Manteca Bulletin prints fictional speech

In a short piece, the Manteca Bulletin (McNerney honors Flags Over Manetca effort, 27 Sep 08) tells us how the congressman made a speech "on the floor of the House of Representatives." It begins "Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the dedication of ..."

It's a heartwarming tale of the flag raisers in Manteca and volunteer Les Thomas who organizes the effort. The congressmen called it a "stunning display of patriotism" that continues to "memorialize the sacrifices of all our nation's heroes."

Fantastic stuff! Except for one small detail: Such a speech never actually occurred.

(I hope I'm not bursting anyone's bubble here, and no disrespect to the actual flag volunteers. Maybe the kids should leave the room while you read the rest of this.)

As the Bulletin should know, such tributes are entered into the Congressional Record as part of the "revise and extend" comments. These are written comments simply added to the record by the congressman and then printed. ABC news guy John Stossel wrote about this in his book Myths, Lies and Downright Stupidity. In other words there was no speech "on the floor of the House of Representatives" as reported by the Bulletin.

Although as Stossel points out this wastes a few million dollars a year, I'm not that concerned about it at this point. I figure so long as they are busy printing tributes they aren't messing up the lives of the rest of us with things like "Give us $700 billion or else terrible bad things might happen!"

The Eductaors support Wendy King

Evidently, Wendy King the current president of the Manteca Unified School District has, according to the Manteca Bulletin, secured the coveted endorsement of "The Eductaors." The Eductaors, formed in 2004 from former scrabble playing champions replaced the acorn league and are currently responsible for sending students to the annual spelling bee. I think.

Exclusive to Manteca Live! Mayor Sayles responds to accusations

On September 24, Mayor Kristy Sayles of Lathrop issued a statement to Manteca Live! in answer to some of the accusations being spread on the "opposition website" devoted to destroying her and her candidacy.

Manteca Live: Mayor Sayles opens her statement by addressing the use of the name Edwards.

Mayor Sayles: I first would like to start with the issue of the use of Kristy Edwards as my name. This name was given to me by my mother upon entering kindergarten. My biological father left when I was 3 years old and my mom remarried Ron Edwards. She wanted to be certain that I felt as though I belonged to Ron, and gave me his name. This is the father who raised me, the one that I still call dad to this day. Although he never adopted me, my divorce attorney informed me that if I went by Edwards before I was married, I could return to Edwards (as my maiden name) after the divorce, and that is what I chose to do. My birth certificate says Rees, but I do not have a familial relationship with Gary Rees.

Manteca Live: There are accusations that Mayor Sayles lied when she said she was born in Lathrop, pointing to her birth certificate that states otherwise. Mayor Sayles responds:

Mayor Sayles: I was born in Oakdale, as that is where my mother's doctor was. There are no hospitals in Lathrop. My mother's address prior to my birth and the address that I was brought home to was 410 W. Louise Avenue, Lathrop. The words "born and raised" to me means "where I lived since birth and was raised." I was in no way trying to mislead anyone.

(Editor's note: Oakdale is 25 miles east of Lathrop.)

Manteca Live: In response to accusations that she lied when she was campaigning for mayor in 2006 and claimed to be a life-long resident of Lathrop and claimed to have the endorsement of her uncle, Steve McKee, a former mayor of Lathrop, Mayor Sayles says:

Mayor Sayles: I have never said that I was a lifelong resident. I speak openly of not being able to afford a house in Lathrop in my younger days, purchasing my first home (with my husband) in Stockton. I have also never said that my Uncle Steve endorsed my campaign. I have all of my prior campaign pieces if you are interested in seeing them.

Manteca Live: There are accusations on the "opposition website" that claim the mayor bounced 40 checks in 1993 and was subsequently arrested in Alpine County. This what the mayor says:

Mayor Sayles: I have no knowledge of 40 bounced checks. I would love to see the so called proof on that one! In 1993, at 20 years old, I bounced one check in Alpine County. I was divorcing and moved without forwarding my mail...I didn't learn about mail forwarding until I was 23! I was told about the check when I ran a stop sign in Lathrop in 1995 (I did not learn how to drive well until about 24) and took care of it immediately. I have always been embarrassed and ashamed of the misdemeanor on my record.

