CHAPTER 15 | SD10: I think the MugshotMary Web site is despicable and totally deaf to half the electorate. I think a woman in the 10th District is nuts to pull the lever for Bob Wieckowski…I think Hayashi has consistently said sorry for her transgression three years ago. What else is she supposed to do other than beg on bended knee?…I think Mary Hayashi should be given a second chance and the clamoring against her is due, in most part, to Democratic leaders in Alameda County and her former counterparts in the Assembly who see an opportunity to pay her back for her rough style of politics…I think Bob Wieckowski is way too prone to saying goofy things in public and it’s going to bite him in the ass, especially if Hayashi is his general election opponent. If she’s not, nobody will pay much attention to this race.
CA15: I think this race will again feature a candidate making a bevy of unforced errors. This time it will be Rep. Eric Swalwell, but it still might not be enough. I think Swalwell is already a product of Washington. I think he looks, sounds (I will not, must not…) and surrounds himself with a Beltway-like entourage of West Wing wannabes. I think if he wins re-election, he will never be stopped until hubris overwhelms him into thinking one day he can run for U.S. Senate as a conservative Democrat…I think most people who have watched State Sen. Ellen Corbett over the years know never to count her out. She won unwinnable races for San Leandro mayor and the State Senate and could be the comeback kid, again…I think Corbett needs to show more sense of urgency, craft a line of attack and beat it like a drum. Eric lies, Eric lies, Eric lies, and when he does lie from here to November, it only reinforces the meme.
CA17: I think Rep. Mike Honda needs to smile, tell a joke and memorize some snazzy bite-sized quotes. I think if he doesn’t, voters are going to interpret it as Honda being tired and worn out. I think his downfall might include mispronouncing a Web app or saying “Hitamel,” instead of HTML. Intense mocking from nerds in Silicon Valley will be unmerciful…I think Ro Khanna has done his homework and it shows every time he speaks about his vision for the future… I think more than anything else, the rapidly-growing South Asian community in the newer sections of the 17th District would love to have an Indian American in Congress. Wouldn’t you, if you belonged to a rising minority?
CA13: I think Rep. Barbara Lee needs to be careful. Her appearance last week on CNN, when she agreed to boosting the state minimum wage to $26 an hour, sounds like Pete Stark-like lunacy to the right…I think the right could turn her into the national caricature for far-left politics…I think she’s the next entrenched East Bay Democrat to go, but not yet. I think the Swalwell-Stark race spooked everybody and Lee will be the first smart one and retire on her own. I think most people think Assemblymember Rob Bonta is now Lee’s heir apparent, but what if an upstart with potential rises? I think Bonta won’t be like Corbett or Khanna and wait his turn.
AD16: I think Steve Glazer is an impressive candidate and the Contra Costa County Assembly district seems perfect for him, but…I think Glazer won’t get anything done in Sacramento. Who is he going to caucus with? He’ll be a pariah…I think Tim Sbranti is an excellent mayor for Dublin, but I’m really surprised by how much he seems out of his league in the race, the same with Newell Arnerich.
AD15: I think Elizabeth Echols needs a shot of adrenaline, followed by a personality transfusion…It think Tony Thurmond is the polar opposite, but it’s really, really hard to image any of these candidates taking the oath of office in December. It’s almost like nobody in the entire Assembly district cared to run.
 |
| Hayward mayor: Halliday, Salinas, Zermento |
HAYWARD MAYOR: I think Hayward residents should not register a vote for mayor and punching a vote for Rakesh Kumar Christian is not a protest vote, either. I think there is not much difference between the three council members running for mayor, anyway.
HAYWARD CITY COUNCIL: I think candidates Rodney Loche and Julie McKillop, if elected, will vote against city employee’s interests just like the current council…I think McKillop, in particular, is fooling people into thinking she’s open-minded. She’s part of the Hayward Chamber of Commerce, the cauldron of everything wrong in Hayward…I think re-electing Councilmmeber Marvin Peixoto, despite his anti-worker vote, and adding Sara Lamnin is the optimum result for Hayward.
ALAMEDA COUNTY MEASURE AA: I think this is the most important decision on the entire ballot. I think most people realize how important the reauthorization of funding for the Alameda Health System hospitals is to the well-being of struggling residents…I think the funding for hospitals and the county’s attention to health care for undocumented immigrants is the prime reason you should be proud to live here.
EVERYTHING ELSE: I think voters should leave the following races blank: Alameda County Supervisor (Wilma Chan, Richard Valle); Alameda County Sheriff, District Attorney. All are running unopposed. This isn’t a choice, it’s asking for a coronation…I think the East Bay’s own Betty Yee would be good at doing whatever a state controller does…I think voting by mail is convenient, but you might want to wait until Election Day to cast your ballot. You never know what might go down in the next three weeks.
ebcitizen.com 
I see the Glazer shill/troll is still posting for Glazer but it will do him no good because CLEAN is not a name for Glazer. Glazer is not clean or the people's choice. Looks like the anti-union troll is posting for the corporate lap dog Glazer again. This doesn't make him sound like a breath of fresh air.
Steve Glazer is a political consultant who was paid hundreds of thousands of dollars by a corporate interest group funded by tobacco companies, oil companies, real estate developers, pharmaceutical and insurance companies. If elected to to the state legislature Glazer would work to pass laws that benefit them and rubber stamp their issues.
Tim Sbranti in contrast, is a statewide leader in education, a classroom teacher and effective local leader. Under his fiscal leadership he transformed Dublin from a city suffering from serious budget deficits into a city with a budget surplus, without sacrificing major cuts to community services.
Hope the Glazer troll doesn't cry when he reads this? Better yet read Tim Sbranti's website and you will see that Tim not your candidate is supported by consumer groups, senior groups, environmental groups like the Sierra Club, etc
Go to Tim Sbranti.com and see for yourself.
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To the Glazer Shill: What a Liar you are. Corporations have spent over 2 MILLION on trying to elect Glazer!
Glazer is not clean at all. Looks like the anti-union sexist troll is posting for the corporate lap dog Glazer again. This doesn't make him sound like a breath of fresh air. Glazer sounds like a dirty politician.
