MR. CHIANG,…MR. CHIANG! OK, SLOWLY TELL HIM AGAIN ABOUT THE FIRE STATIONS, JUST LEAVE OUT THE MONEY PART..
Don’t miss next weeks City Council Tuesday, April 3, 2012. Let the fireworks begin, don’t forget to bring your popcorn and peanuts…
THE BIG ISSUE LAST WEEK WAS THE ISSUANCE OF A $4 MILLION DOLLAR FROM PINNACLE FINANCING, AND USING SIX FIRE STATIONS FOR COLATERAL. THERE ASSESSED VALUE ACCORDING TO THE CITY IS $4MILLION DOLLARS. ONE OF THE FIRE STATIONS, THE CAYNON CREST FIRE STATION #14 ALONE WAS VALUED AND COSTED THE TAXPAYER $4,812,684.00 ACCORDING TO CITY RECORDS. THE DETAILS CAN BE SEEN IN LAST WEEKS BLOG POSTING BELOW. WELL IT APPEARS THAT IT ‘S ONLY BEGINNING. LAST WEEK, STATE CONTROLLER JOHN CHIANG’S OFFICE SAYS THAT THE CITY IMPROPERLY CLAIMED ANIMAL SERVICES REIMBURSEMENTS THEREFORE OWING THE STATE THE SUM OF $500,239.00
CITY COUNCIL TUESDAY IS HERE, CLICK ON THIS LINK FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE CURRENT CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS.
Afternoon session, Item #2 Seizing Our Destiny/ Economic Development Plan with regards to an overview of foreclosure conditions and programs to address the foreclosure crisis. It’s great to see the city finally addressing the problem that they have been in denial about.
Closed session, Item #6 Existing Litigation of the Bonaminio Family against the City of Riverside.
Closed session, Item #7 Conference with Labor Negotiators representing City Employees.
Evening session, Item # 14 Mayor Loveridge’s Campaign to promote, attract and retain individuals and families to live in Riverside. I’m glad they are acknowledging this, this is multi concern issue with regarding many residents leaving the city.
Evening session, Item #26 City of Riveriside takes control of Municipal Parking Facilities. The city now has the right to control rules, conditions and rates to parking.
Evening session, Item #27 Adoption of the draft recognized obligation payment schedule for the fomer redevelopment agency. Funding for the obligations will come from bond funds, cash on hand and from the Redevelopment Property Tax Trust Fund (RPTF).
WEEKLY UPDATE:
LAST WEEK, SELF APPOINTED CITIZEN AUDITOR VIVIAN MORENO GIVES CITY COUNCIL A MATH LESSON IN MUNICIPAL FINANCING 101, AT EVENING COUNCIL SESSION.
THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE IS OVER $35 MILLION IN RED CURRENT YEAR TO DATE IN THE GENERAL FUND. IN THE ENTERPRISE FUND (UTILITIES) CURRENT YEAR TO DATE WE ARE OVER $15 MILLION IN THE RED. THE CITIES EXPENSES ARE MORE THAN THE REVENUE’S BROUGHT IN. SHE REFERRED TO TWO CURRENT DOCUMENTS ONE FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND THE OTHE FROM THE ENTERPRISE FUND.
At times these wars have led to acrimonious exchanges between the two sides; at other times the exchanges have been more genteel. There have even been recent attempts at truces and fudges. But an end to the Math Wars is not in sight nor, I believe, should it be because the essential issues are too important and the essential positions of the two sides are so far from each other that what is needed is victory for one side, not a pale compromise that, in the long run, would not be good for anyone. – Anthony Ralston
AFTERNOON COUNCIL SESSION:
THE ISSUE OF PINNACLE FINANCING:
Regarding the $4 million loan for Tequesquite Park, Councilman Mike Gardner ask City Attorney Gregory Priamos if he needs to recuse himself since his fathers property is across the street from the planned Tequesquite Park. If this is true, would Councilman Gardner have had to recuse himself from other issues of Tequesquite Park of which he voted on?
