From the Email InBox:

Dear Gramps: Please Post

Is the Grand Terrace Redevelopment Agency will use Eminent Domain to Take the Highgrove Power Plant away from AES so that the Development of the High School Can go forward without greater risk to the health and welfare of the students and Community?

No, the RDA and City Council will only take property away from homeowners and small businesses who will surrender to the pressure of the threat of the use of Eminent Domain, and not fight to protect their right to own and enjoy their own property. This is why their use of Eminent Domain should be limited to the purpose of PUBLIC Improvement such as Roads and Schools and NOT Commercial/Industrial or Retail Interests. Even a Development that suggests room to house a library is not sufficient cause or justification for the use of Eminent Domain unless the Public Library is Fully Owned by the Public and is not Leased or Rented Space as was the "Plan of Schwab & Jacobsen".

The use of Eminent Domain should be extremely limited in Grand Terrace. Perhaps even eliminated altogether as the current city management has show an attitude of the abuse of power that should be prevented by Ordinance. If the County or State needs land for a road or project fine but the City has just been taken to the cleaners by the folly of the Schwab Lead Redevelopment Agency/ Planning Department/ Hired Consultants/ Designated Developers and favored Realtors. It is time to either remove this Tribal Form of Government where we are headed by the Realtor/Developer Tribe and allow independent citizens and business live within the laws of the county and country.

With regards to Mr. Schawb being paid like his fellow City Managers. What kind of financial abuse that is for our small treasury. GT only has 14000 people and a small land area. His compensation should be small as this is a small city. IF he had ethics he would not only not ask for increases but would restore some of his current contract compensation to the Parks and Rec Department he so fondly fails to fund so that the Youth Sports Teams have to sell fireworks to pay for Lights and Fees. IF he had ethics he would answer where the money for the sale of the city car was deposited, in his bank account or the city's and show the account reflecting the deposit. No tribal leaders are not held accountable.

Yet these tribal leaders use code writing and enforcement as a way to intimidate and hold citizens accountable when the whim to exercise Power strikes them. For example if trees should be cut to 15 feet. ALL trees should be that way, not just those folks that the city wants to harass. Selective enforcement of codes and laws is a form of harassment. I'll refrain from the language used by the City Manager who called Citizens Terrorists when they filed suit against the OAC. However we should protect our rights to own property and our individual right to happiness above the right of a realtor to insure higher commissions on sales. It is time to democratize Grand Terrace.

Perhaps some of those young people who said they'd like to fill in the seat Buchanan is now in will run during the next election cycle. Perhaps they can change the Tribe and the Head of the Tribe.