ojai news at The Ojai Post :: blog, newspaper, events in Ojai, California

I support Heather's call to action. Showing up for the next council meeting on Tuesday would be a good start. We could discuss strategy there. I've thought of resubmitting initiatives, too, but am not sure if it's feasible with the initiatives we already have in play. Heather, you sound like you have your mother's spirit. Bravo. Let's send lots of good vibrations to Jeff, and help where we can. Open discussions here will help with clarity and resolve.

there's a complete listing of the City of Ojai meetings over at OjaiEvents.com in the Business & Gov't section...

It seems to me that the city attorney is driving decisions for the city. Don't the city councel members have the backbone to make thier own decisions? Are the city councel members consulting the city attorney everytime they turn around or what? Not only is that bad gorvernment but it's probably costing a fortune paid out in attorney fees. Blocking the ability for an individual to put an initiative on the Ojai ballot by threatening a law suit is an obvious and deliberate obstruction to the public's voting rights and I think something should be done about it.

Brian

Heather, it looks like concerned citizens are already taking up your suggestion, Ojai-style. Go down to the pergola in front of Libbey Park. There is an exhibit of "50" Does - photographs of 50 "members of the Ojai community" with tape over their mouths and faces obscured, each making a statement and saying "Don't Sue Me." It was there at least as of about 3 p.m. today.

The "50" Does installation will be up near the farmers market by 11:00 am for those who've not seen it yet. Come get your picture taken and joiin the Does.

The Does installation was really excellent. True artistic democratic expression is alive in Ojai!

Brian - We've disagreed on past issues. Nice to see that people of divergent viewpoints can come together over community issues. Thanks for the post.

Reminder: there is a Ojai city council meeting this Tuesday, Oct. 10 at city hall, 7:30 PM. Express yourself at the public communications portion.

The turn out for the 10/10 Council meeting to speak on behalf of Jeff's initiatives was low in quantity, but not to worry, we continue to chip away at the power structure's version of truth. As expected, the council of 7 (actually 5, since Joe DeVito and Sue Horgan did not show up, no reason given) used their bully pulpit to spin their version of truth.

I chose to speak about the Brown Act in my three minutes, since the suppression of public communications is at the heart of our contitutional crisis here in Ojai. Both Bury and Widders spun their tales, carefully avoiding the point I raised, that they can respond at the public communications portion of the meeting, which I based on quotes from the Brown Act itself.

I intend to get an audio tape of the meeting today, so I can speak more directly to their evasions. However, I do remember that Widders said that the Brown Act forbids "in depth" response from the council, which is an implicit acknowledgement that "brief" responses are permitted, which is exactly what the Brown Act says. So, while their words were denying it, their actions were affirming the truth of the Brown Act, namely, that discussion between the council and the public can take place. Bury, Widders, (Kersnar by nods), (Hanstad and Smith by agreement)all in one way or another engaged in public conversation, despite doing their best to deny it.

Real dialogue, communication, and meaningful discussion on the issues is what I'm going for, and a good beginning was made last night. We're right on track with restoring democracy and free speech.

By the way, I just got the OVN. Congratulations to Sean Keenan for the front page coverage of the 50 DOES art piece. Terrific! Imagine. Someone from the public works department complains about political art. If this doesn't illustrate that the issue is freedom vs. repression, nothing will.

There's also a great letter to the editor from Pat McPherson entitled, "Council needs to restore confidence." I think I'm going to base my campaign on truth, since that is where the juice is for me. When we're able to speak truth to each other and to the power structure, everything else will fall into place.

Is it true that Wachter's Hay and Grain is now being prohibited to haveing certain types of animals in there side area, (like they always have had in the past). Is this possibly a move by the city to push that type of business out of that particular location in favor of some more condos?

does any one know if any progress has been made on improving our cell phone coverage?