The Fullerton Shadow, Author at Friends For Fullerton's Future

August 24, 2009January 5, 2010Pam Keller

When Big Developers Almost Trumped Childhood Obesity Prevention

A Happy Meal does wonders for your kids' disposition. — A Happy Meal does wonders for your kid's disposition.

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The Fullerton Collaborative addresses the following problems: needs of at-risk youth and families; gang prevention; child safety issues; lack of health care access; childhood obesity and lack of fitness; racial divisiveness and isolation; poor educational performance.

Thus readeth the Fullerton Coollaborative’s website. So it was strange then (or not so strange, given her rather inconsistent adherence to principles), that Pam Keller supported moving a McDonald’s franchise right across the street from Fullerton High School.

Now just about everyone knows that purveyors of “fast food” are one of the prime contributors to adolescent obesity and “lack of fitness,” yet somehow the connection eluded Keller even though she’s paid by the Fullerton Collaborative (through the Fullerton School District) to supposedly do something about it in Fullerton.

Although she changed her vote at the last minute so as not to go down with the rapidly sinking S.S. Redevelopment Boondoggle, she was previously cheering (and voting for) an “upscale” Spanishified MickeyD’s that would “go with” the High School buildings across the street. It was all part of a grand bureaucratic scheme to build another massive apartment block in downtown Fullerton.

Apparently Pam Keller was more concerned about leaving her mark on Downtown Fullerton than on childrens mid-sections!

Bad, girl, Pam, bad, bad girl.

August 23, 2009February 7, 2012Dick Jones

A One-Year Look Back: Pam’s Approval of the Amerige Court Atrocity

by The Fullerton Shadow14 Comments

It must have been pretty hard for Pam to try to convince her supporters how much she “respected” them – right before she went ahead and stuck it to ’em. Keller’s campaign promise of 2006 was to have planning be “driven” by public input, blah, blah, blah etc., but you get the feeling watching this clip that she had already long since made up her mind to go with the dee-veloper, and was just throwing some verbal crusts for her loyal subjects to gnaw on.

Pam’s comments were well-received by the Chamber lackeys and downtown Redevelopment toadies in the audience, but those who opposed the monster project and had voted for Keller’s promises to represent them rather than development interests, must surely felt just a wee bit, um, betrayed.

The “I’m so torn” plaint, the goofy half-grins, the eye lash battings, (all part of the “I’m just a silly girl” routine), are a pretty annoying shtick. But Pam had better be careful with the coquette act because some lonely swains like Dick Jones seem to get off on it. Check out the hand kiss at the end of the clip and Pam’s apparent revulsion – and then her flippant threat to take back her vote. Enjoy:

August 21, 2009Chris Norby

Just How Bad Was the Norby E-mail? You Be The Judge

by The Fullerton Shadow12 Comments

A few days ago County Supervisor Chris Norby sent out a solicitation for contributions to his County Clerk campaign. Nothing unusual there. But apparently some of them were sent to County employees at their work e-mail addresses. County employees are forbidden to use their computers for this type of activity so even if the e-mails were sent from a private computer (they were) it raises problems for the recipients thereof.

Others have raised the seemliness and propriety of a supervisor asking for money of employees during a time of layoffs. The issue of coercion seems to be the focus.

Chris is getting roasted alive by just about everyone under the sun for this transgression, including apparently the good folks at KFI. The upshot of all of this remains to be seen, but so far the fallout hasn’t been too good for Norby.

Anyhoo, we got a hold of a copy of the offending e-mail. Here it is:

Dear Friend & Supporter,

I’ve officially announced that I am running for OC Clerk-Recorder in
the June 2010 primary. I’m the only elected official so far to
declare for this seat and current incumbent Tom Daly is vacating to
run for Supervisor.

Please visit my website at www.Norby10.com for my goals, list of
supporters and campaign updates.

I’ve already raised over $140,000 for the campaign and hope to
double that in the coming months. I ask for your support and your
help. Contributions up to $1,700 may be sent to Norby for
Clerk-Recorder / 214 N. Yale Ave. / Fullerton, CA 92831.

I stand on my record and experience in Orange County government and
look forward to serving in this new capacity.

— Supervisor Chris Norby
Candidate, OC Clerk-Recorder
www.Norby10.com

August 21, 2009August 21, 2009Pam Keller

PLAN, PROTECT, PROVIDE, AND PRESERVE? PATHETIC POLITICAL PROMISES?

by The Fullerton Shadow28 Comments

Not much intellectual nutrition in this can... — No intellectual content in every can...

PLAN, PROTECT, PROVIDE, PRESERVE. Four Ps. How Precious.

Yesterday somebody calling himself/herself “Pam Keller’s Website” came a knockin’ and started spamming Pam’s 2006 campaign slogans all over our Friends. We had some fun with it. But underlying the humor is the very real and important issue of comparing what politicians promise, and what they do. Words are pretty cheap, especially when minted by a campaign for public office. The actual record speaks volumes.

