The Pasadena Star-News endorses Bill Bogaard

Comments: 5 - Date: February 28th, 2007 - Categories: Team Proctor, Rip the System, I (heart) Pasadena!, The State of Things, C'mon City Council!, Freedom, Freedom!, Press Coverage, City Council Resolutions

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/opinions/ci_5318048

Way to set Pasadena back.  Don’t worry - I just sent the newspaper this response:

 

To whom it may concern:

 

Let me first start out by saying the Pasadena Star-News is one of the most respectable and journalistically accurate newspapers I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading on a near-daily basis.  I also undoubtedly have respect for the staff of this newspaper and its eccentric editor, Larry Wilson.

 

With that said, as a candidate for Mayor in the Crown City, I must point out some issues I have with your endorsement of Mr. Bogaard.  I normally think endorsements are “for the birds” – because it should be up to the people who decide, not some newspaper or political action group. 

 

To quote the endorsement:  “Does any city in the nation have a more well-respected, energetic, indispensable Mayor than Pasadena’s Bill Bogaard?  Not one we’ve heard of.”

 

Funny.  First of all, if Mr. Bogaard is so popular, why didn’t the 65,000 registered voters in Pasadena turn out in droves to re-elect him in 2003?  Doesn’t anyone see he only received 9800 votes – a small fraction of votes for even people that only vote in Presidential elections?  If Mr. Bogaard is so well-respected, why is it that on the campaign trail, the only positive responses I’ve heard about him are from people who work with him or from people who are embedded in Pasadena politics?  Most others either a) don’t know who he is or b) take me a side and whisper in my ear that it’s time for him to go.

 

I’m not doubting or denying that Mayor Bogaard is a very nice and affable person and he’s become the figurehead of Pasadena since 1999.  Nor am I accusing him of any wrong-doing or making any personal attacks against the man.  I find it hilarious that he’s quoted as saying he’s “having fun” when I’ve been challenging him to a fun, one-on-one debate since I announced my candidacy in late October and he’s refused to accept that challenge. 

 

Let’s face the facts here:  The people who are going to vote for Bogaard to return to a third-term are the same people who are keeping Pasadena’s politics exclusive.  Yeah, people complain in this city that “nobody votes” and about low voter turnout but, as I’ve learned during my campaign, most people like the Bogaards, the Steve Madisons, and the Margaret McAustins of the world – wouldn’t have it any other way.  If every single registered voter in Pasadena were voting in this upcoming election, I’d win by a landslide.  I’m a part of the fabric of this city, I’m not a politician, nor am I looking to make bedfellows with anyone on this current or the future City Council.  I’m looking out for the REAL Pasadena not the POLITICAL Pasadena.

 

I’m very happy to hear that you’re glad I’m on the ballot but your endorsement of Bogaard makes this sound like some Student Body race at Podunk Senior High School.  It’s nice you mentioned I’m concerned about overnight street parking and Pasadena turning into “condoland” (which I am) but what about my hard stance on getting rid of in-lieu fees developers have to pay?  What about my constant accusations on my website at proctorformayor.com about the City’s lack to do anything for the Northwest being a result of veiled, new-age racism?  What about the fact that while Bogaard isn’t afraid to “tap people on the shoulder and say ‘Hey Pasadena needs your help”, I’m not afraid to call politicians on their b.s. and I’m not afraid to call out politicians when they’re obviously not trying to help Pasadena but help themselves (read: and small amount of people who voted for them).

 

It’s not that he’s so properly popular that no player on the political scene even considered running against him – it’s that people are afraid to lose favor with the Mayor by even disagreeing with him.  Enter: Aaron Proctor.  A true political outsider who isn’t in this race for personal gain.  I’m even willing to quit my current job – which pays twice what the Mayor of this City makes – to devote to being a full-time Mayor and a full-time fighter for the real people in this City.  It’s not the people’s fault that nobody knows who Bill Bogaard is, it’s Bill Bogaard’s fault for keeping it that way. 

