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11/22/06

Mr. Empty Potato Head
Takes to the council public podium
Blind Hate Prevents Tomato Throwing Nay-Sayer
Empty Potato Heads From Seeing Clearly On Important Issues

At last nights council meeting, someone who admits they have spent no time studying the issue, took to the microphone to offer public comment on the Mayor’s proposal for repealing the large fee increase merchants must pay now for signs.

This Empty Potato Head ("Empty" because he did not study the issue and "Potato Head" because, well you get the idea from the graphic), questioned whether or not the cost figures detailed by the Mayor were correct. He did not bother to take the time to study the issue. His only purpose was to cast aspersions on the Mayor.

The sign issue is a real life example of what a new shop keeper faces when they are starting a business and want a sign. They must contract with a sign company for a nice sign that costs $600.

Now they go to the planning department. They now must pay $970 for the planning department to review each sign and they must pay for a professionally drawn plan showing where the sign will be located, how it will be constructed and other details. That cost to have the drawing done professionally is at least $400 or more.

The merchant must pay $1,200 to the city before it can put up a $1000 ($600 plus $400) sign on their storefront.

Some Retail store owners have actually taken down their signs to save money on city fees or refuse to put up a new sign.  This is the last thing we need to happen if we want to increase our retail sales tax revenue to give to our grossly under-funded police department (crime at 500% national average), fire department and other safety related issues. 

We wonder what Mr. Empty Potato Head thinks of that.

Mr. I-don’t- like- the- Mayor- and- anything- he- proposes- so- I- am- going- to- disagree- with- him- no- matter- what- Empty- Potato- Head, also questioned the audacity of the Mayor to go around to local businesses to see what they think. He said he wants an investigation to see if any laws have been violated!!!

Do we really need to point out the absurdity of his statement for you. Imagine, a politician actually taking time to visit with the people in town to find out what their views are and to let them know what his views are – in writing.

We sarcastically agree. How dare you Mayor Bias! You should be ashamed. My gosh. You should resign. Don’t you know you are supposed to stay quiet on every issue and ignore the peoples wishes and desires!!!!! per the Mr. Empty Potato Head Hate Filled Group. 

Dear Mr. Empty Potato Head Leader;  Please quite embarrassing yourself and the rest of your fellow sore- looser- because- Mary- didn't- become- mayor- tomato- throwing- empty- potato- heads. Please do the rest of us who are trying to make the city a better place a big favor by sitting down and remaining quiet until you have something constructive, positive and informative – to offer to the intellectual discussion.

10/02/06

Ring, Ring, Ring….
You Have Reached The Mayor’s Office...
...Finally, KPSI's Steve Kelly Reaches The Mayor 

Mayor Alex Bias was the guest on Steve Kelly's KPSI radio show. It was an interview that started with an apology from Kelly to the Mayor. Kelly assumed that because his calls were not being returned, that the Mayor was dodging Kelly's calls and an interview request. 

Kelly's calls were being made to the Mayor's phone at city hall.

Then Kelly flipped over the Mayor's business card and saw a number the Mayor had written there. He called and the Mayor answered. Kelly got an immediate "yes" to his interview request. That interview took place this morning. 

The show included calls from listeners. Kelly announced with some trepidation that the show would take calls for the Mayor. Kelly expected that he was putting the Mayor in the hot seat.

The trash-the-Mayor-party machine was apparently still asleep or could not get through. What was on the caller's minds were questions for the Mayor about the city and one call from a Desert Hot Springs resident that was supportive of the Mayor.

For the record, we tried to get through but could not. Kelly has a popular radio show and lots of people call.

We've have also tried the Mayor's phone number at city hall like Kelly did. Our calls did not seem to get to the Mayor. The Mayor's regular phone, however, is either answered right away or we get a quick call back. More city hall Shenanigans at play.

04/02/06
Are The Entrenched DHS Power Brokers
Still Obstructing Progress?
Did "Acting" City Manager, John Souiller
 set up a trap for Mayor Alex Bias to fall into?
Why does the old guard continue to
Obstructed Bias's Efforts to bring
Health Care, Economic Development
and other reforms to DHS?  
 

In a channel 6 interview Mayor Alex Bias say he is being thwarted in his efforts by corrupt interests in Desert Hot Springs. Says the bad press he took over the office painting scandal - shall we call it "Paintgate"? - was just one example. "I was never told not to paint the office," said Bias in the News 6 interview. Was it a set up by his nemesis, John Soullier? And just why is the city manager politicking so hard against the Mayor. 

Who elected Soullier anyhow? And while we are thinking about it, was his appointment ever formally voted on by the city council? Whatever, the Mayor's agenda has definitely been derailed. Let's see if he can revive it. What will the next initiative of the Mayor be and will it too be derailed? Stay tuned.

Would Mayor Alex Bias's good will reforms be thwarted
if the recall succeeded?

03/28/06
Is our "Acting" City Manager focused
on the wrong priorities?

If our acting city manager, John Souillier and the city council were as tough on the developers spewing construction dust throughout the city as they are on the Mayor about his painting the offices, we might having something positive in this town to report.

For our council and city manager to be in a huff and wasting time over a little paint while unhealthful dust rolls through this city is not only ridicules, it is an insult to those choking on the city's inaction. For our city manager to be managing memos in a turf war with the Mayor while Pierson lies torn up for months is a complete misdirection of our manager's efforts.

Where is the resolve on the real problems facing this city. John Souillier, what are you doing to solve the Pierson Road problem? What! The business owner on that street want to know!

The real issues await this council. It is time, long past time, it got to them.

Links to articles that waste time about this unimportant painting issue:

Desert Sun Opinion about Mayor painting Office

Desert Sun Second Opinion about Mayor painting Offices

Desert Local News

Just think how much better off we all would be if our council, "Acting" City Manager, and local press were instead focusing on the important issues instead.