Let’s all remember to turn out for the grand opening of the Skateboard Park, Saturday. It is a thing of beauty, as it should be for a $million-plus. Even before opening it has become a hugely popular gathering place for kids from all over the county.
***
Several calls to the District Attorney’s office were unavailing in my efforts to discover the status of the case pending against Fillmore’s former Fire Chief, Pete Egedi. The case continues to be under investigation.
***
I watched in amazement during last night’s council meeting as Jamey Brooks, Gayle Washburn, and Mayor Patti Walker danced around the important issue of when and how to begin addressing the problems created by the passage of Measure I last November.
The Measure was designed and promoted by these three council members in an effort to severely curtail the development of north Fillmore. Several approved plans are on hold pending the implementation of Measure I.
This was the most important issue on the agenda for last week’s regular council meeting. Council was ready to go forward until Councilwoman Washburn stated she was unprepared. She had not had time to study the agenda after returning from vacation.
The Gazette has learned Ms. Washburn returned from vacation on Thursday preceding the regular Tuesday meeting. She had 5 days to study the agenda.
The truth is that the 40 pages (see document attached below) documenting the consequences of implementing Measure I reveals the city will now have to pay at least $300,000 from the general fund to comply with state housing guidelines.
No one wants to deal with the financial aftermath of these mistakes which Councilman Steve Conaway warned would result from the passage of Measure I.
Ms. Washburn gained a two-week extension by claiming she was unprepared. Jamey Brooks asked the council to break-up the agenda and discuss the issue piecemeal because, otherwise, it would result in a meeting which would last “too long”.
The triumvirate is about to reap the whirlwind.

During the past year or so several people have stopped me and asked whether I had read what was being published on a particular blog. A couple of times I checked it out only to discover a lot of trash talk by a small group of obviously damaged personalities who cover their libel with pseudo names. But this was quite a while ago and I don’t usually bother with blogs, with the occasional exception of the Gazette’s.
Out of curiosity, I revisited this particular site over the weekend. It had been referenced on our own site a couple of times. Frankly, the vile intensity of what I read disgusted me. So many good people continue to be libeled with gutter-level attacks. Expect the owner of this blog to pay a high price when the time comes for a formal and public outing.
Americans enjoy a constitutional right to free speech; this should not be confused with license. I was so disgusted with the low-life, cowardly commentators on this hysterical blog that I am considering the elimination of user names on the Gazette blog, and requiring the use of true names. However, this probably won’t happen as long as a proper level of civility remains.
People are welcome to express even very strong opinions about personalities and issues as long as they don’t cross the line.
***
There was a great deal of anticipation leading up to Tuesday’s council meeting. The most important issue on the agenda was 9A, a discussion about how to implement Measure I. This included costs for necessary amendments to the General Plan and zoning ordinance amendments.
Since Council Members Gayle Washburn, Jamey Brooks, and Mayor Patti Walker fought long and hard to create and promote the passage of Measure I, one would think they would be eager to share the consequences of their success with the residents and taxpayers of Fillmore.
This was not to be. Councilwoman Washburn was unprepared for the discussion and asked that the item be carried forward to the next meeting, in two weeks. Washburn stated that she did not have sufficient time to review the agenda since returning from vacation.
Councilman Steve Conaway noted that this was the most important item on the agenda and that everyone else was prepared to go forward.
Councilman Brooks seconded Washburn’s motion to continue the item, and with Mayor Walker’s vote, this was done.
It appears that the chickens have come home to roost, but the chicken pen door is closed for the next two weeks. The fact is, Washburn, Brooks, and Walker have laid a giant egg in the form of significant costs to implement Measure I. A conservative cost is estimated to be $250,000. For months prior to the election warnings issuing from responsible sources concerning the cost of passing Measure I fell on deaf ears.
I wonder what excuse will be offered for a second continuance of this issue in two weeks.
Does anyone remember Roy Payne’s phone number?
***
Speaking of new costs, city council was provided some more sobering information, Monday. Since the city is now without a manager, a helpful, volunteer group (ICMA Range Rider) has been called in to rescue the situation. Mr. Edward G. Wohlenberg, speaking for his organization, addressed the council in an attempt to assist in the city manager selection process. Mr. Wohlenberg spoke with great authority derived from long experience as a city manager, now retired. As I watched several somber council member expressions during Mr. Wohlenberg’s highly informative discourse, I wondered what Mayor Walker, Councilwoman Washburn, and the absent Jamey Brooks must be thinking. I wondered if they regretted their arrogant disrespect for both former city managers Roy Payne and Tom Ristau, which caused both to resign. I wondered if they already missed former Management Analyst Steve McClary, as well. Did they think: Well, that’s OK, we’ll use the second string. Darn! We don’t have a second string! And I could swear I heard Washburn’s thoughts: Who cares! I know things about spread sheets!
I’m not a mind reader, but I can read simple numbers. According to Mr. Wohlenberg, it could take up to a year, and cost up to $25,000 to have a firm locate a permanent, experienced city manager.
And now for the bad news. Ooops, no more time.

