TMC: Thirty Miles of Corruption

RIVERSIDE CITY HALL KEEPS ON TOSSING POLITICAL ROADBLOCKS, BUT HE KEEPS ON GOING…AND GOING…

Kim Kardashian may have a sex tape, but Councilman Mike Soubirous now has a water tape.  Who would be behind the new round of high school antics at City Hall?  Among the list of of roadblocks Soubirous encountered as he was voted into office were as follows…  First, you cannot “Like” the City of Riverside Facebook site if you are Council Candidate, because that would give constituents and residents the wrong idea.  Then we had the citation for campaign signs, Riverside famiglias within City Hall, decided to give Soubirios a run for his money by citing him for inappropriate sign placing, even if it wasn’t his campaign people, but a private citizen, who had relocated one sign to his own grass area in front of his own home!  I bet if they just called Zellerbach he would have been happy to come by in his county car, and rip that sign out of the ground and accidently toss it out onto the highway, as a favor to City.  Then the $100K hearing debacle, instigated by two of the most narcissistic and insecure people known, Chief Sergio Diaz and City Manager Scott Barber.  Now we have a hit piece by the Press Enterprise, the Center for Investigative Reporting (investigative team of Lance Williams & Katherine Mieszkowski) and KNBC’s Colleen Williams and Joel Grover.  Incidentaly, TMC was told that this investigation was initiated in and about March 2014, the same time as the investigation by Diaz and Barber were playing out.  This was of course before the passing of the July 2014 Water Conservation Ordinance.  Conspiracy or Coincidence?  Timing is everything when you are in the job of character assassinations.  Well in viewing over the scenario, the usual suspects come to mind, former KNBC reporter Mary Parks?  Former PE reporter and current Riverside City Hall Spokeshole, Phil Pitchford?  The Greater Riverside Chamber’s Ms.Cindy Roth?  Mr.Ron Redfern (former Press Enterprise Editor and now Chairman of the Greater Riverside Chamber working with Ms. Roth)?  Mayor Bailey? Former Mayor Loveridge?  Councilman Steve Adams?  City Manager Scott Barber?  Chief of Police Sergio Diaz?  Former Soubirous opponent and candidate for Council Valerie Hill?  Riverside Police Officer’s Asssociation (RPOA) Police Union President Brian Smith?

  Is this the best they can do to discredit a councilman by political assassination?  The powerhouse Riverside famiglias our out to get him, but this guy keeps on going!  Why is it that certain Riverside famiglias wish Soubiroius to resign?  While the people are stating otherwise.  If the Center of Investigative Reporting really did their homework they would open up a whole Pandora’s Box of corruption.  What KNBC, the PE and CIR didn’t get, was that TMC’s Center for Investigative Reporting stumbled upon the road blocks used in order to persuade one unruly Councilman, when a “go along, get along,” attitude is not followed.  The ACME Product Catalog !

Not to mention, the addition of Wile E. Coyote on the City of Riverside payroll, which can definitely cause havoc in a Councilman’s daily endeavors.  To the TMC investigative staff, that’s dam good research! Something that the CIR (Center for Investigative Reporting) should be able to get some pointers from.

THANKS AGAIN TO OUR CRACK TMC CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING FOR THIS EXCLUSIVE BREAK THROUGH!

The following is a check made out to Wile E. Coyote Enterprises, a smoking gun, if I may say so..  Again, this check was cut, coincidentally, just under the $50,000.00 dollar amount allowed per City Charter, by the City Manager without Council approval.  With all this in play, makes me wonder what happened to Detective Jeff Collopy?  Was he not good enough? Diabolical enough? Clever as a Coyote enough?  Well the City went all out for the expert assassin.  TMC’s Center for Investigative Reporting is still attempting to assess if there is any connection between Detective Jeff Collopy, RPD Sergent Brian Smith, Chief Sergio Diaz and Mr. Coyote…  Of course Mr. Coyote’s resume states his experience with rabbits…  We found one such victim, a Mr. Bugs Bunny out in the Bahamas, under the FBI Protective Witness Program.  It’s all looney as a toon can get!