Several comments on the thread raised the issue of large development projects that Keller has voted to approve, that included vast wealth-creating zone changes, corporate subsidies and other entitlements, and that would necessarily dump the negatives – like traffic and infrastructure overuse – onto the rest of us. So how does her approval of the abominable Jefferson Commons and the equally atrocious Amerige Court square with her campaign website promises? How does her support for the development engendering Redevelopment expansion square with that; or the project now unfolding on Euclid Avenue?

Bon Appetit! And don't worry about biting down on anything hard. it's all soft in there! — Hope you're not hungry. Bon Appetit!

We see a big disconnect.

Whether or not Pam thinks her 2006 slogans will still work in 2010 remains to be seen, even among her usually unreflecting, left-leaning adherents. If she does think so, she may have another think coming. Below we share a comment from a new Friend – “Disillusioned Ex-hippie” – who voted for Keller last time, is affronted by her voting record, and who won’t make the same mistake again:

“I sure hope Pam doesn’t think that garbage is going to fly anymore. Notice how nobody has explained or defended her unforgivable support for Amerige Court and The Jefferson Commons monsters? Come on, Pam, let’s hear it.

Okay, I’ll help define the campaign slogan:

PLAN (on more massive development), PROTECT (incompetent redevelopment staff), PROVIDE (for developers profits), and PRESERVE (my council seat).

Okay. Got it!”

Now that’s PLENTY PITHY – if we do say so ourselves!

August 20, 2009August 20, 2009Pam Keller

Yikes! How Dumb Does “Pam Keller’s Website” Think We Are?

by The Fullerton Shadow19 Comments

Very, apparently. This morning The Harpoon published this funny post on Council woman Pam Keller’s upcoming fundraiser featuring a “Woodstock” theme here.

Not long after we got a comment from a someone calling him/herself “Pam Keller’s Website,” which was another source of merriment for some of our commenters. We assume this actually was from Pam’s campaign; not because the cyber-world isn’t full of impostors, but because the drivel was so inane that well, it just had the ring of truth to it.

The possibility of a developer contributing to Pam’s campaign fund caused “Website” to come a bit unglued. Here is the fun excerpt:

“I will PROTECT Fullerton from special interest developers that want to influence our future. I have not and will not accept developer contributions to get elected. I support vision and growth that is driven by the residents of Fullerton.”

Ah! The Vision thing! Won’t take money from developers? What, is she just selling out for free?

When confronted with direct questions about how Pam’s approval of “Jefferson Commons” and “Amerige Court” squared with the comment above, and asked just which Fullerton citizens “drove” those monstrosities forward, Website became even more ludicrous:

“The only ’special interest’ I intend to represent is you, your family and your neighbors. You can count on me to PLAN, PROTECT, PROVIDE and PRESERVE Fullerton!”

PLAN, PROTECT, PROVIDE, AND PRESERVE. Exclamation point! Empty verbal pabulum, especially given Keller’s track record of approving massive new development projects in Fullerton, and her support of Redevelopment expansion that is no doubt calculated to bring even more large development to the east and west sides of town. She just okayed negotiations to embark upon a big new housing project on Euclid, between Orangethorpe and Valencia!

What in the world is there in her actual record to support the notion that we can count on her to be anything but a guaranteed “yes” vote for any new massive development projects the City staff is promoting?

August 20, 2009December 28, 2009Chris Norby

Plop. Norby Campaign Soils Itself

by The Fullerton Shadow3 Comments

The OC Register did a story today about Chris Norby’s attempt to solicit campaign contributions from County employees at their work e-mail addresses here . Apparently this is a big no-no, although lawyers aren’t sure if the law has been broken.

We reported the other day about the seeming fundraising focus of Norby’s website, and it could have been this mania that caused the e-mail boner here .

According to the Reg story, Norby campaign consultant Matt Holder admitted error and says any monies collected would be returned. Great. Meantime Chris racks up some more bad publicity due to Lewis Group LLC.

Geez, now we really hope Chris isn’t paying these chuckleheads too much.

August 18, 2009December 28, 2009Chris Norby

Alternative Slogans For Norby’s Campaign

by The Fullerton Shadow14 Comments

OCCampground

Okay, we really couldn’t resist it. Yesterday we posted here about Chris Norby’s County Clerk campaign website. The slogan that appears on the site is so funny that it invites humor: Preserving Your Vital Records. Wha?

That was the really best campaign consultant John Lewis could come up with? Preserving your vital records? If that doesn’t mobilize the troops, then we don’t know what will!

But, seriously we feel compelled to offer Norby helpful alternatives, such as:

Red Tape is Fun!

The Job Ain’t Over ’til The Paperwork’s Done!

Bureaucracy Drives the County Forward!

Your Non-vital Records Will be in The Dumpster By Morning!

Okay, Friends. Now it’s your turn to share your ideas. Let’s give Mr. Norby a hand here since John Lewis seems to be so useless!

