Monday, December 28, 2015

Parks & Rec Commissioner Mosca's former Sierra Madre constituents still avidly follow his career

Joe Mosca must have made a real impression on Sierra Madre during his brief time as council member and mayor there. Years later, an update on the re-launch of his political career in Encinitas immediately draws more than 50 comments.

100 comments:

  1. Enlightening article, WC, and surprisingly well written with quotes. But it sounds like the anonymous author has a real bone to pick with Joe on a personal level. It also sounds (and looks) like the same person left most of those 50 one-liner comments (moments apart from each other). But its always good to be on the cautious side when it comes to developer shills and their tactics - if that's indeed what he is.

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    1. 6:16, I am one of the Sierra Madre residents Joe lied to, and I have posted comments whenever the Tattler writes about him - I am not the author of the blog, and can tell with with certainty that many people here post about Joe.
      In time, with Mosca, you'll figure it out.

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    2. I say give Mosca a chance. I've read all the tattler stuff, seen all the comments, but I will judge him on his deeds in our town, not Sierra Madre. As far as politicians being liars, I'm not sure we can separate facts from fictions on those kind of claims anymore, since most people you talk to want 100% fealty from any pol, and call them a liar when they don't vote in a lockstep fashion.

      Can we do better, yes we can, but we will always have difference of opinion. The problem now is that people can't work through the differences to achieve a result...

      -MGJ

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    3. I see Mosca's been working his charm....

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    4. Some people just refuse to learn from history...MGJ is always firmly in that camp.

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    5. What history? He has none here in Encinitas..... Seems more like optimistic skepticism to me. Besides, the commission appointment is a done deal. All you can do is sit back and take notes.

      - The Sculpin

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    6. As a former Parks and Rec. Commissioner, I have learned a lot from then until now. I was told be Shaffer that any Commissioner can go directly to Council now, whereas in the past, the Council gave direct requests to the Commission via the Chair. Parks and Rec. was a stepping stone for Dan Dalager, but I haven't seen anyone else on the Council that went from Parks and Rec. to Council. These days, again according to Shaffer, Commissioners don't have to show up each meeting. In past times, if you missed 3 meetings in a year you were OUT! Remains to be seen what Mosca will do. I have heard he is going to run for Council, but being on Parks and Rec. will probably not hurt or help him. The City lied to the Commission about many things when I was on it. Hopefully, he won't take everything the Council says as "gospel" if he runs for Council. It could be embarrassing.

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    7. So Sculp, when baddie person (fill in the blank) shows up, you ignore what this person did elsewhere? You learn nothing from, say, the invasion of Poland...? I only went there to show how absurd your reasoning is. Before you get your Olivenhain horsy panties in a bundle, I am NOT comparing Mosca to Hitler. Just pointing out your faulty logic.

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    8. "I am NOT comparing Mosca to Hitler"

      Um.

      But.

      You actually did.

      Saying you didn't right afterwards doesn't alter space-time to erase the thing. Just ask the racist who ends every statement with "I'm not racist."

      In any event, you have forced me to invoke Godwin's Internet Law. You lose the argument instantly, and this topic is now closed.

      Sorry. I don't make the rules.

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    9. HAHAHA you do miss the point on purpose, don't you? How're those panties feeling? Not too comfy right about now, huh.

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    10. Wow, we went straight to Mosca as Hitler. I'll worry about Mosca when he actually declares. Until then, I'll watch the drunks speed through downtown...

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    11. Actually we didn't, but have it your way.

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    12. MJG has a visual disorder - can't read the writing on the wall.

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  2. The Sierra Madre Tattler has always been well written. I disagree with Anonymous 6:16 PM that the comments were written by a single person. The styles of writing vary way too much.

    When Joe Mosca got his appointment to the Parks and Recreation Commission, some of us left the meeting and were gathered in the patio outside city hall when Mosca exited. His eyes were down. I went up to him to congratulate him only to lure him over to the group. He quickly scurried away and hardly said anything. He seemed embarrassed. He certainly didn't want to talk. Did he recognize some of Gus Vina's 28 activists? Not an auspicious beginning for the interloper.

