bad picture of our community.
most of here do not mind a home depot and we need it for when we work on our houses.
all the hardware stores here are overpriced. home depot has things cheap. i don't want to drive far when I need tools or supplies.
if home depot wants to build us a store me and all my neighbors agree.
I think the LA Slimes has been reading criticism on here so I was shocked this story is in today's paper.
Mayor's smooth ride has gotten bumpier.....A park melee, a schools snub and other setbacks slow Villaraigosa's midterm momentum.
....Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa soared through his first year in office on a wave of public support that made him a daunting political force almost destined for higher office...But a recent rough patch has raised questions about whether he has lost some of that early luster.
The courts snubbed Villaraigosa's plan to gain significant control over Los Angeles public schools. Chicago inched out L.A. for a chance to bid for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.
.....And last week, Villaraigosa lost an ugly public battle over bus fare increases, and Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials later spoke of delaying several projects because of budget woes, including the mayor's vaunted subway to the sea beneath Wilshire Boulevard.
...... political observers agree that he is scrambling to maintain his initial momentum and deliver tangible results on numerous promises, even as recent events have opened the door to rare public criticism from at least one prominent elected leader: county Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky...
Villaraigosa and his senior aides acknowledge the recent disappointments but prefer to see them as minor bumps overshadowed by the mayor's accomplishments on education, public safety, mass transit, the environment and city budgeting
Joe - I have some suggestions on how you can spend your time after Home Depot opens it's store, you can focus on real issues in Sunland like:
No2MethUsersinSunland.com
No2DrunkParentsinSunland.com
No2DeadBeatDadsinSunland.com
No2DrugDealersinSunland.com
No2NeglectedChildreninSunland.com
the list goes on and on...
Hmmmm.... We give you public money, you donate to "our" organization. I believe the word you're looking for is "kickback."
6:33 --
The L.A. Times then lapsed right into press release journalism with the totally BS passage about how Villaraigosa "balanced" the "structural deficit" -- there's no such thing -- despite "reduced revenues" which are in fact HIGHER than last year. The article was fine until they printed that tripe.
Alger, Alger, Alger... Shame on you...
that is some no good stuff right there. no no no.
And to have this video go public just a week before the hearing!
I wonder if people from City Planning and Wendy Greuel's office ever log on to the blog.
Where is Joe B.'s response? Is he too busy preparing to fight Home Depot in other communities?
Barrett and Alger, Shame on you!
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OK children, I have't been here for months and now I see this crap taken completely out of context.The only question this video raises is why you are so hell bent on forcing another community to have a Home Depot they don't want.
First Walter, "Kickback" is defined as "An illegal, secret payment made in return for a referral which resulted in a transaction or contract." Nothing in what I threw out as a simple idea tht was never implemented even comes close.
My idea was as follows:
A store in Sunland Tujunga would sell to Neighborhood Councils items they have budgeted to purchase, in this case Emergency Supplies. A percentage of that stores sales would go to help fund the No 2 Home Dept campaign thereby SUPPORTING the local community. This is common fundraising tool used with schools with Wendys, the Girl Scouts etc. How many times have we seen "a percentage of sales will be donated to xyz". So Walter, shut the hell up with this kickback nonsense.
NC's would have been told xyz company has agreed that a percentage of their sales would be donated to, in this case, fight the Home Depot in Sunland Tujunga. If you choose to purchase from this store, it is up to you.
Period. No Scandal, No secret. Simply supporting companies that support their community.
Now a true scandal (and actual "kickback") would be having NC's purchase goods from a particular place and UNKNOWN TO THEM a percentage of the funds come back to ME. (actually that would be bad whether they knew or not) That would be a scandal. This is just another political spin and smear job, and a bad one at that
As usual, Jim has got it right. The LANCC is a 501c3 charitable organization. Supporting a company that gives back to the community is completely appropriate. Jim just did some "out of the box" thinking to brainstorm a way to help fund a comunity struggle. NC's don't get that much money remember. It would have had to be cleared by he City Attorney and so long as it was done publicly (and considering he was staring into a video camera when he proposed it, it is evident he wasn't trying to keep this idea a secret) there would be nothing wrong whatsoever.
