Jim,  not a wise move if you are planning on running for office.  Comments like these definately show what generation you come from.  I think you would be wiser sticking to facts and telling us what you plan to do if elected to the council.  We don't need council members that make comments like this.  These comments don't help Tehachapi grow, but just show outsiders that we are a town that is behind in times.  Current and future council members need to be forward looking, and help guide our city into the future.  Please try to post some positive comments for a change.  Thank You. 

Dear Jim,

   Ms. Hand did not name March as Women in History Month.....IT IS Women in History Month!  Organizations from from the arts to business are celebrating it.  Tehachapi's own newspaper The Loop is having an entire tabloid about it. 

Get over trying to make out that Ms. Hand is always up to something or trying to pull the wool over someones eyes.

Annette Kirby

It seems Jim is just stating a few facts. People with chips on their shoulders often fear facts.

Foul! Foul Jimr!

Face facts, Hammer? The only fact Jimr has stated in this blog is that the mayor made note that it was a historical event for Tehachapi to have two women filling the mayor and mayor protempore positions. She didn't exactly burn her bra and claim a superiority of the genders!   

I agree with Tehachapiresident 200%! Shame on you Jimr for suggesting that honoring women's historical accomplishments must have some "personal agenda" attached. The only personal agenda I see here is another mudslinging campaign and I really hope Tehachapi won't fall for those tactics again. We need leaders who can work with others, not just their 1950's ultra-conservative political clones - or members of their own sex for that matter!

Since you asked, here's what I suggest: Do a little research, join us in the 21st Century, and heed your own advice:

 Now, if a MAN had said that, about MEN, he would have immediately been pelted with over ripe tomatoes and rotten eggs (yes, I think some people bring them) and called a SEXIST PIG and probably even tarred and feathered and run out of town. On a rail. Through the loop. Never to be seen or heard from again.At least 50% of the voting population are now probably more than willing to help you jump the next freight. But don't worry, most women couldn't be bothered with the tarring and feathering, since we tend to leave public humiliation and denigration to those who have far more experience - historically - in such matters. 

Here's a little background, just in case your secretary is too busy getting your coffee...

TehachapiResident, I quote, "We don't need council members that make comments like this.  These comments don't help Tehachapi grow, but just show outsiders that we are a town that is behind in times.  Current and future council members need to be forward looking, and help guide our city into the future.  Please try to post some positive comments for a change.  Thank You

Jimr is always making positive posts.  Perhaps you missed all of those. And, from your comment I presume that you are including Mrs. Hand's sexist comments about the Woman Mayor and Woman Mayor Pro-Tem?

I come from a later generation than Mrs. Hand.  In my generation, as women, we don't need to segregate ourselves.  We have the confidence to know that we have self worth and we are as good at our jobs as anyone, no matter what gender.

Besides, many double standards definitely exist in America and Mrs. Hand should know better than to pander to them.  But hey folks, Jimr was speaking tongue in cheek, so LIGHTEN UP, PLEASE!

Pandering!?! What an unfortunate choice of words, teresr.

(American Heritage Dictionary:)

intr.v.   pan·dered, pan·der·ing, pan·ders

1. To act as a go-between or liaison in sexual intrigues; function as a procurer.
2. To cater to the lower tastes and desires of others or exploit their weaknesses: "He refused to pander to nostalgia and escapism" (New York Times).

[Middle English Pandare, Pandarus, from Old Italian Pandaro, from Latin Pandarus, from Greek Pandaros.] 

Promoting women's historical accomplishments is pandering!? Are you speaking for yourself or for Jimr? 

Please explain how noting a historical fact, that never before have two women held the top two council seats be perceived as "sexist?"

And this?  In my generation, as women, we don't need to segregate ourselves.  We have the confidence to know that we have self worth and we are as good at our jobs as anyone, no matter what gender.

Of course we don't have to "segregate ourselves," the male-based business world has done that for us:

The Wage Gap:

The wage gap between women and men cuts across a wide spectrum of occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that in 2007 female financial advisors earned 53.7% of the median weekly wages of male financial advisors, and women in sales occupations earned just 64.8% of men's wages in equivalent positions. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Since you seem to have been deisngated to speak for Jimr, perhaps you both might be interested in the other half of your "tongue in cheeck" reference. It comes from Shakespeare and he warned that keeping the tongue pressed firmly inside the check is a satisfactory precaution against having it cut off, or wishing you had bitten it off yourself. 

Sushisoo - You speak bitterly.  Apparently you have had a tough time in the business world.  Could it be your feminist attitude has kept you down and not the fact that you are a woman?  And, just who are you to say that I have been appointed to speak for jimr?  I speak for myself and I don't need anyone to appoint me.  But, I do know jimr and I do not like seeing jimr attacked unjustly.  

As to segregation, if you as a woman have allowed men to segregate you then perhaps you need a bit more spunk.  Pandering (To cater to the lower tastes and desires of others or exploit their weaknesses) describes perfectly what Mrs. Hand said about a "Woman Mayor" and a "Woman Mayor Pro-Tempore."

If you have been so ill used in the business world don't blame it on the glass ceiling.  If indeed you are talented and resourceful you will succeed as I have an out earning your male counterparts and not depend on statistics from the New York Times, which we all know is such a legitimate rag, to excuse your shortcomings, female or male.

