Ignoring race

I think it is fair to say a caucasion will never be elected to represent the 6th ward. Whats interesting is an African American could probably get elected in any other ward. Says a little about the inclusiveness of some groups but not the another.

Mr.Cummings, save your money on campaign signs. go straight to those who would control the masses. The leaders in the mosques in the MidEast and everywhere else are the ones who control the votes. You could take a page out of the Mayor's book in trying to buy 20 blocks of non-voting residents( as opposed to voting citizens) All the burgers, hot dogs, Koolaid and free hats and shirts will not get you one vote. Buy the imans and preachers and you will win the vote hands down. Don't worry, they are not reading this.

Kudos to Mr. Cumming, it's about time we realized that we are residents of San Bernardino, Californians, and Americans and the color of our skin or place of our birth is not going to change this. If we are serious about turning this town around we must come together as a community, stop dwelling on what divides us and concentrate on the things that unite us. To do otherwise is pure folly!

Time spent on Stuart is time wasted.
The people of the ward wanted Rikke over BAD BDA before and now, after having proven himself in many ways, they want him even more.
The race is truly between Rikke and his former opponent. Stuart is just there to split the male preference vote and logistically improve BAD BDA's chances for underhanded success at the polls.
In a straight election between the two, Rikke will win hands down time and again.
The first time was the hardest.
He's proven himself to be the right man for the job since then.
But, the fact that he's a man will cause some to vote, perhaps along racial lines it is true, for Stuart - the non-candidate vote splitter.
Hopefully, Stuart will do the politically correct thing and bow out now - before he potentially becomes despised for throwing the election and causing an embarrassment for our city's west side.
You see, it isn't that the people want BAD BDA, it's that they want someone OTHER THAN BAD BDA.
So, they will cast their votes to that side of their ballots.
Were the candidate pool only Rikke and BAD BDA, Rikke'd be straight through the gate, again.
Look at it this way:
Let's say there are 1,000 votes in the ward.
Let's say, for whatever coercive reasons, BAD BDA can squeeze the pool for 300 votes.
This leaves Rikke 700 votes and another victory at the polls.
BUT, if another candidate, albeit a negative know-nothing do-nothing nobody for nobody non-candidate like Stuart, those 700 non BAD BDA votes now scatter from one pile to form two.
Make no mistake about it, there IS a growing NON-Black presence on San Bernardino's westside. Perhaps as many as - or even more than - half the overwhelming majority of non-BAD BDA votes will then filter over to the non-Black candidate.
It's a sad commentary, but realistic.
Now, this means BAD BDA's going to a run-off with one of them.
If the numbers are with her, she'll be a shoe-in against Stuart at run-off time - (MOST may not want her when picking between her & Rikke, but MOST WOULD want her over Stuart.).
BUT, if not ( and I have not had the time to analyse the demographics of the ward but know from first-hand observations that the ward is fairly exploding with an influx of non-Blacks in recent years), and the traditional voter blocks in the ward turn out, Rikke will trounce BAD BDA at the polls and go on to serve another term.
In other words, the inclusion of Stuart as a non-candidate is a sophisticated strategic maneuver by the puppeteers behind the BAD BDA campaign. Without him to divide (and they hope, conquer) the vote, Rikke's in for another term with no need for a run-off.
BAD BDA's people know this.
BUT, with Stuart added to the mix, BAD BDA has a least some glimmer of hope toward manipulating the electoral process to the advantage of the people seeking to seat her as their puppet.
IF, in fact, Stuart has any shred of TRUE desire to serve the community, he will bow out _NOW_ and let Rikke and BAD BDA go head-to-head.

