Concerned Citizen Letters Page

02/16/06

No Growth Sentiment Growing

Our only hope?
It may be that the only hope Desert Hot Springs has in preserving any land from developers is the Coachella Valley Multiple Species

Habitat Conservation Plan

("Questions remain on growth plan," Feb. 8).

With no master plan in place, developers are given carte blanche to ravage the desert, squeezing in as many homes as possible. It is important that not every square foot of our pristine desert and its creatures be consumed by ugly, cookie-cutter, wall-to-wall housing.

Hopefully it's not too late to preserve what we residents hold most dear - our natural desert habitat.

Please, Mayor Bias and City Council, don't further betray the very thing that makes our community unique.

Heidi and Robin Simmons
Desert Hot Springs

Letter to the editor, The Desert Sun

02/16/06

Dear FODHS

It is good you write to tell people about the dust but I think you need to correct something what you say about the dust. I think it maybe will confuse people that see your pictures to think what you show is what is wrong. The dust you show can be swept up. They worst dust is the little dust that you can not see with your eye but you can feel it everywhere. It is like grit under your feet. Only in the sun rays can you see it. When I open car door today I saw it fill the air in the sunlight. And when I try to hose and wash it away I wash and wash but the grit will not go away. You need to do a better job to tell people about this so they have no mistake. Sorry for this comment. Otherwise I enjoy what you write. Please do not publish this I just want you to know.

12/29/05

Desert Hot Springs . . . Where dedicated citizen volunteers are punished and end-    up  being forced to desert the city!

Any statements from these letters should be verified prior to being relied upon as being factual. We believe that the information is true when we post it within these letters. Even so, the reader should question and investigate the information provided as to its truth fullness.   Even though we feel that the information is true, no one should rely on any information provided until it is verified as correct.   The views represented within these letters are not necessarily our opinion.

Please Note: We will attempt to correct any information we find to be false. We will not publish any information about a public figure that we "believe" to be "False" or have "actual knowledge of being false". (See Sullivan vs New York Times) Please let us know if you find any information regarding any posted statements herein.  The information posted here has had a very high probability of being factually correct.  We have tried to be diligent in our postings as to avoid any "reckless disregard" for the information presented (expanded Sullivan Rule). The letters are provided a "Matter of Public Concern" therefore are "Common Law Privilege" (See Sullivan vs New York Times).  These letters are posted as citizen opinions under the First Amendment Right. In 1974, Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc, 418 U.S. 323 there is no such thing as a false idea.  Even obvious sarcasm is not liable per 1988 ruling in Hustler Magazine v. Falwell 485 U.S. 46. This forum of letters is a constitutional privilege of "neutral reporting" per Edwards v. National Audubon Society.

Future City Council & Manager Jewelry?

10/18/05

We reprinted this excellent letter originally posted by Bill Effenger regarding the DHS Public Safety Commission

The long awaited, many times postponed joint work session between the
Public Safety Commission and DHS City Council finally came to fruition
last evening in the Carl may Center.

A total breakdown in communication came to light, revealing information
meant to be passed on to the council from the commission has either
been ignored or never forwarded, resulting in hours and hours of
volunteer time completely wasted over the past several months.

During the free exchange between council and commission members, a
conclusion by all seemed to point to a failure of former City Manager
Jerry Hanson to fulfill his obligation of passing information to the
council.

Chairman Dr. Paul Steier, informed the council that minutes to the
meeting have been non existent unless he himself prepared them for four
months. There has been no staff support for several months and for
three months, the person designated to transcribe notes has failed to
do so.

Also revealed was the fact that a Public Safety Plan was produced by
the commission and never forwarded, resulting in a complete duplication
by Interim Police Chief Walt McKinney.

"I am shocked" was Will Pieper's statement when reviewing the
lengthy report handed to council members by Chairman Steier. "I
can't believe we are so lacking in technology" he continued.
Pieper's declaration evoked a lengthy exchange between all commission
and council members, resulting in a request from the council to the
Police chief to put a budget together for the purchase and installation
of necessary equipment.

Both city staff and every member of the city council pledged their
support and guarantee that things will change relative to open
communication between the two bodies. Acting City Manager Corky Larson
was quite vocal in her feeling that staff had let her and the council
down and said she would correct it, and set a meeting for today with
interim chief McKinney.

Minutes will be taken by a city staff member; there will be a staff
Liaison assigned to the Commission, who will report directly to the
council on all actions; Action Items will be automatically forwarded to
the Study Sessions, via the City Clerk. Formerly, Mayor Weyucker was
the self-appointed council liaison and Vice Mayor Stephens was
alternate. Both apparently have been too busy to attend the meetings.

Council Candidate Yvonne Larson, spoke to the council stating "the
purpose of a liaison is to have a member of the council informing
colleagues of the actions of the commission, and there should be an
alternate when the council member can't attend." Pieper and Larson
both responded almost in unison by saying they felt the liaison should
be staff to keep the commission from being "intimidated" by a
council member as liaison. I would think dependability would be the
better issue.

The meeting which started at 5:00 pm was adjourned and rolled into the
regular Study session at 6:25 pm. I am looking forward to the positive
results of this meeting transforming into better public safety for DHS
citizens and business.

