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

Speaking of our upcoming elections, here is a link to an article in today's news about a Florida town that managed to limit condoes and chains, preserve its local economy and character, and maintain its longstanding diverse mix of residents:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20080721/ts_csm/aglades

"Through zoning ordinances, town referendums, and a tough-minded activist mayor who few have dared to cross, the town has kept out all fast food restaurants and hotel chains, including Holiday Inn. Instead, fish houses and back country lodges fill the local scene. One chain restaurant, Subway, managed to get in through its licensing deal with BP gas stations.

"We're conspiratorially minded and we think they're after running us all out," says Bob Wells, a longtime realtor in Everglades City. "We're changing, but we change on our own.""

The 2008 election question for Ojai: Is it too late for us to do the same?

Have too many already been "run out"?

This is so exciting! Thanks for the scoop!!

Pat McPherson threw his hat into the ring today.

That's great news! Pat is definitely my choice. We'll wait and see how the appellate court rules on the ACLU lawsuit to see if Horgan and Hanstad are really going to go through with running yet again. If the court rules that they city council voted to SLAPP a citizen of Ojai to block his rights to direct democracy, they really should both step down immediately. The decision should come down before the election.

The recent citizen SLAPP suit, and the city of Ojai's plan to continue litigation and run up legal expense to tune of $500K deserves closer look. Monte Widder's pattern of futile litigation at city's
general fund expense and to his benefit goes beyond
reason. Question begs for his departure and start
recall effort for council members supporting and
voting for this continued wasteful woeful and willful sham.This game
they are running for much too long.Would like to see community efforts and talents put to work on this because the status quo has not shown wise and sound decision making, but continued mistakes using unsound
methodology from past. If I were to lose substantial amounts of revenue in my home budget, I probably could not appeal to float a bond to make up for losses. PL

I've found a residence in Ojai town limits. I will be running for council again.

I appreciate your support. I'll be running on real issues not personalities but I will play the personality card.

The main issue is to save Ojai herself. Ojai has a destiny to fulfil and the present leadership has no clue as to the real Ojai. Time to change.

This time around I have more experience and I'm going to tell the truth about Ojai as I see it no matter what. I'm looking forward to hearing what comes out of my mouth.

I'll be using this site as well as others to tell you what I think. Then you can judge for yourself.

I need 20 names of people to sponsor me (or whatever they call it). I'll get the sheet next week. I plan to sit in front of the post office asking for the signatures. I want to get 30 just to be safe.

First we save Ojai and then we go on to save the world. Let's face it: it's come down to that. We've got to see the local-global connection or we're not going to make it.

I love this valley. She deserves nothing less than our full support in saving her; if for nothing else, for all she's giving to us.

I'll start the ball rolling by giving you my views on Mallory Way. The following is a letter to the editor I gave to the OVN office last Thursday in response to an article by Nao that appearing in Wednesday's paper on Mallory. I don't know whether or not OVN will publish my letter. I hope they do and there's no harm in sharing it with you here.

It is as follows:

LETTER TO EDITOR:

Your recent story about Mallory Way lets the cat out of the bag. City staff shows its developer bias by arguing against Mallory as affordable housing. As usual, the reasoning doesn't make sense because its purpose is to fool the public.

Of course Mallory is relatively affordable if a single mom needs a place of her own and doesn't want to rent a room, tent, garage or floor space on someone else's property. The point is affordability, not type of rental.

I'm 68 and could have received a section 8 voucher but even with the housing authority paying 70%, I can't afford to live in Ojai [this has changed; see below] because the bulk of my retirement income goes to support a poor mom and child and the authorities don't adjust gross income for alimony and child support.

My ex-wife and son were just evicted from Mallory after three years and $30,000 for bogus reasons, just in time for the Beckerville condos. I believe the real reasons were to avoid mitigating her damages and in retaliation for our public opposition to the project. Why else? She paid her rent and was a cooperative tenant. Was it because she called city hall for months to urge them to enforce their own ordinances on leaf blowers and oak trees at Mallory?

For years city leaders refused to make Mallory a landmark, floating the myth that the ordinances required a property owner's permission for landmark status. I demolished that excuse like the ones about O-Hi Frostie and Top Hat, and the falsehoods about the Brown Act among others but the good citizens in charge won't lift a finger to save the real Ojai. They will, however, sue a fellow citizen who proposes a ballot initiative on affordable housing.

According to an expert research study, Mallory definitely qualifies for landmark status. State law mandates municipalities to preserve their historic landmarks IN THEIR INTEGRITY. But the ruling elite doesn't care about Ojai history, the law or the poor. If they did, they would have made Mallory a landmark long ago.

The city's manager used to speak about Ojai as a real town with an incomplete quilt. Now we know that he and his employers by real mean rich, and the centerpiece of the quilt is money. The poor have been forced out, except for the street people, permanent visiting relatives, illegal tent, garage, closet and floor space renters. Much of the middle class has gone and more will follow to make way for the new condo rich Ojai.

I'm one of the poor. If I could afford a residence in Ojai [things have now changed; I have found a residence for a very reasonable cost which I can afford], I might run for council again to speak for the poor. But the last thing the rich and wanna-be rich want is a poor person on council and God forbid that three poor people should be council members.

I love the real people of Ojai, all five of them. If these five go, Ojai will go the way of Noah's Sodom and Gomorrah, destroyed by culture fire for lack of real citizens. Single moms and their children are real but patriarchal landlords and their friends in city hall are rich, not real.

Dennis Leary
Ojai

End of letter to editor, first submitted to the OVN and reprinted here.

Thanks, Tyler for making this space available. My hope is that all of us can talk here about real issues in a real town. Wouldn't it be great to have all the candidates here debate the issues like in a town hall meeting. By candidates, I include the incumbants Horgan and Hanstad. I'd like to also hear the rest of the council members and staff give their views right here in the open. We've got nothing to lose but our fears. We can put it all down here for the record. Sure, somebody is bound to oppose us, and maybe say unpleasant things about us but so what? I say worse things to myself all the time. It doesn't stop me from talking to myself. Wait, I better stop right here or I'm going to make a fool out of myself again.

The lead comment and the linked article is right on the money.

The ironic thing is that saving Ojai or Everglades City or Dodge City for that matter is good business and that means good, clean money.

We can have it all, including money, but not by making money the centerpiece of the Kersnar quilt. People are the centerpiece, real people. Money will follow when a town does what it loves, and that means loving all its people, especially the poor.

I'm not against money or the rich. It's just that nowadays money and wealth have a lot of toxins attached as we are seeing with the economic meltdown. When hard times hit, Ojai may not be protected this time. Safety is in a community of people who can pull together and help everyone; and if they have the resources help those outside the town limits; certainly out as far as the Ojai Valley limits.

Thanks for the link to this very practical and inspiring article. Ojai was founded not by pirates as in the case of Everglade City but by poor Indians and poor settlers who in the beginning at least respected each other and worked together.

