Escondodo wrote on Sep 23, 2008 6:42 PM:I don't blame low sales tax, I blame the white elephant arts center for continuing to suck the coffers of this city dry with its incompetent management and bloated tax payer subsidy.

Good Job Wally. wrote on Sep 23, 2008 7:02 PM:Wally Gutierrez is to be congratulated for his hard work in saving this wonderful tradition. Thanks also to the Rincon Indians. However, a raspberry to City Hall.

Old Timer wrote on Sep 23, 2008 7:06 PM:Yes! My kids marched down Broadway in their school band during middle school. Great memories. I think Wally worked on the parade back then too.

Rain wrote on Sep 23, 2008 7:08 PM:Hopefully this year the police department waits until 8 am before stopping the parade. Last year at 8 am the sun was shining, and the pavement was dry, but no parade.

jackpot wrote on Sep 23, 2008 7:30 PM:Its probably all my money.
Its good to know the casino is actually sharing their wealth.

Yeah wrote on Sep 23, 2008 7:48 PM:Good Job Rincon!

Vader wrote on Sep 23, 2008 7:49 PM:Maybe Rincon can bail out Escondido's deficits as well.

And the tribes wrote on Sep 23, 2008 9:57 PM:come through again...Escondido should be ashamed of itself. I am glad that someone was able to save the parade, but I also hope that they put a waiver in their donations that the funds can only be used for the parade. Escondido City Council would blow that money in a heart beat.

Esco Local wrote on Sep 23, 2008 10:13 PM:Sometimes I think Ed Gallo wouldn't have thought to pick up a phone to fix the City budget either.

Lori wrote on Sep 23, 2008 11:18 PM:No City Council members should be allowed to participate in the parade. Bye Bye Ed and Sam!

Generous Rincon wrote on Sep 23, 2008 11:46 PM:Escondido owes Rincon a friendship dance!

WOW wrote on Sep 24, 2008 3:08 AM:What a generous gesture! We should all follow this example by the Rincon Indians and make our own contributions. Way to step up!

Gringo wrote on Sep 24, 2008 5:42 AM:Thank you Rincon Nation.

Jaque wrote on Sep 24, 2008 6:19 AM:While this is great for the area citizens (thank you tribal leaders), it probably sends a bad message to the idiots at city hall. They got bailed out of another self created mess. Watch, all of the sudden Lori Holt has a voice.

I for one am not voting for any incumbents is this year's election. Hope other take the same approach

Gambling wrote on Sep 24, 2008 7:07 AM:thanks to our city council now we're saling our soul to promote gambling in our most spiritual season?
we save the parade but we sold our principles and values to the casinos.
thanks Abed and Gallo!!!

A wrote on Sep 24, 2008 7:30 AM:Thank you Rincon Indian Tribe! Thank you very much for your generosity and community involvement! Merry Early Christmas!

Yikes wrote on Sep 24, 2008 7:37 AM:My hat is off to Rincon Reservation.

J P downtown wrote on Sep 24, 2008 7:47 AM:We think it should be called the

'Escondido~Rincon Christmas Parade'

You've got to give credit where credit is due. And the Rincon tribe really stepped up to the challenge, more so than anyone in Esco. (even though we would've been happy to donate to the cause, the JCs never contacted us or any of the surrounding businesses asking for donations) Way to help out your neighbors--Bravo, Rincon!!!!

LONG TIMMER wrote on Sep 24, 2008 8:03 AM:Just think of the money Escondido would have if Grand Ave. was the location of a couple of casino's. If that were to happen, the art center cost would be small change.
Glad The old town will have their event. I marched in from 1955 to 1959.

M.C. in Esco wrote on Sep 24, 2008 8:08 AM:I can tell Wally was on his computer from 7:02pm - 7:08pm. HE didn't save the parade,, the longtime J.C. volunteers and Rincon band have saved the parade. That's the truth..

Esco resident wrote on Sep 24, 2008 8:16 AM:Many thanks to Rincon! Its nice to hear about people helping people!

Embarrassment wrote on Sep 24, 2008 8:49 AM:to the citizens in Escondido. The council and the police department should be ashamed. If the city can't afford it the cops, the council members and city workers should donate their time. This is their city, the people of this city provide their paychecks. A little give back in times of need is not asking too much. Oops that was the old days when they cared about the community as much as their Union protected paycheck and jobs. Next time you see one of them make sure to thank them for their civic duty. After all isn't that why most say they take these jobs? RIGHT!

Thank You Rincon wrote on Sep 24, 2008 9:15 AM:Ths is the perfect example of doing something instead of just talking about it!
Thank you Rincon! The residents here in Escondido truly appreciate your generosity!

