Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

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Folks we are facing the passing of the fourth of July, the day of Independence, but have we forgotten our past?  In fact a brutal past? Wasn’t this an exercise in independence?  An exercise to be different?  Non conformist?  Is it still worth fighting for?  Has ‘politically correctness’ become a severance point in which we have become forgetful of our true roots as a nation.  The question is, do  we truly deserve America?  Can we as a people truly handle the revolutionary ideas of our forefathers?  Have these ideas just simply become passé.  Has politically correct been a divisive avenue in the separation of political points of view?  Has it been a directly responsible for our current excuse for what we have become as a people for the government, as oppose to the government by the people?  What has become of our drive? Our resistance to the status quo?  Have we let down our forefathers?  Have we’ve become so complacent as an American people that we’ve forgotten our duty to question authority, authority in reference to those we as an American people elect and place in office.  Do we truly know whom we place in office?  This I say when we place our vote based on what we believe is true?  Based on what we as citizens receive in paraphernalia from whom we receive from government or campaign sources.  Should we believe this information is sound and true?  Are we comfortable with government doing the thinking for us.  Are we comfortable with government mandating the simplest expressions of our First Amendment rights invalid?  These are questions to ponder this Fourth in passing.

This is really about maintaining command and control. We wouldn’t want local peasants getting the idea that they have a say in government. We can’t tolerate freedom of expression unless people clap for whom the council approves of.  – Paul Jacobs from Temecula, Commenter on the Press Enterprise

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We as the City of Riverside have embraced the thoughts and wisdom of Benjamin Franklin, when it come to freedom of speech, so much we place this granate etching in front of City Hall..

Freedom of speech is a principal pillar of a free government; when this support is taken away, the constitution of a free society is dissolved, and tyranny is erected on its ruins. Republics and limited monarchies derive their strength and vigor from a popular examination into the action of the magistrates.  – Benjamin Franklin, “On Freedom of Speech and the Press”, Pennsylvanial Gazette, 17 November 1737

They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.  – This was written by Franklin, sometime shortly before February 17, 1775 as part of his notes for a proposition at the Pennsylvania Assembly, as published in Memoirs of the life and writings of Benjamin Franklin (1818).

Has it simply become to difficult and too late to retrieve the rights that we have lost so far as a nation, and will it take a fight to get them back?  Can we afford to continue to lose now what we may have taken for granted?

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 ACLU.  NOW TAGGED LOCAL BLOGGERS OR LOCAL MEDIA?  RATED ONE TWO ONE STAR OUT OF FIVE IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY APPROVAL RATINGS..  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 ( OUR PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO CONTACT HIS PEOPLE)… 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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On June 25, 2013 at City Council in the City of Riverside, Letitia Pepper, Esq., former Best, Best & Krieger Attorney, was arrested for clapping in approval of statements made by public speakers.  If you recall, public speaker Karen Wright was arrested last November 2012 for speaking 16.8 seconds over the 3 minute rule.  Mike Fine, Deputy Superintendent of RUSD, went over the 3 minute with no provocation or arrest by the mayor.. Regardless, Mayor William Rusty Bailey, as an audience member coined, “Lil Hitler”, felt strongly enough to sign the citizen’s arrest form that activated the arrest of Ms. Pepper.  Bailey, a government teacher, should know the constructs of the First Amendment, otherwise, what was he teaching his students?  A little power can certainly make you forget that you are there to serve the public.

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CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW FULL VIDEO OF MS. PEPPER, ESQ., DISCUSSING THE RIGHT TO CLAP.

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CLICK ON THIS LINK TO VIEW ARREST OF MS. PEPPER, ESQ., ON YOUTUBE

Once she was arrested and removed from council chambers, the audience responded with clapping in support of Ms. Pepper.  Was her First Amendment right of free speech impinged?  It is likely that this could be explored in a law suit against the City of Riverside.  What will clammed up City Attorney Gregory Priamos have to say about this?  Well he’s pretty much saying nothing about nothing these days..

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So why is Bailey clapping in approval without being arrested? Has he now become the decider?  What will King Bailey do next?  Send the masses of clappers to internment camps?

WAS THIS DOCUMENT WHAT RUFFLED THE MAYOR’S FEATHERS?

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CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW COMPLETE DOCUMENT

Ten days ago this document was handed to Mayor Bailey in demand for a public apology for unlawful and discourteous actions at Council Chambers June 11, 2013.  Ms. Pepper was representing three citizens, Vivian Moreno, Joel Udayke and Dvonne Pitruzzello regarding his position on no applauding during public comment.  Was this in fact, a personal vendetta against former BB&K Attorney, Letitia Pepper by Mayor Bailey? Why was Ms. Pepper targeted for removal and arrest my Mayor Rusty Bailey, when there were multiply clappers?  Why weren’t the other clapppers removed and arrested?  Is this the Mayor’s attempt to control public participation in government?  Is the arrest a show of force in an attempt to initimidate the public not to participate in government?  Currently the Mayor Bailey has passed the 10 day response time.  We’ve yet to hear of a statement from Mayor Bailey or even the clammed up in his office City Attorney Gregory Priamos.  But is there more to Priamos’s life than we know?  More to come on TMC..

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THE CITATION (CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE)

But I guess the questions many are asking these days, even those who voted for Rusty, what is he doing?  Again as many residents have said, they feel the city will retaliate against them if something derrogatory is said regarding city politics.  So why is it?  Many are asking, is it because of the history of Rivserside, whereby a conglomerate of politically tied families made the rules and the basis for politics in the City of Riverside?  Which of course includes the Bailey family.  You have Mayor William Rusty Bailey’s father judge and then you have the fathers friend who was a founder of incidently, Best, Best & Krieger.  Halleluah, are we actually coming to anwers of why the City of Riverside is the way that it is politically?

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In this pic we see Bailey’s father, Judge William R. Bailey II, with now Mayor William “Rusty” Bailey (middle) , and Judge John Gabbert.  Judge Gabbert has a history going back to the 40’s which answers the question of why the City of Riverside uses Best, Best and Krieger so much..

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Judge John Gabbert, in younger days, a Quandrangle of Influence within the City of Riverside?  What is the connection between Best, Best & Krieger and the City of Riverside?  What is taking that hold on Riverside that has everything to do with old family influences?  You get my drift, I wouldn’t attempt to try this case on the constitutionality of ‘clapping’ within the City of Riverside.

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Will Zellerbach do anything about this?  According to his campaign contributions, I guess not..

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Even RPD Investigator Michael Blakely decided to get into the act as Rusty’s bouncer.  Will he be asking the tough questions to Pepper as he did in the Neely Nakamura investigation?  Holy Cow! even the Chief of Police Sergio Diaz was there for the arrest..  This whole endeavor perpetrated by the Mayor himself, took 4 police officers, a police vehicle, RPD Investigator Michael Blakely and of course, the Coup d’état, the double dipping Chief himself, Chief Nacho Cheese, Sergio Diaz.  (Nope, nope…no police helicopter this time).  We also thought the good police officers were going to take Ms. Pepper for a ride around the block with sirens blasting in a show of force to the community, that of course, clapping is not allowed at public comment.  That didn’t happen, she was taking down to the Orange Station for processing and released.

SO RIVERSIDE, ARE YOU MAD ENOUGH TO ROAST THE WEENIES?

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LAUNDRY DAY AT LOVERIDGE PLAZA

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One homeless person was seen doing laundry in the water pool in front of City Hall on June 25, 2013.

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 ACLU.  NOW TAGGED LOCAL BLOGGERS OR LOCAL MEDIA?  RATED ONE TWO ONE STAR OUT OF FIVE IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY APPROVAL RATINGS..  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 ( OUR PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO CONTACT HIS PEOPLE)… 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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UPDATE: 06.27.2013:  SEVEN COUNCIL MEMBERS, SEVEN ETHICS COMPLAINTS, BE THERE TODAY AT 3:00PM MAYOR’S CHAMBERS.. THIS IN REGARDS TO THE COUNCIL INADVERTAINLY PASSING THE MEASURE A  INITIATIVE WHICH ACCORDING TO THE CALIFORNIA STATE CONSTITUTION IS ILLEGAL.  DID THE COUNCIL WILLFULLY MISINFORM AND MISLEAD THE VOTERS ON THE VERY NATURE OF THIS MEASURE A ISSUE!  OR DID THEY JUST PASS THIS RESOLUTION 7-0 BASED ON WHAT THEIR CITY ATTORNEY HAD TO SAY?

UPDATE:06/27/2013: SLAM DUNK FOR THE COUNCIL WHO WERE A NO SHOW BUT HAD THE REPRESENTATION OF TWO ATTORNEY’S.  CONTINUING THE LONG STREAK, THE ETHICS COMMITTEE PANEL FOUND NO ETHICS VIOLATIONS COMMITTED BY THE COUNCIL..

Clapping is our 1st Amendment justification for existing when we feel there is a need to express a sign of approval.  But will this change at City Council?  Whereby have we become forgetful that one of the most important reasons for  this country existing is our first amendment right of expression in a public forum.  Will this cease to exist?  With the Fourth of July just around the corner, will a government teacher attempt to change that?  Have we become so politically correct as a society that we become afraid that a simple clap of approval may cause a divisive action to others, result in someone’s feeling being hurt or as Rusty would say as to not allow others to be included?

Or have we just become complacent and it is easier to sit and watch the world go by?

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Or would we rather just bow our head in frustration as if we are carrying the whole financial world on are shoulders. How bout it Berny?

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Or would it be easier to hope someone else would do the clapping for us?  Even if it can’t think for itself?

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Or would a thumbs up do the same?  I’d clap just for double dipping…isn’t that now construed as a crime?

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We can certainly clap if we approve of an event which is entertaining.

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Or could we slap our own head wishing we would have clapped?

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Clapping for approval is simply better than the sound of one hand clapping, or even better than receiving the clap.

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Or could we just have an Orwellian software choice on Rusty’s computer which he can control the quantity of claps, and to pick and choose when a clap is allowed?

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But can we just simply clap behind the scenes?

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Or can we clap with complete surprise that we are clapping at all?

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clapping can be for joy, and clapping for the joy of clapping…

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Or clapping can be just for the hell of it, just because it appears that it is expected.

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Or clapping can be elusive without focus…but it certainly better to clap than getting the clap..

