Doesn't mean a hill of beans if Weir's constituents don't support him.

We'll get a real idea of Weir's support by how long it takes to get 4,000+ signatures on the petition.

BRA..... that's what bra's do they support things. LIke Boobs.

That is, from what I have seen of Ken Weir here lately...he's a boob.

I hope I'm wrong. We'll see.

And, you have to enjoy the humor of that opening line of the blog. You just have to.

Technically, then, it's an under-Weir BRA?  I wonder if they have as many members as they claim, or if they're padded somehow?

LOL!

I have to remember not to be drinking anything when I read your posts, RF.

Better not go through airport security....

I just read City's article telling about what he found when he campared Weir's recaller's claims and his responce to it to what actually happened. I have to say I don't think it's recall worthy. I'm on Weir's side on this.....for now.

Interesting -- so the BRA, a group of Republicans supposedly not  controlled by the evil Abernathy Machine endorses Weir?  I wonder if Russell Johnson is a member of BRA?  I mean, he is from that "wing" of the Kern County Republican Party, right?

What "rattles my cage" is that ANY public official is in the "pocket" of a political machine.  Mr. Weir was elected to office to represent the people in his ward.  As long as he owes any debt of allegiance (or monetary debt - over $60,000) to a Republican-electing-and-controlling "research firm," how can the people ever be sure that he is not being instructed on how to vote.  And he claims Russel Johnson is "not independent"???

In CB's article, it stated that using the official seal of the city is "against the law."  Weir did it, admits it.  What's the penalty?  Was one ever assessed?

I'm told that the Abernathyites took over the BRA back in 2006. Basically, they showed up, signed up, paid the dues and now have the votes to call the shots.

Wow!  That Pup's got a bite!

And makes a good point.

Ojo:

1.08.050 City seal—Violation—Penalties.

Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

To my knowledge, no legal proceedings followed the incident.

Who told you that, CB?

Hey Pup -- I already voted (absentee).

Alas, I'm outside city limits.  But I'm cheering on the recall from the sidelines.

Lincoln: People. I won't give names, but they are people from the anti-Abernathy wing.

Actually, I think there are two anti-Abernathy wings now, and they are split on other issues.

CB,

Well if you won't give the names of your sources how about the names of the BRA members who are controlled by Abernathy?

-Ace

Even the Lilliputians only had two factions.  We need a strong Democratic presence in town to help bring the Republicans back together.

So you take the word of "Anti-Abernathy" people?  Did you ask any "Pro-Abernathy" people to confirm this?

Not trying to call you subjective or one-sided, but just sounds to me that if you're taking this info from people that are aligned against Abnerathy, that their voice may be suspect...

We have always been at war with the big-endians...

Lincoln:

That's why it's a comment on a blog, neither a news story nor a post by itself; and that's why I prefaced it with "I'm told..." I didn't assert it as fact. I don't care enough. I might ask Ken Mettler next time I talk to him, though.

Ken, are you reading? Care to comment?

If you "don't care enough," and it is "just a blog" then you shouldn't mind naming names...or am I incorrect in assuming the "priveleged information" between journalist and interviewee does not apply in blogs?

What a slippery slope!

RF, I wasn't even thinking of the war, I was thinking of the Lilliput political parties.  I'm guessing Abernathy is wearing the high heels.  :)

Wasn't the war between the opposing methods of opening boiled eggs in Lilliput?  Or is that another part of Gulliver's Travels?  It's been too long.../

Lincoln: You are in fact incorrect. This isn't about priveleged information, this is about one of the people who talks to me without wanting to be named. Hence, the information is essentially gossip, and I treat it as such, and so should you.

RF: Was the boiled eggs thing at Laputa maybe? I don't remember the eggs thing at all.

Very good, then CB.  Gossip it is -- but the danger I believe is that many people here on the blogs take your gossip as gospel.

Point taken, Lincoln. I'll work harder in the future to distinguish solid information from mushy information.

RF, the war was with the Blefuscu (sp?) who opened their eggs at the other end.  The Lilliputians themselves were divided into two political parties denoted by the height of their heels.

Ah.  The subtlety was lost on me.  I'd forgotten how the Protestants--I mean the little-enders--fractured into religious schism.

"The Bakersfield Republican Assembly supports Councilman Weir’s efforts to
promote rational fiscal policies and respect for private property rights."

"Rational fiscal policies" Weir refused to raise the educational development impact  fees on his development/growth clients and left the Bakersfield City School Board with a $200 million infrastructure deficit that needed to be partially covered by the $100 million bond issue in the last election.  If I was a democrat I would definitely call that "fiscal" rationality.

Of course, Weir campaigned on the issue that he would straighten out the City's $160 million deficit.  Just what has Weir done in the first two years of his term?  Well, he's pretty good at blaming all of, what did the BRA call it, oh yes, his "infractions" ( a wonderful euphemism for "illegal and unethical behavior") on the paper , the unions and the environmentalists.  Yeah, he's done NOTHIN"!

"Respect for Private property rights"  Hmmm ... I wonder what the residents of West Park would call it? 
 

Hey veritas -- Westpark and the Hillside Ordinance are two COMPLETELY different things.

