|
Home of www.friendsofdeserthotsprings.com Desert Hot Springs Political Newspaper Updated: February 25, 2006 We ask the Important questions others are too afraid to ask! Website Hits- 09/05-85,827, 10/05-178,482 11/05-174,413 12/05- 228,894 01/06- Projected to about 394,206 " POLITICIANS WILL ONLY START SEEING THE LIGHT WHEN THEY BEGIN TO FEEL THE HEAT" 02/23/06 CA Senator Jim Batten submits legislation to make extortion, blackmail and bribery of local cities by Roy Wilson, other county supervisors and any other MSHCP bully into a felony. FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kim Glassman
Battin Introduces Legislation to End Threats Bill in response to public threats made by Riverside County Supervisors SACRAMENTO - Today, Senator Jim Battin (R- La Quinta) introduced SB 1308 in response to how some members of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors have blatantly tried to coerce and pressure desert cities to vote the way they demand or suffer future retribution. The bill is prompted by a series of public statements made by Supervisor Roy Wilson and others who threatened to withhold transportation funding or take other punitive measures if cities did not approve the Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP). “I am deeply concerned by some of the Riverside County Supervisors heavy handed treatment of the MSHCP, and the threats they have made to local cities. It is unacceptable to threaten elected officials like this. If anyone tried the same type of intimidation with a state legislator, they could be charged with a felony.” Battin said. “All elected officials should have this protection.” California Penal Code Sections 85 and 86 are the state’s bribery and extortion laws. State law specifically prohibits any type of “quid pro quo” on legislation - it is illegal for one legislator to vote a certain way on a bill in exchange for the promise of a vote from another legislator. This activity constitutes a felony, punishable by 2 to 4 years in prison. Similarly, it is specifically against the law to threaten a California State Legislator with retaliation in an attempt to “influence a member in giving or withholding his vote” on an issue. However, local elected officials are not included in these laws. SB 1308 would expand the state’s bribery and extortion laws to include county supervisors, city council members, and all other elected local officials so they are simply held to the same standards as state legislators. “These laws are important to ensure the credibility of, and trust in, our government, ” commented Battin. “We cannot tolerate any elected official using the color and power of their office to threaten another official or elected body. It is wrong, and I plan to put a stop to it.” Battin’s bill is in response to recent comments threatening Riverside County cities if they did not approve the MSHCP. In a February 5 th Desert Sun article, Supervisor Wilson threatened that he “would not be there” to support local property annexations if the Cities of Indio or Desert Hot Springs did not approve the plan. Supervisor Wilson went on to brag: “If that is being heavy handed, I stand guilty as charged.” On February 9 th , on KNEWS radio’s Marshall and Stone Show, Wilson confirmed the threat saying he told officials from Indio: “ But I can guarantee you that if you guys kill our ability to build roads and freeways [ Wilson’s ‘spin’ and not accurate ] in this valley... throughout this valley, I will reconsider my position and I will probably engage my fellow supervisors to fight any future annexation.” And the threats have been heard loud and clear by city officials. In a February 17 th Desert Sun article, Indio Mayor Gene Gilbert details the desperate situation Indio is in, saying “It is development suicide if we adopt it. If we don’t, we are going to get blackballed in some way.” Many other city officials have contacted Senator Battin outraged by the threats and asking for help. “City leaders are telling me they’ve been told they have to vote for this flawed plan, or the county is going to make them pay dearly on everything else,” said Battin. “It’s a terrible situation that demands to be fixed.” SB 1308 has been introduced in preliminary form and will be formally amended on March 16 th , when it will likely be referred to the Senate Committees on Public Safety and Local Government.
