I was reading a Huffingtonpost.com article ridiculing the many racist, sexist, and/or dumb things Rush Limbaugh has said in his many years on the radio when I found an inaccurate quote. I emailed the author asking them what their source or when the comment was made and within minutes he emailed me back and issued a correction.

The ability for blogs to be at times more accurate and responsible is impressive. In a print edition a retraction is going to be lost on a back page somewhere.

Click here for the HuffingtonPost.com story.

Anyways, Rush Limbaugh has said some real despicable things over the years but that wasn't one of them.

Help me out. I wanted to correct the record but let's not ignore the long record Rush Limbaugh has of saying inaccurate and despicable comments.

To leave a comment click on continue reading. You don't need to register to comment or use your real name. But posting your real name adds credibility to your post for many people. Make sure to cite a reliable source for the comments you post.

Do you think the Democrats tactic of making Rush Limbaugh the unofficial spokesperson for the Republican Party was a smart plan?

With the long record of humor at the expense of the weak and outrageous behavior I wouldn't want him to be seen as a spokesperson for anything I was involved in. His approval is lower than the popularity of Rev. Jeremiah Wright!

Thanks to the Huffingtonpost for the quick correction.

There are petitions set to start circulating to change the motto of Simi Valley to
" Simi Valley: Better Than Thousand Oaks."

If you see someone with a petition will you sign it? If you want to get involved with the campaign leave a comment. The idea is to create a motto that we will try our best to live up to in our daily lives.

Click here to sign the petition.

In other Simi Valley news The Simi Valley Planning Commision is going to be discussing a proposal to build a statue honoring a former president in Simi Valley.Click here for news on a proposal for a 3 story tall statue of Ronald Reagan.

Click here to see an animated video of the proposal.

State Assembly candidate Jeff Gorell ( He is running to repalce termed out Assembly Member Audra Strickland) picked up the endorsement of the union representing California Highway patrol Officers.

Click on continue reading for details.

Any chances a candidate will emerge from the right to challenge him?

I doubt a serious contender will emerge on the right because he already has the support of Ventura County Republican Party leadership including State Senator Tony Strickland, State Assembly Member Audra Strickland, and County Supervisor Peter Foy.

The only real challenge might come from a Democrat. Check back for more information.

In unrelated law enforcement news The Simi Valley Police Department is asking you to sign up for their email updates. Click here for more information.

I serve on the Simi Valley Anti-crime Task Force as a volunteer. The committee is appointed from local citizens. I haven't discussed it here because it is by nature mostly apolitical. The task force gives advice to the city and it helps to spread its message to stake holders through out our community.

We are asking you to help in two simple ways.

1. Sign up for updates from the Simi Valley Police Department. They send out periodic emails with information ranging on crime prevention tips, new policies, and most wanted information. Want to know the up to date modus operandi of local criminals? Subscribe.

Here is a quote from their website:

Citizen Alert and Business Alert are programs designed to assist in better protecting your home, family, community, and business employees and customers through timely communication. Through these subscription-based e-mail systems, the Police Department will be providing you with press releases, crime prevention information, wanted persons flyers, emergency updates, and more.

To register to receive Citizen Alerts, send an e-mail to CitizenAlert@simivalley.org. To register to receive Business Alerts, send an e-mail to BusinessAlert@simivalley.org.

To report a crime and remain anonymous call (805) 494-8255. For additional information about Crime Stoppers of Ventura County, go to www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org.

Click here for the Simi Valley Police Department Crime Prevention website.

2. Change the tag or footnote of your email to include the following information:

Please help spread the word on how to prevent crime in Simi Valley. Send an email to CitizenAlert@simivalley.org and get updates from the Simi Valley Police Department.

3. If you are on Facebook join the group Simi Valley Police Foundation to find out more ways to support an organization that helps keep our community safe.

Please send a link or cut and paste this message to your address book.

If you sign up for the updates please leave a comment here to let me know this is an effective way of getting the message out. You don't have to register or use your real name to leave a comment.

If you don't live in Simi Valley feel free to sign up to learn what Simi Valley is doing and then share what innovations your community is implementing.

Thanks for reading and commenting on my blog.

http://blogs.venturacountystar.com/dennert/

I post guest blog entries from interested readers if they are thought provoking and they answer questions in the comments section after the entry.

To post comments you don't need to register or use your real name. I often delete comments that abusive or use foul language if someone emails me to request it.

Here is the latest from Martin Breen. After reading it give him some feedback.

Money For Nothing
By Martin Breen

I remember when I was twelve and I got my first newspaper route. I worked something like 20 hours a week and got paid $10 - 12 bucks a week (not much even by those standards) if the tips were good. But to me that $10 bucks was everything. I quickly realized that the more I worked, the more I made. The nicer I was, the more tips I received. The more efficient I was in assembling the paper and the faster that I pedaled, the less time I spent on my route and the more time that I could devote to my real love, baseball. What a great lesson in capitalism. I remember one particular rainy day when I was bemoaning the fact that I had 46 papers to deliver in the pouring rain, and my Father would not drive me, he told me that you don't get "money for nothing." My Father went on to say that "in America, we work hard for our money, and we're proud of that fact." This sense of pride, the American work ethic, would serve me well as I entered college and ultimately, the workforce.

But I am afraid that it is this sense of pride, the American work ethic, that is missing today. Quite frankly, I do not believe that many Americans want to work hard for their money. Instead, I would suggest that a certain level of entitlement has crept into our psyche that is completely contrary to the origins of this great country. I call it the "money for nothing" economy. Americans that expect to make a certain level of living, regardless of the value that they provide. It is this mindset, whether it is demonstrated by a Wall Street Banker or the Octomom, that makes me believe we're headed in the wrong direction.

Some examples are in order. The Wall Street banker who wants to make millions even if they have not made you or me one cent. As the AIG bonus fiasco so clearly demonstrates, paying people huge sums of money to lose money is completely absurd. You could also make a strong argument that while Wall Street plays an important role in lending and raising capital in our society, it does not actually create the jobs or the things that we produce. In other words, Wall Street is only the means, not the ends. Real businesses, like Ford, Caterpillar or a local manufacturing business -- those that create jobs -- truly provide value to America. Yet, Wall Street pays itself so handsomely that you would think their all 3rd baseman's for the New York Yankees. To make matters worse, in the last ten years, they have done nothing but shuffle papers around, selling the same crummy mortgages, over and over again. In fact, the derivate market grew to $683 trillion, which is twenty times the size of the U.S. Stock Market. You do not need a Nobel Prize in Economics to know that this defies common sense.

