Justin Alderson, San Clemente
My wife and two lovely kids have enjoyed this gem of a town for the past eight years.
During our time here, we’ve been fortunate enough to be intimately involved with a couple of local charities—Hope 4 Hanna (which he helped create) and Courtney’s Sand Castle.
I’m writing to express my sincere appreciation to councilman Bob Baker for always being such a positive beacon for us on these philanthropic journeys—be it advice on how to navigate the waters of pulling a city permit or helping find ways to fund the completion of Courtney’s Sand Castle (be it Phase 1 or 2, he’s been a supporter since the beginning), it’s nice to know that we have a council member who is always approachable and in touch with the citizens of San Clemente—especially those of us who are fairly new to this small town and are busy raising young families.
Justin– Most residents agree with you that B.Baker# has been a breathe of fresh air on this council– let’s get him some help and elect Chris Hamm too!
Justin,
Did you realize that while the Bakers were both there and Pam Baker was suited up, she did not walk/run. She had a finishing time but didn’t actually participate.
Justin-
Do you know Bob Baker voted against the bathrooms at Courtney’s Sandcastle?? He will tell you his reasoning, which is that it was too expensive. Expensive or not Justin, that was his vote – NO on bathrooms. He said that kids could go use the ones at the pool. That’s a busy parking lot kids would have to run thru to get to the bathrooms, it just isn’t practical or safe. He was outvoted, thankfully, and because of that we have handicapped bathrooms to use at Courtney’s Sandcastle no thanks to Baker. He also voted against banning smoking in our public parks- again- he has a (weak) reason- this time his reason is that it is too hard to police and enforce. The silly thing is, we have other laws at our parks- laws like no drinking alcohol, no weapons, etc. Would Baker have voted against these laws had he had the chance? Why are we able to enforce those but not a smoking ban?? Again- I’m glad he was outvoted- second hand smoke KILLS, I’m glad my kid can play at the park without people smoking around him. It sounds like you have kids and are involved in some local charities (thank you for that) but I urge you, as a parent of young children to do your research on Baker’s votes. Yes, he has excuses, but they are weak, his children are grown, he does not have our children’s best interest at heart- because he is just too out of touch, his kids are all grown up. He has no small kids at home that play in our parks. He voted no to safe crosswalks for kids to get school, no to recycling on the beach, no the Carnival, no to the farmer’s market. Bob Baker’s world is one filled with his retired friends playing golf, not one with young kids, that need a safe, happy, and healthy community to grow up in.
Ms. Ob and SC Voter– You have once again demonstrated your smallness for all to see. Your posts are so tivial they don’t merit response.
Waterman-
As a parent of small children, I would NOT call the issue of smoking in a public park “trivial”
Perhaps trivial to Bob Baker and his retired golfing buddies, but certainly not trivial to those of us with small children. And there are ALOT of us with young children here in San Clemente.
Baker voted:
-No to prohibiting smoking in public parks (The ONLY “no” vote)
-No to funding for signage concerning the smoking ban ( the only “no” again)
-No regarding Safe Routes to school.
-No to a bathroom for Courtney’s Sand Castle (he said they can walk to the pool for bathrooms, this is a handicapped park by the way)
-No to the San Clemente sports wall of fame (the only “No” vote again)
-No to the tri-city trolley planning phase (the only “no”)
-No to chamber of commerce banner (yep, the only “no” vote again)
-No to study parking issues for the downtown (This is a huge problem. Again, the only “no”)
-No to the farmer’s market (again, he said “no” alone of course)
-No to supporting the Carnival (the only “no” vote)
-No to recycle bins on the beach (seriously? the only “no” again!!)
In 4 years he tried to do enough damage, thank goodness we had other council members making decisions with our kids and community in mind.
I say NO to Bob Baker1 for my kids and my community!!
SC Voter,
Just a quick correction to your post. You do not have to go through the parking lot to get to the pool from Courtney’s Sandcastle. They are right next to each other.
You need to leave the gates of the park, stay on a small sidewalk on the edge of the parking lot, with cars coming and going. So sorry for the confusion, glad you picked up on the real important facts of the matter. I saw kids running from the pool to the playground all summer and choosing the street over the sidewalk. The good news is MY kids and many others don’t need to exit that gate, and I don’t need to corral them over to the pool, and make sure they stay on the sidewalk, on the edge of a very busy parking lot, to make sure they can use a restroom- they don’t need to because Baker was outvoted on his poor decision to vote against the bathrooms.
I am going to smoke at the park today just to prove that no one will do a darn thing to enforce it. I am against mommy laws or nanny laws. no place in our government, local, state or federal. these petty laws cost too much and add a heavy load to our already debt infested problems.
I don’t smoke but I agree with you smoke—- we don’t need any more useless nanny laws.
But B Baker #1 has saved us thousands by his no votes and under his supervision guided this city through financial reason! We don’t need all the crud he voted against in most cases and I am glad he did!!
That’s Mr. Ob by the way and just pointing out the facts. Others can draw their own conclusion about the Bakers behavior. Found out that they pretended to do the FAM walk too.
My word it is pathetic to see the Mortensen/Dahl camp so desperate that you are simply making up personal stories now. Don’t you folks have any self respect? Stick with the issues!
Sorry Tammy. No stories here. Baker himself, admitted he did not walk in Hope 4 Hannah. Please go ahead and ask him yourself. We do stick to the issues, the letter above mentions Hope 4 Hannah and Baker’s participation and support, it is only fair to tell the truth that Baker’s did not walk, yet were “given” a finishing time. Again, Bob Baker himself will tell you this is the case, so need to call anyone pathetic.
SC Voter– Your posts are almost full teen like gibberish— you do a great disservice to your candidates.
Sorry you feel that way Tammy. This letter is about Baker’s participation in charities, especially Hope 4 Hannah. If you are friends with Bob Baker, or friends with the people that are in charge of Hope 4 Hannah than you would know that my comments above are the truth. I’m sorry it angers you so much to hear the truth that you resort to name calling. You are arguing with me on an issue Baker has already addressed and he confirmed the fact he did not participate, so please move on to another post if you wish to call someone’s statements “pathetic” and “gibberish” the statements I’ve made here are facts.
I agree Tammy— SC Voter’s whining rants of trivia drive people away from his candidates— very odd.
My comments are in direct response to the letter above written by Mr. Alderson, not sure why Ed and Tammy are so concerned with my comments? I read these letters and sometimes choose to comment regarding the letters themselves, I don’t come here solely to read the comments and and then pick on commenters personally. I’m sorry to the author if this letter that you guys have chosen to comment more on my comments than on his letter.
Wow– SC Voter— denial— did you ever miss the point.