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    1. Joe once told a senior citizen to "get a life" cause she held him accountable for his actions on the Council

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    2. hmmmm- Sounds a lot like something Jerome Stocks or Lisa Shaffer might say.

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  3. Mosca was actually on the City Council of Sierra Madre for 6 years. Not all that brief. Joseph also attempted to become Mayor there 3 times. His fellow City Council members shot him down twice.

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  4. This guy is a carpet bagger - Encinitas looks like the fatted calf to him. I hope his critics continue to expose him.

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    1. Encinitas looks like a fattened calf to many people who don't live here like most of the city staff and the CA. Our assets are treated like their cash cow that they will abuse at the expense of those who live here.

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    2. Fatted calves attract vultures.

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  5. The Sierra Madre Tattler must be taken with a significant grain of salt.

    The blogger is John Crawford, and he lost an election to Joe Mosca.

    http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/general-news/20100214/seven-file-for-three-seats-on-sierra-madre-city-council

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    1. No worries. Joe will be Joe, and you'll find out for yourselves.

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  6. The Tattler guy is a total crank and a Mosca hater. Sierra Madre is a Tiny, super wealthy town right next to Pasadena where nothing happens. Painting a curb red is a huge issue. You have to take it with a grain of salt.

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    1. no that Tattler guy isn't a total crank nor a Mosca hater. just wanted Mosca to be honest. Joe borrowed a dog for his campaign photos. He was a lawyer for a utility company and did nothing but promote development.

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    2. He borrowed a dog for a campaign ad? You're joking right? And was it not known that he was a lawyer before he ran? That's pretty weak sauce, especially in a town where some people voted for the ex-fire chief who's sucking down a giant pension...

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    3. Super wealthy?
      Wow, are you misinformed.
      Never have been into Sierra Madre, have you?

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    4. Apparently Sierra Madre has a dark side.

      Pasadena Star News: Porn convict has Sierra Madre political ties
      http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/article/ZZ/20111215/NEWS/111219641

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    5. How sensational.

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    6. 1:03, Dark side? That town scared the hell out of me as a kid.
      http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-st-horror-movie-locations-of-los-angeles-003-photo.html

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    7. The first dark is darker than the second.

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    8. Sierra Madre has a population of 10,500 and is a community in Los Angeles County. We are a city of 63,000, so there are many differences.

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    9. And they have pod people, so look out!

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    10. no joke, Joe Mosca borrowed a dog for his campaign photo in Sierra Madre. Wasn't his dog.

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    11. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_35L759gCLTI/Sd2FvtQ4KkI/AAAAAAAAAh4/owDQwsIlpss/s200/Joe+Mosca.jpg

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    12. I seem to recall one of the candidates in our past elections borrowing a group of virile young men for her promo photo. What's the diff?

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    13. who borrows a dog for a campaign photo?

      someone who's sort of deceptive

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    14. I thought politics was all about deception "Vote for me, I'll set you free"....

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    15. 10:50, the difference is that he wouldn't have gotten elected borrowing a group of virile young men. It didn't work for anti-roundabout what's her face either, but at least it was creative!

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    16. What if they were the Chippendales?

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    17. Neither did she. It was Barb Yost who had the picture of her and the young men by the pool.

      Hey Sierra Madre folks on here, can we move past your hatred for Joe Mosca? Let's take our view of Mosca from here, and for the record, he's not even running yet.

      If people want to read the Tattler, they can read it and find all the stuff about Mosca's past. But unless he actually declares here (and if he does, I predict a bottom of the pack finish), it's not going to matter.

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    18. This blog linked to The Tattler. Not the other way around. 95 comments later you can see why. It is a topic that generates a lot of interest.

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  7. Someone should ask the Parks and Rec. Commissioners already on the Commission about him, instead of believing everything you read. Of course, as 8:46 points out, we have some silly things in Encinitas that others would think ridiculous. I have no idea if we are as wealthy as Sierra Madre, but I do know what we think are horrible issues around here are laughed at in communities with a lot less money.