I remember back in Wisconsin visiting the old homestead which is still there but in ruins; and hearing the stories about how the Indians used to come around and camp in their tents at the homestead. Worked on the farm I presume and shared what they had. It felt very good and real, and that is the feeling I sometimes get in the Ojai Valley. That spirit is still here but it is in danger of being extinguished by the new world order cultural spirit. It's just not the same: one is real and the other is artificial. If you can't tell the difference, well you need the experience of a real community; and Ojai still has enough of it left to share. That's why we need to save Ojai who is a microcosm of the world, a remnant of the good old days, a yeast which can leaven the bread of life.

I better stop again even though this library computer keeps giving me additional ten minutes. What really concerns me is if Suza reads this and comes to the conclusion I need another lesson on brevity, the soul of wit.
Enough. Go Ojai.

A little birdie told me that Garrett Clifford has withdrawn his name, but Dennis Leary has taken out papers to run...but not filed yet...

Tyler, are you going to have a place for comments on the Ojai City Council 2008 resource page? Or link these comments to that page? Thanks!

Brevity is the soul of wit

From Shakespeare's Hamlet, 1603:

LORD POLONIUS
This business is well ended.
My liege, and madam, to expostulate
What majesty should be, what duty is,
Why day is day, night night, and time is time,
Were nothing but to waste night, day and time.
Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,
And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,
I will be brief: your noble son is mad:
Mad call I it; for, to define true madness,
What is't but to be nothing else but mad?
But let that go.

I hope that the SLAPP suit becomes an important election issue. But my interest is not in debate over the civil rights issues, the sanctity of the initiative process, or the nerve of Ojai newcomers trying to tell people who have always been here how to do things. My interest is in the failure of City leadership to engage in an intelligent cost benefit analysis before filing a law suit that may prove very expensive to Ojai taxpayers. I have heard we have paid over $80,000 to Mr. Widders firm in legal fees and that Mr. Furchtenicht is asking for a damages award for interfering with his rights as a citizen and he has asked the court to award his attorney’s fees.

Here is why I think City leadership was flawed. Two weeks before Monte Widders filed his lawsuit he and the City council were offered the opportunity to avoid the courts and avoid even having the initiative process move forward. Mr. Furchtenicht actually offered to withdraw his initiatives if his ballot issues were place on the City Council agenda so that public debate on the issues could occur. Whether the ballot issues were palatable or to the City Council or not, the offer presented a great fiscal opportunity to avoid the expense of the lawsuit and the expense of the initiative process.

The following summary is from the Ojai Post resource page on the initiative correspondences:

On September 11, 2006 Mr. Furchtenicht wrote a lengthy e-mail concerning the legal issues related to the City Attorney’s threat to sue him. He concluded by stating: “Instead of litigating, why don't we have the affordability and chains vs. independents issues put on successive City Council agendas, with a presentation by Mr. Kersnar outlining options and making recommendations?”

On September 12, 2006 Mr. Widders e-mailed back with more legal speak, and then concluded with “In any event, with respect to your offer of resolution, if you are suggesting that, if the Council were to request that the City Manager place the substance of your initiatives on a future agenda in exchange for you immediately withdrawing the two "Requests", I will communicate that offer to the Council. I would appreciate clarification of you[sic] suggestion.”

Mr. Furchtenicht e-mailed back the same day. “If the City Council places the substance of my proposed initiatives on an upcoming meeting agenda, so as a city we can begin to meaningfully engage these issues, of course I would withdraw the proposed initiatives.”

Thirteen days later Mr. Widders filed his lawsuit.

We aren’t given access to the decision making discussions that take place because the City does not have to make public its deliberations concerning a lawsuit. Whatever the reasons for not placing chain stores and affordable housing on a future City Council Agenda the thinking was short sighted given (1) we’ve spent $80,000 we’ll never see again, (2) we are exposed to some risk of awards against the City and (3) permitting an informational agenda item on the ballot issues did not require that the City actually do something about the issue. Wouldn’t it be nice to have that $80,000 dollars back to fight an issue that would benefit taxpayers? Wouldn’t it be nice to have City leadership that had the foresight to avoid the mess the lawsuit made?

Wouldn’t it be nice to have City leadership that had the foresight to avoid the mess the lawsuit made?

Yes, it would!

Dennis-

Take some advice from this crazy ragin' cajun.
DON'T run for office.
It will corrupt even beautiful angelic YOU.

Just tend your garden.
Read inspiring self-help books.
Flirt a bit down at the coffee shop or library.

But save yourself any further agony, ignominy and embarrassment.

Peace, bro!

WHERE THERE IS SMOKE THERE IS FIRE - Keep an eye out on what's happening with the skate park as there seems to be a lot of forces out there that wish Skate Ojai would have never got the 400+ donors to come up with the $350K needed to build a permanent in-ground park at its present location.

Read the editorial in the Wednesday July 23rd Ojai Valley News.
And Letters in today's paper.

Some say there are forces at work to metropolize Ojai.
The gentrification of our housing stock is not enough...

Thanks for the comments, in particular those directed towards myself.

Polonius was in over his head, caught between two mighty opposites. He wanted to pursue the truth even if it be hidden in the center of the earth.

Sounds like me. I am aware of the deep corruption of politics but like Polonius want to pursue truth which is hidden in the center of that corruption.

I took out papers yesterday. Today I've been feeling anxious, doubtful, even hopeless that I can do any good. Feels like I am getting closer to the center of my own corruption which is fear in the face of corruption.

There is something rotten in the state of ... It's tempting to tend my garden and read inspiring books but that's just my corruption, my fear of doing something, anything to help set things right.

If I run for office, I will speak about this lawsuit against a fellow citizen that goes on and on. If elected, I will vote to stop it and propose the city make amends for the wrong done. The city should apologize and admit it made a mistake.

If elected I would vote against the Mallory Way Project. I'm in the library and just thought of checking to see if OVN published my letter posted above. They did; good for them.

Corruption is a serious charge. Literally, it means rupture of the heart. Cor in Latin means heart. I will admit to being corrupt in that sense. I can feel the fear in my heart which is a sort of rupture. I've got to go into that fear to get through it.

Is the Ojai government corrupt? Is its heart ruptured? I've got to say yes. The Mallory Way project and the lawsuit against a citizen are two instances where the government is corrupt because it doesn't put love of ordinary people before power and money.

I believe government is corrupted by fear also, fear of letting go of the power that they believe keeps them secure and by extension keeps the people under them safe, or so they believe.

Sorry for the agonizing here but like Polonius I'm searching for the truth. Hopefully, I won't suffer his fate.

Hamlet was mad because of the corruption of love in Denmark. Love is the thing that will save Ojai if it can catch our consciences.

One other thing. The only other candidate who I know is Pat McPherson. I share his basic values. If I thought it would serve Ojai, I'd drop out and support him. But there are two seats available and best case, we could both get in. Or would it split the vote and neither of us would get in?

I must admit I am not feeling good at the moment. But then feelings are not where it's at. Truth is what I'm after.

I think Hamlet was angry-mad at the government system which destroyed the love between Ophelia and himself.

