Update 3/5/08: This post now has 2,003 comments! However, it has exceeded the capacities of our server and has been truncated recently at about 1,529 posts. But one of our readers has stepped up to the plate and painstakingly copied all of the comments into three NEW posts:
- SAUSD-Mijares corruption thread, 2008 Comments
- SAUSD-Mijares corruption thread, 2007 Comments
- SAUSD-Mijares corruption thread, 2006 Comments
We have also started a NEW open SAUSD thread, which I hope our readers will post to regarding new SAUSD news and views.
You can also go to our home page and go to the right column. Click on “SAUSD Posts” and you can get links to ALL of our past SAUSD articles.
I must say, I am amazed at the stories that have been posted on this blog in the wake of Al Mijares’ exit from the Santa Ana Unified School District. I am posting this item merely to give SAUSD bloggers a place to post their comments. Post away my friends – we have an opportunity now to finally do away with the corruption left over from the Mijares regime. Change is at hand, but we must remain resolute.
I noted that someone affiliated with the SAUSD administration recently posted a threat on this site – alleging possible legal action against SAUSD employees who post anonymously on this site. That is despicable and a form of terrorism. Do not let fear restrain any of you from revealing the truth.
The final challenge we face in Santa Ana is to replace Mijares with someone competent. We won’t have another opportunity like this anytime soon. This process must be open and focused and whatever else happens we must keep Audrey Noji out of the Superintendent’s position. As a member of the Cerritos College faculty and a member of the teacher’s union at that campus I opposed her when she tried to get a job at our campus. If she goes after the SAUSD superintendent post I will do so again. I know we can do better!
All of my children are in the SAUSD system. For their sake and that of all schoolchildren in the district, I urge those who are rebelling against the last vestiges of Mijares’ broken empire to keep the information flowing and to do whatever it takes to ensure that our next superintendent will be up to the task. Mijares certainly was over his head throughout his doomed tenure.
I feel sorry for Mr Espinoza wife…he wonders and she is faithfull…I guess it just like the schools they both come from.
ms byrd…….PAY THE LADY
YOU MESSED UP SHE IS A GRAT TEACHER
GIVE HER, WHAT SHE IS DU.
SUP…GIVE UP. GO OUT WHITH AT LEAST ONE THING YOU HAVE DONE RIGHT
Yes you can have DSO who do there jobs. And those who are known for doing there cross puzzes and complain.
Through the grapevine, we learn that Esther Jones, in cahoots with Juan Lopez and Lewis Bratcher is finally getting rid of the only decent human vice principal at the site, Robert Hood Sanchez. She probably gave him some lame evaluation, ran it up to Lopez’ office and berated Lopez into finalizing Sanchez’ departure. It would be an absolute farce for either Bratcher or Lopez to actually believe anything that Jones says or writes. Time after time, employee after employee, the site turns over massive amounts of decent educational personnel because Jones doesn
My favorite Esther story is about last summer when a hand-picked group of bright-eyed Saddleback staff went to a Leadership Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona. The rental car is in Esther
Anyone remember Angel Gallardo over at Carr? You might recognize some of his tactics being used by other dishonest administrators who use harassment and intimidation on staff members:
Gallardo assumed his duties in January 2000. According to Gill and her witnesses, almost immediately Gallardo embarked on a campaign to drive out the school’s “older teachers.” He told the vice-principal, James Gonzales, older teachers “were too voiceful,” dead weight, and a crutch. He identified Gill to Gonzales as one of those unwanted “older teachers.” He told another veteran P. E. teacher, Patty Schnell, he “wanted all the older teachers at this school out of here and if they don’t get out I will pack up their stuff for them.” Another 26-year veteran teacher (who was also a union representative) testified Gallardo frequently targeted “older teachers” for harassment, asking them in her presence if they wanted to retire.
At first, Gill and Gallardo got along well enough. But their relationship began to sour in November 2000 when the school’s athletic field needed to be reseeded. Gallardo had announced the field would be reseeded all at once, rendering it unusable for the entire school year. Gill questioned him about the plan, and he said it was strictly a “downtown” (i.e., district) decision over which he had no control. When Gill asked if she could talk to someone at the district about the obvious drawbacks of the plan (she proposed reseeding the field one-half at a time so the students could still use part of the field), Gallardo threatened to fire her if she went over his head. But then Gallardo relented, saying she could mention it to someone from the district she would be seeing at an upcoming conference. Gill did and was told the reseeding schedule was entirely dictated by the school principal, not the district. Gill subsequently wrote a letter about the reseeding issue and Gallardo’s threat to fire her, and asked that it be placed in her personnel file.
