Dear Gramps:
Your response to the Sun propaganda was spot on. In the 2004 election cycle the Sun would print no opinion that criticized any candidate that was an incumbent. They printed every letter that came in making derogatory comments about Mr. Guzman and Mr. Dodd. In fact Dodd was hardly mentioned if it would take space away from slamming Mr. Guzman.
It appears the incumbents, Ferre, and hopefully Garcia, will use their connections in the Sun again in their campaigns to fight off a well deserved recall. They can discuss no issue because they have no idea what the issues are unless it's to fumble through the agenda and pose for pictures in the chamber rag. It is evident when a citizen comes into the Council meetings and addresses Ferre or Garcia with a direct question. Tom Schwab will answer because they can't. I believe the biggest fear Ferre has is to be placed in a position where she would have to answer a question concerning City business. She can't. Being Mayor to her is a social position.
The article is without a doubt written by a "Friend of Ferre" campaign person because if they had done any research they would have found that the recalls are not a "just for the heck of it".
The Recalls are serious. The recalls are a result of years of research of the mismanagement and untruths by the Council and Tom Schwab. It is time to put a stop to the 'Good Ol boy politics" that have made the friends of Ferre wealthy at the expense of the City. Here is a challenge. Council women Ferre and Garcia make your income tax returns public from the time you came on to the Council to present. Won't happen if they have something to hide.
Gramps says: Thanks for the added information and thoughts.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Murrieta and Grand Terrace Connection: John Harper
John Harper City Attorney for Murrieta and Grand Terrace. Bring to mind the Council Provided the Council is Often the "Reason for the Decision Made". Keep in mind that City Attorney is hired by "City Manager Tom Schwab".
Recall the UN Named Council Members who he advised regarding a Development Deal Conflict who are going to be sued IF the Development Deal falls through?
THIS is the Quality of the PROFESSIONALS hired by MR. Tom Schwab.
Google will result in 500 hits on Murrieta and "John Harper" here are just a few.
Smell familiar? WE can't Recall Harper, or Schwab or Koontz. WE can Recall and replace all the Council that Fail to Fire, Replace, and Provide Oversight of them.
Murrieta council to consider new voting rule North County Times ...Murrieta City Attorney John Harper said Friday that it would only take three council members to approve Gibbs' proposal for requiring a four-fifths majority ...
www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/02/04/news/Californian/22_10_172_3_06.txt - 60k - Cached - Similar pages
[ More results from www.nctimes.com ]
PE.com Inland Southern California MurrietaMurrieta Councilman Warnie Enochs has the chance tonight to dispute allegations ... City Attorney John Harper said Tuesday that Enochs may not have violated ...
www.pe.com/localnews/murrieta/stories/PE_News_Local_R_svote15.299ea9e.html - 57k - Cached - Similar pages
PE.com Inland Southern California MurrietaMurrieta Councilman Warnie Enochs, who faces 14 felony charges in a criminal ... City Attorney John Harper would not release the complaint against Enochs, ...
www.pe.com/localnews/murrieta/stories/PE_News_Local_S_swarnie09.4513e24.html - 67k - Cached - Similar pages
[ More results from www.pe.com ]
Recall the UN Named Council Members who he advised regarding a Development Deal Conflict who are going to be sued IF the Development Deal falls through?
THIS is the Quality of the PROFESSIONALS hired by MR. Tom Schwab.
Google will result in 500 hits on Murrieta and "John Harper" here are just a few.
Smell familiar? WE can't Recall Harper, or Schwab or Koontz. WE can Recall and replace all the Council that Fail to Fire, Replace, and Provide Oversight of them.
Murrieta council to consider new voting rule North County Times ...Murrieta City Attorney John Harper said Friday that it would only take three council members to approve Gibbs' proposal for requiring a four-fifths majority ...
www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/02/04/news/Californian/22_10_172_3_06.txt - 60k - Cached - Similar pages
[ More results from www.nctimes.com ]
PE.com Inland Southern California MurrietaMurrieta Councilman Warnie Enochs has the chance tonight to dispute allegations ... City Attorney John Harper said Tuesday that Enochs may not have violated ...
www.pe.com/localnews/murrieta/stories/PE_News_Local_R_svote15.299ea9e.html - 57k - Cached - Similar pages
PE.com Inland Southern California MurrietaMurrieta Councilman Warnie Enochs, who faces 14 felony charges in a criminal ... City Attorney John Harper would not release the complaint against Enochs, ...
www.pe.com/localnews/murrieta/stories/PE_News_Local_S_swarnie09.4513e24.html - 67k - Cached - Similar pages
[ More results from www.pe.com ]
RDA DEMO Barton Road House Continues
The Demo of one of the last Historical homes in Grand Terrace is taking place. Neighbors report the Demo not being done in accordance with sound practices and procedures.
Another day of Demo.
The crew not happy about the methods being photographed by neighbors. The crew broke a water line today and water was going down past Michigan.
The list of procedural and practice problems goes on and on.
No CEQA CE to demo.
No water truck for 3-4 days.
Start work without water truck.
Dust blowing.
Smell of diesel.
Incursion on to adjoining property and running over no-trespass signs.
This IS RDA PROPERTY, and a PUBLIC HEARING, PUBLIC NOTICE and PROPER PERMITS should have been on file and available for inspection regarding the DEMO of this HOUSE. The Contract to Demo should have been available for Bid and done in a OPEN UP FRONT Way... not some back room deal tied to other back room deals.
Another day of Demo.
The crew not happy about the methods being photographed by neighbors. The crew broke a water line today and water was going down past Michigan.
The list of procedural and practice problems goes on and on.
No CEQA CE to demo.
No water truck for 3-4 days.
Start work without water truck.
Dust blowing.
Smell of diesel.
Incursion on to adjoining property and running over no-trespass signs.
