Under the Dome

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Pasadena -- news, politics and gossip.

Send tips, rumors, rants to Fred Ortega fred.ortega@sgvn.com.

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and who said that Conservatives don't have fun?!

Posted by: Isaac Garcia | January 9, 2008 2:13 PM

"As Chairman I do not want CRG type cast as an unserious organization or some wacky conservative group forever in the eyes of the public and the media."----------No, just humorless. "I do not want CRG's public "brand" in the media to be forever as the village idiots who should be marginalized to the freak show of a counter cultural parade."---------------Leave that job to the pundit web site.

Posted by: I h8 the doo too | January 9, 2008 2:18 PM

How very un-Doo-Dah of him.

Posted by: Ann Erdman | January 9, 2008 3:38 PM

The Doo-Dah parade used to be fun. Now it is a raunchy politically mean-spirited disgrace which has degenerated into an excuse for aging baby boomers to be witlessly sexually shocking. The Doo Dah's Thorny Rose award is simply evidence that the award is a sham controlled by the Establishment who use it to punish the Establishment's critics. These aging Doo Dah baby boomers jumped the shark 6 or 7 years ago. The degeneration of the Doo Dah parade is yet more evidence that the City of Pasadena is becoming actively hostile to families....bad schools, inadequate parks, overdevelopment of apartments...its all a result of an attempt to turn Pasadena into someone's idea of a "hip" place to live. When was the beginning of the end for the Doo Dah parade? Today.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 9, 2008 3:56 PM

Nice summary of what's wrong with Pasadena, Anonymous -- couldn't have said it better myself.

Posted by: Bill | January 9, 2008 4:35 PM

So shut up and move to a different city. Let us know where you land so you can brag about how much better (and boring) it is than Pasadena.

Posted by: Anon | January 9, 2008 8:31 PM

Like I said...mean-spirited and anti-family. I think this is an issue that Victor Gordo and Chris Holden are going to have to answer for next year...their support of Pasadena's anti-family agenda. We'll make sure to take a lot of pictures of the sexualized antics the City allows to take place on a public street in front of children.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 9, 2008 8:38 PM

If its going to be the raunchy mess it was last year then the City of Pasadena has a responsibility to warn families with children. The Doo Dah isn't a "parade" anymore...its a sex-oriented adult street fair. Why is the City giving a permit for a man to run up and down the street with a 3 foot plastic penis ejactulating shaving cream onto little girls? You come to see a funny parade and instead you get exposed to people who are displaying their sexual perversions using the excuse that they are being "funny". Sort of like the single guy down the street that sets up a playground in his backyard and invites all the neighborhood children over to play. It's all for fun right?

Posted by: Anonymous | January 9, 2008 8:51 PM

"its a sex-oriented adult street fair." That's what I call progress. PS. The Family friendly parade is jan 1st.

Posted by: howey | January 9, 2008 9:02 PM

Family friendly = Santa Clarita or Simi valley. Enjoy!

Posted by: howey | January 9, 2008 9:04 PM

I think there are plenty of people who would be surprised to learn that the City of Pasadena allows illegal drug use to be promoted on City streets under the guise of a "parade" that children are encouraged to attend. It's going to make a nice commercial...shot of the people promoting marijuana allowed to march in the street right in front of elementary school children and a cutaway to city literature promoting the event. Nice. Pasadena is a hard enough place to raise a child without Victor Gordo and Chris Holden allowing people to promote drug use to children....the least they can do is withdraw any City support and insist that the Doo Dah parade warn people that the content is not appropriate for children.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 9, 2008 10:18 PM

It has also come to my attention that the city council is going lure children away from their families by offering them maryjane, trap them and force them to work on the Beijing '09 float.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 9, 2008 10:23 PM

It's going to make a nice mailer to all the old ladies in Holden and Gordo's districts...shot of people promoting marijuana marching in the street right in front of elementary school children, shot of city literature and PSN columnists promoting the event, shot of City employees and city officials like Ann Erdman participating. Nice. Things just aren't going in the right direction in Pasadena and Victor Gordo and Chris Holden are going to answer for it. Why are they allowing these white people to promote perverted sex and drug use to minority children? Let's see what kind of sense of humor the Doo Dah parade and more importantly the Doo Dah parades sponsors have. Hey, maybe they think promoting drug use to children is "funny". Let's see how funny they think it really is.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 9, 2008 10:59 PM

Posted by: Anonymous | January 9, 2008 11:01 PM

It is a fact that prior to the doo dah sex and drugs were unknown to the minority children of Pasadena. The white children were able to learn about these things at their private schools.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 9, 2008 11:08 PM

