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Grover Beach Council member twists public comment

May 19, 2017

Grover Beach Council Member Mariam Shah

OPINION by RON ARNOLDSEN

A member of the Grover Beach City Council had her little feelings hurt at the council meeting of May 17. She felt that I called her a whore.

Actually, I asked the entire council if they considered themselves whores? One female member of the council said it was not offending to her and she was cognizant of the issue being brought forward.

A member of any city council must remember that they make decisions that make some constituent’s happy and others unhappy. They will be praised by those they make happy and damned by those they make unhappy.

Suck up the unhappy comments buttercup.  It is part of the job.

Back to the reference to the council being whores.  Merriam-Webster defines a whore as a venal or unscrupulous person.  It does not designate the person’s sexual affiliation, or that they are performing sex acts. Yes, a man can be a whore as well.

It is my contention that the city council has financial gain as their driving force.  Not just for the City of Grover Beach but, maybe for some council members?

They have little or no concern with the consequences some of their “fund raising enterprises” will bring.I am not sure whether they have fully considered the social impact or the stigma the town will earn with regards to their jumping into courting the marijuana industry.

Pismo Beach is known as a destination resort and for the ability to drive on a beach that does not belong to them, even though the beach is named Pismo Beach.  Grover Beach will be known as Groovy Grover the jewel of the Cannabis Coast.

In areas of our country that have marijuana sales, production and distribution, the increase in public safety services have been noticeable. In some instances almost enough to offset the windfall of money delivered by the marijuana industry.

This is due to an increase in crime and the related increase in police services as well as an increase in medical aids calls for overdoses, DUI’s and other calls related to pot sales and use. The increase in public safety services may impact Grover Beach’s bottom dollar as well.

Look out Pismo Beach, Oceano and Arroyo Grande because this will very likely cost you tax dollars. Especially the city of Arroyo Grande because they are responsible for a greater portion of the cost of the Fire Authority (the fire service shared with Grover Beach and Oceano).

I envision this Grover Beach Council member doing an introduction at a concert in the park: “This nice man sells marijuana and mommy helped him set up business here in Grover Beach. Yes, it is legal.”

However, I would prefer an introduction like: “This nice man owns a business that is part of the computer industry and mommy helped him start his business in Grover Beach.”

I am not opposed to medical marijuana or even the recreational use of it. I am opposed to many of the specifics of the ordinance Grover Beach has drafted.

I would have preferred they “went gently into the night” with concerns to a marijuana ordnance. That is why I ask are they greedy whores? Trying to be the first to grab the largest share of the industry.

Gluttons? Or, will some individual council members be in some way compensated for their approval of this ordinance? Fair to say that “all’s fair in love, war and politics,” as long as it is legal.


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“Pismo Beach is known as a destination resort and for the ability to drive on a beach that does not belong to them”.


This is a whole nuther kettle of fish. Been to the beach lately? I and my dog were once almost run over by some jerk in an RV on the beach. The guy could clearly see us walking there yet he decided to head as close as physically possible at speed missing us by inches. I turned just in time to see a big smile on his face.


Used to be not all that long ago that you could enjoy a relaxing stroll on the beach and enjoy the sound of waves, arm in arm with your loved one, or children, but no more. Now you’re constantly having to dodge bozos loudly barreling down the sand way faster than the 15 mph speed limit, fish tailing to impress their girlfriends, throwing garbage out their windows and flipping people off. Our beach paradise has been turned into a parking lot, no paving necessary. It’s crazy. Cars and trucks and clutter are EVERYWHERE. Why can’t there be ONE local destination that respects the place for it’s unique natural character and allows visitors to experience that same character without having to drive far up or down the coast to find one? People need somewhere to unwind, somewhere with peace and quiet, but when you can’t even hear the waves for all the revving it’s ruined.


I know, this’ll piss off all the high-testosterone bad ass off-roaders and local ATV rental places. Small businesses that make their money by ruining the experience for everyone else. Cars don’t belong on the beach. If you must, replace them with a few tourist shuttles that run on a schedule.


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Actually, people in the County are wondering why Grover Beach is jumping into the Marijuana business as the guinea pig. (No offense to anyone–Guinea pig is used as an idiom for test case.)


Since it helps for another city to be the first to handle the successes and failures of regulating something new, other towns will be watching. Good luck. The initial group of people you attract to the city, IMO, will be homeless pot users.


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An increase in DUI’s? — Actually most if not all of the research points to a reduction in total DUIs and driver fatalities. Drunk people generally like to be out and about, whereas stoners like to sit on the couch and munch fritos.