Walter should know better and Sam, perhaps your zeal to defend Home Depot led you to throw Jim and Joe under the bus but if this is your idea of the actions of a "good friend" I'd hate to see how you treat your enemies.
Now a true scandal (and actual "kickback") would be having NC's purchase goods from a particular place and UNKNOWN TO THEM a percentage of the funds come back to ME.
Jim, you forgot to address one aspect of your plan: Whatever funds No 2 HD didn't use would go to the Congress of Neighborhood Councils to use as it pleases. Aren't YOU one of the leaders of the Congress?
It's too bad your "kickback" scheme has harmed No 2 HD just days before its hearing. If they lose, it's because of you.
and considering he was staring into a video camera when he proposed it, it is evident he wasn't trying to keep this idea a secret
When the video was first posted to the foothills forum, Joe, Abby, and their gang pressured the web site owner to remove it. Now we know why.
No 2 HD never wanted the video to go public.
When I was speaking about Glassell Park, and other communities facing a Home Depot, I wasn't saying that I personally was going to go take on HD.
I was saying that some of our efforts may help theirs. What I didn't say
was that this could apply to any unwelcome store. We were celebrating a victory over HD after, all. Since this whole saga began, we have had many communities write to us seeking any info that would help them. When we first began, we reached out to other communities that were further along in their respective battles, seeking any guidance they could provide us.
That's all it is folks. We're just trying to share information with anyone that it might benefit. I have absolutely no desire or energy to fight Home Depot anywhere but in Sunland-Tujunga. I don't work for any Unions or Do-It-Center. Do-It-Center and NHDC simply split the cost of an attorney.
This is a very common and effective way to share the burden of costs among separate entities working towards the same goal.
The NHDC is made up of, and funded by, residents of Sunland-Tujunga, and the surrounding communities.
That's all we are, and all we want to be.
Oh please! Throwing Jim under the bus? I diagreed with or was critical of on something he said in public. That's not the first time that's happened. Jim's politics and mine are very different; that has no bearing on my personal feelings towards him. I supported Jim for public office even though we are of different parties because I believe he is a good guy and very capable.
However, I just don't agree with his plan. Jim, we're not talking the Girl Scouts or anything like that. And usually the programs you are talking about are donations based on revenue earned by the business from consumer not government spending. This plan is wrong on so many levels I don't know where to start.
First off, no one has conclusively proven to me the need nor appropriateness of NCs to purchase emergency supplies. The Rotary, sure. The Boy Scouts could do it, fine. But I don't see it as a government function.
Secondly rather than getting Do-It to donate cash to N2HD or LANCC it would more appropriate to ask them to donate the supplies themselves to the NCs or other community groups.
Another issue is the appearance of a conflict of interest. IF Do-It is donating to LANCC when issues come before NCs with regard to land use that have any bearing on Do-It or their competitors, is there a quid-pro-quo?
I have a fundamental and unwavering belief that NC's money should be spent primarily on outreach and operations to allow the NC to function as a community forum which has the broadest participation possible. The money should not be spent on tree plantings, police equipment, emergency supplies, etc. Those are things that should be provided by the city or more appropriately community groups. NCs should be spending their money on newsletters, websites, community wi-fi networks, television/radio programming, meeting space/costs, etc. All of these are avenues that will increase participation beyond 1%.
Do-It Center should be spending their money on improving their operations, lowering their prices, training their employees, etc. so they can compete on a level playing field with Home Depot or anyone. They should not be spending it on attorneys to use the government to do what they can't do cause their business is run like crap (or they wouldn't be worried about Home Depot).
It appears to me that Home Depot is in trouble with regards to their recent fortunes. Joe, let the market do it job. I'll have more about that later.
By the way, I could give a rat's ass about Home Depot in Sunland Tujunga or anywhere else. I hardly ever go to Home Depot and I have no reason to go to Sunland. However I have a fundamental problem with people - whether its Home Depot, developers or Joe B. - who will attempt to subvert the free market via government control.
By the way Joe did you get to hang out with Mel Sharples?