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Clapping could be for when you think you have a good thing going.

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Or can clapping just simply get down, dirty and diabolical?

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Or you can anticipate the clap? or just waited out since you are not sure when to clap.. Regardless, clapping feels good..

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Or can one be to studious to clap?

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do we sometimes forget what we are clapping for?

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Or could we clap in hope that two holes of a donut actually fit somewhere?

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Even if you are an authority figure?

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Clapping can be in a line..

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or it can be in unison..

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or clapping can certainly be overwhelmingly…

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you can certainly be king and clap

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or simply a taxi driver..

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Whatever the activity is it certainly cannot be done in Riverside.  Especially during City Council..  because again and again you will hear the following ” We don’t applaud during public comment or otherwise, so we can include others with other opinions at the dais, so no applaud at the proceedings”.

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But we could certainly clap at a bike rally, I think…I need to check..it depends on the country and the leader.

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Or should we attempt to meet with clappers and find out what they are really all about?

Should we’d be told we cannot do this in the arena of the peoples arena of expression and free speech?  Or should we just be happy to be just where we are?  This is definitely an item to think about..  Clapping is a universal language that reaches far beyond our perception of our humanness.   So why would we not want to do it?  Because we are told not too?

But in any event, we look toward our human nature, we look at our provocativity, we look at the future in Riverside,  has it gone bananas?   Or just simply become a Banana Republic?

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So shouldn’t authority just try to get along with clappers?

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Well, of course there are exceptions, unless your General Clapper.. (Doesn’t he look a bit like City Manager Scott Barber?)

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Words of Wisdom for a new Mayor,”If you can’t stand the heat stay out of the kitchen..  – Harry S. Truman, 33rd President of the United States

UPDATE: 06.26.2013: MAYOR WILLIAM RUSTY BAILEY DEFENDS ARREST OF FORMER BB&K ATTORNEY LETITIA PEPPER..

     danielwerfel                                  RUSTY

City of Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey                         Sorry, Mayor Rusty Bailey

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 ACLU.  NOW TAGGED LOCAL BLOGGERS OR LOCAL MEDIA?  RATED ONE TWO ONE STAR OUT OF FIVE IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY APPROVAL RATINGS..  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 ( OUR PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO CONTACT HIS PEOPLE)… 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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Hart: Why is Mayor Luv here?  Bailey: Well, he’s still running the show and has put us in alot of hot water…  Gardner: Heads up, fire in the hole again…

We are having a Weenie Roast to Roast the Weenies at the No on Measure A Election Party!  Weenies and Water are Free!  Unless there is an overnight water rate change…

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I really need to take a vacation, I’m starting to hear voices. I’m still not sure which is the biggest weenie on the grill…this one seems to be ready, oops, no it isn’t.  Something tells me I should increase the heat… oh heck, this one broke in half..

UPDATE: 06.04.2013: RESPONSE TO MEASURE A LOSS COMING SOON!  WE THANK ALL OF RIVERSIDE FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN VOTING NO ON MEASURE A.  “In the history of mankind many republics have risen, have flourished for a lesser or greater time, and then have fallen because their citizens lost the power of governing themselves and thereby of governing their state; and in no way has this loss of power been so often and so clearly shown as in the tendency to turn the government into a government primarily for the benefit of one class, a ruling class, instead of a government for the benefit of the people as a whole.”   — Theodore Roosevelt

Vote No on Measure A

For more information on this June 4th, 2013 Measure A, contact us noonmeasureariverside@hotmail.com

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GOVERNMENT SHOULD LIVE WITHIN THEIR MEANS, AFTERALL, WE THE TAXPAYER HAVE TO..

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UPDATE:06.03.2013: IT WASN’T ENOUGH THAT BB&K ATTORNEY JACK CLARK ATTEMPTED TO PUSH THROUGH THE NAMING OF CITY HALL IN RECOGNITION OF RON LOVERIDGE..  NOW WE FIND JAMES ERICKSON, VICE CHANCELLOR EMERITUS, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE, ATTEMPTING TO PUSH THROUGH THE NAMING OF MAIN STREET UNDER THE NAME OF RON LOVERIDGE.  IN WHAT CAPACITY WE DO NOT KNOW.. LOVERIDGE LANE, RONNY’S STREET OR EVEN RONALD BOULEVARD.. 

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STRONG-ARMING SENIORS FOR A YES VOTE:  ISN’T THAT ELDER ABUSE?

There is nothing more despicable than taking advantage and misinforming seniors.  Where is Ofelia Yeager on this issue, the Chairperson on the Yes on Measure A Campaign?  Why was she chosen to spearhead this issue?  Why was Mathew Webb of Webb Engineering, the Co-Chairperson christen to participate in this elusive endeavor?  Why would Webb Engineering have a master engineering contract with Municipal Water?  How does this affect Mathew Webb’s relationship with Councilman Chris Mac Arthur, are they cousins or just doing the Hanky Panky?    Or Mathew Webb’s association with now Mayor William “Rusty” Bailey, stating he has known him for decades.  Is this all about keeping it in the family?  Does it dispute the fact that Webb Engineering recieved 13 Checks on the same day under former City Manager Brad Hudson’s discretionary account?  Where is the Council on this one, the Mayor and especially Steve Adams who has asspirations aspirations of being a Congressman?  This is only a reflection of how our City operates.  Every month the amount transferred goes up, it was $6.1 million now it is $6.7 million, probably because they are not allowed to transfer just yet.   But, what now appears to be covered by this transfer is everything that property taxes are suppose to cover.  In City Manager Scott Barber’s analysis of possible cuts if Measure A doesn’t pass could very well be considered a scheme, artiface or fabrication since it was simply based on projections.  Was this orchestrated and designed to attempt to mislead the voters?  The projections have no basis because they never had any accounting track record of expenditures to refer to, they don’t exist.  If no prior allocation records exist how does one extrapolate a true analytical projection?  According to the City’s October General Fund Forecast, the Mayor Bailey’s Office is overbudgeted by $116,100.00.  Instead of cutting his budget, he would rather cut Police and Fire?  Further, as indicate City Manager Scott Barber used the number of the adopted budget for the Mayor’s office to apply his 3.0% cut, which comes out to $22,000.00, therefore this amount would be cost applied to the 11.5% transfer.  The funny thing is that the number cannot be legitimatel verified because no accounting records of that number exist!  Every account that Barber utilizes applies the 3.0% in the same manner.  This is an example of how they are misinforming the public.

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The question to be asking the City, and many are asking the question by the way, “why do they appear to be strong arming the community into a Yes vote on Measure A?”  From candidates, community groups, community services, city employees etc.  Is it that the City is threatening funding to these programs if a Yes vote is not supported?  Money always seems to talk, especially when it is not your own money to spend.

This is a flyer that was dispersed at the Janet Goeske Center which states what will happen to senior funding if they do not vote Yes on Measure A.  Is the City of Riverside strong arming residents with an iron fist of reason?  Or is it extorsion?  Afterall isn’t the Hyatt suing the City of Riverside on this issue?  Yes they are.  Demand answers!  Demand Transperancy! Demand Leadership!  Well…at least the first two, and the only way to do this is to show up at City Council and voice your opinions.

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CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW FLYER DISPERSED AT THE JANET GOESKE CENTER

In the last two utility bills you received;  you as a taxpayer have paid for the few rogue City Officials who felt it was necessary to spend your tax money to misinform you, further, to deny your constitutional right of reaching a balanced voting decision.  City Tax money was used to favor a “Yes” vote on Measure A.  This flyer states to go to the City of Riverside’s web site for more information. If you go the City of Riverside’s web site, what we have can be construed as a Yes on Measure A bonanza!    Another FPPC (Fair Political Practices Commission) violation?

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CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW WHAT YOU PAID FOR, EVEN IF YOU DON’T AGREE!

According to Letitia Pepper, Riverside Attorney, the City is using city funds to promote Measure A, and to promote it with lies and propaganda — propaganda is “half-truths.”  She says to look at your May Riverside Public Utility bill, on the back ( the above image).  There’s a full page promoting the passage of Measure A.  This page includes the biggest of all lies:  “By re-affirming these previous voter actions, Measure A continues this funding [allegedly and impliedly only for for clean water programs], WITHOUT RAISING TAXES.” The real reason this issue MUST be submitted to the voters is not the self-serving settlement into which the City entered with the Moreno’s that required the City to submit the issue of the excess charges to the voters. The REAL reason the City is doing this is that since 1996, it has been illegal, under Prop. 218, for cities, incuding charter cities like Riverside, to charge more for water than the actual cost of providing it. To make such chares, cities had two years after Prop. 218 passed to submit them for a vote as taxes — and the City never did that until it got caught last year.

Another aspect of this measure is that it appears to be paying for alot of services!  The amount the City has indicated has gone from $6.1 million to $6.7 million.  If you are a taxpayer as I am, this transfer appears to be doing a better job of covering all expenses of city services than our property taxes.  Potholes, Storm Drains (we doubled the tax in 2012), Police, Fire, 911 dispatch, Childrens Lunch Programs, Clean Water (Covered by your water rates), Gang Control (Covered by Federal Police Asset Forfeiture Funds), Library, Crossing Guards, Tree Triming, Disabled Services, Senior Services, SRO’s (School Resource Officers), Maintaining Fairmont Park Lake, Low Income Lunch Programs, Powerwashing Downtown Streets, Installing Curbs and Gutters, Summer Camp Programs, Dealing with Abandoned Vehicles, Using Code Enforcement if your Landscaping doesn’t conform to the Politically Correct criteria of the City, Code Enforcement citations if you Overwater your landscaping, Code Enforcement citations if you have Trash exposed, Code Enforcement citations if it appears that you have Outdoor Storage, Code Enforcement citations if it appears that your property is contributing to storm drain contaminants and it goes on and on.  The storm drain fees don’t really help Riverside residents, but it contributes to Orange County Clean Water.  Property Taxes pay for City Services, the User Utility Tax on your utility bill pays for services and Proposition 172 allocates 1/2 cent from the sales tax to city services.  Government should live within their means, afterall you and I have to.  The new advertisement on Measure A on your utility bill states cleaning storm drain catch basins and storm drains.  But what! We had an increase from $2.83 to $5.22?  Yes folks, last year we had an increase in our Storm Drain Tax ( also know as Storm Sewer System), documents as follows:

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CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW COMPLETE DOCUMENT

Is the City contemplating a triple tax by this above action?  Is the truth of the matter that the City is in need of paying upcoming bond obligations?  Would this be the real issue?

