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CITY OF RIVERSIDE: A LIMERICK TO OL BRAD AND RUBIN!

Posted: August 16, 2011 in Uncategorized
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There once was a developer named Rubin.  Who came to Riverside

And thought he could move in. But then he met

A city manager named Bradley. Who always behaved badley

And together they Raided the sewer fund, sadly.

So low and behold, Your utilities will rise.

When you open your bill, You’ll hear the cries.

The City Council will hide, But kiss your ass on the side,

And this will be our cities demise.

by Dvonne Pitruzzello

KEEP CONNECTED WITH TMC, RATED RIVERSIDE’S MOST “SLANDEROUS” BLOG SITE!  AND THANK-YOU FOR VISITING…  COMMENTS ALWAYS WELCOMED…  SPELL CHECKERS WELCOMED…

CITY OF RIVERSIDE: REDEVELOPMENT: SUSPENDED FOR BAD BEHAVIOR?

Posted: August 11, 2011 in Uncategorized
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A long habit of not thinking a thing is wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right  –Thomas Paine

NEWS RELEASE: CALIFORNIA REDEVELOPMENT DEAD ON ARRIVAL?  THE CALIFORNIA REDEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION AND LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES HAVE SUED CALIFORNIA STATE CONTROLLER JOHN CHIANG AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE ANA MATOSANTOS.  THE SUPREME COURT HAS MANDATED A STAY OR FREEZE ON ALL CITY REDEVELOPMENT, UNTIL THE ISSUE CAN BE RESOLVED APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS FROM NOW IN THE BEGINNING MONTHS OF 2012.  THIS MEANS THAT THE SUPREME COURT HAS MANDATED EXISTING REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES FROM INCURRING NEW INDEBTNESS, TRANSFERRING ASSETS, ACQUIRING REAL PROPERTY, ENTERING INTO NEW PARTNERSHIPS, ADOPTING OR AMENDING REDEVELOPMENT PLANS ETC.,  AND ESPECIALLY THE FOLLOWING:  ENTERING INTO NEW CONTRACTS OR EVEN MODIFYING EXISTING CONTRACTS.  EVEN THE NEW ORDINANCE ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL THIS WEEK IS NOW DOA.

ON JUNE 29, 2011 GOVERNOR BROWN SUSPENDED ALL REDEVELOPMENT ACITIVITIES IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, WHILE CRITICIZING THE AGENCIES FOR DRAINING TAX DOLLARS AWAY FROM SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC SAFETY AT A TIME WHEN REVENUES ARE RUNNING THIN.   THE STATE GAVE CITIES TWO OPTIONS TO THIS SUSPENSION,  AS A RESULT OF THE ABUSES OF REDEVELOPMENT, DISSOLVE IT OR CONTINUE IT.  IF YOU CHOOSE TO CONTINUE, THE PAPERWORK THE STATE EXPECTS CITIES TO FILL OUT, IS TEDIOUS, AND THIS HAS UPSET MOST CITY GOVERNMENTS AS OURS. THEREFORE, OUR CITY ISSUED AN ORDINANCE TO CONTINUE THE VOLUNTARY REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.  THIS CHOICE TO CONTINUE BECOMES AS THE STATE CALLS IT “ VOLUNTARY CHOICE”. THEREFORE ENTERING INTO THIS CONVENANT CITIES ENTER A MORE STRUCTURED PROGRAM TO FORCE THE CITY TO BECOME MORE RESPONSIBLE, THIS IS WHAT THE STATE’S VIEW THAT IT WILL MITIGATE ABUSE OF FUNDS. 

THIS IS WITH CONSIDERATION OF THE MERE FACT THAT THE CITY WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR BONDS JULY, 1, 2012, AND WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PAY FOR IS A FACT, AND EX-RIVERSIDE CITY MANAGER BRAD HUDSON IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS.  THE COMMUNITY OF RIVERSIDE WILL INADVERTANLY HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS THRU HIGHER UTILITIES SUCH AS ELECTRIC, WATER AND SEWER FEES.  IF YOU LOOK A OTHER CITIES, YOU WILL REALIZE WHAT 2 BILLION OF CONSTRUCTION REALLY LOOKS LIKE. REDEVELOPEMENT CRITICS SAY THAT, TOO OFTEN, THE MONEY BENEFITS PRIVATE BUSINESSES AND STEAMROLLS PROPERTY OWNERS.  ASSEMBLYMAN CHRIS NORBY, R-FULLERTON, SAID THE AGENCIES LONG AGO OUTLIVED THEIR USEFULNESS AND SHOULD BE SHUT DOWN, PARTICULARLY AS THE STATE CONFRONTS A $25.4 BILLION BUDGET GAP. BUT IN THEIR ARROGANCE, THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE DID NOT TAKE THIS SUSPENSION WELL, THEIR ENTITLEMENT WAS CLEAR, GOING AS FAR AS CALLING THE OBLIGATION PAYMENT  “RANSOM” AND A FORM OF “THEFT“.  AS INDICATED ON THEIR WEBSITE.  YOU WOULD THINK THAT THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE WOULD BE ON THE TEAM EFFORT AGAINST SUPPORTING SUCH WASTE, BUT ARROGANCE IS DEEP SEATED AND IRREVERSIBLE AS A MALIGNANT CANCER THAT IT HAS LED THEM TO SUE THE STATE.  THE STATE IS YOU THE TAXPAYER.  THE CALIFORNIA REDEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION AND CALIFORNIA LEAGUE OF CITIES, OF WHICH MAYOR LOVERIDGE IS PART OF, ARE TAXPAYER FUNDED LOBBYING INTEREST GROUPS WHICH ARE SUING YOU (TAXPAYER) TO GET THEIR SPENDING MONEY.  IT’S AS IF YOU GIVE A CHILD AN ALLOWANCE, WHICH THEY KEEP SPENDING AN IN TURN, THEY KEEP COMING BACK TO YOU FOR MORE.  THE REAL SAD CONTRADICTION IS THAT YOU (TAXPAYER) ARE ALSO PAYING THE LITIGATION FEES TO SUE YOURSELF FOR MORE OF YOUR MONEY.   THE CALIFORNIA REDEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION AND CALIFORNIA LEAGUE OF CITIES FUNDED A CAMPAIGN THAT ULTIMATELY STOPPED SERIOUS EMINENT DOMAIN REFORM IN CALIFORNIA, LEAVING PROPERTY OWNERS VUNERABLE TO SEIZURE IF CITIES FIND A BETTER USE FOR THEIR LAND OR BUSINESS. 

