"What's Up With All These People Asking for Signatures, and Who's Blocking Them?"

[Gold Metal Flake]

http://www.santaclarita.com/blog/view.php?blog_entry_id=31103

From the blog post:

Yesterday, a dispute between a paid signature gatherer and paid signature blockers led in the signature gatherer's arrest outside of Trader Joe's in Saugus (yes, in Saugus). Citizen activist Nate Imhoff went to the scene of the alleged crime to call the signature blockers to task. The banter is really funny at times, and the cynicism behind the blocking effort is apparent.

There are three blockers in the video. The silent guy in sunglasses as seen in earlier videos being identified as a blocker in front of the Target store in Canyon Country. They also mention the name of a Calvin Conrad, possibly the owner of Conrad Petition Management.

The petition drive is for signatures to call a referendum that will put the city's digital billboard deal on the ballot, giving voters a chance to approve or deny the deal. Digital billboard opponents have alleged, with some evidence, that Allvision, the for-profit company that would operate the six digital billboards, has brought people in for the purpose of "blocking" signatures. Gatherers charge that blockers have offered money in exchange for signed petitions, circulated false petitions, harassed people attempting to sign the petition and staged disturbances outside of stores where petitions are being circulated.

[Gold Metal Flake]

1. Out of town paid blockers arrested

http://www.signalscv.com/section/36/article/119072/

"“He stated that the large groups - also referred to as ‘blockers’ - of people were standing by the doorway blocking the customers from entering the store,” he wrote. “The manager stated he witnessed the suspects being aggressive to customers and videotaping them even when asked not to be recorded and to be left alone."

“The witness stated she refused to give her a signature and told the woman to get out of her way,” he wrote. “She stated the (blocker) obstructed her path while actively videotaping her and her children. She told the suspect he did not have permission to record her or her children.

“The suspect ignored her and continued recording her and her children,” the deputy wrote. “The woman then rushed into the Wal-mart and notified the managers inside. She stated she felt the groups (blockers) of people were extremely aggressive and she felt harassed.”

[Gold Metal Flake]

2. Measure S is on the ballot.

Santa Clarita residents should remember the thugs from out of town paid to provoke and disrupt signature gatherers and citizens supporting the petition to put measure S on the ballot.

[petronius]

3. Is that common? I've never heard of blockers before

Hope it backfires on them...

[daredtowork]

4. ok I'm officially creeped out and having a Goldstein moment

Sometimes I feel political maneuvers are so successful at distorting reality, I don't even want to go outside.:-/