### State Bribery and Extortion Statutes The relevant state statutes are Penal Code Sections 85 and 86 and PC 518. PC 85: Prohibits the bribing of a Legislator, or attempts by “menace, deceit, suppression of truth, or any corrupt means, to influence a member in giving or withholding his vote…” is a felony punishable by 2, 3, or 4 years. Last amended: 1976. PC 86: Deals with vote swapping by the legislature, a form of bribery. Punishment is 2, 3 or 4 years, or a fine of between $2,000 and $10,000. Last amended: 2003, minor, technical amends. PC 518: This is the extortion statute, defined as obtaining property from another or an official act of a public officer, by a wrongful use of force or fear, or under color of official right. Last amended: 1939. SB 1308 will amend Penal Code Sections 85 and 86 to add city, county and local elected officials to the state bribery laws. 02/23/06 Cindy Uken at the Desert Sun has it right! No more Bullies!
SAY NO TO THE MSHCP BULLIES! Roy Wilson publicly tries to blackmail and extort DHS into sacrificing its resident's constitutional land rights on the alter of a hypothetical computer model of a habitat area. We need to remember that since Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage and the other south valley cities have already covered their retail habitat area over with asphalt and concrete (example; Costco, Home Depo, Lowes, etc), they now want all of our land for their habitat conservation plan. County supervisors wants DHS to sacrifice most of their future economic future to make up for the other cities not sacrificing theirs. DHS does not have to do it. We can stand up to the Multi Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP) Bullies and say NO!. Remember that most of the habitat areas is in DHS and Indio. If these county supervisor and MSHCP bullies don't want to work with us and be reasonable they will not get their precious plan. Please note that the author of this article is not only a DHS resident but also a Sierra Club member (who originally joined 33 year ago) and spends his vacations backpacking the High Sierra's SAY NO TO THE MSHCP BULLIES!
02/22/06 DID WE HIT A NERVE AT FODHS? IF JOHN SOULLIER LOOKS, SOUNDS, PADDLES AND SMELLS LIKE A DUCK, WHY DOES HE GET UPSET WHEN WE ASK IF HE IS INDEED A DUCK?
During yesterday night council meeting, current "acting" city manager, John Soullier boldly defended developers lack of PM10 dust efforts. Soullier was using words like "study further" and "getting there" and "journey of understanding". It was clear that Soullier was adamantly defending the right of developers to deposit sand in the lungs of DHS citizens at all costs. Soullier has refused to follow past council direction and fine on going CRONIC PM10 (dust) violators. Soullier publicly attacked Gabriel King (FODHS) last night (after council meeting) for questioning Soullier's motives for ignoring these gross PM10 violations for months now. During King's public comments at last night's council meeting, he said that their was no need for more "Soullier studies" or Soullier meetings." The PM10 problem could be "solved" within 2 days if Soullier would stop ignoring council and be willing to immediately fine violators (per council request) who are (and have been for months now) out of PM10 standards compliance. All other Coachella Valley cities effectively solve their PM10 violations within 24 hours, so why does DHS need more months of "studies" and "meetings" to fix such a simple "easily fixable" problem that has been ignored by Soullier for the past 4 months now? John Soullier attacked Gabriel King after the council meeting telling King that his comments on FODHS where a "personal attack". Gabriel King questioned on FODHS Soullier protecting Developer interests for possible future enrichment. This was not a "personal attack" but was obvious logical speculation as to why Soullier has so adamantly ignored his boss (DHS city council) and so strongly defended the developers violations even after repeatedly ask to do otherwise. We at FODHS brought this possibility forward because their is no other logical reason why Soullier would so blatant ignore council wishes and allow developers to endanger the property and health of DHS citizens for such an extended period. Soullier was tutored by past city manager, Jerry Hansen who was thought by many to have given developer's favors for personal enrichment. FODHS will openly question Soullier's ethic and morals regarding his recent despicable behavior. To ignore Soullier behavior would be an injustice to all. In conclusion we ask John Soullier this two additional questions; If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, paddles like a duck and, smells like a duck, is it not more than likely a duck? Is it a "personal attack" to speculate that it could be a duck?
