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So let me ask you, has there ever been as awful a political fate in this town as that of the cranky and cantankerous leaders of our so-called "Civility Party?" That is, if it even exists anymore? It is funny how things turn out sometimes.
Our View: Moderating trends in local elections
IN local elections Tuesday, the status quo carried the day in successful, steady-as-she-goes Arcadia, and no one should be surprised at that.
But in neighboring Sierra Madre, no one was really sure what precisely the status quo was anymore.
Was it down-the-middle, Kiwanis Club-attending, community voluntarism? For maintaining, as ever, the foothill village atmosphere that no sane Sierra Madrean would ever give up, but not waving the bloody shirt about it?
Or was it the much more radical vision that had lately seemed to take hold of Sierra Madre politics, as chiefly exemplified by the blogger who calls himself the Sierra Madre Tattler? Those politics are actually hard to put a name to - one commentator has labeled them an odd combination of hard right wing and no growth.
In the other election Tuesday in Sierra Madre, Measure ED, citizens overwhelmingly voted against the city ever using eminent domain in a 2,245-372 tally. It was a curious measure, in that there was no threat of City Hall using eminent domain in the first place, if an easy one to say yes to. Still, symbolism is important.
But when it came to the City Council, Sierra Madre voters soundly rejected the Tattler style - snarky, funny, eloquent, nasty - by giving the Tattler's author, John Crawford, the least votes of any major candidate.
Somewhat amazingly, they also ousted a sitting councilman, Don Watts, a Crawford ally, and resoundingly returned incumbent Joe Mosca by giving him the most votes of any candidate. Crawford had been withering about both Mosca, his sworn enemy, and associated "Moscateers," acting as if they had no chance.
Instead, radicalism was rejected. Extremely slow or no growth was not - that's what the moderates who were elected stand for as well, and that's what's best for Sierra Madre. The election of the sensible, hard-working Mosca along with longtime civic volunteers Josh Moran and Nancy Walsh is a victory for common sense. Here's hoping the misplaced mudslinging introduced to town in recent years will fade away.
Mod: Given the current sad state of affairs in Sierra Madre, I wonder what the unidentified author of this editorial might think of their verdict on "sensible" government here today. Maybe I'll call over to the Star News and ask. Or, since this editorial no longer exists on their website, I'll just forward it in an email.
Nancy Walsh and the EENER Commission at … The COG?
In case you are not aware, the disgraced regional planning organization known as the San Gabriel Valley Council Of Governments has its own EENER (Energy, Environment and Natural Resources) confab. With our own kinda confused mash up of EENERism pretty much modeled on the COG's version of the phenomenon. Right down to the name.
As Nancy Walsh apparently lifted the EENER name from the COG and stuck it on our own somewhat disorganized version, would it come as any surprise that she serves there as its Vice Chair? See this link.
Something that does raise at least one or two questions. Can we suggest there is a conflict of interest? I don't recall ever being told we were taking on a franchise here. And don't you think it is time Mayor Walsh actually explained what the purpose of an EENER actually is? After a year our so of its existence I am not sure anyone really knows.
And that includes our EENER Commission's own members.
http://sierramadretattler.blogspot.com