Yours for better government

Bill Effinger

08/28/05

Mary, Matt and Hank don't really care if your DHS home burns to the ground. See reprint of letter found on "Breakfast with Bill" web site community forum from DHS Public Safety Commissioner Chair, Paul Stier

This is being posted for Dr. Paul Stier from an e-mail he sent me at his request:

Bill Effenger

Hi Will,

We just got back from our trip to Oregon, so I am catching up on the
week's events. Sounds memorable, at least.

Not to say "told ya so", but for the past four years, I and the
Commission have been saying that our hydrants are insufficient, and unmarked in many instances. In Rancho Del Oro where we should have 6 or 8 inch lines to the hydrants, we have 4inch lines instead. Distances from hydrants to buildings determine, among other things, insurance rates. We continue to give poor oversight to fire prevention and fire suppression issues, as exemplified by the recently approved high-density housing project to go in at Hacienda and Cholla. Answers I have gotten include, "we got the necessary signatures" from the clerical personnel in Riverside (assuming the information sent was accurate, and assuming that someone actually read that information). We also need to consider, as an urgency item, the building of the next fire station and the staffing of that station. The houses that are going up in the City have poor fire suppression features. I have watched at least two of these "fire safe" homes burn in the past two years, and the builders' claims that sprinklers were not needed because of the improved materials and construction techniques used would prevent flashover until the fire department could contain the fire are specious at best. The data was presented, but overruled based solely upon the unsubstantiated claims from local builders and developers.
Hydrant location and installation has been consistently overlooked as we continue to expand the City's boundaries and population.

On another note, on our excursion through the northern areas, I had the opportunity to look closely at a couple of Oregon communities, Cottage Grove, and Florence. Both are small towns (10,000 and 15,000 people respectively). They have adequate police services, excellent fire services, sidewalks, libraries (exceptional library in Florence), festivals (real festivals, not like the "festival of the waters"), and community spirit. They each needed health care facilities. Cottage Grove  had a 15 bed hospital and clinics, but the hospital went into bankruptcy and the physicians left town. The town approached Peace Health (a northwest provider group, non-profit), went to Congress for an exception to the requirements for creating a rural hospital district (and got it by act of Congress), and raised 2.3 million dollars in "good faith" money to convince Peace Health to partner with them. They now have a brand new state of the art 11 bed in-patient facility, plus a huge outpatient campus for primary care and specialty clinics that far surpasses any facilities I have seen in the Coachella Valley. Moreover, the patients are treated well, with courtesy, professionalism, and kindness. Want to know how this little town of 10,000 people, with an average wage of $10/ hr per capita, and demographics not dissimilar to DHS raised the money in less than 90 days? Call me, and I'll let you know. It shows the difference that exists between our town, and many other small cities throughout the land. I'll give you a hint. It has to do with our sense of entitlement vs. other cities' senses of community.

Paul

08/27/05

Mary Stephen's retaliation threat article against Gabriel King as published in the Valley Breeze September "A" edition, page 13. Notice that it is well documented that Mary and Matt often lie, attack and slander others with impunity who they disagree with. But when others respond, Mary cries foul and hides behind Matt's disability, crying "how can you attack this poor disabled man" act.  Then (history shows that) Mary and Matt then vindictively plot and carry out their retaliation against those private citizens that disagree with them.

JPEG & Text below

click on image for large image

Vice Mayor Mary Stephens on Mayor Matt Weyuker

I am completely disgusted at the awful article Gabriel has written about our mayor. That man needs to be put in his place. Our mayor has given his all and never gave up on our city. He sacrificed his own health and kept going when told by doctors to slow
down. Has Gabriel
and his concerned unknown citizens in his web forgotten what this city looked like 6 years ago? No matter the outcome of this election my loyalty to our mayor is strong and I will not let others hurt him like this.
Gabriel should be ashamed of himself. I guess some folks are just evil. I am so sony for Desert Hot Springs.
We do not need the negativity but, I guess Gabe does not know how to be positive. I love Desert Hot Springs and I feel this is an attack on the progress we have all made. I am also sorry that Mayor Malt and his wife are being put through all this nonsence.

Mary K. Stephens

DHS Vice Mayor

08/27/05

Mary fully supports and justifies Hansen's work as City manager and justifies his pay contracts.

See small portion of her commentary as contained in the large half page commentary on page 11, Valley Breeze, Sept. "A" Edition. See below in read.

We hired a city manager who, quite
frankly was a warrior, and he tackled this .
bankruptcy head on. We paid him well and
he was the right man for that time. I do not
regret that hire and in fact by getting out of
Bankruptcy our $400k a year legal bill .
went away. Jerry Hanson was not just a manager.

08/21/05

Should Mary and Hank be recalled NOW!

Gabriel King Think's so.

Letter to the editor

Recall needed now!