 

It’s easy to dismiss my campaign as a joke and it’s even easier to dismiss me for being young or whatever else you want to point out about me.  The fact of the matter is:  I truly care about Pasadena and I truly love this City and I truly stand by my convictions on things that need to be changed.  Electing Bogaard for a third term would be a mistake and send Pasadena back another 20 years.  It’s time for the arrogance of this City’s politicians to be quelled, it’s time to bring politics back to the people, and it’s time to have actual representative government for a change.  I’m fighting City Hall because I’m not afraid of losing favor with people who make over six figures a year.  I’m fighting City Hall because I want the fabric of this City – again – the real people, who probably won’t even vote in this Election thanks to the exclusivity of Pasadena’s politics, to thrive in all of the things that they should be thriving in. 

 

I’m concerned less about fringe issues than I am concerned about the welfare of ALL Pasadena residents who aren’t lucky enough to live in the Historic Highlands, own a zillion dollar condominium downtown, or be related to the Huntington family.  People in Pasadena aren’t getting a fair shake – that’s why I’m running – and even if I lose this election, you can’t deny there will be an even bigger divide between “Political” Pasadena and REAL Pasadena.

 

I will close with a compliment to this newspaper:  At least you acknowledge the existence of my campaign.  That’s one thing you guys have an advantage of over Bill Bogaard.

 

Sincerely,

 

Aaron Proctor

The People’s Mayor

www.proctorformayor.com

 

 

You can send these guys a letter too, if you’d like:

 letters.star-news@sgvn.com

 Stand & Deliver.

Aaron Proctor’s Greatest Hits (Part III)

Comments: 0 - Date: February 28th, 2007 - Categories: Team Proctor, Rip the System, I (heart) Pasadena!, The State of Things, C'mon City Council!, Freedom, Freedom!, Press Coverage, City Council Resolutions

With just 6 days left until the election, I give you my thoughts on a subject that has been coming up not only in the Mayoral race but the City Council races as well, the “Inclusionary” Housing Act.  Also - what about the Rose Bowl?  How can we maintain it?  Check out an clip from a column I wrote on February 13th:

One of the subjects coming up lately is Pasadena’s “Inclusionary” Housing Act.  I put inclusionary in quotation marks because it’s not really inclusionary at all.  Basically, all these billion dollar developers have to do - if they don’t want low-income people and families living in their building - they pay a fee (of which they can most definitely afford) and they’re immune from the Act.  A lot of candidates for City Council and I agree - these in lieu fees need to be removed.  A lot of people say there’s legal issues involved with this - but if Pasadena can easily kick people out of their homes when Bogaard and one of his corporate friends get a new condo deal, they can easily fight some lawyers on this matter.

Removing the in lieu fees would allow affordable housing to be built in Pasadena.  While I’m a supporter of the sometimes-more controversial rent control, let’s remove these fees and see if affordable housing comes to Pasadena - or if others on City Council somehow find a loophole-within-a-loophole and continue pushing the middle and working class out of the Crown City.

The Mayor supports a “conversation” about removing the fees while I 100% support removing them.  So, if you want affordable housing to come to Pasadena, you’re going to have to vote for Aaron Proctor on March 6th.

Another issue that comes up is what we’re going to do with the Rose Bowl.  The Mayor and I both are against housing an NFL team there.  However, being a former events promoter, I’d definitely be up to helping the Rose Bowl find “one-shots” that generate money for the City and don’t cause too much of a headache for the neighborhood around one of the world’s most historic stadiums.

There’s still time to get the word out there.  You can print these flyers out and pass them around in your neighborhood:

http://www.proctorformayor.com/2007/01/25/proctor-for-mayor-flyers/

Another question a few people have asked is “How are you feeling right now?”  Well, despite the fact I’m battling the tail end of a horrible head cold, I’m feeling a combination of anxiety, nervousness, and excitement.  I wonder if this is how the underdog team feels before they play in the Super Bowl or something. 

