Will Rocklin families be told again by the “we know more than the parents” Rocklin School Board, that they do not have the right to school choice in Rocklin? 

The Western Sierra Collegiate Academy (WSCA) will resubmit their charter petition to the anti-school choice Rocklin School Board during one of their March meetings.  At this time, the Rocklin Unified School District (RUSD) has not said if they will evaluate the changes in the WSCA charter. 

Lets not forget that after the RUSD attorney and Whitney High School Principal, Debra Hawkins spent over 1-hour picking apart the WSCA charter petition, Steve Paul, the “Grand Poobah” of the board, allowed only a 3-minute response from the WSCA leadership.  After months of compiling a 700-page charter petition, the Rocklin School Board allows just a 3-minute response to 1-hour worth of allegations!  Most of these allegations came from the RUSD’s attorney.  Now we have an attorney telling families in Rocklin that they do not have the right to school choice.

When the WSCA leadership asked for additional time to address the allegations, the Grand Poobah did not even give it a thought.  He gave a flat out NO.  We all know the Grand Poobah does not think for himself.  He has truly become the puppet of Superintendent Kevin Brown.  Lets not forget that Mr. Brown told us at the public hearing last December, that he would not even address the WSCA charter until he had an enrollment agreement with Rocklin Academy.  Can you say BLACKMAIL?  Last summer, he forced the Rocklin Academy into a potentially illegal agreement, that prohibits Rocklin families from attending Rocklin Academy.  Mr. Brown and the Grand Poobah have forced the Rocklin Academy to have 20% of their enrollment from outside of Rocklin.  This is crazy because there are hundreds of Rocklin families that are on the waiting list to get into Rocklin Academy.  We are still looking for an attorney to take the RUSD to court over this issue.

Since I mentioned that Mr. Paul is the puppet of Superintendent Kevin Brown, I want to provide a picture that illustrates what I mean.  I had technical difficulties on a previous post.  I hope the picture comes through on this posting.
                                                

The results of Rocklin Measures J and H signal a vote for change.

Measure J failed because Rocklin voters rejected the ideas of the tax and spend Rocklin City Council.  Remember this same group was going to push for an increase in our sales tax.

Measure H won, but by a very slim margin.  I believe the battle was lost, but change is on the horizon for November.  The Yes on H won because they spent nearly 1 million dollars to get their message out.  They had a paid campaign staff.  They had to mobilize the entire good ole boys network.  The Save Clover Valley group spent around $71,000.  They were all volunteers.  The No vote lost by only 883 votes.

What does this mean?  It looks like Clover Valley will be developed.  But this is not a time to look back, this is a time to look what can happen this November.  A difference of 883 votes tells us that the citizens of Rocklin are looking for a change in leadership on the Rocklin City Council.  One million dollars and all they could garner is an 883-vote difference from a No on H win.

The time is now to look toward the November election.  Three seats will be up for re-election.  There is a possibility that the citizens of Rocklin can take back their community from the developers and the Thunder Valley Casino. 

How many more fast food restaurants do you want in Rocklin?  How many more gas stations do we need on each corner?  The Rocklin City Council will not support the Western Sierra Collegiate Academy, a grade 7 – 12 charter school.  This school would bring high paying jobs to Rocklin.  These people would buy homes in Rocklin and contribute to our tax base.  The school could attract new businesses.  How many more pizza restaurants do we need in Rocklin?  The guy delivering your pizza is not buying the $300,000 - $400,000 homes.  How about a company with 25 PhDs?  These people can afford to buy a home in Rocklin.  People want a choice on where to send their kids.  The Rocklin City Council has supported the Rocklin School Board’s decision to eliminate school choice in Rocklin.

The Save clover Valley group needs to continue the fight that will bring change to Rocklin.  Rocklin is a great community.  The City Council has done some good things.  However, they have been there too long.  Just like Congressman Doolittle, who lost the vision of knowing what is best for all Americans, the Rocklin City Council has lost the vision for what is best for the citizens of Rocklin.

Lets start talking about how to improve our quality of life in Rocklin.  A new vision and new leadership on the Rocklin City Council will help get us down that path.

Not only are the special interest groups controlling most members of Congress they have now invaded Rocklin.  THAT IS WHY I AM ASKING YOU TO VOTE NO ON MEASURE H.

I am sure you received 2 or 3 propaganda flyers in the mail today from the Rocklin Alliance for Open Space.  We need to ask ourselves, who makes up the Rocklin Alliance for Open Space?  It is the Thunder Valley Casino and Massie and Company, two very large and influential organizations that do not care about the quality of life in Rocklin.

You may have actually read their fliers in the mail.  Take a look who has signed their name as supporters of Measure H.  The Rocklin City Council, who only wants to keep their tight grip on power.  If Measure H is passed, they will raise your taxes.  They are trying to do this with Measure J, the park tax.  They wanted to raise your sales tax.  I am amazed that these people would stoop so low just to stay in power.  When you are a politician and you are in power for so long, it is difficult to accept you may be voted out of office.  The Rocklin City Council has mortgaged our quality of life just to stay in power.  Massie and Company and the Thunder Valley Casino will fill the City Council’s re-election accounts with whatever it takes to win. 

The Rocklin School Board and Superintendent Kevin Brown.  They are part of the good ole boys network.  They want to make sure that the political landscape does not change in Rocklin.  The school board wants to silence thousands of family’s voices when it comes to school choice.  The California Teacher’s Association (CTA) is the special interest group that pulls the strings for the school board.  Remember the teacher that choked a student last year?  The CTA told the school board what to do regarding this teacher.  A teacher should never put their hand on a student.  In Rocklin, they look the other way. 

Bill Halldin, the past President of the Sierra College Foundation, has his own public relations company.  I wonder if his company is on the payroll for the Yes on Measure H?  Word on the street is Mr. Halldin wants to run for a seat on the Sierra College Board.  I wonder what type of deal he cut with the Thunder Valley Casino to fund his potential campaign?

They’re a few realtors that signed their name to the list.  I assume they have done this because they think they can sell houses in Clover Valley.

Richard Robinson, John Doolittle’s former Chief of Staff is serving as one of the highly paid leaders of the Measure H campaign.  I wonder if Jack Abromoff, is advising him from his jail cell?

I have already received 3 robo calls.  Enough is enough.  Can you really believe Mayor Storey about Measure H?  Remember when he was written up in the Placer Herald 3 years ago for taking down other people’s campaign signs?  Rocklin School Board President Steve Paul was also written up in the Placer Herald for taking down opponent’s campaign signs.  These people are supposed to be our city leaders?  They want us to trust them on Measure H.  I don’t think so.

THE ALLIANCE FOR OPEN SPACE WILL PROBABLY SPEND 1 MILLION DOLLARS ON THIS CAMPAIGN.           

The group that opposes the development of Clover Valley has spent $71,000.  Why does the Yes on Measure H group feel they need to spend 1 million dollars?  They know that Rocklin voters are smart.  They have no choice but to deceive and mislead the good people of Rocklin.  Take a look around our city.  Have you seen all the No on Measure H signs in people’s front yard?  These are Republicans, Democrats and Independents.  I have seen very few Yes on H signs.  The Yes on H signs seem to be on the property of business owners.  I wonder if the City Council used strong armed tactics to convince these business owners to put a Yes on H sign on their property.

If you take a look at the people and other politicians that have put their name on the Yes on H fliers, most have some type of business with the city.

Everyone has heard the saying, “every vote counts.”  This contest will be very close.  Do not let the special interest group take control of Rocklin. 