Oh ok...so it doesn't matter that perverted sex and drug use is being promoted to children by the PSN and the City of Pasadena because those kids already learn all about it in the PUSD anyway. I see. Or were you thought I was joking about that? You mean, let me understand this cause, ya know maybe it's me, I'm a little screwed up maybe, but I'm funny how, I mean funny like I'm a clown, I amuse you? I make you laugh, I'm here to fricken' amuse you? What do you mean funny, funny how? How am I funny? Because I don't think there is anything funny about promoting perverted sex and drug use to children.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 9, 2008 11:34 PM

Hey Erdman...can you smile real big in that costume you wear in the Doo Dah parade? I want it to look like the City of Pasadena is really having a good time promoting perverted sex and illegal drug use to children.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 9, 2008 11:40 PM

If measure D passes it will be used to give children muggles tea and M as part of a thinly disguised school lunch program.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 9, 2008 11:43 PM

A recent refrain heard from those on the left side of the political spectrum is that families are moving out of Pasadena lowering the Average Daily Attendance at public schools and increasing PUSD budget problems. A number of explanations have been offered for this out-migration of families (unaffordable housing, the real estate bubble, gentrification, etc.). Perhaps Pasadena has not advertised itself as a family friendly city as reflected in the Doo Dah Parade. Families, not the "Creative Class," provide the foundation for successful local economies. See Joel Kotkin "Voting With Our Fee: The Rise of Family Friendly Cities" here http://www.joelkotkin.com/Urban_Affairs/WSJ%20The%20Rise%20of%20Family-Friendly%20Cities.htm

Posted by: Wayne Lusvardi | January 9, 2008 11:51 PM

I can't stay here anymore with Erdman, Gordo and Holden allegedly passing out drugs to school children.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 9, 2008 11:59 PM

a photograph is worth a thousand words...a Councilmember's face goes right between the marijuana people and the S&M transvestites... "The City of Pasadena has advertised and participated in a street fair that promotes drug use and a variety of sexual perversions to Pasadena's children. We need a representative that cares more about Pasadena's families." Oh gee look, the PUSD helps subsidize the people that put on the Doo Dah so school board members can join the fun too! Lizardo can explain to people why the PUSD contributes to a group that promotes drug use to children...look! see! there is a picture that proves it! I wonder what the Absolut, Neutrogena and the California Community Foundation people will think about donating to a group that uses donations to promote drug use and sexual perversion to children. Oh god these Doo Dah people are funny, funny people with just a wicked sense of humor aren't they? Except they aren't. They are really kiss ass Establishment toady's doing the Establishment's dirty work. They have a very small budget and didn't have enough money to pay the fees for the parade last November which is why it is being held in January instead. Let's see how funny they are when all their grants dry up because there are about 30 million art non-profits waiting to take their place. Hear that? No? That was the sound of the Doo Dah parade blinking out of existence...not with a bang (get it?) but with a whimper.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 10, 2008 2:00 AM

Doo Dah drug use promotion to children..."Marijuana Man" dressed as a cartoon character. http://www.shareapic.com/public/view/11690 Bye bye Doo Dah.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 10, 2008 3:44 AM

Hey I bet they don't have their permit yet. That means it is going to be issued under the Melekian regime. That's a great way for the chief to start his new interim job that he really wants to be permanent hey? Police chief permitting a "parade" that promotes illegal drug use to children...that is a nice hook for national media attention. They can quote his Rose Parade statements back to him and ask him why a human rights parade couldn't get a permit but an event that promotes illegal drug use to children not only gets a permit under his "leadership" but is subsidized by the city and the local school district to boot. I heard that all the local TV stations are going to get notified of this controversy next week by a family values group who will condemn the City of Pasadena for participating in the event and the PUSD for helping to fund the group putting it on. It's a great TV story because of the visuals...and it gives TV an excuse to show the most outrageous and raunchy participants in the parade and claim there is a "drug and sex controversy" in Pasadena with film at 11...that is good for ratings.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 10, 2008 4:33 AM

Parade permits cannot be issued on the basis of the message or content of the parade. They are an expression of first amendment rights of the promoters and have nothing to say about the city government nor administration that issues a permit. It would be unlawful for a government to exercise censorship even if the message is distasteful to a segment of its citizens. Constitutional Law 101.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 10, 2008 6:06 AM

glad somebody knows something about the constitution and all the anti-pasadena rants are sure to help the anti-D campaign. Talk about a great political strategy insult the city traditions and pasadena. web sites can mock the media and city government on his site, with his crazy conspiracy theories, but when it is the critics turn they do not have the courage to ride down the street and take it. he just lost my support.