Your Friend & Neighbor Supporting Local Community & Personal Betterment In San Bernardino,
Susana Atanasova

If Ms. Atanasova has any real evidence that Mr. Cumming is in cahoots with the Anderson campaign let her come forward and present it to the voters in the 6th Ward. It is my belief that she has nothing but her own uninformed opinion on which to base her divisive allegations.
The 6th Ward faces the decision of whether it wants to continue on with it's present councilperson who appears much more of a puppet for our mayor than either of the other two candidates, go back to the past with a candidate who was voted out of office after two previous terms, or move forward with a candidate who can bring a fresh, new approach to the problems facing us all.
It is evident to me that our Ward continues on it's downward spiral and that past and present representation at City Hall has done little to stem this slide. We still have no bank, no major grocery reatiler west of the 215, only one exit off the the new 210 freeway with little room if any for economic benefit to the ward, a law enforcement presence that is misunderstood by the community and misunderstands the community it police's. It is time to change.
If Ms. Atanasova really is serious about community and personal betterment perhaps she should talk with Mr. Cumming before posting what comes off as a divisive rant.

Anonymous "Krispyfish",
I'll refute your allegations in the order spewed in response to my calm, rational and soon-to-be-time-tested post you mistakenly claim to believe to be a divisive rant (As an aside: I doubt I've ranted once since leaving cloth diapers behind almost half a century ago. It's simply not my style.):
Firstly,
ATMs are providing customers access to bank account deposits, withdrawals, transfers, payments, inquiries and other business as elsewhere in town where the small environmental footprint of stand-alone ATMs are increasingly preferred to taking up limited space with the repetitive old-fashioned and out-moded obsolete "neighborhood branches" model. This is not a novelty; banks are centralizing services of lesser demand and bringing more immediate access to routine services to their customers the world over. This lowers overhead and expands access to services for customers while being Earth-friendly. It's not new; the industry's been transitioning for years now. Ultimately, we may become a cashless society, nay, world. The contagions and contaminates on currency alone make a strong argument for the transformation. Besides, most of our $100 dollar bills are already held overseas. Rather than repeat archaic arguments about what may have been seen as deficits in the banking industry's relationship in the ward long ago, may I suggest you try catching up with the current state of affairs and celebrate the ward's position as a leader in this respect?
Secondly,
your assertion that "We still have.... ...no major grocery retailer west of the 215..." is first refuted by the presence of Fiesta Foods Warehouse at the corner of Baseline & Medical Center Drive. The plaza is a busy hub of activity at all hours, boasts a HeadStart campus, USPS office, SBPD substation, several varied and popular eateries, a full-service pharmacy, and much more.
The second factual refutation is accomplished with the presence of the recently demolished El Tigre Plaza (immediately east of Mt. Vernon, across from the newly refurbished Moorish-style Metrolink and train station), currently in the process of being replaced by a newly constructed Superior Grocery Warehouse through the concerted efforts of our city's current and immediate prior leadership, of special note by me as that of Ward One's Esther Estrada and Susan Lien-Longville.
Until shortly before demolition, the plaza was receiving high traffic. I hope you can appreciate the need for a short pause in the availability of a 3rd option west of the 215 during the quick period between demolition and the completion of new construction at this location facing one of San Bernardino's gateways.
The third factual refutation is Fiesta Foods Warehouse occupying the majority of the former Fedco building, along with many other thriving businesses as a shining westside example for northenders - with their vacant Stater Brother's & Albertson's buildings - to emulate, and for westside residents, college students from throughout the region and others to shop at and take pride from.

Instead of continuing to turn a blind eye to the trio of major grocers listed here, may I suggest you embrace the vibrancy of the new grocery-centric construction taking place west of the 215 and the lack of vacant shopping center anchors, as are blighting the areas I infer you to imply are better serviced than the area west of 215?

As for the freeway situation:
The 210 exit is a boon to the western San Bernardino City businesses with ripple effects radiating from that point in all directions. Apparently and regretfully, you did not attend, or do not recall, the many meetings addressing the minutiae of this issue in the greatest of detail for extended periods of time. I did and do, and the same may be said of very many others quite keenly interested in the vitality of our city. Try questioning any, or all, area businesses about their reception of that exit. Not just those of the immediate area around the exit either - as I mentioned, the benefits are rippling, as anticipated. It is another Westside positive for San Bernardino and not something to be disparaged, impugned or minimized.