Throughout the next months, Gallardo made numerous comments to Gill about her age and inquiring about her retirement plans.
He later took Gill aside and told her that while she was gone, every teacher in the P.E. Department had complained to him about her, but he forbade her to question any of her colleagues about the complaints. Apparently, he did the same thing to Schnell-telling her everyone in the P.E. Department complained about her, but forbidding her to question anyone. When Gill and Schnell finally compared notes, and then questioned their fellow teachers, they all denied having ever complained to Gallardo about them.
In June 2001, Gill filed a complaint with the California State Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), and filed a government tort claim with the district. Both claimed injuries occurring due to harassment by Gallardo from January 2001 to March 2, 2001. On July 2, 2001, the DFEH issued Gill a “right to sue” letter.
Good Riddance to Angel! It is sad that this kind of practice is still happening in SAUSD. link for the rest of the story – http://www.peo7.com/peo/caselawsDetail67870/Page3.htm
I just deleted a post that insinuated that a SAUSD administrator is cheating on his wife. Folks, please, let’s keep it clean. No innuendo! Stick to the facts and do us all a favor. Even better, stick to writing about education and let’s avoid talking about anyone’s gender, spouses, etc. Thanks!
So Jones does not have Callaway anymore – She went to Activities at Segerstrom where she can try and un-do all the bad stuff she learned at Saddleback. Lyn’s a much better role model for aspiring administrative staff. Remember, Katrina- no yelling at the students. It’s bad form.
Sanchez is getting pushed out. Someone alert Noji or Russo that he should really stay, if only as an anti-venom to a very toxic situation.
Covert- busy messing up the schedules, as only he can.
Todd Oishi’s spot is still open. It was temporarily filled by Stephanie, who was brought out of retirement. Man, did SHE get an eyeful when there.
And Carrigg. wow. too much to comment there except that she’s the only dedicated hit person for Jones that is left.
Wonder if they’ll send a creep or a good guy to help out at Saddleback.
As a substitute I saw Bob DeBerry at Walker fall asleep during an observation. The teacher told me later that she got a needs to improve evaluation!
Wow. I stumbled across this quite by accident. I used to work for SAUSD. I was there before the Mijares debacle and left well into it. I knew at that time I was jumping a sinking ship. SAUSD went from being a progressive innoventive school district dedicated to getting the students of Santa Ana great opportunities through education and networking with local and prestigious colleges and university to seeing the gross neglect of qualified programs, teachers and administrators in order to further the advancement of the political advancement of a underqualified and truly racist man. Good luck! I truly hope that SAUSD can become pull itself out of the mud hole that Dr. Mijares and his constituents have thrown it into. Highly unlikely however unless the parents get more active and realize that there needs to be a complete overhaul of the entire cabinet and a few board members as well.
Sad to see such a wonderful place to work and go to school turn into the one of the biggest pits that California has now started producing. I would love to see there be a change. I know what the people of Santa Ana are capable of and there is greatness there. You just have to get out from underneath the crippling effect that the politics of this man and others like him have done to your great city.
Anyone else notice that Lewis Bratcher oversees the worst of the school sites, in relation to how many outrageous goings-on there are? Valley, Saddleback, Willard are the top three contenders. Mijares was out to our site more often than Bratcher was this year.
Those who know the secondary educational scene concur the principals at Willard, Valley and Saddleback are very poor administrators. Each principal is plagued with his or her own personal drama that impacts their ability to effectively oversee these schools.
Teacher discontent is at an all time high at Willard, Valley and Saddleback. That’s why it’s important to clean house downtown.
It really seems like someone doesnt like what is being told outloud here. This stuff is easily verifiable that people post. It is up to the board and the deputy superintendent to be aware that there might be very serious issues. Let them call a principal and say: give me the names of the people who attended that conference with you. And then let the inquiries begin.
The current power structure that seems so tormented right now, is used to accusing and condemning in a factless environment. That is coming to an end, hopefully. Keeping the big secrets is the only hope they have. Suggesting that no one is safe to post stories about ridiculous working conditions is just more of the same lame intimidation tactics that have been in operation. Transparency is what is needed. I think we can all agree on that.