Self Appointed Citizen Auditor Vivian Moreno question the documentation for Tequesquite Park which states that the six fire stations are equal to the $4 million. “That can’t possibly be right, these six stations have to be worth over $50 million”! “If you divide $4 million by the 6 fire stations you get $666,666.66. Your telling me that a fire station is only worth $666,666.66”? She went on to inform the council that first payment of $233,557.52 is due March 15, 2012 and second one of $233,557.52 is due September 15. She mentioned that last year in March 2011 the city of riverside accidently comingled the general fund with money from Redevelopment, and actually believed the city did this because there was no money in the general fund. If there is absolutely no money in March in the general fund, how can we pay $233,557.52 She said that in September 2011 we only had $9 million dollars in the general fund. It takes 13 to 16 million a month to run this city and we are already negative $4 million. My concern is when we get this park funded, it will also cost $400,000.00 to cut the grass ( the yearly cost to maintain the park), and if we have to lay off 12 police officers to fund this I think this would be a disgrace to Officer Ryan Bonaminio’s name.
DOCUMENT REFLECTING COMINGLING OF STATE REDEVELOPMENT FUNDS WITH THE CITY’S GENERAL FUND.
City of Riverside Mayoral Candidate, Dvonne Pitruzzello said, “There is something very wrong here. I’m not sure if you see it, at least Pinnacle relalized the risk of loaning $4million. Of course they wanted to have properties of exceptionality. At least Pinnacle could see the risk with the city by requesting six fire stations for a 4million loan. Why can’t we do a $15 million dollar loan as we do with our developer, Mark Rubin. We are $4.4 billion in debt over 30 years, all you have to do is read the CAFR (Comprehensive Annual Financial Report) Ms. Graham, you will see it, add up all the bonds and add up all the debt. You can see we cannot afford this. By doing this we will risk our police officers. Because of the lack of revenue, she said that Councilman Adams stated a couple of weeks ago, that if we were to call for a police officer, if we needed one, they won’t be available”.
CITY OF RIVERSIDE’S TOTAL AGGREGATE DEBT WHICH TOTALS TO $4.4 BILLION
Just as the previous speakers, I’m concerned we putting to much collateral for $4 million. You are placing six firestations at risk because of our financial status.
You have grossly undervalued those firestations. You have $4 billion in debt, but you vote yes when you don’t know what your voting on because you don’t read the back up for these issues.
After the vote 7-0 Andy Melendrez asked Assisstant Finance Director Bret Mason about the $4 billion dollars in debt mentioned by public comment speakers, and asked for an explanation from assistant finance director Scott Bret. Does the council continue to be oblivious to these figures whereby citizens are aware those figures from public records? Mr. Mason answers Councilman question of the specifics of that $4 billion dollar number by stating,’ it’s the number that is touted’. The 4 billion debt number is a number that is the sum total of all payments due over 30 years from Redevelopment and the General Fund, I can’t confirm the number, but it is a ‘high number like that”, referring to the $4.4 million debt. The city has never defaulted on a payment, and the city has a good credit rating.
According Assistant Finance Director Scott Catlett, it appears that public property such as fire stations are not worth as much to banks when used as collateral. It looks as if they look at the ‘insured value”. It would therefore appear to be bad deal, because banks view the properties as a ‘re-use value’ based on a third party appraisal, which answers the question of why the assessed value of the six stations came to only $4 million. It would appear to be a bad deal all around, why would the city get into a bad deal and risk our fire stations? Maybe the answer is they voted first and asked the questions later. It seems to me this can be interpreted the same way as going to a pawn shop. You have a diamond ring worth $10,000.00, but the pawn shop owner is only willing to give you $2,000.00 that instance.
If we don’t pass for the $4 million loan, we will have to use our General Fund, this is because of the Redevelopment, we therefore now are utilizing the General Funds for such items as code etc.
PUBLIC SPEAKING:
“Oh, Seriously”! Rebecca Ludwig almost receives a police escort for going over the 3 minute mark.. Ms. Ludwig also uses a walker.. The last time a public speaker was physically removed was back in 2005 when Marjorie Van Pole when she complained on the reduction in public comment time from 5 minutes to 3 minutes.
TMC would like to recommend to City Attorney Gregory Priamos a trap door scenerio to be installed in front of the podium. If public comment speakers know ahead of time that the bottom will fall out from them 5 seconds after the 3 minute mark, we believe there would be full compliance with the rule. The trap door can be connected to a timer, therefore an unruly public speaker that does fall cannot blame anybody up on the dais for pressing the button.