Speaking of freeways, of additional benefit to San Bernardino's west side are the CalTrans 215 projects already taking place. Please see:

http://sanbag.ca.gov/projects/mi_fwy_215-sb.html

where the following and more text explains this best:

"Widening and realigning of the freeway will improve access to the west side of Interstate 215 and enhance safety with the removal of entrances and exits from the fast lane and the addition of more conventional diamond interchanges."

As for your final assertion, "...We still have.... ...a law enforcement presence that is misunderstood by the community and misunderstands the community it (sic) police's...":
As one of our city's immediate former police commissioners, serving from August 2002 - March 2006, when I accepted reassignment to San Bernardino Human Relations Commission so that my replacement, current San Bernardino Police Commission Chair Oscar Gonzalez, (Also a member of SUN Editorial Board, and immediate former member of SUN Reader's Advisory Board), could have an opportunity to serve on the commission, I am 100% certain that our city's police commission, which meets the 2nd Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers, and was created by SBMC 2370 on 7/3/61 - requiring a SEI (FPPC Statement of Economic Interest) from each member - is prepared to attentively listen and capably respond to any issue relative to their sphere that you, or any other member of the public, may wish to bring forth.
Of course, you, and all other members of the public are most welcome to attend the meetings and share praise, concerns, or other items with the convened commission, or to simply sit and observe the proceedings.

Please remember, those of us not actively seeking to contribute toward attaining solutions are a part of our problems. Rather than proclaim SBPD as misunderstood and misunderstanding, please step forward to give and receive clarification to your stated issues in the spirit of open and honest communication.
The tone of your post leads me to suspect you have yet to learn that bellyaching solves nothing. Before closing with yet another point of pride for San Bernardino from Councilman Rikke Van Johnson, please heed my gentle reminder that we do ourselves a favor by volunteering. You seem genuinely attuned to focusing upon the negative so intently that, as my refutations above indicate, you even contrive examples of negativity from whole cloth where shining examples of readily apparent good exist. In my life’s experience, this cynical, pessimistic emphasis on the negative will give way to a sunnier disposition radiating benefits in other areas of your life if you’ll begin doing yourself a favor by volunteering. You may find yourself astounded at the improvement in your disposition and pleasantly surprised at your new outlook on life if you determine to begin investing time in betterment instead of bellyaching.
Now, to close on that promised happy note, I copy the following from:

http://www.ci.san-bernardino.ca.us/faqs/categoryqna.asp?id=45#581

Who do I contact to request Citizen of the Month Council recognition?
Please contact the Council Office (909-384-5188) for the Councilperson in your Ward to make your request in writing. While this is a new City Council program initiated by Councilman Rikke Van Johnson, 6th Ward, the Mayor may select candidates to be recognized from time to time.

Yet another example of Rikke Van Johnson leading the way in San Bernardino!

Your Friend & Neighbor Supporting Local Community & Personal Betterment In San Bernardino,
Susana Atanasova