Some say we should vote Mary Stephens and Hank Hohenstein out of office. Can we wait another 2 years when they are up for re-election? I so no! The citizens can't afford 2 additional years of damage from these two. Lets review the damage already done under their leadership;

1) Obscene Hansen contract give away. 2) Mary's Quid Pro Quo arrangement after approving developers projects then accepting full time employment from same developer and other sweet deals. 3) Hank's blatant land deal conflict including publicly admitted illegal collusion with developers attorneys and city manager to hid conflict. 4) Hank accepting Quid Pro Quo sweet deals from developers after he voted favorably on their projects. 5) Allowing Hansen to write his own sweet land deal for developer's project that will physically improved Hansen's own property therefore financially benefited him directly. 6) Hank attempting to legislate city code requiring prior secret closed session majority council meeting approval before other council members could exercise their free speech and redress of grievances under our First Amendment rights guaranteed by our fore fathers. 7) Financially deprioritizing public safety to the point of almost doubling our crime rate as compared to Indio and reducing fire department response times putting 95% of homes at substantial fire risk per ignored public safety commission report. 8) Condoning and encouraging deputy city attorney to smear private individuals (yours truly) with unsubstantiated accusations for political gain. 9) Condoning firing many volunteers for exercising their first amendment rights. 10) Hank's unethical behaviors causing complaints to be filed with the governmental agencies. 10) Terminating Police Chief to prevent investigation of wrong doing. 11) Terminating entire Economic Development Commission including (current Mayor candidate) Alex Bias because he stopped council from extending their own terms from 4 years to 6 years. 12) Termination entire Planning Commission (including yours truly) after commissioners stood up to Hank's developers friends asking for reasonable project requirements. 13) Current blatant intimidation (by threat of immediate removal by current Chief) of any citizen speaker who dares to exercise their first amendment rights by publicly disagreeing with council during the 3 minute public speaking forum.

We can not afford another 2 years of Hank and Mary's leadership. Lets clean up DHS now by signing a recall petition and terminate those who have terminated us!

Gabriel King

08/19/05

Below is the latest from our (unfortunate) Mayor, Matt Weyuker. Basically is a article written by the brain dead for the brain dead (with one exception)

He reminisces about a visit to a "third world" county. The he compares DHS to this third world country!! Then he tell us that we should not make unsubstantiated accusation (not based in fact) like third world countries.  Then he does exactly that!! Matt immediately makes unsubstantiated accusations not based in fact. Matt has mentally lost it.  He should respect us and himself and honorably step down!

Though, (giving credit where credit is do) he does provide a very good list of positive goals and priorities the city leaders should pursue.  I listed them in red so you have the option of not suffering through the first 2/3's of the article

Anyone with even the slightest knowledge of DHS recent past "FACTS" could poke a dozen holes in the first 2/3's of his article. It is really sad to see this! Matt was once a wonderful mayor!

Straight Talk (?) From The Mayor
by Matt Weyuker
Several years ago, Marlene and I traveled to the Bahamas Islands as part of the "People To People" program. They linked us with Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister of that tiny island nation. The newly founded country had just obtained their freedom from Great Britain and had in the last couple of years begun the experiment in self-governance. The timing of our trip couldn't
have been better, as they were smack-dab in the middle of their "silly season." The politics of The Bahamas was, to say the least, "third-worldish."
While over in The Bahamas, we were invited to the home of the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff, met his wife, (an American) and were treated to a home ?cooked meal that featured local cuisine. The following day we visited their legislative body and saw first-hand how they enacted laws.
We also viewed how most of the candidates for public office campaigned - and were taken aback by the inflammatory accusations that almost everyone running for office hurled at each other. They almost never spoke to the issues that the fledgling country was facing, such as financial stability, dealing with a growing crime problem, cleaning up blight, the potential for growth, and
the nurturing of the backbone of their economy - tourism. Sound familiar?
As Desert Hot Springs enters into its "silly season" it's becoming clear to me that the politics of Desert Hot Springs seems to be bordering on being "third ?worldish." Instead of centering the debate on the important issues facing our city, you have the infamous "wannabe's", "critics", and the "gadflies" stirring up pseudo issues such as "transparent government", along with scurrilous
personal attacks, and the ever present personal agendas ?instead of the issues of major importance to our poised-for-success-community. These concerns should not and cannot be put off or distorted by some of these ignorant, empty-barrel, "interested residents", self-proclaimed "pronounces of the truth" and others involved in the coming elec ?tion, including the growing list of candidates. We, the electorate must demand a "can= do" attitude of positive ideas and actions, and not the ugly third-world negative smear type of political rhetoric. There are some candidates for the City Council who are current office-holders, such as long-term Councilor Gary Bosworth,
(who has held office for over ten years), who was part of the City Council that caused the city to be in so much debt and instigated this Council to seek bankruptcy relief. In the nearly six years that I have served with Mr. Bosworth, he has not contributed one positive thing for our community! Rather, he seems to take singular pleasure in sneaking off to tell his "media friends" of so-called "wrong-doings" of his col ?leagues, thereby showing them in a negative light. Bosworth is a "political animal" and spends hours and hours involved in partisan politics, (he announced from the dais during a City Council meeting sever ?al months back, that he's proud to be a Democrat and to be serving as Vice Chair of the Valley's Stonewall Democrat Club) polling, campaigning for candidates for office in other communities. His interest level in these partisan political activities is so high. it affects his effectiveness as a Council Member, much to the detriment of his official duties, so much so, that he often sleeps during both Study Sessions and
Council meetings. All City Council seats, including that of the Mayor, are supposed to benon partisan! Yet, Bosworth insists on immersing our City Council in party politics, instead of concentrating on the betterment of the community that he's supposed to represent. There are going to be other candidates for Mayor and City Council that may not be willing to
debate the real issues - just hurling accusation after accusation against the other candidates, just as they do in third world countries. My advice, no, my plea, for the sake of Desert Hot Springs potentially bright future, is to ignore any candidate who refuses to discuss the real issues.
I've produced a short list of these matters of critical importance to, and for our community, it is as follows: 1 - Financial stability, which includes maintaining at least a six month operating reserve (we have that now); 2 - Sufficient revenues to fund the growing needs of Public Safety,
increasing personnel and equipment for our city's Police and Fire Department; 3 - Maintenance of the city's roadways and streets; 4 - Annexations of land sufficient for connectors to the 1-10
freeway along both the Palm Drive and Indian Avenue corridors, and other worth ?while projects that include shopping centers, recreation venues, upscale housing, and other commercial ventures; 5 Making sure to have adequate low-to moderately priced housing developments; 6 -
Assuring the community's residents of a fully staffed and equipped medical center; 7-Recreating an Economic Development Commission and commensurate City Hall staff; 8- That the city stay the course in the development and eventual construction of the new Civic /Community Center; 9- Assisting our growing spa industry in the creation of a "spa boutique village"; and 10 - Creating a unique Desert Hot Springs style, pedestrian friendly downtown design concept. One thing is sure; there will be self-styled, badly informed pundits, some with hate filled and mean spirited web-sites with agendas detrimental to our city's welfare. There is no doubt that the
local media will attempt to inject their brand of invective into the coming campaign season. I urge all of us to remain focused on the mutually beneficial future that awaits us as a city that is on the move - as I've said many times; it is our time, Desert Hot Springs! Please,. fellow residents and voters, let's not allow the naysayer, gadflies, and other pseudo-experts, to deny our city its
destiny. Our community is far too important to permit a group of wrong thinking, ambitious, self- seeking candidates from representing the people of Desert Hot. Springs and impinging upon our city's otherwise bright tomorrow’s.
~Mayor Matt Weyuker