After states legalized medical marijuana traffic fatalities fell — http://www.foxnews.com/health/2016/12/29/after-states-legalized-medical-marijuana-traffic-deaths-fell.html


Road fatalities in Colorado have plummeted since mj was legalized — http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/the-us-state-where-road-fatalities-have-plummeted-since-marijuana-was-legalised-10499069.html


Study: Fatal car crashes declined in Oregon after cannabis legalized — http://www.wweek.com/news/state/2016/12/30/study-fatal-car-crashes-declined-after-oregon-legalized-cannabis/


Overdoses? —perhaps you mean hospital visits for people tripping out? Pretty sure you can’t overdose on cannabis…BUT, narcotics abuse and fatal opiate overdoses have decreased significantly in states that have legalized cannabis.


Legalizing mj reduces death from opiates — http://drugabuse.com/legalizing-marijuana-decreases-fatal-opiate-overdoses/


Legalize mj and reduce deaths from drug abuse — http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/healthcare/286965-legalize-marijuana-and-reduce-deaths-from-drug-abuse


Crime rates appear to be down, too, in states that have legalized. It turns out black markets create a lot of crime in their own right.


Mj legalization: Research review on crime and impaired driving —https://journalistsresource.org/studies/society/drug-policy/marijuana-legalization-crime-driving-research


All the hubris in the world isn’t going to change the fact that the war on drugs is a multi-trillion dollar failure perpetuated to benefit a handful of industries that have bought off our politicians. It’s time to start looking at pot the same way you do a vineyard or brewery.


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Dear Ron:


I’m writing to compliment you on your behavior at the recent city council meeting and in the follow-up editorial that I just read. Referring to a city council woman as a whore is in fact proper and even admirable behavior. You’re right to point out that the term doesn’t necessarily denote sexual promiscuity and that public servants shouldn’t reflexively assume the most negative of interpretations. I look forward to sharing that lesson and your example of civic leadership with my seven-year-old daughter.


I think we can agree that if there is one thing that encourages community engagement and promotes the common good, it is calling public officials names. Might I suggest adding to your lexicon the complimentary though often misinterpreted terms “bitch,” “dickhead” and “a-hole.”


Along those lines, I’d like to bestow on you an equally ennobling title: “cock.” As you no doubt know, the term refers to male chickens, species that are held in high esteem in the avian world and even among some humans (see “cock o’ the walk”). Surely, no one would take offense at being described with such a complimentary term.


As for your analysis of the issues that our fair city faces, your conclusions were so clear and obvious that they required no supporting evidence, which is probably why you chose not to provide any. You are clearly a man of great insight, and as one who has studied rhetoric, I was impressed by your use of a unique counter-logical technique in which you first made a point only to contradict it a few sentences later (see, “marijuana bad; marijuana not bad”). That was brilliant.


In closing, I’d like to share another complimentary term with you: “sucker.” As you know, suckers are America’s favorite treat and a cultural touchstone of childhood. Surely, no one could misinterpret the complimentary nature of being described with this moniker.

That’s why I hope you understand the true meaning of the double compliment I pay you when I bestow upon you the title of Grover Beach’s “Favorite Cock Sucker.”


Congratulations.


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Ron:

I am disgusted with this display of poor behavior.

not a good example to our children to say the least.

there is no defending this, but then you do. Very sad.

Mariam Shah is a wife, mother and devoted public servant.

I have observed and admired her for many years, she or the council are not deserving of your ugly comments.


Tim brown

Arroyo Grande city council member.


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As an educated citizen that’s the best word you could come up with?


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Agreed, when in this dollar category they should be referred to as prostitutes.


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Not what I meant. Why do so many people have to be rude and talk gutter iñ public meetings?


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Why do you use a moniker that reminds people of semen to admonish gutter talk?


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Seamus , Seamus Bond

name James


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I’m confused here…what’s wrong with being a whore?


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Isn’t the real point here that Dr. Arnoldsen didn’t call anyone a name. The take away I got from this whole discussion is that he doesn’t want his council to sell his community benefiting a few; to the detriment of everyone else who lives there.


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Remember, this is the mayor who was fined $1,101 by FPPC for monetary indiscretions.


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I’m sure you mean Mayor Shoals. He is still under investigation by FPPC for a second complaint filed last August.


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Jeff Sessions is going to send the DEA into California with a vengence and a whole bunch of scumbags are going to go to jail.


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Be vewwy qwiet, Jeff Sessions is huntin’ mariwwana users for his pwivate pwisons.


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Com’on, Miriam! If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. And quit distorting a pointed remark into some kind of victimhood. The public gets to criticize. You get to listen. That’s how it works. So, how about LISTENING? It would serve you well. When you listen, you get treated better. When you play victim, you become one. Be adult in this matter.


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Minor league,Triple A politics. Small town, small people. And yes they along with other supporting cities will pay the price. Correction, we the taxpayer will pick up the tab, once again, for their incompetency.


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For sure. This sort of reaction makes me believe they ARE hiding something. $$$


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Yea, but she is kindda cute.


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:Kindda cute”? She’s cuter than a box of kittens!


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