This IS RDA PROPERTY, and a PUBLIC HEARING, PUBLIC NOTICE and PROPER PERMITS should have been on file and available for inspection regarding the DEMO of this HOUSE. The Contract to Demo should have been available for Bid and done in a OPEN UP FRONT Way... not some back room deal tied to other back room deals.
Local officials Held In Account:
Former Murrieta Mayor Indicted
Jack van Haaster allegedly acted on a conflict of interest and provided false information, further stoking the town's political intrigues.By Maeve Reston and Susannah Rosenblatt, Times Staff WriterAugust 17, 2006 The former mayor of Murrieta was indicted Tuesday for allegedly pressuring city officials to issue permits to his daughter's day care center while he was in office and hiding his financial interest in the facility.Jack van Haaster, 49, also faces felony charges of perjury and filing false documents for failing to report that he had received close to a half-million dollars in loans from city residents and business owners, according to the Riverside County district attorney's office.
Van Haaster's arrest adds to the political turmoil in the southwestern Riverside County town of 78,000.In January, Councilman Warnie Enochs was charged with extortion, forgery and subornation of perjury for, among other allegations, threatening to break a tile contractor's leg if he didn't help him cheat his wife in a divorce settlement. Enochs remains on the council and is scheduled to go on trial in the fall.In May 2005, Van Haaster was booted from office in a recall campaign that targeted him, current Mayor Kelly Seyarto and Councilman Doug McAllister.
Recall supporters complained of the council haphazardly supporting new development in town and not responding adequately to residents' concerns. On Wednesday, Murrieta officials expressed surprise at the charges leveled against Van Haaster."I've never seen anything remotely suggesting that, you know, there's some sinister things going on," said Seyarto, who narrowly clung to his seat in the May 2005 recall. Van Haaster could not be reached for comment Wednesday.Van Haaster received but never reported $196,000 in loans from his employee Mildred Fletcher, $254,000 from city resident Gerald Pollack and $40,000 from two Murrieta businessmen, according to court documents that prosecutors filed his week.
Van Haaster also allegedly did not report the money he lent and then was repaid by Murrieta businessman Jim Rosa, whom he hired to do electrical work.Under state law, elected officials are required to report their financial interests in an annual disclosure statement they must sign under penalty of perjury. The charges against Van Haaster stem from "disclosures and omissions" on his financial statements that he filed from 2002 to 2005, according to prosecutors."There's nothing illegal about getting the loans," said Richard West, supervising deputy district attorney in Riverside County. "The problem was it's something that the public had a right to know about. The information was required to be reported and he didn't."Van Haaster also faces five misdemeanor conflict-of-interest charges related to his actions affecting the proposed expansion of California Oaks Childcare, the day care center owned by his daughter.
While Van Haaster was a councilman, his daughter, Rachael van Haaster, was buying 3 acres to expand her day care operation into a new 394-student center with a swim academy, West said.While serving as a city councilman in spring 2004, Jack van Haaster met privately with four city planning commissioners — appointed by the council — and pressured them to approve permits allowing his daughter to build the new center, prosecutors alleged.A month later, he voted on a road improvement package that included paving a road next to the 3-acre parcel his daughter was buying, West alleged.Court documents allege that Van Haaster did not reveal his financial interest in the company. From 2001 to 2005, he put nearly $165,000 from his bank accounts into the day care center's bank account and received about $100,000 from the center's account in his personal accounts.
Van Haaster's involvement with the day care center was a central issue in the recall campaign that removed him from office.Edward Faunce, spokesman for the group that led the recall effort, Rescue Murrieta, said members were "not the least bit surprised" by the charges against Van Haaster. Recall proponents were "absolutely, totally vindicated," he said.Van Haaster faces up to eight years in prison if convicted. He was arrested Tuesday evening and booked at the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta and was released after posting $25,000 bail. He will appear in court Sept. 12.
Van Haaster's arrest came the same day the City Council voted 3 to 1 to formally admonish Enochs for voting on a shopping center development that employed his son as a subcontractor and that Enochs himself worked on."We couldn't look the other way," McAllister said of Enochs' ethics violation.Enochs faces 14 criminal charges for allegedly making threats in an attempt to cheat his wife in a divorce settlement and filing a false lien against his house to reduce the settlement.McAllister acknowledged that the criminal cases were a distraction from city business. "Given what we have going right now with our council and with Jack, it would be foolish to try to pretend that this doesn't bring questions to people's minds," McAllister said.
Gramps Points Out: The charges and the actions above are not exactly the same as what is happening in Grand Terrace. It would be nice if it were that clear a connection to the actor, benefactor, and action in Grand Terrace.
We do know there are deals the stink... and the smell is wafting out of the City Manager's Office and The City Council is the "Management Oversight" of the City Manager..
Jack van Haaster allegedly acted on a conflict of interest and provided false information, further stoking the town's political intrigues.By Maeve Reston and Susannah Rosenblatt, Times Staff WriterAugust 17, 2006 The former mayor of Murrieta was indicted Tuesday for allegedly pressuring city officials to issue permits to his daughter's day care center while he was in office and hiding his financial interest in the facility.Jack van Haaster, 49, also faces felony charges of perjury and filing false documents for failing to report that he had received close to a half-million dollars in loans from city residents and business owners, according to the Riverside County district attorney's office.
Van Haaster's arrest adds to the political turmoil in the southwestern Riverside County town of 78,000.In January, Councilman Warnie Enochs was charged with extortion, forgery and subornation of perjury for, among other allegations, threatening to break a tile contractor's leg if he didn't help him cheat his wife in a divorce settlement. Enochs remains on the council and is scheduled to go on trial in the fall.In May 2005, Van Haaster was booted from office in a recall campaign that targeted him, current Mayor Kelly Seyarto and Councilman Doug McAllister.
