voiceofsandiego.org: Letters... Where's April?

Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2008 | If April Boling is disappointed with the Grantville settlement agreement, which sends $31.4 million of Grantville property tax downtown, why didn't she speak up when it mattered?

This item was on the July 29 City Council agenda. A busload of us from Grantville and Allied Gardens came down to this meeting to be heard. In an obvious political maneuver, the Grantville item was put off until the end of what was one of one of the longest City Council meetings of the year. Most of us, including Marti Emerald, stayed to express our opposition to this dubious agreement. We even stayed to be called names by the current District 7 Councilmember. Where was April?

Those of us who couldn't stay put in speaker slips in opposition and ceded time to those who would speak. District 1 candidate Sherri Lightner stayed until the end and ceded time to me, so I could speak for more than two minutes. Sherri doesn't have an axe to grind one way or the other on the Grantville issue, other than doing what's right. April was at City Hall that day. We saw her. Couldn't she have done the same as Sherri?

A few days later I thanked Marti for coming to the meeting, speaking and staying until the end. She replied "I couldn't leave when all of you folks were staying." Later we heard that April left, because she had to go to a meeting. Or, did she leave, because she didn't want Jim Madaffer to label her a "small-town undertaker" with the rest of us?

It's easy for April Boling to make offhand remarks, but quite another to stand up and speak out in public against the Madaffer/Murphy/McCa mindset. There's a connection here that she just can't get over, and no matter how hard she tries to spin, she's cut from the same cloth.

Posted by Larry | reply to this comment
August 13, 2008 1:14 pm

the signonsandiego web site allows readers to comment on articles at the bottom of each one. i suggest vosd consider doing the same.

Posted by the truth | reply to this comment
August 13, 2008 1:30 pm

Well said Brian. The redevelopment welfare warriors, like Sherm Harmer for example, want a continuation of the Madaffer gravy train. They have managed to tax District 7 to pay for trolley repairs on C Street downtown. Nice work Sherm. To them this is just a change of shift with Boling taking over as train driver. She and Todd Gloria were cloned a long time ago to take their turn pressing the magic green button for whatever the developers want. If that’s what the voters want, so be it. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice ........

Posted by Pat Flannery | reply to this comment
August 13, 2008 1:34 pm

Pat & Larry, Right ON! April Boling has been the campaign treasurer for more candidates/campaigns than you can count on your hands, and she made money, lots of it, enough to get appointed to SD City boards, off of them all, even those in-debt, lost, or lead into recall/impeachment. If you want to have more abuse to the citizenry via SD City Hall then vote Boling, she always likes to handle your money!-While never doing the right thing.

Posted by FreedomPleaseOrg | reply to this comment
August 13, 2008 2:24 pm

April - Todd Same-O same-o? They have many of the same endorsers and supporters do they not? You would think that everyone living in San Diego makes millions off redevelopment the way these type of political candidates stay in office.

Posted by Really? | reply to this comment
August 13, 2008 2:38 pm

Everyone in San Diego should be concerned about Madaffer's madness when it comes to Grantville. Eventually everyone will pass through the area. You can pass peacefully like it is now. Or let Madaffer's cronies exploit the area with hundreds of new condos with no way to prevent resulting increased gridlock, pollution, fuel waste, mental anguish, etc. But Madaffer is more concerned about his power trip and the good corporate job with which he will be rewarded. Grantville was probably one of the original settler passes through the territory. Wonder if they would be shocked that we had an ability to leave people alone, but let others take private property to give to exploiters.

Posted by Larry Barker | reply to this comment
August 13, 2008 4:25 pm

Reading about Grantville for sometime now and dealing personally with "The Great One" and his underhanded corrupt ways it has become very clear that we the people really must stop and look at who we are electing into our public offices. It makes me sick to hear about SDCC CCDC SDSU and any other acronym that our public officials seem make up just so they can really in all sense screw the tax payer take our property and give the money to people that are already rich. Driving around district 7 today I thought what if our council member did nothing but work for his district? fix pot holes, lights, signs and etcetera instead of shoving down the throats (that over 80% do not want) redevelopment working on boards (SANDAG) committees (lord knows what he stands for) and working on the next election raisers.

