09/25/05

09/14/05

The Desert Sun
September 10, 2005 September 10, 2005

Desert Sun Watchdogs
September 14, 08:43 a.m.
Sniff out the other cities, DHS is only a "sample" of the local corruption in our system. It is time for the people to clean up our government. We the people, are paying too much for their salary schemes while they waste our hard earned taxes on poor public administration efforts, which is drenched with corrupt politics.

Release the watchdogs!


-- Sam Schwartz



Stephens
September 14, 07:41 a.m.
Of course she was in conflict. Ethical behavoir should begin when you are in kindergarten, not when you are in your mid 40's, with kids, grandkids, etc. Who does this women think she is ? She should have known better before taking a job with the major develoepr inthe City... Now, what about Yvone Parks, Adam Sanchez, JOhn Gerardi? Dont they have a connection with Luce too?? But they are approving projects on the planning commission for him? When is the greasy backdoor deals going to stop in that City?

You people are not as intelligent as you think.

-- DHS Supporter



She quit the wrong job.
September 14, 07:40 a.m.
What an idiot, seems that lot can't do anything right.

So when the recall goes through, and it will because her public approvel rating is lower than Bush's, she will be unemployed.

-- Laughing my ass off at DHS.
P.D.


Stephens
September 14, 06:45 a.m.
It's about time Mary did something right -- she also should relieve the city of her corrupt ways and resign from her post as vice mayor but that won't happen . . .

-- mealey mouse
DHS

Quit or fired?
September 14, 05:00 a.m.
Luce says he thought Sharon Stephens would be the next mayor, and it was because of this he hired her.

As it stands now she will not even be able to hold onto her council seat because of the recall against her and Hank Horenstein.

So perhaps she was asked to submit her resignation to Luce, because she would not be useful to him anymore once she no longer has inside influence.

In any case, many people in DHS wish she would move across the freeway.

-- Bill P.
DHS


How could it not be?
September 14, 03:40 a.m.
She should resign from the council as well, save the city the cost of recalling her. That goes for Hank Horenstein as well. those two have done nothing but make inside deals for their developer freinds, and incur millions of dollars in liabilities for the city, and line their own pockets with revenues from the impact fees.

Everybody knows that new homes cost the city they are buildt in money. The impact fees only pay a fraction of what they cost to be made part of a community. The real revenue that helps city bubgets come from sales taxes. A car dealership is an excellant example of this.
So how is it that the commercial district in DHS 1/2 block east of city hall has been turned into an industrial Zone with four construction companys storing their equipment there. Three years ago this area had antique stores there. The construction companys should be located in that area on Little Morongo Rd. which is an industrial zoned area. Imagine how those residents feel living next to that constant noise and smell of heavy equipment.

-- Ron Evers
High Desert

Not recall, we need resignations

The Desert Hot Springs City Council has finally nullified the extravagant contract for former City Manager Jerry Hanson ("City to request a federal audit," Sept. 8). However, that does not nullify the actions of the council that voted for it and repeatedly justified it over and over until today. Now what we hear from our council is it was all Hanson's fault. Our council is unwilling to share the blame despite their many published statements saying that Hanson's greed was worth every penny.
Now, it's inevitable that Hanson will sue. And what will that cost? And can our city get back the money already paid Hanson?

By their own incompetent actions, council members Hank Hohenstein and Mary Stevens deserve to be recalled and replaced. They have lost the respect of citizens and no longer serve as leaders we can trust. If they now want to save our city money and improve our image, they should resign and avoid the costs and controversy of recall.

Dean Gray
Desert Hot Springs



Where do we go from here?

Who has to be held ultimately responsible for this total lack of leadership and accountability in the never-ending Jerry Hanson story? Any Desert Hot Springs City Council member who voted in favor of the contract is either incompetent, for not comprehending the terms specified in the contract, or in collusion. In either case, they should be removed from public office ("Council about to get served," Sept. 7).
The operative word here being "public." Exactly who is being served? In the aftermath of this, the weight of this will most likely be borne by Desert Hot Springs residents. With limited city funds on hand one has to ask which services that benefit the residents will be modified and/or eliminated and what impact might they have short and long term. A potential cost of $3.19 million can be better spent to improve the community and that benefits the residents.