Posted by: no guts | January 10, 2008 7:03 AM

Pay attention, people! I haven't been in the parade for the past two years.

Posted by: Ann Erdman | January 10, 2008 7:52 AM

Any fool can swallow their dignity and beliefs under the guise of being a good sport. I mean, who would want all the super cool people out there to call them...gulp..."chicken". Oh the horror! Finally, someone in Pasadena has the guts and integrity to tell the woefully anachronistic Doo Dah'ers to go stick it where the sun don't shine. It's about time.

Posted by: jimmydean | January 10, 2008 8:34 AM

I heard Dr. Demento was a satanist

Posted by: Anonymous | January 10, 2008 9:38 AM

It isn't right that the S&M trannies ar so hot. You get all set for some drug free family friendly loving and the chick dressed as Wonder Woman turns out to be a dude. Why doesn't the city do something about that ?

Posted by: Anonymous | January 10, 2008 9:42 AM

The City of Pasadena doesn't just issue a permit...it promotes and participates in the event. The PUSD helps fund it. A Craigslist ad is offering a bounty of $50 for rights to photos that show the most sexually lurid and drug-oriented behavior at the Doo Dah "parade". Ann this is you in the blue wig right? Do you want to be referred to as a "city official" in the press release or "city spokesperson"? You can explain to TV about why City resources are used to promote an event that encourages children to use illegal drugs. If you refuse to condemn it then you are promoting drug use. If you do condemn it then your statements will be sent to the Doo Dah's corporate sponsors. This is really fun isnt't it?

Posted by: Anonymous | January 10, 2008 11:48 AM

$50 bounty for any photos of people smoking dope during the parade. Melekian can explain why he threatened to arrest people for throwing tortillas during the Rose Parade but for 10 years he has allowed people to smoke dope in front of kids during this "parade".

Posted by: Anonymous | January 10, 2008 11:56 AM

Drugs are a big problem in Pasadena...especially in the Northwest. People are getting killed over them. The City and the PUSD need to stop subsidizing this organization. I don't think Blacks and Latinos being killed over drugs is funny. This is a pretty clear cut case of the City of Pasadena and the PUSD promoting drug use. "Is Promoting Illegal Drug Use to Our Children Funny?" That is the title of an upcoming ad running in the Pasadena Journal. The ad has two pictures. One is a pic of a Pasadena police officer standing by and doing nothing while some dirt butt white guy marches around with marijuana and the pic next to it is the police arresting a black man on a drug charge. I guess drugs are only funny when white people are doing them.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 10, 2008 12:35 PM

Todd - can you at least confirm whether or not all of these Anonymous posts are from the same IP (meaning they are the same person?) c'mon people - if you are going to comment - grow a spine and put your name down!

Posted by: Isaac Garcia | January 10, 2008 1:39 PM

That would be a violation of the Privacy Policy of the Los Angeles Newspaper Group. In addition, if you allow people to post anonymously then you create a reasonable expectation of anonymity.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 10, 2008 1:48 PM

I'm not interested in policing comments, it's a reader-beware area rife with amplified lunacy and occasionally punctuated with sublime insight. But I am going to write "DOPE" on a Marlboro and pose for a pic alongside the parade, and will chase Capt. Anonymous down after he stiffs me for fifty bucks!

Posted by: Todd | January 10, 2008 3:35 PM

Erdman: We'll give you until Monday at 4 p.m. to issue a press release advising the public that the Doo Dah "parade", which the City has a history of participating in and subsidizing, contains content that may not be appropriate for children and that parents and guardians should exercise caution. If you refuse then that refusal is going to be highlighted in the "Pasadena Family Values Coalition" press release along with a photo of the Doo Dah's "Marijuana Man" and his bag of goodies that he hands out to children. If you won't warn Pasadena's families I guess someone has to. Also, if the City waives even one red cent of the fees that the Doo Dah is supposed to be charged or the City otherwise advertises or promotes the parade then that financial support of this disgraceful raunchy drug promoting carnival is going to be highlighted. Oh yeah...do the dozen or so photogs that are being lined up on Craigslist to document these potheads at work making their appeal to children on the parade route need a permit to film? Just kidding...I know they don't need a permit. What City officials and employees plan on taking part? Think they will be mad if you knew that the "parade" was going to be branded as an illegal drug promotion event and you didn't tell them? Also, you should have ready the amount of money the City of Pasadena Parks & Recs department has given to these Doo Dah drug promoters to work with Pasadena school children on the Arroyo-Seco Trials Project. TV is going to want to know about that. Maybe instead of collecting a paycheck to publically attack the City's political enemies on blogs you should shut your mouth and do your job. 4 p.m. on Monday Erdman...clocks ticking. Make sure you put the press release up on the City website so we can print it out and send it to LAUSD and the PUSD so they can cutoff their funding. These pending state budget cuts to schools aren't going to leave any room for organizations that promote drug use to children.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 10, 2008 3:45 PM

who said anything about violating privacy or policing comments?