Steve Glazer is a political consultant who was paid hundreds of thousands of dollars by a corporate interest group funded by tobacco companies, oil companies, real estate developers, pharmaceutical and insurance companies. If elected to to the state legislature Glazer would work to pass laws that benefit them and rubber stamp their issues.
Tim Sbranti in contrast, is a statewide leader in education, a classroom teacher and effective local leader. Under his fiscal leadership he transformed Dublin from a city suffering from serious budget deficits into a city with a budget surplus, without sacrificing major cuts to community services.
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That guy Branti is bought and paid for by the corrupt special interest union whores. He's the dirty unions choice in 2014!
Why the hell would anyone put that crooked fox in the hen house? He'll bankrupt CA and give it all away to the union whores, who are supporting him and continue screwing the rest of us.
That's why my family voted for CLEAN STEVE GLAZER 2014. Steve has done amazing things in his city to bring people together on issues, rather than tear them apart like Branti. That's why Steve is supported by just about all the consumer groups, senior groups, environmental groups, etc.
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CLEAN is not a name for Glazer. Glazer is not clean or the people's choice. Looks like the anti-union troll is posting for the corporate lap dog Glazer again. This doesn't make him sound like a breath of fresh air.
Steve Glazer is a political consultant who was paid hundreds of thousands of dollars by a corporate interest group funded by tobacco companies, oil companies, real estate developers, pharmaceutical and insurance companies. If elected to to the state legislature Glazer would work to pass laws that benefit them and rubber stamp their issues.
Tim Sbranti in contrast, is a statewide leader in education, a classroom teacher and effective local leader. Under his fiscal leadership he transformed Dublin from a city suffering from serious budget deficits into a city with a budget surplus, without sacrificing major cuts to community services.
Hope the Glazer troll doesn't cry when he reads this? Better yet read Tim Sbranti's website and you will see that Tim not your candidate is supported by consumer groups, senior groups, environmental groups like the Sierra Club, etc.
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According to internal polling, Fred Flinstone leads Glazer by 15 points
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We believe that teachers belong in the classroom. To that end, we will be voting for clean STEVE GLAZER 2014. The future assemblyman knows that, too. We all need to send Steve to Sacramento and his opponent back to the classroom, where he belongs.
Teachers have no business in the capital; that's the place for qualified legislators. Teachers belong in the classroom, implementing the policy that the qualified legislators have passed.
Let's all do our part by supporting clean STEVE GLAZER 2014! He's the PEOPLE'S CHOICE candidate!
LikeLike
CLEAN is not a name for Glazer. Glazer is not clean at all. Looks like the anti-union sexist troll is posting for the corporate lap dog Glazer again. This doesn't make him sound like a breath of fresh air. Glazer sounds like a dirty politician.
Steve Glazer is a political consultant who was paid hundreds of thousands of dollars by a corporate interest group funded by tobacco companies, oil companies, real estate developers, pharmaceutical and insurance companies. If elected to to the state legislature Glazer would work to pass laws that benefit them and rubber stamp their issues.
Tim Sbranti in contrast, is a statewide leader in education, a classroom teacher and effective local leader. Under his fiscal leadership he transformed Dublin from a city suffering from serious budget deficits into a city with a budget surplus, without sacrificing major cuts to community services.
Hope the Glazer troll doesn't cry when he reads this? Better yet read Tim Sbranti's website and you will see that Tim not your candidate is supported by consumer groups, senior groups, environmental groups like the Sierra Club, etc.
LikeLike
That guy Branti is bought and paid for by the corrupt special interest union whores. He's the dirty unions choice in 2014!
Why the hell would anyone put that crooked fox in the hen house? He'll bankrupt CA and give it all away to the union whores, who are supporting him and continue screwing the rest of us.
That's why my family voted for CLEAN STEVE GLAZER 2014. Steve has done amazing things in his city to bring people together on issues, rather than tear them apart like Branti. That's why Steve is supported by just about all the consumer groups, senior groups, environmental groups, etc.
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To the Glazer Shill: What a Liar you are. Corporations have spent over 2 MILLION on trying to elect Glazer!
Glazer is not clean at all. Looks like the anti-union sexist troll is posting for the corporate lap dog Glazer again. This doesn't make him sound like a breath of fresh air. Glazer sounds like a dirty politician.
Steve Glazer is a political consultant who was paid hundreds of thousands of dollars by a corporate interest group funded by tobacco companies, oil companies, real estate developers, pharmaceutical and insurance companies. If elected to to the state legislature Glazer would work to pass laws that benefit them and rubber stamp their issues.
Tim Sbranti in contrast, is a statewide leader in education, a classroom teacher and effective local leader. Under his fiscal leadership he transformed Dublin from a city suffering from serious budget deficits into a city with a budget surplus, without sacrificing major cuts to community services.
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LIES! LIES! LIES!
I see the the shill is trying to directly link oil and tobacco companies to Glazer, rather than being paid as a consultant by JobsPAC. If you only would have gone 1-2 degrees further – you could say Glazer tax dollars are paying public unions – which are funding Sbranti's war chest. So you see, oil & tobacco are funding Sbranti's campaign!
Of course, I don't see any effort to dig into Sbranti's political donation history before he became the unions' darling. If the shill did, he might have mentioned Sbranti's donations from PG&E and 3 donations from Chevron.
The shill might have even mentioned the disgusting push polling tactics supporters of Sbranti are conducting in AD16 – a race & class baiting tactic straight out of the Republican playbook on how to manipulate low information voters in southern states.
Now let's see how well that tactic works in AD16 – with Orinda, Lafayette, Moraga, Walnut Creek, Alamo, Danville, Blackhawk, San Ramon, Dublin, Pleasanton and Livermore – the voters are not exactly low-information, and might actually care about where their tax dollars go.
Oh, and it's only odd that the author did not mention any of this with the assumption the shill himself did in fact write this hit piece and not the Sbranti campaign – which in that case its totally understandable!
Get ready to cry Tuesday night, union whores, when your stooge goes down to defeat bigtime. Will be CLEAN STEVE GLAZER 2014 v. Catharine Baker. Either way, seat stays in Contra Costa County!