In retrospect, I guess if 2013 was a rainy year we wouldn’t have this story, but with El Nino on the horizon this Fall 2014, I would imagine this would be a non issue.  With or without El Nino it’s a non-issue.  But if you are Mike Soubirous, that is a different story.  Water, was never an issue in the City of Riverside.  But the point is that Council made water conservation an issue in July 2014, including Soubirious, we didn’t have to in the City of Riverside, because we have plenty of water.  Yes Soubirious voted for it, but it seems his only crime was not changing his timer from 7 days to 4 days.  All his water use was legal!  Conservation was only voluntary before July 2014, since we had so much of it.  But the reality is as follows, if we currently sell 20% of our water to other municipalities at a profit, how much more can the City of Riverside make with selling 30%, or even 40% by enacting a “Faux Drought?”  That is the real issue, that is the real story.  It’s another example of the news medias “failure to communicate,” and investigate the true crux of a story.

KNBC states that as California’s drought worsened from 2012 to 2013, he (Soubirous) consumed enough water to supply eight California households – more than any other top water official in the state, records show.  The statement is absolutely correct, property size is relative to the water usage.  Soubirious property can be divided into 7 to 8 lots, therefore if each lot is using 125,000 gallons per year.  If you divide a million by 8 you get 125,000 gallons.  So what is the problem folks?  All within normal average household ranges.  Well it seems that KNBC, the Press Enterprise and Center for Investigative Reporting get’s the “Duh” Award, yep, even AP is laughing..  Let’s get real, I know that in our neigborhood, people are still washing down the driveways and sidewalks, and watering their lawns during the day and loading up there pools, no one seems to really care in Riverside, because we don’t have to.  The fact of the matter is that the amount of water used is proportional to the property size.

With this investigation KNBC, the PE and the CIR allegedly forgot to do, is to check into the other Council members, such as Chris Mac Arthur, who own a multitude of orange groves which need an enormous amount of water, much more than reported by Soubirous.  Then we have Councilman Paul Davis, who believes he actually uses more water on his property than Soubirous.  The Center of Investigative Reporting and KNBC failed to investigate this obvious point.  Was this on purpose?  Or just a professional oversight?  When City Officials and Elects are involved with DUI’s, Parking Lot Sex, Drugs, Misappropriation of Funds, Interference with the promotional process, wrecking cars and recent alleged rape, it’s all an abberration.  But sprinkler heads becomes the big issue.  If KNBC, the PE and the Center for Investigative Reporting finds this big news, than they are not investigating the mother load of corruption which resides in the City of Riverside.  Again, it’s not about sprinkler heads.  KNBC has already had their bouts with bad news reporting as in cutting, splicing and editing to format a particular view point.  So KNBC already has a track record of deceiving the public.

WOULD YOU BUY A USED CAR FROM THIS MAN, WELL OF COURSE A USED CARD SALESMAN WOULD KNOW..YEP, YOU’RE RIGHT JOE..

What Joel Grover of KNBC doesn’t know is that the City of Riverside is on a punitive water rates.  Small homes less water, larger homes more water, it’s all relative in the larger scheme of things.  But did they mention that the ordinance was only enacted in July 2014, so where are their numbers coming from?  The Center for Investigative Reporting, possibly just forgot to investigate the real truth?  Well, all right..it’s obvious they were interested in the truth

But is there more to this picture than meet the eye?  Is their a conspiratorial nexus between KNBC’s Colleen Williams, former KNBC’s news reporter Mary Parks and former council opponent to Soubiroius, Valerie Hill?  According to the Riverside Area Rape Crisis Center web site, all three are listed!

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

The following is a youtube which shows KNBC’s Colleen Williams and Riverside’s own and former KNBC reporter, Mary Parks.

CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW YOUTUBE VIDEO

Again on KFI 640 AM Radio Councilman Mike Soubirous was crucified by the John and Ken Show via the KNBC report.

Is there a nexus?  What TMC’s Center for Investigations found was the following.  Channel 9 signed on the air as KFI-TV on August 25, 1948, owned by Earle C. Anthony alongside KFI radio (640 AM).^[1] The station initially broadcast a limited schedule, and formally began operations on October 6, 1948.^[2]  Though KFI had long been affiliated with NBC Radio, KFI-TV did not affiliate with the then-upstart NBC Television Network as it was building its own station, KNBH (channel 4, now KNBC), which went on the air in January 1949.  Yep, KNBC connected to KFI Radio 640 AM.