Posted by: Isaac Garcia | January 10, 2008 4:01 PM

That's Truitt making those threats and calling upon the Pasadena Family Values Coalition. Just what we need here, an uber-uber-uber conservative rabble rouser posing as a bunch of blue-haired grannies and dictating what is appropriate. Nobody with any sense bills the Doo Dah Parade as family oriented. It's the ANTI-ROSE PARADE for f*ck's sake. It's the opposite of Pasadena's ultimate family event, you idiots! If Lusvardi doesn't want to take part, fine. He's already winning that village idiot prize on his web site. His master Martin Truitt can tell him what to say but it doesn't make it any more believable. You don't like the Doo Dah Parade, you shouldn't go. Lusvardi's going to church. Good for him. If you're stupid enough to think the Doo Dah is a family event, you deserve what you get. Course, your poor kids have to suffer through intolerant, close minded, taste dictating parents. But they can tell all that to their therapist in twenty years. Got any good books you can suggest banning from the Pasadena Library, Martin? Mike

Posted by: Sharkey | January 10, 2008 5:01 PM

Nope, it wasn't me. I've never worn a blue wig in my life. I do have some shred of dignity.

Posted by: Ann Erdman | January 10, 2008 6:09 PM

That was trick Ann. I meant white wig....holding a sign that says "make Doo Dah not war!"

Posted by: Anonymous | January 10, 2008 6:33 PM

That's great Mike but your conspiracy theory about triple backflip uber conservatives doesn't make for good TV. What will the entities who fund the Doo Dah organization (LAUSD, PUSD, City of Pasadena, LA County Department of Education, Absolut, Neutrogena and the California Community Foundation) think of their money going to fund an organization that provides a venue for Marijuana Man to hand out drug paraphrenalia to kids? Will they fund that in the future after seeing it on TV or in nice color photos? Ehh..Not so much. But hey you can send them your memo about your conspiracy theory and maybe they will agree to fund the promotion of illegal drug use to children.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 10, 2008 6:47 PM

We can only pray to Jesus that the Doo Dah people will adopt Mike's PR approach...maybe produce an angry guy in a wheelchair screaming that marijuana is his medicine. TV loves that. Seriously though "Mike" I am all for letting you have a debauched sex and drugs carnival in Old Pasadena with full nudity and heroin. You just can't have government funding to do it. That's fair right? So watch while your pals at Light Bringer get defunded in what is, gosh, a really tough budget environment gee sorry guys nothing personal but there's nothing for you this year. Enjoy the parade. It's the last one you will see.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 10, 2008 6:54 PM

I am confused will the falun gong be allowed a protest prior to the parade after all?

Posted by: Anonymous | January 10, 2008 7:53 PM

Who are the "Pasadena Family Values Coalition" ? When you google them you get the following: Your search - "Pasadena Family Values Coalition" - did not match any documents. Suggestions: * Make sure all words are spelled correctly. * Try different keywords. * Try more general keywords. ©2008 Google - Google Home - Advertising Programs - Business Solutions - About Google

Posted by: Anonymous | January 10, 2008 8:27 PM

That's a coalition of local ministers that is forming now to lobby to have all government funding of the Light Bringer Project halted...especially City of Pasadena and PUSD funding. The Light Bringer Project is the front organization behind the Doo Dah parade's promotion of illegal drug use. There are going to be huge state budget cuts this year and there are a lot of people competing for funding and these Light Bringer people just killed themselves by drawing attention to their use of government funds to promote drug use to children. Supposedly they were promised some of the tax revenue from Measure D if they agreed to join the campaign in favor of it. Looks like that is going to backfire and may cause them to shut down....the Doo Dah parade itself is a goner.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 10, 2008 8:56 PM

And Gordo & Holden want to be Mayor. I hope that Lena Kennedy runs against Gordo next year, she'll smoke his FAT touchdown scoring ASS. Holden? great guy that the whole council ganged up on because Robinson is too damn weak, naive and busy in DC to help him out. I guess that leaves us SEXY Steve Haderlein or MASERATI Madison as our next Mayor. Where's a Michael Bloomberg or Dick Riordon when we need one. Heaven help us in 2011. In the mean time GORDO IS PATHETIC.