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  8. Wouldn't the same be said about all the Vina haters on this blog??

    "Those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it."

    Yeah....lets give him a second chance and then try and get him out once he's done some damage.

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  9. I personally am not saying elect the guy, that's a whole different matter. I would hope there are stronger candidates, but I'm not interested in reliving the Peyton Place style antics of Sierra Madre.

    -MGJ

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    1. And many of us are not interested in walking into another mistake. Most people don't come with the warning label Mosca does and that should tell us something.

      MGJ, Peyton Place to you raises red flags to the rest of us. Won't you take off your rose-colored glasses for just one little minute?

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    2. Ok, let's leave it at this. A lot of people are already saying don't elect Mosca if he runs in Encinitas. Fair enough. All I say is he has the right to run. I personally am looking to other potential candidates for a place to take my vote.

      That's it, let the Mosca give and take continue..

      -MGJ

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    3. No one says he doesn't have the right.

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    4. But definitely don't vote for him based on the opinion of people on a blog, instead of attending a meeting or going to see him in person. Convict him before he even announces he's going to run. Convict him in the press. We get it...

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    5. Okay experts, 5 bullet points on several documented incidents, laws or other initiatives that Mosca undertook that damaged Sierra Madre. And I already hear the crickets...

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    6. "However, the last accomplishment drew the ire of many in the public.

      Sierra Madre increased its water rates to help finance the bonds used to pay for the water system upgrades.

      Residents claimed the city was deceptive in raising rates to pay for infrastructure and initially said nothing about bond indebtedness.

      The City Council balked at steeper rate hikes and settled on a four-year gradual increase that eventually led to a downgrade in Sierra Madre's bond rating from AAA to an A rating."

      http://www.dailybulletin.com/article/ZZ/20111011/NEWS/111019006

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    7. Before he won the election, Mosca said he was in favor of the citizens' right to vote on a proposed major development, the "Downtown Specific Plan."

      After he won, he wanted to think about it some more, and spend many months of council time and energy on the formation of the Plan, and then see about whether to let citizens vote or not, and perhaps make it an advisory vote, a non-binding vote.

      In hindsight it was a great favor - it mobilized the town into a preservation measure, Measure V, and now if any such big projects are proposed, it requires a binding vote by the residents in order to be approved.

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    8. "Councilwoman MaryAnn MacGillivray was elected to a one-year term as mayor in a hotly contested decision, marking the second year in a row Councilman Joe Mosca was passed over for the position.

      Mosca in 2006 declined to support an effort to let the public vote whether to approve the city's downtown specific plan. The city never held a popular vote, but the proposal died anyway.

      MacGillivray got votes from council members Kurt Zimmerman and Don Watts. John Buchanan supported Mosca.

      At the meeting residents said Mosca was too development friendly.

      "You let us down," said Carol Parker, who recounted how she "walked the streets" for Mosca's campaign. "That was what this is all about, is that you turned on us. You didn't do what (Zimmerman and Watts) said they'd do, which is keep Sierra Madre small."

      http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/article/ZZ/20090430/NEWS/904309898

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    9. 12:39 has nothing to do with Mosca. That would be complete guilt by association, which appears to be strictly on a professional, political level. Unless you can prove Mosca knew this guy was a perv, it's a completely baseless accusation. The stuff on development is fair game.

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    10. The tattler is still obsessed with Mosca, 5 years later.. I trust Encinitans to be able to do their due diligence on Mosca.....

      http://sierramadretattler.blogspot.com/2015/12/joseph-mosca-next-step-in-his-political.html

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    11. I'm sure it has nothing to do with all the traffic that gets generated by this topic, or the intense and long debate in the comments section. You know how blogs, even the one you are reading now, hate that.