PLEASE VOTE NO ON MEASURE H THIS TUESDAY.    

After reading the comments in last week’s edition of the Placer Herald by the Rocklin School District Board of Trustees, on why they voted against the request to grant a charter for the Western Sierra Collegiate Academy, I am convinced that Superintendent Kevin Brown must have an extra bounce in his walk around the district office.  Mr. Brown has always wanted a school board where he can have complete control over every district program and policy.  He does not want even one board member to get in the way of his personal agenda.  Hats off to Mr. Brown.  He handpicked all 5 of the current board members and used school district funds to help get them elected.  Each of these board members has gone through the brain-sucking machine that is tucked away in a secret back room at the district office. 

When I served on the school board from 2000 – 2004, I was able to avoid the brain-sucking machine.  By avoiding the machine, I was able to represent the families and children of Rocklin, I was able to stand up to the California Teacher’s Association, I was able to eliminate a math program that did not have a text book and did not meet California state standards (you can ask Greg “I am a Communist” Daley about how our math test scores have gone up since we got rid of the old program), we overhauled the out of control Rocklin High School grading system, we opened 2 charter schools in Rocklin, and I made sure our school district would never release our children for a medical appointment without first notifying the parents (Camille “I can dumb down our schools” Maben did not agree with this policy).  I could not of done this on my own.  2 other board members who served with me, but are no longer on the school board, also avoided the Kevin Brown’s brain-sucking machine.

A school board member that is elected needs to bring with him/her an agenda.  When I was elected, I did have an agenda.  My agenda are the items I listed above.  While being able to avoid the brain-sucking machine, I could not counter the tens of thousands of dollars donated by the California Teacher’s Association to board members/candidates such as Steve Paul, the “Grand Poobah,” Greg “I’m a Communist” Daley, Camille “I can dumb down our schools” Maben, Todd “slick attorney” Lowell, and Wendy “ I can cry like Hillary” Lang.  As a result I lost my re-election bid in 2004 and a comeback in 2006.  None of these people have brought any of their own ideas to the board.  Since 2002, they have acted only as cheerleaders for Kevin Brown’s personal agenda.  His agenda is to eliminate school choice.  He even admitted at a public hearing that he blackmailed (he did not actually use the word blackmail) the Rocklin Academy into signing a possible illegal document before he would even discuss a charter for WSCA.  The head cheerleader for Mr. Brown’s agenda is Steve Paul, the “Grand Poobah” of the school board.  Below is a picture our photographer took of the Grand Poobah providing a cheer for Kevin Brown and the other board members after they voted down the request from the Western Sierra Collegiate Academy to grant a charter.

On Tuesday, January 29, I received a letter in the mail, like most of Rocklin that has the headline “for Rocklin Children.”  One of the individuals who signed this letter is Rocklin School Board Trustee Wendy “I can cry like Hillary” Lang.  Let me give you some straight talk.  Wendy Lane does not care about Rocklin children.  She demonstrated this by not supporting school choice for Rocklin families.  She voted not to support the Western Sierra Collegiate Academy (WSCA), a grade 7 - 12 charter school.  After the meeting she came down to talk with the supporters of the WSCA with tears in her eyes.  She said it was because she voted with her heart.  We all know she took a page out of the Hillary Clinton playbook.  These were fake tears.  She does not care about the hundreds of Rocklin families that know what is best for their children.  Wendy “I can cry like Hillary” thinks she knows what is best for your children.  She supports limiting the right of Rocklin children to attend Rocklin Academy.  Rocklin Academy, a charter school that is housed in a Rocklin Unified School District elementary school.  These families paid the taxes to build the school.  I know this because I was on the Rocklin School Board when we voted to approve the school.  Wendy Land does not support all of Rocklin children.  The Rocklin City Council does not support school choice.  They told us that during the last campaign.  It seems strange that a member of the Rocklin City Council has sent one of their family members to Rocklin Academy.  They keep out hundreds of Rocklin families that want their child to attend Rocklin Academy but they turn around and send one of their own family members to the school.  I do not fault that Councilmember for sending a family member to Rocklin Academy.  But why don’t you support the hundreds of families that want to do the same? 

Back to why we need to VOTE NO ON MEASURE H.  The developer, the Thunder Valley Casino, and the Rocklin City Council have the audacity to send a letter to all Rocklin voters that said, “for Rocklin’s Children” and Wendy “I can cry like Hillary signed the letter.  Hear is some more straight talk.  Remember the dog days of summer when the smog is so bad in Rocklin that we cancel soccer practice?  Remember how stagnant the air can get on a hot summer day?  Remember the news alerts that say to not do any physical activity outdoors?  What do you think 10,000 more cars traveling down Park Drive, right by Twin Oaks Park, and straight to the Thunder Valley Casino will do to the air pollution in Rocklin?  What about cutting down hundreds of oak trees that are over 100 years old?  That will not help the air quality in Rocklin.  But wait, Wendy Lang says they will be replaced.  She is not telling you that they will be replaced with the Home Depot 5 or 10 gallon trees.  That does not seem like a fair tradeoff. 

Wendy Land goes not care about your children.  It is evident she is more concerned about advancing her political career.  During the school board campaign, someone high up in her campaign told me that she had to team with school board members Todd Lowell and Steve Paul because she did not have the resources or name recognition to get elected.  I asked this person why would you compromise your values to win?  He said you have to do what it takes to win.

The developer, the Thunder Valley Casino, and the Rocklin City Council will say and do anything to get Measure H passed.  They should admit that they vandalized their own signs just to get the media attention.  Rocklin Mayor Brett Storey was already caught throwing campaign signs away in a previous campaign.  They will say anything and recruit anyone to get their deceptive message out.  I wonder how much money Wendy “I can cry like Hillary” Lang arranged for her re-election campaign from the Thunder Valley Casino?  I am sure if Measure H passes, the Rocklin City Council members will have their re-election accounts stuffed with casino money.  I wonder if you can donate to a political campaign using casino chips?

Have you received the "robo" calls yet?  I have.  I thought the public told the politicians we do not like these pre-recorded messages.  The Yes on Measure H group will end up spending over 1 million dollars on their deceptive message.  The Save Clover Valley group has only spent $70,000.  What is the Thunder Valley Casino and the developer afraid of?  I think they know Rocklin voters are smart and have seen through their deceptive campaign.  

Mayor Brett Storey said if Measure H fails, it will allow "them to build twice the number of houses and preserve five times less open space."  That is a lie.  This was never approved.  Could it be that Brett Storey and the Rocklin City Council have cut a deal in a smoke filled back room?  Politicians will do anything to stay in power.

As the Presidential campaign continues, we are hearing all the candidates talk about the special interests groups controlling Washington.  How can we expect to get rid of the special interest groups in Washington, when we are fighting those same groups right hear in Rocklin?  There is hope.  First we Vote NO ON MEASURE H.  Then we elect a City Council that really puts the interests of our children first and not the interests of the Thunder Valley Casino.

Please Vote NO ON MEASURE H.      

I believe the majority of Rocklin voters will Vote NO ON MEASURE H on February 5.

Rocklin voters are smart and have already seen through the misleading campaign that the Rocklin City Council, the developer and the Thunder Valley Casino are conducting in the Measure H campaign.  The developer, the casino, and the Rocklin City Council continue to run a campaign that is bent on lies.