As indicated by Dan Berstein’s of the Press Enterprise new article, is this another Sleazy Campaign Mailer?  Rather than making cuts in their own back yard, the City of Riverside would like to punish residents that already have made cuts in their household with the fear of higher taxes, as indicated a couple of weeks ago by Councilman Steve Adams where he stated, “if Measure-A doesn’t pass, we have a change in the status quo, and we will have to raise your rates (referring to water) and increase your taxes.”

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WELL LET’S DO A DRUM ROLL TO INCREASE TAXES; SHALL WE COUNCILMAN ADAMS?

The mailers that the Yes on Measure A campaign have been distributing have been reflective of their talking points, but this new mailer just received is from the City of Riverside, and it has the City of Riverside star of approval with endorsing names such as our Chief of Police Sergio Diaz, Fire Chief Steve Earley and City Manager Scott Barber.  It cannot get any more blatant than this.  Legally the City of Riverside has had to take a position of neutrality, while over the past few months the City has stated it was on a Measure A informational tour.  This four page City mailer shows that the language can be ultimately construed as a campaign publication endorsing a Yes vote on Measure A.  This can be seen by the language and pictorial used, the tone, tenor and timing is there. Further this mailer was paid for by you and me the “Taxpayer.”  Therefore is the City of Riverside on the verge of violating FPPC (Fair Political Practices Commission) rules and regulations and misappropriation of taxpayer funds?  Elections Code § 8314(d) and Gov’t Code § 8314(d).

Gov’t Code § 8314 (a) It is unlawful for any elected state or local officer, including any state or local appointee, employee, or consultant, to use or permit others to use public resources for a campaign activity, or personal or other purposes which are not authorized by law.

Gov’t Code § 8314(d) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the use of public resources for providing information to the public about the possible effects of any bond issue or other ballot measure on state activities, operations, or policies, provided that (1) the informational activities are otherwise authorized by the constitution or laws of this state, and (2) the information provided constitutes a fair and impartial presentation of relevant facts to aid the electorate in reaching an informed judgment regarding the bond issue or ballot measure.

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CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW FULL MAILER

According to a new article by Dan Berstein of the Press Enterprise, the Council knew of this piece, according to Councilman Mike Gardner, but didn’t discuss the content.  So who were the individuals or individual that approved and designed this mailer?  Well it appears it was within the City Attorney’s Office.  So, who approved the $23,777.00 for the cost of printing and mailing at taxpayer expense?  You would think if there was any inkling or sugestion of misappropriation of taxpayer funds that the council would have the descency to ask those obvious tough questions. This I say in lieu of City Attorney Gregory Priamos not returning Berstein’s calls. If it was approved by Priamos, it must be legal, right Greg?

Another editorial in the Press Enterprise, “Don’t use taxpayers’ monies for election fliers.”   Is the City of Riverside really a “Muni Mafia?”  How do they compare to San Bernardino? Or Moreno Valley?

The City continues to claim that these transfer monies are used for everything under the sun, and every week we have something new that it covers.  The reality is the City has no bonafide track record of accounting of any of these fund at anytime, this we see as Bernstein undercovered in reference to “library books.”  Remember folks, only tax money can be deposited into the General Fund.

I guess in the real realm of things why won’t District Attorney Paul Zellerbach act on this? Possibly, because of this rhetorical question: “Is it illegal or just bad business?”  Possibly all the above, but we won’t expect this office to react in reference to the oath of office you sworn to uphold….regardless, your track record indicates clearly, your answers and responses to local community inquiries.  What kind of message does this send to the community when the City itself doesn’t follow the letter of the law?  Our we a Banana Republic or an American City based on constitutional rights?

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SO WHAT IS A D.A. TO DO?

As of May 28, 2013 as indicated in the Press Enterprise, the “Yes on Measure A” campaign has contribution commitments which are in the neigborhood of $46,000.00, and the “No on Measure A” campaign has continues to maintain steady monetary commitments of $0.00

Vote No on Measure A,  www.noonmeasureariverside.com

For more information on this June 4th, 2013 Measure A, contact us noonmeasureariverside@hotmail.com

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GOVERNMENT SHOULD LIVE WITHIN THEIR MEANS, AFTERALL, WE THE TAXPAYER HAVE TO..

JUST FOR LAUGHS…

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COUNCILMAN ADAMS BRINGS HIS CITY VEHICLE IN FOR THE USUAL REPAIRS…

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 ACLU.  NOW TAGGED LOCAL BLOGGERS OR LOCAL MEDIA?  RATED ONE TWO ONE STAR OUT OF FIVE IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY APPROVAL RATINGS..  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 ( OUR PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO CONTACT HIS PEOPLE)… 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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Traditional observance of Memorial day has diminished over the years. Many Americans nowadays have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. At many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen are increasingly ignored, neglected. Most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for the day. While there are towns and cities that still hold Memorial Day parades, many have not held a parade in decades. Some people think the day is for honoring any and all dead, and not just those fallen in service to our country.

Around 1915, Moina Michael first conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war.  She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need.  Inspired by a poem “In Flanders Fields”, she wrote the following poem.

We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.

Later a Madam Guerin from France was visiting the United States and learned of this new custom started by Ms. Michael and when she returned to France, made artificial red poppies to raise money for war orphaned children and widowed women. This tradition spread to other countries. In 1921, the Franco-American Children’s League sold poppies nationally to benefit war orphans of France and Belgium. The League disbanded a year later and Madam Guerin approached the VFW for help. Shortly before Memorial Day in 1922 the VFW became the first veterans’ organization to nationally sell poppies. Two years later their “Buddy” Poppy program was selling artificial poppies made by disabled veterans. In 1948 the US Post Office honored Ms Michael for her role in founding the National Poppy movement by issuing a red 3 cent postage stamp with her likeness on it.

A war veteran from the shores of Normandy and the Phillipines, my dad has since passed, but a Memorial Day does not go by without remembering him holding my hand as a young child and stopping before a disabled veteran at a local market, where he would donate some money in exchange for a red poppy, in remembrance of those who have fallen in the line of duty.

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“OKAY, ONE MORE TIME JOHN, YOU SAID THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE DID WHAT”?

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CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW FULL AUDITING REVIEW

State Controller John Chiang announced May 16, 2013 their completion of review of the assets transferred by the City of Riverside’s redevelopment agency (RDA) prior to its dissolution.  The review found that the RDA is not only in current possession of $30.45 million in real property that it no longer is legally entitled to hold, but that it inappropriately transferred another $64.25 million in real property to the City, which equals out to a mere $94.7 million.  In other words, the City of Riverside knowingly stole the properties prior to the dissolution date of June 28, 2011 for RDA, even though the State Controller John Chiang’s sent a letter with instructions.  Now in the case of the $64.25 million in properties illegally transferred, the City contends that the Title companies refuse to now change title back to the State.  Does the Title company sniff something illegal?  Well they didn’t seem to have a problem transfering the properties and giving title to the City.  But now the City contends that the problem with the transfer had something to do with title insurance.!  In case people didn’t know RDA (Redevelopment Agency) was operated and administered by the our City Council.  This is John Chiangs letter dated April 20, 2012 which describes RDA dissolution as well as what assets in regards to property need to be transfered back.

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CLICK TO VIEW JOHN CHIANGS LETTER TO ALL CITIES

The law requires that all RDA assets transferred to a city, county or other public agency after January 1, 2011, must be returned to its successor agency, unless the assets were committed to a private third party by June 28 of that year.  It certainly appears that the City of Riverside thought differently on this issue, even though local watchdogs continued to warn them, but fell on deaf ears.  Some of the players at the time were former Mayor Ron Loveridge, former City Manager Brad Hudson and Chief Financial Officer/Assistant City Manager/Treasurer Paul Sundeen (Yes, he actually had three job titles).

According to an auditing review by State Controller John Chiang’s office, they determined that the State RDA successor agency is owed $94.7 million in properties.  The City of Riverside is ordered to transfer all properties back.  Now what you may not know is that the City Council was told that when the properties were transfered from Redevelopment before it resolved, it was an illegal action.  The proof we had was as follows.

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CLICK LINK TO VIEW TRANSFERRED PROPERTY DOCUMENT

So that didn’t help so we thought that the next action would be road trip, of course, Sacramento.  Do we have another Moreno Valley occurring in Riverside, will people go to jail on this one?  Why didn’t Councilperson Nancy Hart’s Monthly, Bi-Monthly, (Not sure), Finance Committee Meeting catch this?  Afterall they had the “experts.”  But two misinformed citizen of Riverside, Dvonne Pitruzzello and Vivian Moreno found this.  They went to City Hall and told them about this, the Council did nothing.  So two took a road trip to Sacramento to meet with the State Controller Office.  It appears that all the laws were not adhered to as we were assured by the City.

I asked my electeds questions about these properties along with other nice folks  in 2011 and they assured us along with the city management that everything was  done appropriately and by the book. They kind of implied we were liars and  troublemakers too but what was the truth? Why does the State Comptroller now  agree that the properties were inappropriately handled by the city and its RDA?  Are they liars and trouble makers too?  – Mary Shelton, Commenter on the P.E.

Riverside blew an elaborate shell game. Someone needs to do time for this lie.   – Ernie Tyler, Commenter on the P.E.

To date, the Controller has completed 46 reviews.  According to a Press Enterprise article in a statement released by City Manager Scott Barber stated that only $64,018 remains in dispute.  Well we don’t know of the intended purpose of the letter, if it was in fact to divert attention.
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We certainly know that $64 thousand is different from $64 million, which was the amount in question.  Further, what the City said is that the Title companies refused to go along with the city’s attempt to transfer ownership from the former redevelopment agency to the successor agency (a new agency created in care of the State to handle the dissolution of RDA assets).
In a statement released Thursday, May 16, State Controller John Chiang stated, “After decisions by the governor and Legislature to disband redevelopment, my office is working to make sure all remaining RDA assets, including those in Riverside, are used properly to retire debt and pay for critical local public services, such as education and public safety.”  In the Riverside audit, the controller’s office found the city’s former redevelopment agency transferred $142 million worth of property after January 2011.  Of that, about $64 million is out of compliance with the June 2011 law dissolving the agencies, the controller’s office reported.  The audit also said that Riverside’s former redevelopment agency still has $30.45 million in assets which have not been transferred?
TEN THOUSAND SHORT?
When Redevelopment was dissolved, the State of California mandated the creation of Successor Agencies, which would be at the local level in care of the State of California in order to handle assets of the debunked RDA.  The City in terms of ROPS, could request payments for RDA projects which legitimately followed Redevelopment Law.  The State Controller, John Chiang, saw that the City of Riverside was not lawfully in compliance again with Redevelopment Law.  In this case a new board was created of the usual suspects, now called the Successor Agency, while, in case people didn’t know, the original RDA (Redevelopment Agency) was operated and administered by the our City Council.

