Say It Ain't So Joe

The following came into our possession this evening regarding the anti-Home Depot protest that was part of the Sunland-Tujunga Fourth of July Parade.

We can't confirm the writer's claims or even that this letter is legitimate but it may be part of a growing chorus this old, dead Republican mayor is hearing that opposition to Home Depot in the foothill community isn't as monolithic as the activists claim.

To Whom It May Concern-

As president of the Rotary Club of Sunland Tujunga Shadow Hills, I feel that is my responsibility to clear up some misconceptions that have arisen within the community.

Two months ago, the Rotary received the application from Mr. Joe Barrett with the name of the Sunland Tujunga Alliance as the name of the entry for the fourth of July parade. I was told by Mr. Barrett that they would come down the route under the banner of the Sunland Tujunga Alliance. I was told that the No2 home Depot people would be marching behind the Sunland Tujunga Alliance,passing out flyers and wearing their t-shirts. The Rotary Club approved the application based on this information.

On Thursday,June 28th, the Rotary received many phone calls regarding an article that was in the lastest issue of the Foothills Paper, that called for the members of No 2 Home Depot to report to the Vons market on the 4th of July to march as No2 Home Depot NOT as the Sunland Tujunga Alliance. I immediately called Mr. Barrett to find out what the situation was. I was told that he had decided that since the meeting in early July had been postponed,that the group was going to march as No2Home Depot. I explained that his application was under the name Sunland Tujunga Alliance, and that any changes had to be authorized through the Rotary Club board.

It was at this time that Mr. Barrett launched into a tirade of obsenities, and threats that he was going to call Rotary International and stop the parade from happening. When I tried to calm him down and explain that I did not appreciate being sworn at, he stated, "well the s**t is really going to hit the fan now" followed by another obsenity. I hung up the phone.