I have too much to cover in the half-hour remaining to finish this column, so I’ll have to be brief.
City Manager Tom Ristau has resigned and has been hired by the City of San Fernando. He is the third high-level city employee to abandon ship since the new triumvirate has taken over city hall. Tom was with the city for 19 years, and city manager for about 5 years.
Sometimes criticized for various decisions, especially by the Gazette, Tom, nevertheless, leaves an enviable record for fiscal responsibility. How many California cities, of whatever size, can brag about having more than a 40 percent SURPLUS in the general fund these days? That’s what the record is expected to show this year. Tom also supervised the planning and construction of our beautiful new swimming-tennis complex, which is ready to open any day now.
Congratulations Tom. We wish you much success in your new position.
***
I wish I had time to elaborate in my response to Councilwoman Gayle Washburn’s letter which appears in this week’s Gazette. I did take the time to review emails between Ms. Washburn and myself which pertain to her arguments in favor of other water treatment facilities. I went back to early 2007, covering about 50 communications. This exercise only corroborates my conclusion that Ms. Washburn is far too long on confident proposals and far too short on comprehension of critical facts.
I am alarmed after re-reading the pedantic assertions she repeats over and over again in the face of solid, repeated explanations by experts which completely refute her mistaken conclusions. This habit of mind continues to clog the normal flow of dialogue at council meetings. Coupled with the stupefying, negative antics of Councilman Brooks (Mr. No), it’s not surprising that meetings have gone well into the wee hours of the morning, even when covering short agendas.
Ms. Washburn, I would be happy to post the entire content of 2-years-worth of emails between you and me, covering the topic of our new water treatment plant, if it takes that to prove my point. Maybe I will anyway. It would prove beyond a doubt that you (and your followers) have been foolish, and woefully ignorant, and fundamentally wrong in your insistence that City Engineer Bert Rapp has made a mistake in choosing the companies he has to design, build, and operate our plant. Maybe more to the point, you and yours have caused more than a years delay with plant approval and construction, which cost the city more than $1 million in wasted time and effort.
This reminds me of the utterly false statements your group leader, Gary Creagle, has made concerning the fiscal condition of the city immediately following his tenure as mayor of Fillmore. There appears to be no credibility in your group. Maybe it’s time for a little show and tell?

The city owes a debt of gratitude to those individuals and institutions which have followed through with the Military Banner Program honoring Fillmore’s men and women presently serving our country. Thanks to the work of Fillmore School Board member Virginia de la Piedra, with the City of Fillmore, Fillmore Unified School Board, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9637 and the Fillmore Sunrise Rotary, we can appreciate the new banners displayed from light posts on Central Avenue. This is a bold statement of the pride the residents of Fillmore have in our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, and Coast Guard service men and women.
***
The Gazette also wishes to extend its thanks to our departing City Management Analyst, Steve McClary, for his many years of diligent work. Steve has accepted employment with the City of Ojai as Assistant City Manager. He was also the Gazette’s editor, with the paper for about four years, before, during, and after the 1994 Northridge earthquake. His assistance was critical to the survival of the newspaper after the office was destroyed and production had to be divided into several locations. He is, among other things, a great photographer and writer, and has been one of the best communicators the city has ever had. As a natural multi-tasker, Steve handled many different jobs for the city under various titles with professional enthusiasm.
Although always quietly loyal, Steve, IN MY OPINION, is the most recent member of Fillmore’s City staff to flee the arrogant foolishness, and radical agenda, of the two newest members of the Fillmore City Council. Actually, the council problem can be best understood as the culmination of several years of careful, group planning to take over city government. The newly hatched council triumvirate (Jamey Brooks, Gayle Washburn, and Patti Walker) incubated by former (and failed) Mayor, Gary Creagle, is succeeding beyond its wildest dreams. The exodus of targeted staff is well under way. The plan? The plan was to create such utter frustration among the most experienced and important staff members that they could no longer bear to work with the triumvirate.
Well the plan is destroying confident management at the highest levels of Fillmore’s city government. This arrogant triumvirate has become so unreasonable and obnoxious that no one wants to have anything to do with them, no one except their followers.
As this is a situation that has been deliberately created – the consequences will fall on the heads of the big three. Let’s see what happens to the business park, the water treatment plant, and other projects financially critical to the welfare of this city.
I predict a recall movement within a year - after this group has cleaned-out all competent hi-level members of city management and replaced them with friends and political associates.
So, thanks again Steve for all those good years with the Gazette and the City of Fillmore. I’m sure you are headed for a more enlightened environment in Ojai. Our loss, their gain.

A response to Councilwoman Washburn’s letter

Ms. Washburn,
Before the last election, when I (mistakenly) endorsed now-Mayor Patti Walker, I explained in an email to you why I could not endorse you for the council. I stated that, while you have a great facility for digging-up facts, you seem incapable of understanding or properly applying them.

The actions you have taken during your first few weeks on council corroborate this assessment. Your most recent letter also reflects the problem. As with so many previous alleged statements of fact, your statement that Mr. Payne’s duties under his contract with the City of Fillmore “...have been completed” is false. Four of the seven commitments are on-going, such as use issues with KDF; bond issues (new variable interest rate bonds as low as .4 percent, substantially less than the present 4.3 percent) available; the sewer rate pro-forma; and miscellaneous tasks (always in play) remain now and at the time of Mr. Payne’s resignation. You should have known this.

Your other objections (cell phone, computer workstation and office) seem childishly petty. The phone was used continuously on city business. It would be ridiculous to demand that Mr. Payne pay for communications with the city in the course of his city work. The city should provide the tools to complete city work. Payne’s job was, basically, to save the city money (like the $814,000 he did save). Was that worth a cell phone, computer and work station? Reasonable people would say yes. After all, you asked these things for our new city clerk who is paid $25.00 per month and saves the city nothing.

You state that you “disagreed” with Mr. Payne on “some” issues. I can’t think of any major issue on which you agreed with him. Your nagging insistence that PERC should be the builder of our water treatment plant, when they have never before constructed a membrane bio-reactor (a specialty) is indicative of your misplaced self-confidence. Would you have someone build your house who had never built a house before? Then, why a $30 million, state-of-the-art plant? You stubbornly opposed our Design, Build, and Operate (DBO) contract for the same plant – until Santa Paula used that model for the construction of their plant – which caused you to change your mind.
You have the audacity to dismiss the complexity of the sewer rate proforma, constantly being refined, as something you could easily do because you “know how to use an Excel spread sheet”! Do you suppose Finance Director Barbara Smith flies through her city budget and taxes with an off-the-shelf Excel spread sheet and Turbo Tax program?

I don’t expect you to have passed a class on the law of contracts, Gayle, but we expect council members to understand the basic elements of a contract – which Mr. Payne had with the city. What did you expect to negotiate with him? It’s too obvious that you have never had an understanding of Payne’s true value, because you don’t understand his achievements during the past 20 years.

Both you and Mr. Brooks come to the council with an extraordinary, agenda-driven arrogance. What have either of you accomplished that would place you in a position to judge Mr. Payne’s professional achievements for the city?