WHAT DOES A FORMER FINANCE DIRECTOR FOR THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE SAY: STOP THIS RIP-OFF BY THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE – VOTE NO ON MEASURE A!

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Comment written in support of No on Measure A by former Finance Director (92-94), County of Riverside, Tom Courbat :

I believe Measure A is illegal as it provides for some NON-WATER DEPARTMENT CUSTOMERS to vote on whether a portion of payments made by WATER DEPARTMENT CUSTOMERS shall be transferred from the Water Department to the General Fund of the City of Riverside. Since any city residents who do NOT receive water from the city have no vested interest (no “skin in the game” as it were), there should be no basis for allowing them to vote on whether the city should be allowed to continue the illegal practice of using excess Water Department earnings in the general fund. Proposition 218 is very clear, UTILITY FUNDS COLLECTED FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE (e.g. providing water) MAY NOT BE USED FOR A DIFFERENT PURPOSE. The city has been aware of this prohibition since 1996 and has blatantly continued this practice until private citizens had to sue to make them stop violating the law.

The use of scare tactics (we’ll take away your free Internet, swimming, certain police protections) is reminiscent of the roaring 30′s – you pay gangsters for “protection” and you’ll be able to continue to run your business without gangsters tearing up your place of business or scaring off your customers. The use of these Water Department funds for police, fire, parks, etc. has been illegal since 1996 – why should Water Department customers have to pay twice for the same service? They pay the same taxes as everyone else in the city for police, fire, parks, etc. and then they pay ANOTHER 11.5% when funds are transferred from the Water Department to the General Fund. Clearly the Water Department is charging more than its cost of operation (also against the law) so that an 11.5% “slush fund” is created and then slipped over to the general fund. Any legitimate audits of the Water Department should have pointed out the illegality of this practice years ago.

It’s EXACTLY like what I saw on the reality show “Kitchen Nightmares” tonight. The owner of the restaurant was paying his waiters/waitresses an hourly rate. All tips left by customers (who CLEARLY intended the tips to be for the servers) were kept by the OWNER who prohibited his staff from pocketing ANY tips left for them. When the customers were informed that the owner was pocketing the tips, they were absolutely outraged!! So should every voter in this election be outraged. Water charges are to pay for water, not police & parks. Tips are for the workers, not the owners.

STOP THIS RIP-OFF BY THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE – VOTE NO ON MEASURE A!

Tom Courbat Former Finance Director County of Riverside

Well stated Tom, we’ve stating this for years, but of course we are crazy or misinformed, because this is how they continue to treat and think of the community, because it is about the them not the communtiy.  The money as we’ve been stating for years has no accounting whereby the City states it is being allocated for particular services such as police and fire.  No documents responsive, so what are the taxpayers to think, except that for years this has been an 11.5% slush fund.

MEASURE-A UPDATE

The ring leader, as we feel,  could be none other than former Mayor Ron Loveridge, whom has operated this city as some underworld organization.  The community has an opportunity to begin to take back their City, and not have the follow in the footsteps of San Bernardino and Moreno Valley.  Don’t fall into their trap of scare tactics; ask them the hard questions.  Property taxes pay for City services, where is this money really going?  But why are they working so hard to pass this measure?  Even the Press Enterprise is on it.  Is it because they’ve recieved special utility rates in the past from the City?  Or is it because the City is helping them with a new location for their business?  Could it be Developer’s Mark Rubin’s Citrus Towers?  Or is it that we do not want to upset the fact that the County of Riverside is intending to purchase their building, of course they did.  What ever it is, the stress levels with City personal and staff are high.

What appears to be more outrageous is that the City seems to have plenty of money in the General Fund Reserves to subsidize the new Black Box Theatre.  This at a time when the City is claiming foul, and if Measure A doesn’t pass, the City will be on its way to doom and gloom.  The City claims that the 11.5% transfer has paid for a multitude of city services, but they are unable to produce documents revealing how it was spent.  The hypothetical question is, if the transfer money never actually paid for City services, what did it really pay for?  Well we don’t know that either. The approximately $6 million which appears to magic because it seems to fund everything under the sun that property taxes through the general fund does.  If in fact the 11.5% transferred all these programs and services, you would think that the City would immediately lease the Fox Theatre.  The Fox Theatre is currently running at a yearly deficit of approxixmately $3 million.  We just found $3 million just by leasing the Fox to the private sector.  There is no doubt in my mind that the City continues to cry wolf, and the sad ending to this is no one is listening.

While Councilman Steve Adams accuses representatives of the No on Measure A campaign of misinformation, he threatens the community by stating that if Measure A does not pass we will have to raise water rates and raise taxes.   Now this is a councilman who is rumored to have aspirations of running for Congress.  Well, Mr. Congressman raising water rates and raising taxes are not that easy, you’ll have to justify it, and so far you cannot even justify the current accounting on the transfer!  If you have to strong arm and scare the community into voting on an illegal measure, then you lack leadership abilities.

Measure A looks good to the Press Enterprise.  We at TMC question that move.  Was it because you didn’t want to upset the deal with the County of Riverside?  Was it because you receive special utility rates with the City of Riverside?  Was it because the City of Riverside is rumored to be assisting in locating an alternate location which is amicable?  Would it be with developer Mark Rubin’s Citrus Tower’s?  Contractually recieving better utility rates from the City of Riverside would this in fact effect your reporting?  I hope not, why have a paper that destroys the illusion of the Fourth Branch of Government?

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CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW FULL REPORT

The people of the City of Riverside pay every month for the Fox Theatre, and the City would like the taxpayer to foot the bill for the Black Box Theatre, but most of the people footing the bill can’t afford to go to the Fox.  This at a time when the City is claiming for the first time in 16 years that the $6.1 million water transfer pays for essential services.  So how may I ask, does the City justify funding the Black Box Theatre at a cost to the taxpayer of close to $500,000.00 over 2 years, until it is able to sustain a profit and pay for itself.  If you can afford the Black Box you can afford Police and Fire.

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CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

I recalled this was the same line statement made regarding the Fox Theatre and currently it is running at a yearly $3 million deficit.  So we have $3 million plus $0.5 million, what do we have, $3.5 million.  That’s $2.5 million away from what the City claims they will be losing.  Mayor Bailey went over budget in his mayor’s office by a miniscal $100,000.00.  There’s another 100K, and council just voted to hand over $750,000.00 to the Fairmont Park Golf Course.  How much are we at now?  Pretty close?  Then you have Mayor Bailey with the Streetcar Named Debacle idea?  Again, and again we the continued excessive spending and no cutbacks.  What you have here is that the City will threaten the residents to cut essential services such as Police and Fire, which by the way are already covered by property taxes, if Measure A is not passed.  This they will do before cutting non-essential services or expenses that continue to incurr as a deficit to the taxpayer.  Well, shame on them.

In the City’s desperation, they continue to stray into the gray areas of an FPPC violation, but that does not stop them.  Now there attempt to explain their slush fund over the areas has metamorphisized into some City services, to just about every service under the sun is funded by this $6 million water transfer.  Ask them specifically how they have spent this money over the last 16 years, they don’t have an answer.  The accounting stops when the monies are deposited into the General Fund, then it’s tracks are lost, not to be found.  It’s how the City wants it, it is the way it has always been since Ron Loveridge became Mayor.

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Was Ron Loveridge a Proposition 218 proponent?  Was he a Propostion 13 proponent?  Probably not, he has done everything to change that.  In otherwords, counter to everything that is in effect, beneficial to the taxpayer. Why is that former Mayor Luv?  And why are the Police and Fire Unions spending so much money to buy your vote?  Is it really about them rather than the residents?

Another letter of support regarding the Moreno’s Water Lawsuit.  This from a former City Finance Director.

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CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

MR. LIABILITY HEARING THE BEAT OF A DIFFERENT DRUM, OR JUST BEATING THE SAME OLE’ DRUM TO DEATH? 

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Drumming up controversy, Councilman Steve Adams had alot to say regarding public speakers and disinformation.  I guess he forgot that public speakers tried to reach out years ago involving problems the City could have with issues concerning Proposition 218.  When brought to the forefront of the Council, those interest resulted in deaf ears.  The law suit filed by citizens resulted in a win for the residents of the City of Riverside.  But what will eventually happen according to Adams, is that the City will retaliate against the citizens of Riverside, this in my opinion for not voting in favor of Measure A.  If this is to occur Adams states we will have to make up this money through higher water rates and increase taxes.  Typical Adams?  But the reality of higher rates and taxes is to sustain their slush fund, and continued mismanagement of taxpayer monies. Or is it to help pay off the astronimical debt incurred to the taxpayer due to the Renaissance projects?   This is a fund which has no accounting of how tax monies were spent… and now aspirations for Congress?

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Councilman Adams getting cozy with Congressman Calvert, failed to respond to our inquiries regarding bond fraud in the City of Riverside, but it seems he responds better to a side of the road transaction.

Like electing Bernie Madoff as Mayor or Treasury secretary. Adams has proved he is not even qualified as councilmen. He used the illegal license plates for over a year and knew he was wrong as he was an ex police officer.  Then he cost the taxpayers 10 million in a settlement when he influenced the promotions of the police department.  Why would the city elect a proven criminal to Congress even if the Ward accepts his behavior. The DOJ has enough work with the current Congressmen who are committed crimes then to add another one.   We saw the former Police Chief embarrass the city and how well he worked with Steve Adams.  Just think how people were played for fools when a former police officer Steve Adams said he did not know the untraceable license plates only given to under cover federal officers which ever local police officer knows.  – Jackie Rawlings, Commenter on the PE.

