Slanted: The Alameda Sun Doesn't Shine (Dec 07, 2009)
The Alameda Sun doesn't shine for quality journalism with regards to non-homophobic opposition to homosexuality being taught to our children. The writer and both editors displayed journalistic skills worthy of a high school newsletter in front page, Dec 03, 2009 article. In 30-point type "Judges RulingFavors AUSD on Recall" Talk about slanted! The Alameda Sun (don't shine) title is materially inaccurate. Surely professionals fact check the Alameda County Registrar of Voters. The Recall of Jensen, Mooney and Tam is not subject to the Alameda County Superior Court. The Court has no jurisdiction over the Recall. S.E.R.V.E Alameda has written the managers of this supermarket-isle pub, and requested a printed correction or retraction for errors in material facts. We are not holding our breath.
The full text of the email to both editors and the author of the article follows:
From: ServeAlameda.org
To: jptracey@alamedasun.com; devanosky@alamedasun.com; editor@alamedasun.com
Regards: Judges Ruling Favors AUSD on Recall
By Dennis Evanosky, published Thursday Dec 03, 2009.
The sole reference to S.E.R.V.E Alameda in paragraph 3 sentence 2 is accurate however; the title of the piece is misleading and materially incorrect. This letter is to seek a retraction or correction for a factual inaccuracy.
The title suggests two inaccuracies.
1) That S.E.R.V.E Alameda has involvement with the lawsuit coursing it way through Alameda County Superior Court. In fact, we have nothing to do with any lawsuit. In fact, there are no plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the AUSD that are leaders or even members of S.E.R.V.E Alameda. Therefore any “preliminary” ruling by the Superior Court has no relation to S.E.R.V.E Alameda.
Please correct this inaccuracy.
2) The title suggests that a Superior Court Judge has any involvement or influence in the Petition to Recall Jensen, Mooney and Tam. S.E.R.V.E Alameda has successfully prosecuted the Notice to Recall Jensen, Mooney and Tam. S.E.R.V.E. Alameda is presently within the petition qualification time-limit. We are actively collecting signatures to qualify a special election to place the matter of the three seats before the voters. No Superior Court jurisdiction is involved in the matter of the Petition to Recall Jensen, Mooney and Tam.
Mr. Evanosky did not get his information from the Registrar of Voters for Alameda County. S.E.R.V.E Alameda rejects the implication that we have been stymied by the Court.
Please correct this inaccuracy.
Kevin Wood
S.E.R.V.E. ALAMEDA
The AlamedaSun Editor (editor@alamedasun.com) responded: "If what I wrote is incorrect I'm happy to run a correction. It won't get in until next week (Dec. 17 issue) though. We already have this week's issue set for the press.
Dennis"
Recall Open Minds... A Dead End
Forget about real anti-bullying in Alameda; fig leaf allegations of "safety" concerns have long been discredited. We now have incontrovertible proof of our opponents’ subterfuge.
Activists are poised to wage battle on natural systems that create family; that created themselves. Heterosexuality.
A husband-wife family remains their penultimate target. Homosexuals, unable to sway voters at state ballot boxes, continue local manipulation of the AUSD board of education and Kirsten Vital to advance their equality agenda. Their goal: elevating homosexuality to the level of and rectitude with heterosexuality. To normalize homosexuality in the minds of young children in defiance of and in direct opposition to parental leadership of values taught in the majority of families.
How, you ask? By cunning and stealth of course! Now using the District’s-own Advisory Committee process; purported to engineer a class-balanced anti-bullying curriculum. These same men and women homosexuals,
activist-teachers in our public schools; are also card-carrying members of the militant-wing of the alameda education association (aea). Their tactics Alamedans witnessed in budget-bursting contract negotiations which burden financially today.
The aea, long understudies of the ideologically-bent national education association (nea), contributed stilted indoctrination into K-5 based upon “Open Minds To Equality”. Parents and others have chanced to review the text at the Superintendent’s office (we encourage all to review them also). “Open Minds…” is being compared to Lesson 9 on steroids. These activists were most arrogant of and insistent upon their self-appointed right to determine the curricula alone, and based it on the Open Minds..., 3rd edition. Most certainly now, Lesson 9 was the opening salvo, the trial balloon to instigate overthrowing Caring Schools and installing curricula which even more heavily promotes humanism and homosexuality across K-5 initially, but eventually, I believe, grades 6-12 as well.
Others recognized the militant agenda for what it was and I am grateful that Dr. Ruben Zepeda and finally the Teacher Committee agreed that it was inappropriate for our young children. It is only common sense that parents weigh in on not only the selection of the books to be used, but also citizen approval of the detailed lesson plans themselves. Because this rabbit hole is deeper than even I imagined, persistent citizen resistance and the recall of the school board, is more urgent than ever before. - Kevin Wood
Accountability, Accountability, Accountability
In the midst of its worst money crisis, the AUSD Board (board) pleaded for special money from taxpayers in the form of Measure H, while threatening to cut key programs. Once the board of education secured its funding, what happened? This board spent virtually all of its energy and focus pushing through Lesson 9, a controversial and mandatory homosexual-slanted curriculum. Now this board is coming back for more money.