As a homeowner, I'm angry. An improved community will foster an attractive area for outsiders to consider for relocating. This has to start with trust in city officials. I don't know the current interim City Manager Corky Larson, but based on actions taken to date, we have a good start in improving our community.

Michael Apruzzese
Desert Hot Springs



Appalled and ashamed

I am deeply appalled by the repeated acts of unconscionable foolishness shown by Mayor Matt Weyuker, Vice Mayor Mary Stephens and Councilman Hank Hohenstein.
Are these individuals void of understanding the concepts of fiduciary responsibility or common sense? How could they let the city manager write his own contracts while ignoring the advice of the city attorney? Are they that pompous?

Whatever the case, none of these individuals should be on the City Council and, certainly, they should not be allowed to hire the new city manager ("City meets two prospective leaders - sort of," Sept. 6). This privilege should go to the newly elected council in November. Perhaps approaching the League of California Cities for an interim city manager would be a best case scenario.

I offer my sincere gratitude to The Desert Sun for its continued coverage of Desert Hot Springs City Council. I truly believe the sneaky shenanigans that have come to light in the past year would have all been swept under the carpet if it were not for your sense of what America stands for.

Daniel Scott
Desert Hot Springs



Don't let this council hire manager

Due to the Jerry Hanson debacle, the mayor, the vice mayor and the rest of the City Council do not deserve to have any input in the selection of a new city manager of Desert Hot Springs ("City meets two prospective leaders - sort of," Sept. 6).
The mystery meeting presenting two candidates for the manager position illustrates the council's ineptitude: Introducing two unknown people for the job with no names and no resumes in a public meeting held on Labor Day when a lot of the voters are of town. What a farce.

I suggest that Corky Larson continue as acting city manager until the upcoming election results are known and then the new council can deal with selection a new manager.

Richard von Ravensberg
Desert Hot Springs



DHS
September 10, 00:57 a.m.
A question. Who will be buying all these houses that will be built in DHS? I moved to DHS 2 years ago and can't wait to sell my house and get out of this F#@k'd up "City". The city council as it stands right now is to blame for this. I see higher taxes in the future for citizens of DHS because of the mismanagement of this city. This tax will be added to your utility bill. As it is right now DHS residents already have a special tax on their utility bill from the last law suit.

-- Todd
DHS


Reya
September 09, 11:02 p.m.
Reya says;

"Yes DHS still has hope
September 09, 7:47 p.m.
TO RID ITSELF of the BLATANT NEPOTISM, to RID ITSELF of the utterly INCOMPETENT
"Leaders" who are so obviously pillaging this town. Mayor Matt, Vice Mayor Mary, Hank=go now. Do any of you have a shred of decency? Do you have any shame about the inactions and misactions that you've wrought on this town? You have made DHS a laughingstock. You have sold our town's soul..to developers, to backdoor dealings, to grift and inefficiancy. Please resign. It is literally embarassing to live in the same town with such patently incompetent civic leadership.

-- Reyna
Desert Hot Springs"

Dear Reya. Using the word "You" is incorrect. These are the leaders WE all voted for.

And therefore it is OUR responsibility to recall them.

So go help Pat over at car care next to carl's JR to recall 2 of these bums and vote the other remaining council out this november. Matt is leaving at the end of his term, thank God

Quite asigning blame to "YOU" and instead take responsibility, join us and roll up our sleeves and clean up the mess WE the voter created


-- gabriel
save DHS from mary & hank by recalling them


DHS, bankrupt again
September 09, 4:47 p.m.
There are several lawsuits against the city of DHS, and we have our current city council to thank for it.

Two suits alone total 80 million dollars.