Recall supporters complained of the council haphazardly supporting new development in town and not responding adequately to residents' concerns. On Wednesday, Murrieta officials expressed surprise at the charges leveled against Van Haaster."I've never seen anything remotely suggesting that, you know, there's some sinister things going on," said Seyarto, who narrowly clung to his seat in the May 2005 recall. Van Haaster could not be reached for comment Wednesday.Van Haaster received but never reported $196,000 in loans from his employee Mildred Fletcher, $254,000 from city resident Gerald Pollack and $40,000 from two Murrieta businessmen, according to court documents that prosecutors filed his week.
Van Haaster also allegedly did not report the money he lent and then was repaid by Murrieta businessman Jim Rosa, whom he hired to do electrical work.Under state law, elected officials are required to report their financial interests in an annual disclosure statement they must sign under penalty of perjury. The charges against Van Haaster stem from "disclosures and omissions" on his financial statements that he filed from 2002 to 2005, according to prosecutors."There's nothing illegal about getting the loans," said Richard West, supervising deputy district attorney in Riverside County. "The problem was it's something that the public had a right to know about. The information was required to be reported and he didn't."Van Haaster also faces five misdemeanor conflict-of-interest charges related to his actions affecting the proposed expansion of California Oaks Childcare, the day care center owned by his daughter.
While Van Haaster was a councilman, his daughter, Rachael van Haaster, was buying 3 acres to expand her day care operation into a new 394-student center with a swim academy, West said.While serving as a city councilman in spring 2004, Jack van Haaster met privately with four city planning commissioners — appointed by the council — and pressured them to approve permits allowing his daughter to build the new center, prosecutors alleged.A month later, he voted on a road improvement package that included paving a road next to the 3-acre parcel his daughter was buying, West alleged.Court documents allege that Van Haaster did not reveal his financial interest in the company. From 2001 to 2005, he put nearly $165,000 from his bank accounts into the day care center's bank account and received about $100,000 from the center's account in his personal accounts.
Van Haaster's involvement with the day care center was a central issue in the recall campaign that removed him from office.Edward Faunce, spokesman for the group that led the recall effort, Rescue Murrieta, said members were "not the least bit surprised" by the charges against Van Haaster. Recall proponents were "absolutely, totally vindicated," he said.Van Haaster faces up to eight years in prison if convicted. He was arrested Tuesday evening and booked at the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta and was released after posting $25,000 bail. He will appear in court Sept. 12.
Van Haaster's arrest came the same day the City Council voted 3 to 1 to formally admonish Enochs for voting on a shopping center development that employed his son as a subcontractor and that Enochs himself worked on."We couldn't look the other way," McAllister said of Enochs' ethics violation.Enochs faces 14 criminal charges for allegedly making threats in an attempt to cheat his wife in a divorce settlement and filing a false lien against his house to reduce the settlement.McAllister acknowledged that the criminal cases were a distraction from city business. "Given what we have going right now with our council and with Jack, it would be foolish to try to pretend that this doesn't bring questions to people's minds," McAllister said.
Gramps Points Out: The charges and the actions above are not exactly the same as what is happening in Grand Terrace. It would be nice if it were that clear a connection to the actor, benefactor, and action in Grand Terrace.
We do know there are deals the stink... and the smell is wafting out of the City Manager's Office and The City Council is the "Management Oversight" of the City Manager..
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
What has Back Room Dealing with Tom Schwab Done?
DID TOWN CENTER
DDA AGREEMENT EXPIRED
AUG 15TH, 2006?
Agreement was signed 2/15/05
Without Proper Process, Public Notice and Property Owner Participation being provided for The City Manager/RDA Director initiated an Exclusive or Designated Developer Agreement with Jacobsen Family Holdings LLC.
Without Proper Authoization by the City Council or RDA Board the Same Mr. Schwab wrote letters to land owners "encouraging them to negotiate with Mr. Jacobsen or face the use of Eminent domain to be forced to sell".Without Proper Process and procedure City Manager / RDA Director transferred RDA land to Jacobsen Family Holdings.
IN ADDITION: City Manager/RDA Director was caught publicly TELLING UNTRUTHS to the City Council/RDA Directors and the public regarding signed leases.
IN ADDITION: City Manager/RDA Director mislead the community and City Council / RDA BOARD in the thought that the Library was Budgeted and Financed including Operational Costs, building expense and so
forth.
TIME HAS EXPIREDTHE DDA Has Now Expired and Jacobsen Family Holdings has not met the required performance requirements.
PENDING PROBLEMS WITH THE PAST KNOWN PLANS, ZONING REQUIREMENTS AND RDA REQUIREMENTS TO REPLACE HOUSING WHICH HAS BEEN DEMOLISHED AS A RESULT OF THIS RDA ACTION.
3 THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW LAND OWNERS WERE TREATED
3THIS MEETING AS NEVER HAPPENEDRDA TRANSFERS OF LAND WITHOUT PUBLIC HEARINGS
CONFLICT BETWEEN COUNTY RECORDS, ZONING, GENERAL PLAN, AND THE TOWN CENTER PLAN OR THE BARTON ROAD PLAN, AND THE ENTANGLEMENTS OF RDA BEING PARTY TO THE DEVELOPMENT BY JACOBSEN OR ANY PARTY HENCE FORTH.
WHAT WILL RESULT ON BARTON ROAD? WHAT WILL IT BRING TO TOWN, DAY WORKERS, DRUNK DRIVERS, NOISE, EMPTY STORE FRONTS, CRIME?
EFFECTIVE CITY COUNCIL/RDA DIRECTOR OVERSIGHT SHOULD HAVE AVOIDED THESE SITUATIONS AND THE LARGE DEBT THAT IS DRIVING THE NEED TO SELL THE COMMUNITY TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER/TAX PROVIDER.
