Thursday, May 12, 2005

Is the Record Budget, a Schwab Swan Song?

Is Mr. Tom Schwab about to leave the post of City Manager of Grand Terrace? Often largeness of plans or budgets are listed with glee on resumes of folks wanting to change jobs. The City Council and the CRA should act with great caution when presented grandiose plans and financial projections made by Staff, Developers and the City Manager.

We have thus far seen the city be burdened by debt, controversy, and several smoke screens, and serious revisions of an over zealous presentation of development plans and financial projections. We have seen the Save-on grown breaking be little more than a mowing of a field. We have seen citizens of GT harassed into selling their property. We have no backfill plan for business space which will be vacated due to the new development or relief for those business forced out of business. No we see $1.00 per year leases, strange financing projections, and CLOSED meetings.

Perhaps we should have a Town Hall type government, and no action can be taken unless 51.% of the public shows up to the meeting, and they vote 51% for what ever action is taken. The City Council and City Manager would function ONLY as Administrators of the Community's Desires not the Dictators of those Desires.

What we do know, what is going on at the City Hall is not in the best interest of the private property owner, nor is it in the best interest of the community. The focus is what is in the best interest of the City, or Friends of the Council, or so it seems.