I keep coming back to that: love vs. fear. In the case of Ojai government, its fear of losing control drives it towards love of money.

In my case, agony, ignominy and embarrassment may be my fate. If that's the price of freedom, I may pay it. If you're feeling embarrassed for me, don't. I've got enough of my own.

Love,
Dennis

Hang in there Dennis, you are just going through signer’s remorse. As a kind and caring person, it is only natural you would question your actions. You still have time to make your final decision. Pat.

I dunno, Dennis, I think you and the community would be better served if you put your energies toward volunteer work with one of Ojai's many charities, like Help of Ojai, for example.

Re: Horgan and Hanstad's selfless sacrifice to the citizens of Ojai
Six months ago, Horgan announced she would not seek re-election. At that time, she asked "Daddy Joe D'Vito" if he would allow her to fill his spot as mayor for the remainder of her time. Apparently, sweet Horgan wanted to go out in a blaze of glory. Gallant Joe honored her request, as he was assured of her departure from the city council in November 2008. Fellow busy babe and city council member Hanstad also let all of us know that she would not be running for city council again.
Wouldn’t you know it; three weeks ago, H&H reneged on their promises. Out of the goodness of their hearts and for the sake of all of us here in Ojai they decided to put their names in the hat again. Their announced alleged motivations were twofold: First of all they wanted to continue to serve selflessly and continue to solve problems in our city, not acknowledging they failed to solve those same problems in their eight year tenure. Secondly – dig this- no one of any worth has signed up to run for their hot upholstered seats on the council. Balls up!
In my humble opinion, our two busy babes got so addicted to fame and power they would show up at the openings of a gas station and especially a liquor store just to have their pictures taken.

Oh please! Horgan says there is unfinished business? Never before has Ojai been under the threat of unmanaged growth seen under this city
council.This woman can use her pull to be seated early as mayor and
everyone lets her? Sue not only voted against chain store regulation but is married to a board member of a bank specializing in real estate development. Could the city counsel
(and the bank) also change their name to County Commerce Council?
No surprise that ESQ Monte
Widders sits on the board of the bank and has been billing the city for bogus lawsuits for years
for yet undetermined amounts.
Lastly, Sue Horgan hand picked
city manager Jere Kersner promnoting "filing in Ojai's
incomplete patchwork." Best to review unsustainable Bryant Street Business Park for their results
om growth. Cause to be alarmed
for more business as usual from
this shady culture. PL

I have been told H&H were the first to pull papers - - so how did Rae know no one of any worth had signed up to run. Hogwash! And yes, what are those unfinished items Sue thinks did not get done or can’t be solved by others. Are they dedicated to finishing Jeri’s quilt?

It seems obvious they or their supporters realized the dynamics of the council would change greatly if two new “uncontrolled” people were to become council members.

This in itself should be enough not to vote for either of them.

I wonder how Joe and the other council members feel about being flimflammed by Sue so she could become the Mayor. If I were Joe, I would be pissed.

Should she now step down?

As a citizen, I certainly don’t like what she did.

anonymous horgan has flimmflammed ojai for 8 years to fan her grandiosity and for personal gain. she is truly a busy babe

anonymous horgan has flimmflammed ojai for 8 years to fan her grandiosity and for personal gain. she is truly a busy babe

Thanks, Pat. So it's signer's remorse, is it? Whatever it was it lasted about a day and a half. The black cloud lifted about 11 AM this morning. Maybe it was because I was nearing finishing cleaning up my living space and had something to do with cleaning up my consciousness. I had a dream last night too which was in line with my confusion, anxiety and self-doubt.

When I came to the library a half hour ago or so, a little of it started to return as I read the papers and magazines. I can feel the corruption in politics, even in Obama. I've got to say he seems right in step with the elite powers. Check the photo-ops, him and General Petraeus looking down on Baghdad together, and Obama's wanting to gradually get out of Iraq but increase was in Afghanastan. I get the feeling that this whole thing is being scripted by the big bosses and Obama is going along like a good boy. He is the perfect gatekeeper for the system to insure that nothing will really change. War will go one forever.

The intelligent and well written remarks on the local politics scene give cheer to my heart. I don't feel so alone in my analysis. Such input really helps me to understand what is going on.

I was raised to be a good, obedient boy so it is hard for me to call any government corrupt. But the facts support the charge. If I run, I will come out and argue that very charge: that the administration is indeed corrupt.

I'm trying to formulate in my mind what I actually would say in a campaign. So far these things come to mind:

1. The Jeff F. lawsuit.

2. The conflicts of interest cited above (which by the way, Sue H. denies vigorously).

3. Mallory Way.

4. The failure to say anything about national policies like war.

5. 911 as an inside job (the rationale is that a local government can and shold challenge a national one on the truth).

6. Creating a municipal water company.

7. Creating an alternative energy company.

8. Doing public education on sustainabiliy issues like less traffic, smaller cars and houses.

9. Real emergency plans in case the economy goes really bad, like growing our own food and owning our own water.

10. Affordable housing (this could be number one).

11. Safety in the community through communication and involvemenbt with the idea of somehow reducing police costs.

12. Changing the atmosphere at city hall so that citizens do not feel so disenfranchised, like actually practicing what the Brown Act intends.

13. Hiring a new attorney.

14. Term limits.

15. Moving toward direct democracy by creating a municipal blogging site like this where all would feel safe to participate, either in name or anonymous.

16. Somehow creating a general store in town so we would not have to go to Ventura for items unavailable here.

17. Reaching out to the Spanish speaking community.

18. Bicycle safety and availability (I broke my collerbone recently in a bicycle accident; my fault).

19. City action to do something more to limit the gravel trucks.

20. Redevelopment. Just what is the city doing with its 19 or 20 million?

What am I missing? Oh, yes:

21. Strong condemnation of the spraying of poison in the Ventura River watershed. Imagine, one of the most precious resources of our valley and we are poisoning it and the water table; and not a peep from council that I know of.

Etc. Etc.

I feel now like I will run but I will hold off on getting signatures until I talk with Pat about splitting the vote or in case that old black cloud of fear-doubt-confusion comes bearing down on me.

Maybe I'm just not that strong to do what must be done. It could get pretty rough. And then the job itself is not my ideal job.

Well, 4 minutes left on this computer. Got to sign off.

Denis, What happened to Love Government???

Dennis-

I think your #1 priority should be to make sure the library has enough funds so you can keep having internet access so you can keep posting your sophoromic platform.

if i have told you once, i have told you a 1000 times- you are a self-aggrandizing tragic buffoon.

the person who told you to go volunteer was right on.

Hahaha that is a joke HELP of Ojai doesn’t want volunteers they want your money. Since the new E D J.R. Jones has taken over volunteerism has taken a second to fund raising. Some of the staff there have been told they don’t know how to talk to donors and the staff that does know how to massage money from donors have no idea on how to honor the volunteer. The volunteers have been treated shabbily with many of the volunteer stations closing. I notice that the computer lab at the Honor Farm is no longer open. The only unmet needs that HELP is concerning itself with seems to be their own. Dennis if you should volunteer I suggest the Humane Society.

