Civic-Minded Teen

I thought the headline said, "Civil Minded Teen" and that was such a pull-in, I came by. This young woman has a big job to do and it won't be fun, so I hope she's up to it. She's going to be bored out of her skull. Ever even sit in on a Council Meeting? I know full well that this statement is going to draw some really irate comments, and I don't care. I HAVE sat in on Council meetings and can't imagine a teen finding them vaguely interesting. OK go ahead and bash me, peeps.

OMGod wrote:

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It would be nice Jessica knows "spell check." Dxon High School product I assume.

No Rio Vista, skip the spell check you need to take reading again.

Violet Blue wrote:

I thought the headline said, "Civil Minded Teen" and that was such a pull-in, I came by. This young woman has a big job to do and it won't be fun, so I hope she's up to it. She's going to be bored out of her skull. Ever even sit in on a Council Meeting? I know full well that this statement is going to draw some really irate comments, and I don't care. I HAVE sat in on Council meetings and can't imagine a teen finding them vaguely interesting. OK go ahead and bash me, peeps.

Nothing to bash. Absolutely accurate statement. We will all have to help her ... stay awake.

The men on the Council especially wanted her so THEY could stay awake. lol

MB Three Palms wrote:

We need more young people like this young lady to get involved. Some young people are very intelligent and use there heads even better than some adults, with all their years of experience. They still make bad choices. Give the lady a chance to show just what she can do; she may be just what Dixon needs. In the last 22 years I have not seen this town give the youth a chance to show what they can do. I’m glad to see this finally happening.
She is young and eager to help this town Congratulations Victoria, and good luck. Do your best that’s all I ask.

Amen. Posters in this forum are so negative. Most kids are ready to make a difference, but most adults are too judgemental and unable to get past generational differences to see how truly amazing they are...good kids are not hard to find. People just need to open up their eyes.

HHH wrote:

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Amen. Posters in this forum are so negative. Most kids are ready to make a difference, but most adults are too judgemental and unable to get past generational differences to see how truly amazing they are...good kids are not hard to find. People just need to open up their eyes.

I do not think "posters" are negative. No one said anything bad about this girl. I think it is her inexperience that’s of concern. I think you "need to open up your eyes."

Yes there are a lot of amazing youth out there. However, no matter how amazing, they are still young and inexperienced. It is not fair to this young lady nor to the citizens of Dixon. Tough decisions need to be made. It’s a big burden to put on the shoulders of an 18 year old.

My 18 year old is intelligent, mature and responsible. She is an amazing girl. However, I would not want her on any city council. Imagine the pressure put on this kid. She still a kid, you like it or not. If she wants to get involved in government she should run for the student body of the college she is going and make real decisions for her peers.

Look at those great athletes, the Olympians. They miss so much in life, they are never kids.

Ms Coppes should enjoy her teenage years. Be silly, have fun, chase boys. I do not know what her parents are thinking!

Emjoe wrote:

I hope that if the mayor or any other council member ever needs open heart surgery, they will choose an 18-year-old first-year Med student to do the operation. What the heck, let's give the kid with ZERO job or life experience, an important job that affects the lives and wellbeing of an entire town. This was an absolutely insane decision, and if Matt Garcia had never been gunned down, this would never even have happened.

I don't even know where to start because there are a million things wrong with this comment. one, tori is in school for engineering; she's not a med student. two, she is extremely intelligent and talented and she happens to be one of my co-workers and works very hard. the reference to Matt Garcia was also inappropriate because that has absolutely nothing to do with this. I happen to be one of the hundreds of cousins of his as well and I think he would be darn proud to see what she is doing. sometimes we need to bring in youth for a new perspective. can't be worse than the old politics that come with most who are "more experienced". Don't get me wrong, experience doesn't hurt, but let's see what she can do before you start critisizing her.

Slightly Angry wrote:

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I don't even know where to start because there are a million things wrong with this comment... the reference to Matt Garcia was also inappropriate because that has absolutely nothing to do with this...Don't get me wrong, experience doesn't hurt, but let's see what she can do before you start critisizing her.

you are so naive ... it has everything to do with Matt and you would know this if you listened to the mayor's and vice mayor's comments.

However, I agree completely with you on the second part. I will go one step further.

Don't blame her when the rest of the council votes to give more raises to the police and fire unions. Don't blame her for the upcoming parcel tax. Remember, she is only one vote just as Alexander was one vote.

Victoria is no Matt Garcia and she doesn't even come close to being a Mike Gomez. The 3 to 1 majority on the council just loves this.

It should make the rest of you sick.

JAmes wrote:

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I do not think "posters" are negative. No one said anything bad about this girl. I think it is her inexperience that’s of concern. I think you "need to open up your eyes."
Yes there are a lot of amazing youth out there. However, no matter how amazing, they are still young and inexperienced. It is not fair to this young lady nor to the citizens of Dixon. Tough decisions need to be made. It’s a big burden to put on the shoulders of an 18 year old.
My 18 year old is intelligent, mature and responsible. She is an amazing girl. However, I would not want her on any city council. Imagine the pressure put on this kid. She still a kid, you like it or not. If she wants to get involved in government she should run for the student body of the college she is going and make real decisions for her peers.
Look at those great athletes, the Olympians. They miss so much in life, they are never kids.
Ms Coppes should enjoy her teenage years. Be silly, have fun, chase boys. I do not know what her parents are thinking!