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CLEAN is not a name for Glazer. Glazer is not clean at all. Looks like the anti-union sexist troll is posting for the corporate lap dog Glazer again. This doesn't make him sound like a breath of fresh air. Glazer sounds like a dirty politician.
Steve Glazer is a political consultant who was paid hundreds of thousands of dollars by a corporate interest group funded by tobacco companies, oil companies, real estate developers, pharmaceutical and insurance companies. If elected to to the state legislature Glazer would work to pass laws that benefit them and rubber stamp their issues.
Tim Sbranti in contrast, is a statewide leader in education, a classroom teacher and effective local leader. Under his fiscal leadership he transformed Dublin from a city suffering from serious budget deficits into a city with a budget surplus, without sacrificing major cuts to community services.
Hope the Glazer troll doesn't cry when he reads this? Better yet read Tim Sbranti's website and you will see that Tim not your candidate is supported by consumer groups, senior groups, environmental groups like the Sierra Club, etc.
LikeLike
That guy Branti is bought and paid for by the corrupt special interest union whores. He's the dirty unions choice in 2014!
Why the hell would anyone put that crooked fox in the hen house? He'll bankrupt CA and give it all away to the union whores, who are supporting him and continue screwing the rest of us.
That's why my family voted for CLEAN STEVE GLAZER 2014. Steve has done amazing things in his city to bring people together on issues, rather than tear them apart like Branti. That's why Steve is supported by just about all the consumer groups, senior groups, environmental groups, etc.
LikeLike
That guy Glazer is bought and paid for by the corporate interest groups. He's not clean at all.
Why the hell would anyone put a fox in the hen house? He'll bankrupt the treasury and give it all away to the corporate lobbyists.
That's why my family voted for Tim Sbranti. Tim also did amazing things in his city to bring people together on issues, rather than tear them apart like you and your candidate
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Bob Wieckowski changes his stance on issues depending on who he's talking to. He cannot be trusted. His word doesn't mean anything.
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Barbara Halliday would be a “do nothing” Mayor. Realistically, she's been on the Council forever and she wants to bleed the City dry with expensive buildings like a 60 million dollar library, and an 85 million dollar police station. She has no ideas on how to get businesses to come to Hayward, nor even how to promote Hayward so we can improve our economy. Peixoto needs to be ousted from his Council seat for also doing nothing for Hayward. Loche is a Mayor Mike crony. Fire City Manager Fran David and get Hayward back on track June 3rd.
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Amazingly enough, Halliday was a former “union whore,” herself. She can thank unons for her long career on the Council. Peixoto & Loche are backed by Police & Fire Unons so I guess they can also be categorized as union whores too. Is Halliday the least destructive or the least productive?
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My family and I just voted for Steve Glazer since he isn't a puppet of the entrenched special interests. He's definitely not controlled by big business. After all of the accusations and counter-accusations, we did our homework. He is the best hope of having an independent-minded Democrat in Sacramento and who has an excellent repoire with Jerry Brown. The man knows how to say 'NO' to the unions, which want to bankrupt California and have done a pretty good job so far!
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Voted for Tim Sbranti and here's why! Tim is the people's choice and Glazer is the corporate choice.
Steve Glazer is a political consultant who was paid hundreds of thousands of dollars by a corporate interest group funded by tobacco companies, oil companies, real estate developers, pharmaceutical and insurance companies. If elected to to the state legislature Glazer would work to pass laws that benefit them and rubber stamp their issues.
Tim Sbranti in contrast, is a statewide leader in education, a classroom teacher and effective local leader. Under his fiscal leadership he transformed Dublin from a city suffering from serious budget deficits into a city with a budget surplus, without sacrificing major cuts to community services.
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Most of us will not be supporting Tim Branti. He is one who whores and has the support the union whores, and others who are sluts for the entrenched union bosses.
Assemblyman Steve Glazer is the people's choice 2014!
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That guy Glazer is bought and paid for by the corporate interest groups. He's not clean at all.
Why the hell would anyone put a fox in the hen house? He'll bankrupt the treasury and give it all away to the corporate lobbyists.
That's why my family voted for Tim Sbranti. Tim also did amazing things in his city to bring people together on issues, rather than tear them apart like you and your candidate
LikeLike
We believe that teachers belong in the classroom. To that end, we will be voting for clean STEVE GLAZER 2014. The future assemblyman knows that, too. We all need to send Steve to Sacramento and his opponent back to the classroom, where he belongs.
Teachers have no business in the capital; that's the place for qualified legislators. Teachers belong in the classroom, implementing the policy that the qualified legislators have passed.
Let's all do our part by supporting clean STEVE GLAZER 2014! He's the PEOPLE'S CHOICE candidate!
LikeLike
And yet another endorsement for Tim:
The Livermore Independent recommends Tim Sbranti for District 16 in the State Assembly. His background in education and civic service would provide an experienced local voice at the state level.
The 16th Assembly District includes Alamo, Danville, Dublin, Lafayette, Livermore, Moraga, Orinda, Pleasanton, San Ramon, and Walnut Creek. Four candidates are seeking to replace Joan Buchanan. The primary election will be held June 3, 2014.
Newell Arnerich, Catharine Baker, Steve Glazer, and Tim Sbranti are on the ballot. The top two will be on the November 2014 ballot, regardless of party affiliation.
As the Mayor of Dublin, Sbranti has been pro business and pro labor. His pro environment stands will add to the quality of life for Dublin and the Tri-Valley. During his time in office, policies have brought businesses and jobs to Dublin. The city’s climate action plan, and his support of the current Open Space Initiative are examples of Sbranti being able to work for the betterment of all.
Sbranti stated that the business climate in the state could be improved through investment in infrastructure, such as BART to Livermore. He would not change environmental laws, rather he would put the focus on making bureaucracy more efficient. He points out that environmental laws have created jobs and enhanced the quality of life for people in the state.
He is opposed to the two tunnel system proposed by Governor Brown to carry water around the Delta, calling it bad for the environment, costly and providing no solution to the water problems.
As a teacher, Sbranti has gained understanding of the issues schools face and the importance of education to improving the economy.
His strong support of education has led the incumbent, Joan Buchanan, to endorse him.
