Irony, thy name is Margie

The next in an occassional series on ironic statements made by folks comes from one of my favorite prolific writers on Alameda Daily News — although, not as much lately — Margie Joyce.   I’m disappointed in the lack of…enthusiasm that normally shines through Margie J.’s letters, but away we go:

It pains me to witness the vitriol that is rapidly becoming the agenda on both sides of the pro and con arguments relating to the issue of Measure A. It is dividing the citizenry in a very unhealthy way.

It needs to be clearly understood that all of us who favor retaining Measure A act on it solely for the current preservation of our Treasured Island. That is our ONLY agenda. We are not paid or subsidized nor influenced by any outside pressure.

In my view, the proponents of striking down or revising this Charter Amendment are misguided and, in many cases, influenced by the corporate culture and real estate factions involved in that attempt. I have never bought the “affordable housing” ploy and never will. It’s phony.

We need to get real here. The future of Alameda is at stake. I implore the Planning Board, Council and City Staff to take some serious unbiased time to thoroughly investigate who/what precisely is behind the “Anti A” movement. Mysterious?

One example — I am suspicious of HOMES. My logical side prompts me to ask, who/what is dollar backing behind them and other anti-Measure A antagonists?

We need clarification and honest disclosure on the backing of the these factions that are so determined to either strike down or revise/alter Measure A. Alameda Point is being used by those entities to covertly strike down Measure A for that particular area. Lookout! It won’t stop there.

Margie J. writes that she it “pains” her to “witness the vitriol that is rapidly becoming the agenda on both sides of the pro and con arguments relating to the issue of Measure A.”  She recognizes that it might possibly be dividing “the citizenry in a very unhealthy way.”   But Margie J. doesn’t let that recognition stand in the way of making her opinion known and casting her own aspersions on certain groups and individuals in Alameda.  

She first clarifies that people like her, in fact, she is bold enough to use an absolute statement annoucing that “all of us who favor retaining Measure A act on it solely for the current preservation of our Treasured Island.”   Stating that it is the ”ONLY agenda” of folks like her and that they have not been “paid or subsidized nor influenced by any outside pressure.”   Now that she has plainly established herself and others like her on the side of angels, she forgets her earlier statement about the citizentry dividing vitriol and goes on the offensive.

She calls those that she percives as “Anti-Measure A:” “misguided” and ”influenced by the corporate culture and real estate factions.”   She judges that some of reasons to re-examine Measure A proferred by people are nothing more than an “‘affordable housing’ ploy” that she dismisses as “phony.”

Margie J. further decides to request the City Council, Planning Board, and City staff to “investigate who/what precisely is behind the ‘Anti A’ movement.”   It interesting that she makes this very impassioned request to a City Council majority which she had — less than two years ago — wanted to commence a recall process for around the issue of the Alameda Theater:

I am in total shock! How could you possibly have done what you did last night? I have completely lost complete faith in our city leadership and, frankly, think you should all be recalled!

I don’t normally write in a vitriolic manner, but this is absolutely the last straw. Had I the time and money, I would personally spearhead the recall process for all of you. You have betrayed the majority of Alameda citizens by your inattention and dishonorable behavior in doing what you did last night. Despite the myriad of speakers against the megaplex plan, you pertinaciously rejected the appeal and, thus, agreed to that abominable megaplex-parking garage plan. In so doing, you, in my view, violated all ethical standards of good city government. Shame on you.

Not respectfully,

Margie Joyce

Margie J. also asks for “clarification and honest disclosure on the backing of the these factions” and even uses an example of HOMES that she is “suspicious of” and wants to know “who/what is dollar backing behind them and other anti-Measure A antagonists.”  Well Margie J. I have to say I would like “clarification and honest disclosure on the backing” of some factions in Alameda as well.   But it’s not HOMES, Stop, Drop, and Roll has the “scoop:”

…I did catch a bit of “fact” that caught my eye. On the back of the brochure, are the three organizations to contact to support measure a:

Keep Measure A Organization

Keep Measure A Citizens for Alameda Neighborhoods

Action Alameda

Your eyes don’t deceive you, one group is listed twice. “Keep Measure A” the group started by Pat Bail and Diane Coler-Dark. There is one difference, though they have the same contact information (the contact numbers listed for the first iteration are the same as the second according to the Secretary of State, and the website is the same site created by the registered PAC), one of the “keep measure a” groups is registered as a political action committee and the other isn’t.

The Keep Measure A PAC is the same that first did not file its campaign finance spending in 2006. Then, they knowingly filed an erroneous campaign financing report.

So perhaps Margie J. should hold the folks that she has declared as having no agenda other than to perserve “our Treasured Island” to the same standard as those she is suspicious of.   Or maybe Margie J. would rather start trotting folks in front of a committee to assess their loyalities to Measure A couched as an “investigation” into following the money trail.   You can get a free pass to stay on the “Treasured Island” if you are willing to name names of those disloyal to Measure A.