08/17/05

Letter sent to us from DHS Councilor Gary Bosworth regarding the particulars of the latest give away to Jerry Hansen through his "Consulting Contract"

08/17/05

Personal Letter from Gabriel King to Buzz (owner of the Valley Breeze) giving reasons why he was not supporting Bill for (write in) mayor of DHS

08/16/05

Post from an Orange County Blog regarding Hank's corruption

Click here: ORANGE COUNTY WEEKLY OC Weekly: web: A CLOCKWORK ORANGE
Posted Aug. 3
WHEN WE GET BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
While trying to publicly explain away that he didn't realize a vote he made in February to approve a 2,000-home project constituted a conflict-of-interest, a Desert Hot Springs city councilman let it slip that his city manager and attorneys for the Newport Beach developer tried to get him to shut his pie hole once he realized the infraction. According to an Aug. 3 Palm Springs Desert Sun story Councilman Hank Hohenstein did not realize the property he owns adjacent to Newport Beach-based First West/DHS Development LLC's upscale Stone Ridge project presents a conflict due to a "typo." Elected officials cannot vote nor even take part in discussions on developments that are within 500 feet of land they own. This whole deal is smelly. Outgoing City Manager Jerry Hanson, who is departing with a controversial, over-generous retirement package, and the one who told Hohenstein to pipe down, also owns nearby land whose value will shoot up as a result of First West's project. All of this has sparked demands for a Riverside County grand jury investigation. But it's probably just co inky-dink what First West is doing now: transferring ownership of Stone Ridge to Western Pacific, a San Diego division of Arlington, Texas-based Fortune 500 development company D.R. Horton Co. Can you say "cut and run"?

08/16/05

Even though Bill Effenger banned Gabriel King from his web site talk forum, he reluctenly completly agree's with Gabriel's posts.

Bill's afirmation of Gabriel King below as posted on his web site forum

After meeting with Interim City Manager Corky Larson today, I didn't
know whether to laugh, cry, or scream.

When I received an e-mail from Gabriel King stating he had "stayed up u0ntil 2:00 in the morning reviewing the Hanson Contract" in which he listed 24 elements to the latest fully executed contract between the city council and Hanson, my first reaction was to immediately call Corky and ask for a meeting to confirm the King allegations, which she graciously agreed to.

The bottom line? All 24 items in the Gabriel King e-mail are factual
with few exceptions. The contract which Jerry drafted and the council agreed to is the most outlandish example of greed, ineptitude, breach of faith and possible malice I have ever experienced. The following explains in narrative form, what Corky agrees the contract stipulates, and will be Jerry Hanson's temuneration:

Hanson will be paid $125 per hour for a guarantee of 15 hours per week, not to exceed 960 hours in one year, ($120,000.00). This base amount is subject to an annual increase of 3% plus a cost of living increase each year; plus a $2,000.00  "deferred compensation" payment, a $760.00 per month health care payment which includes vision and dental; Hanson's bonds for consulting work will be paid for by the city, he will receive expenses of $675.00 per month (very unusual-consultants get reimbursements, not allowances), he will get 100 gallons of
gas-again very unusual; A cashable $200,000.00 whole life policy will be paid for by the city; he will also receive "training" expenses
of $600.00 per year; The city will purchase all of his office furniture
and equipment, including a new computer, and credit to the CALPERS retirement system, and he doesn't have to be visible except "occasionally."

