I want to thank the League of Women Voters for giving all of the School Board Candidates a level playing field last Thursday night at City Hall.
The web pages for all candidates eliminate the need for all that literature (waste of trees) because you can access all pertinent information on each individual candidate’s site.
Realizing that it is in its infancy and experiencing growing pains, the only problem I have noticed is that not many people are aware of the site. Local newspapers do not promote it.
If you are not flush with cash, you get little press.
There has to be a better way to expose the candidates than these so-called forums.
Commend Mr. Scott Zeidman (of the School Board) for his attempt at reforming the questioning aspect of it.
Giving the questions in advance was his idea.
Too bad he was criticized for trying to be innovative.
Change is difficult for a lot of people.
Was not one of those people.
Dueling for Keeps?
My request was misunderstood, almost like everything I seem to say.
Been challenged to a duel by one candidate.
We have since talked, and I think he has accepted the fact that I say what I mean as long as it‘s true. Oftentimes my words are misinterpreted.
My mom always told me, Do not let others define who you are.
Have been called several not-so-flattering things publicly, but they never have really bothered. Kind of made me laugh.
Mostly everyone knows I do not fare well in these types of Forums, 2- or 3-min intros and 1- or 2-min responses to random questions.
Vowed to never participate in another one since The Ambush. I must confess that I fibbed this one and only time.
Out of pure frustration of not getting any local newspaper coverage other than the so-called feud between Mr. Ari Noonan and me, that I hoped has ceased. Found out that maybe ten people read the FrontPage online other than me and Mr. Noonan. Candidate Mr. Alan Elmont confided that he read it, too.
One question that keeps puzzling me is, What else would you cut to make up for the upcoming budget ax?
My response was, What else was left to cut. See my Dad always told me that you do not have to always let people know what you are thinking.
On the Matter of Raising Money
But I’ll share this with you this time. It has been reported by Mr. Zeidman that some schools were running out of food. Hey, that’s an idea. Another one: Ban kids from wearing shoes. Money saved can be donated to the schools.
It was refreshing to see Mr. Elmont finally get to use some of that six years of Board attendance knowledge when the moderator ask me about what I would do to make the schools greener?
My first thought was to say, show them how to get some more money.
After I stumbled through trying to recall that solar company Sun City, when I got home, I remembered it was Solar City. Shucks. That ever happened to you?
Mr. Elmont mentioned that the Board had been in discussion already with some company and that it would not cost anything to the District. Now that is the part that made my eyes roll. Other than that ,it was refreshing to see Mr. Elmont’s face beaming like he had won the lottery. You get lucky once in awhile to get one of those questions. At least someone other than Karlo was having a moment.
I wanted the one question on the Natatorium that first went to Ms. Kathy Paspalis, who mentioned that there was bird poop in there.
Now I know she looks at thefrontpageonline.com also, because she would not have known that, if she had not read one of the 15 or so published articles related to me — http://www.thefrontpageonline.com/new/articles1-6450/AbramsallExcellentAdventureInsidetheLongClosedNatatorium
She mentioned that it could be used as a Multi-purpose Room for testing because of upkeep cost. Then the question went to Mr. Elmont.
I almost raised my hand.
Over here, please.
He kind of repeated what she said. He has been inside of it.
1964 — A Natatorium, in a district/city partnership subsequently opened, but had to be closed in the1990s for budgetary reasons.
Seventeen years and counting.
In thefrontpageonline.com, Oct. 29, 2007:
“Candidates for the School Board said, We’d like to see the Natatorium re-opened; the Board will be upgraded regardless of which two of us you elect.”
For those of you who do not know what the Natatorium is, it is an indoor swimming facility that the District owns. Located in northeast of the front entrance of the Middle School.
Currently and for the past 17 years, swimming and water polo teams have practiced at the City Plunge, for a fee, of course, and they do not have access to the pool during the summer months.
Swim and water polo teams are successful in spite of all the drawbacks. Dedicated father and son, Nestor Sr. and Jr. coaching team, have done a remarkable job with the limited access of pool time. They practice 2 hours and 15 mins daily, and they are exposed to elements, blazing sun and chilly winter winds.
Did you know that last year’s JV water polo team went undefeated? And that this year’s JV team is still undefeated?
The varsity has lost only one game so far this year. This summer, the water polo team won the championship game of the L.A. Watts Summer Games. See C.C. News Aug. 13, 2009.
It is unfortunate that the coach’s dream of having their own facility keeps getting pushed back.
I honestly think that they have given up hope that it will ever happen. Think of the possibilities. A state swimming powerhouse.
You say you want to increase quality student enrollment?
What about the $6 million that was set aside for the Nat?
Another question hurled at me last Thursday was, What you will do to get the city and District to cooperate?
Caught me totally by surprise. Could only state that I’m amazed. Thought they both represented Culver City, period.
Knew there had been bad blood, but I thought it had been resolved. Come on, children. Can’t we just get along?
Promises, promises, promises.
From Dec. 18, 2008. “In an event that is about as frequent as a leap year, the City Council and the Liaison Committee of the School Board actually met at City Hall. Culver City’s only two elected bodies, who seem to regard each other as rivals, talk about meeting far more frequently than they convene. And this session was branded productive. For reasons that never have been completely clear, for much of the past decade the City Council and School Board rarely communicated or cooperated with one another.”
(To be concluded Tuesday)
Mr. Abrams, a candidate for the School Board, may be contacted at gabrams@ca.rr.com