6 more days, people.  Let’s change the face of politics forever.  Vote Proctor on March 6th.

Stand & Deliver.

- Aaron

Aaron Proctor’s Greatest Hits (Part II)

Comments: 0 - Date: February 27th, 2007 - Categories: Team Proctor, Rip the System, I (heart) Pasadena!, The State of Things, C'mon City Council!, Freedom, Freedom!, Press Coverage, City Council Resolutions

One more week until the election and I can’t be more excited.  I truly thank all of you for your continued support.  It’s been an uphill battle but it’s certainly been worth it.  We’ll find out what the rest of Pasadena thinks in exactly 7 days!

As we continue the theme of the week, “Aaron Proctor’s Greatest Hits”, we take a trifecta look at some more of the issues I’m very passionate about and the “hot button” campaign issues I’ve been pushing for months now:

First, the City of Pasadena wanted to pass an Anti-Iraq War Resolution in 2003.  The current Mayor turned this down - and now this unnecessary war has even taken more lives.  Check out my Anti-Iraq War Resolution I will work hard to get passed once elected:

http://www.proctorformayor.com/iraq-war/

Same-Sex Marriage.  Nobody in this City brings it up but - like I’ve said - change begins at the local level.  Check out my views in support of same-sex marriage:

http://www.proctorformayor.com/2006/11/16/same-sex-marriage-in-pasadena-ca/

Finally - those annoying parking permits which are unfair for residents to pay:  Let’s 86 them.  Click at the link below to find out why:

 http://www.proctorformayor.com/2006/12/19/parking-fees-round-2/

Stand & Deliver!
- Aaron

 

Aaron Proctor’s Greatest Hits (Part I)

Comments: 0 - Date: February 26th, 2007 - Categories: Team Proctor, Rip the System, I (heart) Pasadena!, The State of Things, C'mon City Council!, Freedom, Freedom!, Press Coverage, City Council Resolutions

 

 

With only 8 days until Election Day here in Pasadena, I thought it would be nice to start re-posting some of the highlights of this campaign.  You all have been wonderful supporters and I truly appreciate all of the kind things people have been saying and doing to help Pasadena not only get back on track but to help Pasadena go into a new direction.

Throughout this week as we get closer to Election Day next Tuesday, I’ll be re-posting some of what I feel are my best pieces regarding this Election and why I should be elected.

This is a guest column I wrote that appeared in the February 1st edition of the Pasadena Weekly.  It really reflects how important it is to make changes in this city and how important it is to have true representative government.

My goals as your candidate for mayor of Pasadena are simple. I want to listen to the issues concerning the rest of us. I want to get people out to the polls and get people more informed about the true issues this wonderful city faces. It’s been very “hush hush” and “members only” when it comes to the divide in this city, but it’s very apparent to me and others who aren’t privileged enough to have last names like Gamble or Huntington, who don’t come from a well-to-do lineage, or who simply make less than six figures a year and have a family to feed, an apartment to pay for and taxes and bills to pay.

To read the full article, please click here:

http://www.pasadenaweekly.com/article.php?id=4265&IssueNum=57

Stand & Deliver.

- Aaron

District 2 forums and my African American heritage…

Comments: 0 - Date: February 24th, 2007 - Categories: Team Proctor, Rip the System, I (heart) Pasadena!, The State of Things, C'mon City Council!, Freedom, Freedom!, Press Coverage, City Council Resolutions

I attended the District 2 forums this morning - not to participate - but to see what the candidates had to say - especially since I’ll be voting for one of them in 10 days.

Although Stacy Lewis and Margaret McAustin have been very nice to me and, in Stacy’s case, very supportive when it comes to the fact I’m even running for Mayor, I really enjoyed a lot Jim Lomako had to say.  He and I both share the same ideas about growth getting out of control and our District not reaping the benefits that places like Old Pasadena and the Paseo have been for years - monies we’re entitled to.