REMINDERS
Fair Government For All Grand Terrace
34343434343434343434
YOU CAN SIGN A RECALL PETITION
Recall Council Member Ferre AND Recall Council Member Garcia
YOU CAN SIGN A RECALL PETITION
Recall Council Member Ferre AND Recall Council Member Garcia
AT THE RECALL OFFICE
BETWEEN 5:30 AND 8:30Thursday, Friday and Saturday (Some Times More)
IN THE STATER BROTHER'S SHOPPING CENTER or call (909) 783-7902
&
Remember:
FREE SUMMER CONCERT AT ROLLINS PARK
The Riverside Concert Band
Friday, August 18th starting at7p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Things You Need to Know about Bea Cortes
Who Her Friends Are:
Some one of Bea's (Bertha's) friends may want to read this and the article in the Press and Sun saying there is someone running against her... Clearly she missed the information.
AND What She Said and Thinks:
*
*
At Tuesday's Chamber of Commerce Meeting, Council Member Bea (Bertha) Cortes was heard boasting "I'm running unopposed. Well virtually unopposed" ...
*
*
Perhaps this is her opinion however:
In the last attempt at running Mr. Dodd without the support of a Party, Friends on the Council, and not being a PARTY Man obtained 1000. votes.
Perhaps the Citizens were less informed of Ms. Bea (Bertha) Cortes's Associations including the League of California Cities, an organization which supports the use of Eminent Domain to take your land away from you so some one else can profits from it. Perhaps the Citizens did not know of Ms. Bea (Bertha) Cortes appetite for the Political Junket serving on SanBag, and her other "smuzing activities". Perhaps the Selling of Houses linked with her status of Being MAYOR PRO TEM. for a Realtor who gets most of the City business was not previously known.
The question is are we citizens going to re-elect this type of arrogance to our City Council.
Perhaps it is time a Citizen not in the Real Estate, Political Smuze, Development, or GT High Society should be added to the Council as a Voice of the People on the Council as a Balance.
No Ms. Bea (Bertha) Cortes , you are not unopposed.
THERE IS A PERSON RUNNING AGAINST YOU FOR THE SEAT OF COUNCIL MEMBER
AND
THERE ARE PEOPLE OPPOSED TO YOU RETAINING YOUR SEAT
In the last attempt at running Mr. Dodd without the support of a Party, Friends on the Council, and not being a PARTY Man obtained 1000. votes.Perhaps the Citizens were less informed of Ms. Bea (Bertha) Cortes's Associations including the League of California Cities, an organization which supports the use of Eminent Domain to take your land away from you so some one else can profits from it. Perhaps the Citizens did not know of Ms. Bea (Bertha) Cortes appetite for the Political Junket serving on SanBag, and her other "smuzing activities". Perhaps the Selling of Houses linked with her status of Being MAYOR PRO TEM. for a Realtor who gets most of the City business was not previously known.
The question is are we citizens going to re-elect this type of arrogance to our City Council.
Perhaps it is time a Citizen not in the Real Estate, Political Smuze, Development, or GT High Society should be added to the Council as a Voice of the People on the Council as a Balance.
No Ms. Bea (Bertha) Cortes , you are not unopposed.
THERE IS A PERSON RUNNING AGAINST YOU FOR THE SEAT OF COUNCIL MEMBER
AND
THERE ARE PEOPLE OPPOSED TO YOU RETAINING YOUR SEAT
Some one of Bea's (Bertha's) friends may want to read this and the article in the Press and Sun saying there is someone running against her... Clearly she missed the information.
Monday, August 14, 2006
CREST APARTMENTS HAVE NEW OWNER..
GRAND TERRACE, CA-Kennedy Wilson of Beverly Hills has sold its 228-unit Crest Apartments to 1031 exchange buyer Osage Tower Ltd. of Los Angeles for $26.5 million. Bob Hart, president and CEO of KW Multifamily, notes that his company had partnered with Lehman Bros. in buying the nine-acre San Bernardino County property in 2004 for $19.3 million and invested an additional $1.15 million in improvements.
The Crest complex, at 22491 DeBerry St., in the bedroom community of Grand Terrace, close to Redlands, was built in 1978 and comprises 19 two-story buildings with 144 one-bedroom and 84 two-bedroom garden style apartments. The complex includes 386 parking spaces, 234 of them semi-private garages. Amenities include a swimming pool and spa, a clubhouse, a fitness center, laundry facilities and a children's playground.
Kennedy Wilson was represented by Robin Ossenbeck of the Los Angeles office of Hendricks & Partners, with the buyer represented by Martin Ensbury of RE/Max Commercial. Ossenbeck says that the buyer plans to continue the renovations the seller started by renovating the remaining 100 units that need work.
Ossenbeck adds that the purchase closed at a price per unit that is among the highest paid for comparable properties in the area. “However the buyer saw an opportunity to complete the renovations, improve collections and improve the operations through improved management,” Ossenbeck says.
Hart comments that realizing the considerable return on investment in two years was a result of the KW Multifamily strategy of “adding value to underperforming assets in well located markets.”
The Crest complex, at 22491 DeBerry St., in the bedroom community of Grand Terrace, close to Redlands, was built in 1978 and comprises 19 two-story buildings with 144 one-bedroom and 84 two-bedroom garden style apartments. The complex includes 386 parking spaces, 234 of them semi-private garages. Amenities include a swimming pool and spa, a clubhouse, a fitness center, laundry facilities and a children's playground.
Kennedy Wilson was represented by Robin Ossenbeck of the Los Angeles office of Hendricks & Partners, with the buyer represented by Martin Ensbury of RE/Max Commercial. Ossenbeck says that the buyer plans to continue the renovations the seller started by renovating the remaining 100 units that need work.