Adam Smith once said, "The real price of every thing, what every thing really costs to man who wants to acquire it is the toil and trouble of acquiring it." Put simply, Mr. Smith espoused that the value of an exchangeable good or service is equal to the amount of labor required to produce it. Classical economic theory is that you should get paid a day's wages for a day's worth of work (I am simplifying). And, in America, this worked for employer and employee alike (with a little help from the Unions) as the middle class grew to epic proportions.

I mean do you remember when sales folks used to take pride in saving you money? Now, it seems like everyone just wants to rip you off and they don't care if you know it. Clearly, something happened between the Chia Pet (if your under age 35, google it) and Youtube and profit became a drug. Instead of CEO's making ten times the average worker (in the 70's), they started making four-hundred times (in the 90's) that same worker. The profit drug became an addiction and not only did they want millions when they were making money but even when they weren't.

Unfortunately, the free market forces became unbalanced and out of sorts with much of the wealth being shared by fewer and fewer. Indeed, as companies purged the workforce, outsourced jobs and stop manufacturing in the U.S., they simultaneously, transferred this wealth only to themselves. In other words, any savings that might have accrued to the shareholders, did not go to the shareholders but instead went to a small, insular group of corporate managers that voted themselves pay raises, stock options and golden parachutes under the auspices that it was the market rate. Of course, the market rate had been artificially set and tampered with by this new breed of robber barons. You do not need a Harvard MBA to make money by firing thousands of workers and outsourcing jobs. I might suggest that anyone could do that.

Moreover, company after company began raising prices despite the fact that they did not provide any more value to the customer. Consider the Airlines, now they charge you a baggage fee, meal charges, pillow fees, all, made-up fees that used to be part of something called your airfare. Did they provide you any more value? And, other industries are not much better. If UPS and FedEx and the cell phone companies want more money (and they always do), they create phony fees, like a fuel surcharge, or an environmental fee, an administration fee or even a cancellation fee. None of these charges were real or provided you and me any more value. And, this mindset even trickled down to the working class, as mechanics and laborers started demanding fees in excess of their value. I mean how many times do you go to an auto repair shop and these guys just seem like they charge you whatever they want. We truly became a money for nothing society.

This must change if we're going to turn things around. Value must be restored to its rightful place - as a foundation of capitalism. Look around your neighborhood and see what we manufacture or produce? We haven't made anything in quite a while; we seem content to be a "service" economy - where we just push papers around -- where we all just feed on ourselves. It's like a giant ponzi scheme with no one actually creating anything. And, thanks to Madoff, we all know how ponzi schemes turn out: One guy gets rich and everyone else loses they're life's earnings.

So how do we fix it? We let capitalism punish those that took excessive risk. We ask questions. We stand up in boardrooms and say that CEO's don't need to make $50 million a year. We become politically active. We refuse to pay a fifty dollar baggage fee. I know you think you don't have any power but you actually have all the power - you just haven't exercised it yet. Indeed, our greatest weakness, consumerism, may also be our greatest strength. Remember, you vote with your dollars every day -- Just like every vote counts so does every dollar.

In a continuing tradition I sometimes put up a discussion or debate entry on Thursday Nights and recruit a few participants. Over the next few days former Simi Valley Mayor and School Board Member Greg Stratton and long time educator and union leader Stephen Blum of Ventura will be discussing their views and experiences in education.

Here are their biographies:

Greg Stratton:

Greg has served as mayor of Simi Valley and after that he served on the Simi Valley Board of Education. He has occasionally written comments on my blog and has been outspoken in his views to the local press. Greg, Stephen sent in his bio below. He has frustrated fellow board members, unions, and more over the years. Serving on local boards and councils is often a thank less job. Being an elected official opens a person up to a high level of criticism, some of it deserved and some of it not. Greg, ever think of running for the park board and saying you served on all three?

If you want to add more to your bio email it to me and I will update yours too.

Stephen Blum:

Education: BA in history from California Lutheran - 1977, MA in education from California Lutheran - 1990, Juris Doctorate from Ventura College of Law 2006. Passed California Bar Exam in 2006.

Taught for 25 years at Buena High School, Foothill Technology High School, and Ventura Adult Education. Coached cross-country and track and field for 22 years at Buena High School. Currently serving in eighth year as president of the Ventura Unified Education Association. Member of the Ventura County Community College District Board of Trustees since 2006.

Married to Debbie Blum who teaches at Rio Mesa High School. Our daughter, Teresa, is attending Ventura College. Competitive road runner for 30 years, two time Master's National Champion (5,000 and 10000 meters) former Master's American Record holder (road 5,000).

The format for this discussion is free flowing. I am going to start by posting some questions below that I want both of you to answer with a very brief response. After that it will be more Lincoln Douglas style where you can ask each other questions and explain your views more.

Make sure to include examples from your involvement with education to help all of us understand your reasoning more.

So here goes:

1. What are your thoughts on the recent Pink Friday rallies? Did either of you attend an event?

2. President Barack Obama has said he supports merit pay, extending the school day, and other educational reforms. Have you ever supported these type of proposals?

3. What do you think of the growth of magnet schools and/or charter schools? Would you like to see the expansion of charter or magnet schools in your community?

What are the major reasons charter or magnet schools haven't been increasing in your area? Simi Valley has two elementary magnet schools but it takes luck to get a student in. Do you support growing charter or magnet programs?

4. The state budget is likely going to cut back substantially on education spending. What do you think the impact on the quality of education will be? What programs or staff would you cut?

5. The seniority system makes sure that new teachers are laid off first, regardless of passion, talent, and skills. But most districts use some sort of tie breakers after seniority.

Do you support the seniority system as it currently is used? What tie breakers do you think should be used?

Thanks to both of you for agreeing to participate.

Comments from other people will be deleted until after the discussion when my readers can post their thoughts.

UPDATE: THIS ENTRY IS NOW OPEN FOR ANYONE TO COMMENT.

Youth and Government is a YMCA program that helps young people develop their leadership talents, improve their public speaking skills, and to prepare for a life of service to others. To learn more including how to get a young person involved click here.