I am responding although I am not Joe Barrett. I was also in attendace at that video tapped public party.
Mr Alger is not a member of the NHDC and everyone was blindsided by his suggestions. Not meaning to be a reflection on the purpose of his intentions, but, every activist in L.A. knows that Alger has always been campaigning for his own Emergency Response Program since the Northridge earthquake.
S-T has "Sunland-Tujunga Safety & Emergency Response Volunteer Services" aka S-T SERVS who works with other organizations in the community as well as the STNC to address S-T's safety needs and concerns. Algers suggestions have never been addressed, considered or enacted by anyone in the the S-T community.
I am not only a Member of NHDC but also an Officer and founder of S-T SERVS plus a S-T community activist for 22 years.
S-T is not guilty of any impropriety, but, they are on the receiving end of very mean spirited
propaganda which is meant to be extremely harmful to the community.
I would like to add that S-T SERVS is very concerned about the traffic and safey of the children because the site that Home Depot occupies is surrounded by residents with narrow streets, a church and an elementary school within 450 feet of the HD leased property. That site brings a much different type of traffic than that of the former Kmart. Much larger trucks and longer hours. There are already weekly, major accidents on Foothill Blvd. which is the only major ingress and egress for the community. Those are just some of the issues.
Also, upon investigation, we found that the crime rate at the three Home Depots in the area were much higher than that of the former Kmart when it was orperating in S-T.
We invite you to come look at the site and the neighborhood in our community. We will be happy to give you a guided tour. Contact www.stnc.org and thy will be happy to promote S-T.
I wouldn't call enforcing the current laws on the books, "subverting the Free Market".
Alger has become what he claims he figths against.
I recall that he and others critized Greig Smith for A donation by Walmart to a community program he supported. The Anti-Walmart crowd saw it as a payoff for Smiths support of Walmart.
Now Alger is arranging funding to a community group he supports by a competitor of Home Depot, a corporation he is fighting against.
Shame on you Alger.
Oh SHUT UP!
Alger floated an idea, one that was never implemented. It would have had to be cleared by the City Attorney first and the idea didn't go anywhere so now you (Sam) set up your "good friend" for the political snakes who hate him to take a free shot at him. Comparing this with Smith is apples and oranges. Smith had the authority to HOLD UP a project if the other side didn't fork over money and therefore the "mitigation" was MANDATORY. Algers' idea wouldn't have gotten 1 cent from the applicant but as usual, this thread isn't about facts, it is about sparking debate by using your "good friend".
For the record, I am not promoting my own Emergency Response Program. I AM promoting that NC's be prepared but precisely how they do so is entirely up to them. I have suggested they be prepared to have their own communication system but none of that would be purchasable from Do-It Center. This entire thread is spin, assumes facts that don't exist, and is an utter waste of time. Had someone just called me it could have been cleared up. Of course then there wouldn't be all this discussion on here would there?
Of course now that will get spun so have at it kiddies. Some of us have real jobs to attend to.
Joe Barrett's strategy of using foothillsforum.com and mayorsam.blogspot.com to "get out the message" has completely backfired just days before a crucial hearing. I hope he apologizes to the Abby and the rest of the group.
I have a strong feeling that Jim Alger won't be participating in any more events, including the upcoming hearing.
Sounds like Joe B and the Sunland group are distancing themselves from Alger.
Here is my solution...
1. Build the Home Depot.
2. They put in an underwear department. Frys sells potato chips and toothpaste so why not?
3. Home Depot puts Joe B. in their next TV commercial to revive his acting career.
4. Home Depot donates the disaster relief items to the STNC.
5. Home Depot's PAC makes a donation to Jim Algar's next campaign.
Then all will be good.
Or a better idea...
GW Bush declares Sunland-Tujunga a disaster area and the people there get FREE underwear, socks and water in beer cans from the Army.
Sunlan-Tunjunga:
CITY WITHOUT UNDERWEAR
(what a bunch of maroons!)
Here is my solution...
