Looking back at how the political climate has changed since he was first elected in 1992, [retired Councilman James] Bond said that coastal Southern California has gradually shifted toward a more liberal or left-of-center way of thinking. He said that accompanying that shift has been a swing toward more mean-spirited elections and campaigns.As council watchers the last few years, our perception is that criticism of the council majority's actions came from across the political spectrum, was usually well-founded, and was overwhelmingly validated by the public in November's landslide election. Mean-spiritedness went both ways, and was often originated or exacerbated by council members' contemptuous, erroneous dismissal of public speakers as being a fringe minority.
Bond was critical of people who he said abuse the public comments portion of the council meeting, which is reserved for members of the public who want to address the City Council regarding non-agenda items.
“This year I was really disappointed to see that we had regular herds of people to criticize the sitting council,” he said. “To make disparaging and in many cases totally untruthful comments or remarks is not the way you elect, select and support your representatives.”
We hope the new council gives, and earns, more respect, regardless of individual political affiliations. Public civility is likely to follow the tone set by the council.
Everyone hated Stocks..... thats why he got the shit kicked out of him.... thats what you get when you favor special interests over your constituents.
ReplyDeleteWatch Gaspar be removed in the next cycle. She is a Stocks puppet and gets massive finical election support from special interests.
Everyone did not hate Stocks. He had a very strong following. It took 12 years and a lot of help from Stocks himself to attain the positive change on Council that we now have.
ReplyDeleteIn fairness, he accomplished a lot of good for our city.
We are better off now.
We do not need your hate, Rob.
Thanks
Happy New Year
Jerome still commenting.
DeleteWhat alternate Universe have you been living in???
DeleteLet it hereby be understood by all who come after us ... that Jerome Stocks and James Bond have heretofore been the most divisive, ostracizing city council people ever elected in the young history of our Encinitas.
DeleteThey forgot whom they were representing and they got caught up in the puffed-up ego syndrome of small, insecure men. The pathos of these two would be sympathetic were they not so contemptible. Let this be a lesson to all Encinitans, especially to those who actually voted for Jerome Stocks in 2012. Don't vote by rote!
The only silver lining in this election past is that because of Stocks and Bond we now have a renewed city government who actually have regard for its citizenry. It was bound to happen eventually, as true colors would eventually be shown. As H.L. Mencken said: "Time wounds all heels."
James Bond: Thank you so much for realizing your inadequacies as an elected official, and thank you for your, ahem, altruism.
Jerome Stocks: You are toxic to Encinitas. PLEASE try to run again. The schadenfreude of seeing that public spanking would be SO beyond enjoyable. Think about it. ... You were the worst thing that ever happened to our wonderful Encinitas. Now go back to your insurance game. Please.
To you both: Don't go away mad, just go away.
Stocks was a special interest stooge - he did what was best for him and his monied handlers. This clown upped pension benefits and entered into disasterous financial arrangements that will haunt this city for many years to come.
ReplyDeleteJames Bond can't be taken seriously, as he was never qualified to be a councilman. He was elected because of the name sake to 007 - nothing more. To listen to him whine one last time is annoying - go eat your 1930's Xmas ribbon candy and fade away. Stocks, Bond and Dalager - incompetent, corrupt and inefficent. Good riddance!
Name one thing stocks did to help Encinitas. Stocks helped special interests including Employee Unions (huge pension fiasco), Developers profits, and private sports leagues who's CEO make huge Salaries as the City subsidizes their field time.
ReplyDeleteStocks was the worse council member ever in Encinitas. We should make a statue of him so people can dress it up all the time and make fun of him forever. He Deserves it.
“Like Frank Sinatra, I’ve had regrets, but too few to mention,” Bond said. “If I had to pick one, I would say it’s not having gotten out four years ago. This time I knew I was going and I was very happy with that.”
ReplyDeleteI too regret that Bond didn't get out four years ago. His last four years were sad to watch as he rambled and repeated the same things over and over. He was petulant and condescending to the public and could show the same characteristics to the other council members in moments of confusion. The ultimate insults to the public was his endorsement of the disgraced Dan Dalager in 2010 and his continual support of Jerome Stocks.
For those of you that think life will change for the better in Encinitas now that Stocks and Bond are gone, you are in for a big surprise. Look no further that last weeks council meeting about placing permanent art at city hall. A big fiasco that will only get bigger, meanwhile no mention of pension reform, safer streets, paving streets, cutting a bloated staff, not to mention a fire dept that lets every building burn to the ground, or the usual nutjobs that open every council meeting with wild comments about hate for this or that.
ReplyDeleteNo, those of you that think life will be peaches and cream are going to wake up to more of the same problems only with different indifferent leaders. Way to go Encinitas, how's that hope and change working out for ya??
too funny 9:58pm.... lets see what the new council brings.
ReplyDeletethey already agreed to place on an upcoming agenda the pension issue and the City Attorny issue. they have proven they are in favor of revisiting all the previous councils (paid for) decisions.
@Anon (9:58): not to mention a fire dept that lets every building burn to the ground
ReplyDeleteUmm… got any proof of that? Any at all?
how's that hope and change working out for ya??
You do realize that the election was only last month, don't you?
The role of Govt,all Govt, is to confiscate your wealth, your assets through taxes, fees, etc.. After this weekends "fiscal cliff" nonsense again I ask you...how's that hope and change working out for ya???
DeleteJames Bond - a doddering old sap. He only saw what he wanted to and never contributed much to the civic agenda. Pretty much slept for an entire career. Go get lost in the back 40 Pops....
ReplyDeleteJames Bond- A man only elected for his name as a fictional English super spy. What a sad state of affairs for America. Can Americans get more stupid?
ReplyDeleteYes, George Carlin said, imagine how stupid is the average American,now understand that half the people are more stupid than that....
DeleteJust how "MEAN SPIRITED" is it to deny a beloved city council woman any city sponsored memorial in her honor and then try to deprive our local community artists from honoring her in a public way through the Arts Alive Program? And what about all
ReplyDeleteyour attempts to discourage residents from speaking on agenda items or delaying their presentations to the end of hours long
meetings as was done with Livia Borak of Coast Law Group and others who didn't embrace your oppressive leadership style? The outrageous culture of cronyism and secrecy at city hall galvanized this electorate that you once deemed as too apathetic to care about what happened at city hall to turn out
in unprecedented numbers to reject the "Good Old Boys" governing style.
Exhibiting disdain and condescension towards residents that proposed alternatives to your increased development bias was not prudent given that the taxpayers paid your salary as a councilman and as consumers, also probably paid for your water authority appointment. You forgot who you were supposed to represent. The bar for mean spirited, petty behavior was set by the previous council majority, with whom you were closely aligned, Mr. Bond.
ReplyDelete