The LA Times story on our fearless mayor prompted quite a bit of mail, including this from one reader who noted that the article left out one important point:
The LA Times reporter left out one of the most important facts surrounding this issue. He neglected to report that in confronting the Girl Scouts, Taylor told them that she was the deputy mayor of Claremont, as if that gave her the right to call the police. One more instance of the abuse of power that Taylor and her crew exhibit when dealing with anyone that gets in their way. So sad for Claremont.
By the way, I received the latest issue of Money Magazine yesterday which rated the best cities in the US and lo and behold, Claremont was NOT among the top 100. Maybe they heard about Queen Ellen as well!
Yes, we forgot about that one when we were deconstructing the Times piece. The Courier reported this in their March 15th article on the affair:
Ms. Taylor first asked if the group had a permit from the city to operate at the location, announced that she was deputy Mayor of Claremont and threatened to call the police if the Girl Scouts did not cease operations, [parent Pam] Gavin said.
Say, now that we re-read that first sentence, it does sort of make you wonder if Ellen didn't have a hand or paw or some other appendage in having the Girl Scouts named in that solicitation ordinance after all.
Then there was this from a former Claremonter who found us from somewhat afar:
The Ellen Taylor matter is a nice way to be introduced to you.
I lived in Claremont long ago and still love it.
Any intuitive personality will quickly pick up the lengthy dissembling of Ms. Taylor. The profession of her husband is mentioned, and it is a classic strategy of his profession to attempt to turn the victim into the perpetrator and to turn the perpetrator into the victim—in this matter, the victims into the perpetrators and the perpetrator into the victim. A bit dicey with Girl Scouts and their cookies, but Taylor clearly has been giving it her best shot. Nevertheless, Ms. Taylor doesn’t play the “victim role” very convincingly, and it would take an Oscar-level screenwriter to turn those Girl Scouts into Nightmare on Indian Hill Boulevard!
My sense is that this scenario exactly describes all her language and all her efforts here. Almost instantly she attempts to portray herself as the protector and the savior of these witless young girls and of their equally witless adult guardian, (all present on that spot apparently with permission), which self-serving portrayal clearly was not what brought her rushing from her husband’s office—her own admitted first words reveal this and absolutely convict her!
Basically, every word and every action of this woman after her first sentence has been a self-serving and self-protecting lie. Off with her lying head!
Ah yes, the ol' turn-the-offender-into-a-victim trick that's the nth time Claremont's fallen for that one, straight out of the playbook of former Claremont City Manager Glenn Southard. Amazing how many times that one works in this city of Ph.D's.
We also received this from another erstwhile Claremont resident:
Subject: Your blog reminds us of home
As a Claremont expatriate, I was delighted to discover your blog through a link at professorbainbridge.com.
Thanks for your insights. I’ll be a regular reader!
There were also a couple emails in support of Taylor, and, out of some vestigial sense of fairness, we'll try to post those in a day or two. Keep those cards and letters coming!
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