You both have questioned Mr. Payne’s ethics by accusing him of having a (city created?) conflict of interest. You have both questioned the quality and value of his performance, when he has saved (most recently) $814,000 for the city.

You, Brooks, and Mayor Walker, together with that merry band of mischief-makers that supports you, have caused more than a year’s delay of the treatment plant, and wasted more than $1 million in unnecessary expense by your incessant, repetitious (asked and answered) questioning of expert opinion of the highest order. Your questions have often been foolish, such as “Can’t we save a little money by not using this non-reactive concrete?” You do a lot of loose research, but seldom sufficient homework.

You have essentially fired the winning quarterback at half-time. Now you had better see who’s left on the bench. Maybe you can Google-up someone.

Those of us who know of the extraordinary work Fillmore’s former City Manager Roy Payne has done during his 20 years on the job, and how essential his talents and experience have been to the smooth operation of business park plans, and the water treatment plant, also know how much his presence will be missed now that he has resigned.

Mr. Payne submitted his resignation Tuesday. Mark that day on your calendar and take note of where city development stands today. Check city development progress six months from now; I predict a dramatic and expensive downturn. Why? Because there is no one with Mr. Payne’s talents, experience, integrity, and institutional memory to take his place. The blind forces of arrogant stupidity have inflicted enormous damage to city development through its gratuitous, unremitting stream of disrespect for Mr. Payne.

Watch closely the cost in time to be lost and treasure to be wasted in attempts to fill Mr. Payne’s shoes, all because three intellectual pygmies on council (and two off) persistently and deliberately chose to ignore the advice of legal and business experts, and took disagreements personally.

Read Mr. Payne’s letter of resignation thoughtfully. It is also posted on fillmoregazette.com. For me, it brings back vivid memories of the past 20-plus years in Fillmore. It evokes memories of Fillmore before and after the catastrophic Northridge earthquake. It also illuminates the achievements of the man who rebuilt this town from the scattered bricks and massive, post quake confusion. He gave us hope – he gave us a sparkling new town!

Roy Payne was the man who orchestrated our recovery, who found the grants, ordered the work, and hired the people necessary to get the job done. Ask the opinion of any previous Fillmore City Council member about Mr. Payne’s achievements. They all agree (except for Gary Creagle; see intellectual pygmy reference) his work has been indispensable to our success.

Goodbye Mr. Payne. Thanks for 20 spectacular years of hard work.

(More on this next week)

Having to write a column on Tuesday night council meetings has always been a challenge because we go to press Wednesday around noon. This leaves little time for patient analysis.

From one standpoint, however, our two newest council members make analysis a little easier. By now, those who attend council meetings, or watch them on Channel 10, should know what I’m talking about. Council team members Gayle Washburn and Jamey Brooks have entered the arena: Jamey as the sword-swinging budget enforcer, and Gayle the super confident number-cruncher. I would feel more confident if either one of them had a clue to what they are doing.

Both were elected to council positions by promising dramatic changes. The target of most of their displeasure is our Special Projects Manager Roy Payne. They seek to have him removed from his present duties which include overseeing the construction of the new business park. They would also like to get rid of our Director of Public Works, Bert Rapp, and City Manager Tom Ristau.

Without exception, I have had issues with all three in the past. But it would be unusual indeed to agree with every decision made by city management.

There’s no doubt in my mind that team Washburn and Brooks bring a stubborn determination to the council which is focused on cutting just about all spending at any cost, for any project. They have already distinguished themselves at the first two meetings by voting NO on several projects critical to the health, safety, and welfare of Fillmore’s residents.

The Washburn-Brooks coalition voted (incomprehensibly) “no” at first efforts to purchase acreage in the Highway 126 bridge area, which ultimately will cost the city nothing, and would guarantee Sespe Creek storm flow in perpetuity. This would save hundreds of homeowners from having to purchase expensive flood insurance.

Then there was the issue of accepting a GRANT of $315,000 to acquire (from the Fillmore Irrigation District) a few acres at the northeast area of the bridge over Highway 23. The city would have to come up with 10-percent to make the deal go. This acquisition is critical for the completion of 415 feet of the bike path, and the completion of the levee to the northeastern abutment of the bridge. This was a grant from CalTrans. Washburn and Brooks voted no. Thank God Councilwoman Patti Walker understood the importance and joined with Steve Conaway to explain the importance of the CalTrans Bicycle Transportation Account Grant, or the path and levee would remain unchanged.

Then there was the effort by Washburn-Brooks to cancel Roy Payne’s contract to facilitate the business park and other work. After Conaway, and KDF Community Manager Rod McDonald explained how critically important Payne’s assistance has been, and remains, to the timely completion of the park, an ad hoc committee was formed to look into the terms of the contract. Again, Washburn and Brooks exhibited their ignorance of facts, but an eagerness to vote.

The last two council meetings have been extraordinarily long, ending at 1:45 a.m. and 11:48 p.m. due to the naive combativeness of these two.

My intentions were to say a few words about Clay Westling as our new City Clerk, and the curiously intense efforts by the Washburn-Brooks group to puff-up the job’s responsibilities. Westling appears happy with the outcome and is now seated comfortably at the council dais. He was mislead by overzealous Washburn-Brooks supporters and has now learned that, for example, he cannot attend executive and/or staff meetings, and cannot have all city records under his immediate control. Anyway, what I hear is that Clay is a genuinely nice guy and everyone seems to get along well with him. Amen.

With the new city council now easily able to vote contrary to what might have been expected of the old council, it is gratifying to see Mayor Patti Walker’s common sense and experience swinging the vote in the right direction on critical issues. We should all hope this sort of common sense prevails into the future.

President Obama has taken office; most conservatives feel like taking cover.

The most unqualified man in presidential history is in the driver’s seat as Commander in Chief of our armed forces, head of CIA, FBI, and numerous other military and civilian intelligence services. He also controls both houses of Congress and is leader of the most radically liberal political faction in the country.