“First of all, I have brought my timer, because I have no intention in seeing our police officers used for any other purpose than public safety, I will not allow them to resort to being ‘bouncers” if I exceed the time”.. I think that the two officers are to professional to be use in this manner.
I will like to help Bret Mason know what that really big number, if you don’t actually know what that number is, it is in the CAFR. If you don’t know what it is, I can help. Bret Mason if you need help looking at the CAFR, I would be more than happy to sit down and help you. By the way Councilman Chris Mac Arthur, your aid called us ‘idiots’, and by far we are not ‘idiots’, we are helping you.
EVENING COUNCIL SESSION:
Former Deputy City of Riverside Attorney Raychele Sterling commented on the Human Resource Department. I’m going to be an advocate for those employees because of the horrible work environment they are working in, this department is completely out of control. I don’t know if the council is aware, that Former City Manager Brad Hudson hired a private detective to follow me. He used the tax dollars your hard working constituents to follow the mommy in the minivan, spy on my 8 year old daughter, spy on my 4 year autistic daughter while I took her to the doctor, just to placate his complete paranoia. This is what your constituents payed thousand of dollars for, and this continues to go on. Unfortunatley for the detective that was tailing me, I probably was pretty boring, and not nearly as exciting as Brad and his buddy’s would be, because I don’t go to strip clubs, I don’t go to bars, and get so drunk that I crash city vehicles and step out of vehicle wetting my pants. Councilman Bailey, how would you feel as a father if some creep was following you, or following Judy and your beautiful girls.. This goes on and it continues to go on. Your Human Resource Department is non existent. You are waisting your constituents money, because you have paranoid people in management. They are a liability to you. You have employees right now that continue to experience discrimination and retaliation Mr. Barber is aware of this, I know he’s been advised. Mr. Barber used to be a good man, I used to have alot of respect for him, because he once told me that he would never ever mistreat his staff, the way that Brad Hudson mistreated the employees of this city, I don’t know where that man went, but in my book I call that a hypocrite. You need to spend your money on other things rather than tailing mommy’s in minivans.
Truth Publication Editor, Salvador Santana spoke regarding an un named group of people who have been in violation of public comment speaking rules. He made mention that this group is consistently showing a great lack of respect for the dais and other speakers, and to him it looks like a conspiracy. He stated that this group is provokingly go over the 3 minute rule. Having disrespect for the mayor and the chief of police. Stated that, “it is interesting to observe that those rule breakers have an anti-establishment agenda attacking the government and the police department no matter what”. Quoted Councilman Paul Davis, and state he declared to the Truth Publication On line, “I do agree, some of the speakers at City Council are getting out of control, I believe in freedom of speech, but when the disrespect the rules of decorum they are going to far”. Lets speak about the good side once in a while.
TICKETING BUSINESS’S ON STREET SWEEPING WEDNESDAY:
Last Wednesday was infamous street sweeping day in our local neighborhood. A landscaper had just finished his work and was loading up his truck, then I saw the parking nazi park behind him. They continued to pack up there truck not paying any real attention, I believe since they were doing nothing wrong. In the vehicle the parking nazi had already began to write them a ticket. She came out of the car and handed it to one of the two landscapers. No warning, she clearly saw they were a business, but still gave them a ticket. Did not want to get to close to this activity, did not want to chance getting a ticket for ‘loitering’. This is a true indication that Riverside continues not to be business friendly. I would have to warn business’s such as FedEx, UPS, Sears Repair Service, Plumbers probably the US Postal truck to be aware that you will receive a ticket even if you are in our neigborhood for delivery or called upon legitimately by a resident for services. The PE reports of residents trying to move their vehicles from the street before the street sweeper arrived, don’t bother you’ll get one anyway. In Dan Bersteins article the street sweeper runs a stop sign, in our neighborhood the street sweeper followed the law and stopped before going ahead. I also noticed the street sweeper now going slower. In our neighborhood the street sweeper with the parking nazi in tow is more of a bi-monthly annoyance, than a service benefit.
Ahh, A welcome sign to the city of Riverside…
UPDATE ON STREETSWEEPING:04/04/2012: I’m embarrassed to say that this time the landscaper made arrangements with the homeowner to park his vehicle in the driveway so he wouldn’t be ticketed again. I’ve also made mention to FedEx, UPS, Pool Cleaners, Sears and other landscapers etc. that they will be ticketed on certain street sweeping days. This day the street sweeper went down our street three times, once on our side, and twice on the opposite side, with the parking nazi trailing closely behind.