Posted by: David | January 10, 2008 8:56 PM

"That's a coalition of local ministers that is forming now to lobby to have all government funding of the Light Bringer Project halted..." How do I join? When are the meetings? After the parade what other evils will we fight?

Posted by: Anonymous | January 10, 2008 9:17 PM

As one who has attended the Doo Dah parade on an off for years, I stopped bringing my kids around 20 years ago because it really was a mess. Since it changed management, it has toned down and much of what was inappropriate is gone, and I go to see it whenever I can, with family. The crowd who observes it is far more profane and raunchy than the participants, in my opinion. I feel that whoever is posting the rants and attacks above would probably be more comfortable in an environment where morality is enforced by the government, such as Saudi Arabia. I go to Church at least once a week, by the way, in what is seen by society as a morally conservative religion (we used to torture people for heresy in centuries past), and have no problem with allowing people with different views and tendencies to parade down Colorado Boulevard. God bless them and may they always have a forum. May speech in America always be free and open. If I don't like the message, I just go home, as I have in years past. It is not a good tendency, in my opinion, to start stomping out the other guy's right to deliver his message.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 11, 2008 6:36 AM

LOL not one person is going to believe these comments are by multiple people. As far as local ministers getting together, what are their names and what churches are they with?

Posted by: Herman | January 11, 2008 6:47 AM

The taliban may have had their bad points but you know they never would have allowed public displays of raunchiness & weed.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 11, 2008 8:37 AM

They can have all the public displays of raunchiness and promotion of drug use they like. The problem is that its partially funded by the City and the PUSD and the LAUSD and the County. I think most people would agree that those government entities shouldn't be funding "Marijuana Man".

Posted by: Anonymous | January 11, 2008 12:12 PM

In any event, Marijuana Man makes a nice memorable visual to put in front of the Doo Dah's government funding sources. Will they find it "funny" and worthy of their limited dollars next year? Not so much.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 11, 2008 12:15 PM

Who will represent Marijuanan Americans? I didn't know the PUSD and LAUSD funded the parade. Does the Pasadena Family Values Coalition know about this?

Posted by: Anonymous | January 11, 2008 1:42 PM

Yep, that's me in the white wig. The aging hippie look. About four years ago, maybe. Make Doo Dah, not war.

Posted by: Ann Erdman | January 11, 2008 7:49 PM

Ann Erdman is my hero. She has the balls to use her own name. God knows I don't. So stop criticizing her unless you can come out from behind your girlie man skirts and use your real names.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 11, 2008 8:21 PM

Did you get paid overtime for participating Ann? So are you a "city offical" who helps promote illegal drug use to children or were you acting in your role as a private citizen. Who paid the entry fees? Did you get in free as a representative of the City? Are you planning on warning the public that this carnival is not appropriate for children?

Posted by: Anonymous | January 11, 2008 10:15 PM

Just kidding Ann...I forgive you for your sin of associating with these sleazy people. Warn the public and then warn your fellow city employees to stay away from the Doo Dah and make sure the Doo Dah doesnt get even one red cent of fee waivers for that parade because the Doo Dah is going out of business. I am going to buy their office furniture out of bankruptcy and then chop it up and burn it in my fireplace and use it to toast weenies (unless its got paint or stain on it) and then eat that weenie and then piss on the fire and the ashes of what used to be the Light Bringer Project. Why? Because a man takes what he wants, Ann. Takes it all.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 11, 2008 10:50 PM

My eyes are rolling all the way back to Illinois.

Posted by: Miss Havisham | January 12, 2008 12:37 AM

That is a joke from Talledega Nights Diane...you gorgeous beauty.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 12, 2008 1:23 AM

Someone here has made a lot of assertions that the parade is supported by the City and the PUSD. What are the facts underlying that assertion? I bet there are none, just wild unsupported accusations.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 12, 2008 7:43 AM

You'd be betting wrong. The organization that puts on the Doo Dah parade is partially funded by the City of Pasadena and the PUSD. Sadly, the Doo Dah people are providing a venue to promote illegal drug use to children. So those funds are going to have to be cut off. The LAUSD and the PUSD school boards are going to have an items placed on their agendas prohibiting this organization from receiving public education funds.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 12, 2008 12:20 PM

If the LAUSD & PUSD deny funding then we'll need measure D more than ever.

Posted by: chicomsymp | January 12, 2008 12:25 PM

http://www.ci.pasadena.ca.us/libraryteens/passport.asp One of the things that the Doo Dah people do in conjunction with the Pasadena Public Library and the PUSD is a program that claims to "create access to the arts" for schoolchildren. Why would people who promote illegal drug use be given access to schoolchildren?

