As a Republican, I’m embarrassed by the immaturity in this blog note.

I went to the Saturday revolt. Much of the same thing. Shock jock name calling. Not much different than Howard Stern. One site described it as a smack down. It was. Most of the crowd reminded me of the pro wrestling crowd at the Pond.

I was there (virtually) the day Sean and Carlo showed up at the the City because they were opening a coffee house (The Hub)on a shoestring. They didn’t want any hand outs and got none. As far as I’m concerned they don’t owe the government anything; rather the reverse.

Furthermore you have no idea what Sean Francis thinks this budget/tax fiasco. Why don’t you ask him and report back?

You accuse people of getting Redevelopment loans and hiring illegals without a shred of evidence, label a class of people as hypocrites, and expect ME to convince YOU the contrary!

Sad. Very sad.

“Hypocrites,” as I used it, is literal. It refers to the neo-con faction of downtown business people who state publicly that they are opposed to new taxes and government regulation while they privately reap the benefits of such. “We want government off our backs! Yes, I want that government-funded and maintained parking lot!” The contradiction equals hypocrisy–plain and simple.

I didn’t personalize my discussion by referring to you or anyone else as “a saloon-owning cronie” or a “Jager-bombed Libertarian.”

Over the years I’ve met many business people in Fullerton, both Democrats and Republicans, who openly admit that they’ve been assisted by city, state, and federal monies aimed at helping their small business get off the ground. The difference is that they don’t deny that. They don’t pretend that they came to Fullerton with $60 in their pockets, picked themselves up by their own boot straps, and became financially successful.

Thus, they are not hypocrites.

By your logic nobody could open a business in downtown Fullerton free of hypocrisy unless he espoused a pro-tax, pro-government philosophy.
And by extension wouldn’t that apply to any place where the government has built a road or put in a sewer pipe?

Now that just doesn’t strike me as critical thinking hard at work.

Name one who will support the governor’s plan on May 19th.

“you sound a lot like a garden-variety Redevelopment shill”

Name-calling is the lowest form of debate, resorted to most frequently by those can’t think critically.

“Did Francis ever take out a Redevelopment loan? Does he hire illegal immigrants?”

Did he buy the property for his parking lot and build it himself? Absolutely not. He didn’t have to take out a Redevelopment loan. The city put the parking lot at the tax-payers expense and gave Francis the use of it. He refers to it as HIS valet lot. Built and maintained by the City of Fullerton. I guess he doesn’t mind government in his business after all. The same way that Tony Florentine doesn’t mind government giving him city sidewalk space at the tax-payers’ expense.

Does he (Francis) hire illegal immigrants? Anyone can get a fake green card at a swap meet for $10. The point is you don’t see many Anglo teenagers busing tables and washing dishes in many downtown Fullerton restaurant. Low-paying service jobs there are largely handled by immigrants, both legal and illegal.

The best way to determine “legality,” though, would be to have the INS regularly inspect all the restaurants UNANNOUNCED. Without tip-offs.

This has never happened in Fullerton as far as I know. I seriously doubt the idea would get support from the downtown business association. They’re more comfortable with the present “Don’t ask, Don’t tell” policy.

Leland Wilson suggested such action some years ago. His proposal went nowhere.

Who cares about the content in the context of the right to hold the event? You seem to think that if someone wants to hold an event it should only be allowed if there are no hypocrites involved.

I would be happy to see Fullerton host the pro tax rally next week so long as the attendees behave. Free speech is a good thing to witness live. Relax and enjoy thing for what they are not what they could be if only they were different.

Name one who is “anti-tax”? Francis used the event to promote himself. Has he espoused any of the political froth whipped up by these Ken & John fellows? Most downtown restauranteurs are political eunuchs – except that they can be reasonably expected to toe the City Hall party line.

Not Nelson, you sound a lot like a garden-variety Redevelopment shill (except that you seem to understand the wastefulness of it): everyone benefits from the government investment, blah, blah blah – even those who have no choice and don’t participate. Did Francis ever take out a Redevelopment loan? Does he hire illegal immigrants?

I think you’ve been spending too much time reading the Fullerton Observer. That’s bad for you brain cells.

I don’t deny that yesterday’s pep rally was a successful money maker as political entertainment performed by two talk radio celebrities.

My main point, though, is that many of the Fullerton downtown restaurant owners who proclaim they’re anti-tax and anti-immigration have profited tremendously as the result of tax-funded Redevelopment projects, the low interest gov. business loans they’ve acquired, and the immigrant labor they hire to work in their kitchens.

How can they possible say they’re anti-tax, anti-gov., anti-immigration?

I think they’re big-time hypocrites. Convince me they’re not!

The other Nelson (the real one) loaned money to Francis to buy out Carlo Terranova’s mother after his father passed away and she wanted her money back. Thats kind of like saying Pomona First Federal “owns” my house.

Either way, Zenger is right. This is all typical redevelopment.

As far as the John & Ken deal goes, this was brilliant for the downtown business owners. From what I saw there were thousands of peaceful folks having a good time with some free speech. No fights. No problems that I saw. Restaurants were crowded after with people enjoying themselves and spending some money. Of course I did see one bitter jerk with a lady in an Obama t-shirt (Baxter)

Are you sure Nelson is actually an owner of The Continental?

He and former Mayor Shawn Nelson own The Continental. As the neighborhood gets upgraded at the tax-payers expense, they make more profit in their business.