In the Press: Recall and Comment

Article Launched: 6/11/2006 12:00 AM


Grand Terrace recall effort begins anew

Stephen Wall, Staff Writer
San Bernardino County Sun

GRAND TERRACE - For the third time in three weeks, a group of residents has started the process to remove two City Council members from office.

Bill Hays last week presented notices of intent to circulate recall petitions to Mayor Maryetta Ferre and Councilwoman Lee Ann Garcia.

"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again," said Hays, a 59-year-old De Berry Street resident who is leading the recall effort.

Recall proponents accuse Ferre and Garcia of being fiscally irresponsible and using redevelopment funds to benefit private interests.

They also say the council members violated state law by holding secret meetings and making illegal decisions.

Ferre and Garcia said the accusations have no merit.

"All the allegations are false," said Garcia, who has served on the council since 1996. "I will continue to work for the good of the citizens of Grand Terrace. I would ask all the residents to please review the facts before signing anything."

Recall proponents twice failed to meet the requirements of the state Election Code to get their movement off the ground.

In mid-May, they submitted notices to City Clerk Brenda Mesa that lacked signatures, addresses and other information required to start the process.

On May 25, they handed Ferre and Garcia notices of intent to recall petitions, but the documents did not have the printed names next to the signatures of 20 Grand Terrace residents.

On Monday, Mesa said, she plans to review the notices filed Thursday to determine if they are sufficient.

If the forms are approved, proponents would have 90 days to collect about 1,500 signatures, which equates to 25 percent of the city's roughly 6,000 registered voters.

If enough valid signatures are turned in and other requirements are met, a recall election would be held in November.

Hays said Councilwoman Bea Cortes also would have been targeted in the recall attempt, but she is up for re-election in November and is likely to face opposition from other candidates.

"I think it's ridiculous," Cortes said of the recall effort. "It's a certain group that opposes every item that comes before us."

Hays said recall supporters would gather signatures at the Stater Bros. Shopping center and on busy street corners in the city.

"It's not going to be that difficult," Hays said. "We're optimistic we will have the signatures rather quickly."

Recall proponents criticize Ferre and Garcia for supporting projects they say harm residents, such as a proposed shopping center on Barton Road, an outdoor-themed retail center, a senior-housing complex and other developments.

"The biggest thing is they don't listen to the community," Hays said. "There's a handful of people that are in a special clique that they listen to, and that's it."

Ferre, who has been on the council six years, said she would not respond to the specific accusations until the recall qualifies for the ballot.

"I think it's important that Grand Terrace residents consider putting their passions toward the solving of problems, making suggestions and supporting decisions that will make this city prosper - not toward distractions that can destroy a community such as recall petitions," Ferre said.

http://www.sbsun.com/portlet/article/html/fragments/print_article.jsp?article=392353

Gramps Must Comment:

Were the Recall Petitions Served 2 times or 3? Not that it matters much but, the writers of the Recall are not professional Recall Writers or folk with a bunch of lawyers or practiced politicians with staffs educated on the Election Laws of the State of California.

It is one of the Tasks descriptions of the City Clerk to function as the "Election Official" for Local Recall elections. The City Clerk is to review and advise citizens through the process, of submitting the required papers for their desired action be it recall, inactive (Measures on Specific Ordinances), running for office, and even after running for office filling out the required disclosure forms. What is being counted as the First Service or Attempt at a recall was not a Service of Notice, it was an attempt to check the paper works acceptability.

The Clerk did not specificity advice the petitioners they needed to have a Print Your Name, and a Sign Your name and Print your Address for each signature. Not to imply that she error as the form looked as if this was understood as there were plenty of lines and spaces for doing so.

The City Clerk has been helpful in guiding the citizens through the steps of who does what when, as the documents go from Intent to Recall, to Publication of Intent, to The Response to Intent To Recall, to the Recall Petition, to the Submission of the Recall Petitions, and finally the Documents for the Recall to be on the Ballot. The paper trail has many paths.

The second attempt to serve the first actually signed and served to the Council Members being recalled lacked the Printed Information of Name, and Complete Address for each of the Signers. This was the extent of the problems. Nothing major, easy to correct. The most difficult part was limiting the number of people wanting to sign the document. The text of the document did not change.

The third attempt to serve by Mayor Ferre's count was the one where she made her most recent comment which is telling of her attitude toward citizens in general.

Ferre, who has been on the council six years, said she would not respond to the specific accusations until the recall qualifies for the ballot.

"I think it's important that Grand Terrace residents consider putting their passions toward the solving of problems, making suggestions and supporting decisions that will make this city prosper - not toward distractions that can destroy a community such as recall petitions," Ferre said.

Mayor Ferre doesn't respond to citizens asking for full campaign contribution disclosures. Mayor Ferre doesn't allow the council members to discuss general questions raised by citizens at council meetings. Mayor Ferre's characterization of the citizens use of a recall to "destroy a community is the ultimate pretentiousness. Recall is a legitimate Political Option to correct a situation of bad governance in order to PROTECT and PROMOTE a good community.

Mayor Ferre, has perpetuated a climate and even rules that eliminate or frustrate citizens from being able to solve problems, and make suggestions. When and IF the council does something that will make this city prosper those actions will be supported. However, this council perpetuates improper procedural practices from the City Manager, Planning Department, Planning Commission, Finance, and throughout the entire City. These are the cause of law suits.

The use of the Redevelopment Agency Funds and the Debt of the Redevelopment agency and how that Debt effects the City is of Great concern and the cause of the Recall the lack of competitive bids on City and RDA contracts and opportunities is a Great Concern.

It is time to clean house. Two to be recalled, Two to be up for election. Not to destroy a community but to SAVE IT, to Let is Prosper with Pride and dignity.

Now for the other Council Member Comments

"All the allegations are false," said Garcia, who has served on the council since 1996. "I will continue to work for the good of the citizens of Grand Terrace. I would ask all the residents to please review the facts before signing anything."

Yes.. Council Member Garcia has it half right again. The allocations are not false, and the Citizens should review all the facts before signing anything. Fact: When you sign a recall petition it puts the recall on the ballot, it does not say who you vote for or what your opinion is. It is saying You Think the Citizens should Vote and Decide the ISSUE.

Council Member Cortes Statement:

"I think it's ridiculous," Cortes said of the recall effort. "It's a certain group that opposes every item that comes before us."

Recall is a constitution right in California, is it this recall or any recall she opposes? When she follows that statement with an all inclusive absolute statement that "it's a certain group that opposes every item that comes before us” she exposes a flaw in her characterization and understanding of the situation. No group has in fact been against every item.

It appears Council Member Cortes is of the opinion there are two kinds of citizens, or two groups. Any one who opposes an item is against "US" and those who agree with "US" or let "US" do anything "WE" want. Everyone else is a "THEM", or a "THEY". This over classification of individuals expressing concerns and opinions and reviling facts and yes flaws in the procedures of the governance of this community are all THEM. Perhaps the THEMS... Should figure out how to make THEMS into an official group name. This would be impossible as there is not a group with a single mind which brings forth objection to the actions of the city council and its manager. Yes, the THEMS have rights and THEY are using those rights, not for self protection or self promotion, but to HELP the City.