Posts Tagged ‘city of riverside’

CITY OF RIVERSIDE: REDEVELOPMENT: SUSPENDED FOR BAD BEHAVIOR?

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES.

2.USER FEES.

3. STATE, FEDERAL AND REGIONAL GRANTS.

4. LAND SALE PROCEEDS.

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

6. GENERAL FUND CASH.

7. RDA TAX INCREMENT.

8. CERTAIN OLDER RDA BOND PROCEEDS ALLOCATED TO RENAISSANCE.

9. CERTAIN MEASURE-G PROCEEDS ALLOCATED TO RENNAISSANCE.

10. FUTURE PLANNED RIVERSIDE CONVENTION CENTER BOND ISSUE.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Brad’s yearly basesalary                                                      $258,200.00

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

401a Plan Match Up                                                                 $9,000.00

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

Total First Year Salary                                                          $282,200.00 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Holding true by their mission statement?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CITY OF RIVERSIDE: I’LL TAKE A DOUBLE RUBIN ON A BB&K WITH PU ON THE SIDE!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CITY OF RIVERSIDE SEES SKIN COLOR AS PROBLEMATIC?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

UNKNOWINGLY PUSHING THE ENVELOPE, KEEP CONNECTED WITH TMC, RATED RIVERSIDE’S MOST “SLANDEROUS” AND MEZZSPELLED, “MISSPELLED” AND “OPINIONATED” BLOG SITE!   TMC IS NOW EXCLUSIVELY ON FILE WITH THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE’S DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, AND PROSSIBLY POSSIBLY ON FILE WITH THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE’S POTENTIAL SLAPP SUIT LIST…  AGAIN, THANK-YOU COMMUNITY OF RIVERSIDE AND THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE EMPLOYEE’S FOR YOUR SUPPORT!  COMMENTS ALWAYS WELCOMED, ESPECIALLY SPELL CHECKERS!  EMAIL ANONYMOUSLY WITH YOUR DIRT!   THIRTYMILESCORRUPTION@HOTMAIL.COM  BY THE WAY, COMMENTS ALWAYS WELCOMED!

CITY OF RIVERSIDE: CLEVER AS THE FOX, BUT NON THE NEDERLANDER!

Posted: July 17, 2011 in Uncategorized
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TMC’S PREDICTION IS THAT THE FOX THEATRE WILL BE OUT OF BUSINESS BY JULY 2012, BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PAY THE 2 MILLION DOLLAR YEARLY DEFICIT ON OPERATING COST.  THIS IS BECAUSE THE CITY SHOULD NOT BE IN BUSINESS OF DOING BUSINESS.  THEY SHOULD NOT BE IN THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS, THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS, THE FUTURE HOTEL BUSINESS, PROPERTY MANAGMENT BUSINESS AND REAL ESTATE BUSINESS.  THEY SHOULD BE IN THE BUSINESS AS A GOVERNMENT AGENCY, OF FIXING OUR SEWERS AND REPAIRING OUR POT HOLES!  WHO KNOWS, H.J. “JOE” ZIVNAK MAY BE ABLE TO THEN PICK UP THE FOX THEATRE FOR A COUPLE OF MIL, BECAUSE THAT MY FREINDS, IS HOW THE CITY ROLLS….

According to Brad Hudson’s planned Guccism for Riverside was to transform Downtown into a major entertainment mecca.  But if that was the plan, what is Downtown Riverside going to do now that the New York Style Theatre is non-the-neder?  What are we going to do without Nederlander?  Well, the City of Riverside figured it was a format problem, therefore the new idea is that the format needed to be change according to the geographics.  Well, neder mind, why didn’t we just do that to begin with?  Should we have just kept it local?  It does appears that’s exactly what the prior owner of the Fox, H.J. “Joe” Zivnak, wanted to do until it was taken by eminent domain by the usual suspects at City Hall.  At the time, the then Riverside City Council stated the current owner had failed to restore the historic vaudeville stage and cinema and turn it into a cutting-edge performing arts center.  Well, neder-the-less, it is what it is now, a cutting-edge government runned underperforming arts center.  The next confusing question, is the unreachable Nederlander really out of Riverside?    Not at all, says Fox General Manager Bill Malone. “It’s just a new relationship”, and “they’re (Nederlander) are affiliated with McCoy Rigby Entertainment”.   Malone says he will now pick and choose from Nederlanders’s traveling shows.  Won’t have to take them all.   This sounds sort of like ordering theatre tickets from the internet, you can pick and choose the tickets you want.  Well, I guess there is an internet site where you can pick and choose traveling shows from a list, then add to the cart.  But further, did it ever occur to management why so many Nederlander shows were being cancel?   He goes on to say, “together we can conclude from experience what will be viable.”  But the delusional new relationship is non-existent, and far from viable, consider the yearly 1 million dollar deficit to the taxpayer in operating cost since The Fox Theatre opened.  