Good luck
http://www.eff.org/news/archives/2006_07.php#004827
July 19, 2006
Anonymity Preserved for Critics of Oklahoma School Official
Subpoena Withdrawn After EFF Intervenes
Tulsa, Oklahoma – An Oklahoma school superintendent has dropped his attempt to unmask the identities of a website operator and all registered users of an Internet message board devoted to discussion of local public schools after the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) intervened in the case.
Jerry Burd, superintendent of the Sperry, Oklahoma, school district, had sued anonymous speakers who criticized him on an online message board. As part of the case, he filed a broad subpoena seeking to identify the site’s creator and everyone who had posted or even registered on the site, violating First Amendment protections for anonymous speech and association. Working with Tulsa attorneys Greg Bledsoe and Curtis Parks, EFF filed a motion to quash the subpoena on behalf of the site’s operator and a registered user. The superintendent responded by dismissing the case on Monday.
“We’re disappointed that Mr. Burd filed this frivolous case in the first place, but we’re pleased that he finally recognized that it’s wrong to use the discovery process to try to scare his critics into silence,” said EFF Staff Attorney Corynne McSherry. “Free-ranging public debate and criticism is essential to promoting effective and responsive public schools.”
The Oklahoma case is the latest win for EFF in preserving anonymity in online speech. In recent months, EFF lawyers have represented or provided amicus support in anonymity cases in California, Colorado, and Delaware.
“The right to engage in anonymous communication is fundamental to a free society,” said Staff Attorney Matt Zimmerman. “It’s critical that judges resist attempts by anyone — public officials especially — to turn courtrooms into vehicles to harass and intimidate people out of speaking their minds. Thankfully, court after court has recognized that a plaintiff doesn’t have an automatic right to pierce anonymity just because he doesn’t like what someone has said.”
For EFF’s full motion to quash the subpoena:
http://www.eff.org/legal/cases/Burd_v_Cole/Mtn-to-Quash.pdf
What in the world is Esther Jones doing reassigning excellent teachers to undesireable positions this week with the approval of Juan Lopez and Lewis Bratcher? Is anyone watching this woman try and disassemble the school site even more than she has? Unbelievable.
Lopez and Bratcher are roots of a serious problem.
House-cleaning time.
The administration situation at Saddleback high school is becoming more deplorable. Principal Esther Jones continues to remove the most competent, passionate people at that site. The recent removal of VP Sanchez just furthers this point. Jones needs to be handed her walking papers for the sake of the students and their families at Saddleback (let alone the excellent teachers at Saddleback).
In defense of Bratcher, he really is a good guy. He’s honest and Fair. He’s not the rump kisser people think he is, that’s why Russo is the acting Superintendent.
On another note, why is 70 year old man (I question his senility) principal at SAHS. Could it be he belongs to the same church and choir as Mijares?
How about all that nepotism at Valley HS. Espinosa has his brothers working under him.
Speaking of nepotism. check out the independent studies school. There’s woman supervisor who supervises her teacher husband who doesn’t make it school until 10 AM. What a job!
I agree with 2 things the Anonymous blogger, 7/21/2006 7:52 PM said.
1. Tony Espinoza does have at least one brother working with him at Valley High School.
2. Encinias (wife) does have her husband Encinias working under her direct supervision in the SAHS Independent Studies program.
These 2 are very well known facts, I don
Richard Erhard is another huge piece of deadwood. Anyone go to the CAC meetings (third Thursday of each month in the downtown board room). The meetings are related to special education and it’s just a huge anger fest. Erhard doesn’t solve any of the problems that the parents or teachers bring. He does give them pizza, however.
What is that guy’s salary? He’s done nothing for special eduation and he has been notified about numerous problems but won’t act like a leader should.
Hello, Jane! Hello Audrey! Don’t let her put out Sanchez without interviewing both Jones and Sanchez. And if you really CARE about damage assessment at Saddleback, then contact the union and pour over the grievances against Jones. Then talk to the remaining teachers who know both Jones and Sanchez and find out that the real reason she has to get rid of him is that he is her complete opposite.