I agree 100%....she is to young and inexperienced.

She should spend a few years in college politics and find out what the work environment she is in is really like then go to the big leagues.

Slightly Angry wrote:

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I don't even know where to start because there are a million things wrong with this comment. one, tori is in school for engineering; she's not a med student. two, she is extremely intelligent and talented and she happens to be one of my co-workers and works very hard. the reference to Matt Garcia was also inappropriate because that has absolutely nothing to do with this. I happen to be one of the hundreds of cousins of his as well and I think he would be darn proud to see what she is doing. sometimes we need to bring in youth for a new perspective. can't be worse than the old politics that come with most who are "more experienced". Don't get me wrong, experience doesn't hurt, but let's see what she can do before you start critisizing her.

It is great that you defend your co -worker. However, Tori graduated from Dixon high school in June and it is in her first semester in college. Please let her finish the bonehead English first and get decent grades in her first year before you claim that she is in school for "engineering."

The Great Libertarian wrote:

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you are so naive ... it has everything to do with Matt and you would know this if you listened to the mayor's and vice mayor's comments.
However, I agree completely with you on the second part. I will go one step further.
Don't blame her when the rest of the council votes to give more raises to the police and fire unions. Don't blame her for the upcoming parcel tax. Remember, she is only one vote just as Alexander was one vote.
Victoria is no Matt Garcia and she doesn't even come close to being a Mike Gomez. The 3 to 1 majority on the council just loves this.
It should make the rest of you sick.

Mikey...you are so insistant to bash me as Mayor you get your "facts" wrong as usual. I did not compare Matt Garcia with Tori. What I said that in light of the recent death of Matt Garcia, his death and legancy brought to mind that the youth and younger generations need to be represented. With Tori on the council we have the opportunity to see that everyone in our community is equally represented and have a voice on the City Council. I want to engage youth and families in our meetings and decisions.
The youth are our future, our future leaders, and Dixon will rely on them.
Everyone must remember, Tori is but one member of a five member council. There will be debate, discussion, and majority votes. She will represent a new, different, and fresh prespective to life in Dixon.

Lame Duck Mayor wrote:

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Mikey...you are so insistant to bash me as Mayor you get your "facts" wrong as usual. I did not compare Matt Garcia with Tori. What I said that in light of the recent death of Matt Garcia, his death and legancy brought to mind that the youth and younger generations need to be represented. With Tori on the council we have the opportunity to see that everyone in our community is equally represented and have a voice on the City Council. I want to engage youth and families in our meetings and decisions.
The youth are our future, our future leaders, and Dixon will rely on them.
Everyone must remember, Tori is but one member of a five member council. There will be debate, discussion, and majority votes. She will represent a new, different, and fresh prespective to life in Dixon.

Lame, you make your bed and you sleep in it. Don't complaint when others see your stupidity. Her appointment had everything to do with Matt Garcia but SHE IS NOT Matt. Matt campaigned and was elected by the citizens of FF. Everyone I talked in Dixon is laughing with your stupid decision. You are finishing your term, thank God, with a joke played on the citizens. What a legacy. Congratulations!!

Lame Duck Mayor wrote:

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What I said that in light of the recent death of Matt Garcia, his death and legancy brought to mind that the youth and younger generations need to be represented. With Tori on the council we have the opportunity to see that everyone in our community is equally represented and have a voice on the City Council.

So, where is the representation of the senior citizens, the Hispanics, Asians and the Blacks? And don’t tell me that you represent All the citizens. Because if you do represent ALL the citizens then you are also representing the youth and do not need an inexperience, easy manipulated teenager on the council.

By your own statement this appointment had everything to do with Matt Garcia. If the unfortunate incident did not happen you would never ever consider a teenager for the council.

By the way can you tell the citizens what are the "youth issues" facing Dixon? We are denying having gangs and drug problems. What youth issues will be brought up for discussion? Could it be that the police is harassing our youth?

Lame Duck Mayor wrote:

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Mikey...you are so insistant to bash me as Mayor you get your "facts" wrong as usual. I did not compare Matt Garcia with Tori. What I said that in light of the recent death of Matt Garcia, his death and legancy brought to mind that the youth and younger generations need to be represented. With Tori on the council we have the opportunity to see that everyone in our community is equally represented and have a voice on the City Council. I want to engage youth and families in our meetings and decisions.
The youth are our future, our future leaders, and Dixon will rely on them.
Everyone must remember, Tori is but one member of a five member council. There will be debate, discussion, and majority votes. She will represent a new, different, and fresh prespective to life in Dixon.

If you truly want everyone to be represented, then where is the homeless guy or the illegal alien on the city council ? Face it, this was an awful decision any way you look at it.