Even local Press Enterprise Cassie Macduff decided to throw a few punches why’ll the going was good but made no attempt to contact Councilman Mike Soubirous for a response, or even attempt her own investigation.  Reading her post, it contains the same talking points as all the other articles with no research regarding how Councilman Mike Soubirous water usage is not that big of a deal.  Cassie should know that the new law was enacted in July 2014, prior to that it was legal to use as much water as you needed, some people even have Gage Canal shares and can basically run their water down the streets.  Cassie should know that the City of Riverside (the public) owns their own water rights, hence, Riverside Public Utilities.  Incidentally, the Press Enterprise resides in the  City of Riverside and Cassie MacDuff works in Riverside.  Why didn’t she ask the basic question or set a direction for the truth?  The only issue Soubirous as many residents have come out to say, is that they didn’t adjust their timers for 4 days of week instead of 7, from the end of July 2014 to when the story came out.  Shame on KNBC Colleen Williams and for KNBC reporter Mary Parks (Coincidentally, now works for DA Zellerbach’s office), Joel Grover, KFI 640 John and Ken and Riverside’s Press Enterprise and their cast of character reporters, Phil Pitchford now works for the City of Riverside and Ron Redfern now with the Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce (How convenient).  Investigative reporting is dead, and if what is considered mainstream investigative such as the Center for Investigative Reporting in San Francisco, we have a problem.  They evidently couldn’t cut to the real issue in the City of Riverside.  What we have in the City of Riverside is corruption that far outweighs the City of Bell.  If any reporter from another news agency has the guts to come and investigate, I welcome it, but when we have an alleged nexus such as this, attempting to destroy the good name of a Councilman, because he is actually doing the work of the people, this should not be a problem.  The problem becomes he does not fall in line with “status quo,” that seems to be a contradiction, even if it points to the media.  We need to bring forth the real corruption, even if it is within mainstream media.  As of now, I can tell you, the whole City is Watching!

What people don’t know regarding the California Mandatory Water Restrictions, is that the City of Riverside never had to comply, since Riverside water regulations are pre-1916.  So the story goes that he (Soubiroius) used 1 million gallons of water between 2012 to 2013.  Well so what, all completely legal, some people within the community use even more.  One of the stupidest things the Council did was pass the Ordinance to comply with California water conservation regulations..  We didn’t have to, we always had plenty of water, but they did.   Some neighbors of Soubirous, actually used more than a 1 million gallons of water, even up to 2 million.  So what the the media is whining about including the PE is nonsense!  Many people in the City don’t know or understand the real truth of the situation.  The only reason to conserve water in the City of Riverside is that we can sell more at a profit to outside municipalities.  We currently sell about 20% of water harvested from the Bunker Hill Basin, if we could sell 30% to outside municipalities we make mint.  Problem is that the debt service in Riverside is increasing more than the incoming revenues.  With downgrades in our Sewer Bonds we cannot refinanced them.  That’s another story the PE won’t print.  You still need to ask the question, of why the powers want Councilman Mike Soubirous out!  I do know why, take it back, I do know why… working on my own time on this site or not getting paid for this, I’ve seen it.  The City of Riverside doesn’t really embrace honest representatives of the people.  But I believe the corruption may extend even beyond the City of Riverside.

According to the PE:

His hilltop property, fronted and backed by lawns, guzzled more than a million gallons a year as the drought worsened from 2012 to 2013, the center reported. It named Soubirous as the worst water waster among water policymakers in the state. -Cassie Macduff, PE

A Center for Investigative Reporting story this week showed that some of the state’s top water wasters are people whose agencies have imposed restrictions on watering – and three of the worst are from Riverside. -Cassie Macduff, PE

If Cassie did her homework, she would find that many in Riverside out use Soubirous, and some our in the 2 million gallon arena for 2012 to 2013, which of course is completely legal.

I believe the mandatory water conservation measures were put in place in 2014, so don’t we need to have this information before throwing so many stones? The City of Riverside has punitive water rates, meaning the more you use, the more you are punished in your bill. If Councilman Soubirous pays his bills, and thereby subsidizes the rest of the system (which I’m not even sure is legal in and of itself), I’m not so concerned about how much water he’s used in the past.If he broke rules this summer that he himself made, he needs to pay whatever fines the City is administering for such violations. Hopefully, he learns a lesson in the process. Let’s remember though, the City of Riverside itself has no dire water shortage itself unlike the State in general.Also, I would expect folks at the top of the food chain to have larger lot sizes for their homes, and hence, be larger consumers of water. This sample set is therefore biased to paint these folks in a bad light from the get go.  -Jason Hunter, Commeter on the PE

