In the memo below it seems that Wallis, Brock and Hawxhurst are making an apparently desperate move to maintain their strangle hold of power on the city of Goleta.

It may seem unbelievable, yet it is fact a faxed copy of the memo is here.

"The city of Goleta has the responsibility to enforce the removal of
private signs from the public right-of-way on a complaint basis and at
any time that a private sign on the public right-of-way poses a traffic or
safety hazard to the public. Signs that are removed will be held at City
Hall for a period of 30 days before being disposed of. At any time
During that 30-dya period, the signs may be picked up at City Hall
During regular business hours (8:00 - 5:00 Monday-Friday). Any
Questions should be directed to Robert Morgenstern. the City's Public
Works Manager at (805) 961-7500."

This memo is dated 10/12/2004, yet when a call was placed to Robert Morgenstern on 10/13/2004 at about 11:33 AM he indicated no knowledge whatsoever to this information.

The reason for this memo seems quite clear. It appears Goleta residents are sick and tired of the actions of Hawxhurst, Brock, and Wallis, and as such Jean Blois and Roy Zbinden signs have been sprouting up all over the city. This undoubtedly unnerves council members Hawxhurst, Brock, and Wallis, as if Wallis gets the boot, then the strangle hold will be obviously be weakened.

Who authorized this? Ask city manager Fred Stouder and you will probably hear "I can't recall". This seems to be Fred's favorite answer as he used it continuously in a recent deposition. Why are Goleta citizens paying hard earned tax dollars for a city manager that admits to not being able to recall important issues?

Do they have the right to do this? Yes, sadly it would appear they do. Signage on public property can be taken down, nevermind the fact it was never done in Goleta in the past. Allowing political signs on public property has been a common tradition in Goleta for as long as most residents can recall.

When the City is behind on the general plan (they applied for an 18 month extension) and they have so many other important issues to deal with, picking prime election time to enforce this ordinance gives a clear indication they are desperate that Jonny may lose.

The city it seems wants it both ways. While city manager Fred Stouder is producing memos giving the city the right to take down political signage on public right of way, Jack Hawxhurst is out putting signs up in the in public median. Hawxhurst was seen by multiple eye witnesses putting a Wallis sign in the public median at the intersection of Cathedral Oaks and Fairview on the afternoon of Friday Oct 15th 2004 and elsewhere around Goleta. Note: some eye witnesses are willing to testify, not that it would ever come to that, but just to be sure you know this is fact not fiction.

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