Former HELP vol-

I am sorry to hear that about HELP.
I was looking into volunteering a few months ago.
And then that "scandal" surfaced, with the Board changing.
What was that about anyway?
I do recall from my orientation that according to the deal they have with the county they need to do $1 Million in "improvements" every year and I guess a lot of that is through fund raising.
Sorry to hear about the computer lab since that is where I wanted to give some time.
Do you know more about that.
I think the computer lab was tied into some federal program and funding if I remember correctly.
I could be wrong.

The Post would be a great place for HELP of Ojai to talk about what they are doing, what they need.
Have they been approached?

Please Dennis, run, we need the laugh. Although you do border on pathetic at times.

These anonymous mean-spirited comments are not helpful. In a democracy any one has the right to run for office. Dennis has taken the time to educate himself about the issues facing Ojai. He may not be the best candidate for the job, but he deserves our respect. And if he is elected, he will at least be honest.

Suze-
Are you indicating you may be Dennis's campaign manager?

Dear Dennis Leary,
We have watched your sincere attempts at making Ojai a better place over the years. You have been forthright and courageously honest. Unlike any local politician you’ve opened the depth of your inner world to us including your fears, your weaknesses ,your embarrassments, your poverty and therefore showed the strength of your soul. Your openness frightens those who are terrified of their own fears, their vulnerabity, their weakness and their own potential poverty. Unfortunately in our current political environment your blatant honesty is not a good move if you want to get elected. My friends and I deeply appreciate you and send love your way.
Onward brother!
Peter R. Milhado Ph.D.

No!

It never ceases to amaze me the things people dream up!

Namaste

Comment #34 is in response to comment #32

I am deeply touched by the comments made regarding my self. I type with a lump in my throat and chest, and moisture in my eyes. I knew there was something real about Ojai when I first moved here, and I am beginning to understand what that is.

As for the negative comments, thanks, and don't be afraid to keep them coming. They're creative, interesting and sometimes have enough truth to make me think twice. You can't say anything worse than I already have said many times to my self.

As for the positive ones, I am deeply grateful to know there are people out there that share my values. As I share more of them, you may or may not agree and that's OK with. In the upcoming campaign, I'm going to say what I think and feel; that is the first priortiy. Getting elected is a secondary concern. Winning is both good and bad news; if I win, then the real work begins.

I sat at Farmers Market today to get nomination signatures. Most people who I talked to were very friendly even one woman who lived and still lives in Los Arboles. If you remember, I was highly critical of LA (Los Arboles). She seemed to have some concern that I thought the people there were bad people. I assured her that I did not think they were bad; just that the place was overbuilt. She loves to walk on the weekends when she and her husband are home from work. I agreed with her that Los A. is wonderful for that and I hoped that they really enjoy where they live. I have no bad feeling for any person, even when I am very, very critical of their positons and often of their persons. My mind is very critical but my heart does not harbor bad feelings for anyone. I just took a moment to look and listen there and I think that statement is true.

I am going to be extremely critical of the present Ojai administration. I will go so far as to call it corrupt. I don't do that lightly, and as time goes on, will argue the point. But I always make the distinction between people and position. I tell that to the council over and over: not to take it personal. I am interested in policy. I never want to say a person is corrupt and if I give that impression, I apologize and take it back.

The question was asked above, what happened to the Love Government. It is alive and well, although still in the womb so to speak. I have completed the book which will serve as its constitution, and am in the process of putting it on a website for free viewing. I have finished the introductions and am beginning the main section. The full title of the 209 page, loose leaf book is: Lover Earth Government, AKA The Lover Government; and The Love Government. There are websites for the latter but I have not added to them for a long time. There is only one copy of the book which I have.

I have been busy gathering my personal strength and forces. After the last election, I dropped out of politics. I have been spending most of my time gardening and working on the Love Government in an energetic and theoretical way, laying the groundwork so to speak.

The Love Government was officially founded at the fountain in Ojai on 7/7/07. Evan Austin was kind enough to film it and it is on U-Tube.

Lover Earth Government is served by the Red Brown and Blue Party which was inaugurated on October 4, 2006. The seeds have been planted but the growth must proceed slowly.

My long range vision is global politics and policy. I think global by writing and act local by running for election. I do sort of volunteer at Help of Ojai by supporting Millenium Twain's efforts to make the place more of a garden. I know nothing of the politics there.

When I came in to the library a while ago, I had to wait for a computer so I scanned Time and Newsweek to get a feel for what ordinary readers get from the mainstream. To tell the truth, I don't know if I'm getting more sensitive or what, but I feel a little sick when I feel those vibes. Our culture is very sick, in my opinion; very, very sick.

I overheard someone say this morning as he passed where I was sitting with my bicycle, blue fold-up chair and sign: "I don't understand why people who don't like Ojai just don't leave." I assume that I prompted the comment. I thought about how I would respond to such a comment if it came in public. I think I would say that the reason I do what I do is because I love Ojai; and believe Ojai is faced with cultural and political forces which are out to destroy the Ojai you too seem to love and want to keep.

What else? Oh, yes. A manager. I don't think anyone can manage me, and I don't think I care to be managed. I did a little of that last time, like dressing up in shirt and tie, etc. I'm not going to do that this time. I'll be more of myself. I feel stronger and able to risk more.

I plan to sit outside of public places with my bicycle and sign, places like the supermarkets and Farmers Market so I'll be available to talk. I am used to being a recluse so I have a lot to learn.

It felt good just sitting in the sun today sitting directly across from Farmers Market, eating my oranges, home made raison bread and rice salad. People and Ojai are just so beautiful and wonderful, everyone, even those I judge negatively and don't agree with. In Ojai you wouldn't know sometimes that there is terrible suffering going on as a result of the lifestyle we embrace. We just block out the connections between this and that.

Writing here is quite therapeutic. "Self aggrandizing tragic buffoon" is good, quite good. I would substitute the word fool for buffoon. I have to think more about buffoon. Need to look it up in the dictionary when I get done here. Fool and foon are close in sound. Buff, well, I know what in the buff means, I think, naked. So naked fool comes to mind which is thought provoking. The double o's in the words are like eyes, so like they give insight into who I am. Also they sort of rhyme with moon, and when you moon someone, you are a naked fool. I wouldn't do that I don't think which probably shows that I am repressed. Buffoon is like a clown and fool is like a jester in my mind. I would like to play the jester but I can't get a handle on buffoon. Perhaps the commentator above would be so kind as to elaborate on just how I am a buffoon. Give me some free therapy over and above what is aleady given.

I get the self aggrandizing part and the tragic part. Those I can relate to but the buffoon role throws me. I was always thought of as reserved, aloof and stand-offish. Nobody ever called me a buffoon before which makes it so interesting. I think Leland H. came close but I don't think he used that word. Maybe some example of buffoon would help. Was like, Jackie Gleason as Ralph Cramden a buffoon. That dates me I guess.

