Blackbird wrote on Jul 19, 2008 11:28 PM:Good ol' "Self-Promoting Sammy" at it again! He actually thinks voters are impressed with the councils "crackdown" on crime?! REALLY?!?! Does he live under a rock?! Escondido has one of the highest crime rates in ALL of North County! Even more disturbing is the fact that delusional-Sammy thinks voters are impressed with the council's ability to "spur economic development"! Again...REALLY?!? Hey Sammy, have you taken a look at the downtown lately? Over 20 vacancies/for sale/out of business signs on Grand Ave alone!...Not to mention all of the other empty buildings all over town! I know that I am not alone in saying that voters are NOT impressed with any of your so-called "efforts". Time to step down and find some "honest" work Sammy!

Golly Gosh wrote on Jul 19, 2008 11:31 PM:You don't suppose it has anything to do with the Democrats spreading the word that they only want one leftist running this year do you? Or maybe that's too obvious.

Not Happy wrote on Jul 20, 2008 12:45 AM:I am not happy with the "Status Quo" and that is why U am voting for Olga Diaz.

to blackbird wrote on Jul 20, 2008 9:19 AM:The reason for empty storefronts and the fall off in sales tax income is the steady erosion of apartments and houses in Escondido that are occupied by one family. Doubling and tripling of families in single occupancy dwellings has to be reversed. Homeowners and voters know that. People that can not afford to pay the rent or mortgage on their own do not have a discretionary disposable income to spend in the mall, auto park, or downtown shops. Sam Abed, Ed Gallo, and Marie Waldron realize that and are trying to effect change. Olga Diaz and Lori Pfeiler favor more overcrowding. Olga will not win and hopefully the stronger of Gallo or Abed will take a free shot and unseat Pfeiler in two years. With the right leadership Escondido can be saved.

U is I wrote on Jul 20, 2008 9:23 AM:To Not Happy -- I am happy with the "Status Quo" which is why "U" is not voting for Olga Diaz.

Not Happy wrote on Jul 20, 2008 10:00 AM:I am not happy with the "Status Quo" and that is why I am voting for Olga Diaz.

LOYAL MEX AMERICAN CITIZEN wrote on Jul 20, 2008 10:12 AM:I am with NOT HAPPY. Olga is our only chance of keeping our Mexican culture and heritage.

How about wrote on Jul 20, 2008 10:15 AM:nobody wants to run because it is a thankless job that is a huge PITA? Nobody's ever happy, no matter what stand a councilmember takes on issues it's the wrong one! Trying to find middle ground, or a compromise doesn't work--it's pandering, or selling out. Plus, everything a councilmember says or does, or has ever said or done is scrutinized to the nth degree. If you look hard enough you'll find something to smear someone with. Life in a fishbowl, what sane person wants to subject him- or herself (and their family) to that kind of life?

LisaP wrote on Jul 20, 2008 10:43 AM:How about is right. No matter what happens uninformed groups, like the Chamber of Citizens, will take a shot at the council. Our current council is doing a good job and all the negative blogging of the Olga Diaz campaign will not change that fact.

to How about wrote on Jul 20, 2008 11:22 AM:You are correct.

And also is the reporter "... key factors scaring off challengers are probably the need to raise roughly $25,000 and the city's historically high success rate for incumbents."

25k is a lot of money for ordinary people.

Methinks many residents are not satisfied, but feel there is little they can do.

Almost every election, one would like to see a place to sign/check-mark: None of the candidates above.

To you are correct... wrote on Jul 20, 2008 12:41 PM:"Almost every election, one would like to see a place to sign/check-mark: None of the candidates above."

And that is definitely true of the upcoming Presidential election. :-( As in most elections, we have to vote for the lesser of two evils, not the best person for the position.

Boat wrote on Jul 20, 2008 12:46 PM:I asked this question the other day. I ask it again. Especially in light of the article stating that it costs a minimum of $25,000.00 to compete in this contest.

Why does Escondido, a city with a population in excess of 140,000 people, have a part-time, amateur city council? For God's sake, they meet on a weeknight like they are a school board or PTA.

We have real, intractable problems that can't be dealt with under this sort of a system. How much can you accomplish in a few hours on a weeknight?

At least that is my opinion.

And why would anyone spend $25,000.00 for what is esentially a part-time, amateur position. Unless it is for the power?