Isn’t this the Adams when cofronted by a public speaker at City Council regarding his excessive spending on food via the taxpayer, answered back, “Well, I gotta eat!”  or who answered back, “Yes!”  when he was asked if he thought disability was funny?

HUNT, HUNTING FOR ISSUES WHICH NEED TO BE FERRETED OUT?

Tom Hunt, member of the RUSD Board of Education, calls certain people who have a personal problem with the city council because they were evicted from their city owned businesses.  It may be that he doesn’t understand that there are several degrees of “deadbeats” according to the City, the ones that the City likes and the ones they don’t, and there are those who the City supports and haven’t given them a late fee etc., and others that have and wouldn’t follow the program and you never want to do that, and there are those who just don’t follow the vision set forth by the City, and of course, there are those who have been railroaded.. We can ask former City Manager Brad Hudson about that one, but he suddenly skipped town a couple of years ago.  But don’t hold me on this, in fact don’t even put a gun to my head on this issue…

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Making the case in favor of Measure A can’t be made, since it has been made.  Placing the issue on the ballot was not the idea or request in the Moreno’s lawsuit, but a offered by the City’s team of attorney’s.  I would imagine it this decision was made by the foremost attorney on Proposition 218 and a co-author of the Proposition 218 implementation guide, the City of Riverside’s hired attorney, Michael G. Colantuono.  We also recommend also to bring you questions on the legalities of Measure A to Attorney General, Kamal Harris at 1-800-952-5225.  The Moreno’s case fell under the realms of what is known as the Private Attorney General Act.

DISPORTIONALITY IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT WHEN IT COMES TO THE FAIRNESS OF THE GENERAL FUND TRANSFER AND MEASURE A.

Approximately 3,958 Riverside Public Utility customers won’t get to vote on Measure A, that’s because they are not City residents.  But they still contribute to the 11.5% transfer which is paid through their utility bill, therefore they will not receive a benefit in terms of police, fire and library.

Approximately 8,769 customers receive their water from Western Municipal, they will get to vote on Measure A, because they are residents, but don’t receive a benefit either.  Further, since they pay more for water, the 11.5% transfer is more for them, even though there is no benefit to them.

There are other’s who are Riverside residents who received Measure A ballots but are not Public Utility customers since they are on their own well water.

But as we have been saying along, water utilities cannot be a profit making entity.  City Clerk Coleen Nicol statement regarding public utility customers outside the City of Riverside is as follows:  “they’re paying for water.  The profit that the utility realizes, the citizens of Riverside have decided that a portion of the utility’s profit will be transferred to the general fund.”  Proposition 218 voted overwhelmingly by the voters in 1996 by 85% stated otherwise.

“That’s just the way it works” stated Councilman Paul Davis.  But don’t we as constituents elect officials as Davis to fix what is wrong, rather than nonchalantly state to simply otherwise deal with it?

If Measure A doesn’t pass, some council people are crying foul.  Councilman Steve Adam’s said we need the money, we therefore have to increase water rates and taxes.  Why should the taxpayer pay for the bad decisions a Council person makes?

A PEEK AT WHAT CITY ATTORNEY GREG PRIMOS HAS COSTED THE TAXPAYER LEGAL LIABILITY

                     SETHURTBACON                                                        SETDELAROSA

THE BACON/HURT SETTLEMENT            THE CHRIS LANZILLO SETTLEMENT

The City/ Taxpayer paid out to Lt. Darryl Hurt $300,000.00 and to Lt. Tim Bacon $250,000.00.  Even Chris Lanzillo recieved compensation of $25,000.00.  This is someone according to the document had 8 workers compensation claims pending with the California Workers Compensation Appeals Board related with his employment with the City.  He then went to start his own business in Orange County, some question his claims of disability.  He later made news by inaccurately accusing a local councilman of drunk driving.  Lanzillo was the former president of the Riverside Police Union.

SCOTT SIMPSON’S “A SCHEME IS BORN” TIMELINE.  Scott Simpson’s background: Chief of Enforcement for the California EPA Dept. of Toxic Substances Control, and also worked for the Dept. of Food and Agriculture in their Environmental Hazards Assessment Program specializing in ground water contamination.  Simpson brought issues of illegalities of the water fund and citizens water rates to the Riverside Grand Jury.  The first submission was lost, the second one was incidently thrown out without an interview.  Questions regarding close ties between the City, Judges, DA and Grand Jury were brought into speculation.  As you see from Simpson’s background, this was his job to bring issues to the courts, so it is therefore quite remarkable how he was treated at our local Grand Jury level.  Simpson “A Scheme is Born” analytical timeline of the chain of events over the years regarding water rates, violations of Proposition 218 and who knew.

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CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW FULL TIMELINE “A SCHEME IS BORN”

The City always knew, those who were players in these criminal actions.  The City of Riverside had a deadline as all cities had, the date of November 08, 1998.  The date came and the City failed the meet the approved deadline, therefore knowlingly violating the State Constitution, since probably, who is really going to challenge them?  Well, in 2012, the Moreno’s did, and the judge agreed, and the City of Riverside’s attorney agreed, afterall, he wrote the implementation guide.

A WORD FROM FORMER MANAGING EDITOR OF THE PRESS ENTERPRISE, MEL OPOTOWSKY, ON A NO VOTE ON MEASURE A!

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According to a PE opinion by Opotowsky, he stated that the Yes on Measure A campaign is playing on our fears.  They took us for fools when they warned in the (illegal) descriptions in city literature that the money was needed for 911 services. Does anyone really believe the City Council members would have the temerity cut the 911 operation if Measure A doesn’t pass?

They take us for fools when they warn that police patrols will be cut. Who thinks that would happen in this very pro-police city?

And the rest of the threatened cuts — programs for fire protection, seniors (not likely because they vote), the disabled, after-school programs (well, they may cut that because “those people” don’t vote).

The outlandish prevarication regarding the clean water and the 911 cutbacks brings us to the second maternal quote: What can we believe from City Hall?

Common sense tells us that in facing the loss of a mere 3 percent of the budget if A does not pass, city officials should find a way to make small reductions in the things that make them feel good — like plaques under a railroad underpass and giving up the expensive Don Quixote fight to save Redevelopment Agency projects.

Gee, they say, it’s only $6 million and we have been taking it for years and nobody said anything. They took it illegally, it turned out, and they knew it was illegal. They just figured the rubes wouldn’t be nit-picky about our government following the law. All that time they took us for fools.

Read the whole article by clicking this link..

MORENO VALLEY: KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY: CITY MANAGER HENRY GARCIA OUT, TOM DE SANTIS IN AS NEW ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.. What will Garcia’s long time girlfriend, City of Riverside’s Human Resources Director Rhonda Strout, A.K.A. Luxury Girl,  say about this?  Will she attempt to give Henry a job in the janitorial position in order to help clean house in the City of Riverside?  What is the rumor with Tom?  After keeping track of city business on post it notes, badges and cold plates, did he leave due to indiscretions while at the City of Riverside?  Why did he leave the County of San Bernardino?  Was it the same?

Recently, Barry Foster, head of the Economic Department also the City’s Community Development Director, left his position according to the PE.  Rumor is, was he actually fired?  Foster is also the husband of Riverside’s former Public Works Director, Siobhan Foster.  Foster abruptly left the City of Riverside, to take a position almost an hour away for the City of Pasadena, as their Public Works Director.  Pasadena’s City Manager Michael Beck was also former City of Riverside’s Assistant City Manager, during the time when cold plates and badges were in.

ELECTRICUTILITIES

In Moreno Valley Electric Utilities, The New Mission Statement include an interesting new twist. “In the future, MVU will provide more revenue for the City’s general fund, which helps pay for other important city programs.”  Was the influence De Santis?  This is what happened in the City of Riverside when De Santis was City Manager.  Increase the electric rates and take a percentage of the electric fund to transfer to the general fund.

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Thomas DeSantis

Nothing really changes but always seems to come back in full circle where we left off.  The surprising chain of events which has consumed, after the Mike Rios incident, makes for a great new story for “Mad Men.”

BLACK VOICE ARTICLE ON FORMER MORENO VALLEY COUNCILMAN BATEY

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Former Moreno Valley Councilman Bill Batey on doing the right thing and why he reported possible corruption in the City of Moreno Valley to the Riverside County Distric Attorney’s Office.

CITY OF RIVERSIDE CAMPAIGNING THE YES ON MEASURE A CAMPAIGN WITH YOUR TAX DOLLARS?

The mailers that the Yes on Measure A campaign have been distributing have been reflective of their talking points.  This new mailer just received has the City of Riverside star of approval with endorsing names such as our Chief of Police Sergio Diaz, Fire Chief Steve Earley and City Manager Scott Barber.  It cannot get any more blatant than this.  Legally the City of Riverside has had to take a position of neutrality, while over the past few months stated it was on a Measure A informational tour.  This mailer shows that that the City sent this mailer and can be ultimately construed as a campaign mailer endorsing a Yes vote on Measure A.  This can be seen just by the language and pictorial used.

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CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW FULL MAILER

Further this mailer was paid for by you and me the “Taxpayer.”  Therefore is the City of Riverside on the verge of violating FPPC (Fair Political Practices Commision) rules and regulations?  Not to mention misappropriation of taxpayer funds.

DOITAGAIN

Will you do it again? or be fooled again by the Yes on Measure A Campaign?

If Measure A doesn’t pass will lose all of a sudden in excess of 80 jobs?  The majority of the campaign financing have been the Fire Unions and Police Unions.  Why are they struggling so hard to have a mere 2.8% to 3.1% of the budget not get cut?  If the City of Riverside is actually in dire straights, and using Measure A as a scapegoat, it shouldn’t be a problem to dissolve the Riverside Police Department and the Riverside Fire Department, and transfer both forces to the Riverside County Sheriff and Cal Fire.

Even the NAACP is involved with the  Yes on Measure A campaign.  What does the NAACP have to do with a water issue?  That’s a question to ask Woodie Rucker-Hughes.

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Why would Ms. Rucker-Hughes and the NAACP inadvertainly appear to have some sort of obligatory agreement with the City of Riverside on this issue?  Why would she dis those she is in position to help?  Is it all about who we dance with?  I seriously don’t think the NAACP would approve.  That’s just me talking, the TMC reporter.