There are hundreds of people who could sue the city for numerous reasons, and it is most likely they will once others start getting settled out on their claims.

It was a women on the city council who set out to harass certain citizens she did not approve of. There is only one women on this city's council. Mary Stephens (vice mayor) is that person, and is directly responsible for many of these law suits.

Anyone who has ever attended a DHS council meeting knows this women is all mouth and attitude. What are her qualifications for this position anyways? An ability to broker deals with developers behind the scences? Pawn off candidates for key city positions as random applicants? Lie to cover up for the city manager and other corrupt city officials?

Mayor Matt Weyuker's comment to the Desert Sun on Sept.7th, 2005 labels Mr. Gillespie (a local businessman, who pays taxes) as the head of an extremist clan, because he stood up to initiate a recall of Mary Stephens and Hank Horenstein. The law in California allows it's citizens to do this,and it is alegal process, unlike the shadey dealing ons DHS's city council and mayor practice. Mr. Gillespie must care a great deal about his little township, to vest so much time and his own money (recalls are very costly) into doing such a deed for the public good.

As for the three candidates for mayor, Mary Stephens, Alex Bias, and Ted Mayrhofen, only Mr. Mayrhofen is not associated with any real estate or developer currently operating in DHS. He used to be a commioner for the parks and recreation Dept. of DHS until he was dismissed by the current council because he dared to ask where the$68,000.00 in the parks fund disappeared to. Mary Stephens could answer that one, perhaps to the grand jury. While she's at it, perhaps she could tell them about the funds that disappeared from the Angel View charity, while employed there. We heard all about that as well.

Has anyone thought about drug testing these city employees?, their behavier is consistant with that of addicts and alchoholics.

-- Ron "Just the facts" Evers
High Desert


DHS
September 09, 2:17 p.m.
As the saga continues... I find it very interesting that the people have not went to jail over all of the corruption. It sickens me to think these individuals are getting away with land schemes, contracts better than the president of the United States, Developers holding the decisions for the next City Manager, the past City Manager hiring unqualified people to fill positions that dont have degrees, education, or knowledge to be in the positions they hold... All the corruption has got to stop.

Who is to blame here? Wonder what Hanson has to say for himself now?

I bet the department heads without the qualifications, education to be in the current positions are scared now... They should start looking now for new jobs, because the ones they hold currently will not be avaliable when the new City Manager finds out he has no qualified staff to assist the City to move forward.

-- DHS Camper


What DHS does, adn always have had is...
September 09, 1:32 p.m.

...the ability to recall the mayor and the council.

Remember when we recalled Gov Davis -- same with mayors, etc.

However, to do that people will need to get out there and convince the public WHY they need to be recalled, and then sit in public places, and or go door to door asking people to sign a petition.

When everyone si ready to do that, then you are on your way to getting the Council you want.

However, if I understand the apathy of people today -- it will be a big fight, just to convince people these people need to go.


-- Sharn Stephens


OK support them as you will
September 09, 1:29 p.m.
Sorry, but I do believe the citizens have the right to know about who is leading their city. It's tax payers dollars who pay the salary. Keep supporting underhanded and behind the scenes politics, thats why DHS will never go any farther than it has - and thats not saying much. Obviously, the buisiness of keeping secrets and closed door deals does not bother you. If you know this person so well and they are as great as you say, tell us about her. Her work expierence. Municipal government expierence. leadership skills. education. background. Anything going to pop up out of the blue we should know about? She'll let her face be photographed and in an open public forum, but won't tell us anything about her past or qualifications? Typical DHS - it stinks already.

-- Fill us in
DHS


Re: Duh
September 09, 12:36 p.m.
Actually, it really doesn't matter since the City Manager is not an elected official. The citizens of DHS have absolutely no say in who the city council hires as the next City Manager. I think you are confusing "secrecy" with confidentiality. What happened the other night with the public forum is totally unheard of in city politics. I am surprised either of the candidates agreed to this. The only "rights" DHS citizens have in regards to their city officials is the votes you cast for your city council and mayor. I understand the current council threw you all under the bus with the Hanson debacle, but until you open your minds you will never end this vicious cycle. It's time to move on.....

