And then there are all of their glassy eyed Thurston Howell the IV Pasadena establishment ACT cocktail party pals, so enamored of their caring and goodness that they forgot to do what "community leadership" is supposed to do, save public education. Each preferring instead to sit with noses pressed firmly to the rearview mirrors of their Lexuses, wondering with an anxious narcissistic intensity if anybody really does appreciate all of their hard work.
And where exactly have they taken the PUSD? This from the normally not very critical Pasadena Sun:
Citing budget constraints, Pasadena Unified to issue 82 layoff notices (click here): Pasadena Unified school board members voted 4-3 on Tuesday to issue pink slips for 82 teachers, counselors and nurses as part of cost-cutting measures to address declining public school enrollment and close an anticipated budget gap of as much as $12 million.
Officials initially proposed a package of 160 potential layoffs — including 52 elementary school teachers, 11 school counselors, seven nurses and the school district’s four remaining librarians — but whittled the list down during a lengthy public discussion.
About 20 union members and supporters spoke during the meeting, lambasting the board over recent pay raises for administrators and arguing that larger class sizes resulting from layoffs would hurt student achievement.
“I think it’s shameful and selfish,” Webster Elementary School teacher Janet Zeile said. “When is the last time an administrator paid for school supplies out of their pocket?”
The formula is quite simple. The fewer students a school district attracts, the fewer dollars become available from Sacramento and Washington. And why are the parents of students pulling their kids out of the PUSD by the hundreds every year? As an example, just take a look at our Middle School campus. 5 long years after the approval of a $350 million dollar bond issue designed to fix situations just like that, we have a hillside scattered with large packing crates, and a likely useless resolution from a lame duck Board of Education saying that they really (no, really!) want to see it built this time. And nearly half of a decade after our voting to approve this bond issue, they are standing firm with this new commitment by finally going out for real bids.
This after the Board of Education hadn't said or done anything for years. Now that they are lame ducks they suddenly care. Why this magic moment? And by the way, $110 million of that Measure TT money has already been spent. Where has it gone? The lame ducks aren't saying. And neither are their ducklings.
Somehow I choose to remain skeptical.
The ICE Man Cometh
"Finally, as previously mentioned, the PUSD schools in Pasadena are independent of Pasadena City Hall and we work with the District as a collaborator in our joint efforts. I regret that I do not have more substantive response to the questions you raise about the relationship between Sierra Madre and PUSD." - Bill Bogaard, Mayor of Pasadena and Ayala campaign donor
Mary Brandenburg, of Sierra Madre of course, attempted to raise the question of Luis Ayala's connection to ICE, and was told by his campaign manager to stop posting the question on Ayala's campaign Facebook page (where they were quickly taken down) and send him an e-mail. She did , and this is what she wrote:
Dear Mr. Ayala,
I've been trying to find some information regarding your affilliation with ICE and EIOC, and why you have not disclosed this. I sent a message on your Facebook campaign page weeks ago and received no response. I then tried posting the question on the wall, but was removed and I am now blocked.
My question is one that others in the Latino community will also have, and rather than silencing me, why not just clarify?
When you speak of working as a Board member with all parents, that should also include those that you may not agree with, as well as those that are the disenfranchised, such as us.
Thank you in advance, Mary Brandenburg
No answer has been received as of this post. Perhaps Luis is waiting until after the election to break the news.
Here is a list of all the campaign contributions made to the Hueso and Ayala campaigns. The Thurston Howell the IV crowd from ACT obviously cracked open their Louis Vitton encased checkbooks, but there are others as well. The establishment understands the use of money to hang on to power, because what fun would a party be if you weren't doing so much on behalf of the little people? Except protecting public education, or course. The pleasures of doing absolutely nothing in the name of the people does require an occasional donation.
Ruben HuesoThe Bone Daddies
DateWhoamtwherecon code
1/12Ed Honowitz Photographer250Pasadenaind
1/07Holly Yamada, MD Hemediagnostics100Monroviaother
1/17Dale Gronemeier, Attorney100Sierra Madreind
1/17Carpenter & Rothens (not disclosed)250Los Angelesother
1/17Bob Blumenfield for Assembly 2012250Los Angelescom
1/16Fabian Nunez for Treasurer 20145,000Sacramentocom
1/11Mrs. Lisa Whan100Pasadenaind
2/16ACT- Political1000Pasadenacom
2/02Kevin De Leon for Assembly20181,000Los Angelescom
2/01Re-Elect Ben Hueso for Assembly 2012 5,000Encinitascom
2/15Jose A. Hueso USA Cap Co.500San Diegoind
2/01Joel B. Henroid, DDS250Pasadenaoth
2/01Laurence D. Katz retired100Van Nuysind
2/01Silvia MacPherson homemaker100Pasadenaind
2/01Roger D. Reynolds retired100Whittierind
2/01Tracey Stephenson homemaker100Altadenaind
2/26Kevin De Leon for Assembly20182,000Los Angelesoth
2/26Re-Elect Ben Hueso for Assembly 2012 6,000Encinitasoth
2/22California Real Estate Political Action Com1,000Los Angelesoth
EXPENSES: fundraising, lit, and paraphernalia
Bianca Rubio, Baldwin Park1595
Isaac Galvan, Compton 100
Kimberly Caceres, W Covina238
Noela Hueso, Pasadena1961
Pyramid Press, LA16885037 West Jefferson Blvd.