Sbranti's experience in public service, both as mayor and a public educator, puts him in a solid position to take on the challenges facing schools, the environment, employment and business.
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Thank you 'SF Chronicle' for choosing our next Assemblyman, CLEAN STEVE GLAZER 2014, the people's choice!
Steve Glazer obviously upset Sacramento's status quo. Organized labor groups already have spent nearly $1 million to deny the Orinda councilman election to the state Assembly seat that reaches from east of the Berkeley hills to the Tri-Valley. Their smear campaign against him has been as disingenuous as it is disgusting.
To a fair-minded voter, the unions' vehemence might seem oddly out of scale in view of the relatively minor policy differences between Glazer and labor's favorite in the race, Dublin Mayor Tim Sbranti, a longtime teacher and coach who once oversaw the California Teachers Association's political action committee.
There's no doubt that Sbranti would fit in just fine with the Democratic majority at the State Capitol. He's engaging, studied and resolutely party line.
Glazer is more the maverick who is willing to declare his independence when he sees the party veering from the public interest. One high-profile example was his campaign to prohibit BART strikes on the argument that mass transit is an essential public service and a matter of health and safety.
Another is his stated willingness to reform the California Environmental Quality Act to curb abuses that have nothing to do with protecting natural resources, such as labor unions using its legal tools to extract concessions or businesses trying to stymie competition.
Glazer also has refused to answer any questionnaires from groups that do not make their answers public. One of the dirty secrets of California politics is that special interests use these questionnaires to extract private pledges from candidates as a condition of endorsements and campaign contributions.
While Glazer won't play that game, Sbranti declined our request to see the questionnaires he has filled out.
Labor has made Glazer's defeat one of its 2014 priorities. It has flooded the district with volunteers and a social media campaign that has attempted to use his work as a consultant to a state Chamber of Commerce political action committee to link him, however flimsily, to Big Oil, Big Pharma, Big Tobacco and other poll-tested villains.
It doesn't wash.
In truth, Sbranti has received direct contributions from some of the very sources (Chevron, PG&E, home builders) that are being used against Glazer, who has served as an adviser to Gov. Jerry Brown at various points over more than three decades. The records of both Democrats make plain that neither is going to be a pawn of big business.
Catharine Baker, a Republican attorney, appears to have a solid chance of making the November runoff against one of the Democrats. She is clearly more deferential to business and further to the right than Glazer or Sbranti on guns, education reforms and social issues.
The third Democrat in the race, Danville Councilman Newell Arnerich, has been largely overshadowed in the proxy war over Glazer and Sbranti. Arnerich has an appealing grassroots pitch, but he lacks his fellow Democrats' experience in statewide politics.
Sacramento needs more strong, independent voices to challenge the dogma of the status quo. Glazer is our choice in the June 3 primary.
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That guy Glazer is bought and paid for by the corporate interest groups. He's not clean at all.
Why the hell would anyone put a fox in the hen house? He'll bankrupt the treasury and give it all away to the corporate lobbyists.
That's why my family voted for Tim Sbranti. Tim also did amazing things in his city to bring people together on issues, rather than tear them apart like you and your candidate
LikeLike
We were so enlightened by Mr. Glazer's clean campaign that our entire block of registered voters supported him.
The people's choice in 2014!
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Just voted for Tim Sbranti and here's why! Tim is the people's choice and Glazer is the corporate choice.
Steve Glazer is a political consultant who was paid hundreds of thousands of dollars by a corporate interest group funded by tobacco companies, oil companies, real estate developers, pharmaceutical and insurance companies. If elected to to the state legislature Glazer would work to pass laws that benefit them and rubber stamp their issues.
Tim Sbranti in contrast, is a statewide leader in education, a classroom teacher and effective local leader. Under his fiscal leadership he transformed Dublin from a city suffering from serious budget deficits into a city with a budget surplus, without sacrificing major cuts to community services.
LikeLike
We believe that teachers belong in the classroom. To that end, we will be voting for clean STEVE GLAZER 2014. The future assemblyman knows that, too. We all need to send Steve to Sacramento and his opponent back to the classroom, where he belongs.
Teachers have no business in the capital; that's the place for qualified legislators. Teachers belong in the classroom, implementing the policy that the qualified legislators have passed.
Let's all do our part by supporting clean STEVE GLAZER 2014! He's the PEOPLE'S CHOICE candidate!
LikeLike
And yet another endorsement for Tim:
The Livermore Independent recommends Tim Sbranti for District 16 in the State Assembly. His background in education and civic service would provide an experienced local voice at the state level.
The 16th Assembly District includes Alamo, Danville, Dublin, Lafayette, Livermore, Moraga, Orinda, Pleasanton, San Ramon, and Walnut Creek. Four candidates are seeking to replace Joan Buchanan. The primary election will be held June 3, 2014.
Newell Arnerich, Catharine Baker, Steve Glazer, and Tim Sbranti are on the ballot. The top two will be on the November 2014 ballot, regardless of party affiliation.
As the Mayor of Dublin, Sbranti has been pro business and pro labor. His pro environment stands will add to the quality of life for Dublin and the Tri-Valley. During his time in office, policies have brought businesses and jobs to Dublin. The city’s climate action plan, and his support of the current Open Space Initiative are examples of Sbranti being able to work for the betterment of all.
Sbranti stated that the business climate in the state could be improved through investment in infrastructure, such as BART to Livermore. He would not change environmental laws, rather he would put the focus on making bureaucracy more efficient. He points out that environmental laws have created jobs and enhanced the quality of life for people in the state.
He is opposed to the two tunnel system proposed by Governor Brown to carry water around the Delta, calling it bad for the environment, costly and providing no solution to the water problems.
As a teacher, Sbranti has gained understanding of the issues schools face and the importance of education to improving the economy.
His strong support of education has led the incumbent, Joan Buchanan, to endorse him.
Sbranti's experience in public service, both as mayor and a public educator, puts him in a solid position to take on the challenges facing schools, the environment, employment and business.
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I'm convinced that I'll be voting for Tim Sbranti because he is better on almost all issues including public safety, while Glazer is a one issue pony.
