Important Issues

By Michael John Keenan

Please peruse this page on the various issues in the campaign and read my responses. Keep checking back for more postings. Even better slot this page in the Favorites pull down.

Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - CLAREMONT CITY Council candidates are all pledging openness, but one is engaging in a long-running cover-up.

That would be Michael John Keenan, who seems to wear a hat 24-7.

A familiar sight in the Village, Keenan wears a floppy chapeau almost everywhere, even while addressing the council at its meetings. He also wears a hat during candidate debates.

Keenan's election photo in this newspaper depicts him with his hat, as he prefers. But Bulletin photographer John Valenzuela did convince Keenan to doff his hat for a few frames.

In a crushing blow to the Claremont Courier, I'm pleased to unveil this exclusive look at the hat-less Keenan - blowing the lid off the election, if you will.

"You're going to do a compare and contrast?" an amused Keenan asked me when we spoke Tuesday. "You would be surprised. People do not recognize me if I come in without a hat. It's a total perception problem."

He looks perfectly fine without his topper. Although he does appear to have just returned from "Survivor: Dodge City." With that bandanna, maybe he should pose with a six-shooter and vow to clean up City Hall.

Keenan says he's been wearing a hat "at least since 1979," when he started his window-washing business. The hat has practical benefits for his job -- the brim keeps branches out of his eyes and the sun off his face -- but by now his hat has "kind of" become his trademark, he says.

If elected to office, he'll be wearing another hat, so to speak -- and perhaps in fact.

"I'll go to Claremont Cigar and pick up a little-more formal hat for business," he reveals.

Does he really wear his hat all the time?

"I sleep with my hat, too," he jokes. "Don't tell anybody that."

I'll keep it under my hat.

• **

"Perhaps he means genomes," Durian speculates. I like to think Keenan did mean gnomes and is just sticking up for the little guy.

• **

RE: Repudiation and Call for Disassociation from so-called Preserve Claremont

Dear Supporters, Claremont Citizens and Local Press,

Let me be the first, if necessary, and come what may, repudiate the past and the present methods and tactics used in this election by so-called PAC Preserve Claremont.

First, let me repudiate the past campaign tactics that originated in the past under Richard Mihouse Nixon and how his hireling Murray Chotiner used a formula of slander against the venerable Jerry Voorhis, a true democrat in every sense of the word. This involved calling cold on election eve and claiming that Mr. Voorhis was a communist. The end result, which could be predicted, resulted in the resignation under threat of impeachment of President Nixon. The ends did not justify the means. Thus was ambition blinded by power. The claim to inherent power of the President to suspend part or all of the constitution lost out to the rule of law. Where is that Congress now that we need them?

Second, as reported in the Saturday Courier, a Mr. Bailey reports that he received a call from Preserve Claremont, "'You don't want to vote for a candidate who will destroy Claremont.'" The inference here if the logic is followed through is that Corey Calaycay is a "terrorist," the new code word that has replaced "communist" from the days of Nixon and his ilk. This shows that Corey, who I have a high regard for as a worthy opponent,is not being bested by Preserve Claremont based on issues of importance to this municipal campaign and so belies their claim to a vision of Claremont.

I have already had to repudiate the tactics of Pacific Lumbers political ad campaign to libel and slander tree sitters as "terrorists" before the residents and students at the last half-day conference on "Terrorism and the Inland Empire" held at Claremont Graduate University (CGU) on Sept. 28. I asked if Richard Garcia, assistant director in charge at the Los Angeles field office of the FBI, would ignore such slander of the Pacific Lumber type and focus instead on genuine threats involving terror. I also said I would do anything I could do to help him if called upon.

I have pledged in my Smart Voter website to "To win my political battles by the persuasive power of my ideas and values." I want to avoid what John Stuart Mill referred to On Liberty the practice of "a peculiar evil." "If the opinion is right, we are robbed of the `opportunity of exchanging error for truth;' and if it is wrong, we are deprived of a deeper understanding of the truth in `its collision with error.' If we know only our own side of the argument, we hardly know even that; it becomes stale, soon learn only by rote, untested, a pallid and lifeless truth." As such, I have not accepted any campaign contributions from supporters of Preserve Claremont and urge all fair minded Claremont citizens, students and residents to disassociate themselves from those calling themselves Preserve Claremont. No more evil in Claremont!

I am Citizen Michael John Keenan, Claremont Municipal Candidate for City Council

Below is the opening statement for a new optional element to be included into the General Plan that I mentioned in my platform statement. Bear with me. This is a work-in-progress. Comments are welcome!