My first question, is what was the council thinking. My next question
is, were they thinking at all?

Now, what to do?

When a business deal goes sour, the smart people cut their losses. In other words, they don't send good money after bad decisions. They don't chase possibilities with their ego. The smart ones hide their pride and figure out the least expensive way to get out of a bad deal.
Everyone makes mistakes. The smart ones admit it.

The Desert Hot Springs city council must bite the bullet. I urge each
and every councilmember, the vice mayor and mayor, to quit defending an indefensible situation. Admit you made a mistake and do the right thing now. Negotiate the best possible buy-out of the Hanson contract, pay him and bid him adieu. By taking a positive step to put this debacle behind, you will gain the respect of your peers, the development community, investors and bankers.

By buying out Hanson and sending him on his way, you will also quell the mounting resentment of those of us that have listened to you defend what now appears to be so egregious an error it's almost incomprehensible. Do this for the city and its future. But do it
quickly.

There are those that have pledged support for some of you. Without a positive move on your part, those supporters will loose faith in your ability to govern, if they haven't already. It's time to act
decisively

It's time to cut our losses.

Bill Effenger

08/12/05

Is Criminal Hansen planning to retire in Mexico?

08/10/05

another concerned citizen letter blasting Council member Mary Stephens, praising Cheif Walt Mckinney & thanking Gabriel King

would like to start with thank you. ( Gabriel King) for the opportunity to express what we feel.
With respect...
As a first time reader of your site. It does not feel just your site, but the site for the people, to express their thoughts.

Even letters coming from such individuals as our city council members...
Pertaining to the letter from Mary Stevens or what ever she chooses to sign her name.
It is really sad to say that she has no power as a person or leader at all, by stating if we don't like it to pack our bags. Well Mary S. if you don't like what you hear or see take a real good look in the mirror. do like what you see. It seems to me maybe you need to relocate your bags and hat!!!!

 Maybe try to  live a night or two on 5Th st. where all the shady deals go down. She would probable fit right in.

 We as citizens have a right to say what we feel. And because of us... you are where you are  NOW .
What happen?... you did not like that we woke up and realize the mistake we made( by choosing you and the rest of the circus) or was this another Florida vote count>>????? But you Mary S. what is your excuse to keep attacking every person in site? Why don't you show us some thing new surprise us...like QUIT ...  maybe we can do with out your leadership that you have never enforced, as well as the mayor nothing but nonsense. It was never their we should not miss it...

I strongly believe that the city council needs to be gutted. Like Iraq???
Start new,fresh and with the  truth.
( maybe the background of set council members needs to view by the public. and I mean not just the political back ground. just like a police officers background and bonded as well)


The police department has started already to clean their department. KUDOS TO THE NEW CHIEF.
So far his clean up program has started. Hope it is in a going to continue in a good direction.
And hopefully he believes in the few good officers left and who are faith full.  ( still some rotten apples to be taken care off) and in regards to the officers Left believe they have had their ugly share.. of problems also.  Finally a Chief with a back bone.....
Thank You Chief for your officers and their hard work.
a concern and hope full citizen.

08/10/05

See this letter and copy of letter from past attorney to Hank directly below!

07/29/05

Excellent Letter outlining epidemic city problem of way under qualified and way overpaid department heads and other select city employees under incompetent Council and Manager leadership

DHS - OUT OF STEPS WITH THE TIMES AND REALITY
THE CITY EXPECTS THE PUBLIC TO FLIP THE BILL ON THE PAYMENT OF LUXURY SALARIES FOR UNQUALIFIED CITY EMPLOYEES

We hear increasing complaints about excessive salaries and benefits for Desert Hot Springs and Palm Springs city workers and how they are spectacularly out of context with the typical earnings of private sector employment. To exemplify the issue, during this Tuesday AM show, KPSI's Steve Kelly said that Palm Springs city employees generally are awarded salaries nearly double that of the private sector or at least close to it, which many feel is unjustifiable as well as immoral. Then combine the extraordinarily high salaries with the city's unbeatable retirement/benefits package to boot! Steve Kelly said that payment of retirement benefits to former city employees in Palm Springs represents approximately 12% of the city's annual budget. With very good reasons, he poked fun at the city for getting into the home lending business by agreeing to low interest financing to entice their newly hired assistant city manager with a low interest loan of $500K. He correctly pointed out that no city should offer these types of subsidies, and that few cities ever find it necessary to offer such incentives because the salaries and benefits they offer are usually the best to be found (with exception of Congressional compensation). He concluded in that the city should not be in the business of home lending which is typically a function reserved for private sector lenders that exist for this purpose.