Ms. Atanasova, I am curious as to why you seem so concerned about the 6th Ward as the information I have shows that you do not live in our Ward. Perhaps that is why you can make an allegation that I have somehow been brought into this campaign by and am being manipulated by others. I notice that in your response to other's postings you fail to address your source of information on this point. For the record, I took out papers to run in this election ahead of both of my opponents, I am running because I am tired of the crime, blight, lack of infrastructure resources, and the lack of a comprehensive plan for economic revitalization and community enhancement within the ward.
With respect to grocery stores, we do have a Fiesta Foods but only one, the other westside markets you mention are not in our Ward. I applaud this retailer's efforts to serve our community but the fact remains that there are no Ralphs, Vons, Albertsons, nor Stater Bros. in our Ward. Additionally, Tesco Int'l the world's third largest grocery retailer presently establishing a US presence that includes plans to open over 30 Inland Empire locations over the next 2-3 years bypassed the westside. In my conversations with Matthew Price, the Regional Director of Real Estate Acquisition for Tesco the decision to not consider our community was based in large part on the level of crime. The real crime is that in the 6th Ward it appears easier to obtain firearms and drugs than it is to obtain fresh quality fruits and vegetables.
As for financial institutions, no one is disputing the availability of ATMS and their convenience factor but you cannot take out a small business loan, open a savings account for you childrens future, obtain a home loan or any of a number of other financial services that the physical presence of a bank can provide to our residents. It is these services that allow a community to grow and prosper.
As for the new 210 freeway, the original plans called for a second offramp at Medical Center/Route 66 and certainly would have substantially increased the potential benefit to our community but they were altered in the final plan, why? I have personally spoken with merchants along the Highland corridor and all bemoan the loss of the Highland on ramp as well as the loss of recognition for their businesses. Lastly on this subject, SANBAG the lead agency on the 210 freeway was unable to deliver on access to the southbound 215 for west bound I210 traffic as well as direct access in either direction on I210 for NB I215 travelers. They estimate it will be years before they can do so.
As for our public safety employees, they are a valiant group of men and women whose sole motivation, I believe, is to make our community a safer and better place in which to live and work. Understaffing and the increased workloads that come with this have made their jobs even more difficult and contributed significantly to the community's perception of receiving substandard quality services. Our present Police Commission is virtually impotent to make any real change no matter their dedication and desire. The creation of an independent Public Safety Review Board with defined investigatory and resolution powers is long overdue. Such a body would provide a means of engaging the community in the dialogue necessary to build a strong San Bernardino. Additionally, with the power to take citizen complaints and independently address them through mediation and or referral for action within IAB, resolution of disputes would be able to be handled in a responsive and timely manner. In speaking with Oren Root, the Assistant Director of PARC an independent research think tank dealing with policing, it would cost little to initiate a process that would go a long way toward improving the environment our public safety servants work in and the satisfaction of the communities they serve with their services. Research has shown that public oversight contributes significantly to a more positive public safety experience for all concerned.
In closing, I applaud Mr. Johnson for creating a formal program for recognizing citizen contribution to our community but at the end of the day it remains that those of us that live in the 6th Ward come home to ever increasing violent crime, economic stagnation and a community more divided than united in its efforts to change.
I live here, I know we have problems but I refuse to believe that they cannot be solved. Our enemies are cynacism and apathy. I choose not to listen to those who would tell us that it is too far gone. Instead, I choose to believe that we can as citizens of the 6th Ward fix these problems. I'm running for public office because I believe I am the person most capable of facilitating the change that is necessary to move us forward.
God Bless,
Stewart
PS- Ms. Atanasova, I have never met you nor do I know you. I would welcome the opportunity to do both in spite of your rather acerbic opinions of me.

