TMC: Thirty Miles of Corruption

IS THE SWORD OF DEMOCLES HANGING OVER THE CITY’S HEAD?

Vote No on Measure-Z folks!  Have you always believed that local Riverside Police and Fire had your back, and had your best interest at heart?  Not so, think again..  They have always thought of themselves before the taxpayer and TMC will prove that these so called Heroes, are really imposters of deception, disguised in sheep clothing, making you believe, you the taxpayer are of the utmost importance.  But not so, they will deceive to attain what they believe they are entitled to.  Your money, your hard earned money, and will continue to make you believe that it is well spent.  Not so folks, the reality is that your public servants are charlatan and  masters of deception when it comes to tax monies, and these opportunist should be exposed.  It is a sad case when your public servants care more about their entitlement pay, then servicing the public!

              

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

Example One: Tim Strack, President of the Riverside City Firefighters Association (Fire Union) has set aside $100,000.00 to the campaign on Yes on Measure Z, to get this tax through so his firefighters will continue receive their high pensions.  But Strack is singing the same tune he did a couple of years ago when they lied about the No on Measure A campaign, and said we would lose important services in the community, and if Measure A didn’t pass we would have problems in service.  Well folks he lied, lying Tim continues to lie about Measure-Z.  This $100K started out as taxpayer monies when given as salaries to the firefighters, then give to the unions as dues, then the unions utilized it on issues that benefit themselves.  This is the “laundering” system in action.

TIM STRACK

Example Two: Brian Smith, President of the Riverside Police Officers Association ( Police Union), attempted to ensure the audience at the Goeske Senior Center that “monies wouldn’t be squandered because the Police Association would be watching.”  Sure Brian, you weren’t watching when you were embezzled out of $350,000.00 of member dues as this CBS report explains.  Brian, are you going to tell the taxpayers that no officer in your association could read the books?  So guys, if you can’t protect your own back yard, how can you confidently protect the publics?

BRIAN SMITH

Example Three: All non-profits that can’t make it on their own, and depend on “taxpayer welfare,” of course, are for Yes On Measure-Z.  This would be the notorious Raincross Group and the boldly infamous Riverside Chamber of Commerce.

THE FOLLOWING IS INFORMATION FROM THE “NO ON MEASURE-Z” CAMPAIGN:

By passing Measure-Z, the City of Riverside’s tax will double from the current 8% to 9%, becoming the biggest tax increase in our City’s history.  Also, remember as some of friends have told me, If I bought a high price item, as a new car, I’ll just buy it somewhere else where the sales tax is lower.  Not so, if you buy a car anywhere, you will still have to pay the Riverside tax, because the tax is tied to you home property address.

Secondly, the new tax gouges Riverside Taxpayers by inadvertently raising “five times” the amount needed to “balance the 2016 City budget.”  Measure-Z fleeces the taxpayer for $2 billion over 20 years.  We find this excess is purposely done, that continues to encourage the City of Riverside’s bad behavior of “wasteful spending.”  Measure-Z is a “regressive general tax.”  What this means is that your tax dollars will be spent on anything the elected officials dream up in the next two decades….without voter approval.

The best part for the City Establishment is that there is no specific taxpayer accountability written into Measure-Z.  This means that the City is not “obligated” to tell you how your money is spent!

Thirdly, Fine Print, Measure-Z tax monies can be “diverted” from “vital services” to:

• Build a new City Hall, Trolley System (Remember the Brockton Bike Lane Bug-A-Boo) or expand the Riverside Convention Center.
• Raise “salaries and benefits.”  Don’t you see Fire and Police salivating like Pavlov’s Dog?  Google “Salaries Riverside 2015 Transparent California.”
• Pay down predominantly soaring Fire and Police Pension Debt. The City of Riverside are ‘horrible’ negotiators for the taxpayers.  Currently, for example, the City of Riverside has been paying the entire cost of employee pensions, $71,811.00.  Police and Fire pension average $108,173.00  Pretty incredible!  I have a Doctorate in Clinical Pharmacy from USC, a B.S. in Pre-Medical Sciences from Loyola Marymount, and an emphasis in Medical Bacteriology from California State University Los Angeles, and currently receive $12K in a pension per year…. go figure!

Again beware of “scare tactics” from the City of Riverside.  TMC has been told that the “financial condition” in the City of Riverside is “dire,”  but the City is “lying” again, as they did with Measure-A.  How are they lying?  Through their teeth, because “official budget documents” state there is “absolutely no financial trouble,” and the City Manager reports that “prudent belt-tightening” is enough to balance budgets and restore services.  Don’t Be Misled!

