Did Jones have anything to add wrote on Jan 24, 2007 12:41 AM:I think Jones might have had five words to say the entire evening - way to have an opinion. Desmond has chosen a silent winner. Perfect plan!

WOW wrote on Jan 24, 2007 6:43 AM:I guess we all should be wearing muzzels, huh, Jim? What are you afraid of, free speach?

Whats Turko NUMBER? wrote on Jan 24, 2007 8:29 AM:Mr. Turko can you come to San Marcos and talk to our mayor?? He is getting out of control. and "that ain't right" No freedom of speech in San Marcos with our new mayor. If you disagree you are kicked off the team,but if you raise $$$ and wash signs you are asked to join the team.

Look who's Talking wrote on Jan 24, 2007 10:57 AM:De facto Mayor Martin raised the Turko issue with Mr. Kovrig at the last city council meeting. Nominal Mayor Desmond was just following through on Mayor Martin's instruction to castigate someone who dared voice disagreement with the way the city has done things. It is curious that Mayor Martin is on record promoting diversity on city commissions. I guess diversity is a good thing as long as it doesn't conflict with Mayor Martin's agenda.

GOOD WORK KOVRIG wrote on Jan 24, 2007 2:15 PM:Finally, someone that TRIED to make things right in San Marcos! You did the right thing alerting media to this serious parking problem in San Marcos. Freedom of speech is dead in San Marcos. Only puppets need apply. What diversity. This new council is amazingly ignorant. Good job Kovrig. The rest of us citizens are proud of you!

San Marcos resident wrote on Jan 24, 2007 4:46 PM:Someone call Turko! He needs to do a follow-up story!! The only people looking good in this mess are Kovrig, Preston, Nina Patterson, and Orlando, before he bowed out of the appointment vote.

Welcome Back Cindy! wrote on Jan 24, 2007 4:49 PM:Lost in the vitriol of those who spend too much time and effort second-guessing the Council, tossing out baseless Brown Act accusations, or trying to conjour up a secret Cartel running the city, was the return of Cindy Wedge to public service as a Planning Commissioner. As I recall, Cindy served 10 years on the Planning Commission and was the Commission Chair when a previous council majority failed to renominate her following the 2002 election. Welcome Back Cindy! Thank you for your willingness to serve. We need more like you!

What was Neil Thinking? wrote on Jan 24, 2007 6:01 PM:I applaud Mr. Kovrig for his willingness to get involved in the processes and public service of our City, but am perplexed at his actions in this case. The 11 Jan NCT article states that San Marcos already requires as many or more parking spaces for new developments in comparison to other North County cities. Both the article and Turko spot indicated the city, presumably with Neil's help, did take action to help by adding 60 spaces. Both pieces concluded that the City's actions were negated by Cal State student parking, but neither addressed whether the issue has been addressed with CSUSM. Each time I have heard Neil speak, he has mentioned his status as a CSUSM student. Our new Mayor included developing closer relationships between the City, CSUSM and Palomar College in his campaign platform. Neil probably would have been an ideal candidate to help the Mayor and city achieve that goal, and perhaps help the City and CSUSM jointly address solutions to issues such as off-campus parking or improving or reducing the cost for on-campus parking to a reasonable level. Instead, Neil chose to blame his fellow public servants. Whether Neil was grandstanding to get better name recognition for the next election, or trying to embarrass the Mayor just a few days after the Council nomination did not go as he recommended, or even if he just really didn't think about what he was doing, he pointed the pistol at his own foot and pulled the trigger. Fortunately, he is still young and will presumably learn from his mistakes. I'm sure he has a bright future ahead. Perhaps he can still find a way to support the effort to improve the level of interaction and communication between the City, CSUSM and Palomar College.

San Marcso resident wrote on Jan 24, 2007 7:12 PM:You'll be alright, Neil. Just stay honest and keep your nose clean. Now SM knows that if there is a potential for a high ratio of student housing, the city must require more parking per unit.

