A friend of mine asked me the other day why I wanted to get rid of Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido, who is a Democrat. My friend, who is a very liberal Democrat, explained that Pulido has been very friendly to the Republican Party. He was incredulous that I would want to see him defeated.
I could not believe my friend was being serious! Pulido has been in office for 12 years – and we have so little to show for it. Supposedly he wants another ten years in office. Good grief! No mas!
I decided to draw up a list of items where Pulido falls far short (no pun intended). This was not easy – I am sure I left out a lot of items. Please feel free to post your comments to that effect. In a perfect world, here are the items I would hold Pulido to, if I had his ear:
- Mayoral term limits – a measure must be put to the voters within one year. Also, Pulido must agree to serve only one more term, including the one he is running for, should he win.
- Ward specific council elections – a measure must be put to the voters within one year.
- Libraries – we need to open a new library in south-central Santa Ana. We also need to bring back the bookmobiles.
- Parks – we need to do a better job maintaining them and we need more parks in general. Every office tower that goes up should be matched by a new park!
- Pulido must agree that in emergencies he will make himself available to the press and to his constituents. The fact that he did not show up when the riots occurred a few months ago was unconscionable.
- City budget – we need to put all the information online – as Costa Mesa does.
- Council meetings – all of them must be televised and made available online. All minutes going back at least five years must be available and searchable online too.
- We need a shopping cart ordinance. Feel free to use my proposal – free of charge!
- We need to do a better job with grafitti. It must be covered up within two days of reporting.
- Potholes must be filled up within five days of reporting.
- We need a city ethics commission – when Planning Commissioners are getting cut-rate condos in Hawaii, from developers who have business before them, we have a problem!
- No one on the Planning Commission should be allowed to run for the council. They must be away from that commission at least a year before filing to run. That will prevent these commissioners from using their positions for political means. Also, planning commission minutes should be available online for up to 5 years – and the meetings should be televised and made available online.
- All city management employee contract terms should be made available online.
- No more eminent domain deals that are worth more than 100,000 without voter approval!!
- And, last but not least, no more unexplained visits to Latin American dictators! (See picture, above left).
Art,
Love Santa Ana more than you hate Miguel Pulido and give him your vote!
That’s all well and good, but does he have Carlos Bustamante’s endorsement? (giggle, giggle, snicker)
4:03,
If only Pulido could stop loving power more than he loves the people of Santa Ana…
5:58,
Good question! Let’s see, Pulido was the chair at Bustamante’s recent fundraiser. I am guessing that Bustamante will be backing Pulido in November. Truly they deserve each other…
Define “dictator” Art. Please.
Annie,
I know – Morales was freely elected. However, after taking office he signed a pact with Fidel and Chavez; nationalized the oil industry; and began to look at changing Bolivia’s constitution, as per what Chavez did in Venezuela. Not good! I remain disgusted that Pulido visited this man. I would have been happier if he had visited the President of Brazil – a leftist who is not anti-freedom – and who is not anti-U.S.
Pirate Anne
This is waht a dictator does:
Transportation officials rejected a proposal Friday to let Orange County voters have a say on whether to move forward with the controversial CenterLine project — a $1-billion light-rail system that would connect neighboring towns. …
Board member Miguel A. Pulido, a supporter of the rail line, led the opposition, arguing that a ballot measure would be an unwise gamble because voters would probably reject the project.
“It would be a terrible mistake… by voting to put it on the ballot, we kill the project,” said Pulido, who is mayor of Santa Ana.
He suggested that voters who would not benefit from CenterLine — a rail line that would connect downtown Santa Ana to John Wayne Airport — might not appreciate its value, and vote against it.
http://www.mwilliams.info/archives/004555.php
God forbid you actually get to vote or anything.
After all, we are all too stupid to know what is best for us.
On Nov 7, we do get to vote.
Vote Miguel out.
So – language means nothing anymore – it just means what whoever is uttering the words wants them to mean.
What does it mean “to change the Consititution”?
Which US presidents have overseen changing the Constitution?
Annie,
Did you know that pirates were bloodthirsty killers and rapists? Talk about language not meaning anything anymore…
Here is what you need to know about Chavez and the changes he made to the Venezuelan constitution:
Chavez’s “constitution” is a farce instituted by Chavez himself in December 1999, a year after he was elected, to extend his hold on power. Chavez supporters, who controlled 121 of 131 National Assembly seats, rammed the document through the legislature. It was later approved in a national referendum in which over half of the electorate stayed away from the polls.
The new “constitution” dissolved the senate, extended the president’s term from five to six years, gave greater power to the military, tightened state control over the oil industry, and limited the central bank’s autonomy. From Capitalism Magazine.
As for Evo Morales? Here is what Power and Interest News Report has to say about his intentions, “Morales has promised to convene a constituent assembly to rewrite Bolivia’s constitution.”
Will anyone be surprised when Morales copies what his fellow dictator, Chavez, has done in Venezuela? I know I won’t.
Pirate Annie – Good point but it’s just Art and his hyperbole. Give it up.