Angel Gonzalez, LA12005037 West Jefferson Blvd.
Cogs South Signs, Santa Ana1112
Kimberly Caseres2738
Noelle Hueso1,320 (printing)
Pyramid Press6,048 print and postage
Bianca Rubio2,965
Has campaigned in about $14,000, spent $13,000 has a debt of $5,500. sounds like accounting ain’t their speciality.
OWES- Bianca Rubio $2310
Kimberly Caseres $2720
Noelle Hueso$614
A couple of notes: In the future I think a few blogs on companies and folks who do this line of work may be interesting. CREPAC, for example, are a political wing of the Realtors. You can only wonder why they want Hueso elected.
Hueso has somehow spent $14,000 on his campaign so far, with more to be declared soon I suspect. And despite all of the above has managed to accumulate considerable debt. This to combat two opponents who have raised almost nothing. Which to me means that either Hueso is getting a lot of bad news off of the street, or he is showing all the symptoms of a world class case of paranoia.
The Huesos and DeLeon have been in trouble for ethics violations in regards to their campaign monies. They were fined, but not much. If crime doesn’t pay, stupidity certainly does.
Luis AyalaThe ICE Cream Men
Datewhoamtwherecon code
1/11Ken Chawkins So. Cal Edison 242 Pasadena ind
1/16Phyllis Colman attorney100Los Angelesind
1/17Joan Harperretired96La Canadaind
1/17Jacelyn A. Hughes25Culver Cityind
1/17Dale Gronemeier attorney100Sierra Madreind
1/18 Ellis Seligman physician25San Marinoind
1/18Joel Ayala teacher100Glendaleind
1/19Darwin Sen self-employed50Monterey Pkind
1/19Jane McCaffrey attorney100Santa Monicaind
1/19Robertto Rubalcava attorney100Los Angelesind
1/26Peter Knell investors KCB1,000Pasadenaind
1/26Luis Ayala for School Board1,000Pasadena
2/02Edmund Sutro, PhD Arcadia Teacher1,000Arcadiaind
2/02Luis Ayala for School Board1,000Pasadenaind
2/16ACT Political1,000Pasadenacom
2/16Luis Ayala for School Board1,000Pasadena
2/22California Real Estate Political Action Com1,000Los Angelescom
2/22Luis Ayala for School Board1,000Pasadena
2/01Ed Honowitz500Pasadena ind
2/01Edmund Sutroretired1,000Pasadenaind
2/01Jon Fuhrmanretired250Pasadenaind
2/01Steve & Bernadette Cole100Pasadena ind
(environment science +UPS) Cole is president of IIPK, Dreier puppets
2/01Bill Bogaard attorney250Pasadenaind
2/06Carlos & Cecilia Perez attorney250Whittierind
2/01Richard Norton retired300Pasadenaind
2/01Law Offices of Jessica Dominguez250Studio Cityind
1/28Beth B. Gertmenian100Pasadenaind
2/15John Blue attorney100Pasadenaind
1/25Adriana Ayala Professor/Provost400San Joseind
2/08Claire Bogaard retired250Pasadenaind
2/01Sidney Tyler retired250Pasadenaind
2/03Vince Farhat attorney145Pasadenaind
2/07Robert Harrison restaurant owner121Altadenaind
2/09 Veronica Gutierrez VP Public Affairs SCE250Los Angelesind
2/10Cynthia Kurtz100Pasadenaind
2/16Felicia Williams Finance Officer Edison Int100Pasadenaind
2/16ACT Political1,000Pasadenacom
2/10Green Street Restaurant donated $150 in food
There you go. In my opinion if Ayala and Hueso, along with their like-minded friends, end up controlling the PUSD Board of Education, the Middle School will most likely not be built. Even if we don't antagonize them. Instead that campus will be closed, whatever Sierra Madre students remain bused off elsewhere, with the property being sold to developers who will pack as much shelf housing onto that property as possible. Which could very well have a lot to do with our vote having been taken away through Measure A. At the end of the day it really is always about money, you know.
But that is a fine topic for Election Day.
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