Dear Mr. George Laase,
I guess the last truth serum inoculation I gave you in 2009 must have worn off. I admit that you are correct this time.
It has been four years now since I read the numbers. Must have confused 64.03 percent on subsidized lunches for students. Remember, I am old school. We rounded off. I knew you would come through. Need some numbers? Call George.
Mr. Laase quotes:
He says that my figure of 70 percent was not even close. If it were, we would be getting much more money from our state’s Local Control Funding Formula instead of having funding taken from us and given to low-performing schools throughout the state.
I ask: How and why is the state taking money from the Culver City Unified School District and giving it to low-performing schools?
Can you explain this reasoning, George?
I have a couple more questions that maybe you can answer since Culver City’s finest and brightest selected officials, either the School Board president or City Council members, mayors (former, present and future) suddenly have all contracted politicitis (deaf and dumb).
1. What is the law that prohibits the City Council from financially assisting the School District?
2. Why did the Redevelopment Agency (same as members of the City Council) have to forfeit $14 million back to the state?
3. What type of building is Culver Villas? What do the citizens get for their $6 million investment?
4. What are the real plans for the Natatorium?
“CCUSD Seeks Food Donations,” from the Nov. 14 Culver City Observer:
“Did you know that more than 45 percent of CCUSD students receive free or reduced price lunches at their schools every day? For many students, this vital resource includes free breakfast.”
From George Laase, in this newspaper, at 5 p.m. Nov. 8:
“More than $68K was raised cumulatively by the seven candidates for the three-seat race for the School Board.”
Mr. Laase further states that I thought the School Board dais would be a perfect platform for espousing my opinions. He says I forgot to mention the last time I ran for the Board in 2011, only 129 out of over 3800 voters agreed with me.
Is that all you have, George? Covered the tally after my first no money down School Board stroll-a-thon.
You ever have a feeling when you see someone and wonder where, but you can’t quite place him?
Then it eventually hits you. Culver City has over 3,000 Walking Dead.
George continues:
He says I accused him of plagiarism. He conveniently left out that not only did I call him out on it, but produced the email exchange in question and proved it.
George, my advice to you is seek the advice of an attorney (outside of Culver City).
Mr. Laase is correct to say that when I emailed him regarding an article he had published in this newspaper, I wanted to republish it but tweak it to Measure EE.
I asked him if I could give him credit for it?
Here is where it gets cloudy.
Mr. Laase refused my request, which is his God-given right. A “no” would have sufficed.
I would have appreciated it if he had not tried to make a flimsy excuse. The truth is just difficult for a lot of Californians.
Mr. Laase wrote this about me: “Awhile back, during his untraditional, non-campaign campaign for the Board, he emailed me, asking if he could convert one of my past commentaries in this newspaper as being one of his own.”
Mr. Laase must be a graduate of the California school system. How many degrees?
My biggest problem with all these overeducated people is that they do not demonstrate basic common sense. Follow me. I asked a writer (Mr. Laase) if I can use his published article as my own to be published in the same newspaper? I cannot explain that one. Help!
Mr. Laase continues: “But wouldn't you know it; Gary went on and misused my earlier commentary anyway. Later, I found it on his blog: http://garyabrams.wordpress.com/2009/09/29/ca/ without any written credit given in the piece.
This is stated at the end of my blog:
“This is an excerpt from an article published in thefrontpageonline on April 07, 2008. Only the names and dates have been changed.”
Again Mr. Laase has misrepresented the facts. Must be those pure California genes?
I have no need to attempt to destroy or character assassinate Mr. Laase. I think he has done that to himself. Are you the best that The Machine can produce?
I emailed Mr. George Laase one final time to ask him why he waited until after the election to publish his piece about Measure EE below? He never gave me an answer. Which I was not expecting anyway.
Mr. Abrams may be contacted at gabrams@ca.rr.com
