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Blackwater issue sparks partisan
politics in Potrero
By Christy Scott
The Alpine Sun
POTRERO — At a contentious Potrero
Planning Group meeting, held last Thursday, July 12, it was
obvious that the recent controversial Blackwater project has
caused a rift in the community. An understandably edgy board was
on the defensive, due to the current recall effort of those
members who voted for the project.
“Of course we’re going to have differences, any time
you’ve got two people you’re going to have a problem,” said
board member Thell Fowler. “But we still have to work together
as a community.”
Although not listed on the agenda, many people were on hand to
speak about the recall process, and at several points, board
tempers flared and the discussion turned into an angry yelling
match. Several board members directly and indirectly attacked
residents and fellow planners, and outbursts from both sides
interrupted the meeting and degraded the conversation to mere
shouting over each other.
“People are recalling us because we didn’t stop this
process in the beginning,” said planning group chairman Gordon
Hammers. “But no matter what you do to us, be it political, or
people holding a grudge, this process is still going to go
forward, and we have no control over that.”
One group of residents at the front of the room, in
support of the project, joined board members, audibly berating
speakers, grunting, moaning, booing, and laughing at many
comments from their neighbors.
“I’m getting really tired of watching this group
denigrate others,” said board member Jan Hedlun as the meeting
went into its fourth hour. “I have to sit here and see you
swearing under your breathe; I have to hear you, and this board
snort and snuff when some residents are talking… It’s tiresome
and it’s rude.”
Many Potrero residents, of all political persuasions,
raised issue at the meeting regarding the recent, unsolicited
phone calls made to area households. The recorded messages,
featuring an unidentified female voice, talked about the current
recall petition being circulated in Potrero.
“You may be aware that there is a recall petition being
circulated for seven of the nine members of the Potrero Planning
Group,” reads a transcript of the first message, in late June.
“This recall petition would stop the planning group members from
carrying out the deed that they are elected to do.”
Soon after, registered Republicans in Potrero received
a letter from Tony Krvaric, Chairman of the San Diego County
Republican Party.
“There is an effort afoot, managed and directed by
radical activists and operatives from far outside your
community, to recall the Republican members of your duly-elected
Potrero planning group,” reads the letter. It continues to
implore residents not to sign the recall petition, and includes
an offer of assistance from Krvaric to those residents who have
already signed, but would now like to remove their names.
At the same time, general Potrero residents were
beginning to receive another recorded message at their homes.
“If you think decisions that affect Potrero should be
made by those that live in Potrero, then you shouldn’t sign a
petition to kick Potrero residents off our own planning group.
The people driving this all live in La Mesa, El Cajon, Lakeside,
Encinitas and other places. Please learn the truth and hear the
facts before you sign or believe anything these out of town
activists say to get you to support them and oppose our
neighbors here in Potrero. These outsiders shouldn’t be making
our decisions for us.”
Several audience members inquired about the phone calls
and letter at last Thursday’s meeting.
“I was responsible for it,” admitted planning group
chairman Gordon Hammers. He continued, with raised voice and
pointed fingers, to blame some residents who are involved with
the East County Democratic Club. “I am a Republican. I said to
my party, ‘Hey, the East County Democratic Party is doing this;
what are you folks going to do for me?’ And they did.”
“Only Potrero residents can initiate and sign this
petition,” said one resident. “This was completely organically
from Potrero.”
He continued to say the chairman was wrong, to which
Hammers replied, “Who cares. Tough luck. I don’t care if you
don’t like it.”
Other residents in the audience, Republicans
themselves, were also bothered by the phone messages and letters
sent to their homes.
“The Republican Party is going the get a backlash from
this, there’s a lot of mad republicans... This is not a democrat
or republican issue… this is purely land use,” said one man.
Hammers said that it is the ECDC that has made this
into a political issue, not the Republican Party involvement.
“They have made this an anti-war issue,” he said. “No
one can tell me that this recall is not a political action,
rather than a land use action.”
“A third of the residents in Potrero signed a petition
against Blackwater… one third is not a majority... Showing your
support for the current board, is showing your support for the
majority of Potrero,” said resident Brenda Wise, chairman of the
local fire board.
“These petitions are based on nothing but a pack of
lies,” said Emil Susu, who, although not yet confirmed by county
supervisors to the board, was seated at the head table.
At several points, Jan Hedlun, and members of the
audience, questioned why Susu was allowed to sit at the head
table with the board as his appointment has not been confirmed
by the Board of Supervisors. This complaint, however, was
repeatedly dismissed by Hammers and the other board members.
“Mr. Susu has now defamed us — again — calling us
liars, and I’d like to know what lie in the petition is he
talking about,” said one woman calmly.
The majority of the members on the board, however,
cited issues that are not included in the recall petition,
showing their confusion about the process.
“This is the reason that we as a community initiated
this recall,” said one resident named Roxanne. “Your attitude
and your disrespect to the community members is exactly what you
find yourselves in this position. It has nothing to do with
politics, and everything to do with the way you are treating
your constituents.
“You have recognized us with sarcasm and disrespect
throughout this entire process… You have slandered us, you have
belittled us, you have done everything to degrade us — how can
we respect you, when you don’t respect us.”
This again raised angry voices from the planning group.
“Well, I don’t much care for your attitude, and I really don’t
care what you think,” said board member Mary Johnson.
At the end of the meeting, the board decided to hold
off the approval of a conditional project approval resolution,
including several requirements for Blackwater to meet. The
community will have the opportunity to weigh in on the
resolution at the next planning group meeting in August.
Editor’s
note: See next week’s edition for more coverage of this meeting,
including environmental reports and more information about the
Blackwater project in Potrero.
 E-mail
Christy Scott
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