TMC has been dealing with this issue since we battled with the City with our Downtown Business in 2011.  What we have with the City is a “failure to communicate.”  What TMC has been stating for years is that “we do not have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem.”  Realistically, the City of Riverside is “rolling in doe,” therefore Measure-Z is not needed!  Tax Revenues are at an all time high and expected to keep on growing.  For example, Riverside Public Utilities provides a huge revenue source other cities don’t have …… $45 million from your Surplus Utility Rates which goes directly to the City of Riverside General Fund!

Fourthly, City Unions, which unfairly positions City Employees against the taxpayer.  The Fire Union under Tim Strack, pledges $100,000.00 to the Yes on Measure-Z campaign, in the hopes that Measure-Z passes, thus ensuring, bigger pay increases and higher pensions to the “rat bastards!”  Remember, these ‘public servants’ have betrayed us!  Back on August 16, 1937 President Franklin D. Roosevelt state this on “public sector unions.”

All Government employees should realize that the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service. It has its distinct and insurmountable limitations when applied to public personnel management. The very nature and purposes of Government make it impossible for administrative officials to represent fully or to bind the employer in mutual discussions with Government employee organizations. The employer is the whole people, who speak by means of laws enacted by their representatives in Congress. Accordingly, administrative officials and employees alike are governed and guided, and in many instances restricted, by laws which establish policies, procedures, or rules in personnel matters.

Particularly, I want to emphasize my conviction that militant tactics have no place in the functions of any organization of Government employees. Upon employees in the Federal service rests the obligation to serve the whole people, whose interests and welfare require orderliness and continuity in the conduct of Government activities. This obligation is paramount. Since their own services have to do with the functioning of the Government, a strike of public employees manifests nothing less than an intent on their part to prevent or obstruct the operations of Government until their demands are satisfied. Such action, looking toward the paralysis of Government by those who have sworn to support it, is unthinkable and intolerable. It is, therefore, with a feeling of gratification that I have noted in the constitution of the National Federation of Federal Employees the provision that “under no circumstances shall this Federation engage in or support strikes against the United States Government.”

Fifthly, a “Yes on Measure-Z” vote will absolutely hurt families and seniors on fixed incomes.  The City of Riverside’s median household income is $56,000.00  This amount has yet to recover from “pre-recessions highs,” thus causing financial uncertainty for families.  Taking it a step further, Retirees Social Security household income averages $16,000.00

Sixthly, If Measure-Z passes, a single consumer will pay $250.00 dollars more in addition to the $2000.00 in taxes for the cost of a $25,000.00 vehicle!

Seventhly, Verify the Facts, go to the City of Riverside website  www.riversideca.gov/measurez    You will find two videos that should be watched on why the City would like to vote Yes on Measure-Z, there is also a Q & A on Yes on Measure-Z, a report on Budget Facts, City Manager John Russo’s letter in For Year 2016-2018 Biennial Budget.  Is Russo thinking that he should have retired and just have bought that pizza joint in the Bronx?

In that same area we have the impartial analysis of Measure-Z and City Council Agenda Item #37.

MEASURE-Z NEWS LINKS:

09.16.2016: PRESS ENTERPRISE: RIVERSIDE LEADERS, RESIDENTS TAKE SIDES ON TAX ISSUE.

09.23.2016: PRESS ENTERPRISE: CITIES BAILING OUT PENSIONS WITH TAX HIKES.

09.26.2016: PRESS ENTERPRISE: RIVERSIDE HOLDS MEETINGS ON MEASURE Z.

No on Measure-Z endorsed by former Riverside County District Attorney, Grover Trask.  Former City of Riverside Chief Financial Officer Paul Sundeen, Former Council Member and County Supervisor Bob Buster.  Dr. Sharon B. Mateja, Dentist; Kevin Dawson, homeowner/taxapayer; Susana Hernandez, Alford School District Retired; The Lincoln Club of Riverside County.

DONATE: Come On Folks, Help and Support No On Measure-Z by donating to the following links:

GO FUND ME: NO ON MEASURE-Z RIVERSIDE

CONTACT LIST:

1. noonmeasurez@yahoo.com
2. NO ON MEASURE-Z WEBSITE RIVERSIDE
3. FACEBOOK NO ON MEASURE-Z RIVERSIDE

Or simply make checks payable to and mail to:

NO ON MEASURE-Z COMMITTEE I.D.# 1389248

BOB BUSTER, TREASURER, 7401 DUFFERIN AVENUE, RIVERSIDE, CA, 92504, 951-780-4749

VOTE NO ON MEASURE-Z