Flashback to December 7, 2010This is one of the most important videos from my two and a half decades of City Council speeches. What makes it so special is that it was one of the very first appearances of Councilmember Lorie Zapf who had just been elected in November of 2010. It was also the first time that Lorie Zapf had ever heard one of my non-agenda speeches about the Gliderport.
Immediately after my speech, Lorie Zapf followed her instincts and broke with Council tradition of remaining silent during non-agenda comment. Instead, Lorie Zapf actually spoke up and offered the comment that it was an issue that she would really be interested in. Wow!! It was a "
Mr. Smith goes to Washington" moment for Lorie Zapf. But sadly (and unlike Jimmy Stewart's "Jefferson Smith"), Lorie Zapf wasn't up to the intense pressure from her colleagues.
You'll notice at the end of this City Council video that senior Councilmember Sherri Lightner immediately jumped in to shut Lorie down. Lightner said "And also, the issue is well in hand and we'd be delighted, our office would be delighted to talk to your office about this". Translation: "Stay out of it Lorie". Apparently Lightner's office did talk to Zapf's office and put her "in her place". In 8 more years on the San Diego City Council, Lorie Zapf never again spoke another word about the Torrey Pines Gliderport. Lorie Zapf also declined all requests for meetings about the Torrey Pines Gliderport during her entire 8 years on the Council.
What do you think Sherri Lightner's "office" could have said to Lorie Zapf's "office" that muzzled the otherwise enthusiastic young Zapf for 8 years and beyond. Think about that question as you watch this video: