And besides, truth is not slander, and he would lose—and then I might decide to counter sue. It has been said that I am calling into question Kevin Starr's
revered reputation. Yes I am. There is a well known saying that
Power Corrupts which is true when used in reference to Kevin
Starr and most of Our Politicians.
Here are some statements I've received from others in regards
to Kevin Starr's "revered" reputation. Pay close attention
to the last one, where it is revealed that Kevin Starr has no
reservations with lining his own and his cronies' pockets with
public funds.
Unfortunately most of the correspondence I receive with relevant
information regarding the corruption of Kevin Starr and the
Sierra Club, is from people who wish to remain anonymous. Many
feel that their jobs will be threatened or fear that the media
might hound them like the paparazzi.
My hope is that the media will take the initiative to investigate
the corruption involved with the California Quarter selection.
I am sure that if the media decides to do some truly investigative
reporting, they will find that all of the evidence regarding
how the California Quarter has turned into a political favor
for the Sierra Club and how Kevin Starr stands to personally
gain more from that political favor than any other design, is
valid.
My mother in-law (a former librarian) says that if Kevin
Star is involved your spot on with the accusations.”
- Anonymous
As an environmental historian I was disappointed with both
the design selected, and more significantly, the falsehoods
regarding the rationalizations stated by Ahnold (who got the
poop from Starr) for the selections.
Morally, there is no difference between the expiration of
the California Indian and the pending expiration (or artificial
maintenance) of the California Condor, except for the direct
involvement of those also involved in the coin selection process.
However I don't think the average Joe gives a shit. So waiting
for the public to right the wrong is futile. If you can prove
that you have suffered financially from the choice, I would
suggest filing suit (which will really generate some media
attention). All Starr's ties (personal and financial) to the
design selected are documented in his collected papers, which
are public property. I cannot say more. Good luck.
- Anonymous
I am so sorry that your coin design was not chosen. It did,
indeed, represent all that California stands for, and our
heritage. It was with great interest that I read Kevin Starr's
comments about the Gold Rush, and his making "politically
correct" statements about the Native Americans (in the
1800s just known as Indians) and the Mexican and Spanish who
lived in the California territory.
I worked with Starr during the planning of the California
Gold Discovery to Statehood Sesquicentennial commemoration
from 1995 - 1997, which was to honor ALL Californians and
our heritage. At that time, Starr was adamant that it be an
"inclusive" planning process, as it should be. However,
it turned out to be everything but inclusive. Also, the "
negative connotations" of the Gold Rush were going to
be addressed - thus the Sesquicentennial was deemed a "commemoration"
instead of a celebration, by Starr and the others.
The "commemoration" was originally the idea of
Matt Sugarman, the Park Superintendent of Marshall Gold Discovery
State Historic Park - maybe you were lucky enough to have
met him. He started to develop the idea in 1993. The planning
went from State Parks to the State Library due to "funding"
issues. (It eventually went back to State Parks for some
of the same reasons.).
The Sesquicentennial turned out to be a big bust due to the
fact that Starr and the Executive Staff would not take the
advice of the hand selected and very talented group of state
employees who did the daily planning. Most importantly, the
state contracting process.
Contracts to the tune of millions of dollars were let
to friends of the Commissioners, with no viable results
and no accountability - and no bidding process, which
we told them was illegal. The original staff, after
three years of planning and hard work, was let go, and replaced
by Starr's own hand selected people. The whole thing turned
out to be a joke, when it could have been a wonderful thing
- for ALL Californians - yes, the Native Americans and those
with Mexican and Spanish heritage, too.
Starr, as an historian, should know that in thousands of
years of history, that people have always suffered at the
hands of other people for land and wealth. California was
not unique, and the way in which we became a state should
not be glossed over. However, the egotistical, arrogant and
pompous behavior of some of the Commissioners and Executive
Staff brought the entire commemoration down. A low-key event
was eventually planned by some wonderful State Parks folks
and held in Old Town Sacramento.
I am not telling you anything that is not public record -
I testified in front of an Assembly Committee to the illegal
and unethical behavior of the planning process that was under
Kevin Starr.
As a 30 year career state employee, I can emphatically tell
you that almost everything is politically motivated, and that
many of the appointees, legislators, etc., are very much out
of touch with the "real people". By the way - we
are more commonly referred to as the "little people",
and state employees are "staties".
You are fighting a very, very tough battle. I write to you
as I understand what you are up against. I have been battling
with injustices in state government for years, but being a
"nobody" all I have gotten is a lot of grief, a
dead-end career, and a lot of sympathy and support from thousands
of other folks just like me. But you know what? I am proud
of my service to the people of California over the past 30
years. And, I can proudly look at myself in the mirror every
morning.
You go get 'em!!
- Judy L.