Do you deny that we have a double standard in this country?  And, how has this double standard served in elevating the people who "pander" to it?  Has it helped the blacks, or has it hurt them?  When you, as an individual, refuse to join the mainstream but rather, demand your rights based on your terms, then don't be surprised when you lose.  This is analogous to playing a baseball game, but demanding to play by your rules.  Doesn't work and no one will honor you for it.

Normally I agree with Jim's posts, but this post was not very well thought out and just plain negative. Honestly..............who cares.  Let's say for two seconds this was some personal agenda of Mayor Hand's...............Who is it hurting? Who is it affecting? Who is gaining a profit from it? Is it cosing us( the tax payers) money? Will it hurt Tehachapi somehow? I don't know about you, but so far all I'm coming up with is NO ONE and NO.

Also, will people please start owning up to their actions!! If you made a choice to post something and it did not go over well or you were just in the wrong for posting it and you're to proud to delete or edit it please don't try to insult our intelligence by saying it was done "tongue and cheek" when it is beyond obvious it wasn't!! This is like the 3rd or 4th time someone has done this and it is just annoying!

I'm really sorry to see some of the negative comments on my post here. In all candor and honesty, I meant it to be funny and thought that it would be taken as such. I've been accused of having a "warped" sense of humor before, and I guess this is just another such occasion.

I have always been proud of my many positive blogs here and hope this one will not be taken out of context with all the others. I am the type of person who always see the glass as half full, and will continue to do so.

Best wishes to all,

Jim Richards

I agree with countygirl on this one. This is the second post made by jimr directed at a good person in a bad way. Then when called onto the carpet, jimr goes with " It was all in fun, lighten up, it was done tongue in cheek" I feel it is in bad taste to say something bad about someone then say it was all in fun later. I know it is difficult for you jimr to find topics to run against now that the city manager is gone. I suggest finding something to run for.

Well, it's clear that no matter how well intentioned a post is, there are those who will take it out of context or bend it to their own way of thinking. I respect everyone's right to their own opinion but they step out of line when they feel the need to resort to personal attacks. They will find a way to interpret a blog comment to suit their own particular agenda.

There seems to be no point in blogging here any more except to play into the hands of those who will find fault, no matter what you say.

Jimr,

Do you not feel your last two "tongue in cheek" post could be seen as a personal attack?

Do you not blog to suit your own particular agenda?

I felt the above blog was for your own particular agenda and the other "tongue in cheek" post was a personal attack. I am sure others will soon blog how they felt about your post. Then I am sure to be proven wrong. Like you said, I am entitled to my own opinion. When someone post their opinion on a site like this, it makes it free game for others to disagree and make post as such. I hope you don't take this post as a personal attack. I was only disagreeing with your opinion. Anything that hurts your feelings was made "tongue in cheek".

There's plenty of things Debbie and the City Hall clique can be criticized about.  Trying to make some issue out of this makes about as much sense complaining about an announcement of Boy Scout Day.  Save your fire for something worth hitting.

Bitter? No, teresr, I'm simply stating a historical fact that women make as much as 50% less on average than men for the same job, even when they have the same level of education and/or experience.     

Your supposition that I am have had a "tough time in the business world," or "been so ill used" is completely unfounded. I was not making a personal observation. I never made mention of my personal business, nor do I intend to. I could be making a six figure living as a pole dancer in clear heels and hoochie mama clothes for all that it matters.     

Could it be your feminist attitude has kept you down and not the fact that you are a woman? 

Why is it that promoting women's historical achievements, in the 21st Century no less, is so distasteful to you? What exactly does a "feminist attitude" mean to you? Why must there a difference between being a "feminist" and feminine, or a being female for that matter? Why must the two be separate? Isn't that the very heart of the double standard you refer to? 

And, how has this double standard served in elevating the people who "pander" to it?  Has it helped the blacks, or has it hurt them?  When you, as an individual, refuse to join the mainstream but rather, demand your rights based on your terms, then don't be surprised when you lose. 

By all means, please explain this to me in terms of race. For all you know, I am not only a woman, but black, jewish, disabled and a senior. 

Also, if one doesn't "demand your rights based on your terms" then whose terms shall you accept? Shall we all just resign outselves to joining what you call "the mainstream?" How does that serve democracy, let alone preserve any culture or history?     

I'm also still confused about what exactly Ms. Hand could have said that was so offensive to both you and Jimr. I also should not have assumed you speak for Jimr, but I guess I got confused about whose tongue is in whose/which cheek.    &n bsp; 

 I'll ignore the last line in your statement which I find catty and sexist, certainly not professional.  Perhaps that is your problem.  You threw out a bunch of statistics.  Here are some more, but you'll have to go to the link:

http://www.forbes.com/works...

Interestingly this 3 time Board of Director of the National Association of Women in New York City has a common sense take on why your statistics show what they do.

Basically it boils down to the choices women make in their life and not the lack of opportunities you would have us believe all women are subject to.  When women choose not to educate themselves their choices are diminished.  The chosen career can diminish a woman's chances.  Having different priorities, such as more men focus on money and women focus on families has a definite impact on a woman's pay scale.

Sushi, I'm not going to waste valuable time trying to enlighten you to my philosophies or trying to change your mind.  You've done enough bloviating for everyone.  Just let it be said, that as a woman, I never asked for special treatment, I worked harder and smarter than my male counterparts and I outearned everyone of them.  I made personal choices to do that.  So, thank you to the generations that went before us, we should be able to take it from here.