Slightly Angry wrote:

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I don't even know where to start because there are a million things wrong with this comment. one, tori is in school for engineering; she's not a med student. two, she is extremely intelligent and talented and she happens to be one of my co-workers and works very hard. the reference to Matt Garcia was also inappropriate because that has absolutely nothing to do with this. I happen to be one of the hundreds of cousins of his as well and I think he would be darn proud to see what she is doing. sometimes we need to bring in youth for a new perspective. can't be worse than the old politics that come with most who are "more experienced". Don't get me wrong, experience doesn't hurt, but let's see what she can do before you start critisizing her.

I see you were intelligent enough to totally miss my point, which was EXPERIENCE ! She has NONE ! She is not an engineering student...yet. She has only been in college for what...two entire months ? Please, I am an engineer ( civil ) And don't tell me that Matt Garcia's death had nothing to do with it when everyone else on the planet can see it. Did you even finish school ? Another thing, you say that you are one of the hundreds of cousins of Matt Garcia. HUNDREDS ??? Perhaps you are exaggerating just a little bit there, unless Matt Garcia's parents have 50 brothers and sisters...EACH.

Lame Duck Mayor wrote:

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Mikey...you are so insistant to bash me as Mayor you get your "facts" wrong as usual. I did not compare Matt Garcia with Tori. What I said that in light of the recent death of Matt Garcia, his death and legancy brought to mind that the youth and younger generations need to be represented. With Tori on the council we have the opportunity to see that everyone in our community is equally represented and have a voice on the City Council. I want to engage youth and families in our meetings and decisions.
The youth are our future, our future leaders, and Dixon will rely on them.
Everyone must remember, Tori is but one member of a five member council. There will be debate, discussion, and majority votes. She will represent a new, different, and fresh prespective to life in Dixon.

Quack, quack, quack for the big MAC. Funny but I don't see anything in my previous post about comparisons. Reading comprehension along with mathematical ability are dual deficits of yours.

I said just listen to the comments. If Matt Garcia hadn't been killed, that liberal emotional brain of yours wouldn't have ever gone there. That was Mike "I represent the unborn of Dixon" Smith's desire to have youth on the council or mixed into committees and commissions. What I said, and still say, is this was all about Matt Garcia because you focused on his death and made the illogical leap of logic to assume any youth applying for the position was better than having "someone critical of this council" on the council.

As the others have said, thank God you are leaving. A lame chimpanzee would have been a better leader.

Having said that, I will say the blind squirrel found another acorn the other night. Courville actually "led" the council in reconsidering the Gustafson "Jackson Square" project. How many times is this clown going to come back with the same product that doesn't reflect the stated desires of those who rezoned the property?

Alexander once again showed his ignorance and slowness in attempting to use the phrase "the developer has been trying for 6 years". He should have been told years ago his project was crap and that would have been the end of it. Alexander did finally see the light, even if the dim bulb took a while to go off.

I would ask the Queen Duck one last question: have you ever once thought that maybe my points might be constructive criticism? You stuck to your guns fearing that somehow agreeing with me would have weakened your political stranglehold.

All of Dixon has suffered for this. The jury is still out on Coppes. Let's hope you found another acorn.

lostmymind your name fits you. I have only heard a noisy few have anything but praise for the decision. When she wins in April what will be your excuse then. I hope all those who have criticized the appointment run against her. You talk to the students and better yet the parents you soon see how deep her support really is. Dixon belongs to all of us, not just those who can't get elected.
If it wasn't for sour grapes you would starve.

Emjoe wrote:

What the heck, let's give the kid with ZERO job or life experience, an important job that affects the lives and wellbeing of an entire town. This was an absolutely insane decision, and if Matt Garcia had never been gunned down, this would never even have happened.

She didn't replace Matt, so what does it have to do wth him? Every day, we let 18 yr old kids, join the military, we teach them how to shoot a gun, and then some of them are issued guns, and sent to war, to fight for the freedoms of everyone in this country.Seems to me if there should be concern about lives and well being, it should focus on the kids in the military, not one woman in one town. I think her family, friends and the girl herself should all be very proud.

Gemineye wrote:

<quoted text>She didn't replace Matt, so what does it have to do wth him? Every day, we let 18 yr old kids, join the military, we teach them how to shoot a gun, and then some of them are issued guns, and sent to war, to fight for the freedoms of everyone in this country.Seems to me if there should be concern about lives and well being, it should focus on the kids in the military, not one woman in one town. I think her family, friends and the girl herself should all be very proud.

We went through months of training before we were actually assigned to an active unit. Is there some sort of basic training for the Dixon CC where this little girl can train for 4 months prior ? No.

Better yet what are you going to say when Batchelor puts a worse butt whippin on Scholl, than the one Mary Ann put on Ceremello. When he ran for mayor. 60% to 40% no wonder he is bitter.When you get away from the sour grapes bunch. There is no one out there that is even considering Alexander.
Hell there are folks out there that voted for Steve that are now considering Mike.
So keep up the attacks on Tori and those who appointed her. We will see in a few weeks who was right won't we.