They claim if you vote Yes on Measure H, there will be less traffic and more trees.  Do they take us for fools?  How can there be less trees and less traffic when you are paving roads and ripping up 100 year oak trees?  Rocklin School Board Trustee Wendy “I can cry like Hillary” Lang said Measure H “preserves our beautiful valley oak trees.”  This quote came off a flier that came in the mail last week.  Remember Ms Lang had that nice run of fake tears after she voted not to approve the charter for the Western Sierra Collegiate Academy (WSCA) at the last school board meeting.  Wendy “I can cry like Hillary” spoke with the WSCA organizers after the meeting and said she voted with her heart.  I want a board member that votes for what is best for children.  Not a board member that votes with the teacher's union because they gave her money in the last campaign.  I wonder if Ms Lang had fake tears or is she such a good actress that she can cry on command, just like Hillary?  More on this subject at a later posting.  Hey “I can cry like Hillary,” how do you figure the oak trees will be preserved once the trucks start clearing the land?  Unless you are figuring those 5-gallon trees you can buy at Home Depot.

You may have received a slate card in the mail that said it was from the California Republican Party.  Take a real good look at this mailer.  The fine print says this “document was prepared by California Voters Guide.”  Not the Republican Party.  Candidates or organizations just pay the asking price to have their name or measure placed on these types fliers.  This is another trick by the Yes on Measure H group.

The Rocklin City Council is very concerned that Measure H will not pass.  If it does not pass they will loose their grip on power.  When Measure H fails, besides saving Clover Valley, Rocklin will experience great change.  New candidates will challenge the good ole boy network this November.  There is the possibility of electing 3 new council members.  The “people” of Rocklin could have a majority on their City Council.  Today the City Council represents the developer and the Thunder Valley Casino, not you and I.  Remember not too long ago, the City Council sued the Thunder Valley Casino because they thought the casino was bad for the local area.  Today the Rocklin City Council wants to help the casino with a highway direct to their doorsteps.  These politicians will do anything to stay in power.

How do we know the Rocklin City Council is concerned that Measure H will not pass?  The developer and the Thunder Valley Casino keep spending money trying to fool the Rocklin voters.  Rocklin voters are smart.  Since Jan 1, the developer and the Thunder Valley Casino have spent over $375,000 to trick people into voting yes on Measure H.  They will probably end up spending almost $1,000,000 to try and fool the Rocklin voters.  The Measure H supporters have a paid political staff, including the former chief of staff to Congressman Doolittle.  Most of this money is coming from outside Rocklin.  I wonder if any of the money came from Jack Abramoff? 

The Save Clover Valley group has spent around $70,000.  Most of this came from individuals donating less than $100.  Most are Rocklin residents.  This group collected nearly 5,000 signatures to get the measure on the ballot.  The City Council, the developer and the casino paid people to come into Rocklin to try and convince voters not to sign the petition.  Once again, Rocklin voters saw through this political game with the 5,000 signatures to get Measure H on the ballot. 

There is week to go before the election.  Lets all send a message to the Rocklin City Council, Rocklin School Board Trustee, Wendy “I can cry like Hillary” Lang, the developer, and the casino, that Rocklin voters are not fooled by the outside money being funneled into Rocklin.  By Voting NO ON MEASURE H, we reduce the smog, keep oak trees that are hundreds of years old and send a message that the good ole boys network in Rocklin is over.  Most members of the Rocklin City Council have been in office so long that they cannot comprehend the possibility of loosing power.

Remember the City Council will raise your taxes to help support the Clover Valley infrastructure.  They tell you they will not.  Just think about Measure J, the park tax.  They will start small and then they will tax you to complete a new fire station and the infrastructure that is necessary to keep the fire station operation.

PLEASE VOTE NO ON MEASURE H AND MEASURE J.   

The campaign for Measure H is has really gotten dirty.  Rocklin voters need to stick together and VOTE NO ON MEASUE H.  I called the effort to save Clover Valley a case study in democracy.  Today, I received a letter in the mail from my Republican Party that said, “THIS ISN’T DEMOCRACY, IT’S VANDALISM.”  In the letter they showed pictures of the signs that were vandalized.  I can understand that some members of the Republican Party do support Measure H.  However, I am very surprised and disappointed that Tom, Hudson, Chairman of the Placer County Republican Party and George Park, President of the Placer Republican Assembly would sign their names to this vandalism letter.  BTW - Where is your letter condeming the Rocklin School Board for their anti-school choice vote last week? 

I know the The Save Clover Valley Group would not be out vandalizing the Yes on Measure H signs.  Their campaign has not been this successful by playing dirty politics.  Kids with a spray paint can, may have committed the vandalism.  I believe the people that are supporting the Yes on H vandalized their own signs.  Just take a look at the PR they are trying to gain by mailing a flyer that shows a picture of their sign vandalized.  I would like to remind the voters that in the 2004 school board campaign Rocklin Mayor Brett Storey kept taking my campaign sign out of my yard and throwing it over my fence.  I actually had to call the City of Rocklin and put out a press release to the Placer Herald to make him stop.  During the 2006 school board campaign, Steve Paul, the “Grand Poobah,” of the Rocklin School Board was caught removing my signs.  A Rocklin citizen wrote a letter to the editor of the Placer Herald about Steve Paul removing my signs.  We do have a case history of these 2 removing other people’s signs.

Besides stopping the destruction of Clover Valley, a NO VOTE ON MEASURE H will start to bring about the political change that is needed in Rocklin.  It will provide us an opportunity to have 3 new city council members in November. 

If Measure H is approved, and after the November election, I believe the Rocklin City Council has a plan to raise our taxes.  Do not believe them when they tell us that the developing Clover Valley is good for Rocklin.  The developing of Clover Valley will require a much larger infrastructure.  They claim 1 million dollars will be donated to build a new fire station.  A new fire station will probably cost 5 - 10 million dollars.  After you spend the 5 - 10 million dollars, who is going to pay for the men and the women that will work at this fire station?  Who is going to pay for the new fire truck and all the equipment required to operate this new station?  I can guarantee it will not be the Thunder Valley Casino.  It will not be the developer.  It is going to be the people of Rocklin.  The Rocklin City Council will raise our taxes.  Kevin “dictator” Brown, the Rocklin School District Superintendent and the Steve Paul, the “Grand Poobah” may ask us to pass another bond for more schools.  Hear is an example of what an average person pays for in just the City of Rocklin and Rocklin Unified School District taxes.

Rocklin Unif B & I 1991 = $136.02

Rocklin Unif B & I 1998 = $  34.78

Rocklin Unif School CFD#1 MR = $701.40

City of Rocklin LLD #2 =  $84.76

City of Rocklin CFD #1 MR = $70.00

City of Rocklin CFD #2 MR = $68.72

City of Rocklin Park Dev & Maint = $30.00

City of Rocklin CFD #3 MR = $449.38

This is a grand total of $1,575 per year.  How do I know this?  This came off my property tax bill for 2007.  These are only the Rocklin specific taxes.  This number does not include the property tax on your house.  How long do you think it will take for the Rocklin City Council to impose another tax?  They are already trying with Measure J.  I believe it will happen after the November election if Measure H passes.  Just like the half-truths put out by the Yes on Measure H campaign, the Rocklin City Council will raise our taxes.    