Every year the Simi Valley YMCA Youth and Government holds a bill hearing night where they read their proposed legislation and get feed back from prominent community members, teachers, and their families. I have attended the last two years and it is a great joy to give these kids a hard time. We question them on the merits of their legislation, the unintended consequences, and the real purposes behind their ideas.

I know many of these students and they display great character, high motivation, and impressive critical thinking skills. I expect many of them will continue to be involved in politics in the future. Simi Valley will be really fortunate if after college they continue to serve in our community.

I expect many of students involved will be in prominent positions in government, business, and nonprofits in whatever community they make their lives in. Years from now, when you see their names in the paper remember you heard of them here first.

Send this link to a young person that you think should get involved:

http://www.calymca.org/

The Next Generation of Government Leaders (Left to Right: Kevin Kieselbach, Danny Reshew, Patrick Stevenson, Scott Jackson, Dane Boudreau, and Dillon Krasnigor) Photo credit: Erin Pierik

Y&G Builds Strong Friendships! (Left to Right: Emilie Mateu, Allie Mangel, Jill Nolke, Nicole McKenney, and Kelsey Krasnigor) Photo credit: Erin Pierik

Click here for the story sharing their experiences or click on continue reading to see it.

In related youth news the Simi Valley Girls Softball boosters are sponsoring a Poker Tournament to raise money for their programs. Click on continue reading for details. Who's in?

I took many photos and videos at the Pink Friday rally in Simi Valley. Click here to see all of the photos and videos I have posted.

You do not need to register or use your real name to post. But for many using your real name adds credibility to your ideas. To others it doesn't matter. The choice is yours. Click on continue reading on each entry to see more pictures, videos, and to post comments.

Credit for the following photos belongs to teacher Nicole Barr. If you know Nicole you know she is a smart, talented, and an accomplished teacher that demands much from her students.

Many teachers at the rally were given Pink Slips. But many of their colleagues were there to support them and to stand against more cuts to public education. A teacher/coach in this photo only had a few minutes before going to help at a sporting event but stopped by to show his support. He might have left thinking it was a small gesture but to those that were told they might lose their jobs it was very significant to know that we all realize the cuts will hurt students, schools, teachers, and our state. It should be our goal to minimize the damage cuts do to local schools by working together.

I know union leaders, administrators, teachers, district personal, and school board members have been meeting for months to plan for the future. The negotiations are tough and there will be hardships created by their decisions. I have seen many of you returning from meetings looking very depressed. I heard of a recent meeting where the two sides faced off with angry words but when the meeting was over there was tears forming in the eyes of normally very stoic people. I don't envy the people that have to sign off on orders to lay people off, especially knowing that many schools aren't hiring. Many of the people with pink slips will be hired back. But for some of them their careers as teachers are likely to end. Keep focused and do your best. We know you face hard choices and many of the options aren't good for education.

A group of Anti-tax activists backed by the conservative Christian group The American Family Association is organizing a nationwide Tea ( Taxed Enough Already) Party on April 15th. Local organizers are putting together an event in Ventura and are looking for more people to help them get the word out to others.

I am going to guess Ventura County Supervisor Peter Foy will be there.

Speaking of which he is running towards the top in my online poll:

Click on continue reading for their message and how to get involved.

I don't understand why a Conservative Christian group has opinions on so many nonreligious issues including bonuses, taxation, global warming, and The Employee Free Choice Act but being that they do here is a poll on The Employee Free Choice Act too:

And a poll on repealing the 2/3rds requirement to pass a budget:

And on the recent budget compromise:

UPDATE: The group would like to clarify that although the Conservative Christian group the American Family Association is backing the event it is not a religiously affiliated event and people of many different religious ( including non-believers), ethnic, and political backgrounds will be invited to help put together the event and attend the rally.

( Is this your house? It is in Simi Valley.)

This is an open forum. What issue is bothering you?

Here are some links that deserve mentioning but maybe not as an entry to themselves:

I found a strange blog a history of a major event in Simi Valley. Make sure to start at the beginning. Click here to see it.

Republican candidate for governor Tom Campbell has started a blog where he answers questions from his readers. Republicans have a choice between two billionaires with high priced political consultants and a candidate so well versed on policy he takes questions directly. Maybe the other two will join him and start their own blogs where they take questions directly from voters.

Click here for Tom Campbell's blog.

Click here for my interview with Tom Campbell.

Rep. Mike Honda is pushing our Governor to use more of the stimulus funding on California schools. Click here for his blog. Does anyone have a link that breaks down how California will be spending the money in the stimulus bill given to us? People have been asking me if it will save jobs for teachers and I don't have a clear answer.

The election for a new sheriff is really heating up with one of the candidates getting a job back after months of investigation. I don't have enough of a background in the relevant issues to provide insightful commentary but the story is really interesting and raises more questions than it answers. Click here for the story. I look forward to learning more as the campaigns start to get serious. A major function of campaigns is to inform the public of the different policy choices facing them. Without a campaign for this position in a few generations it isn't surprising that many of the issues aren't well known.

Reader and fellow blogger Daniel Goldberg sent in the following event to be posted:

Go gamble the night away. It's for a good cause.

Rep. Gallegly voted to tax the bonuses of AIG employees. Some of the bonuses might have been merited but overall the company is out of touch with political reality and they didn't show they were contrite or thankful for the infusion of billions of tax dollars.

Click on continue reading for the press release.

I am glad to see Elton Gallegly supporting President Barack Obama when they agree. Barack Obama won the 24th congressional district which shows many people here support his agenda.

Maybe Rep. Gallegly will hold a town hall meeting or other scheduled public event soon. I don't remember his last public scheduled event but it has been many months. Do any of you remember?

I have been trying to bring more transparency to local schools during the budget problems local schools are facing. In addition to the photos and video I have also been posting memos. Click on continue reading to view a campaign flyer from Rick Lebeck who ran for a position in our local union. There are also more videos to see by clicking on continue reading.

Send me any photos, memos, or videos you want posted.

If you are new around here you don't need to register or use your real name to comment.

Thanks for reading my blog.

( Conservative activist Tom Snyder discusses why he thinks the CTA is run by socialists.)

( Santa Susana teacher Andrew Hollander discusses seniority, getting a pink slip, and why he likes his school.)