BUT HOW MUCH DEBT SERVICE ANNUALLY IS THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE PAYING ON RENAISSANCE PROJECTS?  IF $1.58 BILLION IS THE TOTAL FOR DOING ALL RENAISSANCE PROJECTS, WHAT’S THE TOTAL COST WITH INTEREST OVER THE LIFE OF ALL THE BORROWED MONEY?  IN OTHER WORDS, WHEN IT’S ALL PAID OFF, WHAT WILL THE TOTAL COST BE?   THIS WOULD THEREFORE BE A PROJECTION, BECAUSE BONDS COULD BE REFINANCED OR PAID OFF EARLY DEPENDING ON THE ECONOMY ETC.  WE MUST ALSO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION WHAT THE LONGEST TERM OF BORROWING FOR THE RENAISSANCE PROJECTS, SUCH AS 30 YEARS ETC.

SO, TOTAL NEW MONEY BONDS ISSUED DURING THE PERIOD AMOUNT TO $1,084,051,402, INCLUDING NON-CONSTRUCTION PROCEEDS, AS INDICATED IN TABLE 1.   THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF OTHER FUNDING SOURCES IN THE RENAISSANCE: 

1. DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES.

2.USER FEES.

3. STATE, FEDERAL AND REGIONAL GRANTS.

4. LAND SALE PROCEEDS.

5. PRIVATE FUNDING- SUCH AS RAILROADS, DONATIONS ETC.

6. GENERAL FUND CASH.

7. RDA TAX INCREMENT.

8. CERTAIN OLDER RDA BOND PROCEEDS ALLOCATED TO RENAISSANCE.

9. CERTAIN MEASURE-G PROCEEDS ALLOCATED TO RENNAISSANCE.

10. FUTURE PLANNED RIVERSIDE CONVENTION CENTER BOND ISSUE.

THE ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE AMOUNT VARIES BUT TYPICALLY IS IN THE MID $60 MILLLION RANGE FOR 2012 AND EVEN 2013, AS INDICATED IN THIS TABLE 2.  IN YEAR 2014 THERE IS A BALLOON PAYMENT THAT WILL LIKELY BE REFINANCED.  IT IS WORTH MENTIONING THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE DEBT IS UTILITY DEBT, WHICH THEY ROUTINELY CARRY AND WOULD HAVE REGARDLESS OF THE RENAISSANCE.  THE ACTUAL APPROXIMATE COST OVER THE LIFE OF DEBT WOULD HIT THE $2.0 BILLION MARK.  THEREFORE, BASED ON THE APPROXIMATE POPULATION COUNT IN THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE, EVERY MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD IN THE CITY WILL BE LEFT TO PAY FOR THE RIVERSIDE RENAISSANCE IN INCREASED SEWER, WATER, ELECTRIC, PARKING AND GENERAL FUND REPLACEMENT.  THE $2.0 BILLION BREAKDOWN IS AS FOLLOWS:  THE PRINICIPAL IS $1,084,051,402 AND THE INTEREST IS $979,022,581.  TODAY, THE COST TO EACH INDIVIDUAL WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $6,660.00, OR A FAMILY OF FOUR WILL HAVE TO PAY OUT $26,400.00. 

JOHN CHIANG, WHERE ART THOU? YOU CERTAINLY ARE NOT IN RIVERSIDE….

UPDATE:08/28/2011: OF COURSE, THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE AND THE CALIFORNIA REDEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION, A TAXPAYER LOBBYING GROUP, WON’T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER ON THE SUPREME COURTS RULING OF PLACING A STAY ON ALL REDEVELOPMENT.  MOST HAVE SAID SINCE IT WAS LEGISLATED IN, IT CAN BE LEGISLATED OUT.  BUT THE CRA, WHO SUED THE STATE ON THE CITY’S BEHALF DID NOT LIKE THE RULING.  THE CRYSTAL CLEAR RULING PLACES A STAY ON ALL REDEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY UNTIL THE ISSUE CAN BE RESOLVED IN JANUARY 2012, THIS IS TO PREVENT FURTHER QUESTIONS OF FINANCIAL MOVEMENT.  BUT THE CRA HAS NOW ASKED THE SUPREME COURT FOR A CLARIFYING ORDER WHICH WOULD ALLOW LOCAL REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES WHICH HAVE ADOPTED ORDINANCES TO THE NEW VOLUTARY STATE RULES, PAY THE ENFORCEMENT OBLIGATION PAYMENTS AND CONTINUE TO  DO LOCAL RDA BUSINESS AS USUAL.  BUT WHAT IS QUITE IRONIC IS THAT THE CRA AND THE CITY DID NOT LIKE THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM TO BEGIN WITH, THAT’S WHY THEY ARE SUING.  SINCE SUING THE STATE PLACED A STAY ON ALL ACTIVITY, THE CRA AND THE CITY NOW WANT THE STATE TO NOW HONOR THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM IN THE INTERIUM, THAT THEY ORIGINALLY SUED AGAINST.  GO FIGURE? 

KEEP CONNECTED WITH TMC, RATED RIVERSIDE’S MOST “SLANDEROUS”  BLOG SITE! NOW EXCLUSIVELY ON FILE WITH THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE… 

CITY OF RIVERSIDE: TMC CONTINUES TO REQUEST A FORENSIC AUDIT OF THE CURRENT CITY HALL BOOKS!

Posted: August 8, 2011 in Uncategorized
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CLICK THE PIC TO WATCH BRAD HIDE IN SACRAMENTO!

NOW IT’S ONLY A HOP, SKIP AND A JUMP TO THE SACRAMENTO COUNTY OFFICES IN CASE STATE CONTROLLER JOHN CHIANG HAS A FEW AUDITING QUESTIONS REGARDING DISCRETIONARY FUND SPENDING IN THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE FOR NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER BRADLEY HUDSON. 

WHO WILL BE HIDING BEHIND THE COMPUTER NEXT WHEN THE AUDITOR COMES ASKING QUESTIONS? CHECK BACK WEEKLY…THAT IS, EVERY CITY COUNCIL TUESDAY! WE’LL EVEN PROVIDE THE DIRECT LINK SO YOU CAN CHECK THE CURRENT CITY COUNCIL AGENDA. CALL YOUR LOCAL ELECTED COUNCIL PERSON AND THE MAYOR AND REQUEST THAT A FORENSIC AUDIT BE DONE BY STATE CONTROLLER JOHN CHIANG OF THE CITY HALL BOOKS.   WITH A NEW INTERIM CITY MANAGER, SCOTT BARBER, THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE NEEDS BASELINE NUMBER AS DONE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN ORDER TO ASSURE BALANCED NUMBERS AND TO CLEAR POSSIBLE DISCREPANCIES OF THE GENERAL LEDGER BOOKS.  IF THERE IS NOTHING TO HIDE, THE NUMBERS WILL ALWAYS COME UP RIGHT! 

