SHADES OF BROWN [ACT]… Squid’s enormous eyes make Squid particularly sensitive to sketchy actions by public officials. So when Squid heard about evasive behavior from the Marina Coast Water District’s most recent strategic planning workshop, Squid’s eyes throbbed. That’s partly because it’s hard to follow the timeline, which reads like the storyboard of a failed Hollywood dream. But thanks to the meticulous records of one attendee, it’s documented as such: Meeting began at 9:30am, sans board chair Bill Lee. Board member Ken Nishi leaves the room at 9:55, followed at 9:57 by the water district’s attorney, Lloyd Lowrey. At 10:02, Nishi returns, whispers to General Manager Jim Heitzman, and they depart again. In between the revolving-door departures, Heitzman and Lowrey were each actively texting. Squid snuggled up with California Government Code section 54952.2(b), which prohibits whispered hallway conversations – and text messaging, and phone calls – during public meetings. Board member Howard Gustafson told complainers, “They know what they are doing.” If that’s anything like former county Water Resources Agency board member Steve Collins knowing what he was doing, Squid wishes them luck. 


Meanwhile, a tipster reports Clint Eastwood was enjoying an evening at Mission Ranch – with Kid Rock and music mogul Rick Rubin. If you want to know how the big boys really play, Mr. Rock lit up a cigar and reportedly departed for his room, bottle of Jim Beam in hand. Maybe there’s something to it – Marina Coast should try a Johnnie Walker-assisted meeting, and see if things go more smoothly. 


THE TRUTH WILL NOT BE TELEVISED… Squid likes to unwind by channel-surfing in search of unintentional hilarity. And in the last few weeks, KSBW’s been on fire. First an editorial by Joseph W. Heston, the network’s ever-stern and impeccably coiffed president, corrected a month-old story about Alisal School District Board President Jose Castaneda. KSBW reported that Castaneda pled “no contest” to felony perjury; in fact, Castaneda pled to misdemeanor falsifying. Instead of giving viewers a mea culpa, Heston claimed Castaneda misled reporter Felix Cortez into bungling the story. “It’s unfortunate that the truth gets shoved aside,” Heston said, with no visible trace of irony. 


Less than a week later, Squid watched a KSBW piece reporting that Jacob Miller (yep, the Sheriff’s son) had been offered a plea deal in his drug case. “Whadda?” responded Deputy DA Terry Spitz. Miller’s attorney, Susan Chapman, told Squid KSBW screwed the pooch. No plea deal, and no correction. It’s unfortunate when the truth gets shoved aside, dontcha think?