Ossenbeck adds that the purchase closed at a price per unit that is among the highest paid for comparable properties in the area. “However the buyer saw an opportunity to complete the renovations, improve collections and improve the operations through improved management,” Ossenbeck says.
Hart comments that realizing the considerable return on investment in two years was a result of the KW Multifamily strategy of “adding value to underperforming assets in well located markets.”
This Week in GT:
Fair Government For All Grand Terrace
34343434343434343434
34343434343434343434
YOU CAN SIGN A RECALL PETITION
Recall Council Member Ferre
Recall Council Member Garcia
AT THE RECALL OFFICE
BETWEEN 5:30 AND 8:30
Thursday, Friday and Saturday (Some Times More)
IN THE STATER BROTHER'S SHOPPING CENTER
(909) 783-7902
AT THE RECALL OFFICE
BETWEEN 5:30 AND 8:30
Thursday, Friday and Saturday (Some Times More)
IN THE STATER BROTHER'S SHOPPING CENTER
(909) 783-7902
Remember:
FREE SUMMER CONCERT AT ROLLINS PARK
The Riverside Concert Band
Friday, August 18th starting at
7p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
FREE SUMMER CONCERT AT ROLLINS PARK
The Riverside Concert Band
Friday, August 18th starting at
7p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
For those who want to Check the Facts and the Law
DOCUMENTATION OF PROBLEMS and REPEATED BAD PRACTICES. CHECK FOR YOURSELF.
You will note in the above Audit Report for 1998 that the California State Auditor said that the Sale of RDA Property needed to be preceded by a Public Notice, and a Public Hearing. This audit report indicates that the RDA of GT did not comply with this regulation, and it appears that even after this negative audit report more Sales of RDA property have occurred without Public Notice and Public Hearings on the Specific Issue of the Sale of the Property. Just in case some one out there may care about the procedural practices of the City Government, here is where it is written.... "This is called a SOURCE DOCUMENT". For those who care about such things.
I have been asked to provide the code or Law in relationship to RDA Regulations and Rules and Laws... Here are the related starting points, where my information comes from. This link is in my favorites and I use it OFTEN... To check my FACTS...
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html
It is YOU CHECK MARK For Section HEALTH AND SAFETY AND SEARCH AND THE ENTIRE SECTION TABLE OF CONTENT WILL SHOW UP... 30000'S IS WHERE IT STARTS in the Health and Safety.... Of the California code.. THIS WOULD BE THE SITE THAT I'd TRUST TO BE UPDATED...
HOWEVER, AN EASIER PRINT.. OR SAVE COPY OF THE FULL SECTION OF THE CODE ... IS...
the following is where I got the PDF file... 300 plus page file...
http://www.redevelopmentlaw.com/
OH one fact missing in the California Code that seems to be most important to some is missing.... You will not find who is GrandpaTerrace in that Document...
Public Hearings did not happen Pre 1998 on RDA Sales and Leases... And we know hearings have been skipped after that time also as recently as July 5 th "Sale" of RDA land to affiliated Jacobson Family Holdings LLC..
Public Hearings and Notice of Demo of the house on Barton RD... Did any one notice that?
OR how about an answer to the sale of City Owned Cars? No answer there either...
We learned that these things will not be answered without repeated NAGGING.. As the AGENDA is controlled by the City Manager's ability to get STAFF to have the answers and presentation ready on the items he decides to put on the Agenda...
So for those citizens who are persistent... And speak at the Council Meetings asking the same question OVER and OVER, and OVER and OVER again...
Thanks
PERHAPS when the CITY COUNCIL exercises its OVERSIGHT and Management of the City Manager, Citizens will not have to take on this frustrating role.
Oh,, The City Manager's Name is Tom Schwab... Thomas J Schwab.... for those who need to know names.
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Former GT Resident Runs for Barstow City Council
BARSTOW & GRAND TERRACE
* Larry Halstead, founder and director of Earth Haven Foundation for Kids, which works with children with drug-related problems, and a community activist
IN BARSTOW : Ten citizens pulled papers to run for the two open City Council seats, and nine returned them to the City Clerk's office by the 5 p.m. deadline Friday.
The Council seats of Gloria Darling, who resigned, and incumbent Helen Runyon are open in the Nov. 7 general election.
The two candidates who receive the most votes will be awarded the seats. The office is non-partisan.
Gramps Adds: Why blog this in the GrandTerraceNews.blogspot. Well Barstow had a recent recall, corruption cases, and all but one thing in common with GT. Their City Manager chooses to live in Barstow and was not INDUCED to live where or near where he works... AND that is BARSTOW...
Mr. Halstead and his family still own property in Grand Terrace. He also had an interesting past in our own local politics. So his story is a tangent to the communities. Good Luck Larry....
* Larry Halstead, founder and director of Earth Haven Foundation for Kids, which works with children with drug-related problems, and a community activist
IN BARSTOW : Ten citizens pulled papers to run for the two open City Council seats, and nine returned them to the City Clerk's office by the 5 p.m. deadline Friday.
The Council seats of Gloria Darling, who resigned, and incumbent Helen Runyon are open in the Nov. 7 general election.
The two candidates who receive the most votes will be awarded the seats. The office is non-partisan.
Gramps Adds: Why blog this in the GrandTerraceNews.blogspot. Well Barstow had a recent recall, corruption cases, and all but one thing in common with GT. Their City Manager chooses to live in Barstow and was not INDUCED to live where or near where he works... AND that is BARSTOW...
Mr. Halstead and his family still own property in Grand Terrace. He also had an interesting past in our own local politics. So his story is a tangent to the communities. Good Luck Larry....
Council Member Miller: Words and Actions
Council Member Jim Miller …. Husband of Marge Miller Publisher Owner of the Grand Terrace City News wrote an article regarding the nature and dynamics of the function of the City Council and City Governance.