Stewart,
To maintain a sense of continuity for readers’ benefit, I’ll address the points of your open letter to me by prefacing each like this,
******* [Ms. Atanasova, I am curious as to why you seem so concerned about the 6th Ward as the information I have shows that you do not live in our Ward. Perhaps that is why you can make an allegation that I have somehow been brought into this campaign by and am being manipulated by others. I notice that in your response to other's postings you fail to address your source of information on this point.]
Even the most superficial glance at the concerns my life’s time is devoted to reveals my dedication to the array of issues I feel best served by my efforts. For example, I am neither 0-5 years of age, nor any longer a parent of someone in that demographic, but I continue my many years of service as California First Five Advisory Board member in San Bernardino. For another example, neither I, nor any member of my family has ever been “on the wrong side of the law”, and, my teen was only one of two female DOUBLE HONORS freshman at Aquinas, her entering freshman year, served as HONOR GUARD at SBVC her entering sophomore year, was one of only 56 applicants accepted from a nation-wide pool into Claremont-McKenna’s Leadership residency program, and is poised to receive her AA degree before her 19th birthday, with only 3 courses to go after taking Honors courses at college in order to enter university as a Junior classman, yet I continue to serve first-time non-violent offenders, their families, and by extension our society through my long-time service as an UNPAID employee of San Bernardino County Probation Department Sterling Board YAB as Hearing Officer, Social Interviewer & Mentor. In another example, I am neither Latina, an immigrant, nor a refugee, but I have been a member of organizations devoted to these areas of focus for decades now. My contributions to my community are extensive, stretch for decades, and are not indicative of a myopic NIMBY perspective. In conclusion, I am “so concerned about the 6th Ward” because my vision and embrace do not terminate and change with the boundaries imposed for political purposes, nor do they only operate in a “my neighborhood, my issues” modality - just as the ramifications radiating from issues in any given ward do not magically stop when reaching the ward’s perimeters, neither do my efforts merely extend only as far as the most recent ward boundaries.

******* [ For the record, I took out papers to run in this election ahead of both of my opponents, I am running because I am tired of the crime, blight, lack of infrastructure resources, and the lack of a comprehensive plan for economic revitalization and community enhancement within the ward.]
As for the portion before the comma after “opponents”: When you pulled papers is no indication of anything beyond the factual date you, in fact, pulled papers. Waking up one day and running off to City Clerk’s office every election cycle is hardly the way a meaningful campaign. There are meetings and considerations of logistical and financial concerns, among others. A lot of thought and planning goes in the front end of a campaign. First, who is current office holder, what caliber is current service, what, if anything, can be provided to better that? If candidacy seems prudent, then, the rest begins. The only relevance to when a candidate pulled papers is that the process completes within the time parameters required.
As for the portion after the comma after “opponents”: The echoing absence of ANYTHING AT ALL in the listing of your “Community Services” is a dramatic contrast to that of both your opponents in this election. As I am wont to remind, what good does bellyaching do when you’re not stepping up to the plate to make a difference? Once a problem has been identified – and you have done that – what matters isn’t the problem, but what you’re doing to contribute toward a solution. By your own blank space where any vast number of local community betterment efforts could be listed, were you to have had ANY to list, you admit to being a “do-nothing” candidate – a candidate with the only verified action of tossing your hat into the ring at every opportunity. Thanks for the former Coast Guard Reserve service to our nation, by the way – that being the SOLE contribution you could find to embellish your candidacy – I like to give credit where credit’s due.
STRIKE ONE:
Your lack of any investment of time, talents and resources – especially given your 10+ years of seeking political office unsuccessfully – leaves you at a distinct disadvantage to both your opponents. The People are interested in a candidate with a PROVEN TRACK RECORD for stepping up to contribute, not someone with a proven track record for tossing their hat into the ring and being sent packing reappearing to divert their attention and votes at the polls time & time again.
QUESTION ONE:
Please, will you indicate if your campus hopping financing was through benefits from your former reserve employment? I ask because I find it odd that a person would attend so many campuses without attaining a degree, were their books & tuition costs coming from their personal funds, either outright or through student loans. Please be candid. I will wait to read your response before coming to a conclusion about this point.
QUESTION TWO:
Please, I would like to know if you were undergoing a long series of personal emergencies that caused you to attend so many campuses without benefit of a degree. If that the case, I am not asking for personal details – something I feel would be rude – but, if substance abuse, or any criminal conduct were involved, please share that in the spirit of a fully informed constituency. With so many substance abuse and other criminal issues of great severity in Ward Six and elsewhere, it behooves the public to know your experiences in these areas. Please be candid. I will wait to read your response before coming to a conclusion about this point.