From time to time I post guest blog entries submitted by readers. Email me if you are interested in writing a guest blog entry. Posting your entry is not an endorsement of your views. Just because I post an entry it doesn't mean I necessarily agree or disagree with a writer. For example, this guest blog entry has demeaning attacks on government workers. I don't think the language helps Martin's argument at all. But it is his argument, not mine.

Here is the latest from reader Martin Breen:

The Prime Directive

My view of capitalism is born from the school of hard knocks -- where success and failure are important to each other as the earth and sky. Perhaps capitalism is not for everyone, and, at times, it may seem cruel and inhumane. However, it is the best system that we have as all the others, such as communism and socialism, have caused far more cruelty and suffering. Indeed, our democratic capitalism, the one espoused by our founding fathers has laid the foundation for the greatest rise of a nation in the history of the world. Put simply, capitalism has led to the greatest two hundred years of economic prosperity for anyone willing to pick up a shovel or imagine the next great innovation.

However, at current, I wonder if we haven't so perverted our capitalistic system that it can never be repaired. I am reminded of the television series, "Star Trek," and the Prime Directive of Star Fleet whenever visiting a new planet or civilization. Namely, that Captain Kirk and company "could not interfere with the internal struggle of the civilization and alter its natural development." In other words, Star Fleet must stay neutral and allow the new world to succeed or fail on its own merits. I cannot help but think that this has always been a decent metaphor for capitalism and the silent, neutral hand of free markets. At its core, our country was built as a meritocracy; we should not be so quick to give up on it. But, of course, that's not what our Government, our elected, representative democracy has done. Instead, it has decided to violate the Prime Directive and forever interfere with the direction and history of capitalism. And, perhaps there will be serious and unintended consequences.

I might suggest that the capitalism is analogous to nature. They are both highly complex and closed systems that work as long as no one changes their course (btw - this is not an argument against regulation). Yes, there will be storms, hurricanes, and volcanic eruptions that change landscapes and affect people's lives as sure as there will be recessions, depressions and business failures that will reshape the economic landscape. But to attempt to duplicate either of these systems would be nearly impossible. Can you imagine if the government had to control every aspect of nature? Would you even know where to start? How is it any different when we talk about capitalism? Didn't the fall of the Soviet Union teach us that artificial economic markets could not be sustained by mankind? At least, not without intense human suffering and the creation of the same kind of classes ultimately created by capitalism.

I might also suggest that the current crisis is so complicated and nuanced that only the best and the brightest should even consider jumping into the fray. There are, however, many who will state that it is the best and brightest that got us into this mess with all their so-called mathematical and derivative formulas. And while this notion is, of course, in part accurate, I think it was excessive risk taking that started our problem. And, this also goes to my next point. If a genius educated at our best schools with an I.Q. over 150 cannot figure things out, how do you suppose the typical government worker, the "C" student with a 110 I.Q., will meet this incredible challenge?

From top to bottom, the government is just not equipped to handle this current financial crisis. This is especially true, if they believe that they can outthink the markets. A recent dust-up may prove my point. AIG, the world's largest insurer suffers staggering losses and the managers responsible for it all claim they are entitled to nearly $165 million in bonuses and other compensation. The American people and President Obama are rightly outraged. But guess what folks, if the government did not step in and save AIG, these bad managers would have gotten nothing since AIG would have gone out of business and no one would have gotten anything, but the door. More fundamentally, it was the perversion of capitalism that created this odd result.

I will quote Thomas Jefferson because he is one of the primary architects of our democracy (republic) and every American should reacquaint themselves with his writings. Jefferson once said that "a wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor and bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government." Jefferson certainly would agree that good government should adhere to the principles of the Prime Directive.

Here, it should be axiomatic that you cannot fix a leverage problem (i.e., borrowing too much money) by borrowing more. Indeed, borrowing so much, that you don't have enough paper to print the new money. Did you get that? We are printing so much money that we don't have enough paper to fill the orders. And, more importantly, we are not borrowing from ourselves, or even the Chinese, but our children and their children. Who are we to bind these future generations to such uncapitalistic decisions? Quite frankly, my as yet unborn grandchild may not want to lend me this money. In fact, since bad lending decisions, loaning money to folks that really couldn't afford the payments, created this current crisis, we would not even qualify to get these loans from our grandchildren. We are certainly a credit-risk and not worthy of a $3 trillion dollar loan, even from a family member.

So how do we fix the current mess? That's the beauty of the nature of capitalism - we do nothing and it will ultimately fix itself. Give the recent wildfires a chance to reseed the hillsides and you will see that the grass will grow again. In economic terms, let those that took on excessive risk and failed, fail. Let merit mean something again in America. Not everyone has to win every game and every race. Indeed, if everyone wins a race, then no one has really won at all.

I know it seems scary and callous and the talking heads keep warning you about this disaster or that one, but failure is the only way to ensure future long term growth. I mean think how arrogant it is to say that companies are too big to fail. Do you really think the United States is too big to fail? Keep bailing out bank after bank and company after company and printing money like health gym windshield flyers and see if we are not too big to fail? Actually, please don't.

Does the order of the candidates on the ballot for city council matter? I don't know for sure but Moorpark City Council candidate Nathan Sweet won the draw for the May election.

Here is a quote from him:

The Secretary of State did a lottery to determine the order that the names will appear on the ballot on May 19th. I received the first position out of 7 candidates. I don't know how much this will help in an election, but it certainly won't hurt.

I will post information from any candidate for Moorpark's city council that sends it in.

( The video is a song called "There is Nobody As Irish As Barack O'Bama. Happy St. Patrick's Day.)

President Barack Obama will be in Southern California this week to hold a town hall forum on health care reform. I am amazed at how many issues he is trying to work on so soon. I don't think I ever shared this story on my blog before but years ago, before he declared he ran for president I worked at a fundraiser for a DSCC event that included Senator Hillary Clinton, Democratic Party Leader Howard Dean, soon to be Senator Barack Obama, and The red Hot Chili Peppers. I didn't meet Barack Obama and I wasn't back stage but I was working crowd control. It is pretty cool to say I worked security at a Barack Obama event. Regardless of how you voted you should register for the lottery for this event. To be a part of history like this would be an honor and something to tell future generations.

Register for tickets by clicking here.

You have until noon Tuesday.

Just like back in November during Proposition 8 rallies there is almost always a sign waver for pizza or something else. This time the sign waver joined in.