02/21/06
Has current city manager, John Soullier made DHS into the current "laughing stalk" of the rest of the Coachella Valley Cities and Developers? It seem so when it comes to current "temporary" city manager, John Soullier's absolute refusal to fine DHS developers for their last 4 months of total disregard and contempt for DHS citizens property and health thru continuing the violation of PM10 standards. Say NO! to John Soullier as next city manager. Just a few years back, Soullier was delivering uniforms from a Uniform company to MSWD employees. Now Soullier is delivering sand into the lungs of DHS citizens on behalf of developer profits. Seems the old guard (who approved Jerry Hansen's contract) is holding out for one of two lack luster city manager candidates (John E. Nowak or Ann Marie Gallant) as strategy to help John Soullier remain as city manager and eventually become DHS city manager by default. Jerry Hansen's tutored protegee, John Soullier will eventually destroy what is left of DHS if he remains acting city manager. If Soullier refuses to handle a simple dust issue, how could he effectively handle anything else of more substance? Desert Sun story on old guard stale mate on city manager selection.
02/18/06 Why is "acting" DHS city manager, John Soullier ignoring his developer buddies on going PM10 violations? Why does John Soullier refuse to fine habitual violators of PM10 regulations? What special deals were promised to John to make him jeopardize the health of every DHS citizen for developers profits?
NORMAL wind. NORMAL business In
the face of fact he is making excuses for his developer buddies.
While residents beg for protection from dust, Soullier apparently
wants to protect developers. City inspectors and regulators
itching to solve dust problem by Soullier told to back off, no
fines. It should be NORMAL for the Desert Hot Springs residents health and property to NOT be jeopardized in favor of developer's interest. But, in DHS it has always been NORMAL business to jeopardize citizen's health in favor of increasing developer's profits. It is as NORMAL to jeopardize citizen's health under past corrupt city manager, Jerry Hansen's dictatorship as it is currently today under Jerry's tutored protege (and hatchet man of wistle blowers), John Soullier. DHS City Manager, John Soullier to developers; "Please Ignore PM10 requirements! You know that we are! And we will not fine you for violations no matter how many citizens get sick"
02/16/06 WARNING! PM10 CAN KILL YOU!
image above of current "lung machine" What are the health effects and who is most at risk?PM particles can accumulate in the respiratory system and are associated with numerous health effects. Course particles can aggravate respiratory conditions such as asthma. Adverse health effects have been associated with exposures to PM over both short periods (such as a day) and longer periods (a year or more).
John Soiller informed DHS citizens directly affected by the dust that he believes developers should not be required to implement PM10 mitigation measures during the times that the wind it blows in DHS because "the dust will blow anyway" So now we know why many developers stop watering when the wind kicks up So if you or someone you know that lives in DHS has recently incurred medical costs or funeral expenses due to heart or lung diseases, please send the bill for said costs and demand letter for reimbursement to the city of DHS, Attention John Souiller.
02/16/06
Residents
Rightfully Ask - Who should pay to clean my pool? Who should pay
to get the coil-damaging dust out of my A/C unit at my home? Who
should pay my water bill to clean up all this dust in my Yard?
02/16/06 DHS City manager John Souiller and his developer buddies are saying to DHS citizens; "Eat my dust"
Click on image for larger image Image taken morning of 02/15/06 Dust from new Aqua Dulce project deposited on victims in trailer park just south of project. Project has been out of PM10 compliance for months now with complete blessing of (looking the other way) John Souiller. We have reported these PM10 violations to John for months now. What possible special deal did Aqua Dulce offer John to look the other way? 02/16/06 New
02/15/06
DHS PM10 issues to get its very own web site!