The Save Clover Valley Group has raised and spent around $70,000.  The Rocklin Alliance for Open Space has spent almost $500,000.  They are now running TV adds.  They are trying to get everyone in the good ‘ol boys network to sign on to Yes on Measure.  They have the members of the Rocklin School Board, and Bill Halldin, past President of the Sierra College Foundation misleading the voters on Measure H.  Remember, Mr. Halldin is lock in step with the anti-school choice Rocklin School Board.  Word on the street is Bill “anti-choice” Halldin wants to take Jerry Simmons’ spot on the Sierra College Board.  Once the people of Rocklin know more about the, Bill “I know more about your child then you do” Halldin, Sierra College voters will never elected a person like this to their board.  We will provide additional information on the Sierra College race as the candidates start to emerge.

Do you want the Thunder Valley Casino pulling the strings of the Rocklin City Council members?  Do you want Massie and Company pulling the strings of the Rocklin City Council.  That is what is going to happen if Measure H passes.  For the Rocklin Alliance for Open Space (how deceptive to use this name when hundreds of homes, destruction of trees and a major highway through Rocklin will only create less space) to spend around $500,000 and counting proves they are very concerned about loosing on February  5.  They continue to spend like a drunken sailor trying every deceptive trick in the dirty political handbook to fool Rocklin voters.  Change is in the wind.  We will make it official on February 5 and then look to November with 3 new city council members. 

Remember to Vote No On Measure H.

There are less than 2 weeks before the people of Rocklin will send a message to the good old boy political network by VOTING NO ON MEASURE H.

A vote for Measure H only keeps the current politicians, especially the Rocklin City Council in office longer.  While some of the Rocklin City Council members have done some good for the city, it is time for a change.

Do you really trust what the Rocklin City Council is telling you about Measure H or other issues such as taxes?

Lets take a look at our taxes.  Scott “empty suit” Yuill said he is supporting Measure J, the park tax because it is good for our community.  Why can’t this empty suit and the others on the city council provide the money in the budget for maintaining our parks instead of wanting to tax us?  Mr. “Empty Suit” said in the Sacramento Bee, “he rarely supports a tax but is making an exception on this one.”  Hey Mr. Empty Suit, what about the sales tax increase you and the others on the City Council supported last year?  At least they were smart enough to back off because they knew it would not pass.  Rocklin voters need to know that this “empty suit” is really empty.  Remember he is an adviser to the Western Sierra Collegiate Academy Charter School.  But when his support was needed, like at the Rocklin School Board meeting last week, Mr. Empty Suit was not seen.  Do not be fooled by his smile and handshake.  This guy cannot be trusted.

Lets not forget the Rocklin City Council’s expenditure of hundreds of thousands of dollars to move rocks around at Rocklin Road and I-80.  Moving those rocks did not help ease the traffic.  That was our tax dollars they spent.  And now they want to tax us for maintenance on our parks.  Do not be surprised if they put a measure on the ballot asking us to tax ourselves for police or fire fighter support.  This is a tax and spend city council.

Have you ever driven through old Folsom?  They have some very nice shops and restaurants in that area.  It is also a nice meeting place for families.  Most of the Rocklin City Council members have been on the council for decades.  Peter Hill has been there forever.  Why do we not have an area like old Folsom?  I believe the city council formed a group over a year ago to look at what can be done with old Rocklin.  Why has it taken Peter Hill so long to form this group?  He and the others on the council have done little or no planning on this subject.  Peter Hill’s comment will be if you do not like what you see, then run for office.  But if you do that, he will sick his attack dogs on you.  Do you really believe Peter Hill on what he says about Measure H?  I do not.  It is time for a change. 

The City Council had an opportunity to support the Western Sierra Collegiate Academy Charter School.  This would of given them bragging rights to possibly host one of the top schools in the State.  This would of created jobs and would of brought additional families to Rocklin that would buy houses and pay taxes.  Instead they sided with the Rocklin School Board who opposed the charter school.  The Rocklin School Board does not believe in school choice or letting you decide what is best for your children.  This demonstrates how strong the good old boy network is in Rocklin. 

How can you trust the city council when it comes to Measure H?  They have assembled the good boy network to mislead and confuse Rocklin voters.  They call their group the Rocklin Alliance for Open Space.  How does building more homes, adding additional traffic, cutting down large oak trees and replacing them with 5 or 15 gallon tress from a store like Home Depot amount to more open space?  How does a 2-lane road going from Sierra College Blvd, through the City of Rocklin to Park Dr. and then direct to the casino help control traffic?  Take a look at all the people or organizations that have put their name on the Yes on Measure H flier.  Most have business directly or indirectly with the city.  Why do you think Thunder Valley is supporting Measure H?  They do not want any opposition from local officials when it comes to their new construction.  Take a look at where many of the large signs are located.  They are located in front of businesses in Rocklin.  Business owners are not stupid.  They are afraid to upset the good old boy network in Rocklin.

How much money do you think will go into the re-election campaign accounts of the Rocklin City Council?  The amount will be whatever it takes to get them re-elected.  We have a city council that is bought and paid for by interests outside of Rocklin.  They even have a former Congressman John Doolittle staffer running the Yes on Measure H campaign.  Maybe Jack Abramoff can provide some free advice from jail.

Measure H is a great lesson in democracy.  It all started because a large number of Rocklin voters did not agree with the City Council on Clover Valley.  They did what was necessary to get a measure placed on the ballot.  They got 4000 – 5000 signatures.  That alone tells us that people are not happy with the way the Rocklin City Council operates.  The Yes on Measure H people believes the race is very close.  Why do you think they are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars supporting the measure?  Even after spending hundreds of thousands of dollars and with the entire good old boy political network on their side, they are going to probably end up on the loosing side on Feb 5.  This should be a lesson that a grass roots campaign can be successful.  Remember the saying, “you can’t fight city hall?”  Rocklin voters are fighting city hall.  If Measure H is defeated, a new era will begin in Rocklin with the possibility of 3 new city council members being elected this November.     

The majority of people in Rocklin know we must vote NO ON MEASURE H.

The Measure H campaign is really starting to get ugly.  Last night my “No on Measure H” signed was stolen from my front yard.  All that remains are the metal stakes.  I noticed another signed stolen from another house on my street.  You may have noticed some of the “Yes on Measure H” signs on Sunset Blvd have been spray-painted.  The Yes on Measure H folks is taking a page out of the dirty campaign playbook.  They are going out and vandalizing their own signs and then trying to put the blame on the “No on Measure H” folks.   

Yesterday, I received a call from a very good friend of mine.  He received a call from a person high up in the Republican Party (a former Doolittle staffer who is now working for the Yes on Measure H campaign) to tell him this blog was hurting the Yes on Measure H campaign.  He also asked how I, as a conservative Republican could not support Measure H. 

Many people in Rocklin are reading this blog because they want straight talk when it comes to Rocklin and Placer County politics.  This blog has had over 3,000 hits in just the last couple of months.  That is why the Measure H folks are very concerned.  Rocklin voters are smart and understand the difference between deception and straight talk.        

I am a conservative Republican.  I am a Republican like President Theodore Roosevelt.  TR would not have supported the development of Clover Valley.  If TR were alive today, he would be considered an environmentalist.  

I am also a supporter of Senator John McCain for President.  While I do not agree with everything the Senator says, I like his straight talk.  He will not say what he thinks you want to hear just to get your vote.  He is not afraid to stand up for what he believes in, even if it is not popular or if he is on the opposite side of the Republican Party. 