He cares about fixing problems. He doesn’t encourage petty rifts among staff members. He treats the students with grace and respect. He is a decent guy who has stood in the way of Jones’ attacks on staff. He
According to the California Ed-Code, teachers solely determine
their students’ grade(s). In California, an administrator
cannot lawfully change a student’s grade or require that a
teacher do so. Several years ago in my school district, a
middle school teacher (along with the CTA) sued over this
issue and won monetary damages, including about 14 thousand
dollars in plaintiff’s attorney’s fees. What is ironic about
this case is that the grade change (by the principal) involved
a citizenship grade, not an academic grade. Needless to say,
this issue has never come up again in my district.
Non-tenured teachers should never accept a position in a SAIT (state sactioned) school. Please heed this advice, I wish I had heard it
before I signed my first contract last year. Very often these schools are looking for WB’s (warm bodies) to use, abuse, and discard. I am a good teacher, but let’s face it, it was my first
year and I had a lot to learn about classroom management, but do you think I was given any support? More that half my students were EL’s and 80% were bahavior problems (not mutually exclusive).
I was used as a scapegoat, and in hindsight I should have never taken the position.Not only was I not offered a position for next year (too bad for you principal because I learned a lot last year and actually I’m a better teacher for it, the ole trial by
fire), the principal gave me such a generic letter of recommendation that I would have to be crazy to use it. I feel that I am at a worse advantage for finding a
position now than I was this time last year with no xperience.
Again WARNING! Non tenured teachers – DO NOT accept a
position in a sanctioned school!
The newspaper reported Jane Russo has spent 21 of her 33 professional years at SAUSD or 64% of her academic career. Isn’t it curious that Mijares did not renew her contract when her position as an area administrator was eliminated?
Who enticed Russo to return to SAUSD and what was the carrot that convinced her to return?
After 21 years in this district, she has loyalities that may inhibit her from making the right decision for the academic advancement of the district.
In addition, she has never been a superintendent of any school district. SAUSD should not be her inaugural training turf.
Dan Salcedo at SAHS and Jeff Bishop at Willard should be included on the deadwood list. Both are awful administrators and dismal educators.
“Isn’t it curious that Mijares did not renew her contract when her position as an area administrator was eliminated?
Who enticed Russo to return to SAUSD and what was the carrot that convinced her to return? “
It would seem that she didn’t “fit in” well with the controlling group, would be my guess. Maybe Art could contact her directly and ask if she’d let us all know her basic educational philosophy at least?
I hear that Saddleback is making parents come in and pick up registration forms, instead of sending them out like the other schools. What’s up with that?
In my opinion, it is not Art’s place, to reach out to Russo. The district should take on that responsibility. Sponsoring several community meetings, at various school sites, would assure parents there’s been a smooth transistion since Mijares’ departure.
Dan Salcedo at SAHS and Jeff Bishop at Willard should be included on the SAUSD deadwood list.
Art, this is an important thread. Please do not let it drop off the main page. Keep it front and center.
To Anonymous writing on 7/22/2006 8:35 AM, Tony Espinosa changes senior grades every semester in order to get his AYP graduation numbers up.
To Anonymous writing on 7/19/2006 3:32 PM, Robert Sanchez also worked at Valley High School and was transferred by Tony Espinosa because Sanchez refused to do all the unethical things Espinosa required of him
To Anonymous writing on 7/21/2006 11:42 PM, Tony Espinosa does supervise two of his brothers, Art and Manuel. SAEA has demanded Espinosa be transferred but Noji and Mijares insisted that the brothers be transferred. The situation remains a stalemate to this day. Several years ago one of the brothers was given a poor evaluation by an assistant principal. Tony destroyed the evaluation and rewrote it himself giving his brother an excellent report. Tony Espinosa has done that same trick over the years for several of his allies and spys. If Noji wants to know the truth about Espinosa she can find out by checking the documentary record. Noji, however, has told all that ask that she trusts Tony Espinosa because he is “…a loyal employee.” If competence is equated to loyalty, then it is no wonder SAUSD is in the mess it finds itself. And if you give it a little more thought, Noji’s statement is the epitome of politics and not professional administration.
I was at a loss of words after reading all the threads on SAUSD and certain administrators in certain schools.
I am sure a lot of it is true.