We advise everyone to no longer attempt to call the telephone
numbers listed on the
As a public service you can report you costs to this site
until DUST ACTION HOTLINE 02/15/06
PM10 PROBLEMS CONTINUE IN DHS WITH NO END IN SIGHT. Snellenberger project located west of 62 has hug clouds of dust rolling off the ground. Only one water truck on massive site, and that one is broken down per worker on site. Some say the only way anyone can solve a problem in DHS is by moving out of DHS. Most projects west of Rancho Del Oro are out of PM10 compliance. Until current friend of developers, and DHS City Manager John Souillier is willing to fine developers for their PM10 violations , daily dust clouds will be a daily reality for DHS residents. DHS COUNCIL NEEDS TO STRONGLY CONSIDER TAKING THE BUILDING PERMIT PROCESS OUT OF JOHN SOUILLER'S & MSWD FRIENDS (NON CAPABLE) HANDS AND PLACE IT IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY JURISDICTION (CONTROL) WHERE THEIR IS NO QUID PRO QUO. (Special past considerations for looking the other way.) Below are pictures of a average home in same subdivision with daily dust accumulation. This dust is from morning to noon accumulation today only.
click on images for larger images
click on images for larger images
02/15/06 "it won't grown corn shaft."
"Ask Marion" Dear Marion
We asked the question but only one person can answer it. The question:
Why is Indio that voted against Marion Ashely's conservation plan
getting $55 million for roads while Desert Hot Springs continues
to get nothing?
02/14/06 Filed Under "No good deed goes unpunished" Hey Marion Ashley, We voted for your MSHCP conservation plan, Indio voted AGAINST IT! Indio gets $55.3 MILLION for Roads and WE GET NOTHING! (See
Today's Desert Sun Article). 02/13/06 City Hires new City Manager
Spotlight on City Manager Search Ceres
City Council has appointed Brad Kilger as its new City Manager.
02/10/06 "Jerry Hansen" is (council member Mary & Hank's) gift that keeps giving (or is it taking)! Per Desert Sun, CA Attorney General's office has forwarded roughly 2,500 pages of documents concerning "allegations of misconduct" to the Riverside County District Attorney's office "for any action they deem appropriate". Substantial rumors has it that the old guard council and new council member Yvonne Parks miss Jerry Hansen so much that they want to make current interim city manager, John Souiller's (AKA Jerry Hansen #2) position permanent. As they say; "As the beat goes on". To this very day, John Souiller is still carrying out the same destructive traditions he learned under Jerry's tutelage. 02/08/06 City Council has not been able to agree one a new city manager candidate out of the 3 selected front runners. Council to select a city manager candidate in close session tonight or go back to the drawing table and start the process over again with the original 80 plus applicant/candidates. We prefer that the council take their time and redo the selection process over again if required to get a satisfactory qualified candidate. 02/08/06
"If
my friends across the valley want my land to be used for conservation
then let's all chip in and purchase it..." - Phil B. Kerr, Desert
Hot Springs 02/07/06
CVAG votes 10 to 1 to certify the Multi Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP) with Indio councilman from Indio, Ben Godfrey voting against. Majority of council members in DHS and other cities including Cathedral City and Indio said that a vote "Yes" now will be a vote "No" later. Current approval vote certifies MSHCP in its present form without any future revision allowed only. All the city councils have until this June to approve or turn down the plan "as is". Looks like Indio, DHS and Cathedral City Council will reject the plan in its present certified form as of this date. IF CVAG WANTS A YES VOTE FROM DHS COUNCIL, THEY NEED TO PROVIDE DHS WITH A WRITTEN LETTER OF UNDERSTANDING ALLOWING US TO ANNEX USABLE NEEDED RETAIL & COMMERCIAL LAND AND PROVIDE A PROMISE TO GIVE US THE PROPOSED COD CAMPUS. In the present form as it relates to valley cities, MSHCP is good for the "haves" and bad for the "have not's". 02/06/06
click on image for bigger image In Sunday's Desert Sun column by Cindy Uken, Marion Ashley's quotes; "Approve it - or else." "If they vote the plan down, their relationship with the county will be strained," "I've been trying to point out the serious consequences if this plan doesn't pass," Ashley said. "That's not a threat. I'm sorry, but this is the way things really are." Roy Wilson's quotes; "I told (Indio officials) that if they sacrificed the valley's roads and interchanges for their own personal greed, I would not be there to support their annexations and that I would enlist the support of my fellow board members to oppose such efforts," Supervisor Wilson said. "If that is being heavy handed, I stand guilty as charged."