One reason I am supporting the “No on Measure H” campaign is because we are not getting any straight talk from the Rocklin City Council and the group called “Rocklin Alliance for Open Space.”  The Rocklin City Council and the Rocklin Alliance for Open Space wants you to believe there will be more open space if Measure H is passed.  How about a little straight talk?  There will actually be less open space, 14,000 more cars on Rocklin roads, and the removal, of 7,400 old growth oak trees.  How does this amount to more open space?  We all know how bad the smog and pollution can get during the summer.  What do you think these 14,000 additional cars will do to the smog in Rocklin?  It is bad enough when our kids are out playing soccer during the summer and have to breath all the smog.  Do we want to make it even worse for them? 

Lets not forget the 2-lane highway that will pass through Rocklin straight to the Thunder Valley Casino.  More cars equal more smog.  I wonder how much money the Casino will send to Peter Hill’s, Brett Storey’s, and George Magnuson’s re-election campaign?

The Rocklin City Council and Rocklin Alliance for Open Space is telling us if Measure H fails then over 900 homes will be built.  Hear is some more straight talk.  The proposal to build over 900 homes was never approved, unless there is a secret agreement between the Rocklin City Council and the developer.  Also, the environmental study was never completed to build the over 900 homes.

There are even more lies coming from the Rocklin City Council and the Rocklin Alliance for Open Space.  While there may be a new fire station built, who is going to pay for the infrastructure to make this station operational?  Not the developer.  It will be you and I.  They say there will be more parks.  Who is going to pay for the upkeep on the parks?  Not the developer.  It will be you and I.  The Rocklin City Council is going to raise our taxes.  They are already trying to raise our taxes with Measure J.  Measure J is a tax to support the upkeep on our parks.  Why is the City Council not asking the developers to foot this bill?   Is the City Council not spending within their means?  They are spending more money than they are taking in and that is why they want to tax us on the upkeep of our parks.  What is going to come next, a tax for police support or a tax for firefighter support?  I am very concerned that the Rocklin city Council has a plan to raise our taxes.  The park tax is just the first step.  We are not getting any straight talk from our city council.

We have all received numerous fliers in our mailbox that list some of the supporters for Measure H.  Welcome to the good old boys political network in Rocklin.  You have the members of the Rocklin School Board and the dictator of the school board, Superintendent Kevin Brown supporting Measure H.  Last week this school board eliminated school choice by voting down the Western Sierra Collegiate Academy's charter school request.  Most of the other supports are people that sit on commissions that have been appointed by the Rocklin City Council.  How misleading is that?

Finally, how much money do you think will be dumped into Peter Hill’s, Brett Storey’s, and George Magnuson’s re-election campaign by the developer?  The City Council’s support for Measure H will be rewarded with the developers dumping over $100,000 into the November re-election campaign. 

I am urging all Rocklin voters to vote NO ON MEASURE H.  We must vote no to preserve our quality of life and to start to break up the good old boys network that is the Rocklin City Council.            

On January 16, 2008 the Rocklin School Board voted down 5 – 0 the Western Sierra Collegiate Academy’s (WSCA) request for a charter to open a 7 – 12 Public School of Choice in Rocklin.

The fix was in way before this meeting or the public hearing that was held last month.  Superintendent Kevin Brown told the Rocklin Academy Board President last June that he would not support this charter.  Kevin Brown is a shrewd operator.  He has a school board that acts as his 5 puppets.  I was amazed how Mr. Brown was able to make the mouth move of Steve Paul, the “Grand Poobah,” of the board.  The “Grand Poobah” showed the entire audience how arrogant and misinformed he is.

Lets recap: The school district evaluated the WSCA charter request and reported, through their attorney that the charter did not meet certain requirements.  By law, the charter request only had to be 60 pages.  The WSCA provided a 700-page proposal.  The district evaluated the proposal.  The district said the WSCA was non-compliant in many areas.  With a 700-page proposal there could be some confusion.  The district provided the WSCA only 6 hours to see where they were non-compliant.  6 hours for a 700-page proposal.  I have worked many government proposals for the Air Force as an  Air force officer and as a contractor and never would we allow only 6 hours to look at our response to a proposal.  If that happened there would be a protest by the contractor to the Government Accountability Office (GAO).  After the district’s attorney and Mrs. Hawkins, the principal of Whitney High, spoke for an hour on why the charter should not be approved, the “Grand Poobah” only allowed a 3-minute response from the Rocklin Academy Board President, the Rocklin Academy Executive Director and the WSCA attorney.  The district speaks for 1-hour and the official response from the WSCA directors is 3 minutes.  This is an outrage.  There were approximately 100 people supporting the charter at the meeting.  How could the school board be so insensitive to their cause?

Everyone in the audience knew the “Grand Poobah,” never even read the report.  I am sure he probably looked at the first page and said; I do not understand the content.  But not to worry; Superintendent Kevin Brown will put the words in my mouth.  All I need to do is move my jaw. 

Greg “I’m a Communist” Daley said there was no reason to have a school that demands accountability from their students or one that concentrates on achieving a very high level of excellence so these students can compete at the highest level.  I am very surprised that Comrade Daley would have this view.  He is a former Air Force pilot.  He should know what it means to be the best.  It seems Mr. Daley’s views are more in line with the People’s Liberation Army in China.

Camille “I’m so liberal” Maben is the poster child for what is wrong with the public education system in the United States.  All Ms. Maben was concerned about was the lower achieving students.  The WSCA had a plan to work with the kids that needed additional help.  But what about these high achievers that are not being challenged in a normal school setting?  I would challenge Ms. Maben to leave the nice confines of her office in Sacramento and take a trip to the Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) in Pasadena.  I have worked with JPL and most of their PhD and PhD candidates are on visas from foreign countries.  But lets follow Ms. Maben and Comrade Daley’s philosophy and lets all learn the same way.  Lets also dumb down our schools so we cannot compete on a global scale with students from other countries.

Todd “slick attorney” Lowell was slick in his responses.  He believes there is no difference to what Rocklin high schools provides and what the WSCA could provide.  He is so wrong.  He is as arrogant as the “Grand Poobah.”

Wendy “ I can cry like Hillary” Lang showed she really does not understand what it means to be a school board member.  After the meeting she spoke with a few of the WSCA supporters and had tears in her eyes because of her no vote.  She said she voted with her heart.  She must have watched Hillary before the New Hampshire primary and took a page out of her playbook.  Ms. Lang, the people of Rocklin did not vote you into office because we want you to vote with your heart.  We voted you into office because we expect you to do the right thing for all children.  You dropped the ball.  By the way, we all thought your tears were not real.  I recommend you keep watching the Hillary tape so you can perfect your crying.

Jim “you do it my way” Trimble is the principal at Rocklin Elementary School.  I used to respect Mr. Trimble.  When I was on the school board, I spent more time at his school than any other school in the district.  I supported the expansion of his Gate program.  The “Grand Poobah” and the “Slick Attorney” did not.  Last night he read a letter from a parent at his school.  This parent’s child went to the Rocklin Academy (RA) and then transferred to Rocklin Elementary.  The child transferred because she said things were not working out at RA.  Mr. Trimble even mentioned the parent was not happy with the RA principal.  Just think what the  “Grand Poobah” would of done if a parent said something negative about a principal at on RUSD School?  He would not of permitted it.  I guess there is a double standard.  I approached Mr. Trimble after the meeting to say that was a low blow against RA.  He said it was justified.  When I asked him about the 400 kids that attend RA because they did not want to attend a RUSD school he did not want to hear about it.  When I asked him why there has been such an exodus of students and teachers from Twin Oaks Elementary School, he did not want to hear it.  Mr. Trimble, there are 2 sides to every story and in my eyes you have lost all credibility.  You should be reprimanded for mentioning the RA principal in a personnel issue.  I thought you were an educator that had an open mind.  It is obvious that you have gone through the brain-sucking machine that the Superintendent keeps in his office.  It is too bad.  I thought you were really for all the children.  I was wrong.