School Board Member Jeanne Davis was at the rally talking with teachers and giving hugs to those that were going to get Pink Slips. Jeanne, it meant a great deal to people that you were out there to encourage everyone. I know there was other administrators or district personal out there that I missed but other teachers saw them and it was a great gesture to stand side by side with those that were going to be given Pink Slips.

Click on continue reading for more pictures and videos.

I have more photos to post over the next few days. I am going to go back and label the photos tomorrow but these are all from today's rally in Simi Valley. I will also write my thoughts in greater detail. But quickly, I support President Barack Obama's idea of paying teachers more based on performance. I also know the proposed cuts in education funding in California would be damaging to local schools. I know schools will be cut back because of the economy, but the size of cuts should be limited to the best of our abilities.

Many of my friends received their pink slips today. Many of them will be hired back, but they have months of uncertainty facing them, which is not really in their control or based on their performance.

Simi Valley Unified School District is posed to lay off some of the best teachers we have and that will have big impacts on the quality of education students have the opportunity to earn.

Click on continue reading for more photos and videos.

If you take any of these photos or videos for your FaceBook page, please post a link back here.

( Send me any photos or videos you want me to post. Many people assumed Pink Slips were onyl going to be given out to new teachers. After seven years most teachers would have felt safe. But this young elementary school teacher was told she was going to be given a Reduction In Force notice ( RIF ) on Friday.

( These two teachers were told they were going to get RIF notices on Friday. For many teachers it isn't just the thought of losing their job, but also the reality that not many districts will be hiring this year. Many teachers want to teach where they live and be involved in our community on and off campus. Both of these teachers grew up in Simi Valley. I know them both personally and they are impressive educators.

The staff at Hollow Hills reacted quickly to show solidarity for their coworkers by printing up tshirts with the names of the teachers given RIF notices at their school. Hollow Hills is an award winning magnet school with an accelerated curriculum and contracts for families that send their children there. To lose many staff members of this innovative school would set Simi Valley back.

The theme of the day was pink. Wearing Pink shows solidarity with the teachers that have been given Pink Slips. I didn't own a pink shirt before last week ( Button up long sleeve almost pink shirt at Kohl's? Less than 5 bucks.) but I proudly wore my shirt to show I support the many hard working and talented teachers that are afraid they will lose their jobs. I am not going to buy a pair of pink Converse any time soon.

Photo Credit: Ethan Renner. Thanks for taking this picture when I ran out of memory on my camera.

Conservative activist Tom Snyder showed up waving a Yes on Proposition 8 sign and making it known that he believes the CTA is a radical union that supports socialism. Here is a YouTube videos of him explaining some of his views. I ran out of memory and didn't get a chance to ask him many questions.

( Simi Valley School Board Member Jeanne Davis at a rally on Pink Friday)

To keep people informed and allow them inside the process I am posting memos from my school district in full on my blog. If you have memos from your school district to post please send them in.

Here's the latest:

TO ALL CERTIFICATED STAFF MEMBERS OF THE SIMI VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

This communication is being sent to advise you of the process the District is using to notify certificated staff members of the impending notices of potential layoff. We have shared this process with the leadership of SEA.

All notices of potential layoff will be mailed to the appropriate certificated personnel via US Mail. The mailing will be sent certified mail, with return receipt. These letters will be delivered to the US Post Office no later than tomorrow, March 13, 2009.

Principals have been given direction to speak to each of the certificated staff members scheduled to receive these notices. Principals are to do this on the morning of March 13, 2009, hopefully before noon. If a certificated staff member has an individual question that cannot be answered by the Principal, then that person can contact either the Certificated Personnel office or the SEA office.

All certificated staff members that receive a potential layoff notice have the right to appeal. A form for requesting a hearing is included with the notices being mailed out. If a certificated staff member feels strongly that a mistake has been made, then we urge you to notify your association as soon as possible. We would like to resolve any potential concerns prior to the Administrative Hearings scheduled for the end of April.

The current State budget crisis has forced our district, along with virtually every other school district in California, to make these very difficult staffing decisions. While we deeply regret having to send these notices out, please know that we believe all of our certificated staff members are doing an outstanding job of teaching and caring for our students. We want to thank all of you for your service to our children and the District.

Message on Conejo Valley Unified District Budget Cuts:

PINK FRIDAY -- MARCH 13, 2009
STAND UP FOR SCHOOLS

Please join us to support public schools!
Wear pink in support of RIF'd teachers

Blood Drive at Thousand Oaks High School from 3-7 PM
"They have taken everything else -- this is all we have left to give."
New information: You may call the UACT Office to sign up for a time.
Call 805-497-8220 from 10-1:30 to reserve a time.
Community Rally at Thousand Oaks Community Park
Next to Thousand Oaks High School 4-5 PM
Music, Speaker, Signs, & Support
It is time to educate the public to the cost of the CA State Budget Cuts!
Education is only 40% of the budget but we took 60% of the cuts.

$11.6 Billion in Cuts to K-12 Schools in California
This is a loss of $2,000 per student in California.
We are now ranked 48th in the nation.

What is the Impact of the Cuts to CVUSD?

$5.3 Million in Cuts District-Wide

Approximately $250 in cuts for EACH student in CVUSD

65 Elementary School Teachers Laid-Off

16 Middle School Teachers Laid-Off

20 High School Teachers Laid-Off

4 BTSA Teachers Laid-Off

12 Counselors Laid-Off

21 Administrators Laid-Offo
Classified Lays-Offs Yet to Come

Larger class sizes proposed in 2009-2010

Textbook Adoptions Postponed

Come learn more, support teachers with lay off notices, and support our children.

I will be at the rally at Sycamore and Cochran tomorrow afternoon doing interviews and taking pictures. if you take pictures of your rally send them in.

( History fans: Can you spot the anachronism?)

I long time reader Martin Breen has written a guest blog entry that he asked me to post. If you want to write a guest blog entry send me an email. Posting a guest blog entry doesn't mean I support the contents of it, nor does it mean I am against the ideas expressed in your writing.

Please read Martin's editorial and then leave him feedback or questions in the comments section. You don't need to register or use your full name to comment.

Martin, are you against all earmarks, even if they are for projects that seem worthwhile? Rep. Gallegly put an earmark into a recent bill for work on local freeways. Are you against that earmark? We need a moratorium on all earmarks until the process is reformed.

