*The results so far show an average shift of 9.6% with a standard deviation of 6.3%, therefore this is NOT a statistical dead heat. We’re talking about being around three standard deviations away from the 77.8% needed to change the results.

Joe, if you had done the sorts of things you had promised to do when you were running for office none of us would be facing the kinds of choices we are today. Your inability to adhere to the wishes of the people who elected you has thrown this town into a kind of chaos we’ve never seen before. The fault for this lies soley with you.

Orwellian double-talk is not good governance, and democracy thwarted is not a pretty thing.

March 5, 2007

Ms Fay Angus
(address removed)
Sierra Madre, California 91024

Dear Ms Angus,

I am writing to express my extreme distress at the utterly unconscionable things about you that have recently been posted on the internet. What may have been mildly racy, if juvenile content in earlier posts has degenerated into gratuitously vulgar, nasty personal vindictive that no civilized person can condone.

Such malicious savaging of the decent and public-spirited person you are debases public discussion of important community issues and must certainly discourage those who might be subjected to such calumny from political involvement. Perhaps that is the author’s intent.

In any event, I hope you understand my earlier communication to you to have had its basis in deeply personally held views about religion and politics. Unfortunately, whatever might have come from a civilized exchange on this topic has been foreclosed by brownshirted thuggishness.

Yours truly,

PS:

Mountain Views News Magazine
Mount Wilson Observer
Sierra Madre Weekly

I would like to address two points that I observed at the meeting. The first topic was the announcement at the beginning of the meeting by Councilman Zimmerman that Councilman Watts had been informed of a complaint lodged against him with the Attorney General’s Office and the California Fair Political Practice Commision. If I recall correctly, he also stated that upon receiving an email from our City Attorney advising him to recuse himself for the night, Councilman Watts decided not to attend. While I admire Councilman Zimmerman for ’sticking up’ for his comrade, I agree that the question of his conflict of interest is a responsible question. I cannot believe that Councilman Watts is planning to make policy for personal gain, however, being the only person on the Council who has worked closely with developers in our city, the very small chance of a conflict (or perceived conflict) is reasonable. I fully expect the organization(s) that have received the complaint find in favor of Councilman Watts, and I also believe that moving past this issue as quickly as possible will be in the best interest of Sierra Madre.

My second observation has to do with Councilman Zimmerman. Would he everconsider approving anyversion of this DSP? I understand that he has never supported it, and has gained many residents that agree with him and voted for him. The meeting was a wonderful display of appropriate questions and concerns from many people, including councilman Zimmerman. I just can’t get over the thought in my head that he has made his mind up allready against any plan.

I would like to see Councilman Zimmerman continue to ask the ‘hard’ questions, stick to his guns about heights and density issues, and promote any of his other ideas so that the Council would end up with a plan that he can support. I expect the members of our City Council to be able to work with each other, despite differences of opinions, to promote the best for the City of Sierra Madre. On the other hand, if he will never support any version of this DSP process, I wish that he would provide an alternate plan to address future development.

Finally, I would really like to express my admiration of all those who made this meeting possible. I appreciate the hard work the process has taken up to now, and the time and effort of our City Council, City Staff, Planning Commission and residents.

Respectfully,
Carroll Brown