(Editor's note: In documents dated 1993 there is a bank statement showing some returned checks but on the same statement it shows that sufficient funds were deposited to cover those checks. Bank of America failed to honor the last check and instead closed the account.)

Manteca Live: It was brought up on the "opposition website" that Mayor Sayles runs a day care business but didn't file for a fictitious business name statement until recently. Here is the mayor's response to those wondering why she waited so long:

Mayor Sayles: As a sole proprietor, I am not required to file a Fictitious Business Name Statement if I do business under my name. I chose to go by a business name this year (Early Start Child Development Center) and filed the Fictitious Business Name Statement. I have called my child care center by that name for quite some time, but never needed to make it official until I changed it on my bank accounts and other legal documents. I am trying to insure that I actually have a business when this is all said and done. Those who are operating the website are also calling the State Licensing Board making all sorts of accusations to try to shut me down. I found this out when State Licensing came to visit yesterday!

Manteca Live: Critic and former city employee Laura Thimler, posted a statement on Manteca Live!: "(what about) Taking a trip to Washington on the city's dime only to report back that 'There's an awful lot of alcohol in Washington!'" Mayor Sayles responds:

Mayor Sayles: I did go to Washington, but cannot recall a conversation in which I said anything about alcohol, especially considering that I rarely drink due to the fact that I am a workaholic, and do not need to be impaired while I am working. Oh yes, and that other little thing of being a mother of 6 children and trying desperately to set the right example.

Manteca Live: One of the more dastardly things the "opposition website" has done is to target the mayor's husband Tom and his brother and Sayles Construction in an attempt to destroy the business. To those who are asking questions, Mayor Sayles responds:

Mayor Sayles: I cannot and will not speak to the facts of Sayles Construction. My husband and his brother were working together long before I came into the picture. I have been assured by their attorney that what they do is legal. That is all that I need.

Manteca Live: Our thanks to Mayor Kristy Sayles for allowing us to publish her statements. We'll be doing a second follow-up interview with the mayor to get her statements on some of the actual issues in the city of Lathrop, including the Lathrop High School sewer issue. Stay tuned!

Lathrop Mayoral Candidate John Rock says Dan MacNeilage should be mayor

In an odd turn of events, today John T. Rock, candidate for mayor of Lathrop, stated that Dan MacNeilage would make a better mayor for Lathrop than he would. Rock went on to say if he is elected to office, should any council member have to leave due to age or illness, that he would appoint MacNeilage to the open seat.

Another poster using the pseudonym "Justice League" agreed with Rock but suggested that everyone get behind Robert Oliver and elect him mayor so that he could appoint MacNeilage and/or Rock to a government position.

MacNeilage ran for city council in the last election and lost. He is not running for any elected office at this time. He currently holds a seat on the Lathrop Planning Commission.

For the record, these "endorsements" came after MacNeilage posted a long, rambling, almost incoherent message about Mayor Sayles and her husband Tom on the opposition website.

Mob with torches includes candidates

Seems like Manteca Live! is ruffling some feathers among those participating in the defamation website devoted to destroying Mayor Kristy Sayles and her family. I'd like to thank "John Doe," whoever he is, for giving some intelligent and educated information about what constitutes libel and defamation under the law. Somehow, I don't think the "ignorant villagers" believe it.

We've got anonymous posters calling child protective services, the grand jury, the DA's office and the contractors state license board to make complaints based on gossip and hearsay on the internet. For all the big talk about "documents" and "I have proof!" what we really have is a small group of people trading 4th and 5th hand stories. Most of those posting use pseudonyms so no one really knows who they are; for all we know they could be the same few people using different aliases. Makes it look like "everyone in town" is in on it.