City administrator types are found of trying to doop the public into believing that competitive salaries and benefit packages are necessary to attract qualified "professionals." Although there is some competition among jurisdictions for qualified candidates, many DHS residents know that the city has hired many unqualified for their positions because they knew someone at city hall, or because they already had a job working for the city in some capacity. So although many of these employees are paid high wages as if they were already professionals, the fact is that many of them are nothing more than highly paid trainees. The city is telling the public that it is OK for them to hire trainees and to pay them wages as fully trained, seasoned, experienced professionals, which is dead wrong. For DHS to be competitive, first and foremost the city must strive for highly qualified candidates and forego the inbreeding process of hiring a friend of a friend at city hall. Although some of these employees personally may be nice people, this is not the issue. A case in point is the city's current city clerk - a nice lady no one can complain about. But the process in which she was hired is at question. For the position of city clerk, like other communities soliciting applications for such high profile positions, the availability of such positions should be publicized and their experience as a city clerk working elsewhere scrutinized as is the norm for such positions by a qualified review panel. Sadly this did not happen in DHS, and the city hired an individual with no professional city clerk experience to benefit the city. So although professional wages and benefits are afforded this individual (in the range of $100,000 annual salary), sadly there is no fair exchange for a lack of experience. To compound the problem, we understand that the city has hired one or two assistants to the city clerk! Again something unheard of in a community the size of DHS. This situation brings into focus a related question if the city clerk position really needs to be a full-time in DHS. In other smaller communities, because the work load does not justify it being a full-time position, the city clerk position is usually one of many responsibilities of a secretarial position, such as a city manager secretary.

Another questionable recent hire is the new Director of Public Services. By his own admission the new director has no municipal experience and absolutely no experience in code enforcement, which is his major assignment. Although he says that he retired as an armed forces military officer, his previous experience provides minimal advantages for DHS' chronic and challenging need for quality code enforcement experience. Again, another highly paid city employee in the $100,000 range that the public is expected to pay for, but lacking the professional qualifications needed to adequately perform. Subsequently, numerous complaints are being voiced by the public about the new Director of Public Services and his apparent inability to adequately perform his job or to communicate with the public, apparently also lacking the ability to respond to phone calls, emails, faxes, and other means of communications. As a "professional" one would surely assume that the new director would know how to retrieve (and return) phone messages and emails. Obviously his vast military experience forgot to teach him communications skills, much less working with the public and is reportedly a troubled man with a bad attitude against the public. Of course, the person hiring him was none other than city manager Jerry Hanson, who himself had absolutely no city manager experience, with exception of the experience he acquired while being DHS city manager, with the notably extremely high wages and extreme benefits that have since gotten himself and the city council in trouble and for council efforts to hide this information as well as other conflicts of interest.

There are many challenges facing DHS with the problem of future projected budget shortfalls something that is being totally ignored. The current city council is so enamored with the larger budget, that they forget that the city's problems still exist and are nearly out of control. Serious resolution of the real problems that beset the city requires very careful and skilled leadership which the city appears to be turning a deft ear. Matters are being ignored to the point of extreme recklessness that could easily over-consume the city budget which is bound to eventually force the city into a quagmire of deep debt again, and this is even without more lawsuits!

Serious effort is badly needed now and sorely overdue to review city salaries and compensations. Although some consideration of certain key positions is necessary to keep these salaries competitive with other nearby communities, the bulk of most other city employee salaries for non-departmental head positions should be reduced to that competitive with private sector counterparts. As a charter city, mechanisms must be researched and implemented to require city employees to live within the city limits, so that they have more of a vested interest in the community where they work. If the city council refuses to honor the wishes of the residents it is suppose to serve, city residents retain initiative rights to collect signatures and place on the ballot mandates on city salaries that will force the city council to comply with the wishes and best interest of the city.

If DHS residents want to, they can truly take back control of their community, away from the special interests and force the management of the city to doing a realistic assessment of the many formidable issues that face the city that right now are simply being ignored. Some may consider this as sort of a "citizen uprising", but in order to get a real handle on the city problems, substantive measures need to be developed and implemented immediately. Any further delays only postpone and aggravate matters in DHS' future. The return of citizen control will place the city on a realistic footing with that of it private sector counterparts, in that it must deal with real problems and it must be sensible about things as rudimentary as employee salaries. This is not really a matter of choice, but of survival for DHS. The initiative/referendum process traditionally has been exercised as the method of choice in circumventing renegade city councils, and unless there is some dramatic change soon, then, regardless of all the money the city council and city administration "think" they have, it's just a matter of time when the whole house of cards may collapse.

The introduction of these issues are pertinent to DHS' survival as a thriving, competitive community. They deserve merit for their introduction for discussion and debate of legitimate issues in the upcoming mayoral and council campaigns. If current city hall incumbents refuse to address or debate these pertinent issues, then it makes it all that much easier for DHS voters to decide who to cast their votes for.

Back to the DHS City Clerk position, another point is very important. In most other California cities that are relatively small like DHS, the city clerk position is considered a very part-time job. Usually this job is merged as part of many other responsibilities, such as being the secretary to the city manager/city council. Never in a city the size of DHS is the city clerk job a full-time job - and the reason is that simply there is just not enough work to do. Plus, this city clerk position has at least one, if not two assistants to the city clerk, which is really unheard of in a community the size of DHS.

05/27/05

Letter from Gabriel King (GK) in responce to second attack letter sent this today (before noon) from rouge DHS attorney re attacking GK by re accusing him of racism. City attorney claims that this letter and previous letter sent to COP accusing GK of racism was sent Attorney personally with no direction of knowledge of City Management or leaders.