His actions at the Council Meetings and his article are demonstrating a consistency in his character. He does ask the difficult questions, he does want the frank answers and after full and often heated exchange of opinion, and discovery of fact he is willing to say and vote his mind.
His description of the Community as a Family is interesting and appropriate. How often is it that the most Stick In the Mud, Cantankerous tells you like it is relative, is the one you come to in times of need? Some times that need is just the safety of knowing where the boundaries of right and wrong are. We all have that relative who we trust, and value their opinion and consistency. We may not socialize with them, we may not think they are all that fun, but they are the rock on which the family can depend.
Council Member Miller is demonstrating attributes of being one of those foundation rock types. As a new Council Member he is in that learning the ropes phase and thus far, he has done a good job, and has chosen to communicate openly with the community.
Thanks Jim.
Oh and Marge… Thanks for your efforts of providing GT a NEWS Paper… cogent to GT. Hats tilted for the Lady with Ink on her hands.
Rent UNCLE BUCK and have a Laugh… about family.
His actions at the Council Meetings and his article are demonstrating a consistency in his character. He does ask the difficult questions, he does want the frank answers and after full and often heated exchange of opinion, and discovery of fact he is willing to say and vote his mind.
His description of the Community as a Family is interesting and appropriate. How often is it that the most Stick In the Mud, Cantankerous tells you like it is relative, is the one you come to in times of need? Some times that need is just the safety of knowing where the boundaries of right and wrong are. We all have that relative who we trust, and value their opinion and consistency. We may not socialize with them, we may not think they are all that fun, but they are the rock on which the family can depend.
Council Member Miller is demonstrating attributes of being one of those foundation rock types. As a new Council Member he is in that learning the ropes phase and thus far, he has done a good job, and has chosen to communicate openly with the community.
Thanks Jim.
Oh and Marge… Thanks for your efforts of providing GT a NEWS Paper… cogent to GT. Hats tilted for the Lady with Ink on her hands.
Rent UNCLE BUCK and have a Laugh… about family.
Remembering Their Words... FERRY Quotes
Don't Judge Me, for my actions, on "Following the RULES"...
and 
flipped
Acting Mayor Council Woman Ferry was recently given an opportunity to take advantage of available print space and address, and inform the community in the Grand Terrace City News Paper. She chose to use the opportunity to praise the Ornamental Horticulture Work of the Assistant City Manager Steve Berry. Her article was well written and should be featured in Better Roads and Gardens.
What she chose not to say was just as interesting as what she did write about.
She chose not to say anything about the Recall Efforts. She chose not to address the Law Suits the City has Lost. She chose not to report about the junket she and two other council members attended in Monterey. She chose not to report on the 3 minute rule issue. She chose not to discuss the City Council at all.
No she talked plants and a desire for a Non City Garden Club. Not that I am against the idea of a Community Garden... However, what was not said was more interesting than what was said.
Well, here are some of her prior statements and articles of the past. Perhaps we should remind ourselves of her words and contrast them with her statements.
I doubt that she expected that the Terra Loma Snub and Steve Berry's disregard for the citizens on the "Other Side of the Tracks" would have been in the same week. It is an interesting parallel.
Ferre said, Pre Election she was against Big Box Stores and Development that would not fit into a Family Friendly Community. Later she said she supported Lowes and possibly large Drug Stores and Bars and Grills mid town, saying, we need some development and the financial support.
WE will be asked to vote for a Mayor and a Council Member in November... DO not let Ms Ferre run away from being Recalled by Electing her Mayor.. This is their Plan. It will Preserve the controls of the City Council by the Few, and not The Public.
OAC, Town Center, Blue Mt. Senior Villas, all on her watch... DO her words match her actions?
I say NO. (We know how important My Opinion is.)
and 
flipped
Acting Mayor Council Woman Ferry was recently given an opportunity to take advantage of available print space and address, and inform the community in the Grand Terrace City News Paper. She chose to use the opportunity to praise the Ornamental Horticulture Work of the Assistant City Manager Steve Berry. Her article was well written and should be featured in Better Roads and Gardens.
What she chose not to say was just as interesting as what she did write about.
She chose not to say anything about the Recall Efforts. She chose not to address the Law Suits the City has Lost. She chose not to report about the junket she and two other council members attended in Monterey. She chose not to report on the 3 minute rule issue. She chose not to discuss the City Council at all.
No she talked plants and a desire for a Non City Garden Club. Not that I am against the idea of a Community Garden... However, what was not said was more interesting than what was said.
Well, here are some of her prior statements and articles of the past. Perhaps we should remind ourselves of her words and contrast them with her statements.
I doubt that she expected that the Terra Loma Snub and Steve Berry's disregard for the citizens on the "Other Side of the Tracks" would have been in the same week. It is an interesting parallel.
Ferre said, Pre Election she was against Big Box Stores and Development that would not fit into a Family Friendly Community. Later she said she supported Lowes and possibly large Drug Stores and Bars and Grills mid town, saying, we need some development and the financial support.
WE will be asked to vote for a Mayor and a Council Member in November... DO not let Ms Ferre run away from being Recalled by Electing her Mayor.. This is their Plan. It will Preserve the controls of the City Council by the Few, and not The Public.
OAC, Town Center, Blue Mt. Senior Villas, all on her watch... DO her words match her actions?
I say NO. (We know how important My Opinion is.)
Friday, August 11, 2006
Healthy Families Presentation Interesting:
Our 7th graders are unfit. (We have no after school programs for them)
Community Open Space, or a Community Garden... OH no sounds like farming... Not in Grand Terrace.
Public transportation.... "Regrettably we will need to use Public Transportation if the Gas Prices go up"... Words spoken by a Council Member.
Time reduction makes a shorter commute... Gee I thought Distance reduction made a shorter commute.