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No one seems to be talking about Measure C in Hayward. Is it a shoo in? All this money is going into the General Fund, which means it will probably be used for salaries to keep the unions happy while our streets fall apart. Maybe if we had candidates more interested in getting businesses into Hayward, we wouldn't have the electorate be taxed again. Remember the utility tax we passed a couple of years ago. Also for fire Hpuse upgrades, etc. where has that money gone. No accountability.
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RIGHT ON!!! With the Everything Else commentary. Leave them blank, blank, blank. Now that we know that these folks run off opponents. Oops! It looks like Alameda County has a junta.
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Just voted for Tim Sbranti and here's why!
Steve Glazer is a political consultant who was paid hundreds of thousands of dollars by a corporate interest group funded by tobacco companies, oil companies, real estate developers, pharmaceutical and insurance companies. If elected to to the state legislature Glazer would work to pass laws that benefit them and rubber stamp their issues.
Tim Sbranti in contrast, is a statewide leader in education, a classroom teacher and effective local leader. Under his fiscal leadership he transformed Dublin from a city suffering from serious budget deficits into a city with a budget surplus, without sacrificing major cuts to community services.
LikeLike
That guy Branti is bought and paid for by the union whores.
Why the hell would anyone put a fox in the hen house? He'll bankrupt the treasury and give it all away to the union trolls.
LikeLike
Thank you 'SF Chronicle' for choosing our next Assemblyman, CLEAN STEVE GLAZER 2014, the people's choice!
Steve Glazer obviously upset Sacramento's status quo. Organized labor groups already have spent nearly $1 million to deny the Orinda councilman election to the state Assembly seat that reaches from east of the Berkeley hills to the Tri-Valley. Their smear campaign against him has been as disingenuous as it is disgusting.
To a fair-minded voter, the unions' vehemence might seem oddly out of scale in view of the relatively minor policy differences between Glazer and labor's favorite in the race, Dublin Mayor Tim Sbranti, a longtime teacher and coach who once oversaw the California Teachers Association's political action committee.
There's no doubt that Sbranti would fit in just fine with the Democratic majority at the State Capitol. He's engaging, studied and resolutely party line.
Glazer is more the maverick who is willing to declare his independence when he sees the party veering from the public interest. One high-profile example was his campaign to prohibit BART strikes on the argument that mass transit is an essential public service and a matter of health and safety.
Another is his stated willingness to reform the California Environmental Quality Act to curb abuses that have nothing to do with protecting natural resources, such as labor unions using its legal tools to extract concessions or businesses trying to stymie competition.
Glazer also has refused to answer any questionnaires from groups that do not make their answers public. One of the dirty secrets of California politics is that special interests use these questionnaires to extract private pledges from candidates as a condition of endorsements and campaign contributions.
While Glazer won't play that game, Sbranti declined our request to see the questionnaires he has filled out.
Labor has made Glazer's defeat one of its 2014 priorities. It has flooded the district with volunteers and a social media campaign that has attempted to use his work as a consultant to a state Chamber of Commerce political action committee to link him, however flimsily, to Big Oil, Big Pharma, Big Tobacco and other poll-tested villains.
It doesn't wash.
In truth, Sbranti has received direct contributions from some of the very sources (Chevron, PG&E, home builders) that are being used against Glazer, who has served as an adviser to Gov. Jerry Brown at various points over more than three decades. The records of both Democrats make plain that neither is going to be a pawn of big business.
Catharine Baker, a Republican attorney, appears to have a solid chance of making the November runoff against one of the Democrats. She is clearly more deferential to business and further to the right than Glazer or Sbranti on guns, education reforms and social issues.
The third Democrat in the race, Danville Councilman Newell Arnerich, has been largely overshadowed in the proxy war over Glazer and Sbranti. Arnerich has an appealing grassroots pitch, but he lacks his fellow Democrats' experience in statewide politics.
Sacramento needs more strong, independent voices to challenge the dogma of the status quo. Glazer is our choice in the June 3 primary.
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12:46 is a mental midget is right
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@12:51 This entire blog is a troll moron
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How is that post any different than any of the others on this page? U don't agree with it? So what? this opinion, unless someone is hiding something. Why were the photos from the neighborhood market association & their trip to San Diego deleted? Was that to protect a few of ur favs? lol
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troll @12:46 it is more like vomit commentary with out mental abilities as someone critiqued that post earlier.
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regarding the above post: I am not letting u silence me. Is there something there u don't want ppl to know?. Why do u keep deleting it? Is something striking a nerve?? everyone deserves a say.
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Here’s what I think:
-Bob Wieckowski will win. He's the last man standing that actually has some brains, ingenuity, and integrity in all of this. He’s tenacious for the things he cares about. He’s not a politician, and he’s not a sell out.
-Steve: You have completely blown the legitimacy of this blog by lending your pseudo-endorsement to Mary Hayashi. Not only are you aware of the fact that she comes with legal liabilities, but you are also aware of the fact that she subscribes to a “pay to play” mentality in Sacramento. Not to mention that you have been hot on the trail of her own affair with her former Chief Consultant. Why you haven't reported on those other ingredients for disaster, god only knows. Can you disclose whether or not Pulliam/Hayashi have contributed monetarily to your blog?
-Bill Quirk's race is unfortunate. We all realize we made a mistake by supporting him over Jennifer Ong. I hope Sean Wilson or Anu Natarajan run to replace that clown.
-Eric Swalwell is smart, nimble, resilient, and he will win. He's done great so far, and will only continue to impress.
-Mike Honda has served us well, and should continue to serve. Ro Khanna thinks he can buy this race. So what? He's got a few million. He bought some good campaign tacticians. And he and his crew bought access to your blog.
(We didn't know that you accepted donations, and in return, grant access and slant to your stories).
-Hayward Mayor should be Mark Salinas. He's quite capable, he brings new energy, and he's one hell of a campaigner. He didn't need Democrats, Public Safety, or Labor the first time around.
-I'm torn on Hayward Council. There is no real talent in that field. The democratic candidates are ho-hum. Sara is nice, but hasn't found her voice yet. Rocky lacks substance and presence, and only sees this as a short-term stop.
