From the Email InBox:

Dear Gramps,

It is just my opinion after watching Jacobsen' cheap theatrics to distract the citizens of Grand Terrace, that Jacobsen is trying to frighten Jo Stringfield. What I have learned is that Jacobsen (developer) and Schwab (City Manager) have brought together a plan to develop "Grand Terrace" . He has bought up, or obtained properties all over the City. I have to ask myself, why would he buy a house on Michigan for over $1,270,000? Yet he directs the City Council to stick by the "appraised" value of only $800,000 for Jo's property which is in the middle of the Barton Road Project. It has got to be a matter of pride, or principal to someone in the City.

We have watched the Mayor dig her heals in just this way. Without any common logic. Things have got to be her way. It is obvious to me that she is in cahoots with the Jacobsen and Schwab.

Why else would a nice little ol lady want to over build in a city of only 13,000 people? Why would anyone with a good heart and kind sole want to overbuild, created gridlock in the main thorough ways, increase smog - disease?

I am not saying she is all bad. Nobody in the City Government is all bad, just misguided. If it is not good for everyone, how can it be good.

If the Mayor really believes in her decision to backup a developer, then why can't she support her beliefs by explaining it to the citizens who will be here long after she is gone?

A Parent, A Voter, A Citizen of Grand Terrace.


Dear Fellow Concerned Citizen:

I agree with almost every thing you say and would like you like the answers to all of the questions you ask.

Jacobsen and the City will no doubt find that doing things in the normal process and procedures practiced by Tom Schwab will be costly in time and legal fees. The presentation which has bells and whistles and computer graphics was entertaining, but it was not in anyway a plan anyone can count on to be built. Look at the scale of the CVS/Sav-on Building and it's BUFFER space between the side road, and the neighbors, and all. He is the same developer, it is reasonable to expect the same quality or lack of quality of design implementation on the Town Center.

Yes I agree that the offer for Jo's Property was low balled. My Objection to the Negotiation is not that the city offered a low price, but that the city threatened for years to use Eminent Domain to Force Land Owners to selling at the Price Jacobsen wanted to pay. Some would not have sold at any price as they wanted to live in their home until they died. Some of the property was in fact sold after the elders passed on. IF Jo was offered and turned down a BILLION Dollars because she wants to stay that is her business and the City nor any Citizen should complain that she wants to enjoy her property as she wishes. The City is just WRONG in being entangled with this deal. Use of Eminent Domain, Public Financing and Negotiation Leverage to be the benefit of a single Developer is Wrong. No Open Proposal, No Open or Inclusion of Participation of the other Property Owners, No Public Meetings for Land Purchases, and Land Sales. The purchase of a Former Mayors Property at a Premium Price, the Purchase of low or middle cost housing and its demolition and not replacing it, all open this development open for a ton of problems and ever increasing legal expenses.

Jo Stringfield is not the singular concern. In addition to the above the citizens have reasonable concern about what is put on this strangely entangled property. If the Courts eventually say Jacobsen does not have to replace the housing destroyed. If the Courts approve the EIR for the Development of what ever Jacobsen Plans. We citizens do not have to shop in the stores, drink at the bars and patronize the businesses that are built on property that was developed by these methods. I have not steped foot into the CVS Store, and I will not.

I have stopped shopping at Stater Brothers. I do go to the other local shops, stores and restaurants. Citizens can vote with their pocket books.

Citizens can have a traffic plan too. We can all drive 25mph on all streets in GT.. The folks avoiding the freeway may figure out, you can't make up time by cutting through GT. 40 MPH is the MAXIMUM SPEED... it is not the MINIMUM SPEED... We can slow traffic by the use of a Slow Driver Strike.

Citizens can continue to insist that the facts of the deals are made open to the public. Citizens can file complaints and concerns where appropriate with the FBI, State and Federal Law Enforcement, and Civil Rights Agencies.

Citizens can VOTE.

Gramps.