1. Build the Home Depot.
2. They put in an underwear department. Frys sells potato chips and toothpaste so why not?
3. Home Depot puts Joe B. in their next TV commercial to revive his acting career.
4. Home Depot donates the disaster relief items to the STNC.
5. Home Depot's PAC makes a donation to Jim Algar's next campaign.
This is perfect, except for one thing: Joe B.'s acting career does not need to be revived! He was in one episode of "Alice," and that series is being re-run on ION TV, so it's only a matter of time before Spielberg or Bruckheimer or someone catches it and gives Joe a call.
Uh, there is more than one Joe Barrett in the world. No Home Depot Joe is too young to have been on "Alice". He was a kid when that show aired.
6:33am, LA Fifty Cents (Times) said, "....Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa soared through his first year in office on a wave of public support..."?
I never knew he had much public support, especially after the "we clean your toilets" [but not the rest of the bathroom/restroom] speech.
No Home Depot Joe is too young to have been on "Alice". He was a kid when that show aired.
The episode aired on March 21, 1982. That was a little over 25 years ago. Joe was old enough to be on that show, and he was. He's proud of it. Don't take that away from him.
Let's get back on track, though; he has totally destroyed the No 2 Home Depot campaign with his Internet strategy. Just ask Miner, the owner of foothillsforum.com.
From Zoominfo.com , here is the first page, of many, with the listing of Joe Barrett.
You are a complete dimwit.
Barrett, Joe
Director of Marketing for EMEA
Barrett, Joe M.
Vice President of Communications
Barrett, Joe
Vice President of GlobalMarketing
Barrett, Joe F.
Director , Marketing
Barrett, Joe
Company Spokesman
Barrett, Joe
Front Page Slot Editor
Barrett, Joe
Owner
Barrett, Joseph
Conference Publishing
Barrett, Joe
Position, Sales
Barrett, Joe
Officer
Barrett, Joe
Technical Field Consultant
Barrett, Joe
Realtor
Barrett, Joseph
ColoradoSprings.com
Barrett, Joe
Board Member
Barrett, Joe
Vice President
Barrett, Joe
Troupe's Actor - Manager
Barrett, Joe
Ear Trustee
Barrett, Joe
Attorney At Law
Barrett, Joe
Labor Management
Barrett, Joe
Position, Film Business
Barrett, Joe
Bewcastle Consulting
Barrett, Joseph
Fire Warden
Barrett, Joseph
Great Thurlow Parish
From Zoominfo.com , here is the first page, of many, with the listing of Joe Barrett.
You are a complete dimwit.
Let's get back on track. There is only one Joe Barrett when it comes to this issue. That Joe Barrett has destroyed the credibility of No 2 Home Depot through his internet strategy. He has alienated Miner (the owner of foothillsforum.com), Mayor Sam, Jim Alger, and most of the people in Sunland-Tujunga.
By bringing too much attention to this issue, Joe has harmed No 2 Home Depot more than helped. Here is what he wrote on foothillsforum.com regarding this video:
The video posted today will help as well. They'll try to make something out of it,
but whatever, it will still keep this a hot button issue.
HELLO, Joe, YOU are the one who made this a hot button issue! It should have stayed a local zoning dispute, not a scandal that threatened to bring down Jim Alger and the entire Neighborhood Council system!
Joe admitted that No 2 HD is 50% funded by Do-It-Center:
Do-It-Center and NHDC simply split the cost of an attorney.
If you hadn't decided to play with the big boys, Joe, you wouldn't have had to admit that. No 2 HD is a sham. It's really Do-It-Center vs. Home Depot. It has the same legitimacy as Burger King vs. McDonald's!
Joe says:
I wouldn't call enforcing the current laws on the books, "subverting the Free Market"
Do-It-Center paying lawyers to stop a competitor from coming in IS subverting the free market. Joe and his No 2 HD gang are just patsies in this injustice.
Let's first have you admit you are a complete dimwit for trying to say that Joe B was in an episode of "Alice".
Mayor Sam and friends...
please don't let the no home depot people paint you a bad picture of our community.
most of here do not mind a home depot and we need it for when we work on our houses.
all the hardware stores here are overpriced. home depot has things cheap. i don't want to drive far when I need tools or supplies.
if home depot wants to build us a store me and all my neighbors agree.
