Jared's Speech at the June 9th Downey CC Meeting+Mayor Guerra Rebuttal

[megworkfromhome]

Wow Dn Guerra.. That is the way to talk to people whom you disagree with! Respect, kindness and above all FULL ATTENTION to when the speaker is speaking! Like the old saying states... unless you are guilty, then calmness would be the best policy... WOW... you really lost it and did not even apologize for you tactics! Oh I know.. having the land be a piece of housing would benefit WHO??? questions to ponder..... as stated "behind closed doors".

[MrXusa]

I talked with jared last night and we talked about the idea of an entertainment section submitted in place of the old avenue. Completely agree that this town needs something for its mid lifers, 18+. This option will bring in so many more people and the businesses pertaining to food on downey avenue will have a great turn out from this as well. think of what you can bring in to the city, and what people will be saying at night before they leave for the evening, "im going to the Avenue"

[SGTWASSER]

I submitted an article to the Patriot, hope it gets published. Go Avenue.

[lma111589]

Jared made good point, but did accuse a little bit. The mayor disrespectfully whispers to people while the public has only five minutes to talk, which is unprofessional. I think his temper is unprofessional too. Jared was not yelling angrily. All he did was voice an opinion. It seems the mayor is personally attacking Jared's character the way he listed his response. When I see a public official angry, automatically, I assume he is lying. People get defensive when they lie. Think about it. . . .

[frankmo25]

the mayor is a dick hahaha

[rundfunkmedia]

its fine to disagree with people, but you show the respect you expect to receive. whatever the cause is, no one wins by making it personal. we are ALL on the same team, true we disagree on some of the details, but the idea that there is an us against them isnt true, there is only we, and only "we" will ultimately cooperate to get the best possible outcome.

let's keep the discussion going, but keep it free of personal attacks and slander.

[savetheave]

Yes. Please keep away from name-calling and hurling insults.

[retrocool13]

I have seen the mayor act just like this before at one of his Town Hall Meetings. He didn't like the questions being asked about the Downey Studios project and proceeded to act in this very same way. Then he ignored the side of the room that was asking the tough questions. Later that night he began sending out emails calling us liars trying to discredit our ideas.

[retrocool13]

Someone said in one of the comments below that they have never seen themayor angry like this before. Well I just wanted to let you know that I have. At one of his Town Hall meetings he became very upset and angry when members began to question him on the Downey Studios project. He reacted in the same way and eventually ignored the side of the room that was asking the tough questions. After the heated response, he sent out emails calling us liars trying to discredit our points.

[nutballgazette]

Most cities in Florida have a City TV channel that shows the City Council meetings, Most states require that all Gov't meetings be available for TV, and they have good audio quality and sometimes at least 2 camera's, One on the Council and the other on the Speaker.

[savetheave]

Inquires to the City Clerk yesterday concerning video were answered with "Technical difficulties were bad enough to ruin the tape."

A bit coincidental, but then again, systems do fail.

[DowneyMom]

Personally, I would like to see something done for our senior citizens, (in the way of housing) but not at the Avenue theater location. I was thinking of the empty lot across from the senior condos on Dolan. If the Avenue theater stays, that will need a complete overhaul. I remember in its last days, it was getting yukky..... a real fire trap....

[savetheave]

We're looking for The Avenue to benefit all age groups. Remember the travelogues shown at the Downey Civic Theater? We'd love for those to be shown at a revitalized Avenue.

We've also discussed ideas of having classic film nights, and having the films reach as far back as the silent era, complete with an in-house piano player to accompany the films.

[DowneyMom]

Does anyone know if the Avenue theatre was bought using federal HUD monies, with the stipulation that the monies be used for low - moderate income housing? If so, what happens to the monies if we don't use it for low - moderate income housing? Does the city have to give the money back or can we use fthat money or a project somewhere else?

[savetheave]

The Avenue Theater was bought with Housing monies. What types of monies is not exactly known at the moment.

We do know that if the city sees fit, they can sell the property to a developer and then the developer can turn it into what it sees fit to be there.

[TrustUsWeKnow]

No the Avenue theatre was not bought with federal HUD monies. See staff report from June 10, 2008 City Council meeting, which reads in part ...

"Since staff has identified these acquisitions as qualified uses of the Commissions 20% set-aside funds, both the $1,225,000 and the $1,025,000 will be appropriated to account 83-4-6855-0980."

The bigger question, which no one has asked is, "How can the City spend housing money on a property that is not zoned for housing?" Cart before the horse?

[DowneyMom]

I think Mario Guerra did fairly well in his response. Think about it. Someone is in council chambers with a video camera recording the speech made by Jared. If none of the council members respond, then it looks like council members aren't doing anything about the situation. Very one-sided, video ambush, don't you think? I am not for putting apartments on this section of Downey Avenue. It should stay commercial. However, let's give our elected politicians a chance to do their job.

[savetheave]

The camera was set up almost one hour before the council meeting began and members walked past the camera several times.

Guerra's comments at the beginning of the meeting on The Avenue were "This is a done deal...there is no more need for discussion." but the council voted for a developer to gather public discussion on the matter.

Also, Mayor Guerra responded during a time period where council members by law are not allowed to respond.

[DowneyMom]

I heard about this video on YouTube from someone that said the mayor exploded in a council meeting and it was on this site.

As far as that goes, I think Mayor Guerra seemed frustrated but not too far out of line. Normal human stuff....

However, smart idea to put this video up. It certainly has opened up the topic of, " how our taxpayer dollars are being spent here in Downey", among my family tonight....

[savetheave]

A lot of people are saying that, while we and Jared are trying to quell that misinformation. While he realized that writing a harsh letter would most certainly receive a harsh response, Jared termed it as a "overly livid response"

Mayor Guerra is frustrated with us and this is only the second meeting we spoke at. So we'd ask Guerra to hear us out as we understand this will be a long process.

Glad to hear it's sparked debate, that's exactly what we wanted.

[savetheave]

I forgot to add this in reply: There are no signs either inside or outside of council chambers stating "No Video Cameras".

Council chambers are considered a "public forum" and if I remember correctly cameras can not be barred from areas the public is allowed to voice their opinions.

[anniesaunders]

people are never that passionate when they are right, people are only passionately wrong.

[DowneyMom]

So are you saying that both Mario Guerra and Jared are wrong? They same equally passionate about this topic.

[anniesaunders]

yeah, you caught me.

were we watching the same video?

[frozenarthas]

Jared got owned.

[savetheave]

True, he did admit today that his source, being the local paper, did have some problems and has began to work within the city to obtain all information possible.

But the big point of this video is that Mayor Guerra responded during a period when council members by law are not allowed to respond to citizens.

[DnMarioAGuerra]

not true...council can respond to any comments made, just not vote on it...they can correct lies and mistatments especially..

[Akumaryu]

I quite frankly am shocked at the mayor's reaction to the statements made in this very well-spoken address to the members of the council. I personally know the mayor, and have never seen him react that way to anything.

I'm also quite appalled at the mayor's repeated statements of how a firm has been hired to respond to public venting. Why would you be willing to spend the money to hire someone just to TALK to the people of the city, when you apparently won't spend the money to retrofit?

[Akumaryu]

To further my point, I think it is grotesquely upsetting to see the mayor be so hypocritical in a 20 second time period. To say that the meetings and city council sessions are open to the public and then deny an addressing member of the public to respond to what has been said is severely contradictory. A single person's 5 minutes should not be all allowed to hear from the public. And it doesn't take a paid firm to make that judgment call.