******* [With respect to grocery stores, we do have a Fiesta Foods but only one, the other westside markets you mention are not in our Ward.]
Excellent communication skills are but one of many vital abilities demanded of elected officials. The first task in learning to communicate effectively is learning to hear the message communicated to you. Were you in possession of that skill, you would know the portion of the thread you reference is in relation to “any major grocers east of 215 [in San Bernardino]”.

STRIKE TWO:
Your communication skills are below those of both your opponents.

******* [speaking with Oren Root, the Assistant Director of PARC an independent research think tank dealing with policing, it would cost little to initiate a process that would go a long way toward improving the environment our public safety servants work in and the satisfaction of the communities they serve with their services. Research has shown that public oversight contributes significantly to a more positive public safety experience for all concerned.]

STRIKE THREE:
Your one-trick-pony is lame. You took no verifiable steps to initiate this, the process you advocate as your sole identifying point in the campaign. Even with only part-time employment and your most recent half-hearted candidacy to occupy your service, neighborhood, professional – oops, I mean vocational, or other service time left completely free and uninvested in the community, you still have nothing to show in the way of anything but spittle-flecked notes from the media taking notes as you go off on them during interview opportunities afforded all candidates.

******* [In closing, I applaud Mr. Johnson for creating a formal program for recognizing citizen contribution to our community...]

Yes, as does every member of San Bernardino’s leadership and populace. Rikke Van Johnson rightly lays claim to one of the scarce victories in San Bernardino with purely good results and universal acceptance. Few in politics have attained such an accomplishment. City-wide we are fortunate to receive the benefits of Rikke Van Johnson as San Bernardino’s sixth ward city councilman.
QUESTION THREE:
(3) With the knowledge that Rikke Van Johnson has proven to be a dedicated and capable leader with exemplary examples of success decorating his record in office, will you please bow out gracefully and save the residents of San Bernardino the unnecessary expense of a runoff?
STRIKE FOUR:
You applaud Rikke Van Johnson for contributing positively to our community yet take your third time on the ballot against him. Wasting public resources capriciously is something The People have long disliked. You could be of benefit to the community, too, were you to contribute more than your ill-advised, unprepared, unfinanced and unpopular perennial candidacy. People appreciate collaborative efforts more than being talked-at and dictated to. Why not step down, invest a few years in serving the community through volunteer efforts with your neighbors, learn the ropes of local politics and try again when you can be seen as someone who is worth considering as a candidate, rather than a deplorably inept Johnny-Come-Lately only dusting off the old soapbox for yet another embarrassment at the polls. Or, with nothing else to occupy your time not invested in your part-time vocational teaching position, do you see this as some innocuous pastime – a hobby to be paid for at public expense – something you feel the right to impose upon society because you have a right to – perhaps like you went campus hopping at public expense because you felt you had earned the right to… I am waiting to read your response to QUESTION TWO before determining the appearance of that to be your life’s reality.

******* [I live here, I know we have problems but I refuse to believe that they cannot be solved.]
Had you gotten up off the couch after your part-time vocational teaching job to attempt solving problems at any time during the dozen years since your first failed run for office in 1995, you would now have the connections in the community, and support of the community, to make you a viable candidate. You need to pick up your hat, pack up your soapbox, go home, regroup – WITH A GROUP and begin contributing to the community before supposing yourself anywhere near prepared to lead it.

STRIKE FIVE:
You admit to knowing there are problems and having a refusal to believe they cannot be solved, yet have done NOTHING to work with others toward solutions.

******* [Our enemies are cynacism and apathy.]
A. I think you mean cynicism – there’s still time to complete a degree and learn basic vocabulary before running for office as a serious candidate. You may be surprised at the number of fine folk with and without degrees – and multiple degrees – that live in Ward Six and throughout San Bernardino – people who find it offensive that someone incapable of spelling an 8 letter word, or using spell-checker, would impose himself on them as a “clown candidate”.

