TMC: Thirty Miles of Corruption

On Wednesday, May 29th, a forum on the history and health issues surrounding Riveride’s Ag Park was conducted by Penny Newman.  Newman concluded that the seriousness of the violations present at the site will probably end with someone going to jail.  Newman stated that developer Chuck Cox knew there were PCB’s in the liquid sludge, and that it would have to be incinerated.  However, as that would’ve been expensive, he instead decided to mix the liquid PCB’s with dirt to make it bulk waste so that it could be hauled off to Kettlemen Hills Toxic Dump site.

City workers were sent in to clean up the sludge.  Haz mat was never called.  The question is what did Chuck Cox know and when did he know it?  We believe he knew something.

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Newman also told the crowd of several dozen that the original description of the AG Park property submitted by Cox to the DTSC was that of “vacant,” never mentioning it was a former sewer plant.  Therefore, DTSC (Department of Toxic Substances Control) was misinformed.

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Bob Beers, Cox’s Engineer, told Newman that they had the proper document to show that they had the right to be on the property.  This October 04, 2003, Press Enterprise article stated that there was a contract with the City of Riverside, which read that, “subject to obtaining a grading permit from the city, shall….demolish and remove from the Ag Parcel the concrete, asphalt and sewer debris currently located thereon to the reasonable satisfaction of the city.”  Former Assistant City Manager Michael Beck mentions Cox, “jumped the gun.”  Was Beers disingenuous with Penny Newman?

At the AG Park Forum, resident Jim Martin gives a bit a history that took place early on in 2003.  We have to give the utmost respect and credit to Jim Martin, who has been an advocate for the AG Park neighborhood longer than anyone we can remember.  As is usually the case in the River City, no one listened to him when the solutions were less messy.

Martin also spoke about another proposed golf course at the time, perhaps with rules of etiquette like the Cox-owned with Hidden Valley Golf Course?

Both Council Candidates, John Burnard and Alysia Webb for Ward 7, attended the forum.  Burnard was seen taking a slew of notes during the forum, sitting next to Press Enterprise reporter Alicia Robinson.  Were these to take back to developer Chuck Cox and the city of Riverside for damage control?

Cassie MacDuff was also there from the Press Enterprise and wrote this story on the history of AG Park and the bungled cleanup.  It was shameful that not one current Councilman was there to hear the public.  Ag Park neighbors must not donate enough to their campaigns nor have high enough voter turnout.  Surely former Mayor and current Director of the UCR Center for Sustainable Suburban Development, Ronald Loveridge, had to know about the problems at this site…

Residents told us that they when they asked Ward 7 Council candidate, John Burnard, if he had received any contributions from Developer Chuck Cox, he stated emphatically, “No.”  So we at TMC investigated .. and what we found is that Mr. Burnard received a $100 contribution from …. (drumroll) Developer Chuck Cox, as indicated in his 460 filing.

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Who else is donating to Burnard’s campaign?  Ward 1 Councilman, Mike Gardner, contributed.  Of course current Ward 7 City Councilman Steve Adams was is a supporter as well.  Adam’s, whose long relationship of being tied to developer Chuck Cox, would leave a bad taste of toxins in anyone’s mouth … something we know pesty Burnard is an expert in.

Burnard has the support of a slew of unions, even the SEIU, which is quite remarkable since we are told he is a registered Republican.  (Burnard must have overlooked this endorsement, since he has yet to mention it publicly.)  The last time a council candidate didn’t agree with the union machine, we the public coughed up $100,000 for an investigation that concluded with the Council voting “not to vote”.

This stemmed from Councilman Steve Adams, former City Manager Scott Barber, Chief Sergio Diaz and RPD Union President Brian Smith’s vendetta against Councilman Mike Soubirous, who just happened to support ‘No on Measure A’, which was not supported by any union nor the Riverside Chamber of Commerce, and a precursor to retaliation towards Mr. Soubirous.

Hopefully, all this should give those in Ward 7 an idea of who and who not to vote for.  We endorse candidate Alyssia Webb, who has not received any union contributions, possibly because she wholeheartedly represents the concerns of the average residents of Ward 7, particularly in regards to the Ag Park issue.  If elected, will we see another Councilman Mike Soubirous character assassination?

Ward 7 resident, Jim Martin exposes that while Burnard is telling everyone he was against Measure L, all his current supporters were for it.  Meanwhile sources were telling TMC that Burnard was originally for Measure L, but was convinced at the last minute to place his vote against it.

WARD 7 JIM MARTIN SPEAKS ON MAILER RECEIVED ON COUNCIL CANDIDATE JOHN BURNARD (CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW)

Riverside Police Officers Association gave Burnard $10,000.00, Riverside Firefighters Legislative Action Group gave $6,095.48, Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce gave $1,000, IBEW $1,000, California Apartment Association Political Action Commitee $1,000, Ted Weggeland, President of the Raincross group, $250.00.

If you are part of the Ward 7 AG Park Family who will serve your interest?  Vote Alysia Webb Ward 7, the Ag Park Council Choice.

OTHER RELATED AND PREVIOUSLY WRITTEN TMC STORIES ON AG PARK:

05.04.2015: CITY OF RIVERSIDE: WARD 7 COUNCIL ELECTION: WEBB VS. BURNARD

4.15.2015: CITY OF RIVERSIDE: DEVELOPER CHUCK COX ADMITS AG PARK A “TOXIC DUMP!” BUT ASK COUNCIL FOR ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAX TO FUND HIS ALLEGED PROPERTY RESPONSIBILITIES.

11.20.2014: CITY OF RIVERSIDE: RIVERSIDE RESIDENTS EXPRESS CONCERNS OVER POSSIBLE CONTAMINATED SOIL AT AGRICULTURAL PARK!

09.13.2014: CITY OF RIVERSIDE: AG PARK: WAKING UP THE SLEEPING GIANT…

06.18.2014: CITY OF RIVERSIDE: “TOXIC TRAILS ESTATES” ANOTHER FINE MESS? OR ANOTHER FINE COX HOUSING DEVELOPMENT?

05.14.2011: JURUPA AVENUE EXTENSION: CAN SEWER FUNDS LEGALLY FINANCE A NEW PROJECT?

AG PARK PRESENTATION (CLICK TO VIEW FULL PAMPHLET)

Above pics show the digester, a diagram of the digester, more of the broken digester, the sludge and the city of Riverside attempting to dilute the concentration of contaminants with soil.  (Click Images to Enlarge).

TMC, RATED RIVERSIDE’S MOST, “VISIONS OF GRANDEUR,” “FULL OF B.S.,” “IGNORANT,” “MISGUIDED,” “BULLYISH,” “FILTHY,” “SICK,” “PERVERTED,” “STUPID,” “PATHETIC,” “DESPICABLE,” “DISAPPOINTING,” “BELOW THE BELT,” “A NEW LOW,” “SHOCKING,” “OFFENSIVE,” “INAPPROPRIATE,” “HURTFUL,” “MEAN SPIRITED,” “DISTASTEFUL,” “EMBARRASSING,” HORIFFIC,” “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… 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 DIRT BY CONTACTING US AT:  THIRTYMILESCORRUPTION@HOTMAIL.COM