Every person that got up to speak to request the school board approve the WSCA charter did not have one negative word to say about any school in the RUSD.  In fact most people who have already sent their children to a RUSD school had positive comments.  The issue was not whether one school is better than the other.  The issue is about providing choice to parents.  Most of these parents have kids in elementary school today. They do not know if they would even send their child to WSCA, but they want the choice to do so.  Because of the vote last night, they will not have that choice.

Whitney High School principal Debra Hawkins and a handful of Rocklin High teachers got up to say how good Rocklin High School is.  Once again, nobody was saying Rocklin High School is a bad school.  It was these teachers with the help of the teacher union controlled school board that were trying to split the community.  They are afraid that too many families would want to send their children to WSCA and that would hurt the budget.  Lets remember that the California Teacher’s Union, (the CTA is the biggest obstacle to public education in California) controls this school board.  The have donated over $20,000 to make sure their agenda is the priority of the school board.  Remember their agenda does not mean what is best for your child.  That was evident last night.

One interesting observation, where was Rocklin City Councilman Scott “empty suite” Yuill last night?  Mr. Empty Suit is on the advisory committee for the WSCA.  However, he failed to attend last month’s public hearing.  He has never made a public comment supporting WSCA.  We must conclude that Mr. Empty Suit put his name on this committee to only pad his resume for higher office.  Mr. Empty Suit is the poster child for what is wrong with our politicians.  He is one that smiles at you and shakes your hand, while he stabs you in the back.  Suggestion to the WSCA Committee, get rid of the dead weight.

What is next for WSCA?  They have the option to appeal to the county and to the State Board of Education.  Since the good old boys network controls Placer County politics, they will have better luck at the State.  The Governor appointed the state board and he is a big supporter of charter schools.  I believe the State Board will approve the charter.

I am curious to hear any comments from Placer County Republican Party.  The party endorsed Mr. Paul and Mr. Lowell even though they these board members never supported school choice.  What about Ted “in my pocket” Gaines?  It was his help using teacher union money that helped eliminated school choice.  We know Mr. Gaines or his staff reads this blog.  A real leader is able to admit his mistakes.  Lets see if Mr. Gaines is a real leader.

With the Presidential campaign in full swing the key word from the candidates from both parties is “CHANGE.”  We do need change in Washington.  But Washington is not the only place that needs immediate change.  We need immediate change right hear in Rocklin. 

If Measure H passes our quality of life will change in Rocklin.  This change will be for the worse.  Do we want 14,000 more cars on the road each day?  Remember the hot summer days with all the smog?  How much worse will it be with 14,000 more cars on the road?  WE NEED TO VOTE NO ON MEASURE H.

I have been taking some hits from my Republican friends because I call myself a conservative but I do not support developing Clover Valley.  I do not think this is a Republican or Democrat issue.  This is a quality of life issue in Rocklin.

Sometimes the way a Measure is placed on the ballot can be confusing.  To get a better understanding of the measure, it helps to see who is supporting it.  Lets take a look at who is supporting Measure H.  This will help you understand why we need to Vote No.

1. Thunder Valley Casino – Thunder Valley wants a new road that will run directly to their casino.  They also want no opposition from elected officials as they build their hotel and theater. 

2. Rocklin City Councilmember Peter Hill - If Rocklin citizens do not agree with this councilman or if he thinks you may try to challenge him for his seat on the council, he will sick his attack dogs on you.  This man has no ethics and gives politics in Rocklin a bad name.  We all know that Mr. Hill will have his hand out to the developers and the Thunder Valley Casino for money to support his re-election campaign.

3. Rocklin City Councilman - George Magnuson – This guy cannot even keep his dog chained up.  Remember Mr. Magnuson’s dog attached an old lady.  He even had the audacity to blame the old lady.  Just like a dog, Mr. Magnuson will be panting for developer and casino money to fund his re-election campaign.

4. Councilman Brett Storey – Mr. Storey does not believe anyone else’s opinion but his own.  He will have both hands out for those developer and casino donations.

These are only a few of the players that have put their own interests above the people of Rocklin.  After Measure H is defeated, it will be time to continue the change and make sure we retire these out of touch politicians.

The Save Clover Valley Supporters have distributed over 1,000 signs to individual homes in Rocklin.  This is a real grass roots effort.  We have received 1 or 2 fliers in the mail from the Save Clover Valley Group.  These fliers provide the voters with accurate information.  We have also received 6 or more fliers from the Yes on H group.  These fliers are meant to deceive the voters.  Once again, take a look at who is paying for these fliers.  It is developer and casino money.  These 2 groups have an open checkbook and will spend whatever it takes to confuse the people of Rocklin.

Maybe if they were honest, I might be a little sympathetic to the developer’s cause.  Look at their large signs that have sprung up all over Rocklin.  They say, “less traffic and more open space.”  How does adding hundreds upon hundreds of homes, paving for more roads, and a direct road to the casino cause less traffic and create more open space?  Do these people think the Rocklin voters are stupid? 

They will tell you if Measure H fails that it will pave the way for a 1,000 homes to be built.  That is not true.  The environmental study was never completed and the Rocklin City Council never approved that plan.  Has the Rocklin City Council worked out a secret plan to pass this 1,000 home plan if Measure H fails?  Remember, Peter Hill, George Magnuson, and Brett Storey want developer and casino money for their re-election campaign.          

One final note, you may have noticed that Steve Paul, the “Grand Poobah,” of the Rocklin School Board has endorsed Measure H.  This is the same person that never reads his school board information package.  Do we really think that he read the details about Measure H?

We have the opportunity to change the way the political game is played in Rocklin.  Lets stop the good old boy network and do what is right for our quality of life in Rocklin.

LETS ALL VOTE NO ON MEASURE H.

This Wednesday, January 16, 2008, The Rocklin School Board will decide if they will grant a charter to the Western Sierra Collegiate Academy (WSCA), a 7 - 12 Public Charter School of Choice for Rocklin and Placer County.  This meeting will start at 7:00 pm at the Rocklin School Board District Office (2615 Sierra Meadows Drive, Rocklin).

The Rocklin School District Board of Trustees must approve this charter.  There is a tremendous amount of support not only from Rocklin families but also from families in the surrounding cities.  This was evident by huge turnout at the public hearing last month and the hundreds of families on the waiting list to get their children into Rocklin Academy.  This large waiting list exists because the Rocklin School Board has prohibited the Rocklin families from attending Rocklin Academy.  They have mandated that 20% of Rocklin Academy’s enrollment will be from outside Rocklin.  This is unfair because Rocklin families paid the taxes to build the school that houses Rocklin Academy.  

Last December the Rocklin School Board held a public hearing on the WSCA charter.  Listening to the comments from the board members, I do not believe they will support this charter.   Last June, Superintendent Kevin Brown said that he would not support the charter.  At the public hearing I asked him about that comment.  He said he would not support the charter because he was negotiating agreements with Rocklin Academy.  Can you say BLACKMAIL??    

Steve Paul, the “Grand Poobah,” of the school board could only say that Rocklin Schools are great.  The parents that want the school board to grant this charter are not saying that Rocklin Schools are bad.  They just want more options on where to send their children.  If history repeats itself the Grand Poobah probably never read his board package.  And if he did, he probably would not of understood the content.