Let Them Eat Pork
By Martin Breen Guest Blogger

This is our country, these politician's work for us, it's time for America to get off the couch, turn off the television set (yes, I know HD gives you a great picture) and get to work making these people listen to you. Start today, start tomorrow (at the latest, during next weekend) and send an email, letter, mumble under your breathe, but make your voice heard. Because if you don't do it now, there may not be an America left for you.

( Hero dog risks its life to save another dog.)

On the right side of my blog entries you can see recent comments. Normally the comments are all from entries on the front page of my blog. But of all the entries I have written in the archives the entries on the dog park in Simi Valley continue to get attention. I have been blogging to support the dog park and asking park board members on the progress of opening a dog park for years.

This Saturday a dog park finally opens in Simi Valley.

Way to go Park Board! If I don't make the ribbon cutting ceremony I will be taking my dogs there soon. Thanks for making this plan a reality.

Any of you plan to use the dog park?

Click here for the Park District's website.

This Friday teachers across Ventura County and California will be rallying on corners to bring attention to how many teachers will be receiving Pink Slips.

The lay off notices, also called Reduction in Force notices ( RIF) are given out to teachers with the least seniority. Many of the people that receive a RIF notice will be rehired once the budget projections are clearer, but like many of my readers that means economic uncertainty for more people.

Click here for the CTA website.

I plan to post videos, pictures, and more from the rallies in Simi Valley that will be at the corner of Sycamore and Cochran. The rally should be underway by 4:00PM because Friday is a staff development day. We are joking that we will be going to a workshop on resume writing! If you are planning on attending a rally in Ventura County and want to post pictures, videos, or post your thoughts on the manner send me an email and let me know. Even if all you plan on doing is sending in a few photos let me know before if you can.

If you work for a local school district and want me to post any information from your union, your district, or your thoughts on the process send the information to me. I will give you credit or leave your name out of it, whatever you request.

The process should be open and transparent to the public. Thanks for helping me to update people on what is going on. I am a public school teacher in SVUSD. I am going to post information that we teachers get from our union and our district to add more transparency to the process for all of my readers. Send me in information from other sources or districts and I will post that information too.

If we agree or disagree it doesn't matter, I want my readers to hear from you.

Click here for my previous entry on the subject.

Click on continue reading for a press release detailing the rally in the City of Ventura.

Marie Lakin is also blogging on the subject. According to her recent post Simi Valley teachers are being hit harder than Ventura teachers will be with RIF notices. Click here to read her blog.

The Ventura County Young Republicans will be holding a mixer Tuesday night with County Supervisor Peter Foy and Thousand Oaks Planning Commissioner Mark Lunn.

Click on continue reading for details.

In related news voting remains open in the poll for who you would like to see as the nominee of the Republican Party for governor in 2010. Supervisor Peter Foy is behind Tom Campbell by just a few votes. Do you want Peter Foy to run? Vote for him and encourage him to run.

The 24th congressional district did an interesting thing when it voted for Barack Obama for president and Elton Gallegly for congress. In recent budget debates Gallegly has taken to opposing President Barack Obama's plans to get the economy moving again.

But he isn't so opposed that it would stop him from putting some earmarks into the bill. Which is an issue I really don't understand. Why is he able to put earmarked spending into a bill that he was openly going to vote against and then attack when it passed?

Anyways, President Barack Obama's plans are much more popular than the proposals being put forth by the Republican Party at this time. The public supports the president and the only thing Rep. Gallegly has to offer is a NO vote.

I have a hard time believing the NO vote on the president's plans is based on principle after watching Rep. Gallegly support the Bush agenda for the last 8 years. Rep. Elton Gallegly just voted NO on the largest tax cut for the middle class in American history, but he is proud of the spending appropriations that he inserted into the bill. I am sure some of them are worthy projects but every member of congress insists their earmarked spending that escaped the normal process are worthy but it is the other legislators that are putting pork barrel spending into spending bills.

Even the mostly nonpartisan Pa Ventura is critical of Representative Gallegly's claiming credit for provisions in a bill that he voted against:

To voters

Why are so many voters so cynical about politicians? Elton Gallegly, who represents much of Ventura County in Congress, proudly touted the $8 million for this county in the stimulus bill -- which he voted against.

Click here for Pa Ventura's column.

David Atkins, a top Daily Kos blogger and a local political activist understands the pressure that small businesses are facing from the credit markets combined with the economic slowdown. Atkins again made the front page of Dailykos.com which is impressive.

Click here for his entry on Daily Kos. David Atkins was also on the radio last week in Ventura County starting a new talk segment on a progressive talk show. Click here to listen.

It is important to get our economy working for us again and I see little that Gallegly is doing to help that happen nationally.

The Los Angeles Times noted that many previously thought safe districts for Republicans in Southern California are starting to see the political ground shift under their feet. While most of these districts are safe for now, when the current incumbent leaves office I would expect many of them will be contested with well funded candidates from both sides.

From The LA Times:

The eight GOP congressional districts that swung Democratic are largely in exurban areas that Republicans have long claimed as their own. Seven are in Southern California, including David Dreier's district along the foothills of northeast Los Angeles County and western San Bernardino County; Howard P. "Buck" McKeon's sprawling district that includes Palmdale, Lancaster and much of the eastern Sierra Nevada; and Elton Gallegly's district, which stretches from Simi Valley to Solvang. Two other unexpectedly pro-Obama districts included Riverside and Palm Springs, while another is in northern San Diego County. The one sure to induce a double-take is John Campbell's (formerly Christopher Cox's) coastal Orange County district centered on Newport Beach -- John Wayne country, a bastion of American conservatism. Yet Obama carried it by 2,500 votes.

I have a new term for legislators that vote against the views of their constituents that should be applied to these House Republicans who's voters backed Barack Obama in the election. I am going to start calling them Misrepresentatives until they find more ways to support the president.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has noticed at has started adding pressure really early. They have recently been using robocalls discussing the thousands of potential jobs saved or created locally from the stimulus Misrepresentative Elton Gallegly voted against. Now they are speaking out against Gallegly in press releases and news stories. Click on continue reading for a press release from the DCCC attacking Gallegly for voting against President Obama's agenda in spite of the views of his district.

The DCCC is either preparing to support a candidate against him or they are trying to convince him to retire. With years in the minority ahead of him there are incentives for him to come him. By all reports Gallegly really likes Simi Valley. I see him frequently and people tell me often that they see him around town.