UPDATE ON STREETSWEEPING:04/19/2012: The same landscaper decided that is was just to much trouble to come into the area on Wednesday’s taking another chance of being ticketed, he made arrangements with the owner to come on Thursday’s. Good job City of Riverside, was is worth the $41 dollars for bad publicity?
JUST FOR LAUGHS!!!!!!!!!!
CITY COUNCIL UPDATE: 8:30 PM:
CITY COUNCIL DISTURBANCE: ALTERCATION BETWEEN A CAMERMAN AND TRUTH PUBLICATION EDITOR SALVADOR SANTANA ENDING WITH THE TWO PHYSICALLY ESCORTED OUT OF COUNCIL CHAMBER, TO BE INTERVIEWED BY RIVERSIDE POLICE OFFICERS. INITIALLY THERE WAS AN ATTEMPT TO REACH TOWARD THE PHOTOGRAPHER, THE PHOTOGRAPHER RETRIEVED BACK. THER WAS SECOND ATTEMPT BY SANTANA TO GRAB THE CAMERA FROM THE CAMERAMAN, WHAT ENSUED THEN WAS A STRUGGLE. WITNESSES STATE SEEING SANTANA MAKING A REMARK TOWARD THE CAMERAMAN AFTER HIS PUBLIC SPEAKING. NO MISDEMEANOR ASSAULT CHARGES WERE FILED BY THE CAMERAMAN OR THE RIVERSIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT AGAINST SANTANA. EARLIER SANTANA SPOKE AT THE PODIUM REGARDING HIS CONCERN OF CITY FINANCES, EVEN GOING TO THE HOME OF ASSISTANT FINANCE DIRECTOR BRET MASON AT 3:00 IN THE MORNING JUST TO DISCUSS THS ISSUE. I CAN’T SEE THAT HAPPENING AT 3:00 IN THE MORNING, THIS IS A BIT DISTURBING TO ME, BUT THAT’S WHAT HE SAID. NO COMMENT HAS YET BEEN ATTAINED FROM MASON REGARDING THIS EARLY MORNING VISIT. DURING THE COOL DOWN PERIOD, SANTANA WAS SEEN SPEAKING TO COUNCILMAN GARDNER, THEN SEEN SPEAKING WITH COUNCILMAN ANDY MELENDREZ FOR A SUSTAINABLE TIME IN THE ENCLOSED CITY HALL AREA. ONE POLICE OFFICER WAS SEEN SPEAKING AT LENGTH TO SOME ONE IN CHARGE REGARDING THIS ISSUE FROM A CELL PHONE. SOURCES STATE SANTANA HAS A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH CHIEF OF POLICE SERGIO DIAZ. TWO WEEKS AGO, COUNCIL CHAMBERS ALSO SAW THE OUTBURST OF BEHAVIOR BY THE CHIEF OF POLICE SERGIO DIAZ TOWARD SOME PUBLIC COMMENT SPEAKERS, CALLING THEM EPITAPHS SUCH AS “HORRIBLE”, “DISRESPECTFUL”, “YOU HATE THE POLICE” AND “I DON’T LIKE YOU.” ACCORDING TO HIS BLOG SIT, THE TRUTH PUBLICATION, SANTANA CLAIMS BEING ESCORTED BY POLICE OFFICERS TO HIS HOME ON ACCOUNT OF BEING HARASSED. MOST OF THE TIME SANTANA WAS WITH AN OFFICER, OR TALKING WITH ONE OF THE COUNCILMEN; DURING THIS TIME NO INDICATION OF HARASSMENT OR SHOUTING BY ANY INDIVIDUALS WERE OBSERVED.
FORMER CITY OF RIVERSIDE DEPUTY ATTORNEY RAYCHELE STERLING THROUGH PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST ACT FINDS CITY OF RIVERSIDE SPENT $88,000.00 FOR A PRIVATE DETECTIVE TO TAIL HER AND HER CHILDREN. IN ADDITION TO THE $150,000.00 SPENT BY FORMER CITY MANAGER BRAD HUDSON TO A LAW FIRM TO INVESTIGATE HIMSELF, FOR A TOTAL EXPENDITURE OF $230,000.00 STERLING REFERS TO THOSE IN CHARGE, COUNCIL AND MAYOR, AS THE “BOBBLE HEAD BRIGADE”.