STRIKE SIX:
You don’t pay attention to details. Your letter is full of examples proving that point. It also bolsters STRIKE TWO: You have poor communication skills. The People demand leaders with the ability to pay attention to details and with excellent communication skills. You offer neither – and have a bevy of other deficits detracting from your laughable candidacy.

B. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black! What do you think YOU are, if not an apathetic cynical hypocrite, whining about problems but doing nothing to solve them? The only thing separating you from the rest of the apathetic cynics is your audacious insistence on playing the role of candidate every so often – beyond that additional shame, your infamy is identical to those of your enemies. You have labeled the enemy and he is YOU.

STRIKE SEVEN:
You have proven yourself to be an apathetic cynical hypocrite.

******* [I choose not to listen to those who would tell us that it is too far gone. Instead, I choose to believe that we can as citizens of the 6th Ward fix these problems.]
There aren’t many folks speaking out about things being too far-gone. Most folks involved in bettering the community are busy seeking solutions, implementing programs found to work in other locales and devising innovative responses taking San Bernardino to the national fore, such as Mayor Pat Morris’ Operation Phoenix, now being studied by others as a tool for righting the wrongs where they live and soon to be installed in Ward Six.
For your edification, there are already numerous people fixing the problems in the sixth ward.
QUESTIONS FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT and NINE:
(4) Are you aware of the energy surrounding Urban Gardening in Ward Six? It is a model being looked at for expansion into other areas. I am keenly aware of all aspects of that project. You see, though you make mention of me not being a resident of Ward Six, I am involved in many ways with the ward, on many levels and have been so for many years.
(5) Do you even know who is in charge of it? I do. I enjoyed an intimate meeting last weekend with that person. Name who I refer to, if you can. I can.
(6) Who is the leader of the Ward Six Make-A-Difference Day activities and what are you registered to do to make a difference that day? Name who I refer to, if you can. I can - and I am a registered participant in Make-A-Difference Day, too (More on that later.)
(7) When and where are the WAG meetings held? I know, but do you?
(8) Who are the current WAG leaders? Name them, if you can. I can.
(9) Who are the prior leaders of WAG, going back as far as you are able? I know them all the way back to Day One, and, as you mention, I don’t even live in Ward Six.

******* [ I'm running for public office because I believe I am the person most capable of facilitating the change that is necessary to move us forward.]
Not only are you NOT that person, it is my contention that any civic-minded individual would withdraw from candidacy after having the points of this letter called to your attention. You have demonstrated ZERO capabilities toward any abilities to facilitate anything but a financial burden on the taxpayers through your abuse of the system as nothing more than a long-time part-time employee with nothing better to engage your life’s time in than this free “hobby” at the expense of everyone, not just those forced to endure the imposition of your singularly incapable and unprepared candidacy as another name on their ballots next month.
I feel compelled to add: If your assertion that you are not a straw candidate, propped up to split the vote ( See my earlier post for the details on this supposition.), so that the powers behind BAD BDA may have a hope of Rikke Van Johnson’s landslide being converted to a runoff, please, seek professional expert political guidance of your own selection ( Independent guidance – not from any local politicians, candidates, or their supporters.), so that you will then know, what I say, I say in the best interests of my friends and family in Ward Six and not as a personal offense toward you as a human being. It may, in fact, come as a rude awakening for you that what you are doing by running in this election is the single largest DISSERVICE possible to Ward Six and San Bernardino as a whole. My prayer is that you will set pride aside and do the right thing, not on my recommendation alone, but on that of independent experts in the field of your own selection.