-Raj Salwan should not believe that he is so precious, that he is beyond being discussed on this blog. Those of us that enjoy Tavares and follow his stories are all “insiders”. So what, Raj? You're opportunistic, and you double-deal on a few of your loyal friends. What's the big whoop?
-Who cares anymore about Torrico or who he sleeps with? He's gone. And no one out there is surprised that he was cheating on his wife. His devout religious facade is only to repair his image. Torrico was ineffective and now represents oil and pharmaceutical companies at his lobbying firm, where apparently his wife works with him on a daily basis.
-And who hasn't wanted to take a swipe at Tahmasbi? In every sense of the word. I'm guessing dozens. Tavares exaggerated the events, but he turned out to be onto something last year, because apparently this year we've all been graced with the sequel to the saga. Obviously something else went down if she was going to court to get protection from the Torricos. Who knows, and who cares? She's gone too. More relevant were the fights she took on, too big, against too many. Some thought her style of campaigning was way too aggressive.
-Someone earlier asked, “Who is Dr. Japra”. He is a lot of things. Most importantly for this discussion here, he seems to be one of the largest benefactors to the East Bay Citizen.
-Roman Reed. We used to have great respect for you and your coalition for Stem Cell Research. But then you decided to turn against a man who has been one of your greatest champions for over 4 years. You actually agreed to be used as a pawn in a cheap scheme of revenge and retribution. All that said, we really hope you jump into the race for Fremont City Council. You would make an excellent Councilmember, given your record on the Fremont Planning Commission, and your commitment to the city of Fremont.
-And lastly, Bill Harrison rocks. He has been great for Fremont, the Democratic Party, for Public Safety, and for building bridges. But Anu WAS right about a lot of things. So let’s give credit where credit is due.
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@11:59 for AD20 Sean Wilson or Anu Natarajan??? Really those people are very flimsy morons and by your endorsement of those two sounds to me that you are not exactly mentally all there. What is wrong with Patino and Reynoso? If Reynoso was not in the race I would vote for Patino. I have been following Reynoso for a couple of years and from what I have seen on TV in those school board meetings, Reynoso is the only politician in this area that I know of has lots of courage to go after the establishment. Thank goodness Reynoso is now an independent. I will vote Rep only if I have to.
For Hayward I will vote for Peixoto and leave rest blank.
Sppervisors race – Valle's race – blank for too flimsy
SD10- either Audie or Hayashi since both can do good, Reed is ok but not my favorite. Weickoski too slimy.
Congress- Corbet for being a survivor, Swalwell a big NO for too much pandering
Bill Harrison is a joke for Fremont.
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I'm getting ready to drop off my absentee ballot. Voted for Lamnin and Fernandez for council because they are change who seem to have new ideas for Hayward.
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It will be Baker first, Sbranti second, and Glazer far behind in third.
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AD 16–I'm voting for the woman candidate Baker. I'm tired of all the mail pieces going back and forth attacking Sbranti & Glazer. Its like kids in a sandbox fighting over toys. Can't we talk about issues? I'm ready for a fresh perspective in Sacramento–not the same old same old. . .that Glazer and Sbranti represent. Glazer's support of not giving BART the right to strike is based on holding a finger to the wind and then differentiating himself with it. Sbranti is so closely tied to the unions its sad–we are going to need realchange with PERS, etc or its going to be all over for city finances in Calfornia.
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That's true.
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McKillop brings lots of experience and a long term commitment to Hayward. Rocky and Lamin only want a stepping stone to higher office. They have already said so. Salinas campaigns well but has no substance, little experience and only wants a stepping stone to higher office. Believe he would be a disaster as Mayor.
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Mary Hayashi has never, I repeat, NEVER shoplifted any clothing from Kohls or Ross. Can the other candidates make a similar claim?
Thursday, Mary will issue a release covering Kmart and JC Penny.
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Dear 11:57-
Please do take this the right way. Other than your support for CONGRESSMAN ERIC SWALWELL 2014, we don't give a flying frig what you think!
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In the past few weeks, the BART Unions and my opponent Tim Sbranti have pumped out 7 pieces of mail – along with ads on TV and radio — falsely accusing me of being in the pockets of special interests.
They put my face on a pack of cigarettes, and claimed I worked for tobacco giant Philip Morris.
The irony of their $1.6 million smear campaign is that I’m the candidate who refuses to give special access to special interests, who won’t fill out their secret questionnaires, who won’t cut their backroom deals. And Tim Sbranti will.
But, afraid to let voters judge us by our positions and values, the BART Unions and Sbranti want this election to be decided by a lie — a lie so loud it drowns out talk of the issues people care about.
Issues like ending pension abuse, controlling spending, protecting the environment, holding down taxes and, yes, stopping the crippling strikes that disrupt millions of lives each time BART workers want a raise.
No one deserves to be under so vicious an attack.
Yet the BART Unions need to make me an example for anyone else who dares to chart an independent course. The message is clear: Don’t stand up to us, or you’ll be destroyed.
Together we can help California move beyond this culture of deceit and dysfunction.
We can send our own message: That the people want our elected officials to bring us together, not tear us apart, and to solve our state’s problems in fair-minded and fiscally responsible ways.
That’s exactly why I ran in the first place.
I will represent my constituents – not be dictated to by the powers in the Legislature. I will build alliances of like-minded representatives. I am result-oriented. Believe me, I’m not working this hard so I can kiss the butts of powerful interests.
We have 21 days until Election Day, but the time is even shorter because more than half the vote will be by “vote-by-mail” ballots.
I am grateful to you and many other friends who have helped me get to this point. Please consider setting aside some time to volunteer or donate. Many thanks.
Click here to donate: http://www.glazer4assembly.com/donate
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3:44 pm, Why did you vote for Fernandez and Lamnin?
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Steve, agree with you on the Hayward City Council Candidates this time, none really stand out our seem like they offer much substance. But I will be casting my vote for Mark Salinas.
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I think voters just need to educate themselves on the issues that affects the most people, and vote for those candidates who have demostrated their commitment to serving the public in a positive way.
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Really think that Sam guy dicking it up on TV and kissing the other guy was sick and twisted.
America continues its downward spiral into depravity and disgust!
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Believe these should be Hayward's priorities in the shirt term.