02/06/06 The CURRENT Multi Species Conservation Habitat Plan (MSCHP) is just another broken promise to DHS
The CURRENT Multi Species Conservation Habitat Area (MSCHP) IS A BAD IDEA Signing anything because others threaten you is a bad idea. Signing something that may 1) get you something small in the future (big "maybe" easer developer submittal process), 2) loose allot of precious developable land right now and 3) under threat of not getting something promised the we never got to begin with (as in the long broken promised of a I10 bridge, healthcare & annexations) is a bad idea. Also, if DHS signs the MSHCP, it will have been a FORCED signature made under provable duress. (See all the "or else" threats lately from our officials) Any lawyer will tell you that any agreement that is signed under duress is considered null and void and will not hold up in a court challenge. Therefore signing the current MSHCP for this reason alone is a bad idea. EVERYONE (ALL PARTIES) ARE MUCH BETTER OFF TO MODIFY THIS PLAN SO WE ALL CAN LIVE WITH IT than be forced into signing a bad deal. Signing a agreement that is inherently unfair and grossly one sided to one party only can also lead to a successfully challenged in court. Therefore signing a unfair deal is a bad idea. THE ONLY LONG TERM VIABLE OPTION IS TO REWORK AND RESUBMIT A BETTER MSHCP that we all can live with and will stand the test of time. The new plan needs to be flexible and fair. (The only document that should not be flexible is the Constitution of the United States) Contrary to those who are threatening, the sky is not falling if this particular monstrosity is not signed. Better to have no plan than a real bad plan that can not be changed and lasts 75 years! Read the additional GOVERMENTAL bulling threats in Bill Effinger's recent article. Not a pretty sight!
02/06/06 "PASS THIS BAD PLAN & GIVE UP YOUR RETAIL OR SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES DHS" Word in the street is that if DHS does not pass the CVAG PROGRESS ROBBING Conservation Plan blunder, Supervisor Ashley will retaliate by; 1) Withholding Health care facilities, 2) STOP I10 bridge at Palm Drive and 3) PREVENT future DHS land annexations. Yesterday's column by Cindy Uken Desert Sun confirms this King George attitude from Marion Ashley and Roy Wilson. 02/06/06 Desert Sun changes position Paper now asking that MSHCP be delayed by CVAG and renegotiated to prevent rejection Yesterday's Cindy Uken's article about "or else" threats Today's Desert Sun city by city overview of plan effects Today's Desert Sun's request to delay plan
02/05/06 DEVELOPERS ROLLING PAIR OF DICE SPRINGS READERS TO ACTION
For Developers in Desert Hot Spring trying to skirt regulations on dumping and dust, it is like rolling a Pair of Dice. And the odds are not good. (see
our article dated 01/25/06 posted below)
Anti (the currently proposed) Multi Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP) links; Unfairness of CVAG's MSHCP (word document) Coalition for Smart Conservation (web site) Pro (the currently proposed) Multi Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP) links; Desert Sun (once a week articles) Desert Local News (2 to 3 articles a day)
02/05/06 Desert Sun Comes Out Of the Conservation Closet Part 1 Heavily Biased Sunday Edition
Favors Habitat Plan 02/05/06 Desert Hot Springs Arts and Entertainment According to the Desert Sun Reader email As
a fairly new resident of Desert Hot Springs, I had been warned
..don't believe everything you read in The Desert Sun concerning
DHS...the paper has a skewed and unfair opinion concerning our
little town. Well, nothing could be more on target...this weekend's
edition carried a blurb under an article titled civic life that
was either pathetic (a sad exercise in editing) or downright sick. Signed (reader's
name withheld by editor)
02/02/06
Was the poisoning of the Mayor's dog, Foxy just another incident in the long list of dirty DHS political paybacks? Our partial list of possible political paybacks below from the remaining old guard; probable poisoning mayor, Alex Bias's dog (foxy) many documented threats of violence against recall volunteers (including Gabriel King) recall volunteers hit by car? (Gabriel King's mother) baseless firing of police chief (Police Chief Roy Hill refused to fire Gabriel King and ignore Jerry Hansen's improprieties) successful baseless fired of C.O.P. volunteer chief (Gabriel King) baseless fired planning commissioners (including Gabriel King) baseless DHS slander letter against (Gabriel King) (DHS attorney who wrote letter quite under Corky Larson's leadership) baseless firing (effective termination) of Ernie Calderon (recently rehired per cour order) baseless firing (effective termination) of Richard Delacruze (recently rehired per cour order) baseless wholesale fired economic development commission (including Alex Bias) You have to give the remaining DHS "old guard" credit for trying to marginalize, discredit and suppress the DHS whistle blowers including Alex Bias, Roy Hill, Gabriel King (FODHS), Ernie Calderon and Richard Delacruze constitutional First Amendment Rights and other rights as well.