Well, I have 10 minutes remaining, after the additional 10 minutes. It may give me another ten minutes but I can't count on it, and I've got to proofread what I wrote and then give the computer time, lots of time to transfer the info. Thanks again for the free therapy, self-aggrandizing and tragic as it is. Can I say also buffooning or is that just laying buffooning on buffooning? Oh, Oh, only 7 minutes left. Got to go.

i was the one who made the buffoon comment.
i have no idea what it means.

i just don't look as deeply at things as you do Dennis.

I accept that "what is" is "pretty perfect" "as it is".
I don't think I can change much or any of it.
I can only change my reaction. (typical new-age psychology)
Consequently I am not obsessed with seeing or changing the "corruption".
You are so beautiful Dennis sitting and eating your oranges, home made raisin bread and rice salad. It must be so painful to you to see all the beauty but yet know about all the painful suffering.
Have you considered a Buddhist meditation retreat? You may get an insight into suffering that will truly, fully and finally free your mind and heart.

I have done a lot of meditation which probably includes Buddhist styles, although, no, I have not done formal Buddhist meditation, whatever that is. Something tells me that is not my path.

I can feel the suffering inside of me; how that relates to the suffering out there I don't know. I can make it all OK and reframe it as perfect in the higher consciousness. I can go into the emptiness and the silence and feel the love and compassion.

Still, that is not enough for me. And this may be the point where I am in error in thinking I can actually do something to change what is already perfect. It really does get tricky and sticky when I start delving into the intricacies of consciousness. There appears to be no end to the peeling of the onion.

Peter Milhaldo, who made a gracious comment above towards me, is a professional in the field of consciousness. I appreciated the comment.

I looked up the word buffoon, by the way in the Oxford English dictionary. I didn't know the Ojai library had a copy until I found one of the volumes at the podium where the other dictionaries are kept. The full set is in the back in the references section.

Anyway, buffoon is associated with fool, a low type. Falstaff was used as one example and he was certainly self aggrandizing and tragic. But so what? I am rambling and circling around something.

There is truth in my being a buffoon, like Falstaff was. I'm thinking of Henry V where Falstaff dies. He himself does not appear but his friends and possible lover talk about him, and it is a most moving scene.

The love really shines through. A buffoon does all the verbal fireworks to get love. Falstaff loved Hal but gets rejected when Hal becomes King Henry. My buffooning ego gets hurt when rejected. Foolery is not the way to get love; attention, yes, and other perks but not love.

And yet almost everyone loves Falstaff, despite his cowardice and nastiness. He is tragic and pathetic. Was he unable to love himself? Did lack of self love create the explosive words? Was the failure of love in Shakespeare's life responsible for his explosive and hearbreaking words?

Why not go directly to love? Because tragedy is another form of love? When I look at this world, I see one big buffoon which is no doubt a self-reflection. All the buffooning in the world did not get Falstaff or Shakespeare what they wanted. Or did it? Who knows?

I feel this deep sadness just thinking about Shakespeare, Falstaff and myself. I guess it's the ego that continally wants to defuse that sadness by buffoonery.

One of the interesting derivations of the word buffoon is from the French around 1700. A buffoon was a cloth apparently that hung from a woman's neck and covered her breasts. To me buffoonery is a cover for lack of nurturing, womam's breast being a symbol of that.

If I follow the spiral of consciousness down far enough it usually (perhaps always) comes to rest near this point. There is a barrier like sadness that covers the deep need for love. Buffoon as a breast covering.

If I stay with the sadness, or fear, or anger, whatever; just stay there, don't run away, it dissolves into love. Usually not right away but eventually.

As the Poet says: "It frightens me, the awful truth of how sweet life can be." (Dylan)

I think the need for love is so great that it is overwhelming. The mind says that it's better not to have any than to taste the sweetness and be rejected, like Falstaff and Shakespeare perhaps.

This feels like psychotherapy and maybe it is. One of my best friends became a psychotherapist. I felt jealous and he used to appear in my dreams. I never had the confidence or ability to relate to people like he did. He represented the self I thought I could never achieve.

I intellectualize love a lot. But what else can you do when you don't have the real thing? You create a substitute which may be buffoonery. You create a Falstaff if you are a Shakespeare. It's strange. I just now couldn't spell Shakespeare. The unconscious? Shakespeare making an appearance? There is more in heaven and earth than is dreamt of in your philosophy, Horatio.

I keep getting these 10 minute extensions, three now. The strange thing is that usually the computer asks if I want one. Now it is just giving them. Is the computer reading my mind? Has it become conscious? Strange indeed.

The sadness seems to have passed and I'm in this neutral place just looking at what's happening. Maybe that the Buddhist thing.

"Something's happening here and you don't know what it is, do you Mr. Jones?"

No, I don't.

Well, I guess I should go home and eat lunch. I eat zucchini every meal now because that is what the garden is giving mostly. The tomatoes are coming; I'm having the cherry ones now. I worked in the garden this morning, tying up tomatoes and pulling weeds. The compost pile is now higher than I am and getting higher even as it shrinks. Apolonia left her guinea pig and she's taken up residence in the pile. She should have her babies soon. I haven't been able to get a close enough look at her to tell. Uhm. Eight minutes left and now the computer is serious about getting me out of here. So is my bladder.

I'll proofread quickly and follow the call of nature.

That last comment (#38) was posted by me.

Dennis- you are hilarious and brilliant.
I think you may be the next Spaulding Gray.

Please, forget politics

Dennis as buffoon!

Dennis is certainly alot of things. Buffoon is not the first one that comes to my mind.

Namecallers and the rest, who cares? We already know that at least half of American voters are too "buffoonish" to vote in their own interests. We feel, we want to believe Ojai is different. But why should it be? A decade of jacked up prices, Los Arboles, condoes and killing Frostie, and why aren't a majority of Ojai voters as incapable of voting in their own interests, as incapable of distinguishing the good from the bad, stupid and ugly, as the rest of America in general?

Dennis is a window into what is still good about Ojai. Its a blessing that he lets us look inside sometimes. For those who don't like what they see, let me suggest: Perhaps they don't really like Ojai. Its more than pink moments and tennis courts, people.

Dennis gets my vote. If he doesn't get a majority, too bad for Ojai.

But I am curious: As far as Dennis running, is there someone out there who seriously thinks he would be worse for Ojai than either of H&H?

To paraphrase the old saying, I've got a broken down dam for sale. Right at the bottom of Pratt.

Then again, I guess it all depends how you define "worse." I am confident Dennis would be worse at:

1. Suing citizens for filing initiatives (although, hard to get much worse at a lawsuit than getting thrown out of court on your face and bringing the ACLU to town. To do worse than that, Dennis - hold something here, I don't want anyone fainting from the sheer immensity of imagination required for this one - Dennis would have to not sue citizens at all).