Again, as written in the Riverside Outlook on Page 2, the statement that the City of Riverside is bringing in Nederlander affiliate McCoy Rigby Entertainment  from La Mirada on board to the Fox Theatre is also misleading.  The term “affiliation” brings about the understanding that McCoy Rigby is somehow connected with Nederlander as a business associate, or further, that Nederlander has an interest in McCoy Rigby.  Neder is true!  McCoy Rigby does not have an interest in Nederlander or the reverse.  But as I was told from McCoy Rigby per phone conversation is that they work together as colleagues, and will use one or the other as a referral if the other decides neder to take a gig.  Therefore, McCoy Rigby was more of a business referral per Nederlander, if that’s what really happened. So, now let’s stop with the affiliation part and the denial, Nederlander really is gone, but good try on the spin.

Nederlander officials also told the city they were losing money in Riverside, though they didn’t provide figures, according Assistant City Manager Deanna Lorson.    But what Deanna didn’t tell you was that The Fox Theatre was losing money on operations since it opened and the very night she walked the red carpet of the grand opening.  But here are the figures according to the Annual Budget of 2010-2011.  Malone calls it a primary win for the Fox and a secondary win for Nederlander. And let’s not forget there is a third win, too, because this is truly a win,win situation, that is, replacing Nederlander with Orange County’s McCoy Rigby Entertainment.  Well Malone….if you really look at the whole picture the Fox Theatre is also not winning when it is losing money.  Nederlander left because is was losing money. And  McCoy Rigby Entertainment won’t know just yet if it is a win, till they tell us they’re making money. We realize the city meant neder to be misleading, but neder-the-less, you say tomato, I say tomahto, why don’t we just call the whole thing off?  Well Nederlander did, and they meandered right out of Riverside, but neder mind the incidentals!

But how did this all happen? How did the City of Riverside decide they wanted to be in the business of entertainment? As Ex Chief of Police Steve Stavely stated when referring to Costa Mesa City  Council, “They act as if they are owners of the business that is the municipal government of the City of Costa Mesa, but they are not, they are merely trustees of these public assets both human and physical and they fail in that role completely”.  Does Riverside City Hall believe they are the owners of the business they called their Fox Theatre, of whom they have access for meetings and events, and whom receive free tickets for their personal use each month? Which council people were at the top of the list for free taxpayer paid government entertainment tickets? Councilman Paul Davis? maybe Nancy Hart? How bout newly re-elected councilman and candidate for Mayor Mike Gardner?  

Well, an article isn’t an article without an insult or two regarding Riverside.  Emil Marzullo, economic development chief for San Bernardino, which owns the California Theatre, says Nederlander may have “overestimated this market area. I see this area as an immature theater market. Not that the people are immature, but they’re not used to going to theater here.”  Thanks for that analytical synopsis, Emil.  But we could have also said Nederlander was just giving Riverside a trial run, afterall, they are Nederlander! And Riverside is Riverside, not Neanderthal Land! 

Well neder mind the above, the point is they should have kept it local and simple to begin with, and their is no reason why the Fox Theatre should have some sort of entertainment venue every day, especially during the summer.

COME ONE, COME ALL, GOVERNMENT ENTERTAINMENT AT ITS BEST SINCE NEDERLANDER LEFT,  THE GOVERNMENT HIT PARADE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE TAXPAYER…  THE MAYOR AND I, BYE BYE BRADLEY, THE PHANTOM OF SEVENTH FLOOR, THE BLUE COUNCIL GROUP, DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, SINGING IN THE SEWER, SEVEN COUNCILS FOR SEVEN CONTRACTORS, MISS HART GON…..IT IS A BETTER VENUE!

