GT Taking a Slice of Ham... Radio that is..

The City Council and City Manager postponed the Public Hearing on the Revised City Ordinance relating to the insalation and operation of Ham Radios.

This is a Community Issue a Good Neighbor Issue, City Manager Tom Schwab tried to explain to the one Person who addressed the City Council. What Tom Schwab was trying to say but did not say it plainly is that some folks in the community think radio towers are UGLY... Some folks say that the tower bothers their View, others say they are afraid of the tower falling. Yet others say they are bothered by the radio interupting their TV or Radio Reception.

WELL: Let's begin with the Use of HAM Radio is a PUBLIC SERVICE and we should encourage HAM Radio Operaters as a part of our community and regional safety.

Let's pretend that the same standard of protecting the "View" applied to the residents who don't want a senior center built behind their house was justification for not building the Blue Mt. Senior Villa. (Housing for 200) or Safety Enhancement for 13,000 Citizens and perhaps 500,000 in the region.

Let's address the Incursion on TV or Radio Reception. This is a Federal Regulation Violation, and that can be enforced via FEDERAL Law... IF there is a problem the City of Grand Terrace is not the Regulatory Agency.

Let's pretend that I was in charge of what is "UGLY" and what is "Not UGLY" I may insist that all houses in GT have Blue Paint with Orange Stripes and because I am KING and rule the City Government, and City Council I will recommend strongly that the Code is changed to Insist that all buildings are painted Blue with orange stripes. In addition, I will hire a code enforcement officer to inspect all non blue buildings to find violations which will eventually force the homeowners to repaint to the right colors.

When a City says: Do you think Eminent Domain should be used for "Economic Development" or Redevelopment. That means they are thinking of using it.

When a City says: This or that is UGLY or Unsightly change it or you'll be in Violation of the Anti Ugly Code... we have given up our rights as individuals.

I'll take a Radio Tower in my neighbors yard, solar pannels, a 40'RV or even chipping paint rather than give up my rights to live on my property without the City Telling me what color to paint my house, what kind of lawn to have, or what plants to plants, or what looks good or not.

No one who voted to become a city wanted to make the city council into an HomeOwners Association on Steroids. We wanted, Fire, Police and Water and Trash Services.

Now we have RDA DEBT, and City Council Members attending Political Action Group Meetings at Public Expense, to learn how to use Eminent Domain to take our homes and businesses away from us. Now that we are here is this what we wanted 30 years ago when we became a city?