Has anyone contacted CSU San Marcos? wrote on Jan 24, 2007 7:35 PM:I guess the article above and feedback were not intended to be a forum on parking issues, but has anyone been working with the University? I don't blame the students for trying to find a cheaper alternative than $248 per semester (or $55 per month) to park on campus (and still walk a long way to class). The CSU parking info also states the fee will rise to $338 per semester by 2009 due to pre-approved increases. The main page showcases a photo of a lot with many empty spaces, while a powerpoint presentation on future parking plans also shows several pictures of half-filled lots. Perhaps CSU can learn from our much maligned President who managed to significantly increase tax revenues by cutting taxes. Perhaps CSUSM could fill more empty spaces and generate the same or higher revenue by cutting the Parking Fee and filling more spaces. Perhaps Mr. Kovrig or Mr. Turko can ask the Math Dept to run the numbers. Or, perhaps the students need a better union. The site states that Faculty and Staff pay only $62 per semester (or $14 per month), with an asterisk indicating this is based on union salary negotiations. Non-Union employees have to pay the student rate. Hey Turko..That Ain't Right!!

NEIL WAS THINKING RIGHT wrote on Jan 24, 2007 7:35 PM:That's what Neil was thinking. The stupid thinking was that of Desmond, not re-appointing Kovrig to the traffic commission simply because Desmond disagrees with him. Desmond says he wants diversity. Of course that doesn't mean diverse OPINIONS, just gender or whatever diversity Desmond wants. Neil was an excellent traffic commissioner who worked hard. Oh, I forgot, Desmond doesn't appoint by experience, he just appoints by whom agrees with HIM!

We want a COMPLETE do-over! wrote on Jan 24, 2007 7:38 PM:Witnessing the new amateur and immature council majority in action, is quite discouraging for all of us concerned citizens. It's as if the Hatfield's have wrestled power from the McCoys, and now the paranoid Hatfield's are completely out of control, frantically surrounding themselves with their kissing cousins. Is the gene-pool in San Marcos so weak, that this is the best we can put in office? We say DO OVER!

I hope he knows what he is doing? wrote on Jan 24, 2007 10:51 PM:I put my trust in Mayor Desmond in the November election. I currently live in San Elijo Hills and saw on the San Elijo Hills web site about checking out the "shenanigans of the city." I have to confess that I do not keep up with what is going on with the city, but the bloggers recommended this web site. I am shocked, I hope that Mayor Desmond didn't deceive us. We brought him to victory.

We have seen the first step... wrote on Jan 25, 2007 8:28 AM:What a disgusting display of arrogance all over againl Since when do we not allow freedom of speech ? Mr. Kovrig did what he felt needed to be done. To oust him from the traffic commission is another message to us all. Be quiet. Stay in your place. Don't put up a fuss about anything. That is similar to the conduct required of people in dictatorships all over the world. If any of us think that it on't get a lot worse, we are only deluding ourselves. Isn't Mr. Kovrig the man who was in charge of the Bond Issue for Palomar College ? It is too bad our mayor feels it necessary to punish him. Thank you Neil Kovrig, I do not know you, but I sincerely admire you - do NOT give up ! Your Bond Issue passed and it was sorely needed.

Hedy wrote on Jan 25, 2007 12:27 PM:Good for you Desmond. Just do your job and get on with it. Who are these so-called "free speechers"?! The Nina Patersons represent themselves--not the citizens of San Marcos.

Hedy... wrote on Jan 25, 2007 2:53 PM:You must live in SEH..

Laughing Stock wrote on Jan 25, 2007 7:26 PM:Rebecca Jones deciding if the commission applicants were experienced and qualified enough, is as ridiculous as Barney Fife hiring CIA agents.