Questions abound regarding Brad Hudson’s decision to leave Riverside.  Is it because he understands the books better than the city council or mayor?  Is it because of the enormous bond debt which will come due July 1, 2012?  His discretionary slush fund spending?  To the tune of over 25 million, then suddenly went down this year when a citizen brought it to the councils attention last year.   Or is he leaving because of the many restrictive inter-agency fund transfers.  Once transferred to non-restrictive account, become part of web of inter-fund transfers reaching their proposed goal?  Or did the questions regarding Connie Leach to the City of Riverside instigate Brad to make a quick getaway?  How long will the council and mayor continue to fall by the sting of the break-up even after the June 14th  love fest, especially Steve Adams, who appears would marry him if he could.   The question is, why would you leave his base salary of $295,000.00 to make $258,000.00 in Sacramento?   

Brad’s yearly basesalary                                                      $258,200.00

Carry on Employee Duty Expense ($700/month)                  $8,400.00

401a Plan Match Up                                                                 $9,000.00

Auto Allowance ($550/month)                                               $6,600.00

Total First Year Salary                                                          $282,200.00 

Additional Benefits:  Retirement Benefit,  Health Insurance Benefit, Dental Insurance Benefit, Vision Insurance Benefit, Professional Associations Expenses Benefit, Moving Expense Benefit of $25,000.00, First year entitled to 42 day leave (1 ½ mo off), Second year, entitled to 84 day leave max. (3mo off).  Cost unknown.   Though Brad Hudson’s has yet to formally submit a letter of resignation, does his vague current employee contract with the City of Riverside obligate to pay out the remaining two years in a lump sum?
Conditions in Hudson’s current five year contract with Sacramento County state a lump sum payout if he vacates the position early. 

Therefore, did the City of Riverside actually pay Brad Hudson to much?   Will an independent forensic audit of the the city accounts be implemented when Brad Hudson leaves, in order to get a baseline for the next City Manager?  Accountability and Transparency may be non-existent in City Hall, but TMC will ask the questions.  The questions the community of Riverside are now asking.  Now the agenda:

Item 11, is Michael Morales’s appeal of the ethics violations against Ward 7 Council Candidate John Brandriff.   What struck me as quite interesting is that there are two other subjects which have yet to be reported regarding their record of attendance.  TMC did our own rundown of the Community Review Police Commission Attendance.   According to the attendance records Brandriff attended 12 committee meetings and had 6  absences;  1 excused, 3 for sickness and 2 for business.  What’s quite interesting is that Robert Slawsby attended 11 committee meetings and had 6 absences, all six for business.  He is quite equal to Brandriff.  Last there is Rogelio V. Morales who attended 9 committee meetings and had 9 abscences,  5 for business and 4 which were UNEXCUSED.  There is a contradiction regarding Michael Morales with regards to his claims.  Errors can be made, but these are obvious in the sense of fairness.  You would also believe Michael Morales would have also filed complaints against the other two, otherwise you would have to believe there is an ulterior motive.  I am unaware if Rogelio V. Morales is related to Michael Morales though they have the same name and many are asking just that question.  The question arises if Michael Morales was hired to follow the daily activities of John Brandriff , or decided to do this as a sole individual?  This due to his extensive knowledge of Mr. Brandriff’s day to day activities and whereabouts.  It is also alleged that Michael Morales is a supporting associate of current Ward 7 Councilman Steve Adams, of which Council Candidate John Brandriff will be in a run off election with.  It is also known that Steve Adams and Brad Hudson are close associates or friends.  The question which allegedly appears to materialize,  is this a political play to damage the reputation of Councilman’s Adam’s opponent, John Brandiff.  Would it be to attain leverage for winning a re-election campaign?  Or would it be a form of political retaliation for other reasons? Brandriff did asked the hard question with regards to City Manager Brad Hudson’s responsiveness to the Chief Russ Leach DUI in 2010, where records for Hudson’s city cell phone showed no incoming or outgoing calls the day of the incident until 14 hours after the traffic stop.  Hudson’s explanation is that his phone was off.  John Bradriff stated, “You’re telling me he wasn’t on the phone with anybody, about anybody, all day, with this going on?  That’s hard to believe.”   So, this is where the question in the community came up regarding Hudson’s personal phone records, which were convieniently unsoepenable.  Or is there a way to utilize the city phone and circumvent the record with City software?  Well, we never received a rational answer from the City.  Or there is the case of Councilman Steve Adams and City Attorney Greg Priamos strong arming a community meeting, La Sierra/ Arlanza Neigborhood Group, as many have indicated who attended.  Adams then made a call to Brad Hudson to end the meeting,  then left.  When an ethics violation was filed, Steve Adams claimed politically motivated because he confronted Taffi Brandriff, LANZA Co-Chair,  the wife of Ward 7 Council Candidate John Brandriff who is running against him.  But this is not the first time, Steve Adams has claimed conspiratorially motivated, stating allegations of others on the dais. What is quite remarkable is the many alleged instances of impropriety against opponent John Brandriff, which make mentioning.   But if you love this so far, you are going to love the Cihigoyenetche, Grossberg & Clouse Investigative Report coming soon on TMC.  (Item 11, 3:00 pm session).

 Item 36, the thing of importance is that the Roberts Consulting Group was originally hired as headhunters to find a suitable and qualified person for the City Manager position, whom back in 2005, you guessed it! was Brad Hudson.  Well they have been hired again to do the same.  It has also been allegedly stated that Roberts Consulting have ties to the Mayor’s office.  Conflict of Interest?  Business as usual?  It appears that the City Council or the Mayor’s office are incapable of hiring someone qualified and knowledgeable for the position.  If in fact they may actually lack the skills to know what they expect of a City Manager, or our they even incapable of asking the proper interviewing questions?  Isn’t that a reflection on the City?   See, many in the private sector do their own hiring, hopefully honesty will be one of the afformention requirements for the position.  Whoever Roberts Consulting chooses as capable, the council and the mayor will accept it as acceptable. Even though the Mayor received 6 outside bids, he still decided to choose preferentially his friend of Roberts Consulting Group.  What  a surprise they were also on top of the Mayor’s list last time they were searching and found our now exiting City Manager Brad Hudson.  In 2005, Norm Roberts, Roberts Consulting, had mixed success.  So much so that the council members rejected the city manager candidates Roberts found and recruited Hudson on their own.  Well they could have saved the taxpayer money.   Roberts also headed the process that led to hiring police Chief Sergio Diaz in 2010.  (Item 36).