The worrisome thing is that Obama was chosen because of his race, not because of any particular qualification. Any number of black Americans could have filled the position with educated intelligence and deep experience. But few among these talented men can match the mysterious oracular presence of Mr. Obama. And so, he has been chosen because of his race and speaking ability, by 95 percent of his race. If racial identity and speaking ability are enough to successfully defend this nation against its many deadly enemies and save a collapsing economy, he will succeed. But, these are not the qualities required at this time in history. So, this tsunami of triumphalism from the Left is just so much emotional confetti tossed into in the winds of war. Unless human nature changes dramatically during the next four years, Barack Obama will drive America over a cliff.

From a traditional point of view Obama is judged, as desired, by the quality of his character, not the color of his skin. Traditionalists and conservatives see little to commend his character. His only accomplishments have been to succeed to higher office with the assistance of an army of Chicago’s worst political weasels. His long-time pastor (Wright) is a virulent, racist hate monger. He has kept the company of criminals and terrorists. He has nominated to cabinet level office scofflaws and men who pimp for notorious criminals and active terrorists. His appointments and associations are an index to his character, which is black indeed.

But, for the true conservative Christian, Obama is a true abomination. His philosophy of life (who is protected from homicide) spells four more years of slaughter of the innocent children waiting to be born. On this issue there is no worse person in or out of government, and millions of children will continue to die under his presidency. How bad? Read this:

The Obama Debate Every American Should See
by Terence P. Jeffrey
10/08/2008

"The most telling debate Barack Obama ever had was not with John McCain but Patrick O'Malley, who served with Obama in the Illinois Senate and engaged Obama in a colloquy every American should read.

The Obama-O'Malley debate was a defining moment for Obama because it dealt with such a fundamental issue: The state's duty to protect the civil rights of the young and disabled.

Some background: Eight years ago, nurse Jill Stanek went public about the "induced-labor abortions" performed at the Illinois hospital where she worked. Often done on Down syndrome babies, the procedure involved medicating the mother to cause premature labor.

Babies who survived this, Stanek testified in the U.S. Congress, were brought to a soiled linen room and left alone to die without care or comforting.

Then-Illinois state Sen. Patrick O'Malley, whom I interviewed this week, contacted the state attorney general's office to see whether existing laws protected a newborn abortion-survivor's rights as a U.S. citizen. He was told they did not.

So, O'Malley -- a lawyer, veteran lawmaker and colleague of Obama on the Illinois Senate Judiciary Committee -- drafted legislation.

In 2001, he introduced three bills. SB1093 said if a doctor performing an abortion believed there was a likelihood the baby would survive, another physician must be present "to assess the child's viability and provide medical care." SB1094 gave the parents, or a state-appointed guardian, the right to sue to protect the child's rights. SB1095 simply said a baby alive after "complete expulsion or extraction from its mother" would be considered a "'person, 'human being,' 'child' and 'individual.'"

The bills dealt exclusively with born children. "This legislation was about preventing conduct that allowed infanticide to take place in the state of Illinois," O'Malley told me.

The Judiciary Committee approved the bills with Obama in opposition. On March 31, 2001, they came up on the Illinois senate floor. Only one member spoke against them: Obama.

"Nobody else said anything," O'Malley recalls. The official transcript validates this.
"Sen. O'Malley," Obama said near the beginning of the discussion, "the testimony during the committee indicated that one of the key concerns was -- is that there was a method of abortion, an induced abortion, where the -- the fetus or child, as -- as some might describe it, is still temporarily alive outside the womb."

Obama made three crucial concessions here: the legislation was about 1) a human being, who was 2) "alive" and 3) "outside the womb."

He also used an odd redundancy: "temporarily alive." Is there another type of human?
"And one of the concerns that came out in the testimony was the fact that they were not being properly cared for during that brief period of time that they were still living," Obama continued.

Here he made another crucial concession: The intention of the legislation was to make sure that 1) a human being, 2) alive and 3) outside the womb was 4) "properly cared for."
"Is that correct?" Obama asked O'Malley.

O'Malley tightened the logical knot. "(T)his bill suggests that appropriate steps be taken to treat that baby as a -- a citizen of the United States and afforded all the rights and protections it deserves under the Constitution of the United States," said O'Malley.

But to these specific temporarily-alive-outside-the-womb-human beings -- to these children who had survived a botched abortion, whose hearts were beating, whose muscles were moving, whose lungs were heaving -- to these specific children of God, Obama was not willing to concede any constitutional rights at all.

To explain his position, Obama came up with yet another term to describe the human being who would be protected by O'Malley's bills. The abortion survivor became a "pre-viable fetus."

By definition, however, a born baby cannot be a "fetus." Merriam-Webster Online defines "fetus" as an "unborn or unhatched vertebrate" or "a developing human from usually two months after conception to birth." Obama had already conceded these human beings were "alive outside the womb."

"No. 1," said Obama, "whenever we define a pre-viable fetus as a person that is protected by the equal protection clause or other elements of the Constitution, what we're really saying is, in fact, that they are persons that are entitled to the kinds of protections that would be provided to a -- a child, a nine-month-old -- child that was delivered to term."

Yes. In other words, a baby born alive at 37 weeks is just as much a human "person" as a baby born alive at 22 weeks.

Obama, however, saw a problem with calling abortion survivors "persons." "I mean, it -- it would essentially bar abortions," said Obama, "because the equal protection clause does not allow somebody to kill a child, and if this is a child, then this would be an antiabortion statute."

For Obama, whether or not a temporarily-alive-outside-the-womb little girl is a "person" entitled to constitutional rights is not determined by her humanity, her age or even her place in space relative to her mother's uterus. It is determined by a whether a doctor has been trying to kill her."

This exemplifies the character of the man claiming to defend civil rights. He has no moral sense or compassion for the most innocent and defenseless of human beings. I agree with those who affirm that America will have neither peace nor prosperity again until we stop killing our unborn children. No issue is more compelling.
***

Next week – a few words about the last city council meeting and the embarrassing attempt to enhance our new City Clerk’s power and prestige. People! The job pays $25 per month. There’s a reason for that.

As the City of Fillmore gets down to business with its new council, I would like to make a few comments.
In my 20 years in the city I cannot recall such a mean and contentious election as we had this past November. I have watched as city opinion has been deliberately split between those seeking residential and commercial development and those demanding strict limitations on this growth.