Free Speech wrote on Jan 25, 2007 10:40 PM:Yes, Neil has the same right to free speech as the rest of us, but free speech comes with resposibility. Speaking as a private citizen is one thing, and speaking as an appointed city official is another. As an appointed official, Neil should have exercised that free speech to address his concerns before the planning commission and council. He stated that the Condo parking issue was listed in the Traffic Commission's annual report. With how many other issues? If he felt that strongly, he should have used his frequent appearances at the Council Chamber's speaker podium to address the issue over and over until it was addressed, just as others have done before him. Did he really think that Turko would have a solution? He never does! Did he think that would shame the city into action? If so, shame on him! There were certainly many other ways to get the attention of City Staff, Planning Commission and Council. Working as a team is the only way to solve these issues. Neil tried an end run, but ended up fumbling the ball. I truly hope he has learned a positive lesson and will find a way to exorcise the bitterness displayed on the recent council video, and return to making positive contributions to the city. P.S. to the Desmond-haters who haunt these pages - I'll save you time and tell you I am not Jim and do not live in SEH. Just an old man trying to pass some advice to a young man with talent, ambition and what was hopefully just a momentary lapse in judgement. Neil - There is no "I" in "team".

To Free Speech wrote on Jan 26, 2007 8:35 AM:There is very little "positive" about the way that the issue was handled on Tuesday night. If anything, such a lecture should not have been made during a public meeting. As for making an end run, the issue had been brought up to the Council countless times, and nothing was done - ever. People have every right to talk to whomever they so choose to make things better, and if it "embarrasses" the City so, then perhaps the City needs to reexamine how it does things in general, and avoid embarrassing itself in the long run. So long as this Council is in charge, though, I imagine they will only continue to embarrass themselves further - it's only natural when you have marionettes masquerading as leaders.

As for the whole Turko thing . . . wrote on Jan 26, 2007 8:39 AM:. . . wasn't it noted that the former Commissioner did not go to Turko outright, but responded to his initial report? All in an effort to show that some people (i.e. the Traffic Commission as a whole) had done something to address the problem, rather than letting it sound as thought the City cared nothing for the residents up in that condo community? It's too bad some people (i.e. Hal and Jim) thought that was a personal attack, apparently. You have to admit that it's true that the Council didn't really value the Commission report about parking too much - especially if they didn't so much as mention that there was a parking study forthcoming at any point in the last six months or so.

Four Long Years, wrote on Jan 26, 2007 10:53 AM:With Desmond's arrogant, petty, angry, and "I'm the King now" behaviour, it's as if Lee Thibadeau has been politically reincarnated.

To: "Four Long Years" wrote on Jan 26, 2007 1:26 PM: I agree with you completely about Desmond's petty arrogant angry behavior. He's an embarassment to the city and himself. We could have lived without Martin's gratuitous attack on Cyndy M.about sign ordinances and real estate signs while she was trying to make her 2 minute applicant's speech. I don't agree with you about Thibadeau. In the years I've lived in this city I've heard many rumors about his conduct in Council but most of them were traceable to those who wanted his Council seat for themselves. It's hard to compare a Desmond who's contributed next too nothing to this City to a Thibadeau who is one of the reason's this city has so many amenities like the university and the civic center and is viable. No, they just aren't in the same class at all.

Long live the king wrote on Jan 26, 2007 2:11 PM:Hal Martin is the true King. Go Hal go.

I miss Corky wrote on Jan 26, 2007 4:13 PM:Even though he wasn't always politically correct, he was a man of faith and character. I miss him already!

To I Miss Corky wrote on Jan 26, 2007 6:32 PM:If you miss Corky, and his faith, character, and political incorrectness, go see him! He didn't die, he just lost an election. Or is this just a backhanded criticism of Jim Desmond?

to to I Miss Corky wrote on Jan 26, 2007 10:30 PM:I have know idea where Corky lives and I was referring to him as the Mayor of San Marcos. It's OK not to like Desmond - I'm sure you felt the same way of Corky!

Payback in commissions wrote on Jan 27, 2007 7:51 AM:Two appointed commissioners waived their stipends because they had contributed to Desmond's campaign. Others voluntarily disclosed contributing smaller amounts.