08TUTUS_1117_G_dwb     zellerback

The City’s hypocrisy has no end..

Vote No on Measure A,  www.noonmeasureariverside.com

For more information on this June 4th, 2013 Measure A, contact us noonmeasureariverside@hotmail.com

WETTWOPSD233

GOVERNMENT SHOULD LIVE WITHIN THEIR MEANS, AFTERALL, WE THE TAXPAYER HAVE TO..

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 ACLU.  NOW TAGGED LOCAL BLOGGERS OR LOCAL MEDIA?  RATED ONE TWO ONE STAR OUT OF FIVE IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY APPROVAL RATINGS..  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 ( OUR PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO CONTACT HIS PEOPLE)… 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

RESIDENTS

How much can residents take? and what must they do to protect their own monies from over taxation schemes when elected officials won’t?

Some of the misconceptions perpetrated by the City of Riverside on the Fact Information Tour regarding Measure A is that if monies from the water fund are stopped, they will have a direct impact on city services which the community relies on.  Fact, since June 2012 when the Moreno’s filed their law suit in care of the citizens of Riverside, the city responded by ceasing the transfer.  Fact, the transfer was immediately stopped because it was illegal under Proposition 218, specifically article 13 (c) and (d) under the State Constitution of the State of California.  Since then there has been no direct effect on city services.  The city explains that this is not a tax, but in one community event at the Goeske Center, Fire Chief Steve Earley admits it is a “general tax.”  Also, admits when asked, that there are no figures to show how much of the Fire budget comes from this General Fund Transfer (GFT).  Subsequent to that, City Manager Scott Barber, on the following day at Orange Terrace Community Center described it as a “tax.”  The community events whereby the Chief of Police and Fire Chief are parading the community circuit, we are finding The Raincross Group right there with them.

The City of Riverside has described that this General Fund Transfer from the Water Fund was voted on in the years of 1908, 1968 and 1977.  This all true, we make no bones about it, but one of the discrepencies the City fails to make public, is when Proposition 218 was voted on by the taxpayer in 1996 by an overwhelming 84% of Californian’s, this made the transfer illegal, even for charter cities such as Riverside.  So when our Mayor Rusty Bailey states that Proposition 218 doesn’t affect charter cities, he is not being correctly informed, or he has not read the document.  Proposition 218 described that a new General Fund Transfer (GTF) from the Water Fund must be brought to a vote to the people.  That was never done, until the Moreno’s challenged the city by filing the law suit.  Further, if this GTF is approved by the people, as in the current Measure A.  If passed, according to Proposition 218, cannot be used for City Services, but must solely be used for Water related purposes with precision accounting of the monies.  Specifically, page 50, Propostion 218 states very clearly.  But the City and others, such as the Raincross Group, a highly intellectual and distinguished group, continue to encourage residents to vote on an illegal measure.  I would imagine Tom Evans, a former City of Riverside Public Utilities Director,  would be well versed in Propostion 218.  This shocks me, but at the same time it doesn’t, especially when the city has been taking monies illegally since 1996, and with premeditaion.

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PAGE 50 OF PROPOSITION 218, CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

The last 16 years since the approval of Proposition 218, the City of Riverside has continued to transfer tax payer monies illegal to the General Fund.  The city claims that city services will be effected by the loss of these funds.  Granted, for the sake of argument, when city officials are asked how much of the GTF is budgeted for a particular department, no answer exist.  When asked for documents of the accounting of how these funds are used for specific city services, there are no document responsive to our request.  Granted, the City claims many services will be effected as Fire, Police, Crossing Guards, Tree Trimming, Libraries, Storm Drains, Gang Control, Disabled Services, Senior Services, Landscaping, 911 Dispatch Personal, 311 calls, Street Sweeping and on and on.  Oh and I forgot the coup d’état, the Clean Water Measure, which is already paid for.  But what resident don’t know we pay to keep are streets clean for Orange County.  That’s right!  Water from our street goes back to the Santa Ana river, percolates into the ground water down river, and Orange County pumps this water from the ground for their communities.  But in the grand scheme of things it’s doom and gloom when it comes to many cuts in staff and programs if Measure A does not pass.  Will the sky really fall?  Of course, not that only happens in movies, but this leads to our next question of how these transferred monies were actually allocated over the last 16 years since 1996 when Proposition 218 came into law.

How are these Water Fund monies used and dispersed once they are transferred to the General Fund?  Now, first the City was out on an informational tour last month to give facts on Measure A, now this informational tour has turned into Support of Measure A tour.  This of course, utilizing taxpayer resources to present their talking points.  Well, the City was asked how much these Water Fund monies were budgeted for the specific purpose or services.  None exist!  There were no documents responsive to our request.  The City states the monies are just mixed into the General Fund, no specific account, so when dispersed, we don’t really have an accountability of where those funds went or to whom.  When asked how they will be accounted for if Measure A passes, there response is that they will do the same.  So is the City’s Measure A Tour a farce?  Well the Resolution, Item 6, of March 05, 2013, passed by Council, states that water public utility money will be kept seperate and apart from all other moneys from the City by depositing them in a separate and appropriate revenue fund.  The dispersements of the water utility fund at the end of the fiscal year would be reported by and independent auditor.  What gives?

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VIEW COMPLETE MARCH 05, 2013 RESOLUTION, CLICK THIS LINK

When one looks at specifically page 71 of Proposition 218, it states that “ a transfer from an utility account (Water Fund) into an agencies General Fund must be accounted for with ‘precision’ and must be based upon an identifiable financial transaction.”  So are we to assume “Slush Fund?”

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PAGE 71 OF PROPOSITION 218, CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

The way the city has perpetrated this is simply wrong and illegal.  If the city needs more for Police and Fire, show us the budget, then raise our Property Taxes.  In addition, Proposition 172 passed by the Citizens of the State of California gave ½ cent of the sales tax to cities to pay for city services.  The Utility User’s Tax (UUT) on your utility bill is 6.5%, which goes to city services.  You were therefore paying 18% in taxes when you combine the 11.5% and 6.5% for the last 16years without a vote.  In a City Council meeting last March 2013, Chief of Police Sergio Diaz gave his report regarding the status of the Police Strategic Plan.  In his speech he maintained that the Police Account was sound, and that we could hire more police if necessary.  Would also maintain that Fire Account is the same at a $40 million yearly budget, afterall, we just bought a new fire truck this year.  But on the same token we did place about 10 of our fire departments as colateral to back some loans the City took out for some projects.  Regardless, the City maintains we have $400 million in pooled cash and investments, with additional $40 million in reserves.

“Regardless of how we got there and how we’ve been placed in this position, this is the best alternative for us.”..pfft..the best alternative is to leave money alone, if the money is for water..it’s for water..if it’s for police/fire…it’s for police fire..not for all the little pet projects you all come up with that does nothing for us but fills your pockets with ill gotten tax dollars…then to have you guys scratch your heads and ask where’d all the money go then come up with some other asinine ballot measure to cover what y’all stole.  -George Bessey, Licensed Nurse L.L.U.M.C., Commenter on the PE.

For the City to parade two of the highest most respected uniformed safety providers for the community of Riverside is quite appalling. They do this under the auspices of administering so called informational facts on Measure A, of which the City obviously supports, is just plain wrong and shows they are not looking out for the best interest of the citizens.  What is the connection, between The Raincross Group, an exclusive advocacy group whereby membership is by invite only, and the City of Riverside?

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Residents have been seeing some of their members, such as Gary Christmas, parading with City personal and elected officials on the city’s fact and informational tour.  Such as at Orange Terrace Community Center, advocating in favor of Measure A, then leaving with elected and city personal.  Isn’t this representative of status quo?

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CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW FULL DOCUMENT

Compelling to note how many of the who’s who actually benefit from the City of Riverside in contributions, contracts or other forms of municipal welfare.  How many of the Raincross Groups membership is benefiting from city taxpayer coffers?

Many of the members read as a who’s who of the pillars of the community, and appear to advocate positions of City of Riverside officials.  Is this because the City of Riverside subsidizes and/or provides beneficial contracts to loyal members?  Isn’t this again maintaining status quo?  I believe it was Rusty Bailey, here it is, yes he did, stated,  “….and, I’ll challenge the status quo to improve our quality of life.”  I don’t know what Rusty believes, but he has since gave $1,000.00 to the Yes on Measure A campaign as indicated in the document below.  Fiscal responsibility, that’s another question to ponder.

bailey             rusty

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When this was brought up last night at during public comment at City Council, a single clap in the back by good ol Tom Hunt, member of the RUSD Board of Education, signified a shout out in support of that action.

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But in public comment referred to those who were not in support of Measure A Hunt stated to the Council “we shouldn’t let wrong minded nay sayers take control of our City.” Pretty tough words for a RUSD Board member, I guess those naysayers are on notice!   So who is in control of the City Tom, the Raincross Group?  The Greater Riverside Chamber?  You?   Mr. Hunt, when we found out that the City was stealing money in clear violation of the law to the extent of $80 million dollars, what were we going to do with this information?  We brought it to the Council 2 years ago, they did nothing.  We had to file a water law suit in care of the citizens to get attention.  One more thing Mr. Hunt, you kept referring to how this measure will affect schools.  Well it won’t, schools are funded by the State, sorry Mr. Hunt.  We are all part of this City together, and if concerns are taxes, we will all have to pay that together.

We must reiterate our position, if Police and Fire need more funding, the City should utilize the proper road to show the tax payer that funding in needed.  If they are needed, I have no problem and others in the community do, in voting to raise our property taxes to ensure that these safety services continue to be maintained.  The problem is how the Police and Fire Unions have completely emeshed themselves without proper research behind the measure.  The great amount of monies flowing from these two Unions is also evident.  The Police and Fire departments at the City level should always focus on what is in the best interest of the taxpayer, and the residents they serve, not to appear self serving.

At one event at the Goeske Center for Senior’s, Fire Chief Steve Earley stated that Measure A is a “general tax”; further could not account for how much of the City Fire budget comes from the 2.8% General Fund Transfer from the Water Fund.  Further, we have our Chief of Police, Sergio Diaz, attending community meeting and speaking in support of Measure A, according to the Press Enterprise.  Twice already breaking the law, a uniform city official speaking in favor of a measure, and secondly, encouraging residents to vote on a measure which according to the California State Constitution is illegal.  Not a great start up for the Chief of Police.

