We Are Fortunate

Today I call your attention to two stories that appeared in the Press-Enterprise. One by Chris Richard, titled "Staying Afloat" June 7,05. The other by Meghan Lewit, titled "Council Considers Cuts To Fire And Library Services". The story by Richard tells how the city libraries are cash strapped and are going to turn to the voters for more funding. Yep, you guessed it. A property tax increase. The story by Lewit discusses the city of Redlands and the cuts they intend to make to fire and library services because of budget short falls or over spending or whatever. Grand Terrace is apparently immune from such bothersome, trivial budget matters. Even though the Schwab and Jacobsen said no RDA money or city money was going into the Town Center two days later the Schwab let us know that $7000 a month of either city funds or RDA funds were going to be used to lease the space for the library. We are fortunate that we don't have the financial short comings that a larger city like Redlands or an even larger entity like San Bernardino County, the largest county in America, do. I wonder how we have been able to keep those larger local goverments from stealing the Schwab away from us. His record is exemplarity. Let me count the ways. OAC boondoggle. Burdens us with 13 million in tax allocation bonds and lies about it. Gets a RDA house that should go to low to moderate income people. Allows city employee to do the same only got a $44,000 silent second trust deed that does not have to be paid back until the house is sold(plus over $40,000 in rehab cost) if ever and by law should not be more than 10% of the purchase price of the house. Savon, the OAC. which they wont let anyone see the market and feasibility study on. The Town Center which used the library as a ruse to use the threat, if not the actual, eminent domain on our neighbors. I could go on and on. Now the Planning Commision president is getting irritated because the council has, what appears to him, has by passed the commision on the Town Center.(See Press-Enterprise story by Paul LaRocco titled "Town Center Plan Spurs Criticism" June 8,05) Don't feel alone Mr. Wilson, you and the council and the commision have been by passing the citizens for years. From past experience we have learned, save Mr. Bidney occasionally, that all you and your commision do is rubber stamp what ever the council tells you to. Even some of your commision members family do business with the city. The council does not have to take your recommenditions and I bet if, and thats big IF, you and the commision ever turned down a project that the citizens did not want. like the OAC, the council would only over rule you and you know it. Don't take my word Mr. Wilson. Try it once and see what happens. I challenge you, as an experiment, turn down the Town Center.