SCIENTIFIC AND COMMERCIAL USES OF GENOMES AND GENETIC MATERIALS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE CITY OF CLAREMONT

ABSTRACT

Environmental issues have entered a new stage in the debate taking place in the sciences on how we should proceed to map the future in four major ways. Early environmental laws worked to include the externalities and costs that rise outside the perfect market and ideal of unlimited material growth. Now the sustainable ethos is gaining as the acceptable direction under which Claremont's General Plan revision is now headed. Future development battles will now be preempted by sustainability needs and those resources that will be utilized to meet those needs without hamstringing the prospects of future generations. This optional element will address those land uses issues related to the mapping process and way of discovery taking place now and in the future of a sustainable Claremont. _____ goals and _____ polices are contained in this section.

AUTHORITY AND SCOPE

Government Code Section 65302(j) provides that each city or county may include elements dealing with subjects other than the minimum required by law when in the opinion of the planning agency, these subjects relate to the physical, social, and economic considerations not otherwise apparent or noted in the minimum requirements for a General Plan as defined by the Government Code.

INTRODUCTION

Scientific discoveries and applications are rapidly taking place in four main areas as we head into the next millennium. Besides remapping the pale blue dot we live on, all those subatomic jots and spectral sweeps of the cosmos, the ability to patient genes,1980 Diamond v. Chakrabarty, while well underway, is not a universally accepted decision just yet. One statement declares that, "The International Indian Treaty Council and Indigenous Peoples around the world view the uses of rapidly developing bio-technologies as being in direct conflict with international human rights norms and principles." Maybe not all of what Richard Feyman referred to as "time-binding," is worth binding after all he cautions. Remember nature always bats last. In the face of this Claremont citizens should have a voice in how exactly Claremont should orientate itself to and have a say in the discovery process and on what is worth "time-binding." American society's own ability to keep apace of not only the discovery but the social, economic and ethical implications involved in scientific and commercial uses of just Genome mapping and gene modification is seriously threatened by this technical pace. As it turns out all of this research will directly affect the high value this society places upon the protecting of human life, preventing potential environmental problems and preventing hazards to public health and safety. The way discovery is done must be weighed against unacceptable public safety and general welfare risks.

This section summarizes some of the unnatural environmental factors affecting public health and safety which, if disregarded, could lead to injury or death of indefinite numbers of people. Just like some development in urban areas is subject to fire, flood, seismic and geologic hazards that can result in loss of life under natural conditions so to can genetics hazards avail themselves in unforeseen ways and should be considered no less important. This section will identify those parts of the discovery process involving production, processes and techniques that pose unacceptable margin of risk to the public's health and safety prior to any development agreements.

This section identifies the intent of the City of Claremont relative to the basic business and educational zones within its planning jurisdiction and the scientific and commercial uses that can safely be allowed to take place within that jurisdiction. It includes an introduction, a statement of the basic "Discovery Ethic" of Genomic and Genetic research, and a set of criteria for the determination by the city officials on how the way of discovery can proceed in the production, processes and techniques used by either scientific or commercial concerns.

GOALS

The purpose of this section is to accomplish the following major goals through policies and implementation.

......to be continued.

Open Government:

Once elected, I will insist that all existing laws, on open meetings and access to public information, be observed to the letter and spirit of the law, by all city employees and city officials. Except as required in personnel matters, democracy and open government preempt any needs for secrecy.

I propose that a Web-based Geographical Information System be used for better information access about Claremont for all residents: student and citizen alike. This system would allow greater access to Gis parcel maps and permit database queries, as does the city of Ontario for its municipal services. Claremont will then have the same access, as do the colleges to a compatible information sharing and collection system.

Town and Gown Relations:

I strongly believe that the linchpin of good relations between the city and colleges is dependent upon a charter that supports the highest ideals of Academic Freedom within the currently planned Educational District. To that end I am working to add a new element to the General Plan revision titled: Academic Freedom as a Community Resource.

Preserving both the Bernard Biological Field Stations ecological as well as academic viability is a deep concern of mine. To promote responsible land use in the effected area and loss of academic freedom, I am working to add a second new element to the Claremont's General Plan to address the issue titled: Scientific and Commercial Uses of Genomes and Genetic materials in the jurisdiction of the City of Claremont.

Since college students play such an important and growing economic and intellectual role for the civic health of Claremont and efforts throughout the valley, I am suggesting that a banner be erected across College Avenue to welcome students back from their summer break. I have encouraged, and will continue to encourage, first year alumni to remain and continue living in Claremont as citizens. Providing lower income LEED housing and single room occupancy units would help the newly minted alumni become a permanent and contributing citizen of a sustainable Claremont.

HARD ROCK MINING?

Just a little follow up since the Planning Committee meeting of Februrary 1st.