UPDATE:07/20/2011: The theatrics continues when drama king Fox manager William P. Malone told party guests that he is in “partnership” with McCoy Rigby on the Fox’s Broadway season and that he approached the couple to step in after the Nederlander Organization closed its Riverside operation. This is quite different than what was quoted last time, when he stated it was just a new relationship, insinuating that Nederlander never really left, because they are “affiliated” with McCoy Rigby Entertainment, which of course, is not true.

I wish the Fox good sailing. I wish the City government would get out of private enterprise businesss. Socialism.  Management chosen by a private enterprise organization would bring back some of the historic pride of Riverside. The Mission Inn was not built by government. Since 1955 Riverside government has spent (invested) hundreds of millions of dollars trying to push water uphill. Government is the business of mile square. Services to support all those government employees, hundreds of millions in payroll should be the quest of planning for downtown. Bringing a night life to milesquare might be desirable for some but that should be the agenda of private enterprise.   Riverside City Government should not be in any business that competes with the private sector. That is unfair  competition and discourages economic progress.         -Ron, PE Commenter

UPDATE:05/26/2012:  HAS THE FOX LOST IT’S PANTS?  NEW ARTICLE IN THE PE REGARDING OPERATING COST WERE GREATER THAN EXPECTED LEAVING THE FOX IN THE RED, OR SHOULD I SAY, “THE TAXPAYER”.

According to Chief Financial Officer Bret Mason the expected deficit will be $900,000.00 for fiscal year 2012-2013.  While some of the council disturbingly feel the deficit is acceptable, no one in their right mind within the private sector would consider this acceptable.

UNKNOWINGLY PUSHING THE ENVELOPE, KEEP CONNECTED WITH TMC, RATED RIVERSIDE’S MOST “SLANDEROUS” AND MEZZSPELLED, “MISSPELLED” AND “OPINIONATED” BLOG SITE!   TMC IS NOW EXCLUSIVELY ON FILE WITH THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE’S DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, AND PROSSIBLY POSSIBLY ON FILE WITH THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE’S POTENTIAL SLAPP SUIT LIST…  AGAIN, THANK-YOU COMMUNITY OF RIVERSIDE AND THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE EMPLOYEE’S FOR YOUR SUPPORT!  COMMENTS ALWAYS WELCOMED, ESPECIALLY SPELL CHECKERS!  EMAIL ANONYMOUSLY WITH YOUR DIRT!   THIRTYMILESCORRUPTION@HOTMAIL.COM  BY THE WAY, COMMENTS ALWAYS WELCOMED!

CITY OF RIVERSIDE: TMC STILL RECOMMENDS FORENSIC AUDIT OF CITY HALL BOOKS!

Posted: July 11, 2011 in Uncategorized
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CLICK ON THE PIC TO WATCH PAUL HIDE!

 WHO WILL BE HIDING BEHIND THE COMPUTER NEXT WHEN THE AUDITOR COMES ASKING QUESTIONS? CHECK BACK WEEKLY…THAT IS, EVERY CITY COUNCIL TUESDAY! WE’LL EVEN PROVIDE THE DIRECT LINK SO YOU CAN CHECK THE CURRENT CITY COUNCIL AGENDA. CALL YOUR LOCAL ELECTED COUNCIL PERSON AND THE MAYOR AND REQUEST THAT A FORENSIC AUDIT BE DONE BY STATE CONTROLLER JOHN CHIANG OF THE CITY HALL BOOKS. Mayer Hoffman McCann had been the City of Riverside’s auditing firm for the last five years. In John Chiang’s review of the audits conducted by Mayer Hoffman McCann for the City of Bell, he found that the auditor “appears to have been a rubberstamp rather than a responsible auditor committed to providing the public with the transparency and accountability that could have prevented the mismanagement of the City’s finances by Bell officials.”  This has been the concern of the community in the City of Riveriside, but Chief Financial Officer Paul Sundeen believes an independent audit is too expensive and wouldn’t be necessary in his opinion. IF THERE IS NOTHING TO HIDE, THE NUMBERS WILL ALWAYS COME UP RIGHT!

CITY OF RIVERSIDE: SEGWAY MIKE SIDESTEPS THEN SUMERSAWS INTO THE MAYORS RACE!