 Item 28 Adopt an ordinance to continue and comply with the the new State’s Voluntary Alternative Redevelopment Program. On June 29, 2011 Governor Brown suspended all redevelopment activities in the State of California.  The State gave cities two options to this suspension, dissolve it or continue it.  Because of the abuses of redevelopment an if you choose to continue, the paperwork the State expects to fill out is tedious, and this has upset most city governments as ours.  Therefore, our city is requesting the adoption of an ordinance to continue the Voluntary Redevelopment Program.  This choice to continue becomes as the State calls it, “A Voluntary Choice”.   Therefore entering into this convenant, cities enter a more structured program to force the city to become more responsible, this is with the State’s view that it will mitigate abuse of funds.  Stay tuned for more on this one. (Item 28).

Item 31 Nancy Hart wishes to serve in place of Councilman MacArthur on the Development Committee for the discussion of the leasing program for city owned property located at 10530-60 Magnolia Avenue, Riverside.  Does any of these council people have a real estate license or property management background.  Where is Dennis Morgan of IPA (Inland Pacific Associates) who is the property management company contracted with the city in all of this? (Item 31).

KEEP CONNECTED WITH TMC, RATED RIVERSIDE’S MOST SLANDEROUS BLOG SITE…

UPDATE: MICHAEL MORALES APPEAL DENIED 6-O. MICHAEL MORALES SLAMS PAUL DAVIS BY SUGGESTING HE RECUSE HIMSELF BECAUSE HE IS A SUPPORTER OF COUNCIL CANDIDATE JOHN BRANDRIFF.  CONTINUES TO CLAIM DOCUMENTATION, WITH NO DOCUMENTATION SUBMITTED OF VALUE.  HIS ALLEGED ASSOCIATE AND ALLEGED PARTNER IN THIS DEBACLE, COUNCILMAN STEVE ADAMS IS ON VACATION IN TEXAS.  EVERYONE WAS THERE ON THE DAIS EXCEPT STEVE.  HE HAS YET TO FILE COMPLAINTS OF ETHICS VIOLATIONS ON SLAWSBY AND ROGELIO MORALES, WHO HAVE EQUAL OR WORSE RECORDS OF ATTENDANCE AS DOCUMENTED.  THIS IN ESSENCE, ONLY QUESTIONS THE MOTIVE OPERANDI OF MICHAEL MORALES.  COUNCILMAN STEVE ADAMS IN INSISTANT WITH REGARDS TO CONSPIRATORIAL REFERENCES TOWARDS HIM.  NO ONE IS REALLY SURE WHAT MR. MORALES OR COUNCILMAN STEVE ADAMS’S INTENTIONS ARE, BUT OTHERWISE INEFFECTIVE IN CONVINCING THE DAIS OF JOHN BRANDRIFF’S INEPTNESS, WITH REGARDS TO HIS ATTENDANCE RECORD.  THIS INTRIGUING INVESTIGATION HAS BROUGHT MORE FOCUS ON COUNCILMAN STEVE ADAMS WITH HIS CLAIMS OF POLITICAL VICTIMIZATION! IS HE REALLY THE VICTIM, OR HAS HE USED THIS AS  A SUPTERFUGE FOR FURTHER POLTICAL GAIN?

BRAD’S FAREWELL PARTY: A REFLECTION OF REALITY?  THE HUMOROUS EXUBBERANCE OF OUR CITIES UPPER ESCHELON  WAS NOT TO BE MISSED.  IN THERE MOMENT OF REPOSE THEY WERE ENTERTAINED WITH SUCH GOVERNMENT TOPICS AS POLICE ASSET FORFEITURE, SCANDALS AND CITY CHARTER VIOLATIONS IN A WHIMSICAL SORT OF VIEW.

THE CITY NOW NEEDS YOUR HELP, THE RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY, IN SELECTING THE NEXT CITY MANAGER.

UPDATE:08/25/2011: PE CONTENDS CITY MANAGER SEARCH HAS LOW ATTENDANCE.

UPDATE:08/27/2011: CITY PROVIDES NEW COMMUNITY IMPUT QUESTIONAIRE REGARDING WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THE NEXT CITY MANAGER.

KEEP CONNECTED WITH TMC…RATED RIVERSIDE’S MOST “SLANDEROUS” BLOG SITE!

WATER: RIVERSIDE’S LIFE SOURCE OF ABUNDANCE, NOW A MIRAGE OF DECEPTION IN THE MAKING?

Posted: August 7, 2011 in Uncategorized
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30 YEARS OF
HIDDEN TAXES IN THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE

Holding true by their mission statement?

“The City of Riverside Public Utilities Department is committed to the highest quality water and electric services at the lowest possible rates to benefit the community.”

In 1978, Californians approved Proposition 13, which further defined the word “tax.”  It led to the adoption of Gov. Code Section 50076, which states: “A special tax shall not include any fee which does not exceed the reasonable cost of providing the service or regulatory activity for which the fee is charged and which is not levied for general revenue purposes.”

Before Proposition 13, voter approval was not required for taxes, charges or fees; with Proposition 13, a two-thirds voter approval is required for “special taxes” and property tax otherwise limited to 1% of assessed valuation. Subsequent Propositions 62, 218 and 26 further clarified the people’s right to vote on the issues of taxation and limit government’s authority to charge fees in lieu of taxes.

In 1984, Proposition 62 was approved, which requires a majority vote for “general taxes” in general law cities and counties.

In 1996, Proposition 218 was approved by California voters, and requires majority vote approval for “general taxes” in general law and charter cities and counties. It also requires property-owner approval for all assessments and property-related fees and charges.

In 2010, Proposition 26 became law, and affirmatively re-stated language from Proposition 218 to further limit local government from evading a local vote on taxes and fees in lieu of taxes.

For 30 years, the City of Riverside has avoided complying with Proposition 13.  The City continues to be in non-compliance with the provisions of Propositions 13, 62, 218 and, more recently, 26. This non-compliance has been most egregious in terms of utilitypricing within the City.

The City of Riverside employs hidden taxes in the utility prices it charges citizens in order to transfer large sums of cash to the City General Fund.  Since 2007 the sum of these unconstitutional transfers has exceeded $300,000,000 and continues at an annual rate in excess of $70,000,000. The City’s method of creating hidden taxes and collecting these monies denies the citizens their constitutional rights to vote on special taxes and property assessments.

The extent of the various schemes perpetrated by the City of Riverside and the seriousness of these acts, which in effect constitute multiple violations of State Constitutional law, gives rise to the question: has the City of Riverside designed and implemented secret plans to commit fraud, in fact committing federal crimes by using the US Mail to further the misappropriation of funds?

 “If you tell the truth you don’t have to remember anything.”  — Mark Twain

ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF LAW COMMITTED BY THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE, COMING NEXT IN A SERIES ON TMC.