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  10. The Tattler could be right about Mosca grooming himself for a seat on council. Can't think of a candidate that hasn't. Cracks me up to see a flyer with a candidate's public involvement with different groups and they're wearing the same sweater in ever picture like it was all cooked up in one afternoon. The Johnny come latelys get me the most, and their lack of knowledge about our history shines at public forums. Having never met him I can't judge, but it's cool we live in an age where reviews can follow someone so quickly. But then so can stalkers.

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    1. And if the author of that article lost in a campaign to Mosca, there's your bad blood.

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    2. Well put 11:19. It's basically a conviction by internet. I've watched all the Mosca video in Sierra Madre, read the Tatler, it was hard to come up with anything other than a lot of longtime SM'ers didn't like a newcomer or anyone with a whiff of development associated with them. The guy moved to Europe to be with his partner, which was seen as pulling the rip chord. Apparently it's a crime to move around.

      Personally I think we will or should have a decent crop of homegrown folks who know the issues, but people are welcome to their opinion....

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    3. 11:26, I suggest you have not done a thorough job of research. You've watched all the videos, and you have chosen to blame the activist residents who opposed the bum? Huh.

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    4. See, you just exposed your bias. If there are activist residents, they must be right, and the council person must be wrong. I would put it to you that they could both be wrong, or both right. A lot of it comes down to your opinion on how things should be done. There is no one right answer.

      Personally, I think we will have a crop of local, experienced folks that we can choose from, who will have a little bit more local chops and local backing. But if Mosca lives here, I invite his candidacy if he chooses to run...

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    5. As opposed to your assumption that activist residents must be wrong? Let me guess, you're a silent majority guy.

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    6. If wants to run, let him run. I think he'll come in no higher than 5th. How about that?

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  11. I'm sorry, but this is hilarious. You can't make this stuff up. I am running out of popcorn.

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    1. Grab another box of popcorn and keep stuffing your face. Enjoy the show. Mosca won't be able to do a stealth campaign. It will be hilarious to see how he holds up to the scrutiny.

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  12. Just a head's up Encinitas: Mr. Mosca always portrays himself as a victim.

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    1. People who aren't whiny and boring.

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  14. Mosca sounds like a developer shill. Vote for someone else when the tool tries to step up.

    We don't need more "Clintons" in town.

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    1. all you need to know about Joe is being repeated in Encinitas. In Sierra Madre, he moved into town and immediately started getting involved with politics, claiming that he "loved" the city, without knowing any of the history, puckered up to the political wannabees and started maneuvering to run for Council. He "loved" Sierra Madre so much that he decided it needed to change and was part of the movement to build out downtown with condos and multi-story complexes - despite running on a platform that he was against it. He's not on the Parks Committee for the people and to help the city, he's on it for himself. He can't stop himself. He gets very pissy when he's questioned.

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    2. At least there's a little meat on those bones, too pro-development for Sierra Madre. Sadly down here, the big development has already showed up in downtown Encinitas and elsewhere. The battle has already been lost, to some degree. I still don't think he'll come in any higher than 5th or 6th just do to lack of name recognition. It's a lot harder to get known in a city of 60k than it is in a city of 10k....

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    3. Big development has shown up here - and been slowed to a crawl, thanks to Prop A, Barth's "obstructionists," and a headed-for-failure HEU vote.

      Big development no doubt is ecstatic to see Mosca headed to their aid.

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    4. except for the development behind La Especial, the one on Hermes, the planned one off of Leucadia Blvd., the one off of Eulous, the one of Lake. I'm probably missing a couple. The one off of Orpheus. Vacant lots equal development....

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    5. Mosca's job title is "Major Project Development" at SDGE, so it would be interesting to know what that means exactly...

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    6. I would imagine that Major Project Development isn't good news for a city trying to curtail major project development.

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    7. A good project is to track how many public officials in your area work for utility companies. Utility companies are very bullish on development because of the new business it creates. Here in Sierra Madre we had a Mayor/Councilman who worked for Edison, and a Mayor/Councilman who worked for Sempra AKA The Gas Company. The Edison guy was named Buchanan, the Gas Co. employee was Mosca. Both were big proponents for development while in office.