August 17, 2009August 17, 2009Chris Norby

Norby Website Up; Fundraising Success Seems To Be Main Thrust

by The Fullerton Shadow28 Comments

Chris Norby’s campaign for County Clerk has a website: http://www.norby10.com/ . When you go there you see a lot about how much money he’s raised and lots of pictures of Chris, but virtually nothing about ideas or plans on how to run the department – just lots of platitudes about accountability, etc. One “idea” actually talks about getting other counties to follow the “OC model.” Isn’t that the job of their county clerks?

He also addresses Tom Daly’s campaign for supervisor as a foregone conclusion, and we’re not too sure about that click here .

The image on the website of Chris superimposed on the Old Courthouse may not be a hot idea since it might tend to keep some old jokes about Norby sleeping there going.

OCCampground — "Preserving Your Vital Records?!!" Wow, throw 'em some more red meat, Chris!

Anyway, check it out for yourselves. We have sometimes supported Chris in the past, but this campaign is becoming a bit problematic. The website does not allay any of the suspicions raised by commenters on our last post that Chris is just running for this because he needs a government job click here. It is apparent that Norby is running this campaign as an “insider,” and that doesn’t bode well, either.

August 14, 2009December 28, 2009About Us

So Who Does Fullerton’s Chamber of Commerce Really Represent?

by The Fullerton Shadow25 Comments

Our good friend Joe Sipowicz asked a really good question today on another post. Asked Joe:

How many Chamber board members have received subsidies, favors, or looks-the-other-way by the police in the past? Does the Director owe her job to the influence of City Council members? Inquiring minds want to know.

Well, Joe, we have inquiring minds too, and decided to check out the Chamber’s board of directors. And what we found ain’t pretty:

http://www.fullertonchamber.com/AbouttheChamber/BoardofDirectors/tabid/65/Default.aspx

A 21 member board. Lets review some of the members, who they work for and see what other telling associations we can discern (in no particular order):

1.Albert Napoli – MWD ( a government sanctioned utility monopoly)

2. Mark McGee – MG Disposal (sole garbage contractor for the City of Fullerton)

3. Burnie Dunlap– St Jude Hospital (former member Brea Redevelopment Agency!)

4. Daniel Kang – Grace Ministries (non-profit Church; beholden to City for gobs of entitlements)

5. Ron Hurst– Fullerton Marriot (Hotel originally built by money put up by the Fullerton Redevelopment Agency

6. Chris Reese – CSUF (a government educrat!)

7. Pat Butress – So Cal Edison (government sanctioned utility monopoly)

8. Jack Franklyn– Heroes (well-known recipient of City look-the-other ways for non-permitted construction and out door amplified music, etc.)

9. Kerry Stock – Costco (Fullerton’s original big-time redevelopment project)

10. Ryan Dudley – The Cellar (son of former Develpment Services Director, Paul Dudley – hmm THAT name sounds familiar!)

11. Cameron Irons – Vanguard Investments (and former partner in downtown restaurants operating out of Redevelopment subsidized buildings)

12. Leland Wilson – Realtor (former Mayor and Chairman of Fullerton’s Redevelopment Agency!)

Okay, we’ll stop there since we are way past a board majority; a majority of folks who have connections to redevelopment, government, family ties, or lots of reasons to be grateful to the City of Fullerton. And we mention in passing their Executive Director, Theresa Harvey, former director of the Fullerton Boys and Girls Club (non-profit operated in building owned by City, etc., etc.).

Please note that we have also passed over a couple of downtown bankers (that relationship needs to be explored), some sort of political consultant, and a lawyer. It appears as if the Chamber board is almost devoid of anybody actually making and selling anything. But, boy do they have ties to the Fullerton City government, government in general, or operate in government sanctioned monopolies.

Is there really any wonder why this crew supports Redevelopment expansion – the greatest anti-business threat in Fulleron’s history? Most of them are connected to the government, and hardly any of them are really in the kind of real, honest-to-goodness retail or manufacturing businesses of the sort that Redevelopment preys upon.

August 10, 2009About Us

Norby Job Prospects Uncertain

by The Fullerton Shadow9 Comments

Termed-out OC 4th District Supervisor Republican Chris Norby has announced his intention to run for the possibly soon-to-be vacant County Clerk job currently held by Democrat Tom Daly. But the road could be rocky as Norby now has two credible candidates challenging him: Hugh Nguyen of the Board Clerk’s office, and Buena Park’s own grandfather figure, Art Brown. Rumors on the street suggest that Daly and fellow Democrat Brown have decided to swap endorsements since Daly has previously announced that he is running for Norby’s job.

Tom Daly is mining for Buena Park votes while Art Brown has staked his claim to the County Clerk job...

It is also rumored that Norby is becoming anxious about his future employment prospects. So much so, in fact, that he was recently seen handing out his business cards to prospective employers in his office. While we can’t verify this, we have discovered this photo on his own website:

Distracted-Chris-Norby[1] — Let me know if anything opens up!