The implementation of the Land Suitability goals and policies, have selectively been applied to various developments over time under the current General Plan's Natural Resources section. This was evident at this second Tuesdays Planning committee meeting over the mining of gravel in the upper alluvial plain next to the newest development of homes. Up until then only the Hillsides have been referred too as being included within the boundaries of the this optional, but very important element. Only when properties that near the top 1% of the market are involved does the notion of Land Suitability even raises its head. And even then it is referred to only indirectly as "Open Space." To say the least I was suddenly surprised at this planning meeting to see that the projected map now includes the mining area too. Well that gets it partly right and does include more land, but a true map, for public consumption, would show that the Bernard field station is also within properties that fall within the jurisdiction of the Land Suitability Element. Go and look for yourself. And not once have the land suitability criteria been used to determine the bases for proposed land uses and intensity of use in any of properties referenced to; nor directly to, even in regards to the hillside.

Under the criteria set forth and applied to the field station the northern "neck" turns out to include some the most protected land in the city that the city requires to be mitigated before even an EIR is undertaken. But alas, the Land Suitability Element was never even mentioned in the EIR regarding Keck's development within the only walk on scientific and ecological station in any of the six Mediterranean regions of the world. So much for educating our children about having a sustainable future.

What really is hypocritical is how the current General Plan revision doesn't even have this optional element under consideration. Somehow, someone has deemed what would protect our environment the most is not needed in the new General Plan that is currently underway.

As to mining, which looks more like competition between the companies, what hardly gets mentioned are also the mining restrictions that are in the natural resources section of the current General Plan. And what about using recycled cement. That would be a Green build step.

As "Your" city council member I will, come what may, call for a committee to be called together that will specifically give this neglected element a fair consideration that it should have been given in the first place. That is how I will protect the Bernard Scientific Research Station - Claremont's "wild heart" - and the sage were the so-called gravel mining is supposed to take place.

Our current resource elements could have more of punch if the Land Suitability Element is retained in the revision with them too. Then touching the sage and alluvial areas would be more difficult to build or mine on, etc. All I want to do is apply the element's implementation over all of the properties as intended - the so-called mining area included - and not just selectively. The gravel mining would in the end requires a finding by the Planning Committee and a finding by the City Council to be made. What would we benefit from this. It does not seem like much so far. And they would have to meet six or eight conditions (?) to even have a vote under the finding process. I want to keep what is left and would most likely vote NO.

PRESS RELEASE on The Keck Entitlement Process and the Bernard Biological Field Station:

History of entitlements and development rights between the City of Claremont and the Claremont University Consortium in regards to the Keck Applied Life Science Institute has had a rocky path in the last five years. This relationship is amply documented in various public and private sources of information.

Keck is now a happy camper down at the old Iolab laboratory digs and has no intention of moving. Helix bliss reigns in the bioengineering core I am sure. To avoid a repeat of the past and plan for Claremont's future under a new sustainability based General Plan, I plan to undertake as a council member the following four legislative initiatives between now and the municipal election.

That the Land Suitability Element goals and policies be implemented over all parcels that are within the land suitability map of this element under the present General Plan, not just some parcels; and that the Land Suitability Element be included in the new General Plan. Why was the strongest link, the Land Suitability Element, left-off the table under the new General Plan process?

That Claremont's Environmental Quality Committee be revived and brought to order. And as a part of that order a college student environmental quality representative be a voting member of said committee. The purposes of such representation will be for the coordination of various CEQA environmental reviews that are underway and planned for the General Plans of both city and college sustainability efforts.

That Claremont's educational zone precludes future development that does not have tenured and student advocacy rights matched to any built or open protected educational facilities. A Keck built facility would have removed 11.5 acres from oversight of rights contained under Academic Freedom. This building would have been equally, a loss to the greater community, of the benefits that derive from studies and research that take place, in the academic freedom environment of the colleges. Much like the slope ratio design of the Land Suitability Element, acreage under the Academic Freedom as a Community Resource Element, be linked to the benefits derived from academic freedom at the Colleges.

That any scientific, commercial and bio-technical efforts not covered under the Educational Zone or the rights of Academic Freedom are controlled under a new optional element in the new General Plan. This element will be for exacting case by case the Scientific and Commercial uses of Genomes and Genetic materials within the jurisdiction of the city of Claremont. This element will have a beginning set of goals and policies that will protect the environment, the natural gene pool and the community and foster the way of discovery citizens of Claremont want to take place under the new General Plan. I view and consider this as a wise and long-term business plan.