-- DHS still has hope


Tired of the blatant corruption in DHS
September 09, 10:06 a.m.
Stephens, Mayor Matt, none of them have any comment when they conspire with realtors, or give a gift of public funds to Jerry Hanson, or show City Manager job candidates around to the "town elite", including developers(!?!). What's wrong with this picture? How much more can we take? Democracy for sale.

-- Carl Harbin
DHS


DUH!
September 09, 09:38 a.m.
Just keeps getting better. Why don't we let developers pick our candidates. I am having a difficult time trying to understand our City Council members. I have to agree, a RECALL is in order!

-- Loren
DHS


DHS - did you know this?
September 09, 09:17 a.m.
COULD THIS BE WHY DHS ONLY WANTED TO IDENTIFY HIM AS CANTIDATE B? DID YOU KNOW THIS DHS? SEEMS SOME THINGS WILL NEVER CHANGE. "A finalist in Desert Hot Springs' search for a new city manager was forced to resign from the top position in another California city four months ago.
City leaders also say they are investigating claims he may have received "favorable treatment" while interviewing in Desert Hot Springs.

Presented as "candidate B" at a public forum, David Lane was forced to resign in May from his post of six years as city administrator for the city of Clearlake, Calif., according to the city's twice-a-week newspaper, the Clearlake Observer-American.

-- Fed up DHS resident
DHS - for now



DHS clean house NOW: Stephens Must Go
September 09, 08:32 a.m.
So, Mary Stephens, who WORKS for a major developer in DHS, also invited an applicant fro City Manager to a party in August. RECALL STEPHENS NOW.

"One candidate was there and not the other and three council members (were there)."

Desert Hot Springs representatives agreed that Stephens' bringing Lane to the party offered him an unfair advantage over "candidate A."


Interim City Manager Corky Larson also said she understood that Stephens brought the applicant and agreed that it may not have been the best decision to uphold the utmost fairness.

"I guess you might say one had more favorable treatment," Larson said.


"What contact I have with the candidate should be restricted to the interview process itself so they're analyzed on an equal basis," DHS Councilman Gary Bosworth said. "That maintains a level of integrity and evenness to the interview process."

Integrity from Stephens, Weyuker and the other CORRUPT hogs at the trough in DHS is beyond their capacity. This is blatant nepotism, and Stephens is either so arrogant, so stupid, so reckless, or all of the above, to not realize that SHE is being scrutinized, that her conduct and behavior reflects on the town, and its ability to be taken seriously. Stephens has again given ANOTHER black eye to DHS.

-- Jeff
DHS


Good Job DHS?????
September 08, 10:51 a.m.
What else could the Council do? They (not all of them, at least two) got their hands caught in the cookie jar, with proud, upstanding citizens breathing down their necks with documented evidence of fraud and deceit.
Hank changed his story so many times about his land deals and praised the City Manager – this is what coconspirators do when they get caught. They lie, lie, lie, until there is nothing more to lie about and then dump it on the other guy (Hanson).
Mary kept praising Hanson for the great job he did. What great job, robbing the City.
Wake up people, these council members have no idea how to run a City for the citizens, just how to run it for them selves.


-- P. Dilbert
Former DHS


DHS Wakes Up
September 08, 09:50 a.m.
Kudos goes to Mayor and Council for action at last nights council meeting. They made the right decision. Can you imagine what the City can do with the savings that they don't have to pay Hanson. Maybe a team of professionals can come into the City and really help the City move forward. Hanson is an arrogant that claims he has done everything for the City.,.. well, I for one am not buying the b------t!!!

How can Hanson claim that he worked in excess of 3,000 hours performing in all the capacities he claims??? He wasn't at work during working hours most of the time, oh but he could be reached on one of the secret bat lines that City paid for.. HA - what a joke.