Posted by: Anonymous | January 12, 2008 12:29 PM

Measure D funding goes mostly to pay for higher salaries and pension benefits for City of Pasadena employees.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 12, 2008 12:33 PM

It is creepy to see someone so obsessed with this... and with anonymous personal attacks of this nature. There is probably some hidden, personal issue and this is just a handy vehicle. Still haven't seen any specific facts about public support for the messages in the Parade. Just more wild accusations.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 12, 2008 2:17 PM

Is it creepy to sit alone policing the public morals of Pasadena. Tirelessly vigilant of this blog to make sure the right things are being said and the correct thoughts expressed. Is it creepy that I know better than every one else and would bend them to my will if only I had the means the office or support. I am not creepy and you should be thanking me, for right now somewhere in Pasadena some one is smoking grifa or copulating with some one other than their wife and yet you mock.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 12, 2008 2:44 PM

nay...you speak untruths for I support the right of the Doo Don't parade to sponsor a carnival featuring nudity and drug use. However, the group that puts on the Doo Don't carnival cannot be funded with public funds. Let them get the money to do so from their vodka sponsor who they also promote and events featuring teenagers. This is about using PUSD and City of Pasadena funds to promote illegal drug use to children. Some people are for that...some aren't.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 12, 2008 3:05 PM

Madison's face goes right next to Marijuana Man's with the caption "Steve Madison has repeatedly voted to fund a group that promotes marijuana use to children. Hundreds of Pasadena children have been arrested for drug use. Some people take teen drug use seriously...Steve Madison thinks its a joke."

Posted by: Anonymous | January 12, 2008 3:08 PM

front side is a pic of a kid getting put in a police car with the caption "Drug use is a serious problem for many Pasadena families." Then the back is a picture of Madison laughing next to Marijuana Man with the caption "Steve Madison thinks its a joke." Steve Madison voted to fund a group that promotes marijuana use to children. Madison has even supported events geared to teenagers sponsored by a Vodka manufacturer.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 12, 2008 3:24 PM

Sounds like libel even to a constitutional malice standard when of and concerning a public official.... Careful!

Posted by: Anonymous | January 12, 2008 4:38 PM

not even close since the city of pasadena does help fund the organization of the Doo Don't carnival of nudity and drug promotion

Posted by: Anonymous | January 12, 2008 7:13 PM

what is the funding mechanism? Loans, grants city contracts? Who is getting what money?

Posted by: wtf | January 12, 2008 10:01 PM

For instance, the City of Pasadena gave the Doo Don't people a $10,000 "Parade and Festival" grant for an event this summer. An event (chalk on the walk) which is marketed to children and has included major sponsorship from a Vodka company.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 12, 2008 11:06 PM

Big deal. From the fact of an arts grant to your statement that an elected official condones or supports illegal activity is a silly jump in logic.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 13, 2008 7:22 AM

In my opinion, the real issue here is that someone wishes government to punish an organization for the exercise of its free speech rights (the thorny rose award). Everything else is a red herring.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 13, 2008 7:44 AM

lol a Vodka company sponsors a chalk festival has suddenly become the issue. Oh my God, is that all you really have??? I am actually more concerned with the sister city relationship than any of the doo dah claims that sound more like the red scare to me than something to worry about. this sounds like mccarthy,

Posted by: ed | January 13, 2008 8:24 AM

OK, I wasn't going to weigh in anymore on this conspiratorial nonsense, but when the facts are purposefully misrepresented I can't keep quiet. Absolut has has not been a sponsor of the chalk festival since it moved to Paseo Colorado three years ago. It used to be called Absolut Chalk; now it's the Pasadena Chalk Festival. Also, the City of Pasadena does not sponsor, participate in or subdidize the Doo Dah Parade.

Posted by: Ann Erdman | January 13, 2008 10:48 AM

From the PSN-------------------"PASADENA - Millions of dollars set aside to protect electricity rates from deregulation a decade ago are burning a hole in Pasadena's pocket. Collected from customers for five years, beginning in 1997, Pasadena Water and Power's "stranded investment" reserve has grown to hold an excess of about $60 million, according to recently prepared financial statements from the city....." 60 million can buy a lot of Doohing and Dahing.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 13, 2008 1:02 PM

From the PSN------------------------"PASADENA - Millions of dollars set aside to protect electricity rates from deregulation a decade ago are burning a hole in Pasadena's pocket. Collected from customers for five years, beginning in 1997, Pasadena Water and Power's "stranded investment" reserve has grown to hold an excess of about $60 million, according to recently prepared financial statements from the city...." 60 million can sure buy a lot of Dooing and Dahing.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 13, 2008 1:06 PM

thanks for chiming in ann. Some folks just have to invent conspiracy theories. Makes me wonder if the measure D opposition is true or just another invented conspiracy.