Strong differences of informed opinion are a sign of civic vitality. It’s a good thing. What is not a good thing are intense and prolonged expressions of hateful disagreement the city has experienced during the past year.
This is a new year with a new council. A three-to-two vote split can be expected on the most controversial issues in the coming year. Let’s hope that this sort of disagreement does not affect the on-going success of our new water treatment plant (ahead of schedule and more than $3 million under budget) or the new business and city parks.

We are in a completely new fiscal environment now. Thank God we financed most of our big projects when we did. It is unlikely that, had we waited, we could do so now.

I hope, and Fillmore residents have a right to expect to see, civil cooperation on our new council. In many ways Fillmore is envied by other cities for its balanced budget, and large emergency SURPLUS! This didn’t just happen. Let’s give credit where it’s due.

Emotional conflict of the past aside, everyone must wish the new council well. Success will be measured in one way by whether it does as well fiscally in the next couple of years as we have in the past. We are in an entirely new, hostile financial environment. All Fillmore businesses are feeling the pressure of state, national, and global economic decline. In my opinion it will only get considerably worse, sooner than later. In one important way we can counter this recession by shopping locally.

We are starting the New Year with one unequivocally wild success – our new skateboard park. It will open officially in May, after the landscaping is finished.

Once again, let’s make it a Happy New Year.

Happy New Year to all Gazette readers. This is the last edition of 2008. By any measure this has been an extraordinary year. I wish it had been a happier one.
The most unqualified man in American history has won the presidency, at a time when we face unprecedented danger. With the snap of congressional fingers America’s big business was socialized and America’s small business (taxpayers) will, again, foot the bill. Within weeks the American financial system went bust, following the collapse of our mortgage market. The depth of American economic and congressional corruption exposed itself, to the devastation of the average American resident taxpayer and residents of the rest of the world.
The price of oil also collapsed by nearly 75 percent, demonstrating to many that the cost of petroleum is not tied as much to scarcity as it is to futures speculation, leverage, and short trading.
Russia has returned to its cold war tactics, with nuclear rearmament, and deliberate provocation towards what’s left of the free world. China has become rich by America’s carefree, spendthrift extravagance, and continues its huge military build-up – expanding its long-desired hegemony over the world. We forgot that China is a deadly, atheist, communist country, and our greatest enemy.
The murderous force of the Muslim Jihadist darkness continues to cry everywhere for death, which it claims to love better than life. Where Russia, China, and the Jihadist Muslim psychopath fail to find enemies, they enthusiastically create them through gratuitous threats of military and economic violence, and real-time violence.
As has been the case for 40 years, millions of American children awaiting birth will never laugh or take their first breath, or contribute their unique gifts to the benefit of this needy world. Obama’s campaign theme was “Change!” But, for the abortion mills it will be bloody business as usual.
So, I find it difficult to expect much happiness in my hope for a Happy New Year. My search for a happy new year can only be found in my hope that Christianity, world wide, as the largest religious organization on earth, with more than 2 billion like-minded members, will be emboldened to speak out for true change, for life, generosity, determined moral strength, and peace. But Christians are helpless without their God, and if we deny Him in the face of a threatening atheistic world, He will deny us – it’s in the Book! And Christians are more than “people of the Book,” we’re people of the Word.
I can’t apologize for the preaching because the older I become the clearer it appears that Christianity is my only true reference. There is good and there is evil. All shades of grey must fall on one side or the other.
Happy New Year – I hope.

A Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukah to all Fillmore Gazette readers. We hope you all have a warm and peaceful holiday.

The day started abruptly, with a call to the police department warning of a bomb “on the roof of city hall”. Shortly thereafter, Santa Barbara Bank and Trust, across the street from the Gazette office, was robbed at gunpoint.

The Sheriff’s Department responded quickly with a small army of specialized deputies, including the K-9 units, helicopter, and what appeared to be SWAT-type personnel. The robber is currently at large.

On a much happier level, I just returned from our new skateboard park. It is opened for a few days before Christmas so kids can try it out. The place was like an ant farm on a hot summer day. The kids think it is “awesome”. One father came over to me and asked that the Gazette be sure to thank the city for providing the park. His son had been dreaming of the place for several years.

I took a few photos of last night’s city council meeting. I stayed for a while, as long as I could stand it. Our new mayor, Patti Walker, and Councilman Brooks (especially Brooks) set quite a precedent for themselves. If this is the way city business will be conducted for the next 4 years, this city is headed over a cliff.

Thank God former Mayor Steve Conaway was reelected. Without his civility, common sense and experience Fillmore
would be in big trouble – maybe it is now anyway.

I urge the residents of Fillmore to view the meeting on Channel 10 and witness the embarrassing pomposity, ignorance and arrogance of our new Councilman, Jamey Brooks. “I want...I want...I want...” he reiterated his demands like a grinning, mischievous three-year-old, or little Caesar. This, after serving in his new position less than an hour!

Conaway was correct in telling Brooks that, being new to the council, and unfamiliar with procedures, “It’s best
to get your feet on the ground before you start running.” This, after Brooks demanded reports on “all written and
unwritten [you know, those secret ones] council procedures”. I clearly recall Brooks’ dramatic pre-election warning: “I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” Seems I’ve heard that before. I guess this was his first swing of the blade.

My advice: Don’t cut yourself with that thing, Jamey.

Fillmore has elected two new members to its council. With now Mayor Walker a true agenda unfolds: fire experienced staff (especially former City Manager Roy Payne), and fool around with successful, on-going projects
like the treatment plant and business park.

The Katzenjammer Kids have taken over city hall!

This is a response to “Elias Fillmore’s” vigorous objections to information I placed on the Gazette website (fillmoregazette.com) a few weeks ago. It was an excerpt from a book entitled Slavery, Terrorism and Islam:.., by Dr. Peter Hammond.

This can also be found on the outstanding website WWW.FRONTPAGEMAG.COM. Robert Spencer, is an internationally recognized expert on the Muslim Jihadist movement. Among his numerous (two best selling) books is the splendid Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades) the best introduction to the subject I have read to date.