**

In other news, I was reading the Pasadena/San Gabriel Valley Journal’s February 22nd edition.  The Journal is a locally owned and operated independent African American newspaper - and was checking out the esteemed Joe C. Hopkins’ article about the candidates in Pasadena.  He mentions there are only 3 candidates in the City Council/Mayoral race whom are of African American heritage and I must disagree and correct that to be 3 and a half, since my father is African American.  I don’t make a big deal about it because - well, first of all, nobody has ever really come up to me and asked me about my heritage and secondly, I certainly don’t want to seem like I’m trying to play the “race card” in City politics.  Although, I must digress, there is certainly a medium-to-large amount of veiled racism when it comes to City policies - issues I’ve addressed in the past on my campaign & here on the website and issues I’ll certainly continue to address in the future. I’m very proud to have grown up around black culture and very proud of who I am and what I continue to learn.
 
I’m also very proud and certainly not embarassed of my racial heritage.  I know it’s tough being involved in the subculture I am - I’ve been unaccepted by both White and Black people in my life - and a guy who wears eyeliner just isn’t popular in any race.  Hey - I guess that makes me more of a fair candidate - being such a combination of races, nationalities, heritages, and lifestyles - you can’t go wrong by picking me :-)  

So - it’s not Joe’s fault I wasn’t mentioned - he didn’t know - and I’m sure a lot of people didn’t know. He’s a great guy and you should really pick up a copy of the Pasadena/SGV Journal to read his views.  You can check them out on the web at http://www.PasadenaJournal.com.

**

I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend.  10 more days!  I’m getting out there and spreading the word and you should, too.

Stand & Deliver

- Aaron

The Final Countdown

Comments: 0 - Date: February 23rd, 2007 - Categories: Team Proctor, Rip the System, I (heart) Pasadena!, The State of Things, C'mon City Council!, Freedom, Freedom!, Press Coverage, City Council Resolutions

Eleven days until the election and things couldn’t be more perfect.  I feel my message is reaching more people in Pasadena than ever possible.  A lot of you are helping me with that and, hopefully, we’ll all reap the benefits together soon.

I’ve been saying this a lot but change begins at home.  Most people don’t trust politicians anymore – and rightfully so!  Politicians these days don’t seek to provide representative government – a vanguard this country was built on – they seek to just throw tons and tons of money into their campaign and continue to go after the same voter base – again and again – who will undoubtedly vote for that candidate.

I’m not accusing anyone specific of being crooked – it’s just the way things are.  Gold is king and that’s a really, really sad aspect.  People need to stop basing their votes on “Experience” or “how much money they have” or even how they look and start basing their votes on a politician’s vision and ideas.

I have a new vision for Pasadena and I want to be (however clichéd it sounds), “The People’s Mayor”.  I’m tired of politicians in this city being so inaccessible or so exclusive that the general population doesn’t even know who represents them or “fights” for them at City Hall.  Deep down, a lot of people want to keep it that way. 

This country is going through so much change and people – even the most staunch of political supporters – are starting to realize you simply can’t trust a guy because of his political lineage, his wealth, or his “popularity” in the community (read: how many votes he got in the election before).  Elect me as Mayor and we can get the ball rolling – we can bring politics back to the people – and hopefully – we can inspire others who are too scared to fight City Hall to fight City Hall, too scared to fight Sacramento to fight Sacramento, and too scared to fight Washington to fight Washington.

I want to ensure there is actually affordable housing in Pasadena.  I want to ensure that our schools are actually paid attention to – and not continuously having problems and closing down.  I want to ensure residents don’t have to pay a ridiculous overnight parking fee that just makes people angrier and more disillusioned about how this city works.

Pasadena is a great city but it needs some work and it needs the touch of someone who isn’t on the “inside”:  Someone who actually lives in the community and doesn’t just pretend to for show, someone who isn’t in the back pocket of condominium developers who are paying for City employee’s salaries, someone who isn’t in politics because they were successful in enterprise and doing it as a “hobby”. 