2. Giving out no-bid $70,000 sinecures to former mayors.

3. Finishing quilts.

4. Fostering fear of reneging on Skate Ojai.

5. Losing O-Hi Frostie.

6. Greenlighting the gutting of existing affordable housing.

7. Emptying storefronts.

8. Dragging feet while low-rent fast food chains stake a claim downtown.

9. Panicking the herd over the "fringe element."

10. Hiring skilled powerpoint presenters (able to powerpoint subjects as diverse as how to finish quilts).

Dennis would certainly be alot worse than what we have on all those fronts.

But now I've confused myself. Is worse really better? Or is better worse? Or is worse only worse than better when its better than worse?

Can it get any worse?

Wait. Start over.

Can it get any better?

Dear You Buffoon You!

What is this?

"Giving out no-bid $70,000 sinecures to former mayors."

According to Wikipedia:

A sinecure (from Latin sine, without, and cura, care) means an office which requires or involves little or no responsibility, labour, or active service.

Sinecures have historically provided a potent tool for governments or monarchs to distribute patronage, while recipients are able to store up titles and easy salaries.

A sinecure is not necessarily a figurehead, which generally requires active participation in government, albeit with a lack of power. A sinecure, by contrast, has no real day-to-day responsibilities, but may have de jure power.

(How VERY interesting!)

HI DENIS,
This is in reply to your trashing THE VIEW newspaper, you gave an E mail address , but , ALAS, the e mail keeps being returned, you dont have an address at dennisjleary.yahoo. I am sorry you dont like THE VIEW, thank goodness you are in a very small minority, printing has doubled in three months plus advertisers are now responding, JEFF would have been proud of THE VIEW,i recommend you reading HOW TO WIN FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE while you are in the library.

i often disagree with dennis, but not in this case, sorry

The View is sure a lot better than that printed toiletpaper wannabe psuedo voice is.

there is no voice - the view replaced it - it's the same

We hear you are buddy buddy with C.E.J. the imposter VOICE, you might make a good policition DENNIS, remember, when you line up your lobbyists, make the right choice.

Did you know Suza was mayor?

A correction for Anonymous #47. You wrote:

"there is no voice - the view replaced it - it's the same"

The view did replace the old voice, but there is another voice, published by other people ...have seen two or three issues of each paper since Jeff's tragic, untimely passing.

please note comment #50 by
anonymous, THE VIEW has all the old VOICE writers,your new VOICE has none.only copies of advs, etc from the old VOICE,

where did dennis leary trash the view was it on this thread????

i have the same question: where did dennis leary trash the view? it makes no sense for him to do that.

In response to "former mayor," Comment #42:

Actually, H&H giving out a no bid $70,000 sinecure to former mayor David Bury was reported in the new/old Voice/View/Rose/Whatever. (I cannot keep track of which one it was, what with all the confusion. I think it was the one that appears to be a sincere effort at carrying on a paper, vs. the one that seems to be an effort at carrying on a vendetta.)

I confirmed it by looking at the minutes of the City Council's March 11 meeting. (See the City link here on the Post.) Indeed, it appears that David Bury was awarded $70,000 to give the city his "conceptual thoughts" on the makeover of the Libbey Bowl. It appears to be a no bid deal.

Anyone who can share a reasonable justification of this, please do. (David Bury perhaps?)

I also see in those same minutes that Monte Widders recused himself from the Housing Element issue for a "financial conflict of interest." What conflict of interest? Again, something I've never seen reported. But it certainly seems like news.

For example, it would be interesting to see if he had the same "financial conflict of interest" when he decided to SLAPP the affordable housing initiatives in 2006?

$80,000 and counting later, that seems like something worth knowing.

Anyone have any further information on either of these two items?

Thank you Anonymous #54.

All these items should be fully explained to the public, especially during the upcoming elections. The challengers should have the opportunity to ask the incumbants how they justify these actions in upcoming forums.

To anonymous #54, you wrote:

"I also see in those same minutes [City Council March 11 meeting]that Monte Widders recused himself from the Housing Element issue for a "financial conflict of interest."

I was there the night Monte recused himself from the Housing
Element issue. He did not want to do so. He was forced out by comments
from John Broesamle. (Former director of the Ojai Land Conservancy. His comments should be in the minutes.)

Monte was quite obviously angry when he walked
out.

It is my understanding that the City has since hired a woman attorney to replace him on this item.

Correction to Comment #56, according to this press release "John was President of the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy from 1997 to 2000".

http://www.zoominfo.com/people/Broesamle_John_4957732.aspx

EL REV>>>let us know how Dennis trashed the view

Anybody got any spare change?

please stay on topic

LETTER TO VIEW EDITOR

Your July issue is a cultural comedy: tits and flags on the front cover and dogs and ads on the back. In between is a progressive mix of system bashing and selfdom hashing with enough homecooked fast food to make me stop and smell the poses.

What jumped out at me was all the attention given to pets and the lack of knowledge about how to fix the real world. In other words, the world has gone to the dogs and tits.

I would give you my View but I?m afraid the cultural collar around our collective necks would make it a shaggy dog story and the cat would be let out of the bag.

Dennis Leary

1037 N. Rice Rd.

Ojai, CA 93023

I have no phone.

My email is dennis j leary@yahoo.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Famous, the Infamous, the Lame - in your browser. Get the TMZ Toolbar Now!

Dear elrev -

Funny how a letter to the VIEW editor made its way on to these pages by you. Any press is good press, eh?

And regarding your email to Dennis: trying to email something to "dennisjleary.yahoo" shows a profound lack of understanding of how to do anything on the web. It's a wonder you could find the Post button on this thread.

I did not trash the VIEW. Did the August issue come out or what? I just looked at the Ojai library rack and it's not there. If they printed my email, they got it wrong which is why it doesn't go through. However, I did not authorize publishing my email anyway, and request now if Ray is reading this, not to. I assumed that just the Ojai part would appear. I just don't have the time to answer email, and I'd prefer to carry on conversations in a public forum like this.

I just happen to have my handwritten draft of what I sent to the VIEW. It's short so I will retype it here:

"Your July issue is a cultural comedy: tits and flags on the front cover and dogs and ads on the back. In between is a progressive mix of system bashing and selfdom hashing with enough homecooked fast food to make me slow down and smell the poses.

"What jumped out at me was all the attention given to pets and the ignorance about how to fix the real world. In other words, the world has gone to the gods [whoops, Freudian slip] dogs and tits and View shows why.

"I would give you my View but I'm afraid the cultural collar around our collective necks would make it into a shaggy dog story and the cat would be let out of the bag."

I love the VIEW. I think it is brilliant and very interesting. Some of my favorite people publish in it now rather than the VOICE.

I thought what I wrote was satire, and it was funny to me. Satire has a point and it has a carefully concealed/revealed political agenda. Those who know me will easily see most of that agenda.

I love the View and the Voice. I think they're both great and needed in this town because they both do their own type of satire and humor on the system, which I happen to think is corrupt. It needs to be punctured.

I apologize to the VIEW people if there is any misunderstanding. Can I clear it up now by saying: I love you; keep up the good work.