Posted by: ed | January 13, 2008 1:51 PM

The City of Pasadena does subsidize the Doo Dah parade because the City of Pasadena helps fund the organization that runs the Doo Dah parade. And the City of Pasadena helped promote the chalk festival when it was being sponsored by a Vodka company. And City officials have also helped promote and have appeared in the Doo Dah parade.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 13, 2008 2:11 PM

http://www.pasadenaweekly.com/article.php?IssueNum=46&id=4047 “It has become an institution,” said Ann Erdman, the city’s official spokesperson, who usually rides in the parade’s official pace car. “There is no question about that. The original founders may not have intended for that to happen because institutions definitely become traditions, but traditions sometimes ebb and flow and change courses slightly. I remember my first parade; I was shocked. The parade was kind of fun, but the audience was mostly bikers and drunks. They’re still there, and God bless them, but you see more and more families. The audience has become more reflective of certain entries. There are still swipes at conservative messages, but now you might see the Bush bashers marching in front of little kids pulling wagons with puppy dogs in them.” Two years ago, Erdman dressed in a dashiki, a long blonde wig and round purple glasses and carried a sign that said, “Make Doo Dah Not War,” as she rode in the pace car. That same year Reader’s Digest named it the Best Parade in the Nation. “It’s revelry at its best,” Erdman said. “It’s a through-the-looking-glass parody of all of the issues and personalities not only in Pasadena but nationwide and worldwide.” ========== So Ann, when you were talking about what a great "institution" the Doo Dah event is and calling this a family event in the press were you speaking as a City Official or just giving your own personal opinion? Because they promote illegal drug use during this parade.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 13, 2008 2:18 PM

give it a rest. no one sees an issue here but you.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 13, 2008 2:21 PM

Well Ann Erdman claims the City doesn't participate yet she "usually rides in the parade's offical pace Car". She claims the City doesn't promote it but here she is promoting it as a family event in the Pasadena Weekly. Clearly Erdman isn't telling the truth regarding her own involvement on behalf of the City of Pasadena in participating in and promoting the Doo Dah parade. In fact, she told the public that its a family event instead of warning them their are raunchy adult oriented displays and marijuana activists promoting marijuana use.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 13, 2008 2:40 PM

Erdman, in her role as City spokesperson, participated in and promotes as a family appropriate event a raunchy street carnival that features Marijuana Man. She is refusing to warn the public that the Doo Dah is not appropriate for children and instead says its has "little kids pulling wagons with puppy dogs in them." Clearly the City of Pasadena thinks that an event that promotes illegal drug use is for little kids. Is promoting drug use funny? Because drugs have destroyed thousands of lives in Pasadena.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 13, 2008 2:48 PM

there are people in the parade promoting all kinds of things. that is what free speech is all about. that does not mean that it is the message of the organization promoting the parade. silly.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 13, 2008 2:50 PM

Here is how Ann Erdman describes it on the City's website:http://www.cityofpasadena.net/publicaffairs/InFocus/2007/11_07/page4.asp ============== "The date of the official Pasadena Doo Dah Parade has changed! Be prepared for plenty of frolic and laughter on Sunday, Jan. 20."======== illegal drug use isn't a laughing matter for the thousands of Pasadena families that have been destroyed by it Ann.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 13, 2008 2:55 PM

They can have the parade...the City of Pasadena just has to stop funding the organization that puts it on and the City has to stop promoting it and calling it a family event and participating in it. And since it is on City streets the City has an obligation to warn people that the parade contains adult content...especially in light of Erdman's foolish remarks about families and little kids and puppies.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 13, 2008 3:06 PM

Since this is a newspaper site, if I were aggrieved, I would first make a correction demand under the civil code demanding that the above posts be deleted. If that does not work, I would file a lawsuit naming doe defendants and try to ascertain the identities (through IP addresses) during discovery. A complaint might survive through pleading and into discovery, in my opinion. Constitutional malice is a high standard but not impossible. Lots of interesting issues for lawyers because there is not a lot of law on defamation in a blog context or on privacy related to anonymous posting or to whether posters are entitled to the same protections as news reporters. Lawsuits should always be the last resort, but sometimes they are the only way to resolve issues.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 13, 2008 3:09 PM

Wow. Nice threat. Are you a lawyer for Scientology or just humorless. I would argue that the posts in this thread are of a parodic nature and that I have extremely shallow pockets. Is the Plaintiff the Pasadena Family Values Coalition?