I may look a little strange and may seem, at first, like I don’t know what I’m doing.  Trust me, I am the representative of change in this world, I am the embodiment and personification of every single hard-working REAL Pasadenan.  White, black, Latino, man, woman, child – it doesn’t matter – I’m not one of the politicians:  I’m one of you.

Change begins at home and there’s no better way to bring the changes Pasadena truly needs closer than by electing Aaron Proctor for Mayor on March 6th.  Take a look all around this website and simply ask yourself: “Wouldn’t you rather have someone who truly represents you and doesn’t have any ulterior motives or greedy schemes?”  It’s time for a politician who ISN’T a politician – because, frankly, the word “politician” itself is an insult.  I love Pasadena, I love this State, and I love this country and I will fight for you – tooth and nail, pillar to post – to make sure you’re no longer getting the short end of the stick.

I appreciate your support. 

Duty now: for the future.

- Aaron

 

 

The Affordable Housing Forums Were Awesome.

Comments: 11 - Date: February 22nd, 2007 - Categories: Team Proctor, Rip the System, I (heart) Pasadena!, The State of Things, C'mon City Council!, Freedom, Freedom!, Press Coverage, City Council Resolutions

I don’t know what came over me last night at the Affordale Housing forums but even my usual semi-self-deprecating self can’t even say I did a bad job.  I don’t know if it was the build up of the confidence on my campaign, I don’t know if it was the fact some of my supporters came out to hear me speak, or just that I’m sick of “politics as usual” in this city but – to quote Marv Albert from the old “NBA Jam” video game, I was “on fire”.

Last night’s forums took place at the Neighborhood Church and all of the candidates for City Council as well as the Mayor (except District 4) were there.  People asked us legitimate questions about what we’re going to do about the lack of affordable housing, especially for minorities and people of low income, in this city.

I really think I turned a lot of heads.  I even found a nice blazer to wear (and, yeah, I was still in eyeliner) and didn’t even read from my notes.  I shot from the hip, spoke from the heart, and told people how I really feel about the City I love and what I want to do for it.  Basically, I said there are changes all around this country against the status quo and changes begin at the local level.  If you want someone you can trust because he’s a part of the same community who deals with all of these issues, go and vote for me on March 6th.

As I’ve stated before, I completely want to remove the in-lieu fees developers pay to “get out of” having to build affordable housing units.  I am sick of these back room deals that politicians make with developers and sick of the money going to pay the pensions of City employees when it should be going to making Pasadena a fair place to live – no matter the color of your skin or the lifestyle you lead.  I even stated that Pasadena currently doesn’t care if people can’t afford to live here because the people who can’t afford to live here will just move away so some more rich people can come in and be in the back pockets of the Good Ol’ Boys club a/k/a the Mayor and City Council.  It’s time to put a stop to all of this nonsense. 

I was also really pleased with a lot of Jim Lomako’s comments.  He’s running for District 2, the district I live in, and he does not seem to fear that same status quo in our City.  I’m going to attend the District 2 forums this Saturday – not as a participant – to hear more about what he has in mind – especially about the irresponsible growth in Pasadena.

It was great to meet a lot of the voters and a lot of the people who participate in local politics.  It was great to show people that I’m not just some kind of joke, some kind of introverted “weird Goth kid”.  I really do care about Pasadena and it’s time for a change.  I’m a real person and if we had more real people in government – well, we’d truly have a representative democracy. 

I’m looking forward to March 6th – not with fear, but with hope.  I hope the voters in Pasadena agree it’s time for a change and nobody represents – nay – embodies and personifies change like Aaron Proctor.

**
If you have recently registered or re-registered to vote in Pasadena, you may not receive a Sample Ballot which lets you know where to vote.