Elias’ comment, as well as the excerpt from Hammond’s book that he so vehemently objects to, can be found on the Gazette’s website (after being accidentally obliterated by my clumsy attempts to respond).

Elias wrongfully accuses me of “hate crimes”, “blatant bigotry”, “akin to posting Hitler’s ramblings or the Klan doctrine.” He also accuses me of “religious or racial profiling” and intends to “forward [the matter] to authorities.” Elias will also refer me to the “Ventura City Attorney for investigation.” Finally, he believes that “Fillmore should be disgusted and stop this paper from posting such utter nonsense.”

Elias - surprise – you are living in The United States of America. We are a representative democratic republic. The citizens of this nation created a Constitution by which they have secured their freedom by strictly limiting the power of government. A unique part of this Constitution’s several amendments is known as our Bill of Rights. Among these rights are those expressed in Amendment number one:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

The relatively short length of this Constitution belies its power and uniqueness among the governing documents of the world; it has preserved our freedom amidst constant attack for more than two centuries. More specifically, it assures my freedom, at this time, to publish the truth as I see it in this little newspaper.

I originally intended to respond to your ill-founded attack with a detailed refutation of your allegations. However, your obvious ignorance of American history and the laws of this nation caused me to believe such an effort would be a futile waste of time.

I have a deep respect for the well-intended religious beliefs of others. Unfortunately, Islam, today in particular, is divided into two dramatically different camps; those hundreds of millions of believers demanding strict adherence to the words of the Quran and traditions of the Hadith, and those millions who are inclined to find a more temperate, less violent interpretation. But the contents of both Muslim sacred books are officially defined as categorical moral imperatives. Islam is a “complete” and “completed” religion. It is no longer open to liberal interpretation.

No one has a problem with peaceful interpretation, but the non-Muslim world must defend itself from the millions of Muslim believers who take, for example, the violent verses of the ninth sura (especially 9:5, The Verse of the Sword) seriously.

I challenge “Elias Fillmore” to cite any specific falsehoods in Dr. Hammond’s or, for that matter, in Robert Spencer’s work.

When I hear President Elect Obama announce nominations for the country’s most important jobs, when he does so from behind his freshly painted “Office of the President Elect” sign (there is no such office), I confess I get the shivers – shivers of fear. I see an utterly clueless and inexperienced little boy, who has just been elevated to the positions of Commander in Chief and Chief Executive Officer of the greatest and most powerful nation on earth.
His first duty as head of our armed forces is to defend America against attacks by its numerous deadly and determined enemies. His second (arguably first) most important duty, as chief executive, is to preserve and defend the Constitution of the United States.
But Mr. Obama is without military experience of any kind. I don’t think he was even in the Boy Scouts. Neither has he had executive experience; he has never participated in a business enterprise of any kind. He needs many experienced people to point to the decisions he should take, for example, after we experience a conventional, nuclear, biological, radiological, or combination of same, terrorist attack.
So who does he nominate to be America’s Secretary of State? Hillary Clinton – who has no background whatever in dealing with foreign nations (that will be Bill’s job). Who does he nominate to be Secretary of Homeland Security? Janet Napolitano – who, as Governor of Arizona, is just now learning the importance of border control (which will be abandoned anyway).
It’s past time for Americans to double-check their emergency supplies – you know, water, food, radio, flashlight – and maybe a little cash if you can find some.

Well the elections are over. Conservatives were pretty much wiped out on both the federal and local level. I am resigned to what I believe will be a chaotic, if not catastrophic outcome.
Slightly more than 51 percent of the American electorate voted for Barack Obama, assuring that the next four years will see the virtual destruction of what remains of our traditional Judeo-Christian foundation.
At the most fundamental level, our Constitution with its clear limitations on governmental power will be ignored. New, unprecedented “rights” will be created by liberal jurists, Supreme Court justices in particular, which will loose the most infamous and diabolical influence against traditional American mores ever before witnessed. Decades of painstaking effort by traditionalist individuals and organizations to preserve the moral character of our society will be dashed out.
Increased attacks against the Christian religion will be encouraged in the courts. Protection for millions more of unborn children will be stifled. Within the first four years of Obama’s presidency another five to six million unborn infants will be butchered.
I predict Obama’s first four years will bring this nation to its knees. Our military strength will be further degraded through the radical, politically correct agenda of the Obama administration. No segment of our society will escape the unfettered desires of the most radically liberal administration in this nation’s history.
First Amendment rights, especially with talk radio, will be buried. Second Amendment rights will again be attacked, despite recent court decisions finding the keeping and bearing of arms to be a personal rather than collective right.
Illegal immigration will be anointed with amnesty, adding multiple millions of new Democratic voters to the lists. This will have the effect of completely destroying our two-party system.
“Change” is indeed upon us. We have chosen to change Gods, from a Judeo-Christian God who has blessed this nation above all, to the gods of Mammon, sexual deviancy, racial hatred, and all that naturally follows this course.
I sincerely believe nothing now will avert the chaos which will inevitably follow – and soon.

Anger is an acidic thing. Brush up against it and you can be burned, as I was last week.

A funny thing happened on the way to the office. Returning from the bank where elementary school trick-or-treaters had gathered to have their pictures taken, I was ambushed by a former Fillmore mayor with our newly elected city clerk in tow.

As I was about to step into the office a small white pickup nosed into a parallel parking space in front of the Gazette’s front entrance. Out jumped Gary Creagle, leaving his truck nosed into the curb and driver’s door open.
Rushing towards me, yelling at the top of his considerable lung capacity, it took a few moments to figure out what he was trying to say. “Don’t you vet your letters?!” he bellowed. “I wasn’t thrown out of office, I decided not to run again!” he continued yelling, while closing in on me.

Still not understanding what the former mayor was howling about, I asked what his problem was. Raising his volume to a level that caught the attention of many others in the building, he sputtered something about an advertisement from five former mayors which had run in the Gazette the previous Wednesday, three days earlier. The letter he referred to was a paid political ad, paid for by five (highly regarded) retired mayors of the City of Fillmore: Scott Lee, Mike McMahan, Don Gunderson, Roger Campbell and Evaristo Barajas.