Hmmm, let's see....
Miner stopped by my house on Sunday afternoon, just spoke with Jim Alger this morning, the NHDC has two public events scheduled for tomorrow. I was never in an episode of "Alice". I have no idea who you are "anonymous" but all of your posts are pretty easy to spot, and at this point, are quite entertaining.
Oh, and I think the NC's will survive
this "scandal". Keep going, bro, the night is young!
Joe:
Miner stopped by my house on Sunday afternoon
To pick up the Home Depot appeal documents that you stubbornly refused to scan for weeks. Miner had to go out of his way to make sure the public had internet access to HD's appeal documents. We all saw the acrimony between you two on foothillsforum.com.
just spoke with Jim Alger this morning
Got a good tounge lashing over the video, eh?
your posts are pretty easy to spot, and at this point, are quite entertaining.
So are yours, except that they are full of lies.
Oh, and I think the NC's will survive
this "scandal". Keep going, bro, the night is young!
I will. The effects of your botched internet stategy will stretch far beyond tonight. Jim Alger, the Neighborhood Council system, and No 2 Home Depot will have to face the consequences of your idiotic internet stategy for months. I will make sure of that.
I was never in an episode of "Alice"
It was a joke, you idiot, as if that even matters.
MEMO TO "JOE B. AND HIS ALGER",
In this whole saga of "SUNLAND-TUJUNGA HELD HOSTAGE, DAY LABOR WHATEVER". Ibeen looking for the "UNION LABEL" the whole time. Now it is in the form of the "DO IT CENTER LOCAL S.T." from the very beginning, this was a saga based upon a distrust of an coporate enity that has the right to do business, yet because of your anti-coporate leanings, the likes of "JOE CITIZEN B and his ALGER" have held a community hostage, to pursue their agenda that restricts FREE ENTERPRISE. What a SHAME !!
I don't think Do It Center is unionized.
Stop the juvenile personal attacks!
I haven't seen any of the true issues being addressed here, such as safety, quality of life and community needs, etc.
If the city departments are on the level and really want to encourage less use of the automobile and a walking community with people being able to shop in their own community, they should do the following:
1. Negotiate and encourage H.D. to move their business someplace else that is more suitable for them, in order that the S-T community would not have to travel on the freeways to purchase their clothing and housewares. Those goods would be need to be purchased more often than home improvement goods.
It would result in the following:
1. Protect the safety of Children in the Area
2. Eliminate the increase in traffic and cut down on the noise and air pollution in the area.
3. Support the many senior citizens in the area, especially those that live next door in the mobile home park. There are three others in close proximity.
4. It would be a win-win for both H.D. and the City. The city would receive recognition for representing their constituents fairly and Home Depot would receive alcolades for doing the right thing and would be welcomed with open arms in the area best suited for their business. You can't buy that kind of P.R.
Hear! Hear! Home Depot knows they have made a big mistake trying to open their store in Sunland-Tujunga, but they need a way to make a graceful exit. I think your proposal is good, and I hope Home Depot is listening!
I haven't seen any of the true issues being addressed here, such as safety, quality of life and community needs, etc.
The only "true issue" is whether the remodeling by Home Depot is considered a "project" by the Foothill Boulevard Specific Plan. No more, no less.
"Safety, quality of life, and community needs" is a red herring. It makes no difference whether this site is occupied by Kmart, Home Depot, Do-It-Center, or Target. Retail is retail.
Negotiate and encourage H.D. to move their business someplace else that is more suitable for them
WHERE ELSE? What site do you have in mind? One of the hillsides along the 210 at Sunland Blvd.? You know full well that there is no other site that could accomodate Home Depot. This is a false option. If I'm wrong, tell us where the other site is.
Home Depot knows they have made a big mistake trying to open their store in Sunland-Tujunga
No 2 Home Depot knows they have made a big mistake by counting on Joe B. What an idiot.
I think your proposal is good, and I hope Home Depot is listening!
WHAT PROPOSAL? GIVE AN ALTERNATE SITE!!!
Buy an "Alice" DVD, Joe B. needs the residuals to pay the 50% of legal fees that Do-It-Center won't cover.