In well publicized budget meetings the board has been inviting and conditioning residents for a permanent parcel tax. This will require a ballot from the same citizens which Lesson 9 has alienated. How arrogant is this board to insist it is above accountability for spending taxes we all continue to pay?
The governor’s budget cutting hits AUSD; which is burdened by receiving lower allocations from the state than neighboring districts. State budgets through 2015 are forecast to be in crisis. Had this Board taken seriously its fiduciary duty, they would have kept their efforts on the serious long-term fiscal issues. Instead this Board focused, laser-like, on the near term political wedge-issue, Lesson 9. While homosexuals benefit from having their feelings and consciences untouched by reality, we all pay and continue paying for this folly of a curriculum that, unlike the budget, flew under the radar.
Alameda’s voters passed Measure A, a parcel tax with a burden of $189 per year for facilities and class-size reduction; and Measure H, for ongoing district expenses. Measure H passage resulted in two ongoing lawsuits over “fairness” from the business community. Both measures expire in June 2012. Meanwhile, enrollment continues to drop. Charter schools are aiding that decline as parents seek alternatives to failures at AUSD’s core mission.
Home schooling and flight from gltb are also contributing to declining revenues. Debate now swirls around the district raiding Categorical Programs including popular arts & music, adult education, high school exit exam, gifted/talented and child nutrition funds for “budget flexibility”.
No fewer than four attorneys testified before the May 26th vote that L9 passage would result in legal action. Board members Trish Spencer and Mike McMahon got it right voting against Lesson 9. He sided with the alleged purpose of the curriculum, but did his homework and recognized the program was fatally flawed, age-inappropriate, and would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to defend in court. He, then, voted against L9. Three other board members, Mooney, Tam, and Jensen were either too lazy or too arrogant to do their duty. With Lesson 9 passed, AUSD justifiably has been sued. Countless hours of community meetings have been wasted trying to correct the lesson plans that were flawed from the beginning. Parents have left the school district; meanwhile nothing has been done to solve the money problem at the State level. Now they are coming back for more money from the voters. Now, in the worst recession since the Depression! Each parcel-holder (including those without school-aged children) pays an inordinant amount of taxes for AUSD. Mooney, Tam, and Jensen should do us all Alamedans a favor and resign. If not, they should be recalled. We cannot afford them. - Kevin Wood
The Alameda Sun doesn't shine for quality journalism with regards to non-homophobic opposition to homosexuality being taught to our children. The writer and both editors displayed journalistic skills worthy of a high school newsletter in front page, Dec 03, 2009 article. In 30-point type "Judges RulingFavors AUSD on Recall" Talk about slanted! The Alameda Sun (don't shine) title is materially inaccurate. Surely professionals fact check the Alameda County Registrar of Voters. The Recall of Jensen, Mooney and Tam is not subject to the Alameda County Superior Court. The Court has no jurisdiction over the Recall. S.E.R.V.E Alameda has written the managers of this supermarket-isle pub, and requested a printed correction or retraction for errors in material facts. We are not holding our breath.
The full text of the email to both editors and the author of the article follows:
From: ServeAlameda.org
To: jptracey@alamedasun.com; devanosky@alamedasun.com; editor@alamedasun.com
Regards: Judges Ruling Favors AUSD on Recall
By Dennis Evanosky, published Thursday Dec 03, 2009.
The sole reference to S.E.R.V.E Alameda in paragraph 3 sentence 2 is accurate however; the title of the piece is misleading and materially incorrect. This letter is to seek a retraction or correction for a factual inaccuracy.
The title suggests two inaccuracies.
1) That S.E.R.V.E Alameda has involvement with the lawsuit coursing it way through Alameda County Superior Court. In fact, we have nothing to do with any lawsuit. In fact, there are no plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the AUSD that are leaders or even members of S.E.R.V.E Alameda. Therefore any “preliminary” ruling by the Superior Court has no relation to S.E.R.V.E Alameda.
Please correct this inaccuracy.
2) The title suggests that a Superior Court Judge has any involvement or influence in the Petition to Recall Jensen, Mooney and Tam. S.E.R.V.E Alameda has successfully prosecuted the Notice to Recall Jensen, Mooney and Tam. S.E.R.V.E. Alameda is presently within the petition qualification time-limit. We are actively collecting signatures to qualify a special election to place the matter of the three seats before the voters. No Superior Court jurisdiction is involved in the matter of the Petition to Recall Jensen, Mooney and Tam.
Mr. Evanosky did not get his information from the Registrar of Voters for Alameda County. S.E.R.V.E Alameda rejects the implication that we have been stymied by the Court.
Please correct this inaccuracy.