I also totally agree with what Thomas Gordon said:
I attended Santa Ana elementary, junior and high schools my entire childhood. I can remember getting a good education only until jr. high. Once I got to high school, I don’t think any of my teachers cared whether I graduated or not. On thing I do remember is how many of them were having sexual relations with my friends! A lot of teachers and administrators knew, but didn’t do anything about it. How do I know? I was a t.a. in the counseling office.
Mrs. Jo Rodriguez – Torres is rumored to be on the way to Valley.
She is a vice principal at McFadden.
>>>>Luis Navarro
Employee, Parent
And Resident.
>>>
Mr. Navarro,
you obviously love Willard and your child is not even there yet! Is that the school that you work at? Mrs. Weaver is nows over at MacArthur because she listened to pqrents who were upset that thedir handicaps children were being hurt by a te3acher at Willard! The teacher was being protected by Jeff Bishop and then she was moved to Saddleback school. The parents are still mad because noone made that teacher take any traning and she might still hurt the students who cannot talk! What would you do?
To Mr. Luis Navarro. I must say Mr. Navarro you certainly have a lot of courage as an employee of SAUSD using your real name expressing a pro SAUSD opinion. that takes real guts. Three cheers Mr. Navarro. I hope one day SAUSD will allow you to express a critical opinion of SAUSD and keep you job.
To Luis Navarro: You expressed a whole bunch of opinions about Jeff Bishop without documentary evidence. I suggest you take a ride over to the SAEA offices on Broadway and check out the documentation on Jeff Bishop. After completing that task, write another blog making references to the SAEA documentation and either refute them with facts or explain them with facts. Otherwise it’s just so much smoke being blown around.
After reading Luis Navarro’s post I was reminded of the first SAUSD Board meeting I had attended several years ago. I was sitting in the back of the Board room watching the various dramas unfold when I noticed Tony Espinosa march in with a pack of people. Espinosa was joking and back slapping the people one by one. To my left I overheard some teachers, who I later found out were from Valley High School, talking about how Tony, on the advice of Bratcher and Mijares, was “stacking the deck” with this phony parent group. As it turns out, one of the phony parents was the Valley pervert. When it came to Espinosa’s issue, one by one each of the phony concerned parents got up and spoke, with Espinosa standing directly behind each phony parent one by one. When Espinosa’s phony parent group finished, they all left the room while Espinosa stayed behind. Watching Espinosa I saw him begin to catch the eye of several of the Valley teachers and begin to give those poor teachers the most evil and sinister and hate filled look I have ever seen on the face of a living human being. To my surprise, none of the teachers were intimidated by Espinosa’s tactics. Each Valley Teacher got up and addressed Espinosa’s issue then quietly and in a very dignified manner each teacher sat down and continued to follow the proceedings. At the break, the teachers and Espinosa left and I soon followed to see if a confrontation my ensue out in the parking lot. Nothing happened and that was the end of it. Mr. Luis Navarro, have you ever been part of a phony parent group? You know, a group of people recruited by the district pretending to be concerned about the education at their generic school and recruited for duty only during very specific Board meetings never to be seen or heard from again unless called upon by the Bratcher and Mijares to do the phony concerned parent thing again.
There is a secretary at Saddleback who has not been spoken to by Principal Jones for 4 years.
Is this type of unprofessional conduct typical of the district?
Ill tell you about harasment from administration. I run a real estate business as well as teach and Ive been writen up for doing my real estate work while in the classroom. Thank God for cell phones cuz they won’t let incoming calls through anymore during instruction time. If it werent for my cell phone, I dont know what Id do.
I would not call it harrassment, I call it good managing. You should have beeen fired!
If my child was in your classroom, I would not rest util you were taken out of the classroom.
You call yourself a “teacher”, You are, what is wrong with public education, Shame on You!
I can’t lock my classroom door anymore since the new principal. But last yr I had a kid watching out. What the h.. does the kid know.
We have admin on the run…keep up the blog.
to Anonymous writing on 7/25/2006 8:24 AM. I think it was a student writing about a teacher and the brother of the principal, Tony Espinosa selling property from his classroom. The writer used the term “cuz” which is a student thing. But I do know of another horror story which is similar. At Valley High School there was teacher who had a business as a paralegal. She conducted alot of paralegal work from her classroom. The Principal of Valley high School, Tony Espinosa, made her Department Chair with an extra period off so she could conduct her paralegal business more effectively. Mijares and Noji were informed of Espinosa’s promotion of that paralegal/teacher to Department Chair but they ignored it. The paralegal/teacher became an effective spy and snitch for Espinosa. That paralegal/teacher is now retired.