Slick attorney, Todd Lowell does not get it.  He kept asking what would be the difference between Rocklin High Schools and WSCA?  How about a smaller school, emphasis on a collegiate curriculum and core knowledge?  And these are just a few of the differences. 

In 2006, the “Slick Attorney” and the “Grand Poobah” asked the Placer County Republican Party for their endorsement.  To get that endorsement, they had to answer a few questions.  One question asked if they supported charter schools.  Both said yes and below is part of their written responses to the Republican Party.

The “Grand Poobah” responded with the following quote

“Our children will and have always had a choice of schools to attend.” 

The truth is not all Rocklin families have a choice of schools to attend.  Steve Paul is one of the school board members to blame for parents not having choice and for Rocklin families paying taxes for a school they built but are not allowed to attend.

Todd “slick attorney” Lowell provided the following quote to the Placer County Republican Central Committee; 

“I voted to extend the Rocklin Academy’s charter as they requested and have supported their space needs.” 

No wonder we have tagged Mr. Lowell as the “slick attorney.”  Yes, he voted to extend the Rocklin Academy charter but forced the Rocklin Academy into a possibly illegal agreement.  We are still looking for an attorney that is willing to help Rocklin parents take the RUSD to court over the agreement that Rocklin Academy was forced to sign.  As mentioned before, this agreement allows families outside of Rocklin to attend Rocklin Academy, even though Rocklin parents have and are continuing to pay the taxes on this school.  Maybe the “slick attorney” should tell the hundreds of Rocklin families why they cannot attend Rocklin Academy.

Todd Lowell and Steve Paul lied to get the endorsement of the Republican Party and now they will probably show their anti-charter views by not supporting the WSCA. 

PLACER COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY, IT IS TIME TO WAKE UP.

During the public hearing, Camille “I am proud to be a liberal” Maben continued to press Dr. David Patterson, the Executive Director of Rocklin Academy, on how he was going to address the low achieving kids.  In my opinion, Dr. Patterson was trying to be too politically correct.  What he should have said to Ms Maben was the WSCA would work with any student that wants to attend the school.  Not all students will want to attend the school or should attend the school.  We are not going to lower the curriculum standards so everyone has a chance to graduate from WSCA.  Ms. Maben and the education establishment want to dumb down education standards so everyone looks good.  Ms. Maben works for the California Department of Education.  No wonder California schools are near the bottom when compared with other states in the country.  Ms Maben, wants to continue to set low standards so the people in Sacramento look good.

Greg “I am only a Republican when I need an endorsement” Daley sounded less informed than the Grand Poobah, a task that I thought was impossible achieve.  Mr. Daley kept asking Dr Patterson about English language learners at Rocklin Academy.  I am not sure how this was relevant in discussing the WSCA charter.  Mr. Daley seemed to be opposed to the WSCA charter. 

Wendy “deer in the headlights” Lang was very professional during the public hearing.  She seems to have done a little homework.  Because of this we are removing the “deer in the headlights” name.  She will now be called Wendy “ I will team with anyone to get elected” Lang.  It is a shame that Ms. Lang is so heavily influenced by the “Slick Attorney” and the “Grand Poobah.”

Congressman John Doolittle, Assemblyman Ted “in my pocket” Gaines, and Congressional Candidate Charlie Brown have come out publicly to support the WSCA.

What about the Rocklin City Council?  Remember Scott ‘empty suit” Yuill is on the advisory committee for the WSCA.  At this time, he will not come out publicly to support the charter.  Mr. Empty Suit is a slick politician.  He is not to be trusted.  The rest of the City Council has been silent on the issue.  They have the chance to support a great school in their city.  I must assume they are too busy working on lying to the Rocklin voters on Measure H.  Remember a NO VOTE ON MEASURE H reduces traffic and controls growth in Rocklin.  I will have more on this on my next post.  

Where is the Rocklin Chamber of Commerce’s support for the WSCA?  Lets not forget the Chamber President is now Todd “slick attorney” Lowell.  That is one reason there is no support.  The CEO of the Chamber is Robin Trimble.  You would think that Ms. Trimble would support the WSCA because it would help bring more business to Rocklin.  Remember the high tech company I spoke about before, with 25 PhDs would consider moving to Rocklin if the WSCA is housed in Rocklin.  Scott “empty suit” Yuill knows this.  It is obvious that Ms Trimble is just a puppet of the good old boys network in Rocklin.

On January 16 the people of Rocklin will know if there is real school choice when it comes to a grade 7 -12 WSCA charter school.  You will also know where your other local elected officials stand.  From what I understand, legally, the Rocklin School Board must approve this charter.  Will they vote no on the charter and role the dice to see if there is an appeal or legal action taken against the district?  Please attend this important meeting on January 16, at 7:00 at the Rocklin School District Office.   

Rocklin Voters need to vote NO ON MEASURE H.  The Rocklin City Council the developer, and now the Thunder Valley Indian Casino have resorted to deceptive tactics to confuse the great people of Rocklin to support the development of Clover Valley.

Have you noticed the large signs at Stanford Ranch Road and Sunset Blvd that say “yes on H?”  Get ready for the phone calls, the mailers, and the political signs that will ask you to support Measure H.  This group will spend whatever it takes to trick you into voting for Measure H.  The Rocklin City Council is leading the campaign to increase the traffic on Rocklin roads and to increase your taxes.  On a side note, the Rocklin City Council is supporting Measure J.  Measure J will continue and raise the current park tax.  If Measure H is such a good deal for Rocklin residents, why are we being asked to help pay the taxes on a park for Clover Valley?  Why is the developer not paying this cost?

How can we trust the Rocklin City Council?  Remember the Rocklin City Council spent hundreds of thousands of our tax dollars on fake granite rocks at the I-80/Rocklin Road interchange.  This did nothing to improve the traffic.  Now they are telling us that developing Clover Valley we reduce traffic in Rocklin.  Do they think we are that stupid?

 Another interesting fact is Thunder Valley Casino wants to build a 23 story 5 star hotel at the casino site in the next year or so.  They need the support of the county and the surrounding cities.  Look at a Google map and check out where Whitney Ranch Road leads (also named Park Ave up by Clover Valley where the new Highway in Clover Valley would connect).  No wonder the Thunder Valley Casino wants the Clover Valley Project to go through.  They want the support of the Rocklin City Council and the Placer County Supervisors for their new hotel.  The old saying, you scratch my back and I will scratch yours.

You can bet that Rocklin City Council members, Peter Hill, George Magnuson, and Brett Storey, who are all up for re-election in November, will have their campaign accounts stuffed with cash donations from the developers and the casino.

When politicians are in power for too long they seem to loose track of what is best for the everyday person.  That happened when the Democrats controlled Congress for decades and the reason why the Republicans took control of Congress in 1994.  It is also the reason the Republicans lost control of Congress in 2006.  Each party was more concerned with staying in power than doing the people’s business.  This situation is happening with the Rocklin City Council.  4 of the members (the 5^th is just an empty suit) have been in power for so long they have lost track of what is best for Rocklin.  Councilman Peter Hill will say if you do not like us then you should run against us.  What Mr. Hill does not say is, he we use every personal attack in the book if you dare challenge is authority as a member of the City Council.  The Council will accept hundreds of thousands of dollars from the developers just to keep their hold on power.

It is time to what is best for Rocklin.  Please VOTE NO ON MEASURE H. 