02/02/06 CVAG officials tried to put lipstick on a pig last night during their presentation of their Multi Species Habitat Conservation Plan, MSHCP AKA Weyuker Gulch.
Fortunately the lipstick did not work on DHS council ether. Seems the MSHCP is DOA. Hank Hohenstein called the plan unfair to DHS citizens in that it removes a disproportionate large share of our future retail and other commercial growth. Councilwoman, Mary Stephens said that the plan basically kills our future plans for shops etc that DHS citizens have waited so patently for. "Why should we sacrifice our retail for our neighbors after waiting all these years" After the public and others openly questioned the unfairness of the MSHCP and speculated that DHS was not at the negotiating table, councilman Gary Bosworth said that DHS interests was represented at CVAG for many years. Councilwoman, Yvonne Parks asked for a NO or Yes answer from CVAG officials if the MSHCP can be modified after approved. After hearing a 15 minute response, the ultimate answer was NO! Councilman Hank Hohenstein stated that the MSHCP was unfair to the DHS citizens and unfairly made them bear the majority of plans restrictions while conservation areas near more affluent cities where completely ignored as possible habitat designations. Mayor Alex Bias had the same concerns but also understood the reasoning behind the MSHCP and felt that council and himself needed to review their city staff report and also consult with the consultant used to modify the recent DHS city General Plan Draft. Some developers of high end projects in the pipeline said that their projects would be killed if MSHCP was approved. Interestingly, the developer said that his project contained no endangered species on their site. Seems the MSHCP non build able conservation area (only 10% of total area allowed to be built) is based upon hypothetical habitat area, not actual site observations of the designated species! According to CVAG officials, the MSHCP biologists never once field verified any of the MSHCP species within DHS city limits. For 10 years CVAG developed the MSHCP without ever once field verifying that a single species they are trying to protect in the conservation area actually existed in their DHS designated conservation area! The current MSHCP is based upon the most restrictive option (option #3) selected by CVAG. This option eliminates the most developable commercial and retail land in DHS. This plan if adopted by DHS thru the MSHCP would kill our future economic tax base perpetuating future crime and lack of fire protection thru the inability to collect sales tax from local shoppers. CVAG officials stated that the plan streamed lined the development process process by eliminating the need to go to each governmental agency for individual approval. Even if MSHCP was approved, every future project that was not in the effected conservation area but touched the 30 plus miles of edges of the MSHCP conservation area would therefore require individual agency approval. Therefore, there would not be any advantage for theses "edge of conservation habitats" developers to have MSHCP passed. CVAG officials used scare tactics against the DHS council by warning that rejection of MSHCP could hold up approval of the Palm Drive/I10 interchange. Residential developers and (later on) CVAG officials admitted that the warning about the delay of the I10 bridge was false and misleading. Developers showed a letter from CVAG stating that rejection of the MSHCP would NOT hold up said I10 bridge because of a "duel approval process" currently being implemented in case MSHCP was rejected. CVAG is currently in the process of purchasing 48 acres of habitat land to compensate for the loss of habitat land from I10 bridge overpasses at Palm Drive, Indian Avenue and Date Palm Drive. Sierra club representative threatened to sue if MSHCP plan was rejected. Hopefully council wont buckle under to Sierra Club threats and write off DHS