TMC: Thirty Miles of Corruption

City of Riverside’s own taxpayer advocate, Vivian Moreno, gives her take on the this year’s Mayorial Race.  Andy Melendrez has been Councilman for Ward 2 since 2006.  It was important to TMC that we review his track record.

Councilman Andy Melendrez’s attempt to re-brand the City of Riverside as a “Sanctuary City” appeared to be part of his hidden agenda according to many in the community and not brought forward prominently as part of a City Council discussion way back on August 26, 2014.  As a result, a formal Code of Ethics and Conduct complaint was filed by Fontana Council candidate Tressy Capps, specifically against Melendrez’s assertion that their would be no “fiscal impact” in the adoption of this resolution, as stated in the City Council Memorandum.  The following is the filed complaint by Tressy Capps.

CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW FULL ETHICS COMPLAINT FILED BY CAPPS

The following is the City Council Memorandum stating that there would be no “fiscal impact” with the adoption of this humanitarian resolution.  Really now Andy!  TMC knows that the policy gets set first: then the “ask” (cha-ching) comes later.

CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW CITY COUNCIL MEMORANDUM

What was more concerning was that this item/resolution was placed on the Consent Calendar, in what could be seen as a way to sneak a real issue of community concern by the public, by not bringing it allowing discussion from differing viewpoints.  Instead, it was removed from the consent calendar for discussion and eventually shot down after a huge waste of time that only divided the community.  This kind of pandering political play makes Andy untrustworthy to many in his own Ward.  The resolution provides no clarity towards whether the term “immigrants,” applies to those here legally or illegally, and we would guess that’s intentional.  Because if they were in the country legally, we surmise there would be reason to have a resolution to protect immigrants.  We provide the resolution below:

CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW THE MELENDREZ HUMANITARIAN RESOLUTION

Capps states that this resolution directly violates specifically page 4, item #6 of the Code of Ethics and Conduct for Elected Officials.  She cited the item, “they will seek to insure that information provided by the city government to the public is accurate and clear.”  Where is former City Attorney Greg Priamos when we need him to pick the nits?  Oh Hell, he would just make matters worse.

       

CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW FULL CODE OF ETHICS AND CONDUCT (CLICK IMAGES ABOVE TO ENLARGE)

Many in the community feel this resolution advocates breaking Federal law.  It appears that Melendez in that case would not only be advocating violating the law, he is also offering that it would be ok for the City of Riverside to accept those who have entered the country illegally.  TMC feels this would be done without consideration of those in his community who are legal, and need help, such as are veterans, homeless, residents struggling financially to make ends meet, etc.  On the other hand, proponents state that we need to ensure that the security, protection and needs of illegal or undocumented children are addressed on a humanitarian level, which appears we would agree with…from a Federal level.  Many cities have adopted similar resolutions, even some states, but we at TMC ask what the fallout will be when you’re in conflict Federal laws.  Our guess is, watching what is transpiring in DC at the moments, the consequences will affect the general public of these “sanctuaries” negatively.

 

A call-out to a community group we think West Siders show know about:

TONIGHT is the NIGHT! RRR MEETING: FEBRUARY 10, 2020:

Local Artist Wayne Cardoos will bring his Disney art to share in our raffle drawings!

La Sierra Church address:  RRR Monday Night, February 10, 2020

NEWLY ADDED Speaker:  City Planning Commissioner, Sean Mill – Ward 5,  will give a brief presentation on the City Planning Commission, to include:

o   How does city planning commission work

• Who is on this commission?
• How do residents get selected to the commission?
• What would constitute removal from the commission
• What is the process for a project to reach the commission
• What criteria is used to approve/disapprove a project
• When residents “show up”, does their opinion affect the vote of the commissioners
• When the commission votes “Yes”, what are the next steps
• When the commission votes “No, what are the next steps

NEW MEETING LOCATION for this MEETING: RRR will meet at La Sierra University Youth & Education Center: 4937 Sierra Vista Ave, Riverside, CA 92505: Corner of Pierce and Sierra Vista Avenue… You CANNOT miss the church on the corner.

EASY to find – shares parking lot with the church on the corner…it is next to the basketball court, EASY to park, Handicapped accessible

The Church & Youth & Education Center are on the corner of Pierce & Sierra Vista Avenue (just west of 5 points going towards LSU)

Time:             6:30 pm socialization, sign in and snacks; 7:00 pm Welcome; 8:30 pm Meeting closes

Place:            Fellowship Hall, La Sierra University Church parking lot – near the basketball courts

Councilman Jim Perry, Ward 6, will update the community on city and ward issues; he will be available for Q & A

Councilman Steve Hemenway Ward 7,  will attend if possible

A tremendous THANK YOU to Councilman Hemenway for arranging for RRR to use this facility…

we are currently without a “home”. Community groups can no longer use the police department.

Antoinette Alexander is retiring!!! Monday is her last day; she was to attend RRR for an official “goodbye” from our group but is unable to attend;  Her replacement “Laura”, will be joining us for an introduction and a warm welcome from us.

We are hoping to have one of the detectives from the RPD attend, but I have not had an official acceptance as yet.

RIVERSIDE STRONG:  What’s new with the Dynamic Duo?  They are building bridges in Riverside (metaphorically speaking); come hear the scoop!

As always, the meeting will be informational, educational and FUN!

Sharon Mateja, Chairperson RRR

TMC, RATED RIVERSIDE REGIONAL COUNTIES MOST EVERYTHING, A.K.A “THIRTY MILES OF CR-P,” “SITE IS A JOKE,” “SCANDALOUS,” “NEGATIVE,” “WARPED,” “RAUNCHY,” “LOW CLASS,” “VISIONS OF GRANDEUR,” “FULL OF B.S.,” “REPREHENSIBLE,” “IGNORANT,” “MISGUIDED,” “BULLYISH,” “INDECENT,” “REPUGNANT,””IMMORAL,” “FILTHY,” “VILE,” “SICK,” “PERVERTED,” “DEFAMATORY,” “STUPID,” “PATHETIC,” “DESPICABLE,” “DISAPPOINTING,” “BELOW THE BELT,” “A NEW LOW,” “SHOCKING,” “OFFENSIVE,” “OBNOXIOUS,” “INAPPROPRIATE,” “HURTFUL,” “MEAN SPIRITED,” “DISTASTEFUL,” “EMBARRASSING,” HORIFFIC,” “SLANDEROUS” “FIT TO BE VIEWED FROM THE REAR” AND MEZZSPELLED, “MISSPELLED” AND “OPINIONATED” BLOG SITE! YES WE ADMIT WE OUR ALL OF THAT AND MORE, WHICH IN CURRENT TERMS IS KNOWN AS “UNPOLITICALLY CORRECT.” 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 STAR OUT OF FIVE IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY APPROVAL RATINGS.. … AGAIN, THANK YOU COMMUNITY OF RIVERSIDE AND THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE EMPLOYEE’S FOR YOUR SUPPORT! CONTACT US: thirtymilescorruption@hotmail.com