If you look carefully at the issue, you will see that I only reflected the truth about our culture, and to me it is a comedy and a tragedy. VIEW gives a window into that; it's quite a view but you've got to keep things in perspective. Don't get blown out the water by fool like me.

There is a very serious issue behind the satire. First, the general corruption. I found the above comments very instructive, and the person who did the satire list of corruptions was just brilliant and may have provided me with a speaking outline.

The other serious issue is a pet peeve of mine and that is pets. It would take me way too long to explain why here. I have written a whole book to try to unravel the Gordian knot of what the real problems are in this world. Ojai is simply a microcosm of the larger world.

Yesterday, I had a tooth extraction by an Ojai dentist. The tooth was rotten under the shiny cap all the way through the root canal. Today on my way here I stopped in the office. I congratulated them on a perfectly painless operation. I took no medicine. However, I said I would not be coming back because I cannot afford Ojai prices. The extraction was not that bad: $270. But I have three cavities and each cavity will cost $345. The total bill for my remaining work is $1055, I believe. Again, I said not to take it personal but Ojai is just too expensive. I will return to Ventura for the remaining work where a cavity filling runs from $95 to $215. Since my fillings are on the anterior surface, I am hoping that it will be in the $95 range.

It's a system, cultural problem; not a personal one. This is how the system forces people out; it prices them out. I couldn't afford to live in Ojai if it were not for friends who give me a deal.

There are things about the Ojai system that are corrupt and rotten. Like an infected tooth, they have to be extracted.

I had the option of a retreat of the root canal. The Ojai dentist is very good and he recommended a dentist in Santa Barbara who he said is the best. He used the analogy of a parachute: you want one that is the best. True. However, I run into the same problem; if Ojai is expensive, Santa Barbara is more so. It would probably cost me $3000 a tooth and I may have another tooth that will go the way of the first. Plus, I have an ex-wife and a son who need dental work. Dentistry could easily eat up all my savings since I do not have insurance.

This is the problem. Thousands have already left Ojai, and I may have to too. It's simply unaffordable. It's becoming a rich man's haven. It's a rotten tooth that needs to be extracted. Notice I'm talking about a tooth, not the person.

As soon as the rotten tooth was gone, I felt better. I went home and worked in the garden. Three years ago I had a back molar extracted for the same reason. So now I have two spaces on my lower left jaw. I guess that's why we have so many teeth.

I don't think I would have the tooth retreated anyway. Why double up on failure of the system? I can't afford an implant or bridge either so I'll live with extra space in my life.

Back to pets. Here's the short story. There are two great evils connected to the master evil, patriarchy. First is killing animals and eating their meat. Second is killing the spirits of animals by making them pets and killing their spirits. That should cause such an uproar that not even the VOICE and VIEW could manage the fire; and I'll throw the OVN and VCR in too.

This morning I did a little fire ceremony at the Initiatory Euherus where I live. As I sat there looking at the flames, I wondered what I was doing. Then riding my bicycle into Ojaitown, it hit me: I'm on fire. Love is a fire and it's burning me up. As I rode, I saw all these boxes we live in: cars, houses; and then Meiners Oaks where the bigger boxes are, and then Ojai where the even bigger boxes are. It's kind of sad.

I'd like to continue this line of thought but I've only got 7 minutes left on this library computer. I wanted to get into the subject of money since I was in a very big box last night at this Ojai Potluck group that Joseph took me too and politics is ultimately about money but I'd better proofread this and submit it before I lose the whole thing. Oh, I just got another 10 minutes. Relax finders (sic not sick).

Just proofread. Looks OK but I fear the blowback my little fire will cause. Got another 10 minutes so fingers relax.

I brought my lunch so that will be relaxing. Sit in the park by the fountain in the sun. There's million ideas in my head that I'd love to share, and given enough time I will. Thought you'd be happy to hear that. Smile. It's satire.

I'm back. God [sic slip] I swear. I read the part above mine that I didn't read while typing mine. Someone published my letter. Where did it come from? The paper? Did the paper publish all that information about me. They asked for it but I thought it was for their information.

I'll say this for the VOICE. Now wait, I'm confused. Is Ray Alpern at the Voice? Who is at the View? Anyway, I think the VOICE emailed me and asked whether I wanted my email published and I said no.

The VIEW and VOICE have really got me confused. In fact, I almost mixed them up when sending my letters. Oh, I should say I sent a letter to the VOICE too and I think it was them who said they would publish it. So wait til that article comes out. You haven't seen anything yet. My ceremony is now telling me she is going to cause a real cultural fire her [sic again] I swear on my Lover's breast] that will put the Day Fire to shame. The Lover's Fire will burn night and Day like a dried out twig.

I am given to hyperbole, don't you think? I just can't think of that word like fool that Old Black Cloud favored me with. Humbug? No. By the way the phrase that I resonate with is: Long Black Cloud which the Poet uses in that song about Billy. "Billy, they don't like you to be so free." Billy the Kind [sic again I swear]. Billy the Kid. Mama, put my guns in the ground, I don't need them any more. That long black cloud is comin' down. Am I channeling Billy?

"Look out kid
It's something you did
God knows when
But you're doing it again"

Sounds like the Kid in me.
Man, Peter, am I going crazy? My mind is spinning and I can't seem to get it in control. I'm spinning out of control. Got to manage this fire. Oh, the Kid just told me he wants to be a fireman. That's comforting. I can't take the heart [I swear another sic] heat. Got to go before I explode.

Dennis, I hope you know the difference between The View and The Voice. If not let me clarify a few things. The View is owned by Joel Anderson. The Voice is owned by Ray Alpern. The View has many of the same contributors writing for it as The Ojai and Ventura Voice which WAS owned by the deceased Jeff SanMarchi. The Voice as we now know it is mostly written by Ray Alpern and CE Jones. Capiche?

Dennis, I don't blame you for being confused. But I predict confusion will not last long, soon enough there will be but one Voice/View/Whatever.

Here's my plea: Once all you Voice/View/Rose/Whatever people shake out, please please do your best to create a real paper. We need one.

Did anyone see the OVN today?

It is embarrassing. And shameful. I am officially boycotting. If you advertise in the OVN, I'm not shopping at your store.

First: They have this awful "thumbs up/thumbs down" thing whereby people anonymously slander others. This morning's paper has a complete slander of Dennis. If someone had put the exact same "thumbs up" for H&H, would the OVN print it?

We all know the answer.

(Contrast this to a blog: Typically, we don't have too much slander here, but on the rare occasion it appears, it is an easy matter to respond right in the same comment thread and repair any misperceptions. Not so with the OVN.)

Then, I see they STILL print this "Kelly Feser Eels" person. She is some kind of hateful Fox News wannabe, without the brainpower. (Which is saying something, because I don't credit Fox News hosts with triple digit IQs.) She is the OVN's number one regular editorial columnist, other than the milquetoast, usually nonsensical blather we are occasionally treated to by Editor Bradigan.

Today, she opines on the pressing local Ojai issue of video surveillance cameras. She believes they should be installed everywhere.