-- insider
DHS


Good job DHS
September 08, 09:35 a.m.
I think it a great idea that the DHS council requested an outside audit from the U.S. Department of Justice. Hopefully, the council will release the findings of the audit. This is the first, and a major, step in re-gaining the publics trust.

-- Witheld
DHS


DHS - Contract Voided
September 08, 09:16 a.m.
Thank God! Finally the Council has seen the light. Maybe its not too late to rectify some of the wrong actions Council has undergone. Apparently Hanson has led the flock astray. I only hope they are wide awake now. It's time to place management staff on leave and find out the damage Hanson has really caused.

I wonder what Hanson is thinking now?

-- DHS Supporter
DHS


DHS City Council;Dejavu?
September 06, 2:41 p.m.
The same city council that hired Jerry Hanson, is now interviewing other candidates for City Manager? And they can't let the citizens of DHS know who they are? If I lived in Desert HotSprings, I'd be concerned; yes, very concerned. Perhaps all hiring should wait until after the next election?

-- B52
America


DHS & Leadership
September 06, 1:00 p.m.
Desperate Hot Springs has great potential. The local citizens need to focus on the process and then declare progress, like the Neocons who run our inept federal government.

-- BW
RM


DHS Mystery Candidates
September 06, 11:32 a.m.


Can I get a job as public image consultant to Desert Hot Springs (for $322,000 a year)? Wow! These folks are trying to restore the public trust in their intelligence. So they parade two confidential candidates before an audience packed to capacity and offend everyone (including the candidates who must be desperate for jobs) These candidates will never live this down! What was the concept? Take a confidential interview process but make it public, set it on a holiday, but get credit for inviting people……the right hand, the left hand. Maybe this would have worked better if they set the candidates in front of the crowd with paper bags over their heads.

Submitted by:
Overwhelmed With It All In Desert Hot Springs

-- Betty Andrews
Palm Springs



DHS CONTINUES!!
September 06, 10:57 a.m.
Candidates A and B WHO??

Well. . . .if this interview process for DHS city manager doesn't make its way to Jay Leno or some counterpart, this country has truly lost its sense of humor. Any of us that have gone job hunting while still employed know the confidentiality issue—which works quite well when the interview is handled by staff at City Hall.

Did any of these yahoos calculate what happens when you interview these self-same applicants at a televised public session, before a teeming crowd of 100 citizens in the throes of a recall movement, with at least five news reporters in attendance? Anonymity?! These folks will be lucky if they don’t end up on the front page of the L.A. Times!

Well, anyone but Desert Hot Springs would grasp the point, but we must remember not to expect too much. After all, isn’t this the City Council that just contracted with Jerry Hanson for between $350,000 and $400,000 a year in retirement/pay benefits whether or not he works? And this June 2005 contract was eight months after Jerry Hanson’s public misconduct was reported to the Grand Jury, the Riverside County District Attorney, and the California State Attorney General. So, given the short time frame, why would we expect the political savvy of the Council to improve—or expect better public treatment?

And some of these folks are up for re-election! I mean, why slow down and take count of the public outrage. Strategically, that is the time to show a firm hand. As of Friday, Jerry Hanson hasn’t slowed down—in the face of a criminal complaint for self-dealing, he has hired an attorney to come in and demand his pay, so why should Mary and Hank and Matt back off.

I think calling a public session on Labor Day with candidates who are unidentified before a panel of close friends -- fits the bill well. Only DHS could remain bereft of the instincts that would tell one this is pouring oil on the fire.


-- Leigh
Desert Hot Springs

DHS = Palm Springs?
September 06, 10:06 a.m.
Considering the direction these inept (or outright dishonest) DHS city counsel members are taking their city government, they’ll end up making DHS City Hall into the same disaster that Palm Springs' City Hall currently is. This truly is a textbook case for recall.