The advertisement was titled “A Message From 5 Retired Mayors”. It was dismissive of Creagle’s dysfunctional tenure as mayor, citing his support for extreme growth, an airport, and a gaming casino. The statements were true, but not to Creagle’s liking now that he apparently honchos Fillmore’s new extreme green coalition.
Among the few short but furious statements from Creagle’s loud mouth was a reference to the ad’s comment: "...the voters threw out Gary and his cronies...” which was in error. Creagle roared that the voters did not throw him out. He declined to run for city council the following term.

Creagle walked up to me, bumped into me with clenched fists, and continued to bellow. This whole sorry, embarrassing, threatening performance was witnessed by several persons, and Mr. Creagle was cited by a Sheriff’s deputy.

The following Monday Mr. Creagle performed Act II, Scene II at city hall. With sidekick, and newly elected City Clerk, Clay Westling again in tow, Creagle entered the upstairs area of city hall. A number of witnesses heard him, with offensive, officious tone, demand to know the location of the city clerk’s desk. Informed of that, he then demanded to know how many offices were located in the area. Following this, he asked one staff member: “What’s your name?” “What do you do?” Receiving answers to both questions, he had the audacity to tell that staff member, “O.K., your job is safe.”

Message to Gary Creagle – you were not elected to any office in the City of Fillmore. Your conduct in these matters is obnoxious, and has cast a dark political shadow over several important staff positions. Are you seeking to be appointed to the position of City Manager?

For what it’s worth, Gary, you have become, in my estimation, Fillmore’s very own Yosemite Sam – but you aren’t funny.

Barack Obama is winner in the 2008 American elections. The losers for the next four years are clearly set out in a recent Human Events piece by Pat Buchanan entitled “Obama’s First 100 Days (10-28-08):
”What does the triumvirate of Obama-Pelosi-Reid offer?
Rep. Barney Frank is calling for new tax hikes on the most successful and a 25 percent across-the-board slash in national defense. Sen. John Kerry is talking up new and massive federal spending, a la FDR's New Deal. Specifically, we can almost surely expect:
-- Swift amnesty for 12 million to 20 million illegal aliens and a drive to make them citizens and register them, as in the Bill Clinton years. This will mean that Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona will soon move out of reach for GOP presidential candidates, as has California.
-- Border security will go on the backburner, and America will have a virtual open border with a Mexico of 110 million.
-- Taxes will be raised on the top 5 percent of wage-earners, who now carry 60 percent of the U.S. income tax burden, and tens of millions of checks will be sent out to the 40 percent of wage-earners who pay no federal income tax. Like the man said, redistribute the wealth, spread it around.
-- Social Security taxes will be raised on the most successful among us, and capital gains taxes will be raised from 15 percent to 20 percent. The Bush tax cuts will be repealed, and death taxes reimposed.
-- Two or three more liberal activists of the Ruth Bader Ginsberg-John Paul Stevens stripe will be named to the Supreme Court. U.S. district and appellate courts will be stacked with "progressives."
-- Special protections for homosexuals will be written into all civil rights laws, and gays and lesbians in the military will be invited to come out of the closet. "Don't ask, don't tell" will be dead.
-- The homosexual marriages that state judges have forced California, Massachusetts and Connecticut to recognize, an Obama Congress or Obama court will require all 50 states to recognize.
-- A "Freedom of Choice Act" nullifying all state restrictions on abortions will be enacted. America will become the most pro-abortion nation on earth.
-- Affirmative action -- hiring and promotions based on race, sex and sexual orientation until specified quotas are reached -- will be rigorously enforced throughout the U.S. government and private sector.
-- Universal health insurance will be enacted, covering legal and illegal immigrants, providing another powerful magnet for the world to come to America, if necessary by breaching her borders.
-- A federal bailout of states and municipalities to keep state and local governments spending up could come in December or early next year.
-- The first trillion-dollar deficit will be run in the first year of an Obama presidency. It will be the first of many.”
America is being led into a deep, perilous, and Godless darkness.

This is the last opportunity I will have to endorse particular Measures before Election Day. My primary concern is focused on two issues: the killing of unborn babies through abortion (48 million since the abominable Supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade) and the preservation of the sanctity and dignity of marriage, which can only be between one man and one woman in a Judeo-Christian culture. The first recognizes the universal truth that human life begins at conception; the second simply seeks to defend the definition of the word “marriage” as it has been recognized from time immemorial.
Both of these issues affect the very foundation of human life and society.
In recent years homosexuals enjoy virtually the same legal rights as married couples. Extending legal recognition of these relationships to be indistinguishable and equivalent to the traditional heterosexual married state corrupts and destroys the latter. It will force churches, for example, to perform marriage ceremonies which would be blasphemous – not unlike forcing a Christian church to offer sacrifice to a pagan idol. Schools would also be subject to treating homosexual “marriages” as protected and normal educational material for the education of our children (as has already happened in Massachusetts, where a father was recently arrested for attempting to protect his five-year-old son from exposure to a same-sex school book). California has already approved this Measure by an overwhelming number, only to be (once again) overturned by our corrupt California Supreme Court. Vote YES on 8. Make the sanctity of marriage a part of our constitution.
Also, vote Yes on Measure 9, to give warning to victims of crime.
***
I had hoped to write a longer column in support of Senator McCain. Regretfully, it must be shorter.
My reasons for voting for Senator McCain can be expressed in short order: He is a man of strong and proven good character. He has always put his country ahead of personal ambition. And, he is the only man in the world today who can save America from the most powerful, seductive, and insidious evil we have ever encountered – namely, Barack Obama and the cloud of deceitful, hateful, and dangerously anti-American mentors, friends, and subversives that surround him.
There is no doubt about Obama’s oratorical skills. He is a poised, talented speaker. He is also the product of lifelong associations with Islamists, communists, socialists, terrorists, convicted felons, and racists. This is not conjecture, this is historical fact. Unfortunately, the American voter is just now discovering these facts which have been so adroitly concealed by Barack Obama and his stealthy associates.
Writing something, at this late date, about the imminent disaster that awaits this nation if Obama is elected president, is a little like walking into the main control room of a nuclear power plant and finding Homer Simpson alone at the steaming controls. Does one shout out a warning – or just run like hell?
Let me shout: ACORN! William Ayers! Rashid Khalidi! Bernardine Dohrn! Weathermen – and 300 bombings! Muhammad Hasan Chandoo and Wahid Hamid (from Pakistan)! Felon “Tony” Rezko, seed money (of Syria)! Nadhmi Auchi (Iraqi-born)! Robert Malley (Hamas)! Valerie Jarrett, advisor (Shiraz, Iran)!
Barack (changed name from Barry) refers to Christians as “People of the Book” – an Arab reference. He slips about “My Muslim faith...” For 20 years he has attended a church that preaches the most virulent racism and black nationalism, headed-up by the “Reverend” Jeremiah Wright.
There is nothing in the background of Barack Obama that does not spell danger for this nation. The thought of voting him in as Commander In Chief of the American armed forces is frightening. The thought of having Obama make 3,000 federal appointments is as well. If Obama names two or three Supreme Court Justices, and controls both houses of Congress – it is game over.
Pray that this most liberal of all Senators, most aggressive of pro-abortion members, and most pro-Islamic of candidates fails in his attempt to become President of the United States. As they should say in Chicago, pray early and often!