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    8. It's a fair question to ask. None of the council members in Encinitas work for the power companies. One is a lawyer, one is a retired University prof, one is a former or current printing account manager, one is a retired fire captain (with a huge pension) and one is a stay at home mom or corporate CFO, depending on your intelligence level.

      The thing with Sierra Madre is, how much development can you do there? It's pretty much that one strip in downtown, is it not? I'm sure if you're in development, that colors your take on the council, but if you really want to put in some apartments, wouldn't you go to Arcadia?

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    9. Arcadia has become the home of the 8,000 square foot McMansion. With no less than 10 bathrooms.

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    10. Apparently the place to buy if you're a Chinese national looking to relocate.

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  15. Say it isn't so Joe.

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  16. Is it possible that the Tattler boils down to sour grapes by a guy who never won an election in SM, against a guy who never lost an election in SM?

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    1. C'mon Joe. The Tattler posted over 370 articles this year. This one had to do with you. Is it really all about Joe in your world? Silly man.

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    2. Ahhhhh. I had a feeling Mr Crawford was lurking.

      I'm 1:05, and I'm not Joe. You can call me FP.

      Dude, chasing some glimmer of what passes for local small-ball blogger fame is really sad.

      I don't know Joe--never met him. I did read some of your blog archives and YouTube videos. It's hard to tell what really went down in SM, but frankly I don't give two turds. We'll make our own decisions, thanks.

      Maybe the right decision is to keep Joe away from the levers of power, but I trust our electorate to decide that--not some wanna-be-famous sour grapes loser who can't move on from stuff that happened years ago.

      No go away, or I shall taunt you a second time.

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    3. FP is a regular City apologist you can find here posting on a variety of topics. He/she employs a weird-sounding and off-putting "it's gonna be ok, just chill and give it a chance" voice.

      "We'll make our own decisions, thanks"?? FP, you do the very opposite of speaking for the electorate every time you open your mouth, and the only "we" you represent are certain City staff and developer tools.

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    4. FP. Does that stand for Fat Pants?

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    5. It might, but in this case it = Fictitious Persona. Encinitas paid for one as part of its campaign to sell the HEU. Google it.

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    6. Maybe you don't trust the electorate, 6:52. I do.

      Since you are welcoming input on local politics from Sierra Madre, then I'm sure you didn't object to Peak Democracy, right?

      7:15 is very funny. See, what he or she did was to take the initials "FP," then spent over four hours working on funny words that the initials might represent.

      Everybody get it? Clever huh?

      When you finally hit on "Fat Pants," did it take a minute, or did you instantly know you had struck comedy gold?

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    7. It was either that or Finkie Pinkie.

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    8. 7:47, I'm not following you at all.

      I trust the electorate when they have the facts. Anyone with half a brain and not trying to rig electorate "input" was against PD.

      FP was self-named after being accused of acting as a Fictitious Persona. You may be new here.

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    9. Fragrant Pudendum.

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    10. Fat Pants: regarding your comment at 7:47. It would appear that it took the commenter less than half an hour to come up with your hilariously apt moniker. Not 4 hours. That 7:15 comment was in reply to the previous comment made at 6:52.

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    11. Can I be son of fat pants?

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  17. Mo$ca sounds like a $tock$ clone. Encinitas doesn't need to repeat that di$a$ter!

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    1. Except that he's probably not a Republian..Other than that they, the $Ame....

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    2. A Mosca is a Fly....right? Flies are pests and attracted to feces. Hmmmmmm......

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  18. 3:49, How deep and meaningless.

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    1. http://api.ning.com/files/yLJbbss7amFmflssfi8-nVQ8Up4t54bTK739Rx-OW0VPC02z8OcYC9kq9kdoQffEfaV7INlUFV*IMqnHjFA*lRO6b8THEeRu/000mosca4.gif

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  19. 10:13, How unsearchable.

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  20. Q) How do you get Joe Mosca out of your tree?

    A) Wave with both hands.

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