future. Also, developer threatened to sue if MSHCP plan was approved because of their 1) somewhat in the pipeline approved project and 2) their lack of found habitat species and habitat in their project territory. CONCLUSION We disagree with Bill Effinger's commentary that rejection of the MSHCP will cause DHS to "go it alone" in the habitat approval process. First of all, it looks like not only DHS but also Indio and Cathedral City is going to flatly reject this MSHCP as currently configured. Without these 3 major players (cities) who sphere on influence contains the majority of the MSHCP effected species, the MSHCP will become worthless and CVAG will have to re-negotiate with us for a satisfactory compromise. Secondly, most of the projects outside of the MSHCP will end up going through the longer approval process anyway. Thirdly, past history shows that even if we approve the lipstick pig, the powers to be will come back to renegotiate to take even more. (See the French Toed Lizard plan as an example). Fourthly, if we give away our prime economic future property, having a (supposedly) quicker approval process will pretty much be a mute and irrelevant advantage. IF YOU WANT CONTINUED POVERTY, LACK OF SERVICES, CRIME WAVE IN DHS SUPPORT THE WRONGFULL AND UNJUSTIFIED TAKING OF OUR (NEAR) FUTURE COMMERCIAL AND RETAIL LAND BY THE BOGUS MSHCP! To be fair and balanced click on
for 3 pro MSHCP commentary from Bill Effinger. (3 to one, I guess, that's fair)
02/01/06 Could poisoning of Foxy be political payback for Bias wining Mayoral seat? 02/01/06 DHS Mayor's dog poisoned. Poisoning caused delay in yesterday's scheduled meeting to select new city manager. Stay tuned. Desert Sun Story 01/31/06 !!Ticket Time!! Highway Patrol Nail southbound "cut in front cheats" on Palm Drive just north of the I10 freeway.
01/31/06 WARNING! WE NEED TO UNDO WEYUKER'S HORIBLE LEGACY ASAP!
Link to article about past DHS mayor, Weyuker's leadership MIA on MSHCP Is the MSHCP (Weyuker Gulch) a real bad deal for DHS? Stop the massive Multi Species Habitat Conservation Plan give away! Please Attend this Thursdays meeting, 6.00PM at the Carl May Building. See Bill Effinger's excellent proposed letter of understanding where we (DHS) could demand cooperation from the other valley cities to get much needed financial goodies from the rest of the valley cities as payment for giving up so much of our precious DHS developable retail sales tax producing land to satisfy the rest of the valley cities Habitat conservation set asides requirements. We at FODHS are concerned that signing the MSHCP will force us to loose desperately needed retail land along Pierson Boulevard to 62 and Palm Drive to I10 to the rats, lizards and flies. In that our population is exploding while we are already suffering from as major lack of funds for public safety (police and fire) while 68% of our sales tax dollar revenue is lost to Palm Desert and other south valley cities retail stores, this MSHCP is a crucial issue for DHS future financial prosperity. We need to get substantial financial reimbursement and other substantial written promises from the other valley cities for our land loss as a condition of sign the MSHCP agreement. How about Palm Desert annexing a portion of 111 around Monterey (including the mall) and Rancho Mirage annexing a portion of "The River" shopping center to us in exchange for us agreeing to loose our precious retail revenue forever? Again,
please attend the meeting so we all can put our heads together
and figure out this MSHCP agreement failure. Link to article about past DHS mayor, Weyuker's leadership MIA on MSHCP
01/31/06 More commentary on the MSCHP by FODHS reader
Desert Hot Springs, one of the poorest cities in the region, will
be giving
01/30/06 Crime so commonplace in DHS that many citizens do not even bother anymore to notify police of dead body roting in plain sight from main boulevard for hours. See our 01/29/06 story with picture below. Maybe everyone thought it was one of the many typical professional and chronically homeless bums or panhandlers just passed out from alcohol. One can see them passed out sleeping on the main boulevards every few feet in DHS on any given morning. Some we meet every day have been homeless for decades. 01/30/06 Desert Sun commentary on current hiring of new city manager. Article concurs with our views and Russell Bett's commentary below 01/29/06 Russell Betts commentary in Desert Local News on the current DHS hiring process of a new city manager. Why
the commotion over who leaked name of city manager candidate?