TMC HERO OF THE MONTH: AUGUST 2011: WE SALUTE CITIZEN ACTIVIST CHAZ STEVENS

Posted: August 6, 2011 in Uncategorized
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In times when the frustration levels is at an all time high, and government trust at a all time low.  The Community looks out for that cape crusader, the captain America who will help them bring justice to a culture of official representatives who have not dutifully represented the community in good faith.  For this reason, TMC salutes Citizen Activist Chaz Stevens, August hero of the month.  Prosecutors secretly admire him. Defense attorneys openly loathe him. And followers of Broward County politics can’t seem to get enough of him. Chaz Stevens noted citizen activist recognized by the community for using email blasts and his personal blog site, My Acts of Sedation,  to keep politicians honest. Since launching his tech-savvy anti-corruption crusade in 2007,  Author Chaz Stevens political muckraking has led to the jailing of three local politicians; including ex-Mayor Al Capellini and former commissioners Stephen Gonot and Sylvia Poitier all on charges of political corruption.

Stevens filed the initial complaint that led to an Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation of Gonot in 2008.  He later followed up with additional  leads for investigators and prosecutors to Assistant State Attorney David Schulson, who had already rested his case but reopened it to share the new evidence with the jury.  Stevens’ tip to Schulson: that Gonot had flown to Las Vegas to participate in a poker tournament the morning after his best friend had cashed a $5,100 campaign check at the center of the state’s theft and misconduct charges.

Stevens has also been credited with with leads to financial investigators which ultimately led to an audit by the U.S. Housing and Urban and Development’s Office of Inspector General, which ordered the city to repay $224,000 in grants after finding that Poitier and another commissioner, Gloria Battle, had violated federal regulations intended to curb special interests.

His feats of activism have captured the attention of the South Florida media, including a MiamiHerald front-page profile about Chaz’s tech-savvy anti-corruption crusade.

KEEP CONNECTED WITH TMC, RATED RIVERSIDE’S MOST “SLANDEROUS” AND MEZZSPELLED, “MISSPELLED” BLOG SITE!   TMC IS NOW EXCLUSIVELY ON FILE WITH THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE’S DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, AND THAT’S ALL WE’RE GOING TO SAY ABOUT THAT ONE…

CITY OF RIVERSIDE: PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL: THE CIHIGOYENETCHE, GROSSBERG & CLOUSE REPORT

Posted: August 6, 2011 in Uncategorized
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THE 400 PAGE REPORT YOU’VE BEEN WAITING FOR COMING SOON!  TMC HAS THE COPY OF THE REPORT THE TAXPAYER PAID $150,000.00 TO THE LAW FIRM CIHIGOYENETCHE, GROSSBERG & CLOUSE THAT CITY MANAGER BRAD HUDSON HIRED TO INVESTIGATE THE ALLEGATIONS OF FAVORITISM  OF HIMSELF.  TMC WILL BE REPORTING THE STORY THEY DIDN’T WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW AND WHAT THE PRESS ENTERPRISE WOULDN’T PUBLISH.  THERE IS NO MAGIC IN THIS REPORT AND NON WERE UNDER OATH!

CITY OF RIVERSIDE: TMC FORMALLY CONGRATULATES EX-CHIEF RUSSELL LEACH!

Posted: August 3, 2011 in Uncategorized
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CITY OF RIVERSIDE: I’LL TAKE A DOUBLE RUBIN ON A BB&K WITH PU ON THE SIDE!

Posted: July 30, 2011 in Uncategorized
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Riveriside City Councilman Mike Gardner said he disagrees with the characterization of the lease as a backroom deal, but for some people, “I don’t think anything anyone will say will change that perception.”

THIS WEEKS CITY COUNCIL AGENDA WAS THE GIFT THAT KEPT GIVING, AND ONE OF THOSE GIFTS WAS ITEM 40 OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA.   THE “ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION” OF A LEASE BETWEEN PUBLIC UTILITIES AND BEST, BEST & KRIEGER.  THIS MEANS THAT THE CITY WILL TAKE OVER BB&K’S VERY EXPENSIVE LEASE, SO THEY CAN GO TO A NEW LOCATION THAT IS CURRENTLY IN CONSTRUCTION.  SOUNDS LIKE DEVELOPER MARK RUBIN’S PROJECT, THE CITRUS TOWER BUILDING.  QUESTION IS WHY DOESN’T PUBLIC UTILITIES JUST GO THERE, WITHOUT ASSUMING A BAD DEAL SUCH AS AN EXPENSIVE LEASE? PRIVATE SECTOR PEOPLE WILL TELL YOU IT MAKES NO BUSINESS SENSE!  THEN IT VERY WELL MUST BE POLITICAL.  MARK RUBIN’S RAINCROSS PROMENADE HAS NOT PANNED OUT AS THE CITY EXPECTED EITHER, WITH THE MAJORITY OF UNITS REMAINING EMPTY.  COUNCILMAN MIKE GARDNER STATES,”IT’S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY THAT FELL IN OUR LAPS, SO WE TOOK IT.”  LET’S SEE HOW GOOD OF OPPORTUNITY THIS IS.   FIRST, IT APPEARS THAT BB&K’S LANDLORD STILL HAS BB&K’S SECURITY DEPOSIT, SO IT LOOKS AS RPU/CITY WILL GIVE THEIR SECURITY DEPOSITY DIRECTLY TO BB&K IN THE AMOUNT OF $151,104.00.   THEN BB&K CAN LEAVE AND RPU/CITY MOVE IN AT LOAN SHARK PRICES REGARDING SQ. FOOTAGE.  YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THE MARKET IS DROPPING, BUT THE COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING PAYING $1.00/ SQ.FT. OVER THE CITY AVERAGE AND RIVERSIDE MARKET TRENDS, WHICH BEGINS AT $2.49/SQ.FT. IN 2012 AND ENDS WITH  $2.75/SQ.FT. BY YEAR 2016!  MONTHLY RENT IN 2012 WOULD BE $175,234.00.  IF YOU GO AROUND TOWN THERE ARE MANY SPACES AVAILABLE AT HALF THAT RATE WITH A BOTTOM LINE SAVINGS TO THE TAXPAYER.  MIKE GARDNER STATES, “WE HAVE TO FIND SOMEPLACE TO PUT RPD”.  SOUNDS LIKE RPD WILL BE HOMELESS AND ELGIBLE FOR FOOD STAMPS SOON!   BUT THE CURRENT BUILDING RPD RESIDES IN IS CURRENTLY OWNED BY THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE, AND LEASES THE SPACE AT A LOWER THAN REASONABLE RATES, AS IN $1.00/ YEAR.  WHY MOVE AT ALL?  BUT NEWLY ELECTED SECOND TERM COUNCILMAN MIKE GARDNER, WHO INCIDENTLY  CHANGED HIS MIND MONTHS LATER TO RUN FOR MAYOR,  DOESN’T THINK THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG OR SINISTER IN THIS CHANGE.   I CAN GET A WAREHOUSE FOR $0.65/ SQ.FT TO HOUSE RPD OR PUBLIC UTILITIES IN THESE TIMES, WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL?  SWEET DEAL FOR BB&K, I’M SURE THERE IS NOTHING MORE THAN THAT OR EVEN A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE USING THEM FOR DIFFICULT CASES SUCH AS UNLAWFUL DETAINERS TO CLEANSE MAIN STREET OF MERCHANTS…. AND IT MUST BE WORKING BECAUSE ACCORDING TO ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER DEANNA LORSON WHAT THE CITY SEEMS TO OWN THE MOST, STOREFRONTS ON DOWNTOWN MAINSTREET.   AND I GUESS IT DOESN’T HURT TO GREASE THE GLUTEOUS MAXIMUS OF THE LIKES OF DEVELOPER MARK RUBIN.   WHY DID RDA UNDERWRITE CITRUS TOWERS IF IT COULDN’T MEET IT’S OCCUPANCY GOALS?  WHY WOULD ANYONE GIVE UP A $1.00/YEAR IN A RECESSION?  BUT IT MAKES YOU WONDER WHY THE CITY CONTINUES TO TERRORIZE THE TAX PAYER, AND THE MORE REASON THAT REDEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE ABOLISHED. 