Before you all attack me, I do my small part. I have voted in every election since I was eighteen for the candidates of my choice. Sometimes I have been pleased with the outcome other times not so much.

wrote on Jul 20, 2008 1:16 PM:If anyone remembers past elections, $25,000 is a way-low number. Election losers 8-10 years ago spent $40,000; if memory serves me, Abed and Gallo each spent $40,000 or so four years ago. Like everything else political, it costs money to reach people who won't or can't take the time to find out about candidates and issues for themselves. That pretty much describes voters today. We're a society that needs mass communications from what car to what brand of soap to buy. Neither liberal or conservative; neither pro- or anti-growth, just cold hard facts about what things cost.

To LisaP wrote on Jul 20, 2008 1:18 PM:Did "LisaP" really make an accusation against someone for negative blogging? Funny, because I often wonder who this "LisaP" is and how "she" ever became so angry, petty and mean spirited. Fortunately, in the minds of most reasonable people (and most people are reasonable) she is also irrelevant.

to Boat from ex councilmember wrote on Jul 20, 2008 1:53 PM:As an ex-council member from many moons ago, I can tell you there's a lot more to it than showing up at council meetings Wednesday evenings. There are many subcommittees, task forces and other panels we would serve on that took much more time than the council meetings themselves. Then, there are constituents and, yes, lobbyists who schedule meetings throughout the week. Add to that the various groundbreakings and charity events that organizations expect to have councilmembers attend. Last, there's the situation that "How About" mentioned -- people calling you and running into you at the supermarket about all sorts of problems and issues they need help with. I remember somebody jumping me at Ralph's years ago in the canned vegetable section, reading me the riot act about the Auto Park sign on I-15. So, unless things have changed (which they've only gotten busier), those who serve on the council of any city do far more than people ever realize, whether you agree with them or not (which I don't some of the time) And, the pay? Don't even go there! One thing for sure, I wouldn't do it again for anything.

To Our LisaP wrote on Jul 20, 2008 2:28 PM:Bravo! More power to you! Don't let the BitterBloggers, self-appointed guardians of reasonableness, get you down.

Solution Guy wrote on Jul 20, 2008 2:43 PM:Okay, let's try something positive. Besides the incumbents and the people who have anounced that they are running, who would you want to run for city council?

Frida wrote on Jul 20, 2008 5:22 PM:Go on Olga, I support you..we are counting on you to win. We need a new visionary for our city who will bring common sense back to Escondido!

No way Olga wrote on Jul 20, 2008 8:36 PM:Not a chance. City counsel are for people that want to represent the interest of the city, not to pander to illegal aliens as you intend to do. I read the article about you last year and your not fooling me for a second! You have an agenda!

Im voting for wrote on Jul 20, 2008 8:38 PM:The candidate that will clean up the city from Graffiti, gangs, illegals standing in front of Starbucks and illegal renters!

My Vote Goes For wrote on Jul 20, 2008 10:11 PM:Whoever vows to clean-up this town! Remove the welcome mat for ILLEGAL's, improve our schools, stop the graffiti, improve this towns image and STOP the development of every hill and valley.

life time escondidoan wrote on Jul 20, 2008 11:15 PM:how very petty, how whiny and how sad, all of you are. i have seen every field become a wallgreens i have seen every school become filled with mobile units i have seen the budget cuts the homeless and the hookers marching down center city. the times are a changing. and in the last five years what good has come from our council? crusin grand! great, we need a change. its undeniable and necessary.

To Diaz wrote on Jul 21, 2008 6:14 AM:I must say, YOU DON'T VOTE FOR ME!

No body wrote on Jul 21, 2008 6:16 AM:wants a commie leftist in our coucil, keep Abed and Gallo and the other council memebers, toss the Mayor, we need a Mayor who won't hide behind the issues.

To Boat wrote on Jul 21, 2008 8:04 AM:You've voted in every election and you think that's doing your part?

Would cheering for your kids games be doing your part if the coach want; any good...or would maybe coaching yourself be doing your part?

When given two bad choices and voting for one is doing your part, then we are in trouble.

*Looks around*

Uh oh!

To LOYAL MEX AMERICAN CITIZEN wrote on Jul 21, 2008 8:30 AM:You can keep your culture alive, south of the border where it belongs!

Facts wrote on Jul 21, 2008 8:35 AM:Olga Diaz is against the driver's license checkpoints. She went on Spanish speaking television to condemn them. Is this who you want on your city council?

Christine wrote on Jul 21, 2008 8:38 AM:I want to keep Escondido a small city and every time I turn around the City Council is talking more building. Look around, we have empty businesses and the homes are selling. Even the burned down condo's haven't been rebuilt. Keep this up and it will turn into a ghost town. No work, homes to expensive all for your La Jolla dreams.