Dance is a Good Family Activity... Love that idea... Great Plan..
Mentoring after school for 7 to 12 th grades... Half of our boys will drop out of High School.
Can we connect it to Video Activities, DDR, and other Physical activities and Mentoring/Homework Help Chits... for the games?
Perhaps Healthy Cooking Classes at the Fire House... "The Heat is ON"...
Sorry some ideas and suggestions slipped out...
If we invite more liquor sales and more traffic through town... Like a Chili's will bring... outsiders we need safe activities and places for our youth who have no parents until after 5:30 or 7:00 depending on the commute.
Community Open Space, or a Community Garden... OH no sounds like farming... Not in Grand Terrace.
Public transportation.... "Regrettably we will need to use Public Transportation if the Gas Prices go up"... Words spoken by a Council Member.
Time reduction makes a shorter commute... Gee I thought Distance reduction made a shorter commute.
Dance is a Good Family Activity... Love that idea... Great Plan..
Mentoring after school for 7 to 12 th grades... Half of our boys will drop out of High School.
Can we connect it to Video Activities, DDR, and other Physical activities and Mentoring/Homework Help Chits... for the games?
Perhaps Healthy Cooking Classes at the Fire House... "The Heat is ON"...
Sorry some ideas and suggestions slipped out...
If we invite more liquor sales and more traffic through town... Like a Chili's will bring... outsiders we need safe activities and places for our youth who have no parents until after 5:30 or 7:00 depending on the commute.
in the PRESS :
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_B_bprocedure11.2a781e2.html
Council sets public-comment limit
12:43 AM PDT on Friday, August 11, 2006
By JULIE FARREN
The Press-Enterprise
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_B_bdeputy11.2a2f264.html
Grand Terrace adding to patrol presence
COUNCIL: With reports of crimes rising, the vote is unanimous to contract for a ninth deputy.
10:00 PM PDT on Thursday, August 10, 2006
By JULIE FARREN
The Press-Enterprise
Read there coverage on your own .....
Council sets public-comment limit
12:43 AM PDT on Friday, August 11, 2006
By JULIE FARREN
The Press-Enterprise
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_B_bdeputy11.2a2f264.html
Grand Terrace adding to patrol presence
COUNCIL: With reports of crimes rising, the vote is unanimous to contract for a ninth deputy.
10:00 PM PDT on Thursday, August 10, 2006
By JULIE FARREN
The Press-Enterprise
Read there coverage on your own .....
Other Un Answered Public Questions:
What ever happened to the City Owned Cars Provided to the City Manager for his use? No Answer.
Was there a PUBLIC HEARING for the TRANSFER of RDA LAND to Jacobsen? WHEN WHERE and WHERE was the Meeting Announced... As required by State Law??
Who brought the timer to the Council Meeting? DING DING...? My time is up...
I expect email input people... good presentations, and it is nice to see some things getting acted on.
(By the way.. SBCGLOBAL Email is being goofy so some of you will be getting delayed email) It isn't you or me,,,,, do not adjust your computers...... it is the twilight zone.... (back ground music humming now)..
Was there a PUBLIC HEARING for the TRANSFER of RDA LAND to Jacobsen? WHEN WHERE and WHERE was the Meeting Announced... As required by State Law??
Who brought the timer to the Council Meeting? DING DING...? My time is up...
I expect email input people... good presentations, and it is nice to see some things getting acted on.
(By the way.. SBCGLOBAL Email is being goofy so some of you will be getting delayed email) It isn't you or me,,,,, do not adjust your computers...... it is the twilight zone.... (back ground music humming now)..
Zoning and Planning is Meaningless in GT...
What we learned in tonights meeting...
Any Developer can come to the Council with a Plan and ask the city to change a zoning or plan, and IF the neighbors of the project are apeased it may be allowed to be changed.
We also see in the case of OAC, and BMSV that City Selected Developers don't have to make such adjustments to the Neighbors Concerns and Zone Changes and Planning Requirements go out the Door.
No, because the Zone Says so. IF a developer wants to change zoning it should be done independent of a Plan to help SELL the idea... IF the city has a PLAN ALL Developers should be bound by that PLAN, or the PLAN should be changed for all.
Just a thought...
Any Developer can come to the Council with a Plan and ask the city to change a zoning or plan, and IF the neighbors of the project are apeased it may be allowed to be changed.
We also see in the case of OAC, and BMSV that City Selected Developers don't have to make such adjustments to the Neighbors Concerns and Zone Changes and Planning Requirements go out the Door.
No, because the Zone Says so. IF a developer wants to change zoning it should be done independent of a Plan to help SELL the idea... IF the city has a PLAN ALL Developers should be bound by that PLAN, or the PLAN should be changed for all.
Just a thought...
Miller and Lions Negotiate Better Terms for Center
Good NEWS:
The Lions Club/Women Club Community Center has a 15 year lease rather than the 2 year lease being offered earlier in the year.
Square Dancing, Social Clubs of the Lions and Woman Club are important features to community life. I hope that more open to the community activities can be held in the facilities, and that it is a Community Center..... More and More...
Perhaps a Ball Room Dancing Class Sat Nights...??? Hosted by the Baseball and Soccer Teams?
DJ Swing Music is good to dance to...
IF our town Danced 2 nights a week,,, we'd be fit.. as a fiddle or a violin depending on the style of dance..
Roar Lions Roar...
The Lions Club/Women Club Community Center has a 15 year lease rather than the 2 year lease being offered earlier in the year.
Square Dancing, Social Clubs of the Lions and Woman Club are important features to community life. I hope that more open to the community activities can be held in the facilities, and that it is a Community Center..... More and More...
Perhaps a Ball Room Dancing Class Sat Nights...??? Hosted by the Baseball and Soccer Teams?
DJ Swing Music is good to dance to...