It’s possible Ex Costa Mesa Chief Steven Stavely said it best regarding his city-  “They act as if they are owners of the business that is the municipal government of the City of Costa Mesa, but they are not, they are merely trustees of these public assets both human and physical and they fail in that role completely. They are in my opinion incompetent, unskilled and unethical.”

UPDATE: 08/03/2011: Back in June 18, 2008 City Council approved the purchase to the Gateway Building at a cost to the tax payer of 3 million.  Public Utilities was then housed within the Gateway Building  and the Orange Square Building.  Once Public Utilities moves to take possession of the current building BB&K resides, the Gateway Building will become empty.  Even though the city mentions the Federal Courts have expressed interest, there is still no current commitment.  This musical chairs  of alleged favoritism will cost and continue to terrorize the taxpayer in higher taxes, waisted money and more wasted unoccupied city owned buildings.

If you haven’t received your  Brad Hudson Farewell Invitation, here it is.  It appears that the City’s restaurant, The Grier Pavillion will be providing the food in order to support Rodney Couch, and at what cost to the taxpayer? Is this even legal in this public arena?  In the past, employee’s would contribute food and drink to such events.  Currently the Community and City of Riverside has yet to receive City Manager Brad Hudson’s official resignation letter.  Does this mean that the taxpayer is obligated to pay the remaining two years of his contract, especially with days left before he leaves?

UPDATE: THE PARTY HARDY WITH BRADLEY PARTY BRINGS ABOUT SOME DISTURBING REVELATIONS WITH REGARDS TO CITY BUSINESS. THE JOKES OR THE ROASTING JOKES ARE A  CLEAR  PROCLAMATION OR A REVELATION OF THE DYSFUNCTIONAL CULTURE OF CITY HALL AND THEIR ABILITY TO CONTINUE  TO CREATE AN ECONOMIC SUBTERFUGE OF DISCEPTION, WHICH IN TURN REFLECTS ON THEIR ABILITIES TO PERFORM AS EXPECTED BY THE COMMUNITY WHICH HAS ENDOWED  THEM WITH THE POWERS  TO GO FORWARD AS INDICATED….

UPDATE: 08/22/2011: Councilman Paul Davis asked that the issue be revisited after questions were raised about the total cost of the move, which entails relocating owntown police and public utilities workers.

UPDATE: 08/23/2011: Councilman Paul Davis first told colleagues he’d heard concerns about “the general perception of the gift of public funds and creating a monopoly”to benefit a private developer, but he ended by saying it was a moot point because the city already has signed a lease.  There is no doubt as to brazen display of conflict of interest displayed perpetrated by the City of Riverside in approving this deal between Best, Best & Krieger, Developer Mark Rubin and the City of Riverside.  “Three peas in a pod.”  How long will the City of Riverside continue to terrorize the taxpayer with shear imcompetance and their breach of fiduciary duty to protect the coffers of hard earned taxpayer monies?  It is not a secret of the contractual agreements between BB&K and the City of Riverside;  even though hard copies don’t exist.  Our we to believe that as taxpayers that we should expect anything less than a written contract?  While the city implies to the community that “we don’t need no stinkin contracts”?  If anyone has dealt with lawyers there is always a contract, but it appears that the City is the only entity that is allowed to perform this “verbally”, or should we try to request a rational answer from our Chief Financial Officer, Paul Sundeen, which would be the same.  Is Best Best & Krieger therefore dictating carte blanche on their legal fees to the taxpayer?   Then there is developer Mark Rubin’s connected liason with the City of Riverside and the City’s alter ego, the Redevelopment Agency.  Is is at all possible that BB&K deal was orchestrated and designed to provide a lease revenue stream for the bonds held on the Citrus Tower project?  Paul Chiang are you hearing the Raincross Bells?

UPDATE: 08/25/2011: One source of criticism has been the $20 million loan the city provided the Hyatt through a special federal bond program; the deal leaves the city on the hook if the developer defaults on debt payments.  The timing of the hotel, as far as the expansion of our convention center, is good. Having the hotel is a key to being able to do the expansion,” Gardner said Wednesday. But has Gardner asked the Marriott and Mission Inn of their current already dismal occupancy statistics?

CITY OF RIVERSIDE SEES SKIN COLOR AS PROBLEMATIC?

Posted: July 29, 2011 in Uncategorized
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THIS COULDN’T GET BETTER, RICHARD D. ROTH, CONTRACT ATTORNEY FOR THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE, FILES A DECLARATION FOR THE ASSIGNED JUDGE TO THE VALMONT GRAHAM’S CASE TO BE RECUSED FROM THIS CASE.  THE ASSIGNED JUDGE, JACQUELINE JACKSON IS A FORMER PROSECUTOR FOR LA AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES, AND RECENTLY WAS APPOINTED AS JUDGE BY GOVERNOR ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER.  THIS DECLARATION STATES THAT JUDGE JACQUELINE JACKSON IS PREDJUDICE AGAINST THE PARTY (CITY) OR THE INTEREST OF SAID PARTY (CITY) SO THAT THE PARTY (CITY) CANNOT HAVE A FAIR OR IMPARTIAL TRIAL.  NOW, JUDGE JACQUELINE JACKSON IS AFRICAN AMERICAN AND  RPD SERGEANT VALMONT GRAHAM IS AFRICAN AMERICAN.  GET THE PICTURE?  SORRY WE HAD TO GO TO THE CITY’S LEVEL TO MAKE THIS CLEAR.  DOES IT APPEAR THAT THE CITY BELIEVES A BLACK JUDGE WILL FAVOR A BLACK PLAINTIFF, JUST BECAUSE THEY BOTH HAVE THE SAME SKIN COLOR?  THERE IS NO SPECIFIC REASON IN THE DECLARATION INDICATING OTHERWISE, WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE’S SPECIFIC ARGUMENTS ARE.  THE QUESTION IS, WILL THIS CASE EVER WALK THROUGH THE MARBLE CARPETS OF THE SUPERIOR COURT THEATRE AND BE PLAYED OUT?  PROBABLY NOT.  THE RIGHTS TO THIS SCRIPT WILL MORE THAN LIKELY BE BOUGHT WITH THE POTENTIAL DRAMA NEVER TO BE SEEN.