During my campaign for City Council, I brought copies of my water bills to forums and debates to bring to light the tiered billing system in place. I have been very open about it. Last summer I contacted my utility (water) provider to inquire about water saving sprinkler nozzles – which were installed in late February 2014. The utility’s contractor replaced every sprinkler head. I paid money above and beyond the rebate offer to complete the project. In addition, the contractor optimized my sparkler timer for most efficient use, timing and cycling. I have seen some reduction, and am finding ways to reduce further. Fake grass would run in the tens of thousands to install and has a life-cycle of 12 to 15 years. I am trying to do all I can to reduce the amount of water i use. I have removed sections of my grass in order to try other landscape options. I have lived in this house since 2006. I am currently serving my first term – and am serving with no pay. I will continue to find ways to cut my water use. BTW: I recently found out that the “CCF’s” listed on our water bills means “Hundred Cubic Feet.” I checked further to find out what this means in gallons. I did the math using the conversion 100 CCF’s = 748 gallons or one CCF = 7.48 gallons. Check your bill to find out your gallon usage – you might be surprised to find out how many gallons you use in a year. I was. Now I’m finding ways to cut that number.   -Councilman Mike Soubirous, Commmenter on the PE.

According to Councilman Soubirous in a comment in the PE:

Michael Soubirous · Following · Top Commenter · Council Member Ward 3 at City of Riverside, CA – City Government

We were not on drought restriction when I applied for the sprinkler head rebate. There is concern over my water use for three years back? No mention of my cutting back the required 15% – which was done. Yes, messed up on the 7 day thing for a week or so, but was corrected when told. Not a planned thing. My water use is consistent with my surrounding area. I don’t waste. I just keep my front green so I don’t get a cite. The back yard is about half gone, all dirt and dying shrubs. That didn’t get reported. Seems like a lot was left out of the press the last few days. It’s always nice to read your statement in a quote that was taken out of context and clarifying parts left out. Yep, that’s fair and balanced reporting. Funny how one article will quote another and the second quoter relies on the first source to be accurate. Nice.

            

PICTURES SHOW SOUBIROUS BACK AND SURROUNDING LAWN WHICH WAS RIPPED OUT IN JANUARY 2014, IN FEBRUARY, THE SPRINKLER HEADS WERE CHANGED AND TIMERS WERE SET AT 7 DAYS A WEEK, PERFECTLY LEGAL, UNTIL THE END OF JULY 2014.(CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE)

CLICK ON THIS LINK TO VIEW ORIGINAL KNBC VIDEO

Also, I would expect folks at the top of the food chain to have larger lot sizes for their homes, and hence, be larger consumers of water. This sample set is therefore biased to paint these folks in a bad light from the get go.   – Jason Hunter · Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)  –  Commenter on the PE.

The fact continues to remain, is that the City of Riverside by virtue of owning their own public utilities, doesn’t have to abide by post 1916 rules regarding water restrictions as set forth by the California Constitution.  We have enough water in the Bunker Hill Basin for City of Riverside residents to run water down the streets!  Which means we own it! you, me and all residents in Riverside.  Another story here, is the abuse of our Public Utilities.  Further what KNBC and the Center for Investigative Reporting doesn’t know is that Universities are exempt, and even swimming pools are exempt..that would pass the million gallon mark!  Let’s look at Riverside Community College’s Pool and the amount of water they use, or UCR, or California Baptist University.  The joke in Riverside is that are front lawns may be “brown”, but our backyard pools are “blue.”

                              CITY COUNCIL MEMORANDUM                                     RIVERSIDE WATER ORDINANCE

THE FAUX DROUGHT IN THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE CONTINUES TO FESTER..BROWN LAWN CITATIONS, BUT POOLS ..ARE OKAY?  It’s never clear what the residents are suppose to do in the City of Riverside.  Build it and they will come…Brockton Bike Lane Restriping…people are still waiting to see the droves of bicyclist.  Can’t water your lawns between certain hours, cut down 15% water usage, but if you have a swimming pool don’t worry about it?  But what are Riverside Residents saying?

