God bless California! When the railroad company a century ago used huge amounts of campaign cash to overwhelm the California legislature in order to advance their business goals, the state lawmakers introduced direct democracy for the benefit of all residents.
Then, as is now in Laguna Beach, direct democracy is the remedy for when representative democracy breaks down. Here in Laguna Beach a handful of big developers have flooded local elections with record amounts of cash to advance their business goals and drastically over-develop and change our city forever. One of these developers bragged that he has lined up $1 billion for projects in Laguna Beach.
How did we get to this place? Big developer money has captured two city councilmembers who over the past three years have:
· Browbeat and intimidated residents from offering their opinions in city council meetings, one of whom was censured for vicious attacks on residents.
· Hounded responsible residents from the Design Review Board and replaced them with sycophants for the developers.
· Looked the other way as a big developer proceeded with unpermitted work on the main floor of Hotel Laguna.
· Repeatedly engaged in Brown Act violations in an effort to keep their shenanigans private and away from the watchful eye of residents.
Representative democracy has broken down. Now it’s time for direct democracy, specifically the Laguna Residents First Beautiful Laguna Overlay Zoning District ballot initiative. This ballot initiative sprang from the Laguna Community Summit that brought together 10 local community organizations and when passed will:
· Empower Laguna residents to vote on very large commercial developments.
· Enable Laguna to grow and develop responsibly; honoring our heritage and embracing responsible growth.
· Restore democracy to Laguna
· Continue to allow residential properties (of less than 10 units) to be developed to meet housing needs, including low income.
Please don’t fall for the misstatements about the ballot initiative that will surely come from city councilmembers, city staff and others captured in the financial orbit of the big developers. Read about the ballot initiative yourself by visiting lagunaresidentsfirst.org.
Merrill Anderson, Assistant Treasurer for Laguna Residents First PAC
Great comment from Merrill Anderson. The lies and half truths of the Libertarian Laguna/Forward group can only be overcome by reading the ballot initiative which is the LRF website. Go to LagunaResidents First.org for the truth. Any questions will be answered by the LRF staff.
Wow Merrill!! You’re quite the seasoned liar! Your fellow board members at Village Laguna should be proud of you. You’ve mastered character assassination, slander and libel, essential tools employed to break down political opponents, business owners and weary residents. Well done!
So, all it took was some developer money for me to win a Council seat? Your lapdog Toni, a decades long incumbent, got outvoted by a newbie? Months of “sky is falling” fear mongering couldn’t keep me from beating Anne Christoph? Decades long activists fell to a few color postcards and some ads in this tabloid? If it’s true, what does it say about your preferred candidates? How can they be vulnerable to “some of us captured in the financial orbit of the big developers” Could it be that the silent majority isn t falling for your BS? Maybe it’s my bulldozer? lol
So I “browbeat” your colleagues? For years all of you lied at the podium totally unfettered. Finally someone stood up to you and drew the line over your choreographed attacks at Council meetings. I gave the residents a fighting chance against a vocal minority of authoritarians and I’m proud of it! BTW, are you one of the activists texting Toni her marching orders up on the Dais? Her steep cognitive decline must be keeping all of you super busy. Lucky she has that cell phone right?
You bet I “hounded” your henchmen on DRB! All of those years that they robbed residents of their property rights. No one dared to stand up to them until I came along. DRB was the jewel in the crown of your nanny state and now its over! Do you miss the power you swayed over innocent homeowners?
We “looked the other way” while Mo tried everything he could to reopen the lower level? We know you and your tribe pulled every trick in the book to stall him and then all of you had the gall to show up to the grand opening. How pathetic! George even asked if he could cut the ribbon?!?! Toni was pontificating while gorging on sushi and cocktails. You know the residents are thrilled to have the Hotel Laguna open. Who are you kidding?
“Repeatedly engaged in Brown Act violations” Aren’t you tired of that lie? It sure is getting old. We all know that Turncoat Toni and Benedict Weiss are the ones who continuously violate the Brown Act by revealing closed session information to political activists who are hell bent on controlling Laguna. Telling the same lie over and over again doesn’t make it true Merrill, or does it?
And now you declare “its time for Democracy!” The initiative is here! Written by a bunch of ruthless political activists who are trying to usurp the power of the voters and control Laguna because they cant win a majority on the Council. “10 local community organizations came together” You mean 10 incestuous proxy groups controlled by Village Laguna? Gene and Johanna Felder part of any of those groups? The residents aren’t going to fall for this. Do you think they want a bunch of tasteless frumps controlling their future? Are Dave Raber or Michael Morris inspiring? John Thomas? Michelle Monda and MJ Abraham? I’ll take a hard pass!
Merrill, as a second generation activist you’re showing signs that you may have what it takes to be a political predator. Your mommy and the Felders sure taught you well! Keep lying because as you believe, the ends justify the means.
Saul Alinsky is toasting you as we speak!