Lisa wrote on Sep 24, 2008 10:03 AM:My family & I will not support this or any event sponsored by a Casino. The Escondido City council should get lumps of coal in their stockings this year - one of the posts above mentioned them "selling their souls" and That's exactly what's happened. It makes me sick!!

Boodle wrote on Sep 24, 2008 10:09 AM:*Merry Christmas*
Make sure you go spend your money this holiday season at the Valley Center casinos, *NOT* in Escondido !

GRATEFUL CITIZEN wrote on Sep 24, 2008 10:19 AM:Many thanks to Escondido police volunteers who are being called out to work the event. For free!

Chuck wrote on Sep 24, 2008 10:40 AM:While it's nice to recieve a big sum of cash to allow this tradition to continue, i have to agree with some of the commetns above- about selling out. why wouldn't they focus their fund raising efforts on local Escondido companies? After all it's the Escondido Christmas parade not the Valley Ctr parade. Maybe it will be called the North County Parade now.

I see all the Diaz supporters wrote on Sep 24, 2008 10:47 AM:are busy bashing our City council. You people need to get a life!

Thanks Rincon. I went to School with Bo Mazzetti at Orange Glen High and I am pretty sure many of the tribe members have connections to Escondido traditions.

Thank you to Ed Gallo, Sam Abed and my personal favorite Marie Waldron for the GREAT job you are doing to save our city. I am ashamed of the nay sayers who don't realize how much you DO care.

Wendy H. wrote on Sep 24, 2008 11:03 AM:This story rubs me the wrong way.I muat agree with "Lisa's" concerns..what kind of example is this form of sponsorship setting for our children marching in the parade?? This move to allow gambling+casino sponsors of a traditional FAMILY event involving young children and teens shows that our tradition and values are fading away. How unfortunate.

In Gratitude wrote on Sep 24, 2008 11:03 AM:The citizens of Escondido are thankful to the Rincon Indians for providing the funds to save a long time Holiday tradition. Hopefully, some of your children will also participate in the parade so that we express our appreciation and honor your generousity.

Yikes wrote on Sep 24, 2008 12:08 PM:I noticed a few negative comments. I rarely go to the Casino's. When I do, I just go for a cocktail or dinner, never gamble. In the past I have heard comments about greed with the Casino's. Now that Escondido is in a financial rutt, Rincon is generous enough to make the Christmas parade happen another year. And with that, they still get negative comments.... Please people, lets recognized the generousity from the Rincon Indian Reservation. No one is selling their souls to anyone.

Bo wrote on Sep 24, 2008 12:15 PM:The Rincon Nation rules!

to In Gratitude wrote on Sep 24, 2008 12:25 PM:Speak for yourself.

NO--Not all citizens of Escondido approve of gambling, nor are we all "thankful" to the local casinos! It's pretty pathetic Escondido couldn't find a way to host its own parade. It's over for us;. we're not taking part anymore escpecially after last years debacle and now this.

response to Yikes at 1208 wrote on Sep 24, 2008 12:27 PM:your last few sentences made me laugh. who do you think you're kidding??

BoBo wrote on Sep 24, 2008 12:33 PM:15 grand is a drop in the bucket to me,

Lack of Leadership wrote on Sep 24, 2008 12:44 PM:Many thank yous to the Rincon Tribal Council for this generous help. It just makes me really sad that the City Council could not provide the leadership necessary to make this parade happen. I don't think the Council understood what a blow losing the parade would be to our sense of community in this city. What a shame.

Joe wrote on Sep 24, 2008 1:13 PM:THANK YOU RINCON TRIBE!

To Lisa wrote on Sep 24, 2008 1:53 PM:Bah Humbug! Tell me what are you doing to help community, being a -----. Probably no jewels in your crown over those comments.

Larry wrote on Sep 24, 2008 2:18 PM:$15,000 is going to buy a lot of donuts for EPD.

Hold on here.... wrote on Sep 24, 2008 2:36 PM:The Indian's are some of the most spiritual people around. Their traditions are very strong and they believe in the season of Christmas. I personnaly do not gamble. I work to hard for my money, however other people do and that is their choice. The tribal council are not hangig a huge sign that says go out and gamble. Also, if the parent don't want their children knowing who saved the parade then don't talk about it around your kids. Most children are innocent and don't care who pays for what as long as the end result is Santa. Families should be over joyed that the parade is saved. Oh yeah, there should bot be one city council memeber in that parade. Keep the politicians who tried to ruin Christmas out of the parades.