We also saw this in anothe example when it came to ecomments, whereby Mayor Bailey made known that a majority were in favor of passing the resolution in favor of Measure A.  Eighteen out of the 22 commenters were from the City Fire Department.  We also found from forms 476, that Mayor Bailey contributed a generous amount of $1,000.00 to the Yes on Measure A campaign.  Form 497 contributions are as follows:

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So far as indicated in the Press Enterprise, the “Yes on Measure A” campaign has contribution commitments which are in the neigborhood of $46,000.00, and the “No on Measure A” campaign has, Ugh, are we sure about that?  We have commitments of $0.00

As most Police and Fire do, we suggest the monies contributed to your campaign should go to needy charities.  But a whopping $19,000.00 from the Riverside Firefighters Legislative Action Group, part of the California State Firefighters Association.  We also have monetary support at the local level from Firefighters Union and Police Union.  Yep the City wants the money, but are unable to produce documents which reflects how much transfered monies were allocated for a particular purpose.  Even with $40 million dollar Fire Fighters budget, Chief Earley wasn’t able to tell community residents how much is allocated to the budget.  So is Yes on Measure A really about unions and not employees and city services?

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What’s also quite interesting is Matthew Webb, of Webb Engineering, which recieves a considerable of City contracts is Co-Chairperson of the Yes on Measure A Committe.  While the Chairperson of the Yes on Measure A, Ofelia Valdez-Yeager didn’t even show at this weeks city council to provide support.

Further, why are some of the executive staff and councilmembers in a tizzy as some have indicated, in trying to win over candidates to the support Yes on Measure A.  We know already it doesn’t benefit the residents, so how is it benefitting the City, especially when they cannot attest on how these monies were spent for the last 16 years?

Many of their members are involved with City officials in their support of Measure A passing.  Ofelia Yeager, is now the Chairperson for the Yes on Measure Campaign Comittee, with Mathew Webb, of Webb Engineering, as the Co-Chairperson and Richard Teaman, Treasurer, who was also treasurer for the John Tavaglione for Congress campaign.  What does it say when a grass roots group such as No on Measure A is confronted by monies in excess of $46,000.00?  Maybe the Yes on Measure A is strickenly worried?  They are continuing to strick unneccesary fear into the community with the threat of cutting services.  Services already provided by the Property Taxes. If already paid for by property taxes, where is the money?

So when does an Measure A informational tour become just bad business?  Well it appears that the PE is reporting that the Chief of Police, Sergio Diaz is out speaking to community groups is support of Measure A.  Or Councilman Mike Gardner making phone calls giving his candidate endorsement for a vote of Yes on Measure A.  We are getting more and more information of City Staff and Council pushing the Yes on Measure A theme.  A City cannot utilize taxpayer monies to support a measure, they cannot send their staff, Police Chief, Fire Chief and elected officials on the taxpayers dime in support of this measure.  They can on their own time but no in the capacity of their title and in their uniform.

DIAZ               Mike-Gardner

     Chief of Police, Sergio Diaz          Councilman Mike Gardner

Even City Manager, Scott Barber, was at it trying to convince some candidates and others for a Yes on Measure A.  The City really needs the money?

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City Manager, Scott Barber Ooops, Sorry                        City Manager, Scott Barber

Couldn’t the Yes on Measure A use a different domain name than the No on Measure A?   Let’s see: http://yesonmeasureariverside.com/   and  http://noonmeasureariverside.com/  Pretty close don’t you think?

But the City continues to print information in support of Measure A as in the Explore Riverside.

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And City Attorney Gregory Priamos had to get his two cents in an unprecedented attempt to mitigate and belittle the circumstances that led to the law suit.  Mr. Priamos states “some have argued?”  No Priamos, the law of the State of California in the Moreno’s water law suit argued that you were breaking the law, and in violation of the the California State Constitution.  Further, this is not a “payment”, but a “tax” according to the State of California.

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So why instead of scaring the public in the attempt to frighten them into voting Yes on Measure A, why doesn’t the City make some cuts themselves that cost the taxpayer, such as: Promote Pension Reform, Stop charging Lunches to the taxpayer, Stop charging trips to the taxpayer, close the Raincross Cafe (it’s been costing the taxpayer how much?),  Sell the Fox Theatre to Private Enterprise (Aren’t we in an negative $3 million yearly since the city took over?), Stop purchasing expensive funiture, Stop the excessive salaries and benefits (Privat sector would never get these), Check into Time Card Fraud, Cut the Mayor’s budget and Stop excessive 10% to 15% raises alson known as Pension Spiking (A favorite of Mayor Luv).  A good example was Kristin Tillquist, Mayor Luv’s Chief of Staff or the incomparable City Attorney Gregory Priamos. 

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Did the “Yes on Measure A” campaign create a foa pau by inadvertently placing the City’s web site for infomation on this issue, instead of the legitimate yesonmeasureariverside.com site?  It appears they did, because they are now telling the public how to vote and the City should be impartial on this issue.

We also found it a bit intriguing that one of the Raincross Group members reached out to the No on Measure A Facebook site to provide us with a bit of advice, on the rules and regulations of Facebook.  Thanks Aarron for your concerns on our facebook site regarding our fake name and how to make more friends.

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But shouldn’t the contributor’s to the Yes on Measure A be better off giving their contributions to charity?  Mainly, unions in considerable amounts.

The position that a yes vote will not increase water rates is irrelevant to the Measure A.  Water rates can increase do the tiered water rate scheme propagated by the city to increase water revenue.  With increase water revenue, the 11.5% transferred to the General Fund is even greater..

the City claims many services will be effected as Fire (Property Taxes & Prop. 172), Police (Property Taxes & Prop. 172), Crossing Guards (Property Taxes), Tree Trimming (Property Taxes), so when was the last time anybody seen their trees cut?  Here’s an interesting comment.  The city wants you to pay to cut their own trees, even though you already pay for it in property taxes.  Other property owners having a back alley, are being mandated to abate weeds in the back alley adjacent to their property, or otherwise be fined!  What!  the property is City property!

This is such a win for the citizens of Riverside. The Measure A that they are talking about, I have my doubts. I have had the city out to my house three times to cut a tree that is their tree, and each time I have been denied with the city stating that if I want it cut I will have to pay for it. The darn thing is hanging over my house but the city worker claims it doesn’t need to be cut. I think they are just trying to get me to pay for it. I can’t see how Measure A will help get it cut down, if they already had the money and would not do it. They just want to take tax payer money and do what they will with it. Vote “NO” on Measure A.  – Sandi Garcia, Commenter on the PE

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Pot holes, also paid for by Property taxes, but many are asking the question of why the street in our City are beginning to appear as a third world country?  Here a pic taken locally of a neighborhood street.  So what gives, taxes come in, but services never transpire.  Does the City need the help of the resident, maybe one day out of the month to go around patching up our streets?

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WITH INCREASING AMOUNT OF POTHOLES BECOMING PREVALENT IN THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE, SHOULD WE GOOD CITIZENS AND DO THE WORK OURSELVES AS ONE SAN DIEGO RESIDENT DID?  Well, this is what San Diego Hillcrest resident Primo Vanicelli decided to do back in 2010 as reported by the SanDiego.Com

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Libraries (Property Tax), Storm Drains (Property Tax & additional Storm Drain Tax), Gang Control (already paid for by DOJ in Police Asset Forfeiture Funds), Disabled Services (Property Tax), Senior Services (Property Tax), Landscaping (Property Tax), Tree Trimming (Property Tax), 911 Dispatch Personal (Property Tax) and on and on.

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How would you vote if you recieved this swell kit from Public Utilities March 05, 2013, the day that the Measure A resolution was passed at City Council?

At City Council on Tuesday May 07, 2013, City Manager Scott Barber presented a “what if.”  What if Measure A doesn’t pass, how it will effect the City in regards to services, to the extent of 3.1% of the City’s operating budget.  Now if anyone has worked corporate, as I have, you know that if management asked you to cut 10%, you were in hog heaven.  Considering a 20% to 30% cut that’s a bit tougher, but can be done.  The City Manager is complaining of a 3.1% cut, is he kidding?  But he takes the doom and gloom approach, because it is what get’s people’s attention.  It is scaring employees and resident by perpetrating a dispiccable farce.  What is his 3.1% based on?  It certainly not based on last years spending or the spending over the last 16 years.  Why? Because there is no track record of the spending to begin with.

CITY RESPONDS IN A LETTER REGARDS THE DETAILS OF THE WATER SETTLEMENT

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CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW LETTER

The City of Riverside’s states in this letter that when Proposition 218 was passed in 1996, that the impact on the City was unclear since the voters had already voted on the transfer.  The City fails to indicate that the Proposition 218 made the transfer null and void, and illegal to continue the transfer without a vote of the people.  So how much did the City of Riverside really know?  Well it appeared they knew plenty..  The City cannot claim ingnorance on this one, the Mayor Ron Loveridge was the President of the League of Cities for two terms.  The League of Cities created the implementation guide to Proposition 218, with the help of the Attorney who advised the city to settle, Michael Colantuono.  A little known fact is that the California Supreme Court mandated that  cities had till November 08, 1998 to comply and approve a tax measure to continue the General Fund Transfer as a tax on water service.  November 08, 1998 came and the City of Riverside failed to meet this tax approval deadline, and continued to illegally transfer monies to the General Fund for the next 16 years, without giving the opportunity to the residents to vote on it.

In the below agreement between the City of Riverside and the Hyatt, they admit to the transfer, but note that no court has ruled on whether a transfer like Riverside can be called a cost of providing water service.  Recently in a Press Enterprise, the Hyatt was suing the City of Riverside for “extorsion.”

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Page 52 of this agreement indicates that the City understands Article XIII C of the California State Constitution.  The City states in this agreement that Article XIII C requires that all new taxes be submitted to the electorate (this is you the voter) before they become effective.  Taxes for general government purposes (taxes that can be spent on anything) of the City require a majority vote, even if deposited into the City’s General Fund, require two-thirds vote.  The City further understands that because this “tax” requires voter approval per Proposition 218, this in turn, will reduce the City’s flexibility to raise revenues for the General Fund, and no assurance can be given that the City will be able to impose, extend or increase such taxes in the future to meet increased expenditure needs.  Though the No on Measure A campaign are stating this is not a tax, the City validates that it is in this agreement.  The City in there support of Measure A has no become instrumental in misleading the public on the legalities of this measure.  Also, in order for monies to be transferred to the City’s General Fund, the monies must be labeled as taxes.