I found an easy link that lets you look up your address as well as your sample ballot here in Pasadena:

http://www.proctorformayor.com/2007/02/07/find-your-polling-place-aka-where-the-heck-do-i-vote/

**

I did a really cool TV interview on “NewsRap” with Andre Coleman back in December. Watch it all at the following link:

http://www.proctorformayor.com/2006/12/28/full-appearance-on-newsrap-with-andre-coleman/

**

Don’t forget to spread the word!

Stand & Deliver.

- Aaron 

Signs, signs, everywhere a sign

Comments: 1 - Date: February 21st, 2007 - Categories: Team Proctor, Rip the System, I (heart) Pasadena!, The State of Things, C'mon City Council!, Freedom, Freedom!, Press Coverage, City Council Resolutions

Check out these awesome Pasadena residents who put up Aaron Proctor For Mayor signs.  Note the low-budget but pretty awesome look :-)

 

I’m feeling a lot better - thanks for the well-wishes - although I think I passed whatever cold/flu I had on to Kelli :-(

I’m appearing tonight at a political forum brought to you by the ACLU and the League of Women Voters:

ACLU/League Of Women Voters Political Forum
TONIGHT: Wednesday, February 21st
7:00 PM
@ Neighborhood Church
301 N Orange Grove Blvd
Pasadena CA 91103

And don’t forget about my upcoming TV appearances in the greater Los Angeles area:

TIME WARNER CABLE:

Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Westside/Beaches, Los Feliz, East San Fernando Valley (Channel 98)
Santa Monica (Channel 77)
Tuesday, February 27th, 6pm

City Of Los Angeles, East LA, Boyle Hights (Channel 98)
Monday, March 5th, 6pm
Hollywood & Surrounding (Channel 24)
Thursday, February 22nd, 6pm

LAX & Surrounding (Channel 24)
Wednesday, March 21st, 8pm

West San Fernando Valley To Chatsworth (Channel 34)
Thursday, February 22nd, 7:30 pm

**

CHARTER CABLE:

Burbank Media District, Toluca Lake, Glendale (Channel 25)
Saturday, March 3rd, 8:30 pm

Malibu (Channel 15)
Wednesday, February 21st, 8:00 pm

Stand & Deliver!
- Aaron

 

 

 

Public appearance tomorrow!

Comments: 0 - Date: February 20th, 2007 - Categories: Team Proctor, Rip the System, I (heart) Pasadena!, The State of Things, Freedom, Freedom!

A little under the weather today but I’ll be fine.  I just wanted to first thank everyone who has registered to vote here in Pasadena.  It means a lot.  There are only TWO weeks left until the election!

Secondly, you should get out to this political forum I’m speaking at tomorrow evening.  Show up and show your support for Team Proctor!

ACLU/League Of Women Voters Political Forum
TOMORROW Wednesday, February 21st
7:00 PM
@ Neighborhood Church
301 N Orange Grove Blvd
Pasadena CA 91103 

Stand & Deliver!

- Aaron

Don’t forget about Chester A. Arthur and Martin Van Buren!

Comments: 0 - Date: February 19th, 2007 - Categories: Team Proctor, Rip the System, I (heart) Pasadena!, The State of Things, C'mon City Council!, City Council Resolutions

I hope those of you who actually get a 3-day weekend are enjoying it.  Happy Presidents’ Day!

Tomorrow, there will only be TWO weeks until the election and business is about to pick up.

Check out all of the areas of this website.  You’ll find articles I’ve been writing since late 2006 about all of the issues that truly affect Pasadena. Just surf the blog entires or click above to see where I stand on the Issues, my Anti-Iraq War resolution, and my Contract With Voters.

Today is also the last day you can register to vote in Pasadena to be eligible to vote in the March 6th election.  Please go to the search box and type “Register to vote” and find out how!

Me vs. Mayor Bogaard - Hardcore Match on “Smackdown vs. Raw 2007″ for the PS2! 

Thanks to everyone who is helping me fight the good fight.

Stand & Deliver.

- Aaron

— Next Page »