I do appreciate that Misrepresentative Gallegly comes home regularly and I support some of his policies, including his efforts to protect animals. But I would support him more if he found ways to support President Barack Obama more.

Help me put pressure on Misrepresentative Elton Gallegly by using his new title when you mention his name, that is of course onyl until he starts to show some initiative in supporting some of President Barack Obama's agenda. I don't expect him to support everything, but I want to see him have some independence from his party.

I am a public school teacher in Simi Valley. I don't write much about education or schools but the following forms were sent out by the school district today in the preparation of massive Reduction In Force notices ( Pink Slips) going out next week.

I like bringing readers behind the scenes of politics and it seems appropriate to see the entire memos circulating. I will write more about it later but i wanted to post it now for those that are looking for it.

Next Friday is Pink Friday to show solidarity for public school teachers impacted by the budget cuts. After reading the memos keep in mind these are preliminary notices. Imagine what would have happened if the state budget was all cuts as many advocated.

BEFORE THE GOVERNING BOARD
OF THE SIMI VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
SENIORITY LIST

WHERAS, California Education Code section 44955(b) provides that the District may reduce the number of probationary and permanent certificated employees when, in the opinion of the Governing Board, certain conditions make it necessary to decrease the number of permanent employees of the District including, but not limited to, the reduction or elimination of a particular kinds of service performed by certificated employees and the services are to be discontinued not later than the beginning of the following school year;

WHERAS, the District Superintendent has recommended to this Governing Board the reduction of particular kinds of services, specifically, as follows:
Counselor, Student Support 1 FTE
Counselor 4 FTE
District Office, Teachers on Special Assignment 6 FTE
Elementary, multiple subject 125 FTE
Elementary, 4-6 science 12 FTE
Elementary, literacy coaches 4 FTE
School Nurse 2 FTE
Secondary, English/language arts 17 FTE
Secondary, history/social sciences 12 FTE
Secondary, mathematics 12 FTE
Secondary, physical education 3 FTE
Secondary, science 21 FTE
Secondary, Spanish 4 FTE
Secondary, elective
art/graphic arts 1 FTE
choral music 1 FTE
computer technology 2 FTE
dance 1 FTE
home economics 1 FTE
industrial technology 1 FTE
movie production 1 FTE
due to a lack of funds primarily based upon the budget crisis in the State of California and the financial constraints resulting from revenue being insufficient to maintain the current levels of programs;

WHERAS, California Education Code Section 44955(b) provides that in the event of a certificated employee layoff, employees must be terminated in the inverse order of their employment based on seniority;

WHERAS, a certificated employee's seniority is determined by the first date of paid service with the District in a probationary position in accordance with the requirements of the California Education Code;

WHERAS, the services of a permanent employee may not be terminated pursuant to a layoff while any probationary employee or any employee with less seniority is retained to render a service which the permanent employee is certificated and competent to render;

WHERAS, the Superintendent's office has previously reviewed the existing personnel records of each certificated employee for the purpose of determining the certificated employee's original hire date and current credentials, permits, et cetera on file with the District to ascertain the employee's appropriate place on the Seniority List;

WHERAS, the Superintendent's office has prepared a Seniority List setting forth the seniority of each certificated employee and his/her hire date attached hereto as Exhibit "A";

WHERAS, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the certificated employee Seniority List attached hereto as Exhibit "A" and incorporated herein by this reference, is hereby adopted by this Governing Board.

PASSED AND ADOPTED this 3rd day of March 2009, by the following vote:

AYES: _____
NOES: _____
ABSENT: _____

SIMI VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

_______________________________________
President of the Governing Board

_______________________________________
Clerk of the Governing Board

BEFORE THE GOVERNING BOARD
OF THE
SIMI VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
CRITERIA FOR ORDER OF
SENIORITY FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES WITH THE SAME
DATE OF FIRST PAID PROBATIONARY SERVICE

WHERAS, Education Code Section 44955 provides for the termination of certificated employees because of a reduction or elimination of particular kinds of services;

WHERAS, the order of termination is based on the date a teacher first rendered paid service in a probationary position in accordance with the requirements of the California Education Code;

WHERAS, as among employees who first rendered paid probationary service to the District on the same date, the law requires the Governing Board to determine the order of termination solely on the basis of the needs of the District and its students;

WHERAS, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that to meet the requirements of California Education Code Section 44955, the following criteria will be applied in the priority order indicated to determine which certificated employees meet the particular needs of the District in the event that all certificated employees with the same date of hire are not terminated. These criteria meet the particular needs of the District at the present time:

1. Special authorizations to provide critical services in order of priority to the District as follows:
A. Special education certification;
B. Cross Cultural Language and Academic Development (CLAD)
C. Language Development Specialist Certificate
D. Supplemental Authorization for English as a Second Language
E. Specially Designated Academic Instruction in English (SDAIE)

The District reserves the right based on specific service needs at the time of layoff to retain employees with special authorization to provide critical services.

2. Primary credential authorization as follows:
A. Clear
B. Preliminary
C. Intern
D. Short-term Staffing Permit (STSP)
E. Provisional Intern Permit (PIP)
F. Waiver

3. Highly Qualified Teacher (HQT)

4. Years of service to the district, prior to seniority date as follows:
A. Certificated service
1. contracted service, prioritized by credential area as listed in 2 above
2. contracted service as a Title I teacher
3. service as a long-term substitute
4. service as a day-to-day substitute
B. Classified contracted service
C. Classified long term substitute service

5. Credential plus Supplementary Authorizations, by number of authorized areas

6. Subject matter authorizations, by number of authorized areas

7. Step on the certificated salary schedule

8. College degree as follows:
A. PhD
B. EdD
C. MA/MS
D. BA/MA

9. Total number of semester credits past BA/BS with the highest number being the most senior of those with the same date

In the event that after application of the above criteria, employees are still equally situated, then seniority will be determined by a lot.

PASSED AND ADOPTED this 3rd day of March 2009, by the following vote:

AYES: _____
NOES: _____
ABSENT: _____

SIMI VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTIRCT

_______________________________________
President of the Governing Board

______________________________________

I like listening to Jim Kramer but this video of Jon Stewart taking him and Rick Santelli is really funny.

By my count Jon Stewart comes out with another victory.