Further, on page 52, the City indicates it’s understanding of Proposition 218 by attesting to the provisions of Article XIII D, such as item (iv) a prohibition against fees and charges which are used for general government services, including police, fire and library services.  Simply because the service is already paid for through property taxes!

A 2010 financial report, issued when the city sought to borrow money to loan to a hotel developer, cites court decisions in three utility fee lawsuits and notes that no court has ruled on whether a transfer like Riverside’s can be called a cost of providing water service.

So far, the report said, “no claim has been filed with the city regarding the legality of including the revenue transfer as a cost of providing the related services and no litigation has been threatened” – but the information was included among possible risks to investors who might lend the city money.

But down the line we also noticed that in a letter to Mark Hill, Department of Finance for the State of California, our City Manager Scott Barber brought to his attention some possible conflicts with Proposition 218.  Further example of the City of Riverside knowingly understanding the impact of a violating Proposition 218.

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The bottom line, the City knew of the impact of Proposition 218 over the years and what would happen if they were challenged in a court of law.   This stems from former Mayor Ron Loveridge, City Attorney Gregory Priamos, former City Manager Brad Hudson and current City Manager Scott Barber.  But ultimately the Council is legally responsible for the actions and decisions they have made.

SEWER BID CANCELLED?

In what appears to be a routine sewer replacement on 9th street also appears to have been cancelled.  Does the City of Riverside lack the $3,358,127.50 in the sewer funds to initiate and complete a maintenance upgrade project?

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THE BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION: WHAT DOES THE GREATER RIVERSIDE CHAMBER HAVE TO DO WITH IT?

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CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW FULL DOCUMENT

Questions abound as to why the Greater Riverside Chamber has received monies from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Funds, keyed in under the Mayors Community Relations.  Why are monies from this foundation finding there way to the accounts of the Greater Riverside Chamber?

WILL THE PURPLE PIPE BE BACK?

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The rumor around town is that Public Utilities Director Dave Wright is really looking at a water increase to refund what is now known as the recycled water program, or as many have recalled, the purple pipe program.  Though currently there are no pending rate increases in the plans.  This is all in fact if Measure A does not pass.  If Measure does not pass, water rates will not necessarily be cut, but the plan is to have the water fund pay for the recycle water program/ purple pipe.  Last time the council attempted to put this through was back in April 2012.  Questions arose if these new fees attached to our water bill are really “taxes?”  In this resolution it was also found that Wright wanted the taxpayer to also pay for $500,000.00 in new furniture.   It seems as if we are always going around in circles, once the city hits one obstacle, as it may be a tax and those darn residents have to vote on this issue, they just continue to go back to the drawing board and find another way.  Here we are again, looking at a different way of getting our money for the same issue we dealt with last year.  This time the intended rate increases will be raised to pay for the purple pipe.

NO ON MEASURE A CAMP HACKING FOR SUPPORTERS?

The new word around town is that the No on Measure A Camp is erroneously posting Yes on Measure A people as supporters.  My response on our FB site was to indicate that we initially did a email blast for support.  What we are understanding is that there may have been confusion between the terms “Yes” and “No”.  People who were “Yes” supporters or not supporters at all inadvertently confirmed the No on Measure A FB site as supporters.  Even Tom Hunt confirmed us as a friend initially, then realized it was No on Measure A and defriended us.  We understanding that defriending can be done on both sides of the spectrum.  So if there are friends on No on Measure A that don’t want to be friends, you can defriend us on your end, or contact us to defriend on our end.  We didn’t realize FB would be this complicated.  But it appears that the “Yes on Measure A” camp may be indicating to their friends, that the “No on Measure A” camp is “hacking” into FB sites to bring non-supporters to the “No on Measure A” FB site.  If someone can tell us how to erroneously post people who don’t really want to be your site, let me know.  Further, we weren’t sure how they were assessing that we knew they were “Yes” supporters to begin with.  Does anybody know why we call ourselves a camp?

VOTE NO ON MEASURE A

For more information on this June 4th, 2013 Measure A, visit are web site at:  noonmeasureariverside.com

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GOVERNMENT SHOULD LIVE WITHIN THEIR MEANS, AFTERALL, WE THE TAXPAYER HAVE TO..

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 ACLU.  NOW TAGGED LOCAL BLOGGERS OR LOCAL MEDIA?  RATED ONE TWO ONE STAR OUT OF FIVE IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY APPROVAL RATINGS..  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 ( OUR PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO CONTACT HIS PEOPLE)… 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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You are only as powerful as people perceive you to be.  Or people allow you to be. You have no power if I don’t give you any.

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My open letter to Ofelia Valdez- Yeager

Dear Mrs. Ofelia Valdez-Yeager,(No relation to Yeager Construction),

I know you as a Neighbor, Community Leader and Acquaintance.  My letter is to express my concern that you are the Chairwoman in support of Yes on Measure A.  I don’t quite understand the Hypocrisy of all your civic endeavors. You belong to the Raincross Group that is an exclusive, elitist invitation only group that’s a public policy advocacy organization.  You were Chair of the Women’s Democratic Club.  You are the Chairperson of Latino Network which provides a forum to address community issues affecting and impacting the latino community.  You are the founding chair of the Cesar Chavez Memorial which is dedicated to the life of a man who’s profound statement “The love for justice that is in us is not only the best part of our being but it is also the most true to our nature.”  In other words, it is part of our nature to do the right thing, and he took this to fight for the injustices of all farm workers.

The “Walk of Peace” on Main Street Riverside includes: Martin Luther King, Gandhi, Ysmael Villegas and Dosan Ahn Chang-Ho.  Soon we will have Cesar Chavez because of your groups effort.  What these men stood for and sacrificed is in clear contradiction of the “Elite” Raincross Group.  To up hold justice and protect human rights of the Citizens less fortunate “the Least, the Lost and the last.”  As a matter of fact Gandhi protested against excessive land taxes.  I believe that all these men would be fighting against the injustice of Measure A.

On June 2013, you, The Mayor, and Council will be raising the torch on the finished Monument of Cesar Chavez.  I’m sure you will have words expressing the plight of Cesar Chavez and his passion for non violent activism.  You raised the torch for what this man stood for and at the same time you also raised the torch for the elitist group that suppresses the very thing Cesar Chavez stood for. It’s like Apples and Oranges, Oil and Vinegar, so what is it!  Your actions don’t match your words.  My Question for you is did you put your efforts in to this monument because you believe in the activism of Cesar Chavez or because you are seeking glorification?

I believe Cesar Chavez would have never belonged to an Elitist, Exclusive, Invitation Only Community Group that supports the oppression of the Citizens of Riverside. I don’t think any of the nationally recognized humanitarians on the walk of peace would participate in the Raincross Group, especially Cesar Chavez.

You are supporting a measure that is illegal and will suppress minoritys and the economically disadvantaged first. I’m sure everyone in the Raincross Group will be able to afford a higher utility bill. The hypocrisy in your actions is apparent.  Didn’t you Support John Tavaglione (REPUBLICAN) for Congress and you were the president of the Women’s Democratic Club?  You raise the flag of Cesar Chavez and you also raise the flag of the Raincross Group and Yes on Measure A. So, I’m not exactly sure what it is you stand for, or believe in. What I am sure about is that Cesar Chavez Would be Against Measure A.

As Chair Woman of “Yes” on Measure A, I would like to believe you are well versed on Prop 218 and 26 and section 13C and 13D of the Constitution of the State of Cailifornia.  I Challenge you, “Mana Y Mana” and your Committee to a debate on all the issues of Measure A.  Our No on Measure A Committee will arrange this forum and I will send you a formal invitation to your Yes on Measure A Committe. This debate will reveal what is truly in the best interest of our Community. Protecting all of our citizens, and following the law!

Vivian Moreno, No on Measure A Campaign

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 ACLU.  NOW TAGGED LOCAL BLOGGERS OR LOCAL MEDIA?  RATED ONE TWO ONE STAR OUT OF FIVE IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY APPROVAL RATINGS..  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 ( OUR PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO CONTACT HIS PEOPLE)… 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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Investigators from Federal State and Local agencies have served a total of six search warrants within the City of Moreno Valley upon the residences of Jerome (Jerry) P. Stephens, Mayor Tom Owings, Councilmember’s Richard Stewart, Jessie Molina, Richard Stewart, Marcelo Co and Victoria Baca, developers Richard Stewart and Iddo Benzeevi and the offices of Highland Fairview and others.  For more informaton read go to MVGordie’s Blog Site.

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JESSIE MOLINA             VICTORIA BACA             RICHARD STEWART          MARCELO CO         MAYOR TOM OWINGS

Breaking story in the Press Enterprise whereby Federal Agencies, FBI, IRS and the US Attorney’s office,  are raiding the offices of high elected Moreno Valley officials, such as the Mayor,  and a developer, Iddo Benzeevi.  There is no doubt as in the Bell case, the council is ultimately responsible for the decisions they make, regardless of the their City Attorney or City Manager tells them, and these two know that.  The real puppeteers of the operation is the City Manager, in this case, Henry Garcia, they know exactly what is happening in the City.  Now, with former Riverside City Manager Tom De Santis, now currently director of human resources for Moreno Valley, will have to wait to see how this all plays out.

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IDO BENZEEVI

Former Moreno Valley Councilman Bill Batey went to DA Paul Zellerbach’s office to discuss concerns regarding corruption in Moreno Valley City Hall.  We are surprised Zellerbach did anything at all, maybe it’s because it is out of the the City of Riverside.  Oh I get it, no one in Moreno Valley contributed to his campaign…  The City of Riverside needs a bit of spring cleaning, will they be next?

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BILL BATEY

Remember Riverside Council, it only takes one…

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What will the IRS find in Moreno Valley?

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 ACLU.  NOW TAGGED LOCAL BLOGGERS OR LOCAL MEDIA?  RATED ONE TWO ONE STAR OUT OF FIVE IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY APPROVAL RATINGS..  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 ( OUR PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO CONTACT HIS PEOPLE)… 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