( Did you see this movie? Very funny. How long until Hannah-Beth Jackson gets a star from the movie at a fundraiser?)
Thousand Oaks outlaws smoking.
Okay, maybe not. But I figured c-razy titles would help drive traffic. Works for the wilder blogs out there.
Thousand Oaks has adopted a new anti-smoking ordinance that "that bars smokers from lighting up in outdoor gathering places, public gardens and playgrounds" according to the story.
This meeting allowed Hannah-Beth Jackson to speak out on the issue and keep the tobacco donations story going.
I wonder what the next costume will be? A man in a slot machine outfit? What costumed characters would you prefer to see outside an event? This is your chance to rail against unions, trial lawyers, oil company CEO's, tobacco companies, or casinos, including horse tracks, card rooms, Tribal gaming, or Vegas casinos! Choose your special interest today.
The story about the "fracas" has been covered by many sources now including the Sacbee, Blogabarabara , Flap's blog, Bly Space, and the Ojai Post. If you covered it from any perspective leave a link.
Does anyone have the video of Hannah-Beth Jackson speaking at the meeting or a transcript of what she said? This ordinance, while sounding popular, has some businesses very upset.
Do any other cities in the county have as comprehensive of a smoking control policy?
- T.O. approves anti-smoking ordinance
- By Teresa Rochester (Contact)
- Thursday, June 26, 2008
- Restaurants with outdoor patios can seek an exemption from a new anti-smoking ordinance, approved by the Thousand Oaks City Council Tuesday night, that bars smokers from lighting up in outdoor gathering places, public gardens and playgrounds.
- Cigar shops and stores that sell only tobacco products are exempt from the ordinance, which seeks to reduce people's exposure to secondhand smoke in outdoor settings.
- The ordinance, which also bars smoking on the grounds of the Civic Arts Plaza except in designated places, passed on a 5-0 vote.
- However, the council split on an amendment that allows restaurants with outdoor dining patios to apply for special use permits that would exempt them from the ordinance. Eateries would be judged on a case-by-case basis as to whether they qualify for the permit.
- Council members Claudia Bill-de la Peña and Dennis Gillette, who first requested the city examine the outdoor smoking issue, voted against the amendment. They said it would dilute the intent of the ordinance. "This is meant to provide some flexibility," Councilman Andy Fox said about the amendment.
- The controversial issue brought out state Senate candidate Hannah-Beth Jackson, the mayor of Calabasas, and residents from cities stretching from Camarillo to Westlake Village. Jackson, a Democrat, is in a contentious fight with Republican Tony Strickland for the 19th District Senate seat. In recent weeks, tobacco has become a lightning rod issue in the campaign, with attention focused on the local Republican Party and Strickland accepting tobacco money. Jackson's opponents have pointed to her taking contributions from Democratic officeholders who have taken campaign contributions from tobacco companies.
- At the council meeting, Jackson urged the panel to adopt the ordinance, saying she applauded their effort.
- "There is no factual study that shows any decline of revenue when no smoking takes effect," Jackson said in regard to the common complaint that businesses would take a financial hit if the smoking was banned.
- Before the council decided on the exemption, Albert Chrikjian, owner of the Old Oaks Cigar and Wine Co., said he would start thinking about his future somewhere else. He noted his business supports four families and allowed them to contribute to a number of area charities.
- After the council approved the exemption, he said he thought the decision was reasonable.
I spoke with Butt Man today and he's been asked to make more appearances. He only requested that they bring those cute Obama girls again.
This Obama girl?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=wKsoXHYICqU
"Oh absolutely," he says. After all, he is a Butt Man.
I'm sure the costume train will keep rolling. And for some reason I doubt Strickland will mind. While he's busy raising tons of money and talking about the things that actually make a difference to Californians like the budget crisis and renewable energy, she'll keep trying to create a diversion and clowning around. She's afraid to tackle the real issues we're facing right now because her record is horrible.
Has his company paid any payroll taxes or has it had any money coming in?
Claiming he is an alternative energy executive is at worst dishonest and at best way too early.
Those crazy Dems and anti-tobacco groups will just do what they do. Don't think the protest was an official Jackson campaign event, just like blindsiding protesters wasn't an officially sanctioned Strickland move.
Or was it?
How many more cities are going to give Hannah-Beth Jackson the chance to talk about tobacco?
If only there was some other issue. Like a state budget with a huge short fall year after year.