Kevin Wood
S.E.R.V.E. ALAMEDA
The AlamedaSun Editor (editor@alamedasun.com) responded: "If what I wrote is incorrect I'm happy to run a correction. It won't get in until next week (Dec. 17 issue) though. We already have this week's issue set for the press.
Dennis"
Recall Open Minds... A Dead End
Forget about real anti-bullying in Alameda; fig leaf allegations of "safety" concerns have long been discredited. We now have incontrovertible proof of our opponents’ subterfuge.
Activists are poised to wage battle on natural systems that create family; that created themselves. Heterosexuality.
A husband-wife family remains their penultimate target. Homosexuals, unable to sway voters at state ballot boxes, continue local manipulation of the AUSD board of education and Kirsten Vital to advance their equality agenda. Their goal: elevating homosexuality to the level of and rectitude with heterosexuality. To normalize homosexuality in the minds of young children in defiance of and in direct opposition to parental leadership of values taught in the majority of families.
How, you ask? By cunning and stealth of course! Now using the District’s-own Advisory Committee process; purported to engineer a class-balanced anti-bullying curriculum. These same men and women homosexuals,
activist-teachers in our public schools; are also card-carrying members of the militant-wing of the alameda education association (aea). Their tactics Alamedans witnessed in budget-bursting contract negotiations which burden financially today.
The aea, long understudies of the ideologically-bent national education association (nea), contributed stilted indoctrination into K-5 based upon “Open Minds To Equality”. Parents and others have chanced to review the text at the Superintendent’s office (we encourage all to review them also). “Open Minds…” is being compared to Lesson 9 on steroids. These activists were most arrogant of and insistent upon their self-appointed right to determine the curricula alone, and based it on the Open Minds..., 3rd edition. Most certainly now, Lesson 9 was the opening salvo, the trial balloon to instigate overthrowing Caring Schools and installing curricula which even more heavily promotes humanism and homosexuality across K-5 initially, but eventually, I believe, grades 6-12 as well.
Others recognized the militant agenda for what it was and I am grateful that Dr. Ruben Zepeda and finally the Teacher Committee agreed that it was inappropriate for our young children. It is only common sense that parents weigh in on not only the selection of the books to be used, but also citizen approval of the detailed lesson plans themselves. Because this rabbit hole is deeper than even I imagined, persistent citizen resistance and the recall of the school board, is more urgent than ever before. - Kevin Wood
Accountability, Accountability, Accountability
In the midst of its worst money crisis, the AUSD Board (board) pleaded for special money from taxpayers in the form of Measure H, while threatening to cut key programs. Once the board of education secured its funding, what happened? This board spent virtually all of its energy and focus pushing through Lesson 9, a controversial and mandatory homosexual-slanted curriculum. Now this board is coming back for more money.
In well publicized budget meetings the board has been inviting and conditioning residents for a permanent parcel tax. This will require a ballot from the same citizens which Lesson 9 has alienated. How arrogant is this board to insist it is above accountability for spending taxes we all continue to pay?
The governor’s budget cutting hits AUSD; which is burdened by receiving lower allocations from the state than neighboring districts. State budgets through 2015 are forecast to be in crisis. Had this Board taken seriously its fiduciary duty, they would have kept their efforts on the serious long-term fiscal issues. Instead this Board focused, laser-like, on the near term political wedge-issue, Lesson 9. While homosexuals benefit from having their feelings and consciences untouched by reality, we all pay and continue paying for this folly of a curriculum that, unlike the budget, flew under the radar.
Alameda’s voters passed Measure A, a parcel tax with a burden of $189 per year for facilities and class-size reduction; and Measure H, for ongoing district expenses. Measure H passage resulted in two ongoing lawsuits over “fairness” from the business community. Both measures expire in June 2012. Meanwhile, enrollment continues to drop. Charter schools are aiding that decline as parents seek alternatives to failures at AUSD’s core mission.
Home schooling and flight from gltb are also contributing to declining revenues. Debate now swirls around the district raiding Categorical Programs including popular arts & music, adult education, high school exit exam, gifted/talented and child nutrition funds for “budget flexibility”.
No fewer than four attorneys testified before the May 26th vote that L9 passage would result in legal action. Board members Trish Spencer and Mike McMahon got it right voting against Lesson 9. He sided with the alleged purpose of the curriculum, but did his homework and recognized the program was fatally flawed, age-inappropriate, and would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to defend in court. He, then, voted against L9. Three other board members, Mooney, Tam, and Jensen were either too lazy or too arrogant to do their duty. With Lesson 9 passed, AUSD justifiably has been sued. Countless hours of community meetings have been wasted trying to correct the lesson plans that were flawed from the beginning. Parents have left the school district; meanwhile nothing has been done to solve the money problem at the State level. Now they are coming back for more money from the voters. Now, in the worst recession since the Depression! Each parcel-holder (including those without school-aged children) pays an inordinant amount of taxes for AUSD. Mooney, Tam, and Jensen should do us all Alamedans a favor and resign. If not, they should be recalled. We cannot afford them. - Kevin Wood