Bah Humbugger wrote on Sep 24, 2008 2:37 PM:Couldn't agree more with WendyH.
Maybe they could throw poker chips instead of candy at the parade.

Bill wrote on Sep 24, 2008 3:08 PM:Is there any way we can get private security for this event? I'd like to see someone else get the money, other than the personalityless donut eaters!

To Lisa and Wendy wrote on Sep 24, 2008 3:28 PM:And just how much did you donate to ensure the continuation of the parade? If nothing, then you really have NO right to complain. It takes a real ugliness of spirit to disparage the generousness of others.

Give me a break... wrote on Sep 24, 2008 3:35 PM:Oh my - there are so many negative, stereotypical, derogatory comments on this blog that it's amazing to me. To those of you who think that Escondido is "selling their souls" because the Rincon Indians have graciously helped this year's parade, I question your ignorance. Do you honestly believe that the Rincon (or any other Native American groups) are ONLY about casinos? Maybe all of you should brush up on history and culture before spouting off. Rincon Indian tribe is a great asset to the community - they have donated to so many important causes and events in North San Diego county, including those that help at-risk youth and maybe even YOUR children. This is a holiday parade and we should just all be thankful. Nothing like blowing the entire notion of the holiday season by making bigoted remarks.

how would you like wrote on Sep 24, 2008 3:36 PM:a liquor store or company or oil company to sponsor the parade? The Rincon group did a great thing by helping out the friggen sorry city of Escondido. Be happy there is going to be a parade. How many kids do you really think are going to notice that Rincon put $15K toward the parade? It's a neighboring city helping its neighbor to continue a tradition which is really for the enjoyment of children. Thank you, Rincon. God Bless.

To Hold On There wrote on Sep 24, 2008 3:42 PM:I couldn't agree with you more. Our Native American brothers and sisters are some of the most spiritual and loving people. I feel their beliefs are the closest to what God really wants us to feel... love and respect.

Thank you Rincon. Please don't listen to people like that Lisa person and the other one. Their kids are probably badly behaved anyway! LOL

Resident wrote on Sep 24, 2008 4:31 PM:Just for the record, the article states that Rincon was contacted and asked to donate, which they generously did. The statement of "soul selling" is completely ignorant!!! If someone is in need and someone else helps them out, I really don't see how that is such a bad thing. Be grateful people and don't share your hatred because sometimes its the ones that you think are terrible that end up helping you out!!

THANK YOU RINCON!!!

To MC in Esco wrote on Sep 24, 2008 5:35 PM:Wally never said he "saved" the parade. Give the guy a break. FYI, if he didn't put so much time and effort into it, there wouldn't have been a parade for the past 20 years. Wally is THE longtime Jaycee volunteer. Your comments show how misinformed you really are.

To everyone: We have to work harder and encourage more people to volunteer. The complainers should look at what they can do to help. If you want to change something about the parade, I think the Jaycees could use more members.

Just give a big "thank you" to the Rincon Tribal Council. They deserve it. They saw a need and they stepped up to the plate with no strings attached. Give credit where it is due.

Orion wrote on Sep 25, 2008 5:43 AM:No one forces anyone to gamble,the casinos provide entertainment for those who don't gamble, and the casinos are the only way for tribes to survive. There's only so many blankets, beads, and baskets natives can sell, and if we didn't steal the land from tribes and force them onto un-fertile land, they wouldn't be "forced" to open casinos. And, not being nearly as selfish and addicted to personal materialism as Anglos, they give a HUGE amount of their winnings away, as witnessed here. STOP GRIPING AND APPREICATE THE GIFT!!

Stocking Stuffer wrote on Sep 25, 2008 6:26 AM:I'm going to give my 12-year-old nothing but gambling chips for Christmas.

Bill wrote on Sep 25, 2008 6:48 AM:No right to complain? The 1st amendment doesn't cover escondido?

jvc wrote on Sep 25, 2008 10:36 AM:The city needs more impounds to raise
revenue!

Sabrina wrote on Sep 29, 2008 3:34 PM:I am a parade participent. I attended the city counsel meeting on where they were spending there monies of the Escondido city. Some of the spending was rediculous and 50,000.00 went to buy lottery I wonder if they can show the profits from that going to our community schools or to our community period for our events. I'm proud to be a parade participent and follow our flags down the street to show the young that this city and country are still able to do this. What happen with the thrill of doing this by all volunteers. In my town we have volunteer sherrifs do most of the work with only a few hwy patrol. I shall indeed enjoy being in the parade this year thanks to the Rincon trib and not the councelmen spending 100,000.00 this way and that and belittleing their community events. SHAM ON THEM. Sabrina