Posted: July 7, 2011 in Uncategorized
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What’s quite disparaging is asking the support, trust and vote of the community to be elected to City Council, but two months later  you decide to run for mayor.  You originally say you are not, but then you do, well how close can you get to weasel?  But there is a secondary weasel in this game, William “Rusty” Bailey who suddenly overnight, also decided he heard the vague calling for the mayor’s seat, but hasn’t jumped into the kettle just yet.  And third, current Councilman Andy Melendrez decided to give a try at Emerald City’s Mayor.  Do we have a underlying breach of trust by these council people to the community? The question is, was this planned and orchestrated? Because if it is, what is their true agenda, more political leverage?  You see, under the city charter, section 404, if a council seat becomes vacant the city council must then appoint someone to fill it.  Two for the price of one!  A strategic political move if you are on good terms with fellow councilmembers.   Once you are Mayor of Emerald City, you may have the support of that chosen council minion for life.  A corruptible offense? Good question, it’s left to be seen.

But we can also assume that the intended council replacement may have already been strategically groomed for that position. Who will it be? Someone close to the council and newly christened mayor? ..an ex-police officer, or even the mayor himself? Or we can we just imagine the perfect replacement?  But what we have is a breach of trust by Councilman Gardner and Bailey toward the community they promised to serve.  When these planned political moves take place it hurts the community by minimizing importance of the community they asked to serve, and it gives the impression to the community that they simply don’t care.  And in times when cities are being financially scrutinized, trust is needed. What is a council to do if they just can’t see themselves with a favorite councilmen?  HUBO the councilbot, is rumored to be Gardner’s replacement if such actions take place.   Could this possibly be a conflict of interest?  Well, there is one thing for sure,  he does like Mike, permanently, it’s been programmed…

UPDATE:07/09/2011: VIDEO: AT THE WARD 1 RAINCROSS DEBATES HELD APRIL 20, 2011, WARD 1 CANDIDATE DVONNE PITRUZELLO ASK THE QUESTION TO DOM BETRO AND MIKE GARDNER IF THEY HAVE INTENTIONS TO RUN FOR MAYOR.  MIKE GARDNER STATES EMPHATICALLY, ” I HAVE NO SUCH PLANS.”  WATCH THE VIDEO AT TIME 1:38:00

UPDATE:07/11/2011: “I HAVE NO SUCH PLANS” COUNCILMAN MIKE GARDNER’S REASON FOR ENTERING THE MAYORS RACE: “….my constituents and supporters have encouraged me to take this step. I have been heartened by the number of people who have said. ‘Yes, do it, ! you are exactly who we need as Mayor.’ No one has said they were disappointed and see this as just a move up in my political career. They understand that I love being the Ward 1 Council member and am running for Mayor because I truly believe I am the best candidate. “I have those skills and traits. It will be a challenging campaign, but I am confident I am the best candidate and that I will prevail.” Well, O.K. Mike, so you are willing to leave the City Council seat because you feel you are now a better candidate for the Mayor’s seat.  But according to a statement in the Press Enterprise,  “Riverside’s mayor is the ceremonial head of the city and gets full-time pay, but he’s not the chief administrator — that’s the city manager — nor does he have much legislative sway beyond setting the council’s agenda, voting to break a tie, and the power to veto council actions.”  Loveridge has never used his veto. So wouldn’t one want to be the City Manager? Or will he attempt that position now that it may soon be open?  And due to the power and control over finances, I believe the City Manager should be an elected position, this may circumvent abuses we currently our seeing, but allow accountability for their actions.  The Mayor of Riverside is the ceremonial head of the city, that would be similar to the King and Queen of England and whereby the Parliament actually holds the power, or at our city level, the City Council.  A commemorative position that reflects the inhabitants of the community, but again a position with no real power?  Well I guess there are ribbon cutting ceremonies, the mayor’s ball and dinner parties to attend… Now that I think about it Mike, the Mayor’s seat probably is a better fit for you.

UPDATE: 07/22/2011:  “People are looking for something that I don’t think exists,” Gardner said. “I  think people are reading perfectly innocent things as something sinister.”  Gardner’s response to allegations of contract favoritism.