Richard Roth, Attorney for the City of Riverside and California Senate Candidate.  Using the Generalisimo schpeel, of course which he earned, but using it as an adjunct for his campaign.  Well done!  Of course we thank you as American’s for your service, but then again, this is ridiculous…

SO, IS IT QUITE POSSIBLE THAT THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE JUST INCRIMINATED THEMSELVES BY INDICATING RACISM IN A DECLARATION?     AFTERALL, ISN’T RPD SERGEANT VALMONT GRAHAM INDICATING RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN HIS COMPLAINT, AND THE CITY DOES HAVE A TRACK RECORD OF CASES INDICATING RACIAL DISCRIMINATION, WHICH HAVE BEEN SETTLED OUT OF COURT. 

THIS, AS IN THE CASE REPORTED IN THE SAN DIEGO SOURCE, CITING FROM THE PE, (THE PE BASTARDS DELETED IT FROM THEIR PRESS ENTERPRISE RECORD, THIS IS LIKE DEALING WITH MSNBC), BLACK RPD OFFICER ROGER SUTTON RECEIVES $1.64 MILLION IN DAMAGES FROM THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE.

WHAT ABOUT THE CASE OF RETIRED LAPD OFFICER  WAYNE K. GUILLIARY?  THE CITIES LITIGATION FUND NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT WITH A FINE TOOTH COMB, THAT IS WHERE ENORMOUS WAIST HAS OCCURRED OVER THE YEARS, WITH IT’S SUBSEQUENT BURDEN TO THE TAXPAYER.  THE CITY ALWAYS DENIES IT BUT OOPS! DID WE INADVERTANTLY MAKE A BOO BOO WITH THIS DECLARATION?

RIVERSIDE POLICE OFFICER SERGEANT VALMONT GRAHAM’S COMPLAINT AGAINST THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE: CLICK FOLLOWING LINK TO VIEW FULL COMPLAINT: COMPLAINT OF 07-19-2011  

NAMED IN THE COMPLAINT WAS NEWLY APPOINTED CHIEF OF POLICE SERGIO DIAZ, FORMER CITY MANAGER BRAD HUDSON, FORMER ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER TOM DESANTIS, FORMER ACTING CHIEF JOHN DE LA ROSA AND CAPTAIN MICHAEL BLAKELY.

UPDATE: 01/13/2012:  HEARING DATE MOVED TO 02/22/2012 IN THE CASE OF SERGENT VALMONT GRAHAM AGAINST THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE. 

UPDATE:01/17/2012: ATTORNEY RICHARD D. ROTH ANNOUNCES CANDACY FOR RIVERSIDE COUNTY 31ST DISTRICT SENATE SEAT.  RIVERSIDE’S MAYOR RON LOVERIDGE ANNOUNCES HIS ENDORSEMENT.

UNKNOWINGLY PUSHING THE ENVELOPE, KEEP CONNECTED WITH 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…  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!   THIRTYMILESCORRUPTION@HOTMAIL.COM  BY THE WAY, COMMENTS ALWAYS WELCOMED!

CITY OF RIVERSIDE: TMC CONTINUES TO RECOMMEND A FORENSIC AUDIT OF CITY HALL BOOKS! UNTIL THEN I’LL TAKE A DOUBLE RUBIN ON A BB&K!

Posted: July 25, 2011 in Uncategorized
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CLICK  ON THE PIC TO WATCH BRAD HIDE!

WHO WILL BE HIDING BEHIND THE COMPUTER NEXT WHEN THE AUDITOR COMES ASKING QUESTIONS? CHECK BACK WEEKLY…THAT IS, EVERY CITY COUNCIL TUESDAY! WE’LL EVEN PROVIDE THE DIRECT LINK SO YOU CAN CHECK THE CURRENT CITY COUNCIL AGENDA. CALL YOUR LOCAL ELECTED COUNCIL PERSON AND THE MAYOR AND REQUEST THAT A FORENSIC AUDIT BE DONE BY STATE CONTROLLER JOHN CHIANG OF THE CITY HALL BOOKS.  IF THERE IS NOTHING TO HIDE, THE NUMBERS WILL ALWAYS COME UP RIGHT! 

MAKE SURE YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THIS CITY COUNCIL AGENDA, AS REQUESTING A 100K INCREASE FROM 50K FOR A PAYOUT TO THE LAW FIRM CIHIGOYENETCH, GROSSBERG & CLOUSE THAT BRAD HIRED TO INVESTIGATE HIMSELF. “ABSOLUTELY SILLY!” AS ONE CITY MANAGER STATED ABOUT THE CLAIMS OF AN ASSISTANT DEPUTY ATTORNEY, THOUGH I DO AGREE WITH THE CITY MANAGER THIS TIME ON THE FOLLOWING ISSUE, (ITEM 41).   NOT TO FORGET THE REISSUANCE OF THE MEASURE C BALLOT (LIBRARY SERVICE TAX) INITIATIVE FOR A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE (ITEM 17).  THEN THERE IS RIVERSIDE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION AND RENOVATION PROJECTED COST OF 36 MILLION.  AGAIN, THEY HAVE THE CREATIVE FINANCING THAT WE ARE SEEING WITH THE FOX THEATRE/PARKING GARAGE EXPANSION.  TAKE A LOOK AT FISCAL IMPACT.  YOU KNEW BRAD WAS GOING TO GET THIS ONE OUT BEFORE HE LEAVES (ITEM 12, 3:00PM SESSION).  

NOT TO FORGET THE “ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION” OF LEASE BETWEEN PUBLIC UTILITIES AND BEST, BEST & KRIEGER.  THIS MEANS THAT THE CITY WILL TAKE OVER BB&K’S VERY EXPENSIVE LEASE, SO THEY CAN GO TO A NEW LOCATION THAT IS CURRENTLY IN CONSTRUCTION. (ITEM 40).  

