John Merlino, San Clemente
So it goes without saying, if you don’t involve yourself you can’t complain right?
Well, I have never been one for politics and such, it is even hard for me to get to the voting booths to pick a president of our country, I am not sure if it is because it seems so distant or just hopeless. On the other hand, it is hard not get involved in an election when you pass the constituents on a regular basis walking the streets of your hometown. After attending a meeting to here candidates speak on there behalf, all suddenly became very clear to me, I need to get involved a bit more, so I am, by writing my opinions to be read by all and making sure I vote.
I wanted to bring up one very sore subject I have. It is regarding Jim Dahl and his band of cronies. I have lived in San Clemente for over 20 years, grew up nearby in Mission Viejo but was always here anyway surfing T-Street, Cottons, Trestles etc. I love San Clemente for its small town charm, tight community and visible relationship between residents and town. I have been on the front line watching the whole Marblehead project begin to take shape and then stop and lay dormant for several years—what an eye sore. When I heard the project was going to get started again, I asked in what shape, and again the strip mall style outlet malls was spoken. It makes me cringe at the thought of having an outlet mall on our coastal properties, but I managed to get over it when I was told how the project would look. It was not until I noticed Jim Dahl and Lang posters plastered all over the project that I started asking questions, like; “Why would they have their real estate claimed on their but Chris Hamm and Bob Baker #1 do not. Come to find out Dahl is a pretty shady operator and wants his council seat to push through on things that will degrade our community and coastline property for the sake of, you guessed it, Money in his pocket! You see I do not have much faith in a guy who takes a position that is suppose to represent the interests of the community which elected him, but also has only lived in San Clemente two years? Shame on us San Clementeans for electing this clown in the first place.
Yeah I said it, he even went as far as representing another runner for city council, named, Bob Baker, for the sole purpose of splitting votes on the real Bob Baker. This was very alarming to me because Jim Dahl even admitted to not even meeting or knowing this Bob Baker, and yet he is the guy who signed his election papers to get him in the running.
We know politics is an inherently dirty game, but ask yourself why Jim Dahl wants to have the owner of the Citadel Signage company put up huge LED displays adorning our I-5 coastal line. Could it be that he thinks they are a beautiful addition to our coastline? No! It is because has a financial interest in it? We should all start asking the questions, as I did, and understand what electing Jim Dahl will do to this community for the sake of money. It is like signing a contract with the Devil, we will get nothing in return.
Elect Chris Hamm and Bob Baker No. 1 this year, lets get San Clemente back from this crook Jim Dahl; it only takes a step to begin the walk.
Dear John: I have lived in San Clemente since 1964 and I do not endorse huge LED digital signs in San Clemente. Get you facts straight! Get Your Head out of the Sand!
Jim– Maybe you don’t like the digital signs but we all know that you’ll LOVE whatever the developer proposes.
Yes Jim, lets do get our facts straight.
You voted to re-zone open space for the purpose of building a housing complex. Cost to San Clemente in overturning your decision in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
You voted to sell beach front property to a commercial developer for more than $ 6,000,000.00 under fair market value AND provide that developer with another $ 3,000.000.00 subsidy for parking he could not afford AND cost the city another $ 350,000.00 to overturn your decision in referendum.
You voted to extend the toll road to Trestles despite over 75% of SC residents opposing the termination in San Clemente.
The list goes on and on Jim. Fact is if you were to pull your head out of another place where the sun don’t shine, you would recognize you consistently vote against the wishes of the people you represent. You simply are unfit to serve the interests of this city.
In a recent debate, when asked about signage for the future outlet mall, Jim Dahl said he couldn’t say what his opinion of the signs would be. Now he is saying he doesn’t endorse digital signs for outlet mall. Previously, he did vote to allow this developer to make his signs bigger than is allowed. The city was sued over this vote and we lost a couple hundred thousand dollars.
We know this developer is coming back and he wants more signage than our code allows. What do you think Jim Dahl will do on THIS vote?
How do you think Jim Dahl is going to vote when the TCA wants to bring the last leg of the toll road to San Clemente?
These are big issues involving your quality of life in San Clemente. Do you want ugly signs along the freeway advertising an outlet mall? Jim Dahl won’t stop that. He already voted for it.
Kathleen,
Per Hamm’s disclosure statements, you live in Lake Arrowhead. With all due respect, I don’t believe any out of town resident has any idea what/who is best for San Clemente.
http://www.ocregister.com/news/san-376192-clemente-campaign.html
I answered this in another post. I am a San Clemente resident.
Kathleen-
I was at one of the debates, when 2 candidates- Mortenson and Dahl BOTH said that they could not answer what their opinions would be on future signs. A point you try to make out to be a bad one in your comment above. The truth is, they have no opinion because there are currently no proposals for signs before the council. How in the world could they have an opinion?? On what signs should this opinion be based? The fictional jumbotrons the Baker/Hamm camp is spreading rumors about?? That’s not even worth time to respond to, that will NEVER happen.
The more concerning thing is Baker and Hamm saying to signs, any signs, every signs. That makes no sense. They are saying NO without ever seeing the proposed signs? How educated is that? Not very if you ask me, or anyone for that matter. So… you want us to vote for two guys that already have votes decided on future issues, without seeing facts, or examples, Baker and Hamm have already voiced their NO votes?? Not surprising for Baker (king of the NO votes) but I would think Hamm being younger and naive would at least like to see the issues at hand- guess not! Just one of the MANY reasons Baker and Hamm did not get my vote.
Dahl just gave an opinion.
Such condescending comments on Chris Hamm from you and Marvin Dennis. I hate to break it to you, but you and I are old. Yes, we can still do a lot and enjoy our life, but the world belongs to THEM. Chris Hamm is in his prime and he’s just getting warmed up.
Kathleen-
Are you speaking to me me? I could not disagree more with your statements above.
You must think you know who I am… I can assure you, that you do not. I have never met you, and I am actually quite young. I am not offended in the least to be called “old” but I can tell you that it’s a first- it’s definitely not a term most people use when they are referring to me.
Also, if Chris Hamm is in his prime, that is unfortunate because I honestly do not think he is ready to be on our city council. I’m hoping you meant physical prime? He is very young, and being a fire fighter I would assume he is physically fit and healthy. If you are referring to him intellectually, well than I am just at a loss. Being born in a city does not make you a good candidate for city council, just as amber alert signs do not cause traffic. 2 of Chris’ biggest reasons he thinks you should vote for him. Those amateur answers are extremely naive, and say a lot about Chris’ lack of readiness to be making influential decisions for our city. I said in another post I think perhaps Chris should run again in 4 or 8 years, but if this is his “prime,” I take back that suggestion…
Great piece John– God Bless Jim Dahl— he is a mess. It is time to let him go….. I am supporting Hamm and B Baker #1 all the way. This is not close. Between Dah’ls money hungry love of the toll road and Mortensen’s followship——They are wrong for our future— Hamm and B Baker #1 are fresh air!