See the tweet below.? This is from a person who is perpetually running for Mayor of Carlsbad. She just told all of our neighboring Mayors to go F*** Off! How does a politician like this maintain any kind of meaningful regional relationship with their neighbors? Why would any other city want to join the Clean Energy Alliance with her being on its Board? Would you want to put up with this toxic drivel every week?
If you care about Carlsbad, I need to say something, and I need to say it clearly, and I need you to listen, and then I need you to say it along with me.
As time has passed something has shifted. The attacks and slander toward everyone in the Councilwoman's way have begun reaching out like a venomous reptile. striking all those who are in the way. When you are being cyberbullied (and obsessively so) by a small but disciplined group of trolls, the very last thing you should do is feed them. In my case, I block them instead. To little effect.
I have been involved in politics for over 40 years. Until living in Carlsbad, I never had my address published, and the contact information for my clients shared in hopes of damaging me economically. Extraordinary steps have been taken to "cancel" my voice. You are correct if you guess we were scared shitless on occasion.
Those operating on the Councilwoman's behalf, have lashed out at too many of you, want you to not utter a peep of divergent thought. We knew that Cori might turn more demagogic, but not to the reckless extent we saw this weekend. In this election cycle, Cori and her allies seek to marry Carlsbad politics and Democratic machine politics.
Two years ago, I warned my readers that if the voters of the Carlsbad community are not careful, this beautiful place will become just another ward in San Diego. One look at the massive infusion of Sacramento based financial resources being dumped into the District 4 election on behalf of Teresa Acosta should scare you if you really believe in local control.
Each day the attacks and slander continue. Last week it was Council Candidate Phil Urbina's turn to be put "on blast" so Councilwoman Schumacher could "deny and deflect" her way out of her self-inflicted political troubles. This week, it is a County Supervisor, and FIVE local mayors, including the Mayor of Carlsbad.
Take a look around. Has Carlsbad ever been this bitterly divided in the past?
Under the Councilwoman's leadership, we see private individuals having their home addresses published by her supporters, with unflattering photos often splashed everywhere. Her online surrogates rake non-politicians through the coals DAY. AFTER. DAY. Are we really going to allow the villainization of people for commenting on Facebook? Are we really going to continue to allow the doxxing of police officers? How much meaner will your city become?
Do you feel things have become increasingly toxic, judgemental, and disgusting when you observe the political process in Carlsbad? How many people do you know who have fled a simple discussion for fear of being overheard critiquing the councilwoman's performance? How many people have you seen scared off from running for local office, due to the dirty campaigns run against others? At one juncture the Councilwoman asserted her campaigns were based on the values of "kind, necessary, and true." Obviously, that is no longer operative.
Under the guise of COVID-19 concerns, the Councilwoman has asked that those calling the anonymous hotline for COVID scofflaws, copy her so she can "follow up". One can see where that is going. If Cori Schumacher gets control of that information one can rest assured that it just might be weaponized against political enemies, plausibly on Nextdoor. Some fear that a rogue Councilperson armed with a Council Majority could go even further.
The politics of personal destruction we've collectively seen since 2015, has operated under a facade of unctuousness while the very same people attack the councilwoman's pinata of the day while pretending they are just concerned neighbors. The reason their slanderous drivel works like an explosive device is that the cost for embracing truth is often enduring endless attempts at online defamation.
It's amazing to contemplate the power of fear in the silencing of you and your neighbors. The fear of being made an example is coupled with the fear of being canceled by friends and neighbors. When a few strident voices are added into the toxic brew, confirmation bias kicks in, simply because everybody else has been banned, bullied, scared, and silenced. I have seen friends and community members turn against one another over the Councilwoman's antics. I have seen people that should know better buy into the false narratives. It is profoundly distressing.
Are you sick and tired of seeing innocent people being called racist, misogynist, homophobic, sexist, and corrupted? Are you sick and tired of being thrown off social media platforms for not towing the party line? Have you seen enough people being accused of the most disgusting things by weaponized trolls?
OF COURSE, YOU HAVE.
Normally, civilized people avoid such crude phrases, but since the Councilwoman has put it squarely in the public domain, feel free to join me. It's time to borrow a line from the Councilwoman, and tell them simply and succinctly to "GTFO."
Never again will "guilt by association" carry the day. GTFO.
Never again, will you be bullied into silence. GTFO.
Never again will the weaponization of false victimhood stand. GTFO.
Say it anywhere you see their trash on Social Media. GTFO.
Say it anytime the Councilwoman and her supporters use slander and innuendo. GTFO.
Say it when you see #fakenews spread by "Seldom Wright scientific researchers", or when your friends are crowd-bullied and banned from social media platforms. GFTO.
Say it out loud. In-person and Online. Succinctly and Clearly. GFTO. Get the (expletive deleted) Out of Carlsbad.
MANY BLESSINGS_ NOEL
PS- I would like to acknowledge this "kind, necessary, and true" piece was greatly inspired by the collected utterances of a now-estranged operative for the Councilwoman. I stand on the shoulders of a giant. And as always, I appreciate the Councilwoman's indelible warning from 2015. Nobody can say we were not warned.
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