Posted by Jimmy The Weasel | reply to this comment
August 13, 2008 4:48 pm

Pat Flannery- what are you smoking? Todd Gloria and April Boling have nothing in common. Boling is a republican hack, and Todd is a progressive, community oriented candidate. He's never "pressed the magic green button," whatever that means. The only development he favors is that supported by the community: see Talmadge senior village on ECB which provides affordable housing for seniors. You simply have no basis for your charge.---Really?- Gloria and Boling do not have "many of the same endorsers and supporters." Is April endorsed by Labor council, or the police and firefighters? Is she endorsed by the Somali community? How about the League of Conservation Voters? You are just wrong. The both of you need to get a grip.

Posted by TruthTeller | reply to this comment
August 13, 2008 5:07 pm

Look at who has endorse Todd and who has endorse April.... Follow the money, Todd can claim to be anything he wants, but it looks like the money (support endorsements...) comes from the same sources with these two. Big B and developers will clearly be happy with a Todd as well as an April win. 'Follow the money'

Posted by Really? | reply to this comment
August 18, 2008 9:02 am

Nice try but that dog won't hunt. Gloria's liberal, union and environmental support makes this claim hard to believe. Try again and next time shoot for something that passes the laugh test. Oh, and send your copy of All the President's Men back to Netflix.

Posted by Oh, Really? | reply to this comment
August 20, 2008 11:17 pm

You can laugh all you want, don't mean a thing to anyone willing to look for themselves. If we were to look at the endorsers and supporters of April and Todd, looks to be Same-o same-o. Now look at the endorsers and supporters of Marti and Steve, looks to be the same-o. What is laughable is that someone can claim April will act to support the wishes and desires of her supporters, but that Todd will not. Now, let us look at exactly who else has been ‘endorsed’ by the ‘endorsers’ of ‘Todd and April.’

Posted by Really? | reply to this comment
August 21, 2008 10:27 am

We don't elect people anymore by what they stand for we elect them by how much money they can raise. Now I don't know if Marti is the right choice for district 7 and she might just be like all the others but if April did that to to her constituents without an explanation as to why (April its OK to not be for something just be honest about it)I don't think that i can support someone that does not think that they are accountable to anyone. We already have one in that office we don't need to replace with another person that cannot stand up for what they believe be honest about it and work for the people not for private parties or to further their careers. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH Jimmy

Posted by Jimmy The Weasel | reply to this comment
August 13, 2008 5:15 pm

April Boling will make a terrific City Council Representative. She understands cash flow, forecasting, and financial statements. She will not commit to what The City is unable to afford. She is smart, pragmatic, and qualified. She is not a toadie for any special interest and will represent us with dignity, competence, honesty, and compassion.

Posted by Allied Gardens here | reply to this comment
August 13, 2008 6:26 pm

Allied, Yes, she knows about accounting books, financial stuffs, BECAUSE SHE HAS BEEN ON THE TAKE FOR ALMOST EVERY MAJOR CAMPAIGN DURING THE LAST DECADE! When did she ever stand for the constituent? She is no Shippione. She never joined my suit, THE ONLY ONE prior to the misformed City pension transition, against the City/City Council abuse of pension funding/benefits: BEEMAN vs City of San Diego(Circa 1998): Golding, Gwynn, City Council, McGrory and administrator Grissom. You can't just sit as a catcher behind the plate, you either have to pitch or swing to make game winning efforts!

Posted by FreedomPleaseOrg | reply to this comment
August 16, 2008 11:56 pm

Tonite I drove thru Grantville on my way home to Del Cerro. Mission Gorge looked quite nice -- saw no blight, and only a single (1) empty commercial space. Looks like the area could use some landscaping in public ROW, but can't imagine that we require our government to exercise emminent domain and drive a business out of town to simply install some median plantings. Traffic is a problem -- but last time I checked with reality, traffic did not define blight (if so, PB neighborhood should be condemned and rebuilt, and Chargers and Padres games should be eliminated from the City limits). Madaffer is a stain on this City. April B is just another party hack. Hoping Emerald can shine in my district!