I am here tonight before the planning committee to have these legislative concerns agendized for the next planning committee meeting this March the 1st. Copies of Committee Call to Order and the elements will be available via Internet download and at the Student Election Candidate Forum at the Rose Hills Theatre, Smith Student Center, Pomona College for candidates on the 28th of February at 7pm.

Thank You Planning Committee members for your careful and considerate attention in these matters.

CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS

We are in a constitutional state of crisis. For Rummy to lobby on intelligence reform and now have military acts off the books means that the "linch pin" of the constitution, the taxing and spending powers of Congress, of raising standing armies, has now been violated. My congressman now has no way to effect my Liberty nor my Republic. Our constitution was specifically designed to avoid this combination of the President's office with the Defence Department; that the King shall not have his own standing army to send willy nilly to wherever he thinks he has the pleasure too. That is why I can never believe the neocons claims to absolute presidential power even during war. The claim of inherent power of the president has already been settled under Nixon's attempt. Rehnquist lost unanimously under his first appearance and recuse and rightly so. And guess what? America was still standing in the morning after this and Nixon's resignation avoiding impeachment. This is inspite of a average of 6 bombings a day, 86 killed policemen, and a record 33,604 injuries between the fall of 1969 and spring of 1970 by our own citizens. Unfortunately, Rehnquist conveniently ignores this when he reviews his history of the power of the President during war. He brings up WWI and WWII but for some reason he completely skips being slapped down by the Supreme court during the undeclared, illegal and immoral so-called Vietnam War. This is bald face intellectual dishonesty that completely belies the important decision on the necessity of War - not to mention the young lives thrown willy nilly into harm's way. That is why I completely reject the neocon's medieval thesis that constitutional government is to weak to survive in a difficult world and that we should defer to a sole sovereign power. We have become weaker since taking on this post 9/11 repeat of Rehnquest's "in terrorem" position. I would like to read his memo on the subject of presidential power and the invasion of Cambodia but alas that memo has disappeared, nowhere to be found on the internet. The persuasive force of his ideas no longer count I can only suppose. I argued against Rehnquists original appointment to Chief Justice and managed to persuade a Senator to switch, but for now I am glad to have Rehnquist on the bench. I only fear that the next appointment will take what was a tragedy we survived and turn a repeated claim of 18th century inherent power into a farce that destroys our constitution.

HILLSIDES AND WILDERNESS PARK

1. I am in favor of shifting development towards development of low income housing. The hillsides are pretty much tapped out and what is left should be preserved.

2. The implementation of the Land Suitability goals and policies, have selectively been applied to various developments over time under the current General Plan's Natural Resources section. This was evident at this second Tuesdays Planning committee meeting over the mining of gravel in the upper alluvial plain next to the newest development of homes. Up until then only the Hillsides have been referred too as being included within the boundaries of the this optional, but very important element. Only when properties that near the top 1% of the market are involved does the notion of Land Suitability even raises its head. And even then it is referred to only indirectly as "Open Space." To say the least I was suddenly surprised at this planning meeting to see that the projected map now includes the mining area too. Well that gets it partly right and does include more land, but a true map, for public consumption, would show that the Bernard field station is also within properties that fall within the jurisdiction of the Land Unsuitability element. And not once have the land suitability criteria been used to determine the bases for proposed land uses and intensity of use in any of properties mentioned; nor been referenced to directly even in regards to the hillside. If we apply the criteria we should be able to slow down if not prevent further developments in the hillsides.

Under the criteria set forth and applied to the Bernard Field Station the northern "neck" turns out to include some the most protected land in the city that the city requires to be mitigated before even an EIR is undertaken. But alas, the Land Suitability Element was never even mentioned in the EIR regarding Keck's development within the only walk on scientific and ecological station in any of the six Mediterranean regions of the world. So much for educating our children about having a sustainable future.

What really is hypocritical is how the current General Plan revision doesn't even have this element under consideration. Somehow, someone has deemed what would protect our environment the most is not needed in the new General Plan that is currently underway.

As "Your" city council member I will, come what may, call for a committee to be called together that will specifically give this neglected element a fair consideration that it should have been given in the first place. That is how I will protect the Bernard Scientific Research Station - Claremont's "wild heart" - and the sage were the so-called gravel mining is supposed to take place and the hillsides.

3. The two recent large additions to the wilderness park means that our focus should now be to buy out those remaining "edge" properties that surround Johnstons Pasture. These edge properties could be purchased with a bond, if a 2/3 majority vote can be garnered from the citizens of Claremont. We have a lot less property to obtain now and thus may be within reach of a bond measure. A second way would be to open the development credits to all of the city. A combination of both these methods may do the trick.

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http://www.ci.claremont.ca.us/city_services/city_hall/election/election%20index.htm