IF our town Danced 2 nights a week,,, we'd be fit.. as a fiddle or a violin depending on the style of dance..
Roar Lions Roar...
Business in the GT City:
When a citizen is told to document the code violations of a trucking company, the owner calls this harassment. The Owner did run out of Time even after spliting up their presentation between two people, son and father. There was one more thing..... time for summary....
When citizens have been making these complaints to the city council for countless meetings this is called by some being a nuisance.. EVENTUALLY the Citizen had presented sufficient materials and threatened a legal action due to non action by the city that action was taken, and a Council Member Directed action of a REVIEW. GEE what it takes to move a mountain called City Management.
THE City Manager and City Management fails for MONTHS to enforce the terms of the Conditional Use Permits, this is called professional...?? HE got a raise and better terms in the event of termination... Perhaps this is the meaning the Council uses for the word Professional.
When the business owner is caught laughing, and making mocking faces as the neighbors respond to his claims of harassment, its called Priceless.
Apparently, the City has found that the operations had been expanded outside the Conditional Use Permit, and the hours of Operation and thus a problem in fact a reality, not fiction... Not a joke.
Also not a joke is that it took so long to get action out of the city. Also not a joke is the attitude of the City Manager toward the citizens of this area of town, and their concerns.
YES ALL BUSINESSES SHOULD HAVE BUSINESS LICENSES... HOME BUSINESS INCLUDING ALL DAY CARE, SENIOR CARE HOMES, AND EBAY SALES PEOPLE... ALL PEOPLE WORKING IN GRAND TERRACE SHOULD BE COVERED BY A BUSINESS LICENSE IN GRAND TERRACE.
THIS INCLUDES Contractors, Gardner, Caretakers, Tree Cutters, EVERYONE... EVEN PEOPLE SELLING POLITICAL T SHIRTS from home for example.
When citizens have been making these complaints to the city council for countless meetings this is called by some being a nuisance.. EVENTUALLY the Citizen had presented sufficient materials and threatened a legal action due to non action by the city that action was taken, and a Council Member Directed action of a REVIEW. GEE what it takes to move a mountain called City Management.
THE City Manager and City Management fails for MONTHS to enforce the terms of the Conditional Use Permits, this is called professional...?? HE got a raise and better terms in the event of termination... Perhaps this is the meaning the Council uses for the word Professional.
When the business owner is caught laughing, and making mocking faces as the neighbors respond to his claims of harassment, its called Priceless.
Apparently, the City has found that the operations had been expanded outside the Conditional Use Permit, and the hours of Operation and thus a problem in fact a reality, not fiction... Not a joke.
Also not a joke is that it took so long to get action out of the city. Also not a joke is the attitude of the City Manager toward the citizens of this area of town, and their concerns.
YES ALL BUSINESSES SHOULD HAVE BUSINESS LICENSES... HOME BUSINESS INCLUDING ALL DAY CARE, SENIOR CARE HOMES, AND EBAY SALES PEOPLE... ALL PEOPLE WORKING IN GRAND TERRACE SHOULD BE COVERED BY A BUSINESS LICENSE IN GRAND TERRACE.
THIS INCLUDES Contractors, Gardner, Caretakers, Tree Cutters, EVERYONE... EVEN PEOPLE SELLING POLITICAL T SHIRTS from home for example.
Terra Loma GT Residents Snubbed Again
The planned closure of Palm and the impact it will have on the community of 4oo plus homes has continued to be an issue the City Management has neglected.
The First time the City Manager's Assistant was not available to attend a meeting, and City Manager Tom Schwab knowing this determined or self selected not to go, and did not inform City Council Members of the issue or the meeting.
When this was brought to the attention to the Council the residents were assured of the Council's interest and the Council Directed the City Management and Staff that they wanted to be informed of any future meetings regarding this issue.
A call to Assistant Manager Steve Berry informing the City of an Up coming Meeting resulted in a comment which was received as being and expression of disregard for the issue, and the folks of that area of town... Literally the other side of the tracks and the other side of La Cadena.
He did not inform the City Manager, and in addition he neglected to inform any of the City Council.
SHOCK... You shouldn't be. The tone was set the first time. Assistant Manager was busy with a Traffic Committee Meeting in Grand Terrace, and City Manager disregarded the meeting on the other side of the tracks.
YOU bet the city should share in the evaluation and solution to the traffic issues... and when the speaker Ms. Kruger was speaking her 3 minutes ran out just as she was speaking to the safety issues of not having more than one or two ways into to an area of 400 homes. Nope, times up... Thank you...
What other Council Directions have been disregarded by Mr. BERRY and Mr. SCHWAB, the Professionals in the City.
The First time the City Manager's Assistant was not available to attend a meeting, and City Manager Tom Schwab knowing this determined or self selected not to go, and did not inform City Council Members of the issue or the meeting.
When this was brought to the attention to the Council the residents were assured of the Council's interest and the Council Directed the City Management and Staff that they wanted to be informed of any future meetings regarding this issue.
A call to Assistant Manager Steve Berry informing the City of an Up coming Meeting resulted in a comment which was received as being and expression of disregard for the issue, and the folks of that area of town... Literally the other side of the tracks and the other side of La Cadena.
He did not inform the City Manager, and in addition he neglected to inform any of the City Council.
SHOCK... You shouldn't be. The tone was set the first time. Assistant Manager was busy with a Traffic Committee Meeting in Grand Terrace, and City Manager disregarded the meeting on the other side of the tracks.
YOU bet the city should share in the evaluation and solution to the traffic issues... and when the speaker Ms. Kruger was speaking her 3 minutes ran out just as she was speaking to the safety issues of not having more than one or two ways into to an area of 400 homes. Nope, times up... Thank you...
What other Council Directions have been disregarded by Mr. BERRY and Mr. SCHWAB, the Professionals in the City.
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