thedrifter
12-29-06, 08:24 AM
What we'll miss in '07
By: North County Times Opinion Staff
Our view: Heroes, leaders among North County's losses
This week, we bid farewell to the Godfather of Soul, James Brown; the 38th president of the United States, Gerald R. Ford; and, come Sunday night, 2006. Here are some other things we'll miss as we welcome 2007:
- First and foremost, we'll miss the 51 Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton and Miramar Marine Corps Air Station who gave their lives serving in Iraq this year. Most of these brave men and women died fighting in the dangerous Al Anbar province against an al-Qaida-fueled insurgency, not the chaotic sectarian violence so prevalent elsewhere in Iraq. We mourn them and the 266 other local Marines who have died since the war began.
- We'll also miss North County's departed city managers. In Oceanside, we said goodbye to Steve Jepsen, a level-headed manager who carefully treaded water between the city's feuding political clans. Some have suggested he may have been pushed out by the City Council majority, others say the job he took in Yuba City was too good to pass up. Either way, his ability to stay above the political rancor and get things done for Oceanside will be missed.
In San Marcos, Rick Gittings retired just last week. Along with Jim Bowersox, who left Poway last year, Gittings is probably one of the smartest city managers North County has seen. During his 24-year term, Gittings helped turn San Marcos from a sleepy town into a bustling city while exploiting California's redevelopment scheme to get more bang for the city's buck.
- We'll miss Bruce Bochy, manager for the Padres for 12 years and new skipper of the San Francisco Giants. Part of the San Diego franchise for 24 years, as manager, Bochy took the team to the World Series in 1998 and division titles the last two seasons. San Diego State alumni Bud Black is a fine replacement, but he's got some big shoes to fill.
- We'll also miss Ed Brand, the superintendent of the San Marcos Unified School District who abruptly resigned Aug. 30. Brand was criticized after he began work to rein in the district's budget deficit. He also launched a program with Cal State San Marcos to propel more San Marcos students into the university. That program is now in jeopardy, as is the district's fiscal footing.
- And we'll miss the moderate sanity that Ron Newman brought to the Escondido City Council. The former San Diego cop declined to run for re-election, and his straight talk and sensible opinions are sorely needed on a dais dominated by demagogues.
Newman wisely questioned the CityMark condominium project planned for a downtown parking lot supported by his peers even after the developer downgraded its quality; the condo project died in August. In September 2005, Newman joined Councilwoman Marie Waldron in opposing the council's giving itself what amounted to a 14 percent pay raise.
Newman, along with Mayor Lori Holt Pfeiler, steadfastly supported Palomar Pomerado Health's efforts to relocate to the city's newest business park; he knew that losing Palomar hospital to San Marcos was worse than having it move from downtown. When San Diego Gas & Electric officials approached the council to discuss PPH's proposed move, Newman aptly questioned why the council had been approached at all. "My God! We're a political body," he said in a burst of blunt wisdom. "We don't have any expertise in how to fly helicopters."
But nowhere was Newman's voice more welcome than in Escondido's ill-fated attempt to draft landlords in enforcement of federal immigration law. He saw Waldron's rental ban boondoggle for what it was: "What politicians do is they attach their name to a popular issue and do it during an election cycle," he said in August. "It's done on a national level. Done on the state level. And now it's taking place in Escondido, and it's ugly. And it should be exposed for what it is: The Hispanic community is being used as pawns."
When Sam Abed and Ed Gallo joined Waldron in approving the unimplementable ban on Oct. 4, Newman said: "To suggest that this ordinance is something other than going after Latinos and Mexicans in our community is really false. That's clearly what it's about."
Where have you gone, Ron Newman, a city turns its weary eyes to you.
Ellie
By: North County Times Opinion Staff
Our view: Heroes, leaders among North County's losses
This week, we bid farewell to the Godfather of Soul, James Brown; the 38th president of the United States, Gerald R. Ford; and, come Sunday night, 2006. Here are some other things we'll miss as we welcome 2007:
- First and foremost, we'll miss the 51 Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton and Miramar Marine Corps Air Station who gave their lives serving in Iraq this year. Most of these brave men and women died fighting in the dangerous Al Anbar province against an al-Qaida-fueled insurgency, not the chaotic sectarian violence so prevalent elsewhere in Iraq. We mourn them and the 266 other local Marines who have died since the war began.
- We'll also miss North County's departed city managers. In Oceanside, we said goodbye to Steve Jepsen, a level-headed manager who carefully treaded water between the city's feuding political clans. Some have suggested he may have been pushed out by the City Council majority, others say the job he took in Yuba City was too good to pass up. Either way, his ability to stay above the political rancor and get things done for Oceanside will be missed.
In San Marcos, Rick Gittings retired just last week. Along with Jim Bowersox, who left Poway last year, Gittings is probably one of the smartest city managers North County has seen. During his 24-year term, Gittings helped turn San Marcos from a sleepy town into a bustling city while exploiting California's redevelopment scheme to get more bang for the city's buck.
- We'll miss Bruce Bochy, manager for the Padres for 12 years and new skipper of the San Francisco Giants. Part of the San Diego franchise for 24 years, as manager, Bochy took the team to the World Series in 1998 and division titles the last two seasons. San Diego State alumni Bud Black is a fine replacement, but he's got some big shoes to fill.
- We'll also miss Ed Brand, the superintendent of the San Marcos Unified School District who abruptly resigned Aug. 30. Brand was criticized after he began work to rein in the district's budget deficit. He also launched a program with Cal State San Marcos to propel more San Marcos students into the university. That program is now in jeopardy, as is the district's fiscal footing.
- And we'll miss the moderate sanity that Ron Newman brought to the Escondido City Council. The former San Diego cop declined to run for re-election, and his straight talk and sensible opinions are sorely needed on a dais dominated by demagogues.
Newman wisely questioned the CityMark condominium project planned for a downtown parking lot supported by his peers even after the developer downgraded its quality; the condo project died in August. In September 2005, Newman joined Councilwoman Marie Waldron in opposing the council's giving itself what amounted to a 14 percent pay raise.
Newman, along with Mayor Lori Holt Pfeiler, steadfastly supported Palomar Pomerado Health's efforts to relocate to the city's newest business park; he knew that losing Palomar hospital to San Marcos was worse than having it move from downtown. When San Diego Gas & Electric officials approached the council to discuss PPH's proposed move, Newman aptly questioned why the council had been approached at all. "My God! We're a political body," he said in a burst of blunt wisdom. "We don't have any expertise in how to fly helicopters."
But nowhere was Newman's voice more welcome than in Escondido's ill-fated attempt to draft landlords in enforcement of federal immigration law. He saw Waldron's rental ban boondoggle for what it was: "What politicians do is they attach their name to a popular issue and do it during an election cycle," he said in August. "It's done on a national level. Done on the state level. And now it's taking place in Escondido, and it's ugly. And it should be exposed for what it is: The Hispanic community is being used as pawns."
When Sam Abed and Ed Gallo joined Waldron in approving the unimplementable ban on Oct. 4, Newman said: "To suggest that this ordinance is something other than going after Latinos and Mexicans in our community is really false. That's clearly what it's about."
Where have you gone, Ron Newman, a city turns its weary eyes to you.
Ellie