1. Get more revenue from permits, fees, reduced spending not just more taxes.
2. Get the union issue resolved quickly and maintain positive relationship with all unions.
3. Establish and maintain closer working relation with HUSD.
3. Clean and green has been a plus.
4. Sweeney departure is a great opportunity for new visionary leadership in economic development, business relations, less fearful staff, more focus on youth activities, and movement on various development projects.
5. Time to recognize and groom good people as future political office.
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I too voted for Lamnin and Fernandez, but voted for Salinas for Mayor as the lesser of all the incompetents. We need better candidates in Hayward.
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12:06, just canceled out the union whore votes for those two!
Gustavo Ramirez
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News item, Mary Hayashi just issued a press release saying that she has never shoplifted clothing from any store in Senate District 10, and never will while serving as senator.
She challenges all her opponents to make the same pledge.
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11:24 a.k.a. Ralph Farias—–Just cancelled out your vote by voting for Rocky and Sarah and Zermeno.
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The SF Chronicle Endorses Bob Wieckowski and said:
“Honestly, It's Not a Close Call”
He is the ONLY competent one!
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I just canceled out your votes for both union whores. I voted for two others and Halliday, since she's the least destructive.
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I just voted for Rocky Fernandez and Sarah Lamnin for Hayward Council because we need change and ideas to help our city go forward. Get rid of the loop to help our businesses. We also need smart growth instead of the unplanned way we are trying now. Fire the City Manager as she has no idea of how to manage Hayward. Left the Mayor's race blank as all are not worthy. Thank goodness for absentee voting
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Ballot mailed in today. Too bad so few capable people are running for office. Did not anoint those with no opposition. Expect low turnout because many of my acquaintances do not even care.
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McKillop
Logical that she would have the chamber support. Odd to suggest that chamber and all small local business members are responsible for everything that's wrong with Hayward. They create the jobs and bring in the revenue needed for our schools, police, etc.. Agree that Mayoral candidates are the same. Sweeney's team has not created a single job during his time in office. Need someone in office whose approach in not always us against them. I don't believe Lamin or Fernandez, although supported by SEIU and other real political types, have the ability to be more than mouthpieces for the unions and reinforce the” us against them” mentality. Hopefully Mary, even if she comes in second, will get out the race and give her funds away to help the Hayward/Fremont community. Swalwell will win, not because he more able, but that in winning over the years Corbett has created her share of enemies.
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6:55. She's getting desperate. This is a bad strategy for her. She should stick with the puff pieces. The more people think critically about this election, the more they'll find out about Mary's lawbreaking. Even if the rapist thing were true, a bad vote doesn't compare to Mary's transgressions.
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What is despicable about the website? How is it deaf to half the voters?
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Sunday night, Mother's Day, 6:50 PM on CBS5 News.
Mary has begun running TV spots telling voters Bob Wieckowski is the only legislator who voted to let rapists get away with bad stuff.
Of course she fails to mention he voted for the final version of that bill and that the author of that bill has endorsed Bob.
And to think here we have the above article expressing sympathy for Mary Hayashi…. Poor Mary…
She wouldn't lie.
Mary needs to be crushed and taken out of politics for good.
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Indeed your glamorization of an irate wife attacking a state employee was nothing short of riveting. Had you been there and witnessed for yourself a glimpse of how vicious the situation was, It actually lasted for several hours if you count Raquel Torrico pursing the mistress while delegates stood by in disgust, perhaps your perspective would have been more solemn. What was most glaring was your lack of commentary on her gutless “husband”, Alberto Torrico. Not only did his cowardice allow such an unfortunate situation to collide in a climactic explosion – with his children holding front row tickets to the fight – but your refusal to comment on his role leads us to believe that you in fact condone his behavior. You spotlight the two women involved, but almost arrogantly refuse to discuss our so-call Majority Leader's betrayal of power and trust. That inferred stamp of approval encourages balding, washed-up politicians to follow in his footsteps.
I have been calling on a closer review of the Ethics Committee to take a closer look at whether or not any official, state, or campaign resources went into Torrico's philandering. Would also like to gain a better understanding on the role his Lobbying Firm played in the latter part of this brutal “feud”
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avares why do you mock and dismiss violence against women? On mothers day will you apologize for your characterization of a violent attack involving two women of color as a “catfight” and a “bitch” slap? Will you, a notorious sexist, apologize for your statements?
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What about the race with Quirk in the AD20?
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I saw the Honda / Khanna debate. While they are close politically, Honda came across as lethargic and staid. Khanna was sharp and energetic.
I think the top two primary really benefits challengers. Instead of a meaningless Dem vs. Rep race in a highly Dem district, we have an real race. The race will get a lot of attention which gives the challenger more air time than they would get otherwise. More people will treat both candidates seriously and do their homework as opposed to just voting blindly.
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You're definitely wrong on Hayashi. If there's anything voters hate, it's criminal politicians. It's possible she could have been contrite and have been forgiven. Many politicians have used that to be forgiven for many things, even criminal acts. But Mary is in full denial mode.
I've talked to a number of voters about this race. I'm surprised at how many non-political types are familiar with Mary's antics. And there's no way they'd vote for her.
She doesn't deserve to be in office again and she won't be.
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Really think it's disgusting to refer to 'first 'openly gay' athlete.'
The implication and insinuation is that there have been others in the past who were gay. We don't know that. It's only speculation.
In the mean time, it demeans and cheapens all athletes everywhere to associate them with this. Whey even discuss whether the guy is into dicks or not? At least say 'first gay athlete' if you need to. Don't insinuate. Ridicules all athletes everywhere, and that is wrong.
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Online Distance Learning provides a number of learning opportunities, with an display of attributed courses available for you to choose from, including certificates, Such courses include biochemistry, business accounting, marketing and an abundance of health and beauty courses like holistic healing and hand reflexology.
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Don't worry. If Las Vegas was setting odds on this race, Mary would be from a 5 to 1….to a 10 to 1 long shot.
Sure she is favored to make the top two, but after that, she can't carry 50.1% of the votes in November unless Weickowski blunders badly.
Most voters won't elect a convicted thief who is still on probation AND who denies she even did the crime.
Give voters some credit.