-- M. J. Fox
Palm Springs


September 06, 09:24 a.m.
Canidate A and B will not give out your names during interviews??? This is just ridiculous!!! Why ?? This was a public meeting - What a joke

-- Kim
DHS

DHS -
September 06, 08:39 a.m.
Why is the Mayor and Council in such a hurry to hire a City Manager before the election??? And who are these people? This is suppose to be government. Taxpayers dollars at work... And on a holiday?? Who is running the show up there? No wonder they are in the position they are in... Out to sea in a row boat without a paddle.... Wake Up people

-- Bob
DHS


DHS Candidates
September 06, 08:13 a.m.
Hmm, it does not speak well of these candidates character, shopping around in secret for new jobs. They do a disservice to their present employer(s). What will DHS get from them? No wonder DHS never gets ahead. It will leak out eventually who these candidates were even if they are not chosen, and they should not be!!!

-- Gary Levin
Palm Desert


Public left out!
September 06, 06:58 a.m.
Why is DHS keeping the identities and background (resume) of the two candidates secret? They are applying for public office, and as such, you are entitled to know about them and their qualifications. Perhaps they have something in their background they do not want you to know about? DHS, stop doing business behind closed doors. Let the people see and hear about the candidates now and have time to make an educated decision. THAT is why DHS will never change. A new city manager should not be selected by the current council, who failed in selecting the last one and left the taxpayers with a huge financial burden. Wait until a new council is seated. And Desert Sun, “the public gets cracks” at the candidates? WHAT A JOKE! The public was not allowed to ask any questions. Only a pre-selected (by who?) group of 5 were allowed to ask questions, so where is it the public gets their input?


-- In the know
CC


Proper what?
September 06, 06:40 a.m.
So tell me who's idea was it to hold a public hearing on a public holiday?
Did they do this so that those who work hard to take time off with their families on this day would not attend?
Portuguese? Korean maybe should be the third language for DHS.
As far as the position of city manager goes, I agree with Sky that it should wait till the new council has been voted in. This should extend to all financial ,and long tern decisions which can wait till then.
There has also been a recall started to remove Hank and Mary from the council. Until that is decided one way or another, they should not have any input into those decisions as well.
If the public in general was not allowed to raise questions, I don't see why anyone would have attended this meeting anyways. It was after all just a show with free admission.

-- Ron Evers
High Desert


DHS city manager process
September 06, 06:28 a.m.
Surprisingly, I must admit that what the council chose to do by having an open forum with a panel is laudible. It is not the norm and frankly it shouldn't be handled this way, but given the current climate in DHS I commend them for doing so and believe the city needs a manager now who will guide it in the right direction. From the articles it appears the female candidate came across more user friendly towards DHS issues so it'll be interesting as to whom they pick soon enough.

-- PS Resident
PS

City Manager (Ripoff)
August 30, 10:31 p.m.
I just recently moved to Desert Hot Springs from Carson,Ca. During my many years of living there I had the opportunity to meet many of the elected officials in that area. During a recent return visit I had the opportunity to speak with elected officials from three cities in that area regarding the circumstances and events incurred by the now former city manager of Desert Hot Springs. They are all appalled by the allegations and in fact stated that they don't even earn as a salary, anywhere near what our city manager was receiving and they are responsible for much larger budgets and higher city populations than Desert Hot Springs.

-- Frank Gillette
Desert Hot Springs


Responsibility for ones actions
August 30, 10:19 p.m.
Persons that cause fires such as this one should be made to pay restitution to all parties effected by the fire that have a legitimate loss as determined by the courts. There are individuals that have worked hard all their lives to have a nice retirement home here in the valley, then some careless irrespnsible person can take it all away.

-- Frank Gillette
Desert Hot Springs


DHS City Manager
August 30, 11:21 a.m.
My thoughts are that professionals from other valley cities should be inlisted to assist DHS in locating a professional, educated individual to fill the role as City Manager. Afterall Mayor Matt and Mary, Hank, etc... didnt do so well with the last City Manager. I really think they hired a pycho that took advantage of them and the City... Maybe they are as smart as they claim..... Why dont they wake up....

-- Cindy
DHS

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