Sounds like the opposition to Home Depot is not as deep as Joe would claim.
Home Depot is a major corporation and when their CEO retired he got millions in a package. Ok, now Jim needs to think out of the box and in order not to look shady or having his own agenda he should have written a letter to Home Depot corporate asking for a huge donation for ALL NC's throughout the city. Home Depot and other big corporations have budgets for donating to the communities and a tax write off. This would have been positive PR for Home Depot, positive for the city, and helped all NC's with earthquake preparations. That would have been so much better then this.
MayorSam: "Do-It Center should be spending their money on improving their operations, lowering their prices, training their employees, etc. .."
So should HD...according to the press HD has a load of complaints about their service in the store as well as contractors they send to people's homes.
HD should be focusing on improving their stores not fixating on building a HD every ten miles.
--> "The only "true issue" is whether the remodeling by Home Depot is considered a "project" by the Foothill Boulevard Specific Plan. No more, no less."
If that's the case why do so many people here post non-issue attacks on the No2HD group.
I don't see the Do It Center's contributions as some devious plot. It makes sense. Business sense AND community sense. You've got a community that wants HD to follow city zoning, be held accountable for their 'project' and to follow through with the necessary environmental impact report. That takes time and money. And you've got a business that is willing to help the community fight HD. Hey, I appreciate the help.
--> HD complains in their appeal that the community opposition has had ‘unprecedented access to City departments…’, has ‘had unprecedented access to decision makers…’.
You can't hold city hall accountable without help. I'd think you folks would be applauding a community sticking up for itself.
--> "botched internet stategy"
How is it botched? We're talking about Sunland fighting HD on MayorSam's blog, we're talking about the 'issue' in areas outside of our own community. You gotta get your argument out there. Silence is death to any cause.
--> Someone talked about HD wanting to exit 'gracefully' from the Sunland fiasco. No way. This Sunland battle could set a precedent.
A Citizen's View of Home Depot
Not in Our Hometown: The Orange Wars
< http://www.sprawl-busters.com/hometown.html >
"All across America, the headlines in daily newspapers describe a battle between citizens' groups and a company that one magazine describes as "America's most admired retailer". If Home Depot is so admirable, why are so many community groups and homeowners fighting hammer and tong to keep them out? Here is another side of Home Depot that you won't find in their Annual Report. Thousands of local residents are engaged in the Orange Wars--an effort to save their home towns from Home Depot…"
And the main reason these towns are battling is, like Sunland, they see HD as a very different kind of 'retailer' than a Kmart or Target - in what they sell, in their customer base, in the kind of transportation delivery issues they raise, and with environmental impact.
I live here and I have yet to meet locals who are in favor of HD coming to Sunland. I'm sure someone out there is in favor of it but where are they? Why hasn't a genuine grassroots organization cropped up to present their case?
Why hasn't a genuine grassroots organization cropped up to present their case?
Why hasn't a genuine grassroots organization cropped up to present the case against Home Depot? Joe's organization isn't genuine grassroots, it's a front for Do-It-Center and Jim Alger's political ambitions.
"botched internet stategy"
How is it botched? We're talking about Sunland fighting HD on MayorSam's blog, we're talking about the 'issue' in areas outside of our own community.
Not all PR is good PR. All of Joe's posts here, especially those in the last few days, have been VERY BAD PR that threatens to destroy his organization.
If he hadn't tried to play with the big boys, he might not have drawn so much NEGATIVE ATTENTION.
"Why hasn't a genuine grassroots organization cropped up to present the case against Home Depot? Joe's organization isn't genuine grassroots, it's a front for Do-It-Center and Jim Alger's political ambitions."
Talk to the people who live here and to the people who have been volunteering their time and energy for community causes for years. I haven't met one does not support the No2HD effort.
All this talk about Do It Center and Jim Alger is smokescreen. Bottomline, it's people who live here who are fighting to have our zoning laws upheld, that includes determining that Home Depot's 'remodel' of the old Kmart building is a 'project'.