******* [PS- Ms. Atanasova, I have never met you nor do I know you. I would welcome the opportunity to do both in spite of your rather acerbic opinions of me.]
Stewart, if you haven’t met me in the dozen years since first running for office in Ward Six, it’s more of a testament toward reiterating my point that you sure don’t get involved in the community much than anything else. I know, and am known by, all the folks tirelessly working to improve San Bernardino. I’ve always been, and remain, active on national, state, regional, county, city, special interest and neighborhood levels – simultaneously. In July I was afforded 20 commercial-free minutes of in-studio radio time to promote a local community betterment project I am accomplishing in town with grant monies I successfully applied for to spare our municipal coffers any avoidable expenses, among MANY other civic activities. In August I shared a Metrolink ride to L.A. with a mayoral liaison, each of us headed out to do our very best for San Bernardino on just one of MANY productive days spent in devotion to Local Community Betterment – I also was a part of awarding well over $100,000.00 in grant funding toward our city’s support of Art. This month, I am planting 150 15 gallon trees in 5 contiguous city blocks of median, 4 city parks and 3 city library grounds – all at no cost to San Bernardino, mentoring several youth, volunteering tirelessly for the elections, and MUCH more. Next month, I start out with travel to San Francisco for a project I founded in San Bernardino’s induction into a statewide place of honor and travel out of the area as an invited guest at White House Faith-Based and Community Initiatives National Summit after that, and MUCH more. (To be clear, the public does not pay for my travel, or any other expenses.) It’s the way I lead my life – the way I invest my life’s time. I like to do good works and have been abundantly blessed with the ability to do what I like with my life’s time through the support of my family, community members and civic leaders who appreciate and encourage the continuation of my efforts. I believe it is the Karma I’ve generated throughout a lifetime of improvements that has me here, continuing to live in the warm & loving embrace of my family and friends despite quite serious health concerns that have, for example, left each and every member of my Serous Papillary Ovarian Cancer support group dead, except for me. Hey! To end on a light note: Maybe my extreme level of civic involvement counterbalances your lack of any note-worthy contributions whatsoever.
Oh! My “rather acerbic opinions” are not of you, Stewart, they are of your candidacy. Like we’ve both said, we’ve never met & don’t “know” each other.
I encourage you to get involved in Local Community Betterment, or not – do what feels right in your heart – as strongly as I encourage you to PLEASE, walk away from this candidacy and help Ward Six by volunteering and lending your endorsement to Rikke Van Johnson for city council instead. Your day may yet come, but this is MOST ASSUREDLY NOT IT.
P.S.: I’m the kind of mom that can’t let pass a failure to also mention that my younger daughter ranked in the 100th percentile, NATIONWIDE, in Math, last STAR testing. Both my daughters are equally stellar in their decisions to do and be and become their best. I know that’s off-topic, but please indulge me as a their mom ~ I can't praise one without recognizing the other's accomplishments,too.

Your Neighbor & Friend Supporting Local Community & Personal Betterment in San Bernardino,
Susana Atanasova

Ms. Atanasova,

I applaud your involvement in working to make our community a better place in which to live and work. Certainly one could speculate that if each of us took your example of service and then contributed but a small fraction of the energy you do, our world would be a much better place.
As for my involvement in our community; I have served as the 6th Ward's City Telecommunications Commissioner, as a master gardener contributed landscape designs at the request of former councilperson Lein-Longville for neighborhood revitalization, I am currently serving my third elected term as a member of the Northwest Redevelopment Project Area Committee, and was the founder and a 4 term president of the Cimarron Ranch Neighborhood Association. As for my campaign, I enjoy the support of friends and neighbors and my campaign has been endorsed by the San Bernardino Public Employees Association including the Bargaining Units of the San Bernardino City General and Mid-Management Employees.
Additionally my service to our country was given as an active-duty petty officer of the United States Coast Guard.
I appreciate the spelling lesson and hope you can forgive the mistake, I'm human and I do make them.
As for the rest of your innuendo, supposition, and oft erroneous laced diatribe I'll heed that old adage: 'If you cannot say something nice, 'tis better to say nothing at all'.
God Bless,
Stewart

Stewart,
On the points you made, taking you at your word, I stand corrected.
I look forward to your posting the answers to my questions as soon as you have the time and inclination.
Susana