Bakersfield needs freeways.  If (and emphasize "if") Caltrans chooses the Westpark Alignment for the new freeway, then it will be an appropriate use of eminent domain powers.  A new crosstown freeway will benefit all citizens of Bakersfield and the County, and the millions of other people who travel Highway 58 that do not live here.

The Hillside Ordinance and related issues surrounding the Canyons project is not eminent domain -- it is about a government entity telling landowners you cannot build on land you own because we want to protect the environment and viewshed.

Let's not confuse the issues, ok?

Gosh.  I didn't realize Ken Weir needed a bra.  Although, I've never met the man in person.  He probably wears loose shirts when he's out.  Anyhoo, if my memory of Seinfeld is correct, what we should really be talking about here is a "bro," and not a bra.  Kramer invented this device with men like Ken Weir in mind.

He failed the pencil test, I reckon.

Citybeat:  This thread is probably dead but you seem to be really on top of answering questions and responding to criticisms so I hope you'll read this.

If someone makes a monetary pledge to a candidate for a federal office they must certify (under penalty of perjury?) that:

"The funds I am donating are not being provided to me by another person or entity for the purpose of making this contribution."

Is there no such "rule" for California state or local elections?  If such a statement is required locally, it seems that a contribution from Brian Todd to Ken Weir via Robert Kapral, via "Citizens for Community Planning" would certainly have been "provided by another person or entity."

Wow Lincolnman.

Let's not chop off Veritas' head. I agree with Veritas. (Shocker) that the Westpark residents would argue that Mr. Weir is talking out both sides of his mouth when he says he supports private property rights. Perhaps if the Westpark residents were aligned correctly they too would have his vote....

There is no confusion over "two COMPLETELY different things;" they are one and the same. Private property rights are just that. For the Company wanting to build slippery slope homes and for the folks who have, or had, the City Council and Mayor's word and a drafted letter from Mayor Hall to Caltrans in 2001 stating that Westpark would never be an accepted route.

The residents of Westpark have the same private property rights, even more as they live, and have lived, in Westpark for years. Why is it necessary to plow that neighborhood and the businesses to run a freeway through it??? Why didn't the City reserve the land back in the 70s & 80s & 90s to preclude the problem???? There are a number of "alternatives" which spare the expensive and foolish Westpark route.

Mr. Weir voted, along with the rest of the Council to allow the possibility of the route but side stepped the responsibility by deferring the final decision to Caltrans. Certainly Mr. Weir was not on the Council in 2001, but happened in the last eight years to make the rest of the Council, City Hall and the Mayor change their minds???? 

Here's an official response from Ken Mettler, president of the BRA (and a KHSD school board member):

-----

The Bakersfield Republican Assembly is not on one of the intra-party "teams", but rather is focused upon leading
with a consistent, straight forward, honest, mature, conservative philosophy. Of course politics seems to make strange bedfellows from time to time. Further, there is this thinking of some on each "team", that if you are not with them 100% you are against them.  The BRA leadership is trying to educate and make recommendations based upon the application of the
BRA/CRA/GOP platform as they relate to the candidates' positions and the issues, rather than personalities.
 
BRA prior to 1995 was a small group of conservative activists.  Then in 1995 the BRA was run by, a former city councilman, identified at that time as liberal on social issues, who lost the charter when membership shrunk too low. Then a new group of socially conservative pro-life activists took the reins and kept the organization viable. 
  
During my tenure as president of BRA, beginning in 2007, I have focused upon expanding the membership with grassroots Republican volunteers/activists rather than being a small group subject to takeover by the paid staffers/consultants of one faction or another. This is not unique to BRA but is seen in other political volunteer groups as well.  The group membership is reduced so that the staffers/consultants can control the organization more easily to ensure endorsements are obtained, but shrink the Party and the back bench in the process. 
 
My goal as president is to make the Bakersfield Republican Assembly a stable home for "social and fiscal conservatives" and truly be the "Conscience of the Republican Party". 
 

-----

Thanks, CityBeat and Ken Mettler for clearing this.

I take Mr. Mettler at his word -- the BRA is not under the influence of Mark Abernathy.

BRA taken over in 2006 by the Abernethy machine?

The truth is that there were some political staffers working to elect Mike Maggard as supervisor and perhaps they dreamed that if elected, Maggard might appoint them each as a Planning Commissioner one day, one to the City and one to the County.

These 2 staffers began to flood the BRA membership with friends and relatives right before the BRA endorsement vote. This move was countered by a membership drive to attract conservative Republicans who would weigh the candidates against the CRA and GOP platform rather then try to elect the person most likely to give them a job if elected.

To say these new members were from the Abernathy camp is pretty laughable. Nothing could be further than the truth. BRA is neither for or against Abernathy or anyone he tries to elect. BRA looks at the candidate and weighs their platform with that of the CRA and endorses the candidate who fits.

This attempt to join the BRA for political reasons has not stopped. Read the recent letter to the editor by Bridget Heath who claimed she was a BRA member and disagreed with the BRA opposing the Weir recall. In reality, bridget joined the month before, had never attended the BRA and does not know anyone in the BRA and the letter was written in reality by the person behind the Weir recall effort!

Here's another thing BRA is good at... the truth. Any of these political staffers who think they can hide behind smokescreens will be outed. But, nice try.