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Emotions are running high in the Alamo incorporation election, but that is no reason to start playing dirty.
You may have noticed some “Yes on Measure A” signs with the plaintive addendum: “Don’t steal this sign.” Ironically, a sign on Danville Boulevard saying “120 Yes on A signs were stolen” was itself stolen. Apparently signs touting incorporation as well as candidate signs have been disappearing to the tune of $1,000 or more. Also, very early on in the campaign – the day of the Alamo Wine and Music Festival – a campaign sign on a truck saying, “No incorporation” was vandalized.
Police are reported to be listening sympathetically but they also note that signs are destroyed and removed in all elections. Some residents are instructed to file the crimes online with the Sheriff’s Department, so some harmed parties don’t even get the satisfaction of making reports to a person who may sympathize and at least will listen and take notes.
When emotions run high, people are more apt to take matters into their own hands, ignoring the law. But it’s this very emotional content of the battle for and against incorporation that makes it exceedingly frustrating when your property is destroyed.
Win or lose, this vote on incorporation is historic. It will be a shame when the election is over to remember it as a time of dirty politics – lies, exaggerations, and stolen and vandalized campaign signs. In every election, candidates vow to run clean campaigns and this time the candidates themselves seemed to be doing so, putting forward their own qualifications instead of making slurs against each other. And yet, now candidate campaign sings are being defaced.
If only one side of the issue has signs out there, voters would do well to ask themselves, “Why?” Surely both sides have raised money to campaign with signs. Whether for or against incorporation, one cannot help but ask: “Why would anyone have to wage a political campaign in such a way?” Let everyone speak their piece and have their ballots tell the tale.
By Dolores Fox Ciardelli
You sing it Dolores. Let everyone have their say. That is the joy of democracy.
Someone defaced Randy?! I love Randy! And I have so enjoyed seeing his face up on the side of the freeway. My husband and I smile every time we drive by it.
Ironically, I am against incorporation (Randy is for incorporation). But Jan and Randy Nahas have given to the community tirelessly for the twenty-five years I have known them. They are also incredibly generous friends and warmhearted people.
I got a donation request for Randy’s campaign, and I did not donate because I am against incorporation- but now someone has defaced my friend, so even though I am against incorporation, I will have to send Randy 50 bucks to make a new sign. Get that picture back out there Randy!
Ms. Ciardelli, thank you for your article. I’d like to add that I especially appreciated the following:
“If only one side of the issue has signs out there, voters would do well to ask themselves, “Why?” Surely both sides have raised money to campaign with signs.”
Personally, I’m not a fan of incorporation, but can’t help noticing that the ‘No on A’ signs are few and getting fewer, while the massive, obstructive, unattractive candidate ‘banners’ are everywhere.
That’s extremely telling to me, and “Why?” is an excellent question.
On another note: while I am, again, against incorporation, the single candidate I would be comfortable endorsing is Bob Connelly. He is intelligent, a tireless community and civic volunteer, and has not only Alamo’s but California’s and the nation’s best interests at heart.
Dawn
V O T E Y E S O N M E A S U R E A ! ! !
To answer Dawn about the No Signs, I’ve noticed many of them are illegally placed in public right-of-way. When the County comes through to do its weekly sweep, staff is not discriminate, both sides’ signs are removed. Signs put near a freeway, as many of the no’s have been placed, will go away within days. It’s the County, not the YES folks – it never has been and never will be their style.
The YES on A folks have only been truthful and straightforward, they are the leaders of this community, they are honest and law abiding. Even though the opposition is playing dirty politics as Delores said, the YES people I’ve talked to at the candidate’s night, vowed not to stoop to this level of low, clandestine tactics.
Measure A should win and all of our neighborhoods will win. It will unify our community, it will make us whole. The Town of Alamo will work together to guide the four “P’s” – Parks, Planning, Pavement, and Police – those are the only services the new Town will oversee. It is a task that we can easily accomplish, at a MUCH higher level than the County can and is predicted to do in its crisis.
Let’s vote for our precious Alamo – keep her the way she is. Ban together and KNOW why a YES on A is absolutely the right vision, especially right NOW.
V O T E Y E S O N M E A S U R E A ! ! !
Nan
My experience is different than Dawn’s. Most, if not all, of the No on A signs (and all of the big No on A banners) along Danville Boulevard between Rudgear and downtown Alamo have remained while very many Yes signs have disappeared. I have had a Yes sign removed from my property. Two of my immediate neighbors have mentioned to me that Yes signs on their properties were removed. One of them had a large Yes sign on her fence facing Danville Boulevard. It has been torn off the fence TWICE, and the last time ripped in half.
