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Ojai Politics: Mac-Paradise on a Postage Stamp Pay to Play: Did Mayoral Candidate Johnston Rig Things Up for Junior?

Oct. 15, 2016: How did that horrendously huge out-of-scale-with-the-neighborhood mini (LA housing tract style) mac-mansion get built? The one at the back of Sarzotti Park (owned by none other than Ojai Mayoral Candidate Johnny Johnston's son, contractor Johnny Johnston Jr. (Mr. Friendly)...). How did it get such rapid council approval just a few short years ago?

     With all Junior's current extra-contractor type thingys going on;... commercial business-like contracting activities back there now, his Gigantanourmous house/commercial workshop there, and extra commercial and private vehicles parked out on the street... and please don't hold up one of Junior's frequently arriving sub contractors or GIGANTIC delivery trucks by attempting to park your residential car or walk your dog down the sidewalk... or Junior will be down your throat in a heartbeat beating his almighty (connected-to-papa-bear-chest!)...
    
Yes, another Pay to Play - Ojai Mini-Mac Mansion, Approved around 2009/10, Mission Accomplished... and t'was even more quickly constructed by Junior of course on such a tiny tiny tiny little postage stamp of an Ojai "Flag" subdivided-lot in town... on big candidate Johnston's supporter, council member Betsy Clapp's watch... Now you have to understand, getting a "Gigantanormous" house approved on a teeny tiny "Flag" Lot Split in Ojai means you gotta have Juice with the Planning Commission, or you're treated like Ojai leftovers. But, Johnston Senior just stormed into Council/Planning(the castle) with junior and made his Demands known, with a friendly smile of course. Of course Betsy's popularity needs all the help it can get these days on Ojai's council. The "mini-Mac"" looks more like a cheap Thousand Oaks spec house with a view of the fence, a mere 15-ishhhh feet away. A dime a dozen down in that big city. Junior even has two incessant and constantly yapping mindless mutts to go with all the mediocrity... guess the dogs keep the friendly celebrating Mariachi Latinos at bay on the weekend, just over the fence, you know the picnic at the park next door, or so Junior's wife had said...

     But all in all, the scale and quality of the "mini-mac", is still much more appropriate outside of Ojai. Yes, Rubber Stamp Approved when any other "regular folk"-citizen cannot get a simple and appropriate fence variance, modest room addition, or classy restaurant remodel approved on their property... Guess if Johnston makes it as Ojai's Mayor he can show developers the way... Nothing gets by Betsy, well almost nothing...
    
All this couldn't have had anything to do with how "Prominent" Junior's special father was... could it? Stinks Rife with Corruption to me, Pay to Play, Pay to Play. Must have been a handshake deal... Guess you have debts to pay, huh Betsy...
    
If Senior gets elected, Ojai can look forward to mega-Rubber Stamp Approvals of massive high unit high density low-income developments, but Ojai loves Traffic, don't it.

- Dick Lynch, Ojai