Congratulations are due to our Sheriff’s deputies for the exceptional success they have had during the past two weeks. Two particular incidents are noteworthy: the arrest of a 17-year-old house burglar in north Fillmore and the arrest, following a lengthy foot pursuit, of another burglar and his accomplice. In both cases very quick response at multiple levels made the difference. Fillmore is lucky indeed to have such a dedicated force on hand.
***
Many thanks to the League of Women Voters for another of their typically professional candidate forums. The Gazette was pleased to have been a small part of Tuesday evening’s event. A great effort was also undertaken by Bill Bartels, Bill Herrera, and Patrick Maynard, with sound and camera details.
***
After observing Tuesday’s candidate forum I have to add two more endorsements to the Gazette’s endorsement of Mayor Steve Conaway. All candidates are good citizens, and most are capable of undertaking the duties of a city council member. I mean that sincerely.
However, at a time in Fillmore’s history, when it is involved in multiple and very costly and complex projects, we must have council members with business experience and a clear understanding of immediate and long term goals.
Despite my many condemnations and objections to actions taken by Cecilia Cuevas over the years, and because of the unusual number of office-seekers this year (which will inevitably make a tight race even more unpredictable) I have to endorse her for another term on the council. I also think that Norris Pennington’s experience makes him another best choice.
I still believe strongly in slow growth and remain opposed to high density, three-story dwellings, and narrow streets. However (there’s that “however” again) it is a fact that Measures ‘H’ and ‘I’ are much too late and too poorly drafted to save north Fillmore in the way they were designed to do.
I also have to accept the professional legal opinion of city counsel when it warns that approval of Measures ‘H’ and ‘I’ will trigger multiple lawsuits against the city – suits that the city will lose, costing the general fund many millions of dollars. For these reasons I must endorse Mayor Steve Conaway, Council Member Cecilia Cuevas, and candidate Norris Pennington – and vote NO on Measures ‘H’ and ‘I’. Any other vote on the Measures would be dangerously irresponsible.
In the interest of full disclosure, I am bound to inform readers that my endorsements, and $2.50, will get you an Americano at Starbucks.
With less than two weeks remaining until Election Day things look pretty grim for Senator McCain.
This nation has, in an unprecedented way, lurched to the Left – so far to the Left in fact that it is in danger of collapse. I truly believe that McCain can still win, but it will take a miracle, which is always possible, with enough persistent prayer.
The media (with the exception of talk radio and FOX News) in a most shameful way has lost all credibility. They had almost nothing to begin with, but what they had is now lost. I agree that 2008 was the year the media died as a source of objective information. They have become nothing short of a cheerleading crew for the liberal Democratic Party.
The word “prayer” always sparks cynical response in the media, but for a Christian there can be no other intelligible way to go – especially when, as this year, the foundations of this Judeo-Christian nation are being undermined.
I confess that I have trouble determining just what “Christian” is today, with more than 40,000 denominations each claiming to hold the exclusive truth. Next week, all I can do is appeal to the broadest segment of this billion and a half member body, to adhere to basic guidelines like the 10 Commandments and the Gospels.
Next week I will try to make my argument as to why a Barack Obama and his legion of radical Lefties will bring this nation to its knees.
In the few words left to me this week I will just say:
Obama wants women to register for Selective Service; Refuses to protect the lives of babies who survive abortions; but most serious of all, Barack Obama has had only the most vicious, racist, anti-American mentors since he was 12-years-old – and what he didn’t learn earlier, he soaked-up in the criminal Chicago environment, which the media refers to as “the capital of Black America,” the haunt of Louis Farrickan.
Yeah, I know, it all sounds so terribly racist, doesn’t it? But, I have to ask, what would you call a phenomenon where 98 percent of the American black electorate will vote for Obama?

Well, once again, I’ve been bullied into a 180-word space on page 2.
The only Fillmore City Council candidate I can wholeheartedly endorse is our Mayor, Steve Conaway. Although I have strongly disagreed with several of his decisions, in my opinion his presence on the Council is necessary to preserve a common sense approach to city government.
Steve has a good business head, a solid understanding of the issues, and has proven to be fair, open-minded, honest, and decisive. He is also a great communicator. You may disagree with some of his votes, but no one has trouble understanding his reasons. Steve is the glue holding the Council together during fractious times.
On the other hand, his vocal opposition is often outrageously disrespectful and grossly misleading in its criticism – as it often is towards our former City Manager, Roy Payne.
Though I supported Measure H and I in the beginning, I now see they were (as previous Measures) carelessly drafted and, if passed, will cost Fillmore many millions of dollars in lawsuit damages. Vote NO on Measures H and I.