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Can't we all just forgive and forget that lil' Mary accidentally stole stuff. I don't like her; don't trust her. But she's got all the money in this race and we had better not alienate her since she is a power to be feared.
I'll do my part and vote for her since she's a shoo-in, but really feel dirty doing it. Let's all support Hayashi else we'll be left far behind when she wins this thing.
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Glazer's 'one' issue seems to be HONESTY.
We'll take that everyday of the week!
Can't go with shills who are in the pocket of corrupt unions–Branti and that woman in the state senate.
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Agree with the post at 10:41, Mary said the same thing in the Supervisor race. I do think she will come in second in this race though because of the weakness of the other candidates. In my opinion, Bob Wieckowski is the only one that has the possibility of beating Mary, now, and in the general. That's why I voted for him along with my wife by absentee ballot yesterday.
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I'm convinced that I'll be voting for Ellen Corbett because Swalwell lies too much, and Tim Sbranti because he is better on almost all issues including safety, while Glazer is a one issue pony.
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We are also convinced.
We will be voting for CONGRESSMAN ERIC SWALWELL 2014!
Need to have him in DC for years and years to come. Time for a new generation led by experience and youth!
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I'm convinced. Voting for Clean Steve Glazer!
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11:22 “How much money you get for this?”
He gets ALL the revenue from all the advertisers you see on the site.
That's why he's doing it; for the big bucks.
Remember, but for this site, only the newspaper blog has anything political.
We need more than one source. The local Patch sites are only reporting the latest gathering of the knitting groups monthly meetings, not anything political.
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I Think you guys are funny ^
I'm still waiting to hear by Tavares thinks its OK to mockingly dismiss violence against women of color. Makes me if he is somehow involved with domestic violence and that makes him insensitive to it…
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How much money you get for this? Break it down by candidate, maybe? I'm interested in getting into the fake news business and I find your work very inspiring.
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New today, a good read about Hayashi and her wacky excuse for shoplifting
http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/diaz/article/Pulling-aside-the-curtain-at-candidate-interviews-5466879.php#page-1
Mary, going to that interview, is the most amazing decision in this entire election season.
What was she thinking?
What did she not realize they would ask?
How, while being on 3 years probation for a crime, can you sit there in front of a camera and claim you never did the crijme?
WHO is advising her? Makes me wonder about her husband's input.
—At the breakfast table—
“So Mary, what's on your schedule today?”
“Oh, I'm going to do a endorsement interview with the San Francisco Chronicle”
“WHAT!!!!, why???” (<---the proper response)
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Jeez Tavarez, you make us regret the fact that we even asked you what you thought! We are all shocked that someone with your knowledge & expertise in local politics would produce such off the mark commentary! Its apparent from you quote “opinion” that you have been bought off by at least one, if not all of the politicians you are pushing on us.
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Why is it we always talk about the issue about candidates. Why can we not talk about our issues and how those aspiring for office “can resolve our issues.” After all, it is the American voter who is to blame for what they get and where we are as a nation today. It seems that folks posting here are either not happy with MH or BW. So folks, is there a candidate where most of us can agree on? How about one who can start on a clean state in Sacramento with practically no baggage at all.
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Isn't being celebrated. Sorry.
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I think its terrible that despite some faults Marys great work is being celebrated. Just because she cheated with a staffer or wrecked an Assembly pool car in the capitol garage and probably had it covered up. Or because she accepted some gifts without doing a bunch of stupid paper work. What about all of the great things she did?
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Sadly the worst things about MH have not come out yet… The good money says she gets rearrested this year…
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“I think Hayashi has consistently said sorry for her transgression three years ago. What is else is supposed to do other than beg on bended knee?”
Lets see, what else could she possibly do? Hmmm?
How about telling the truth for the first time in 2.5 years.
From day one Mary, her lawyer, and her hired PR guy have all misled the public. At least the lawyer and PR guy couch their statements in such a way they offer a tiny gap for wiggle room.
But Mary flat out lied.
And now she continues to lie about the crime.
January 9th 2012, she started off with her official press release, stating among other things, the following
1. ” I unintentionally walked out of a store with items I had not paid for.” (that is a lie)
2. ” I intended to purchase what I had, but I didn’t.” (that is a lie”
3. “There were a number of personal factors that led to the situation where I made this absentminded error” (that is a lie, the act was not absentminded” It was carefully planned.
Anyone of those three lies, IF TRUE, would have given her a viable defense in court. The law demands that the state prove “intent”. She could have walked out of Neiman Marcus with all those goods and still be found not guilty, if she could have shown any evidence that the act was not intentional.
Even a reasonable doubt would have worked.
On the contrary, all the evidence pointed to the act being not only deliberate, but fully planned. The act of bringing the extra Neiman Marcus bag with her from Hayward… into San Francisco, into Nieman Marcus, into the dressing room, then using that very bag to hide the stolen merchandise, is something Mary has never admitted nor explained.
( A good reporter like yourself should have asked her about that at some point in the last two years.)
Finally, after all this time, we now have Mary on the record, saying the following outrageous statement
“I did not shoplift $2,500 worth of goods” ( a clear lie)
You have never been further off the mark in saying that Mary has consistently said she is sorry for her transgressions.
She has NEVER admitted she committed the crime.
As indicated above, intent is a key and legally essential element of the crime for which she is on 3 years probation.
She has never admitted any intent in the matter.
She there for remains unrepentant, wanting the public to believe it was all some unintentional mistake.
That is her lie. That is her continuing false story.
She is not sorry and has never apologized, until and if she ever admits guilt. She now refuses to admit she even did the crime.
Perhaps the author of the above article can explain to us why he believes she is telling the truth when she says
1. She never shoplifted $2,500 of goods
2. Why the act, including bringing the implements, was unintentional.
Or was your Dist. 15 comment above regarding Mary Hayashi only stated as such to draw responses, and not really reflecting your true thoughts and awareness of the facts?
Mary needs to be badgered and berated from now until November unless and until she stops telling the same old lies and distortions about her crime.
Shoplifting is one thing, but telling the public lies directly to their face is her real downfall. She might as well tell the voters she thinks they are gullible fools.
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I think you are a douche
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