Publius2
“I think that NAFF is affiliated with TimBen and the Calgrove folks, including Annette.”
Not affilated, sorry to say.
“Annette seems to know who NAFF is, and she isn’t telling.” Maybe Maybe, it’s me!

Bye Bye, I have a nice fireplace to watch while the rain comes down today and, if you choose you can keep the blog going!

The Newhall Gateway project conformed with existing land uses. It is hard for me to imagine that this is really a “Gateway” when the other corners are a Carls Jr, a Trailer Park and a Chevron Station. If the Council was serious about the identity here, they would be trying to gain control over those parcels to get them to a higher value, more attractive use.

The Hospital project did not conform to approved uses and was extremely controversial. Further studies were done to provide political cover for issues where Planning allowed code variances (i.e. Parking).

The Field of Dreams, (a rushed politicized effort by a few well connected) fortunately died a quiet death after appropriate due diligence.

And as I understand it, the Sheraton as proposed does not comply with current land use limits. It was another “lets see if we can push it through” project without an EIR (which Newhall Gateway had).

These are very different projects with very different issues!

I am a TBB supporter (not afraid to say that) because I like his positions on many local issues and think that unlike many of the current council members, he researches the issues more thoroughly, listens to folks (except perhaps Berta according to her), asks the appropriate questions and is willing to do what in the larger sense is good for the community and not just the business community.

I think Frank Ferry does do some good for the community, particularly for youth issues. However, I think he is insular (he has NONE of the availability or responsiveness that Kellar, Weste, McLean and Boydston have shown) and he is too connected with the GOBN to be objective and does not consistently do what is best for the entire community.

That coupled with his dismissiveness of dissenting opinions and his bullying at meetings makes him objectionable to me.

I’ve yet to see the Planning Department develop realistic assumptions and plans about development in the Valley. There is always something behind the scenes that is dictating what is placed where. While they want to create density around the train depots, train stations are not a silver bullet to get folks out of their cars because of the limitations on where they go. Likewise, all the new residents aren’t going to ride their bike like Jeff. If folks want to live in a high density area, it seems extremely unlikely they would chose the SCV because it just does not offer the opportunities that those folks would want to walk to. Why would someone take an hour long train trip from downtown LA to live in an area that is inferior in amenities that they could get downtown? How many dining, dancing and entertainment venues are located near the train stations now? Only a few in Newhall…

1) TimBen is always presented as a hero in these videos. “Need for Involved Citizenry” says he could be blasted for his positions, but he never is.
2) Compare the editing of the NAFF videos with the video on TimBen’s election site. They seem to be drawn from a similar skill set.
3) In the video where NAFF appears in silhouttee with disguised voice, he looks and sounds like Sterling King.
4) Annette seems to know who NAFF is, and she isn’t telling.

I agree with Jeff that NAFF is inconsistent in his or her positions. The Newhall Gateway project should proceed without further studies, but the Hospital project should not proceed without further studies? Huh? This is similar to TimBen’s positions — He thought Field of Dreams needed an outside consultant study, but he was skeptical of an outside consultant study for a conference center at the Sheraton. He doesn’t like “governing by consultant,” unless it suits his purposes.

One thing is for sure, NAFF has a lot of animosity towards the Planning Department. He seems to dislike them almost as much as the City Council and Pulskamp. Is it a coincidence that “better planning” is one of TimBen’s campaign planks? I don’t think so.

But the reality here is as Annette says, this is actual footage. Might not always include the full context but then you could accuse every paper, tv station, blog, web site of the same approach.

Further, just because NAFF likes to blast Frank Ferry doesn’t mean he is Tim Ben Boydston. I’m sure TBB would get blasted also for some of his positions.