As Bellis said, it was "like Christmas."Thank you, Barbara Ellis (aka Bellis), Karin Bugge (aka Altadena Hiker) and Michael Coppess (aka East of Allen) for helping create a terrific groundswell yesterday, a blogging extravaganza to express our communal desire to keep soccer fields out of Hahamongna Watershed Park.
And thank you, Pasadena/Altadena blogging community, for teaming up to make a powerful statement.
When I spoke with Janette Williams of the Pasadena Star-News for her story about our efforts she asked me, in so many words, how one rallies a bunch of disparate bloggers in this world of online snark. I told her I've heard of snarky blogging but that's not my community. San Gabriel Valley Bloggers like each other. We tend not to go that route.
We bloggers don't always agree, we don't vote the same way, we don't care about the same stuff. But we're nice to each other.
Not everyone we invited to participate in yesterday's event responded to the call. Chances are those people want soccer fields at Hahamongna and it's their right to feel that way. But they didn't sabotage, send nasty messages or shout us down. (And blogs we didn't even think of added great posts to the mix.)
So thank you. We were heard on many levels. We made a statement about Hahamongna, and about community. People can work together. People can be nice to each other. At a time when hatespeak has become the vernacular of politics and TV news, I'm proud to say I hang with a crowd that doesn't speak that language.
25 comments:
Hearty Bravo To You! Petrea...
Yay!!! I hope you all are successful in your endeavors!!!
Waiting to hear the outcome, and hoping for commonsense to prevail. And as you say, how good that your protest was made without getting nasty.
All politics are local. So true. Input from the local citizens get heard and gets results. The process hasent really changed much since 1776. Congrats to you and your group.
ps I love that photo.
So glad it went well. I do need to say that it's not so black and white: the folks who did not participate (which included us) should not necessarily be considered as supporters of soccer in Hahamongna -- we just chose not to participate in the day, for whatever personal reason -- in our case, editorial policy.
But it is a great community, we SGV bloggers, as we see every year in the Primavera: there's no real rivalry, we all do our own thing and support each other in their thing. Let a thousand flowers bloom! And congrats to Petrea, Karin, Barbara, and Michael for organizing a successful event.
I still can't get over the way everyone who contributed had gone to so much trouble. Not only was the writing apt and moving, there were old maps and historic photos to look at, a video, memories of the park in the past, and wise words about protecting the watershed. I've learnt so much from reading everyone's contributions; what a wonderful community we have here.
We have our moments.
(You're right, P & Bellis. The contributions were absolute gems. And each one unique. I took another stroll thru the links this morning, just because I enjoy them so much.)
It is a joy to be a part of a community that values civility and a diversity of opinions.
I hope that everyone that wrote will send a link or e-copy of their comments to our council members. The comments will be included with documents that accompany the agenda online and will be available for community members who do not read blogs.
Well put. The reporter asked me the same thing - how is it that independent blogger types can come together? I don't think "independent blogger types" describes our community very well.
Thanks, everyone. Truly it was all remarkable. I would ask each of you to forward your post to the council members. I think that's a great idea.
Tim, your clarification is a good one: people have other things to do and other causes, and of course a journalist such as yourself can't take sides.
And speaking of journalists, Janette Williams of the Star-News didn't seem to be trying to lead when she asked her question about the blogging community. Rather, she just didn't know and, not a blogger herself, had heard blogging was snarky, and honestly wondered how we were going to do it. I think the reason it worked was because we set a date, gave folks a few links and let people say what they wanted to say.
Steve Scauzillo just weighed in from Temple City Daily Photo:
http://templecitydailyphoto.blogspot.com/2010/07/keeping-it-green.html
Another way to look at it. Thank you, Steve!
Did you save that beautiful photo for this thank you? Hey, the whole thing was fun, we did good, made some important points and did it in diverse interesting ways. And for a bonus, we apparently surprised with our civility! I'm sure the later accolade is due to all the "anti-snark" emails you sent out reminding us to be on our best behavior. All in all a good outing.
I forgot to add that the photo is beautiful, thanks Michael for reminding me to say it. Mt Lukens in the background looks so different with the cloud covering the main peak, and the shades of blue make the scene very peaceful - perhaps the spirit of Hahamongna is feeling less stressed now.
Ha! I can just imagine the can of worms I'd have opened if I'd told people to be on their best behavior. As if I can tell people what kind of behavior to be on...
Thanks for the compliments on the photo. Full disclosure: I took it last December when I was learning how to use the Canon. (I'll have to learn again now that it's back in commission.) I forgot to white balance and got that extra blue, but what the hell? It stays.
Wow !!! like a scenery in the movie...beautiful !
But only Linda Dove wrote a poem. That's bonus points.
Lord have mercy, our pack of bloggers have a damn lovefest everytime we gather in person or online. I hope what you all did has positive results in your beautiful community.
V
Hi Boom! Thank you.
No kidding, Margaret, and it's a beautiful poem.
Virginia, you got that right. I hope so, too.
Great piece in the Star News-- and great job Petrea and crew in pulling together the community. :)
Hear, hear! These comments beat some I see on other news sites. Bravo!
Thanks, Kat.
And thank you, Steve. Yes, I don't know how journalists stand it. It's amazing what some people will say when they believe they're anonymous. The ignorance and hostility are shocking.
Bloggers can block or delete comments. But honestly I've rarely had to do it, and when I have it's usually just spam, someone trying to sell something. Hostility, unless it's X-rated, I'd rather leave on here and deal with. But we don't seem to get that much.
Just wait--now that I've said something...
Late the party, here, & glad tp hear that the Mayor of Pasadena—& at least one Council member—has responded directly to you on this just-slightly bonkers idea (of ripping up nature to lay down sod).
Y'all better be ready for delays in the Council meeting, though. Remember: the whole reason this upwelling of blog-sentiment was necessary was in no small part because opponents of developing Hahamongna left early last time it was before the Council.
That was, as often noted, in 2003. After this latest wave of organized outrage, how likely are you to leave early again, & leave the Council to its own machinations? Not very! So cancel your evening plans. Get a babysitter. Take water, and a trail bar, and a sweater. Be prepared to camp out in uncomfortable circumstances. Municipal deliberations have a way of dragging … but if those opposed to this folly are not around when to vote's taken, the consequences may be unfortunate.
Your work is so inspiring, encouraging, uplifting, etc.
Good onya, Petrea.
Thank you, Dina.
J, your point is well taken.
OK, so, it's 12:05a on Tuesday morning, & ain't none o'you out of there yet, are you? So, you tired of Council maneuvers yet, or what? Would you like to go home now, or is it starting to feel like 2003 all over again?
Stick to your guns! We outnumber them.
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