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Editor’s Note
DISCOVER OJAI MONTHLY
Bret Bradigan
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BALLOT BOX BINGO
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle." — Philo of Alexandria
When the political class of pundits and commentators note the bitter divisions in our country, they often point by contrast to the 1980s' famous one-on-one bourbon summits between Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill and President Ronald Reagan, when people from the other party did not see each other as enemies, but as opponents, each representing their constituents in good faith. Differences were settled over cocktails and conviviality. As Chris Mathews said, "Reagan was fond of Tip and completely believed that Tip wanted to help the little people. He just disagreed about how to do it."
Tip O'Neill often told an election day story about his neighbor, Mary. She was pulling into her driveway as he was leaving. "Mary, did you vote for me?" She looked him over skeptically, "I don't know Tip." He was aghast. "What do you mean you don't know? You were at my christening, my communion, my wedding!" She replied, "Well, Tip, you never asked me."
As we round the bend into a contentious local election, we'd do well to keep those anecdotes in mind. Who is asking for our votes, and why? Who is able to bring people together and who drives them apart? These stories are also a reminder that a person's politics are about the least useful information about them when it comes to the kind of person they are. And that there is no reason for us to allow a few troublemakers to set the tone.
We are on unchartered ground locally, with four city council seats — including the Mayor — up for grabs, along with three out of five Ojai Unified School District seats. It's a complicated set of district maps that vary between the school district and city. We urge you to check your ballot on the city and OUSD websites — ojai.ca.gov and ojaiusd.org. Another useful resource is Vote411.org, which is organized by the League of Women Voters. Or go straight to the source at the California Secretary of State's website at sos.ca.gov and enter your information for specifics. Registration deadline is October 24th for the November 8th election.
After Franklin Delano Roosevelt won his landslide election over Herbert Hoover in 1932's dark days of the Great Depression, he virtually disappeared from the public eye until his inauguration. Then on March 4 (the last inauguration that late in the year, it thereafter changed to January 20) he launched the ambitious set of legislation which became the New Deal, launching jobs programs like the Civilian Conservation Corps, Tennessee Valley Authority and Works Progress Administration and banking reforms. During the quiet time, the story goes that he met with several prominent labor leaders, who, after campaigning vigorously against Hoover, came expecting their quid pro quo. FDR listened to them patiently and agreeably. The labor leaders began to rise, thinking the meeting over. "No, no," said FDR. "I agree with you. I want to do it. But now you've got to go out there and make me."
He meant that the hard work was just beginning, that they were tasked with creating the social pressure against which it would be impossible for the president not to follow through. That lesson from 90 years ago is more relevant today than ever. Election day is just the start of creating the Ojai we need and deserve.
BESANT HILL SCHOOL
SMALL
BY DESIGN
4:1 STUDENT TEACHER RATIO 100% COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE RATE EPORTFOLIOS INTEGRATED EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING GLOBAL STUDENT BODY ROBUST EXTRACURRICULAR CALENDAR INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT PROGRAM
www.besanthill.org
FOR SALE $879,000
913 Sunset Place Ojai, Ca
3+1 charmer is located in a prime location just a few blocks away from downtown Ojai. This home features original wood floors with an open floor plan. The large backyard is perfect for BBQ’s and get togethers! Come see this one before it’s gone!
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