MORENO VALLEY: EX ASSISTANT RIVERSIDE CITY MANAGER TOM DESANTIS HIRED BY MORENO VALLEY CITY MANAGER HENRY GARCIA!

Posted: June 28, 2011 in Uncategorized
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Press Enterprise reports DeSantis hired back to Moreno Valley by Moreno Valley City Manager Henry Garcia to review Public Works via a contractual agreement. The City Council did not have to approve the contract, because Garcia authorized the money from his (slush) discretionary fund.  Henry Garcia stated, “There is no relation between what occurred in Riverside and Tom DeSantis’ talents, he has a very distinguished reputation for analysis in Riverside.”  Garcia contracted DeSantis three months ago, paying him $100 an hour for 140 hours of work.  As an independent contractor, hopefully Garcia 1099 him, and this can be found through the public records act.  Is Garcia drinking the Kool Aid when hiring DeSantis or was this part of his orchestrated schpeel?  Moreno Valley just brought Tom DeSantis up a notch by calling him “distinguished”, but then you must consider the source.  This is a similar to the accounting of Sacramento County Chairwoman Roberta MacGlashan, where she said officials don’t believe Riverside’s City Manager Brad Hudson ordered Riverside city contracts steered to friends.  Well, OK, but you are still required as a steward of the people to investigate.  Brad Hudson worked for the County of  Riverside, and when he departed to the City of Riverside, he not only brought over Belinda Graham from San Bernardino County, but brought DeSantis, Tina English, Deanna Lorsen, and later, the new kid on the block Emilio Ramirez all from Riverside County.  But is history repeating itself? Or does Moreno Valley fit the profile of the track record of the imcomperable Mr. DeSantis?  Has he been tagged as unhireable?  City Manager Henry Garcia left the City of Rialto as City Administrator in February of 2011.  Incidently, Joe Baca Jr. is Councilman for the City of Rialto, the son of  Congressman Joe Baca, who represents the 42nd District, of which the City of Rialto is a part of.  Get the picture?  Just recently, Tom DeSantis had applied for the position of Town Manager in Gilbert, Arizona, but raised red flags when his past service came into question.   Sources have indicated that he originally left the County of Riverside due to allegations of sexual harassment.  There has been similar indications of these allegations with the City of Riverside.  Then there is the coups d’état, the allegation of brandishing the firearm, and there is more, the badges, the holsters, the illegal gun purchases, the concealed weapons permits, the post-it notes documentation of public vehicle use and the illegal cold plate vehicle use, and of course, there is much, much, more….  What is it about this culture of corruption, that appears to turn the other ear to the constituents welfare?  DeSantis, the fall guy for City Manager Brad Hudson…….will he be the fall guy for City Manager Henry Garcia?  Then there was the sorted tale of Ex Moreno Valley City Manager Robert Gutierrez, who resigned in 2009 while facing seven misdemeanor charges involving sexual harassment. No matter how agregious the crime, you still get an enormous payout by the taxpayer! The filo dough is just about to seperate and unfold on this one. 

UPDATE: 06/29/2011: How closely tied is the City of Riverside and Moreno Valley?  Closer than you think…  Barry Foster, Moreno Valley’s Economic Development Director is the husband of Siobhan Foster, the City of Riverside’s Public Works Director.  Now Riverside’s Ex Assistant City Manager Tom DeSantis has been hired by the City of Moreno Valley to review Public Works.  Will Tom DeSantis now maintain an inter-city collaboration with Siobhan Foster concerning issues of Public Works?  Is Tom DeSantis even qualified to review Public Works?  Garcia, formerly city manager of Rialto, said he has known DeSantis more than 20 years since both were administrators in San Bernardino County. Is this close culture of networking responsible for the problems California is experiencing?  Is this all in the family? or just part of the family business?

UPDATE: 06/30/2011: Undisclosed sources are allegedly stating that Riverside’s Human Resource Director Rhonda Strout is the girlfriend of Moreno Valley City Manager Henry Garcia.   The close tie would have enabled Garcia to receive a true account and background check of Riverside’s Ex Assistant City Manager Tom DeSantis.

MORE TO COME, ANONYMOUS SOURCES WELCOMED, DOCUMENTATION AND PHOTOS WELCOMED, KEEP CONNECTED WITH TMC, MAKING THEM HONEST, AND HELL, IT AIN’T EASY….

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