05/27/05

Dear All

See the attachment letter from the city attorney. DHS city attorney, Thomas Neumann claims that I am a racist for requesting that Mexican flags (or any other flag for that matter) not be placed directly over an American flag right after the 911 attack. It was my hair stylist's first amendment right to place her countries of origin flag where ever she wanted and it was my first amendment right to politely ask her to relocate it to somewhere other than directly over or to the left of the American flag. And it is her right to put (or keep) the Mexican flag where ever she wants (including directly over the American flag) too in her business. My Korean sons have Korean flags. Do they consider me a racist because I prefer that they don't display them directly over an American flag? Hardly?

Being a patriot of my country by asking her to relocate the flag does not qualify me as a racist.

After about a month of other Americans asking her to relocate the flag, she decided to do so. I then continued to have my hair cut there, sometimes other family members too for the past 3 years. Nothing was ever mentioned regarding this issue between us as a issue the past 3 years until recently when Thomas's letter was written accusing me of racism regarding this incident.

If my hair stylist was so offended per Thomas's letter, why would she continue to cut my hair and my family's hair continuously for 3 years after to this day?

Thomas's argument is intellectually disgenouse at best. Maybe he is desperately trying to turn a grain of sand into Mount Whitney to save face from the baseless accusations he created to smear my reputation stemming out of his own racism as contained in the letter he sent to COP leaders last week.

I would never publicly place an American flag over a Mexican flag if I was in Mexico. To do so would be disrespectful to the Mexican people. I respect all nationalities and their cultures.

I never once said that anyone does not have the right to place another flag over the American flag in this country. It is their first amendment right to do so in this country.

Thomas Neumann's rebuttal argument contained in this attachment is racist. When did ordinary patriotism and respect (for everyone in every country) qualify as racist. His argument is absurd and his rebuttal is even worse. Thomas is "Race baiting" and playing the "Race Card". I will not go along.

Worse yet, our DHS tax dollars are being spent on this man spewing such immaturity. He should save his efforts and hang his racist pin on someone else using some other City's tax dollars. Based upon when I received his attachment, his letter was written on DHS city time. Therefore DHS leaders are condoning this racist witch hunt and immoral baiting of innocent citizens who his bosses don't like.

Also "Politically Offensive Humor" is not necessarily "racist humor". The humor is mild and none of it hurts anyone. Well except Thomas who is trying desperately to justify his nonsense.

Maybe Neumann thinks that if he clicks his heals together (like Dorothy in the wizard of Oz) and accuses me by repeating his "racist accusations" that magically it will come true. Instead it keeps backfiring on him.

Just think how wonderful DHS would be if the city attorneys even spent a portion of the time they devote to smearing honest citizens to instead keeping our city ethical and transparent!

Gabriel King

05/27/05

Second letter from Rouge DHS attorney re attacking Gabriek King (GK) by re accusing him of racism. City attorney claims that this letter and previous letter sent to COP accusing GK of racism was sent by Attorney personally with no direction of knowledge of City Management or leaders.

Letter received prior to noon therefore independent letter was created on city tax payer time.

To All Interested Parties:

I am writing in response to Mr. King's email of earlier today.  It is important to clarify a few basic, although profound errors in Mr. King's message.  I will keep it short and allow those interested the opportunity to contact me if clarification is required or questions are raised.

I must first say that at no time, relative to the subject letter, did I receive guidance or direction from the Desert Hot Springs City Council, or any of its individual members, neither was I directed to write my letter by the City Manager, or by my direct superior, City Attorney Larson.  My letter had no political ambition.  I wrote it because I have a duty to the City of Desert Hot Springs to act in its best interests.  I take that duty very seriously.

Mr. King is adamant that a smear campaign has begun against him.  I will remind you that my letter was not sent to the media, and was designed to be a low-key, in-house inquiry.  The letter was sent only to COP and Chief McKinney; Mr. King has taken it upon himself to spread the word in the community, despite my efforts to the contrary.

Mr. King's tenure as President of Citizens on Patrol came to an end solely due to the unprofessional and insubordinate behavior of Mr. King.  Chief McKinney's correspondence with Mr. King was completely independent of my letter, and neither my letter nor Chief McKinney's conversations made any reference to the other.  It is also important to note that Mr. King was not terminated from his affiliation with COP, he resigned.

My letter contains no accusations, but rather relates to COP that allegations had been made against Mr. King, and requests they investigate the matter.  I did point out that Mr. King's website contains inappropriate and racist remarks, which it does.  While Mr. King claims that such jokes are not offensive, it is curious to note that the material is found on a web page entitled, " Offensive Political Humor! "  Additionally, Mr. King has already admitted to the truth of telling an Hispanic business owner to remove a Mexican flag from her business.  Oppression, even if subtly applied, is still oppression; racist jokes, even if no harm is intended, are still racist and unacceptable. 

Clearly Mr. King is more concerned with finding excuses for his behavior and laying blame at the feet of others, than he is with treating others with respect.  I take full responsibility for my letter and continue to stand by its content. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at your convenience.