Wake up Alamo….it’s dirty politics like usual…
We have at the Federal level. We have it at the State level. We have it at the County level and we have it at the City level. Now you’re seeing at the unincorporated Alamo level.
So why on earth are you so SURPRISED??? Please don’t be like our Freshman Assemblywoman Buchanan and be SURPRISED about the workings of politics at all levels. By the way, I didn’t make this up about Buchanan…she said it herself…”she was surprised by the behavior she saw at the capital”
Vote for whom ever you like…but Vote NO on Measure A
Thanks
The interesting thing about the Vote for Measure A signs being stolen is that it stoked my interest to learn more about the issue. Prior to the big blue and yellow signs disappearing and being vandalized, I hadn’t really paid attention. I’m glad I looked into issues! My husband and I are now HUGE PROPONENTS OF INCORPORATION! All of our frustrations with poor public services and awful planning issues are dealt with at the County level. I hate that Alamo citizens have no voice in our own decision making. I relish the idea of local control! So thank you sign vandals for bringing me around to the right decision for Alamo – GO INCORPORATION!
Sharon’s comments parallel mine. My husband and I were unsure about whether or not to vote yes and now we will definitely vote yes.
Lorraine and Husband
Sharon’s comments parallel mine. My husband and I were unsure about whether or not to vote yes and now we will definitely vote yes.
Lorraine and Husband
On-Line Webster Dictionary:
Drivel
Main Entry:
driv·el Listen to the pronunciation of drivel
Pronunciation:
ˈdri-vəl
Function:
intransitive verb
Inflected Form(s):
driv·eled or driv·elled; driv·el·ing or driv·el·ling Listen to the pronunciation of drivelling -v(ə-)liŋ
Etymology:
Middle English, from Old English dreflian; perhaps akin to Old Norse draf malt dregs
Date:
before 12th century
1 : to let saliva dribble from the mouth
2 : to talk stupidly and carelessly
— driv·el·er Listen to the pronunciation of driveler -v(ə-)lər noun
Swiftboating
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“Swiftboat” redirects here. For the naval vessel, see Fast Patrol Craft.
Swiftboating is American political jargon that is used as a strong pejorative description of some kind of attack that the speaker considers unfair or untrue—for example, an ad hominem attack or a smear campaign.
The term comes from the Swift Vets and POWs for Truth (formerly “Swift Boat Veterans for Truth” (SBVT)) and that group’s widely publicized[1] campaign against 2004 Presidential candidate John Kerry.[2]
Originally, terms like “swiftboating”, “Swift Boating”, “Swift Boat tactics”, etc. were mostly used by people who disapproved of the Swift Vets and POWs for Truth. It is now in mainstream use. Some American conservatives have strongly objected (see below) to the criticism of SBVT implied by such negative usage.
editing
Definition
Arranging, revising, and preparing a written, audio, or video material for final production, usually by a party (called an editor) other than the creator of the material. The objectives of editing include (1) detection and removal of factual, grammatical, and typographical errors, (2) clarification of obscure passages, (3) elimination of parts not suitable for the targeted audience, and (4) proper sequencing to achieve a smooth, unbroken flow of narrative.
There are 4 of us of voting age in this home, we too started taking more interest when the signs started disappearing. We will all 4 be voting yes on incorporation.
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Definition of politics is a dirty one!
Whatever may the textbooks keep saying, but the ground reality is that politics is the game of power that the mighty play to hold their domination over the weak.
Beneath all its masks, it is simply the adage that says might is right.
The very scientific answers to the questions like ‘what is politics’, ‘why is politics’, ‘concept of politics’, and ‘analyzing politics’ expose its evil spirit that goes 180 degree against the spirit of freedom and democracy.
ATTENTION:
I’m getting unsolicited propoganda from Alamoinc@gmail.com to an e-mail address I gave to Alamo School and Stone Valley Middle School. Can anyone confirm they are also getting these e-mails from one of these Public Schools e-mail lists?
I mean propaganda(typo).
My “No Incorporation” signs were taken from my private property outside my fence on Miranda Creek Court. Perhaps I should have written DO NOT STEAL on my signs as well. I just wanted to point out that there are NO INCORPORATION signs being taken from private property as well.
Alamo needs another gas station to realize its full potential. Shell, Chevron and Rotten Robbie are adequate but a Valero would be the jewel in the crown, so to speak. Thank you for your support. Vote yes on Valero.