The leasing schemes only represent smoke from a small brush fire. The really, really big wildfire is in  redevelopment. The Council just dumped another 56 million gallons of gasoline on  the wildfire last night. And the taxpayer is locked into a burning house…with  no way out. -Nomo Taxes, Commenter from the PE

RIVERSIDE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION AND RENOVATION PROJECT APPROVED AT THE COST OF $36 MILLION. (ITEM 12).  THE 6 MILLION OF THAT COST WILL IS COMING FROM REDEVELOPMENT FUNDS DUE TO THE CREATIVE MERGING OF DOWNTOWN/AIRPORT-HUNTER PARK/NORTHSIDE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA.  THE $30 MILLION WILL BE RAISED BY THE ISSUANCE OF DEBT BY THE GENERAL FUND.  THIS WILL BE DONE IN EITER OF TWO WAYS, 1. THE ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES OF PARTICIPATION (COP) OR,  2. A BANK LOAN SIMILAR TO THE ONE UTILIZED TO FINANCE THE FOX ENTERTAINMENT PLAZA.

ON JUNE 29, 2011 GOVERNOR BROWN SUSPENDED ALL REDEVELOPMENT ACITIVITIES IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.  THE OPTIONS TO THIS SUSPENSION FOR CITIES AFTER THAT DATE IS TO DISSOLVE IT OR CONTINUE IT.  BECAUSE OF THE ABUSES OF REDEVELOPMENT AND YOU CHOOSE TO CONTINUE, THE PAPERWORK THE STATE EXPECTS TO FILL OUT IS TEDIOUS, AND HAS UPSET MOST CITY GOVERNMENTS AS OURS.  SO YOU HAVE BEHAVIOR SUCH AS THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE CALLING THE “OBLIGATION PAYMENT” A FORM A RANSOM.  THE CITY ISSUED AN ORDINANCE TO CONTINUE THE VOLUNTARY REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. THE CHOICE OF A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM IS MORE OF A STRUCTURED PROGRAM TO MAKE THE CITY BECOME MORE RESPONSIBLE, WITH THE STATE’S  VIEW THAT IT WILL MITIGATE ABUSE OF FUNDS.  THE PARTY WAS OVER IN RIVERCITY.  BUT THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE DID NOT TAKE THIS SUSPENSION WELL, CALLING IT “RANSOM”, KICKING AND SCREAMING TO THE EXTENT THAT THE LEAGUE OF CITIES (MAYOR IS PART OF) AND THE REDEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE STATE.  THE SUSPENSION WAS IN LIEU OF REDEVELOPMENT FAILING TO DO WHAT IT WAS ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED FOR, TACKLING URBAN BLIGHT.(ITEM 13).

SO COME ONE, COME ALL! THE USUAL SUSPECTS WILL ALL BE IN ATTENDANCE! 

UPDATE: 07/26/2011: RIVERSIDE POLICE OFFICER SERGENT VALMONT GRAHAM’S COMPLAINT AGAINST THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE IS AS FOLLOWS: Complaint+07-19-11   “PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT I DON’T THINK EXIST, I THINK PEOPLE ARE READING PERFECTLY INNOCENT THINGS AS SOMETHING SINISTER.”  WELL, YOU MAY BE RIGHT MIKE, BUT WOULDN’T THIS BE A GREAT VENUE FOR SUPERIOR COURT THEATRE?  THAT’S WHERE THE LIGHTS SHOULD BE, NOT THE FOX THEATRE!   SERGENT VALMONT GRAHAM VS. THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE, NO HOLDS BARRED!   I’LL PAY $60.00 A SEAT FOR THAT ONE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE GREAT CITY CAST OF CHARACTERS, DESANTIS, HUDSON AND CHIEF DIAZ! MAYBE WE COULD EVEN GET EX-CHIEF LEACH TO ROLL IN ON RIMS TO MAKE A SURPRISE CAMEO APPEARANCE!  BUT YOU KNOW THE CITY WILL MAKE IT RAIN ON THIS MUSICAL, AND SEE IT IN THERE BEST INTEREST, NOT THE TAX PAYERS, TO PAYOUT A GILLION DOLLARS JUST TO MAKE IT GO AWAY.

UPDATE:THIS IS WILKIPEDIA’S CURRENT ARTICLE OR DESCRIPTION OF THE RIVERSIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT.  BEFORE IT WAS REWRITTEN, EARLIER TODAY THE ARTICLE APPEARED AS THIS RPD ARTICLE.  THE TOP PART SHOWS HOW IT WAS DISPLAYED ON WILKIPEDIA, THE LOWER PORTION SHOWS THAT SOMEONE CHANGED THE ARTICLE TO THE ABOVE, IT EVEN DISPLAYS THEIR ISP ADDRESS!

UPDATE: 07/26/2011: CITY COUNCIL HAS JUST NAMED RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR SCOTT BARBER AS INTERIM CITY MANAGER, UNTIL THE CITY COUNCIL HIRES A SEARCH FIRM TO FIND A PERMANENT REPLACEMENT.  THIS QUESTIONS THE LEADERSHIP SKILLS OF THE COUNCIL AND MAYOR WHO HAVE TO HIRE A FIRM TO FIND A CITY MANAGER THAT IS BEST FOR THE CITY.  DIDN’T THEY RUN FOR OFFICE BECAUSE THEY KNOW OUR CITY AND NEIGHBORHOODS?   AS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, SCOTT OVERSEES THREE DEPARTMENTS: PLANNING , BUILDING  & SAFETY AND THE INFAMOUS CODE ENFORCEMENT.  AS OF NOW,  WE’VE YET TO RECEIVE A RESIGNATION LETTER FROM CURRENT CITY MANAGER BRAD HUDSON WHO WILL BE LEAVING AUGUST 11, 2011 TO TAKE ON THE POSITION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.  AND A LOOK BACK ON THE FUTURE OF RIVERSIDE IN 2006 WHEREBY THE RIVERSIDE CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED A $780 MILLION PLAN TO PAY FOR PROJECTS, INCLUDING LIBRARIES, SENIOR CENTERS, PARKS AND UNDERPASSES AT CONGESTED RAILROAD CROSSINGS. THE CLINCHER THEN, THE CITY DOES NOT INTEND TO RAISE TAXES TO COMPLETE 30 YEARS WORTH OF PROJECTS IN FIVE YEARS! 

UPDATE:07/28/2011: ALABAMA’S JEFFERSON COUNTY’S BANCRUPTCY WOULD TOP 4.1 BILLION.  THIS IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE 3.14 BILLION OF THAT HAS BEEN CONNECTED TO SEWER DEBT,  A DEBT THAT THE COUNTY CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO PAY!  IT WAS FOUND THAT THE SEWER UPGRADES WERE FINANCED WITH RISKY TRANSACTIONS SHOWN LATER TO BE LACED WITH BRIBES AND INFLUENCE-PEDDLING.

AND PLACENTIA POLICE OFFICERS SUE OVER RAISES!

UPDATE: 08/01/2011: CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS RHODE ISLAND FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY!

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