Now That's A Big No-No!

Ahh, the saga, the manipulation, and the rule skirting continues.

Less than a week ago, Home Depot sent out some fancy brochures to the residents of Sunland-Tujunga announcing what they call an "Open House" meeting on June 24th at Mt. Gleason School.

Home Depot intends to use this event to promote their controversial proposed store.

There's just a little problem with that though.

LAUSD facilities are not available for corporations or developers, or any other group that is not a legitimate non-profit organization.

According to the requirements of the LAUSD/Civic Center Rules:

"The major function of the Civic Center Permit Office is the issuance of the appropriate permit to allow for the use of school facilities in conformance with the California Education Code mandate and the Board of Education rules, which require that each and every public school facility be made available as a civic center to members of the community and non-profit organizations for
supervised recreational activities, meetings and public discussions, when regular school activities are not disrupted.

To qualify for a permit:
A group must be non-profit.
No money may be charged for admission, nor collected for goods sold. (exceptions exist-please call for requirements). The event must be open to the public."

Home Depot is clearly not a non-profit, and this event, if it is allowed to proceed, will set a precedent for other corporations or developers to use public facilities to advance their business interests.
The recent "Sunland-Tujunga Dialogue" was a City Attorney sponsored event.
This "Open House" is an attempt by a corporation to use school facilities to promote their proposed store.

Additionally, the application to use school facilities states;

"Any form of announcement or advertising regarding activities held on school property for non school purposes must include the following statement: "This meeting is neither sponsored by nor is in any way connected with the Los Angeles Unified School District. If announcement is in printed form, statement must appear in equally large and prominent type".

The brochure that Home Depot sent out announcing this "Open House", has no mention of this required disclaimer.

Home Depot is not a non-profit and is not permitted to use school facilities to promote their business.

Normally, when anyone wants to use a public school for a function, they first have to get the schools principal to sign off. In this case, the principal never had that opportunity, and was simply told by the LAUSD Civic Center Permit office that Home Depot was coming in.

Anyone sensing more collusion between those in power and those with the money?

Having said all that, and knowing how Mayor Sam readers really enjoy fighting the good fights, I'm going to ask a big favor.

Would you please contact the three LAUSD officials listed below, within the next 24 hours, and remind them that taxpayer financed school facilities are not available to corporations to promote their business interests?

Here is the list:

David Brewer
Superintendent of LAUSD
213 241-7000

Julie Korenstein
Board of Education
213 241-6388
julie.korenstein@lausd.net

Kathy Freeman
LAUSD Civic Center Permit Office
818 587-4350


Sunland-Tujunga will greatly appreciate your efforts, as will I.

Saturday Morning Stuff

I had hoped to be up earlier this morning, but the PTA 31st District Awards dinner held last night at the beautiful Odyssey Restaurant just went on and on and on into the night. Those PTA ladies (and I'm happy to report... there were more than a few gents present, too!) know how to party. So, I'm up a little later than usual, and dealing with the effects of a multi-Cosmo-evening.

District 1 Superintendent Ms. Jean Brown, Julie Korenstein and Alex Padilla were there for a bit of speechifying and presentation of special awards. Congratulations to the following PTA's for winning the "Unit of the Year" Awards last night:

Elementary School PTA of the Year: Beckford Ave. Elementary - Kelly Mattinson, President

Middle School PTA of the Year: Nobel Middle School - Colleen Ross, President

High School PTA of the Year: Granada Hills Charter High School - Marylou Westmoreland, President

Thanks for all your hard work, ladies! Without you, our students, our teachers, staff and school family wouldn't be half as wonderful as they are because of all your efforts. Many times you've put in 40+ hour weeks for no pay, and we're all so grateful.

In other Hawt Lady News: Seems Ms. Condi has a secret KISS Army side.

Secretary of State Condi "Strutter" Rice parties with the boys from KISS

Secretary of State Condeleeza Rice was in Sweden for an international conference on Iraq the same time the rock band KISS was playing in town. The boys in the band invited her over for post-concert fun after her dinner with the Swedish foreign minister. Rice, a classically trained pianist, said she has eclectic musical tastes ranging from Beethoven to Bruce Springsteen. Who knew?

And Democrats will meet today to hash out the Florida and Michigan sitch. Dems are hoping it gets straightened out as soon as possible in order to get the party united by convention.

“We are strong enough to struggle and disagree and to even be angry and disappointed and still come together at the end of the day and be united,” said Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

A compromise decision is expected to be reach sometime by tonight, early on in the evening.