As far as news, the OVN as paper of record appears to have completely missed the very real news that is brought up in this thread. $70,000 no bid sweetheart giveaways to David Bury? Monte Widders (finally) recusing himself, or being forced to recuse himself, over conflicts of interest? Not a peep from the OVN as far as I know.

The OVN is such a complete failure as a local paper. There really is an opportunity for the Voice/View/Whatever to blow them out of the water.

Sorry to break in on this Dennis Leary bashing/worshiping session, but this is important. Take a minute to sign Dennis Kucinich's petition to demand impeachment hearings now. It has to be signed by midnight tonight so they can compile the signatures by tomorrow.

please stay on topic

Which topic?

THANK YOU spk,(comment #67)for the reminder to take a minute to sign Dennis Kucinich's petition to demand impeachment hearings now. As you pointed out, it has to be signed by midnight tonight so they can compile the signatures by tomorrow.

Here's the link in case you missed it above:

http://kucinich.us/

TYLER, sorry to disappointyou, the e mail was sent to..dennisjleary@yahoo.com.
returned three times.
walk on.

Suza,

Some of the people over on the OVN blog, when they're not blathering on about Ron Paul, decrying those illegal aliens, or trying to pretend that the city hasn't already passed a chain store ordinance, are under the impression that you are again running for city council. Is this true?

Back from lunch. Stopped here at the meiner's Oaks library. I'm in the Kid's section; colored pencils next to me. It's a filtered computer. Tried to sign the Kucinch petition but the filter doesn't allow kids apparently to sign petitions.

I went to the Ojai Lovbrary to see if I got any response from my last letter. No paper today. Wait. I'll check here at the M.O. library. Be right back...

It did. Have it on my lap. Let's see...

Oh, yes. The first thing I notice is that I get a thumbs up but the content is thumbs down. What is that about? The editor sending me an apology: like I've got to publish this but I'll do you a favor and put it in the up position? Or was it a staff person? Anyway, thanks.

I'll quote it here so we'll know what we're talking about:

"A reader sends a thumbs-up to Dennis Leary for publicly stating his hatred for people who are successful and thus 'rich,' which his default view is that 'rich' is inherently 'evil' or bad. 'With your class envy now fully revealed, go confess your sin of jealously and sin nor publish any more. We forgive you.'"

Need I quote the entire letter I sent? It's too long. It's in last Friday's OVN.

I don't know anything about the reader, not even the name. Maybe it's not a reader at all. Anyway, in the absence of information, let's assume some things about the reader.

The reader is upset because he or she cares deeply about the rich. A reasonable conclusion is that the reader is either rich or wants to be rich, or simply hold richness as a valuable commodity.

This is a minority opinion is most of the world's cultures, past and present. The Bible, for example, warns that the rich will have a very difficult time getting into heaven. So difficult that it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. The Bible also says that money is the root of all evil or something to that effect.

The present patriarchal culture we live in holds the opposite opinion. In the U.S. it even puts God on the one dollar bill with the words: "In God We Trust." In other words, in money we trust.

Personally, I don't believe that money is the root of all evil, just most of it.

The unnamed reader also makes certain assumptions that may not be true. He assumes that I hate the rich. This is not true. I love the rich and if anything, feel sorry for them.

The reader also assumes that I am envious and jealous, and have class envy. This is also false.

I used to own a home with mortgage, had a job where my best year was about $70,000, and had three vehicles. The house was worth about a half mil when it was stolen, but that's another story.

I've taken all my money out of savings accounts and converted it to cash. I have no investments, no insurance. I distance myself from the corrupt money system as much as I can. I do have a checking account (non-interest) and a debit card. It's practical and a necesssity in this culture.

Here's a funnny one that comes to mind. I'm at Rainbow Bridge, paying for my flour, raisons, carrots, potato and onion which comes to $7.14. I pull out my bills and among them is a currency which I have created called lovars, to replace dollars. It's obviously counterfeit: on white paper with ordinary computer laser print. It's out in front but the other bills are back of it. I say to the check out clerk: "Can you take this 100?" She very seriously says no, she doesn't have the change. I don't even remember what she said now because I'm cracking up inside.

Let me tell another story which I started to tell in this mornings post. Last night I was invited to go along to this Ojai Potluck group. It's in this big, newly built house on the north end of Ojai. At first I say no because I was intending to do my fire ceremony and go to bed early. I had already eaten and had a tooth extracted that morning. But on impulse I agreed.

So I find myself in this rich man's house with rich food, rich art and well, riches everywhere. Now we can test the reader's allegation.

Oh, the reason I agreed to go was to get signatures to nominate me for council. My friend said that a couple of his friends were there and he thought they were Ojai residents. Oh great, at this point, I've got exactly one signature and that is my own with a week to go. It's looking like I will not run at all for lack of signatures. I am doubting that 20 people, if they knew my true views, would nominate me. Like the Poet said: "If they could see my thought-dreams, they'd put my head in a guillotine."

The first friend would be glad to sign but not a registered voter here. The second friend does sign however. I approach various people on leads but most are not qualified, but are however, quite beautiful people, artist types some.

A woman does show interest who is qualified, and I run down my general positions and specific ones. She is in agreement and signs. I didn't tell her about my pet peeve, however. She may not have signed had she known.

So what am I feeling as I make the rounds or just sit on the couch surveying the scene. I'm wondering what I'm doing here. Two years ago I passed out flyers in this area and noticed this very house being built.

I'm feeling a little shy and out of place but not envious or jealous. I would not want to live in a house like this.

Very high ceilings. Reminded me of churches and I was in enough of them. Fans turning above to cool, and in the winter to bring the heat down. I didn't eat anything. The most nourishing things was the human contact. It felt very good to have personal contact with people but I've changed a lot. Years or even months ago I would have eaten quite a bit, maybe got a little drunk and played the fool. (I'm still blocking that word that means fool which I discussed earlier).

I'm sitting on the couch enjoying a man playing the dijeridoo (sic). He's resting it in the fireplace and I'm the only one listening. A woman brings in a basket of blouses for sale and puts it down on the couch opposite me. There follows the absolutely delightful scene of these gorgeous women going though the basket, then trying on the blouses, and laughing and just having a ball.

Meanwhile I'm reflecting on the subject of riches, just the thing that has come up here. The owner is pleasant, as are all the people and children present. And he has opened his big house up to the public. I see people who by their circumstances could be described as poor like me.

So I'm thinking rich people are just people, and there are rich people and there are rich people. Any subject when coming up in the mind, needs endless qualifications. I've got eight minutes left and it would take days to explore the subject.

I just can't do justice to it so I have to make these statements that are going to be misunderstood. But what's a body to do? Say nothing?

There are real problems with the money system. It's corrupt totally. Whether the man knew it or not is beside the point. In some way he's going to feel that corruption. Almost all money today is toxic. It's speculative; it's green with envy. The poor, if they had the chance, would be rich so it's not a question of externals but of what's in the heart. The rich man may have a good heart which the man last night seemed to have but still he's riding a corrupt current.
The poor may