Art will never admit overstatement or understatement. Your pirate-y breath is worth more.
Can Art spell hyperbole?
Hey Pirate Anne and your anonymous hack supporter,
Thanks for ignoring the fact that Pulido chose to not allow voters to make decisions that he felt would not benefit him, not unlike his decision to allow term limits for his council, but not for his mayors seat.
Thats a dictator
So Pulido should be ousted
Mike,
I must disagree my friend. Pulido does appear to have a lock on my city – but there is voter discontent throughout the country with incumbents. He has failed miserably over the last twelve years, and his destruction of Mike Garcia has not gone unnoticed. Gordon has a chance no matter what he does.
I recall a few years ago a nutty lady ran against Pulido and got 40% of the vote. She spent not a dime! Si se puede!
If nothing else, we will get the issues out – that alone is worth the price of admission. Other candidates are now talking about the issues we are raising. What more can we ask for?
We will not concede – we will give voice to those who have been made voiceless by the Pulido/Ream administration. To do otherwise is to tuck tail and run – and neither Gordon nor myself are of that ilk.
For the record, I don’t live in SA so it’s not like I am supporting Puludo – or not.
but back to Art’s dictator reference – Morales is using his country’s process to amend the Constitution – just like we do. What’s your problem?
Our Declaration of Independence reminds citizens that if there is something that need sot be changed in our government, it’s our right and responsibility to change it.
And surely Art, don’t take my perky pseudonym for more than it is – a perky pseudonym.
I don’t make any critcism of your pseudonym.
Annie,
I don’t use pseudonyms. You made a statement about language and I returned the serve.
As for Morales’ effort to change his constitutions, go back and read my earlier post. Experts think he is going to do what Chavez did. And what Chavez did was a full frontal attack on liberty. I have a problem with that – and so should you.
As for the changes to our Constitution, are you referring to the Civil Rights Act? Those were good changes – they engendered more, not less, liberty.
Art,
My pseudonym simply isn’t comparable to your characterization – the philosphers have a fancy word for the fallacy you’ve committed – I can’t recall it right now.
Our Consitution is a living document Art – it reflects many more changes than the gains in civil rights – perhaps you need a history class.
And yes, the ability to adjust our Constitution is a good thing – my question was why you begrudge another country going through the same process.
Why do you imagine that as a North American you can, should and do tell the people of another country what they should do – rather paternalistic, rather condescending.
No doubt, you’d reject – and rightly so – similar behavior directed to us from them.
And about your pseudonym – now don’t be coy, big boy.
Annie,
Then why is it OK for Hugo Chavez, president/dictator of Venezuela, to meddle in Bolivia’s affairs? It sounds like you are espousing a double-standard.
I know there have been many changes to our Constitution, but on the whole they have advanced, not limited, our freedom. The changes made by Chavez, and being pursued by Morales, are meant to limit freedom, not advance it.
And please believe me, I don’t use pseudonyms. I have no idea what you are hinting at.
Mike is correct, Art.
Taking voter discontent and focusing that energy on creating electoral change requires a stellar candidate, a well-oiled campaign machine, and tremendous resources.
Best of luck, though!
I didn’t say Chavez was right to meddle Art – your assumptions are showing big boy.
We know who you are.
Annie,
But you said it was wrong for the US to do so. Why isn’t it wrong for Chavez to interfere? That is what you are implying by ripping the US but not Chavez.
I know who I am too. I’m glad we got that resolved. What I don’t know is who you are. But you sure like to make weird insinuations. Why don’t you use your real name and show some guts?
Pulido’s 2006 statement:
I’m proud to he your mayor and to have led our city into becoming a model for the nation. Years of hard work and planning have reaped positive results:
Streets/Parks: I’ve delivered $300 million to improve streets and parks.
Pulido’s 2004 statement:
Streets/Parks: I
I wish we had a serious candidate running against the Mayor.
Miguel will win big without even breaking a sweat.
Thomas Gordon will get less than 10% of the vote.
Art,
Unfortunately, I must agree with the bloggers in regards to the mayor winning another term.
I think you are mistating the comment where you say they are disatisfied with the Mayor. I dont believe that is true. The majority of the voters, in my opinion, are apathetic to the mayor and politics in general. For that reason those that vote simply to vote will continue to vote for him because he is recognizable, via mailers, TV, and his longevity.
If any candidate wants a serious shot at the mayor, they must create the amount of name ID needed so that they are recognized, not just by us political junkies.
Art- your view is warped because you surround yourself with political friends, and insiders, the real world knows very little about the mayor.
It is unrealistic to assume, a candidate will win because they are the better candidate. The same goes for Ryan Gene Williams.
At this point the only people with the name I.D. to beat the Mayor are Joe Dunn, Lou Correa, and Lorreta Sanchez. None of them are running against him in November.
Anon,
You are correct. However, I would throw out some other names as well. I believe the following people would also have a shot at it:
1)John Palacio
2) Sal Tinajero
3)Al Amezcua(the mayor would have to retire)
4)Nativo Lopez (I know, I know)
We are speaking of people with name ID and the ability to raise the funds needed.