Posted by: Anonymous | January 13, 2008 3:47 PM

thats funny...except truth is the ultimate defense dumbass and we already have the photos of Marijuana Man and Ann Erdman and Erdman's statements to the press promoting the Doo Dah and the documents showing that the City of Pasadena financially supports the people that put on the Doo Dah so there is nothing to correct....every word written above is true. Why don't you file it yourself smartass...I despise lawyers and have always wanted to sue one for for malicious prosecution...especially one that advises filing a meritless lawsuit in order find out someone's identity. You can believe that your IP address would be obtained and that there would be an attempt to disbar you. Please...post some more attempts to chill criticism of our government...we can only hope that you are somehow tied to the City of Pasadena.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 13, 2008 7:08 PM

"thats funny...except truth is the ultimate defense dumbass" .............Who are you referring to? Do you or don't you want to sue the blog?

Posted by: Anonymous | January 13, 2008 9:56 PM

the dumbass comment was directed towards the guy playing lawyer trying to intimidate people into not protesting the promotion of illegal drug use that takes place in the Doo Dah. He/she can kiss my ass. Erdman...it's go time. As the official spokeperson of the City of Pasadena you will warn Pasadena families that the Doo Dah parade contains adult themes that may not be appropriate for children.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 14, 2008 12:30 AM

It's especially important that you set the record straight given your stupid comments about familes and little kids in the Pasadena Weekly. I think you let your own obvious longstanding involvement with the parade cloud your judgement. Fix the problem that you have created.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 14, 2008 12:35 AM

"City of Pasadena official spokesperson Ann Erdman, who has represented the City of Pasadena in the parade for many years, is being criticised today by a Pasadena family values group for her work in promoting the parade as a family event. The parade this year included simulated sex acts and entries promoting marijuana use. Erdman, who has appeared in the parade in costume carrying anti-war messages, offered no explanation for her conduct. "We support the Doo Dah's right to be raunchy and inappropriate" said a press release for the Pasadena Family Values Coalition. "We just thinks it is grossly inappropriate for the City of Pasadena to be involved in promoting it to Pasadena's families. At the very least they should have cautioned people that this parade contains themes that may be inappropriate for children. Instead, they did the oppoosite."

Posted by: Anonymous | January 14, 2008 12:52 AM

when can the rest of us see this "press release"

Posted by: Anonymous | January 14, 2008 10:30 AM

I have been contacted by local media countless times to give quotes about community people, programs and events. There is a very clear distinction between (A) an individual expressing free speech rights on personal time and (B) the official entry of a government organization. Now can we please move on?

Posted by: Ann Erdman | January 14, 2008 5:23 PM

no...you said it was an event for families and you participated in it as a city official...and u dont deny it

Posted by: Anonymous | January 14, 2008 7:27 PM

On what day of the week is the parade always held? City business day?

Posted by: Anonymous | January 14, 2008 7:38 PM

does that matter...she doesn't deny that she has appeared in her role as a city official and that she has described this carnival as family friendly...

Posted by: Anonymous | January 14, 2008 7:58 PM

I dont know what she says or denies or whatever, and really dont care, but if something is on a Sunday, isnt it personal time? How does someone appear as a city official? Didnt Kurtz ride one year and Paul Little? Isnt that their own time? Just trying to understand your point here.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 14, 2008 8:05 PM

dont make me laugh...she is a city official every day of the week including Sundays...and she rode in the pace car as a city representative and she told the public that the Doo Dah was a family friendly event with little kids and puppies.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 14, 2008 9:56 PM

bizarre........ not even you could take that seriously.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 14, 2008 10:13 PM

Where is the Press release? When do I get the subpoena for my IP address. Where are the Pasadena Family Values Coalition. If I were a cynic I might just think they were made up.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 14, 2008 11:26 PM

Could it be a coalition of one?

Posted by: Anonymous | January 15, 2008 6:07 AM

OK, one last time and then I'm finished with this tedious Ann-bashing-fest. The City of Pasadena does not participate in the Doo Dah parade with an official entry. I have never been in the parade in an official capacity representing the City of Pasadena. If that were the case, I would have dressed for success and not in some goofball costume. I'm allowed to be a private citizen on my days off, and I have a constitutional right to free speech just like any other American. That's it -- I'm finished with uber-time-waster.

Posted by: Ann Erdman | January 15, 2008 3:59 PM

Well said, Ann Erdman. Don't let this one individual chill the exercise of your rights! Only he knows why he has singled you out for this censorship. Enjoy your days off as you see fit! The First Amendment protects us all. You are a hero!

Posted by: Anonymous | Januar

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