If you are still confused just take a look at who is for the Measure H and who is against the Measure H.  The people against Measure H are community leaders who have no stake in getting elected to political office.  They are not afraid to stand up to the likes of Peter Hill and his good old boys network.  The community leaders who oppose Measure H are doing so because they believe it is the right thing to do for the great people of Rocklin.

VOTE NO ON MEASURE H.

Rocklin voters need to be aware of the misleading campaign that is being waged by the Rocklin City Council, and Massie and Company.  Massie and Company is the developer for Clover Valley.  The City Council and Massie are asking us to vote Yes on Measure H because they say a yes vote will mean there will be less traffic and more open space in Clover Valley.  If you look at the facts, THIS IS A BIG LIE.

These 2 groups will spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to deceive the voters with their fancy brochures that have begun arriving in our mailboxes.  They are telling voters if Measure H is not passed that the owners of Clover Valley will have the legal right to build twice the number of houses and provide 5 times less open space.  That is a big lie.  The Rocklin Planning Commission and the Rocklin City Council have never approved that plan.  The environmental study has never been completed or approved for that large amount of homes. 

We all need to VOTE NO ON MEASURE H.  Lets look at the facts.  If Measure H is passed it will mean hundreds of new homes and 14,000 additional cars a day onto Rocklin Streets and Neighborhoods.  The Rocklin City Council is telling us this will reduce traffic.  How does 14,000 additional cars reduce traffic?  I think the City Council needs to go back to school and take another math class.  They expect you to believe that there will be NO Loss of Trees.  Cut down 7,400 mature oaks that take 100 years to grow and replace them with 5 gallon Stick Trees does not seem like an equal exchange.  Open space is quickly being eliminated in cities like Rocklin.  We do not want to destroy a beautiful area like Clover Valley just so the current Rocklin City Council can remain in power.     

During my next few posts, I will take a more detailed look at the Rocklin City Council and the good old boys network that is alive and well in Rocklin.  Until then, you need to know why we have the same City Council members elected year after year.  Our City Council is bought and paid for by outside interests.  One of the main outside interest groups are the developers.  Take a look at last years campaign.  Scott “empty suit” Yuill had no real opposition in his campaign.  However, he kept mailing out very nice color brochures.  Most of his money came from developers.  And now Mr. "Empty Suit" and the bought and paid for City Council wants to continue the park tax.  How about the developers paying more of the burden for our parks?  The City Council will not make the developers pay more to fund our parks because they want to continue to receive their campaign donations.

The City Council wants to discourage anyone to run against them.  If being bankrolled by the developers is not enough to discourage people to run, then Councilman Peter Hill starts his character  assassination tactics.   

Do not be fooled by fancy brochures and our elected officials misleading statements.  Remember when politicians are in power for many years like 4 out of the 5 members on the Rocklin City Council they think they know what is best and do not want to have any educated debate or even listen to the voters.  That is what has happened with Measure H.

Do what is best for Rocklin - VOTE NO ON MEASURE H.      

The following is a recap of the Rocklin School District’s Public Hearing, held on December 19, 2007, for the granting of a charter for the Western Sierra Collegiate Academy Charter School (WSCA).  I will provide the recap by the political players.

1.      Congressman John Doolittle sent a letter to the Rocklin School Board urging them to support the charter.

2.      I read a letter from Congressional Candidate Charlie Brown.  Mr. Brown urged the Rocklin School Board to support the charter.

3.      Assemblyman Ted “in my pocket” Gaines was the only local politician to actually make a public statement to the board.  He also urged the board to support the charter.  I will give “In My Pocket” credit for making a public appearance at the board meeting.  However, was his statement made to score political points?  He knew JTD was going to support the charter.  I am sure he was told Charlie Brown supports the charter.  There was a rumor that Eric Hogue was going to attend.  Eric may have been there but failed to speak.  Knowing “In My Pocket’s,” character, I am sure his speech was made for political points only.  I am sure he did not want to be left out in the cold by not supporting the charter.  One must remember that “In My Pocket” is the one that was instrumental in getting the 3 anti-charter school candidates elected last November.

4.      Rocklin School Board Member Steve Paul – The “Grand Poobah” showed his ignorance by not asking 1 question after the Western Sierra Collegiate Academy presentation and public comments.  The “Grand Poobah” was just his natural self.  Five years on the school board and still comes to meetings unprepared and without reading his board package.

5.      Rocklin School Board Member Todd Lowell – The “slick attorney” was a slick as he could be.  He harassed Dr. Dave Patterson for not spelling out why WSCA would be different than taking AP classes at either of the 2 Rocklin high schools.  Dr. Patterson tried to answer the question numerous times but tried to be politically correct each time.  He should of said parents want another option of where to send there kids to for grades 7 – 12.  He did say some parents prefer a small school.  The “slick attorney” did not think that was good enough.  The “slick attorney” thought he knows what is best for all of Rocklin families when it comes to educating their kids. 

6.      Rocklin School Board Member Camille Maben – The very nice and polite Ms Maben showed how liberal she really is.  This is a school to prepare kids for a top rated colleges.  Students may also attend who do not want to go to college but want an advanced high school education in a small school environment.  While WSCA will have an open enrollment policy, the school will not be for every student.  Ms Maben was more concerned with lowering the standards, than raising standards.  Remember American students have fallen way behind other industrialized countries in most academic areas.  Ms. Maben does not want to really challenge our kids to achieve the highest standards possible.  Ms Maben is a supporter of the wrestling team at Rocklin High School.  Should we lower the wrestling standards so everyone can make the team?  Should we lower the football standards so everyone can make the team?  Should we play the weak players so everyone has an opportunity?  I do not think any Rocklin or Whitney High School coach would loose a game just to satisfy everyone getting equal playing time.  Ms. Maben, why are academics different?

7.      Rocklin School Board Member Greg Daley – Mr. “I don’t understand” Daley was asking questions about English Language Learners at Rocklin Academy.  I am not sure what that had to do with the WSCA charter.  Maybe Mr. “I don’t understand” was reading from another board package.  Give him credit.  At least he reads a board package.  That is quite different than the “Grand Poobah” not reading any board package.

8.      Rocklin School Board Member Wendy Lang – I am going to remove “the deer in the headlights” from her name.  The “nice” Ms Lang did ask some good questions.  But remember she through in the towel with the  “Grand Poobah.” and the “slick attorney” during last year’s election.  Without their money Wendy Lang would of not been elected.  While Ms Lang seems like a nice person, she comprised her principals just to get elected.  Maybe she will break away from the grip of the “Grand Poobah.” and the “slick attorney” and support the charter agreement.

9.      Rocklin City Councilman Scott Yuill – Mr. “empty suite” Yuill is a so-called advisor to the WSCA.  Mr. “empty suite” did not even attend the meeting.  It is obvious that this empty suite is your standard politician that talks out of both sides of his mouth with a big smile.

10.  The Rest of the Rocklin City Council – This group would not even lend their support to the charter.  It is not surprising since they all supported the entire anti-charter school board.  This group can also be considered a bunch of empty suites, plus one empty skirt.  If the WSCA were approved, the City Council would have bragging rights to a top school in their city.  I know of a business that is in the local area that does work with the Defense Department and would consider moving to Rocklin.  This company is looking to purchase a building and employees 24 PhDs and continues to grow.  However, this company will not even consider Rocklin, if the Rocklin School Board turns down the charter for the WSCA.  24 PhDs get paid a nice salary.  Seems like the empty suites and the empty skirt on the Rocklin City Council would prefer to add another pizza joint and nail salon than a high tech company that pays high wages.