No2HD is about as homegrown as you can get. It started small, just a few people getting the word out. And it's grown big time as residents have learned more and more about the issues. Part of that growing process also includes picking up support - financial, legal, professional. To do otherwise would be naive.
The negative comments, the off issue comments, that appear on MayorSam's blog say a lot more about the people posting them than it does No2HD or the foothill communities. I haven't heard anything posted here that shakes my confidence in the No2HD efforts or motives.
We live here. We raise our children here. It is our community that is affected by the outcome. A lot of you seem more interested in being cynical, trying to egg on the next guy. Granted, occasionally you make some entertaining comments but all in all its more bluster than substance.
The only "negative attention" Joe has drawn is from the repetitive "anonymous". I doubt anyone else gives a flying flip about what you think. Why don't you stop being "anonymous', come out of the closet,
and stop posing as multiple anonymous posters?
Because if the did it would say "HOME DEPOT LOBYIST SAID..."
OK Folks. There is, of course, much hype here. It is nice to see the Home Depot finally begin to engage the conversation, even if it is to attack me and the community.
Let me be VERY clear about something. IF Home Depot had the "right" to build on the site they WOULD and there isn't a damn thing anyone could do about it. The fact is that they don't have a "right."
Home Depot leased the land under the laws, restrictions and permit requirements of the State of California and the City of Los Angeles. A finding has been made that they were NOT in compliance with the laws and/or permits and they were ordered to stop work forthwith. Period.
Now, Home Depot could solve this problem by doing an EIR and mitigating negative community impacts but they don't want to. What does that mean? That means they want to build something that will have a direct negative impact on the community without doing a damn thing about those impacts. You can't even blast a radio in your neighborhood out of consideration of your neighbors and you "free market" junkies want to let a store increase traffic 10 fold with no mitigation? Are you even serious?
I have a few messages for a few people here that I can identify:
Nina, post with your name please. Noone was "blindsided" as it had been previously discussed just apparently not with you.
As for Joe, welcome to the world of political spin my friend. Just keep your eye on the ball, it's only going to get hotter if you continue to win.
As for everyone else, if anything is going to "take me down" it wouldn't be the video it would be my words... and I stand behind what I said in the video inasmuch as it was merely an idea that would have had to be cleared by the city attorney and discussed in an open publicly noticed meeting. We are still allowed to have ideas aren't we?
At the end of the day this is nothing more then political spin that will have absolutely no bearing on the case. This case is about a local community having reasonable control over what gets built in their neighborhood. There are some people who say they have a "right" to build whatever they want. Well, of course those people don't LIVE there and I guarantee you those very same people would be screaming at the top of their lungs if a homeless shelter was being erected next door to their own home so in the end it is all about what THEY want and not the collective will of the people who will have to live with the repercussions of this store being built. I prefer to let the community decide for themselves and despite the spin on here, they have spoken loud and clear.
As for me, as of next month my LANCC Vice Chair position will be filled by someone else, and I am not running for office so what other distractions do you have in your bag of tricks?
After much discussion with the other members of No 2 Home Depot, I have decided to step down from the organization due to the Jim Alger scandal.
Oh Boy. Now you are impersonating me,
"anonymous"? Just plain sad and desperate.
And no, I am not stepping down from the NHDC.
Which Jim Alger scandal. There are some many. I am getting confused.
Let me make this clear: I am stepping down from NHDC because of this scandal. I don't know who is impersonating me but he or she should stop.
Joe told his buddies at foothills forum to take Mayor Sam with "a grain of salt." He seems to be taking the comments here very seriously, however. Maybe someone is just trying to have fun with you, Joe, don't let it get under your skin!
These pro home depot nuts have shown their desperation. Now they impersonate Joe B... how pathetic.
Also, you guys must have A.D.D. because first you say N2HDC is toast because of Joe, then it is toast because of Alger and of course the truth is that is is riding high because of both of them and many others.
By the way, great article Jim. Nothing more needs to be said.
Does Mayor Sam consider the impersonation of contributers
as acceptable?
RE: Alger's post on 6/2 at 6:42 p.m.
For all the spin and pros and cons you all have for Mr. Alger, I think he deserves a thank you from our community. Great explanation. Much appreciated.
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