We have ways of dealing with those who turn on their own standard union 101 lesson. Let that be a warning to all you teachers who go against us – we have the support and backing of the right people – we will prevail in November – watch your back.
This is all very interesting reading. I’m amazed at how many teachers can’t spell,type, or even write proper grammer, but I agree with their complaints.
Classified isn’t any better. Someone mentioned the Chief of School Police and Building Services. The comment was dead on. The second sexual harrassment lawsuit should also cost the district some serious coin, as did the first. I wonder how many more lawsuits the board will take before they figure it out.
Risk management under the leadership of an 8 month experienced director, who came to our district as a former Asst. Super with no Risk management experience is showing just exactly the kind of misguilded judgement that is losing money from the district and from the kids.
It saddens me to read all these problems because what does it take to fix it? Venting here makes us all feel good but it doesn’t seem to clean up the problem. I’m caught in the mix like everyone else. I wish us all luck.
You are, in simple terms what is is wrong with this district; if you can’t write or speak without threatening anyone, shut-up!
Anonymous said…
We have ways of dealing with those who turn on their own standard union 101 lesson. Let that be a warning to all you teachers who go against us – we have the support and backing of the right people – we will prevail in November – watch your back.
7/25/2006 10:57 AM
If you want people to watch their back, you should put your name to this thread. You are gut-less and have no “cajones”.
Next time you put a thread like this, put your name to it, ball-less wonder!
It should be obvious that some kids have discovered this site and they are doing their thing. That explains some of the more blatant grammatical errors and poor writing clarity.
This districts police chief spends his time policing “skirts” not criminals. Jim Miyachiro
Anonymous said…
This is all very interesting reading. I’m amazed at how many teachers can’t spell,type, or even write proper grammer, but I agree with their complaints.
Classified isn’t any better. Someone mentioned the Chief of School Police and Building Services. The comment was dead on. The second sexual harrassment lawsuit should also cost the district some serious coin, as did the first. I wonder how many more lawsuits the board will take before they figure it out.
7/25/2006 12:51 PM
If I was a parent of a kid in this district, I would be in every board meeting speaking against their “skirt” hunter until he was out of the district.
Who is in charge of oversein this guy?
What kind of reputation does the district think it will get if any or all of this pervert victims come forward? Maybe they should!
If this district allows this kind of behavior, it is time for the state to come in and clean house.
What do you think?
I think the real venting will come out as soon as there are positive changes for the most obvious of problems. I don’t think many people are venting for the sake of complaining. More likely people are telling about problems so that top managers like Jane Russo has a heads up to start the big clean up.
“The Principal of Valley high School, Tony Espinosa, made her Department Chair with an extra period off so she could conduct her paralegal business more effectively. Mijares and Noji were informed of Espinosa’s promotion of that paralegal/teacher to Department Chair but they ignored it. The paralegal/teacher became an effective spy and snitch for Espinosa.”
That is exactly what Jones is doing with the department head of special education at Saddleback! Both are disasters!
Whats up with miyashiro?
Does the city police know what kind of chief he is?
I would be hiding under a rock, if I was him.
What about jones?
Is she the one that told teachers to change their grades>?
This strand is written by a few disgruntled individuals both inside and outside SAUSD who have personal agendas and does not adequately represent the whole. This strand is disingenuous if it believes it represents all teachers.
Many teachers and administrators remained focused on why they are employed at SAUSD
Bravo poster 7/26/2006 8:14 AM. If you had bothered to read the postings in their entirety and took note of the patterns that have emerged, you will see that the vast majority of the criticisms have been leveled at a few really,really bad apples in the district administration. Are there bad apple teachers? Sure. The impact of those few bad apple teachers is significant but the damage inflicted by bad apple administrators can be catastrophic to students, teachers, parents, and the entire school district. The names of bad apple administrators that have emerged over and over again are Bishop, Bratcher, Espinosa, and Jones. Bad people in leadership positions are far worse then bad followers in subordinate positions . What we need is not “baby steps” but bold initiatives, the kind of initiatives that Mijares took after the recall of Nativo Lopez. And we all know what Dr. Al did to Nativo’s people.