Ojai is a town of about 8000 within a valley of about 30,000. In Ojai there is a virtual community, the Ojai Post, of about 1000+ I'm guessing and some of these are in far off places. This blog is related to the virtual community which includes the real people I know in town.
The circles I run in are mostly happy now. In local politics, a woman new to politics has just taken the most votes for city council. Remarkable since the council is composed of people who are led by the city attorney and manager who themselves answer to the local power structure. The council is little more than money-changers and rubber-stampers. It seems someone has finally broken through the wall of ignorance and arrogance.
This same council actually sued an Ojai citizen for daring to bring forward ballot initiatives in favor of affordable housing and against chain stores. It was so outrageous and illegal that the ACLU stepped in to defend people's freedom. The city knew the judges in the county superior and appeal courts so spent $100,000 on their attorney, and they were right, the corrupt and incompetent judges ruled for the city. Well, it'll probably go higher and now the two incumbents who ran in the election say they won't fund anymore, probably knowing deep pockets in the community will pick up where they left off.
There were two seats available in the election. One of the incumbents took second place so will again be on council as mayor. She probably got elected out of fear; she's strong on money, being one of the banker clan so many folks here sense that she will keep their money safe. However, give Ojai credit. They did put at least one person into council who appears to have some sense.
Liberal folks in Ojai are happy with Obama; some are ecstatic. See my blog here at Blogstream, The Love Government, for my views on the Obama phenomena.
Ojai has a couple of artists that I like. One, Jock Doubleday, posted a letter from Nader on Obama which is critical in its thinking. Some commenters on the Ojai Post thought the letter was a hoax and that Jock lacked critical thinking. I believe Jock's critics lack critical thinking since the letter does appear to be genuine. Unfortunately, Jock has been censored by removing him from the Post as an author. In a fascist regime, artists are the first to go. Ojai is not fascist but we all do live in a culture which is patriarchal and that implies fascism. We need to sleep with one eye open as the Poet says. Hence, this La Ojai Valley Epost.
The other artist in town I like is Millenium Twain. There are calls for his removal from the Post too. More incipient fascism but he's still there. He gave a nice spin on the Obama win, seeing in it a sign of hope. To some this seemed inconsistent with his previous posts.
I congratulated Barrack, too, but it's more of a formality. On the substantive issues I could hardly be farther apart from him and his demoncrats.
Ojai is a sort of microcosm for the world at large so it should be interesting to observe both as time marches on. I note with interest the "la" and the "eye" in laojaivalleyepost. Womam's eye of truth.
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