Respectfully,

Thomas R. Neumann

Deputy City Attorney

City of Desert Hot Springs

05/21/05

We apologize to pot smokers for some citizens letter posted here who compared Hank's letter to someone who wrote the same letter while smoking pot. It was never our intention to soil the reputations of pot smokers by comparing them to the likes of Hank or Matt.

Dear FODHS

05/21/05

Other Citizens think Hank was smoking weed when he wrote his recent letter to the Blogers.  See Hank's letter in Italics below

Dear  FODHS

What the hell is wrong with this jackass (Hank)?  I don't get it, unless this
nitwit is smoking the same stuff the Mayor uses before he writes that
crap he prints in the Valley Breeze!

By now, even to the most uninformed, it must be obvious that there are
serious problems with the City Council and their boss, Jerry Hansen.
And no, I didn't get it wrong here.  Jerry runs the council, not the
other way around as it should be.  Hansen is like Napoleon, with the
same ego maniac problem and same diseased mind.

I give Gary Bosworth a lot of credit for having the stones to stand up
to the other three idiots (Mary, Hank, and the Mayor).  It has always
been my opinion that Will and Gary were unaware about many of Hansen's
shenanigans, were not included in the lucrative land deals (like Mary
and Hank) or cushy retirement programs (like the Mayor) and are just
now starting to see the light.

Stay the course Mr. Bosworth!  The orange jail jumpsuit is right
around the corner for Jerry and friends.

Upset Citizen

05/19/05

Gabriel King's response to Hank's Hohenstein's silly and nutty letter sent to us and posted 05/18/05 on Bill Effenger's Blog

Dear Bill and Hank
You both are an embarrassment to Desert Hot Springs. For Bill to print and support such a stupid letter from Hank filled with irrelevant "facts" is beyond the pale. Unfortunately Hank and Bill fail to understand the real issue here. All of us must demand honestly from our leadership no matter what their political affiliation. Hank has not addressed in his letter why Gary Bosworth should not have done "#1 thru #18" of his list. Why would Gary want to get slimed by talking to Hank anyway. I stopped trying to reason with Hank long ago. I found out that I have handed trout that was less slippery than Hank.
Gary needs to be commended for doing what is right. Those who scream the loudest (Hank) are usually the most guilty and have much to looses when the light is cast upon their slimy corruption.
Both of you are Pathetic Clowns.
The only one going to the "wood shed" is Bill's friend Hank.
At least Hank's letter has brought some much needed comic relief today!
Gabriel King

05/19/05

Hank Hohenstein's silly and nutty letter is contained directly below in Italics. Read the last paragraph (I bolded it) where Hank wants to throw out the constitution of the United States including the Bill Of Rights at least in DHS.  If Hank had his way, our leaders would have to ask permission in secret meetings prior to accessing these federally guaranteed constitutional rights (like free speech and access to the courts for redress of grievances) guaranteed by our fore fathers. Hank wants to make DHS the first Fascist Nazi city in California. Like Hitler, we need to keep Nuts like Hank from ever becoming our head leaders.

Councilman Hohenstein tells it like it is
Gary Bosworth taken to the wood shed

May 18, 2005

During the City Council meeting of Tuesday evening at the specified time for council members comments, Councilman Hohenstein read a statement into the record listing a series of charges against fellow councilman Bosworth.

These claims were the result of Bosworth's independent action of going public with his personal greviences against City Manager Jerry Hanson without consulting collegues or the City Attorney.

The complete text of the Hohenstein statement follows:

"Statement concerning my friend and colleague Gary Bosworth.

Recently my fellow Councilperson Gary Bosworth has gone to the press with issues of a personnel matter; 1.He has elected not to come to his fellow colleagues in closed session; 2. He has elected to go to the Riverside County Grand Jury; 3. There has been no response, to my knowledge, from the Grand Jury; 4. Then he has gone to the press once again; 5. He has elected not to go to his colleagues in closed session; 6.He has gone to the Fair Political Practices Commission in Sacramento; 7. He has created, with these actions, a toxic work environment and an atmosphere of employee harassment by a supervisor; 8. He has subjected the City of DHS to enormous financial risk when considering future borrowing, future grave risk to those who have invested in DHS from home owners to those seeking commercial opportunities; 9. He has subjected the City of DHS to severe litigation risk; 10. He has subjected the staff of the City of DHS to a poisonous work environment, decreased morale and made the City Manager ineffective which can be construed as constructive discharge. All of these may commit the City of DHS to great expense; 11. Mr. Bosworth acts not as a private citizen, 12. He acts not as a councilperson; 13. He acts as the Chairman of a Riverside County political committee; 14. He acts as a person whose sole responsibility is to defeat opposing candidates; 15. His unilateral actions have poisoned the relationships the City of DHS may have with Cathedral City one of our esteemed sister cities; 16. His unilateral action works hardships on the City of DHS relationships with Congress from whom we are seeking transportation funds, environmental funds and funds to build our own desperately needed civic center; 17. His actions show a wanton disregard for the concern for the citizens of DHS; 18. His actions put self before community.

I am sorely disappointed and deeply saddened.

I am asking the City Attorney bring back, to this Council, a policy that requires all personnel issues involving the City Manager be brought forward to the Council in closed session before any action can be taken by an individual Councilperson."

Hank Hohenstein

05/18/05

Gabriel King