“BROWN LAWNS ARE SEXY” THE NEW TREND IN SHABBY CHIC IN RIVERSIDE?  OR, OUR FRONT LAWN MAY BE “BROWN”, BUT OUR BACK POOL IS “BLUE!” AS ONE RIVERSIDE HAPPY FAMILY STATES!

But for Code Enforcement Officers in Riverside who just don’t understand, it may cost you to be “Shabby Chic” in Riverside…  In the whole scheme of things, and in Riverside, the drought is a scheme, you didn’t hear from me, we just may have a “Failure to Communicate” by City Officials..  “Some Men You Cannot Reach”… you may not be able to if you cannot communicate.. duh..  Sometimes getting a good cold cocked in the back of the head can straighten a Riverside resident.  I imagine this because many in the neighborhood are afraid, and again, I say, afraid to argue with the City, or make their opinions known, without the feeling of retaliation by Riverside City Officials or the Riverside Police Department, as their bonafide enforcer.  But many are secretly stating “F” Riverside Code Enforcement.  Residents in the community just want to be let alone… Unfortunately, Councilman Mike Gardner is not really tied into the community as he thinks he is.

WATCH YOUTUBE VERSION HERE…

Or do we just have a problem with color in the City of Riverside?  We prefer “Green” over “Brown?”  Why is Brown so bad?  It simply is the most cost effective color which actually supports all aspects of the mandatory drought resolution in the City of Riverside.  But Riverside Code sees an opportunity, and residents are seeing in now..and realizing the city just doesn’t give a rats ass for the concerns of the residents.  The contradiction again is that Riverside is promoting the fact that the residents “Own” their utilities!  Well if we own it shouldn’t we be treated as stock holders and receive dividends, instead  of them making the owners of the utilities feel like criminals?  Interesting enough, this comes from Jack B. Clarke, Jr., Attorney from Best Best & Krieger.  Some say Best Best & Krieger pretty much owns Riverside politics.  Well anyway, Jack attempted to have Riverside City Hall renamed under former Mayor Ron Loveridge…

Guess how many gallons I used legally between 2012-2013..

Councilman Paul Davis and Councilman Chris Mac Arthur…Guess how many gallons I used legally between 2012-2013?

Remember, we were never in a drought in California, we over extended ourselves by bad building and planning decision.  California had always had limited resources regarding water, and growth should have been taken into consideration.  Your representatives are responsible for that.

NO ON MEASURE-L SPOKEN BY RIVERSIDE’S OWN RETIRED  AND FAVORITE PRESS ENTERPRISE REPORTER, DAN BERNSTEIN:

CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW YOUTUBE VIDEO BY BERNSTEIN’S NO ON MEASURE L POSITION

JUST FOR LAUGHS…..

 TMC, RATED RIVERSIDE’S MOST “SLANDEROUS” AND MEZZSPELLED, “MISSPELLED” AND “OPINIONATED” BLOG SITE!  TEMPORARILY BLOCKED BY THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE AT PUBLIC ACCESS SITES WITHIN THE CITY, THEN UNBLOCKED.  I GUESS YOU CANNOT DO THAT ACCORDING TO THE ACLU.  RATED ONE TWO ONE STAR OUT OF FIVE IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY APPROVAL RATINGS..  TMC IS NOW EXCLUSIVLY EXCLUSIVELY ON FILE WITH THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE’S DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE (WE BELIEVE THIS WILL END SOON, SINCE THE FOCUS IS NOW ON THE IMPROPRIETIES OF MR. “Z”, WE TRIED TO TELL YOU, BUT NOBODY LISTENED), AND DON’T FORGET WE ARE PROSSIBLY POSSIBLY ON FILE WITH THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE’S POTENTIAL SLAPP SUIT LIST… A STRATEGIC LEGAL MANEUVER THAT CAN BE DONE ONLY IN RIVERSIDE WITHOUT A CONTRACT (WE BELIEVE THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN NOW, SINCE GREG SKIPPED TOWN TO THE COUNTY)… AGAIN, THANK-YOU COMMUNITY OF RIVERSIDE AND THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE EMPLOYEE’S FOR YOUR SUPPORT!   COMMENTS ALWAYS WELCOMED, ESPECIALLY SPELL CHECKERS!  WE JUST CAN’T SPELL!  EMAIL ANONYMOUSLY WITH YOUR TOXIC DIRT BY CONTACTING US AT:   THIRTYMILESCORRUPTION@HOTMAIL.COM