What about the mayor's "conviction" you say? Well, first of all I'd say that unless you know first hand what happened with the bounced check and the circumstances (which none of them do if they're honest about it), then you don't know the whole story. Secondly, it looks like the check was written in 1993. Kristy Sayles would have been, what? about 20 years old? In any case, it was 15 years ago, she didn't make any attempt to hide it and it doesn't prevent her from getting a day care license or running for office.

Because of the seriousness of the accusations and defamatory statements made on the viral website, I think it becomes more important every day that the people of Lathrop know where the candidates stand. So far, those on the ballot who have posted on the site are: John Rock and Robert Oliver, candidates for mayor (Oliver is also a current city councilman); and Rosalinda Valencia, city council candidate. Current incumbent councilman Steve Dresser who is up for re-election, hasn't posted under his name but his wife Joyce has.

As for the candidates posting under their real names, at least Valencia is honest about it and isn't saying anything on the website that she hasn't voiced in public (not that that excuses her). John Rock originally claimed to feel sympathy for the mayor and suggested she take time off from politics and encourage her supporters to vote for him. This week he's become the site's welcome wagon, addressing posters individually by name and saying things like "To ALL of you posting on this web site I say: Good Job" and "this webmaster is quite an honorable person." That made me raise my eyebrows a bit. Does he know the "webmaster" personally? Are they friends?

John Rock also posted this, "Because I am a retired Law Enforcement Officer you can be 100% guaranteed that I shall support an investigation into any illegal Civil or Criminal action conducted by any accused City Staff Member or past current City Council Member." Does that mean if you elect him mayor, that he'll make sure Mayor Sayles is thrown in jail where she obviously belongs?

The chief villager calling on everyone to burn the witch is still Laura Thimler. Though not currently running for any office, she claims to be good friends with some of the developers (like the Dell'Osso family) and defends them fiercely when anyone suggests that developers perhaps had a part in Lathrop's problems, whatever those problems are.

Lots to think about, Lathrop. Good luck!

Brother, can you spare $700,000,000,000?

Time frame: Late 1990's
Problem: Poor people can't afford big expensive houses. Greedy bankers are mean and won't lend money to people who have no income. They might even be racist!
Government fix: Tell mean greedy bankers to stop being so stingy. Everyone deserves a house to live in. Everyone ought to have a house. And not some cheap house 'neither.

Read this press report from 30 Sep 99. Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy knowing the government helped us all buy homes. The future was bright!

What could possibly go wrong?

When does gossip become libel?

Today the local "viral website" launched a missile at Mayor Sayles' husband, Tom. Based on rumors, speculation, lack of knowledge and misinterpretation of state laws, the ignorant villagers are declaring him to be a criminal who is working as a contractor without a license and hiring workers without having worker's compensation insurance. They point to the registered owner of record of Sayles Construction on the Contractors State License Board website and the fact that it's a sole ownership with no employees, exempt from having to buy workers comp insurance.

A small general contractor often has no employees, instead using skilled contract work, usually another small contractor who becomes the subcontractor. If the subcontractor has employees, then he is responsible for the workers compensation insurance on any job he sends them, not the general contractor. If the subcontractor does the work himself, then he's still responsible for his own insurance, not the general contractor. Not having employees and not having workers compensation insurance doesn't mean a contractor is doing anything illegal.

Chief gossip Laura Thimler claims to have some kind of personal knowledge about Sayles Construction and the Sayles' intimate family dynamics but that's unlikely. Maybe she trades gossip with a bitter ex-family member of the Sayles' and we know they wouldn't lie. We're just so sure that the mayor and her husband are crooks. They must be! Just listen to what everyone is saying!

It's questionable how far gossip can go before it turns into malicious slander or libel. Today the vicious stories have crossed a line. The new accusations call into question not only Thomas Sayles' character but that of his brother, a small business owner. Since when is it okay to try to ruin someone's business and livelihood? Does freedom of speech regarding a public figure apply to members of the public figure's extended family?

For a fascinating short read on the social dynamics of gossip, see Gossiping to get ahead by Ryan Cureatz.