Praz Attack wrote on Jul 21, 2008 9:01 AM:Don't like the City Council? Run for office. $25,000 isn't hard to raise if you work hard enough. And if you can't raise money, raise volunteers the grassroots style. But don't just whine and say it's too hard or too expensive. That's not what leadership is about.

Betsy wrote on Jul 21, 2008 9:24 AM:does anybody out there know why Olga Diaz doesn't use her married name?

LOYAL MEXICAN AMERICAN CITIZEN wrote on Jul 21, 2008 9:29 AM:Good luck Olga!(buena suerte Olga!) Le necesitamos ( we need you!)

To Betsy wrote on Jul 21, 2008 9:41 AM:Olga is pandering for the hispanic vote.

Boat wrote on Jul 21, 2008 10:08 AM:To Boat: I never said that voting is all that I did. I worked on campaigns in the past. Now I am no longer able to.

Ex-councilman: you made my case for me. With that kind of a workload it calls for a full time, professional council. Thank you for your previous service.

Voter wrote on Jul 21, 2008 12:33 PM:Mr. Gallo and Mr. Abed continue to show their arrogance about their competence to govern our city when they say that a limited number of candidates indicates satisfaction.

Remember guys, it only takes two other candidates to make you both "private citizens."

Here's hoping.

NativeGuy wrote on Jul 21, 2008 1:04 PM:Thanks God for members like Sam and Ed. They are only hope Escondido really has of ever returning to 'normal' like it was 20 years ago.

To Native Guy wrote on Jul 21, 2008 3:00 PM:Face it. No council or mayor could make Escondido, or any other city for that matter, what it was twenty years ago.
And anyone who thinks that they can make this city what it once was but can never be again should be voted out of office.

And I remember Escondido of twenty years ago.

ThinkRealHard wrote on Jul 21, 2008 6:49 PM:whether Sam and Ed represent the very best leadership Escondido can muster. They've had their turn - are you better off today? Do they encourage a barn-raising feel in Escondido or angry hordes brandishing pitchforks (with national media coverage)? We have nothing to fear but fear itself. People are completely obsessed on this blog about undocumented immigrants. Sam and Ed are playing to this fearful/one dimensional/scapegoating obsession and hoping to ride it to victory this fall. Olga is young, smart, hard working and brave. People are stereotyping her so outrageously that we all ought to be shocked. The council election is non-partisan, while people who paint her as a leftist or extremist are reducing complex issues and core American traditions of civic participation to sound bytes and childish namecalling. Let's see some debates, detailed editorial coverage, and let reasoned minds prevail for the good of us all.

Casting Stones wrote on Jul 21, 2008 7:29 PM:What is it about brown people from Mexico that is so unifying to so many bloggers? Legality. Laws can change (women's right to vote) and be enforced according to local custom (lynching.) Is it really, honestly immigrants' illegality that rankles people so much, or like a couple bloggers confessed, they want things to be like they "used to be" in Escondido. I would suggest that they are actually frustrated by the increasingly apparent fact that we can't have safe bridges and levees, good schools, public libaries and parks and other elements of the American Dream without paying for it through (gasp) fair taxes and visionary public policy. I think people are profoundly diappointed with elected officials at all levels of government but blame the illegals because it's easy (and now common.) This sick cycle of hate towards brown people plus complicity with incapable politicans is what's leading us on the road to perdition...not these hardworking pioneers (remember how the West was "won?" How legal was that?!)

To both Natives wrote on Jul 22, 2008 8:29 AM:What do you mean by "like it was 20 years ago"? More white? Escondido is much more advanced than it was 20 years ago, and that's a positive thing. We have a thriving business community and a good economy (relatively speaking). If you want an all white community, move to Wisconsin. Drink your Miller lite, put a foam block of cheese on your head and be a Packers fan.

to To both Natives wrote on Jul 22, 2008 10:01 AM:My, Oh My! Do you realize how racist YOUR comment is? You are just as racist and discriminatory as the people you're criticizing. Good luck, you need it.

EscoWatchDog wrote on Jul 22, 2008 2:21 PM:Here we go again. Just because Olga is Latina she is being demonized. All politicians have an agenda, that's the point! She will change this city for the better and she's got my vote. Most bloggers on here don't live in Escondido and just spend the day changing their blogger names and saying the same things. They whine about Latinos and immigrants and do nothing else. How unproductive. Visit ... to make a donation to her campaign today.

EsconNow wrote on Jul 23, 2008 6:31 PM:Right now there are no check and balances with the current city council. They are all intolerant Republicans. They have wasted our tax dollars on failed attempts to restrict our freedoms. They have given away millions to hotel developers. They have no vision for the future for Escondido. It is time for a change. In addition, Abed is an idiot.