All we have to do now is make an ordinance against blowing smoke at city council meetings. Everyone on the city council that endorsed Tony
Strickland is a hypocrite. If they want their credibility back they must revoke their endorsement.
Jackson is far more hypocritical than Strickland regarding cigarette money. He may take it, but she launders it before she takes it.
Tony solicits tobacco $$, spends it and votes accordingly against measures to protect the public health.
Jackson takes it, hides it, and votes for every tax increase that could possibly be perpetrated on Californians, and then denies it. "Hypocrite", with a capital "H".
State taxes went down when both Strickland and HBJ were in office.
The difference, of course, being that this time the election in SD-19 could shift the balance of power to the Democrats who then could vote tax increases in (with a 2/3 majority vote) without the Republicans being able to block it.
How would we get these people to take the money they are getting and have free fuel days with the smoking money? Before to long I will be paying $6 for a gallon of fuel my truck will not run on the cheaper gasoline.
From what I have read, a Jackson victory would not necessarily shift the balance of power. Perata abandoned the Denham recall and no Dem filed to run against Maldonado, the only other competitive race.
The Stricklands may be perpetuating this "balance of power" idea to get the GOP riled up, but it doesn't seem likely.
Here are a couple of links for you:
http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/1031908.html
http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/blog/allan-hoffenblum/can-democrats-achieve-a-veto-proof-senate-or-assembly-november
Hey Brian, why doesn't your blog allow HTML formatting within the posts themselves? Mine does.
Maldonado is a Democrat in Republican clothing and the Stricklands aren't the ones who raised the balance of power issue. I did.
SD15 (Maldonado) isn't competitive, which is why the Party didn't even bother to throw a token candidate into the race this year. The Democratic Party ran someone so liberal against Maldonado in 2004, when it was an open seat, that they lost it by 10%, even when they had a slight registration advantage. They poured about 5 million dollars into that race.
Pay attention because that's exactly what's going to happen to Hannah Beth Jackson in this race. The latest poll numbers in Sacramento show her losing to Tony by almost 10%. The Democrats lost their only hope of winning in this district when she jumped in this race and Jim Dantona bowed out.
Only 10% apart in polling now after Strickland has spent half a million promoting his ties to his phony energy company? And HBJ hasn't spent a dime on advertising yet. She's in great shape!
The other major difference is that Abel Maldonado isn't a far right candidate and he was the incumbent.
If your side was really going to win you would predict a close race so Democrats spend money here. But when I see Strickland supporters trying to scare Democrats I know it is a sign they are scared.
It is called projection.
Jackson is perceived as a tax-and-spend liberal. That doesn't play well in SD-19. That's why she's behind by 10%. I agree that Dantona would have been much more competitive against Strickland given the demographics and voting history of this district.
Do you think Tony Strickland is seen as a moderate? Is he a moderate by your definition?
Strickland is the right wing of the right wing. His organization is widely known for torpedoing moderate Republicans. When you see the former chair of the VCRCC writing letters criticizing him and other Republicans are leading protest marches against him, you can see he's not a universally popular guy.
But let's strip away ideology for a moment and just examine character. The Stricklands just don't fly right. Too much dirty money and too many investigations into their finances. Phony ballot designations, and out-of-control employees don't add to their charm.
Sorry, I'll pass. They need to go find real jobs.
Brian,
I'd probably rate him as a moderate/conservative.
I want to outlaw anyone from serving more than one term in the Thousand Oaks...a certain active duty fireman and a retired cop have been poking their noses in everyones' business in T.O. way toooo looong....be brave, smoke where you want....! or is bravery outlawed too in Thousand oaks??
Andy,
I will have another entry up for you tomorrow on your favorite topic to post on!
Mongo,
Can you name a moderate position of his or a position where he agrees with the majority of Democrats on?
Larkin's a tool whose only claim to fame is that he bashes his fellow Republicans.
He hadn't gotten his name in the paper lately and saw an opportunity.
His Don Quixote like challenge to Audra Strickland and his subsequent embarrassment at the polls has left him even more bitter than before. Expect more of these kinds of attacks on Republicans and the Stricklands.
What type of attacks? Comments from former party leaders?
Bob Larkin has given a lifetime of service to our Party and, while we would prefer for him to bring any complaints directly to the Party, he has the right to express himself anywhere he pleases.
Mike,
That is a classy thing to say.
Bob Larkin is a big fan of "member communications".
The Stricklands taking tobacco money isn't just a threat to Republican "members", it's a threat to all of humanity.