The "I" in City wrote on Jan 28, 2007 1:40 AM:To Free Speech: Hey old man, & armchair quarterback, whoever told you that our city is a "team"? Appointed city officials don't lose their right to free speech, nor do they have an extra layer of "responsibility" as an appointed city official that requires them to be stifled. (You sound like you speak for paid staff, not citizen representatives.) Desmond was way out of line with Kovrig. As an oldster, perhaps you recall when Desmond, while still a planning commissioner, and Councilman Martin, both exercised their own free speech by actively voicing opposition to Wal Mart? As "team member's", since this was a project supported by staff and approved by council majority, shouldn't they have promoted Wal Mart? And what about former Mayor candidate Kirk Effinger? Do you recall that while HE was a traffic commissioner, he was a constant critic of our city and council, and wrote about it in his weekly column right here in the NCT! Desmond is arrogant, and singled out Kovrig to punish him out of jealousy. Kovrig puts the "I" in "IQ". Jim puts the "I" in J"I"M. Kovrig will make a great Mayor!

Bad move Jim wrote on Jan 29, 2007 9:53 PM:You go "I in City" you're 150% correct!! Kovrig did us all a big favor when he spoke out about how this City allowed an apartment complex without adequate parking. King Desmond couldn't handle it because he's planning on doing it again only bigger and worse in the "pedestrian friendly" (code words for insufficient parking) Creek project and most of the other big-bucks projects he's pimping. Jim believes in lowering our standards for parking, traffic, noise, whatever it takes to push his pet projects through and make life insufferable for the residents of this city. Kovrig spoke up and spoke out and called attention to the fact that the city is willing to prostitute itself by passing projects that are obviously not going to work. That's not something King Desmond wants pointed out right before these projects go through the approval process so he solved his little Kovrig PR problem by dumping Kovrig. Bad move Jim, you should have applauded him for doing his job as a traffic commissioner, thanked him, and reappointed him.

Who is his advisor? wrote on Jan 30, 2007 3:07 PM:Who is giving Jim Desmond his advice? He seems like the type of politician that would want a political career - why would he sabatoge his career over development projects - specifically Palomar Station?

Jim Desmond is GREAT wrote on Feb 1, 2007 10:30 PM:Stop this negativity. Jim Desmond is a good man and is doing a fine job! You all act like he's stolen your firstborn. Stop the crucification here and let him lead the city. He doesn't deserve the vilification. He deserves respect

OK wrote on Feb 2, 2007 7:04 AM:OK, Rebecca. Whatever you say.

Please invest in . . . wrote on Feb 2, 2007 8:09 AM:. . . a dictionary. "Crucification" is not a word; "crucifixion" is. And as for that, I don't think anyone's "crucifying" Jim. Don't be so melodramatic. He made a bad decision; we'll see how the next meeting goes, and see if he goes 0-for-3 there. As for respect, you have to earn that - and he's not doing a very good job of that, either.

Fire Your Advisor Mayor Desmond, wrote on Feb 3, 2007 10:00 AM:Yes, mayor Desmond is a great guy, even though he has fumbled a couple of times out of the gate. And no, he shouldn't have appointed Ms Jones, but we're fairly sure that the only reason he appointed her, was to antagonize his opponents? Jim, like the old saying goes, if you're going to throw dynamite at your adversary, be sure to light it first? You didn't, and the Jones appointment has given your opponents the perfect opportunity to light it and throw it back. Desmond, you will do great things for San Marcos, you just need a little time to get your sea legs.

Narcissus Revealed wrote on Feb 3, 2007 7:58 PM:The problem is, Jim Desmond is his own advisor and whoops...his real character is showing. Ego a mile wide, totally in love with what he sees in the mirror each day, he just can't understand why these annoying voters, residents, and taxpayers don't all love him as much as he loves himself and won't leave him alone to do whatever uneducated uninformed, self-centered thing he darn pleases. After all, it's all about Jim isn't it? Look at the Flow Chart Jim, you have a boss, the taxpayers tell YOU what to do, not the other way around. Until you start listening and realize that your short three years as a Planning Commissioner and Councilman did not qualify you as the most informed man in San Marcos, you're going to make enemies, and lots of them. We're watching you and from where we sit, the Emporer has no clothes.