If Rush Limbaugh is the leader of the Republican Party I nominate Jon Stewart to be the leader for the Democrats.

In poll related news Peter Foy and Tom Campbell are winning among my readers. I am keeping the voting open. Even though she is leading in recent polls Meg Whitman hasn't earned a single vote from my readers. A 3rd term for Arnold Schwarzenegger is beating her. Maybe Peter Foy will actually run, although I think he will run for insurance commissioner.

Moorpark City Council candidate is going to be endorsed by the local Firefighters union which has pledged to support his campaign. It likely helped his campaign that Nathan Sweet is a firefighter.

His message looks like it will focus on getting more police on the streets and on business development. I like that he is questioning the effectiveness of a government program and looking at cost savings.

Here is a quote from The Acorn:

The city currently pays $190,000 a year for the DARE program because it's not on the list of federally approved programs that would be sponsored by the government.

According to Sweet, DARE could be replaced with a different drug prevention program that has been shown to be effective and is covered by the government. The money saved could be used for extra policing.

"A police car has higher visibility; it could cut down crime and the graffiti we see everywhere," he said.

Click here for an article from The Acorn that details his platform.

Click here for my past entries on the Moorpark politics.

I will post campaign updates from any of the other candidates when they send them in.

Moorpark City Council candidate Nathan Sweet sent out an email that his team will be out precinct walking this weekend. With his recent endorsement by Ventura County Firefighters and the expected endorsement of Los Angeles Firefighters he is putting together a great ground game.

I am glad he is running on a reform agenda that includes questioning how government spends money during the current economic environment. I look forward to the debates. The election is in May which means more attention can be given to the different platforms the candidates bring forward.

What do you think the top issues in a Moorpark City Council campaign include?

I want to see cost savings ideas, transparency in government, and a policy innovations from candidates.

Here is the email from his campaign:

Anyone who is interested, we are getting a group together
to walk precincts in
Moorpark on Sunday March 8th. We can meet at my house at
10am.If you can't make it then, then you can meet us out on
the campaign trail anytime during the day.
My address is 6537 Pinnacle ct. in Moorpark.
(805) 915-8446
thepeoplefornathansweet@yahoo.com

Any amount of time that people can commit would be greatly
appreciated. Please RSVP back, so that we can get an accurate count.

Thanks,
Nate

I will post information from any of the candidates if they are getting endorsements, walking precincts, launching websites, releasing policy positions, or sending me any other releases.

I recently invited local Federalist Society Leader Natalie Panossian to speak to a group of high school students on legal issues including judicial philosophies, law school, military service, specific Supreme Court cases, international law, and much more. Natalie and I have different political views on many issues but we share a passion for the power education has to help people achieve their dreams. Natalie is hard working, brilliant, and she gives back to her community. We might not agree on some of the most critical issues of the day but I know she is very talented at what she does. She shared with me that a mentor of hers was her teacher, and now State Senator, Fran Pavley. Natalie, thanks for sharing your experiences and hopefully inspiring some more young people to pursue challenging careers.

Natialie has been organizing panel discussions on legal issues including Proposition 8 and now she is organizing a panel discussion on gun control issues. Here is her announcement of the latest forum she is helping put together:

The Federalist Society's Gold Coast Chapter And
California Lutheran University's Political Science Department Present: "The Future of Gun Control and the Second Amendment After Heller"

Click on continue reading for details.

( Ronald Reagan for all of his jokes regarding age brought a generation of young people into the Republican Party. Who on the horizon has the same ability?)

Ventura County is getting much more politically active. There are young Democratic groups, more frequent meetings, and active central committees that are looking to be more bold in the future. Now, a new Teenage Republican group is forming.

Regardless of our politics we should be happy more young people are getting involved in the future of our nation. A leader of this new effort emailed me and asked if I could post an entry on their group. Not only will I post their announcement, but I will post their updates just as often as they send them in.

Here is their description ( links added by me):

Tired of being criticized for agreeing with the Right? Keep getting chastised for not being caught up in Obama Mania? Need a place to express your opinions on politics without being hassled?

RECLAIM understands the need for young Republicans to express their political views without the fear of retribution. RECLAIM is an organization geared toward teenage Republicans. We were founded by Claira Guerra and Steven Page, two young Republicans actively engaged in the county and state Republican Party. The purpose of RECLAIM is to continuously encourage teenage Republicans to became active in local, state and federal politics through the means and resources of technology and the media. Our current goal is to build a base of active teenage Republicans with similar views to RECLAIM Ventura County, back from the liberal Democrats. With your help we can turn our county and state back to red. If you are interested in this glorious revolution please contact Claira and Steven at reclaim@rocketmail.com with your name and contact information.

Our first meeting will be held on April 4th at the Ventura County Republican Headquarters in Thousand Oaks, from 10am-12pm.
The county Chairman, Executive Director and RECLAIM's founders will be in attendance. There will be a special guest speaker to talk about the Republican ideology and its place in modern politics. Two workshops will be set up to allow attendees to voice their opinions and introduce them to activism on all levels.

Ventura City Deputy Mayor Bill Fulton has updated his blog again, this time with a personal take on the impacts of the recession and budget cuts.

Here is a quote from Bill Fulton's blog:

The months ahead will not be easy. Starting tomorrow night (Monday), we on the City Council will start eliminating positions and possibly even laying people off. Over the next couple of months, we will be making even more severe cuts in city services - cuts that people will inevitably feel, even if we try to blunt the impact. We may well ask the voters for an increase in the sales tax. But even if it passes, that won't generate enough money to restore all the services we have now. So we will be faced with terrible choices. Do we want to lay off police officers in order to keep the libraries open? Shall we close the parks or stop paving the streets? Shut down a fire station or stop servicing our vehicles?

My friend Marie Lakin has been writing extensively on the budget cuts in Ventura's budget. Click here to see her blog.

Here are some other city themed blogs:

1. Click here for Ventura City Manager Rick Cole's blog.

2. Click here for Ventura City Attorney Ariel Pierre Calonne's blog.

3. Click here for Santa Paula City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz's blog. ( UPDATED W/ Mountain Lion information.)

4. Click here for Ventura City Council Member Bill Fulton's Planning and Development Blog and here for his city council blog.

Why is it that the City of Ventura has so many blogs written by city hall insiders? I am impressed with the effort to be transparent and accessible.