Posted by MtGoat | reply to this comment
August 13, 2008 6:41 pm

Do not assume settlement funding is for the trolley repairs. The C Street Master Plan is a CCDC project to rehabilitate the corridor; India to Park. Yes, the trolley runs along this corridor and is participating in the planning effort, but they're bringing their own funding for track and station rehab, which is needed. But, CCDC wants to do much much more... sidewalk treatments, lighting, etc. Plus, they want to introduce a thru travel lane by shifting tracks/stations slightly to north, but result in utility relocation needs. All of which is very costly... reaching $200 million! CCDC does not have the money, so someone made a nexus argument linking the trolley to Grantville to justify use of those funds to fill a piece of the funding pie. Essentially, the settlement would be used to beautify C Street; not fund trolley repairs.

Posted by Thomas Baer | reply to this comment
August 13, 2008 6:42 pm

This sounds like a planned campaign attack on April. Maybe she was not available. Grantville redevelopment has pros and cons. Some fine small business's and some areas not so great. My impression is that the area by the sand plant and the rough industrial area is the focus of the redevelopement. My Uncle was a long time employee of VR Dennis. Traffic pattern is horrible, unsafe areas(check on the crime rate).Many robberies have taken place along Fairmont and Mission Gorge. I won't use the ATM at WaMu. My wife worked with April on school issues. I have met her, she seems like a great person. I have friends whom have had contact with Marty, they don't speak highly of her. I have never met her. I and my wife are long time residents of the district, we will be proud to vote for April.

Posted by Lee | reply to this comment
August 13, 2008 8:00 pm

April Boling has made her career handling politicians' money. And of course, developer money. You think she is going to side with the residents of D7 over the developers when it comes things like Grantville. She's been working for the BIA, ABC, AGC, etc. for years as their political treasurer ... you think that;s going to stop now? In fact, she's still listed as their treasurer. For Goldsmith, for the GOP, for the Lincoln Club ... is she still going to be on the special interest teet when she's in office?

Posted by More of the same | reply to this comment
August 13, 2008 8:17 pm

As a District 1 resident I appreciate Sherri Lightner's thoughtful approach to development issues. I have seen her at our local planning group, the City Planning Commission and City Council hearings. She approaches problems as the engineer that she is, studiously and carefully. Sherri, Marti and Stephen Whitburn joining Donna would offer a much better approach to development by the Council than we have at present. Thalheimer, Bolling and Gloria promise more of the unacceptable same.

Posted by clp | reply to this comment
August 14, 2008 7:50 am

I agree with clp about Sherri Lightner and Marti Emerald. Sherri is a gifted, dedicated public servant who has run a successful engineering and computer consulting company and, more importantly, I actually feel like I can TRUST her...not something I generally say about candidates. I think that her business acumen and experience working for neighborhoods is a winning combination.

Posted by Karl | reply to this comment
August 14, 2008 10:27 am

I told you so. Marti is backed by the public unions (very bad), but in the long run she is the honest one. Im still in Marti's corner. I do not trust Boling. That simple.

Posted by Billy Bob Henry | reply to this comment
August 14, 2008 12:35 pm

Why do our electeds now feel that have the right to personally attack individuals who state their opinons? I'm sad to see this is going on in many of our cities. What happened to collegiality, courtesy and kindness?

Posted by Coast Watcher | reply to this comment
August 14, 2008 3:46 pm

I wanted to let Lee know that April was there on the 12th floor the day the city council was hearing and voting on the Grantville Settlement Agreement. We all saw her and assumed she would weigh in. I can understand if she wasn't able to stay and speak to the council due to the fact that it was delayed until 7:30 p.m. What I don't understand is how she could be there, know this was a bad (and probably illegal) deal, and not even fill out a speaker slip registering her position. I have maintained all along (based on her past actions) that she will not take a stand and fight for our neighborhoods. A vote for April is a vote for the Grantville fiasco and more of the same. Vote for Marti, Sherri, and Stephen. They will fight for you and your neighborhoods.

Posted by Linda J. Wilson | reply to this comment
August 14, 2008 4:41 pm

Where's April?

By Brian T. Peterson, Birdland