A natural-born writer, humorist and speaker who connects easily to everyone except lunkheads & cowards
Toots' YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@tootstells
HOUSING ACTIVIST
BEGAN DECEMBER 2020
I HAVE A TECHNICAL BUSINESS BACKGROUND. I DON'T WALK AWAY FROM PROBLEMS, I FIX THEM.
SAN DIEGO SEEMED LIKE A LOVELY PLACE TO LIVE. THEN I GOT AN AIRBNB PARTY HOUSE ON MY STREET IN 2020. I FOOLISHLY THOUGHT THE CITY WOULD PROVIDE HELP AND AIRBNB WOULD COOPERATE. NEITHER HAPPENED.
IN 2024 I HEARD ABOUT A 240' TOWER THAT MIGHT GET BUILT ON TURQUOISE ST. THEN 12 ADUS ON JICARILLO, THEN MORE ADUS POPPED UP and NEWS OF more TOWERS.
ALMOST OVERNIGHT SAN DIEGO CHANGED to LOCALS FIGHTING to stop A HI-RISE or ADUS getting built next door.
I TRY TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT SAN DIEGO'S RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS FROM AIRBNBS AND OVERDEVELOPMENT.
you can help: a) email city officials, b) DONATe TO FUND LEGAL BATTLES AGAINST THE CITY AND THE DEVELOPERS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF unreasonable LAWS.
MORE THAN A ONE TRICK PONY
EXAMPLES OF MY WRITING & ACTIVISM
https://fox5sandiego.com/news/local-news/san-diego-faces-lawsuit-over-136-unit-adu-project-proposal/
https://obrag.org/2025/04/reader-rant-why-im-a-proud-member-of-the-san-diego-community-coalition/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/sdg-e-warns-scam-targeting-002925050.html
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/author/trudy-grundland/
https://timesofsandiego.com/life/2025/07/20/dual-rallies-for-against-turquoise-tower/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/san-diego-faces-lawsuit-over-003816340.html
(see my comments) https://obrag.org/2025/07/cry-me-a-river-the-french-gourmets-turquoise-tower-blues/comment-page-1/
50 pages of support evidence from me to CACoastalCommission about need for SD STR ordinance: https://documents.coastal.ca.gov/reports/2022/3/W14f/W14f-3-2022-corresp2.pdf
https://obrag.org/2024/12/rimby-responsible-in-my-back-yard-agenda-and-goals/
https://obrag.org/2025/06/coastal-residents-too-many-adus-ruin-neighborhoods/
page 6: http://archives.sandiegoreader.com/2024/sdreader-2024-06-27.pdf
https://obrag.org/2025/07/hundreds-protest-22-story-tower-proposed-for-pacific-beach/
Quoted & photos: https://www.chattenbrownlawgroup.com/uploads/1/4/2/2/142294598/ob_rag_pacific_beach_group_sues_city_to_block_mega-adu_project_of_over_100_units__1_.pdf
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2005/05/22/exploring-the-world-in-food/
I've written a novel for Middle Grade (E.A.R.S. Emergency Animal Rescue Squad) and a novel for High School (Cyber High). I'm working on an adult novel about the black sheep and the family hero.
LAUGHTER STARTS HERE
A SENSE OF HUMOR IS A NECESSITY
IGLESIAS/LATINOS: 30% of San Diegans are Latinos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFqu9YVuAgI
CHEECH and CHONG/GET HIGH CALIFORNIA: dispensaries advertise on billboards in San Diego https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZoIjNDkPCQ
IGLESIAS/SNOOP DOGG PODCAST: THE FAKE NAME IS 'FLUFFY', The rich people in San Diego could be posers or scam artists. It's not uncommon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a5AtkBNpPM
PULP FICTION/BEING VEGETARIAN DOESN'T MAKE YOU A NICE PERSON https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UiL7ErcPf0
CHAPPELL: LANDLORD HOOKED ON CRACK. It's a fact that there are bad landlords in San Diego https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze7CiKeVxe0
SNL/BLACK JEOPARDY, CAN YOU AFFORD TO LIVE IN SD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7VaXlMvAvk
ABAGNALE/CON MAN, OUR MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OFTEN PULL THE WOOL OVER OUR EYES https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIYtKR24LQs&t=9s.
Toots Takes the Podium
AT&T - Pac Bell Los Angeles - Account Executive Industry Consultant-10 years
Managed major corporate US business accounts, met strict monthly and yearly sales quotas, and delivered ongoing customer support with the help of team members.
Extensive Screening: AT&T heavily relied on intensive multi-day Management Assessment Centers to evaluate candidates for corporate sales and administrative tracks.
High Standards: Fewer than 5% to 10% of applicants cleared the resume screens, panel interviews, and behavioral testing to land corporate account roles (like applying to USC, UCLA, West Point).
Assessment focused heavily on interpersonal communication, problem-solving, and business acumen.
Account Executives routinely pitched to corporate decision-makers, including C-suite executives and vice presidents. AT&T looked for candidates who exhibited exceptional diplomacy, corporate poise, and strong presentation skills to successfully navigate and maintain these high-stakes relationships.
While AEs didn't necessarily need to be engineers, AT&T required candidates with a high capacity to learn. They needed to translate complex technical jargon into clear business benefits for corporate clients and seamlessly collaborate with internal technical sales support teams.
AT&T actively screened for individuals with a hunger to protect and win market share. They needed persuasive communicators who could aggressively defend AT&T’s higher pricing.
The company looked for self-starters who could treat their assigned territory like "their own small business," independently analyzing market data to hunt for untapped revenue rather than waiting for corporate direction.
11/25/24
12/18/24
Christmas lunch
Pre-meeting before the big meeting
A typical meeting with engineers and support staff.
Strike duty required of all managers. I'm on the left in white/black w/clown hat
AT&T National Sales School Denver, CO
TootsTells writer artist AT&T PacBell Pacific Bell Telecommunications Corporate San Diego Housing Activist Airbnb Party House The Turquoise Tower The Vela Tower Pacific Beach La Jolla Clairemont Mission Beach Ocean Beach Short term vacation rentals Whole house Airbnbs fishing off a pier surfing San Diego great weather another day in paradise the sunshine tax vacation beach sunset surf fish tacos great Mexican food housing activist save our neighborhoods trudy grundland airbnb san Diego love where you live san Diego sunsets I like peace and quiet wearesandiego.org San Diego.org ADUBonus.org
In my second year at this major corporation, I was the recipient of the #1 sales award, a $2,500 prize, big money at the time.
Instead of wearing a suit, I showed up in a zebra print tie-dye tee. I thought my boss would have a stroke. Guess which man.
At my work reviews, this man would say he liked my work, not me.
In year four at this company, an IT client offered me a job. Took it. That lasted until I applied and was hired by AT&T.
Pre-AT&T a big corporation (not Corky's)
Account Executive Industry Consultant: Analytical-expressive, team leader, expert marketing and technical skills, master business writer.
BEFORE I BECAME A HOUSING ACTIVIST, I HAD MY OWN BUSINESS, and BEFORE THAT I WORE SUITS TO WORK