Focus should be on making the process public says Russell Betts
writing for Desert Local News on the current DHS hiring process
of a new city manager. 01/29/06 In the interest of opening up the process, we did some searching to see what people who have come in contact with new city manager candidate John Nowak have to say. The
comments range from very complimentary to less than flattering.
"John
Nowak quits"
Stories below
Cedar Glen Resident Accuse John Nowak of
"Direct lies." Cedar Glen weighs future Level of county inclusion
argued 01/29/06 Dead Body at noon found in center of the vacant lot between Rocky's Pizza and Auto Zone.
This is another graphic reminder that we need to get serious about Developers and everyone else paying their fair share of development costs so our police force can become adequately funded to be more proactive instead of reactive.
01/28/06 Saga of the DHS City Manager search continues. Click on text for stories by Desert Sun & others. 01/24/06 (DS) Some say Nowak cant communicate 01/24/06 (Bill Effinger) We need CM to communicate 01/26/06 (DS) Mayor Bias to have CM decision soon 01/27/06 (DS) Nowak to be selected as city manager 01/27/06
(DS) Some Council members suggest taking polygraph test to prove
they did not leak Nowak as final pick
01/27/06 Mary's Trailer Did Councilwoman, Mary Stephens email city staff telling them to selectively enforce the code enforcement laws? Did Stephens tell staff to ignore her friends code violations while doubling up code enforcement on her friends competition? Did Jerry Hansen carry out Stephens selective enforcement and discrimination? See Jerry Hansen's initialing (approval) of Stephens email. Is friend of Stephens and current department head of code enforcement, Glenn Roberts still caring out Councilwoman Stephens selective enforcement to this day?See today's photo of the illegally parked trailer still there as it was 18 months ago when Stephens wrote the letter telling staff to ignore this violation. Did Stephens carry out a secret policy of staff ignoring spa owner's code violations as a favor in return for spa owners approving bonds being tied to their own "TOT" (Transient Occupancy Tax)? Picture taken today of "Mary's Trailer" illegally parked in violation of current code Mary approved.
Click on image for bigger image Email from Mary Stephens telling staff to ignore code enforcement violations while doubling up code enforcement of their competition.
Click on image to see larger readable image complete with Jerry Hansen's Initials of approval
01/25/06
Should an acting city manager be hiring new employees when the hiring of a new city manager is weeks, possibly only days away. That is the question we are asking but no one else seems to be. Putting aside our longstanding contention that those hired for their positions must be qualified to fill those positions, where is the wisdom in saddling a new city manager with employees in key positions that he did not put there. We also now understand why so many things go wrong in DHS considering so many of John Souiller's and Jerry Hansen's unqualified friends in key positions.
01/25/06 Alex Bias so far proving to be an excellent populous mayor. See Desert Sun article regarding his first state of the city address.
01/25/06 Is Paradise Springs Project Developers al |