COUNCILMAN AND MAYORAL CANDIDATE ANDY MELENDEZ’S MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE SERAF PAYMENT OF $3.4 MILLION REMOVAL FROM THE LOW INCOME HOUSING FUND BECOMES EVIDENT. A FINDING WAS MADE, BUT NO REPORTABLE DOCUMENTATION OF A JUSTIFICATION WAS EVIDENT FOR THE APPROVED TRANSFER.
MAYORAL CANDIDATE TO REQUEST PUBLIC RECORDS IN CONNECTION TO THE OFFICE OF CITY ATTORNEY EXPENDITURES. ALLEGATIONS HAVE BEEN RAISED OF NEGLIGENT SPENDING AND BEHAVIOR, SUCH AS PRIAMOS USING HIS SECRETORY TO DECORATE HIS HOME, PLAYING GOLF WITH HIS SUPERVISORS AND FORMER POLICE CHIEF RUSSELL LEACH AND FORMER EMPLOYEE KATHY GONZALEZ. QUESTIONS REGARDING HER POSITION AS ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY AT THE TIME OF HER DEATH, BUT RECEIVING THE MAXIMUM ON THE PAYSCALE OF $120,000.00 ASSOCIATED WITH THE TITLE OF DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY. THE QUESTION POSED TOWARD CITY ATTORNEY GREGORY PRIAMOS WAS DOES HE KNOW THE MEANING OF THE TERM, ‘INSURANCE FRAUD’?
TMC WELCOMES NEWEST BLOGGER TO THE COMMUNITY, CITY MANAGER SCOTT BARBER. BARBER RECOMMENDS TO THE COUNCIL TO PLACE A BLOG FOR THE COMMUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS. QUESTIONS ABOUND OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF INTEROFFICE DATING AS RUMORED OF BARBER WITHOUT A LOVE CONTRACT.
NO SIGHT OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER PAUL SUNDEEN THIS WEEK.
THE CASE OF SGT. VALMONT GRAHAM HAS BEEN RUMORED TO HAVE BEEN SETTLED OUT OF COURT. CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE RICHARD ROTH, ALSO HIRED TO REPRESENT THE CITY AGAINST GRAHAM’S ALLEGATIONS OF RACISM WITH THE RIVERSIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT. INCIDENTLY ENDORSED BY MAYOR LOVERIDGE. CINDY ROTH, PRESIDENT/CEO OF THE GREATER RIVERSIDE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS ALSO INCIDENTLY SUPPORTED WITH FINANCIAL DONATIONS BY THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE.
LA ENDS RED LIGHT CAMERA’S! CBS INVESTIGATION FOUND ACCIDENTS WENT UP. COUNCILMAN STATES FINES WERE EXCESSIVE. THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE CONTINUES TO ENDORSE AND SUPPORT A RED LIGHT PROGRAM IN LIEU OF THE EXPENSE AND STUDIES OF NO BENEFIT.
TMC ENDORSES DVONNE PITRUZZELLO FOR CITY OF RIVERSIDE MAYOR
TMC, RATED RIVERSIDE’S MOST “SLANDEROUS” AND MEZZSPELLED, “MISSPELLED” AND “OPINIONATED” BLOG SITE! TMC IS NOW EXCLUSIVELY ON FILE WITH THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE’S DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, AND PROSSIBLY POSSIBLY ON FILE WITH THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE’S POTENTIAL SLAPP SUIT LIST… WE WILL HAVE TO ASK GREGORY ABOUT THAT ONE… AGAIN, THANK-YOU COMMUNITY OF RIVERSIDE AND THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE EMPLOYEE’S FOR YOUR SUPPORT! COMMENTS ALWAYS WELCOMED, ESPECIALLY SPELL CHECKERS! EMAIL ANONYMOUSLY WITH YOUR DIRT OR FOR CONTACT! THIRTYMILESCORRUPTION@HOTMAIL.COM
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Javier Moreno
TMC: Thirty Miles of Corruption 
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