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If this isn’t an indication that this is the End of Redevelopment, the founder of RSG, Inc the morons Consultants that have been telling our City Council to fight the State and sue the Department of Finance is Bailing out, jumping ship, and flying the coup. No surer example of …. its over when its over… Hey Larry? La Quinta hires new city manager The La Quinta City Council hired a new city manager Tuesday night. Frank Spevacek, 58, begins the new job in June. He will make $195,000 annually...
Yucca Valley, Ca..- Where is the book maker when you need him? Odds are pretty good Town Manager, Mark Nuaimi, will be in the top pick for the final round based on his extensive resume and track record for the short time he has been employed by Yucca Valley. Hired less than two years ago at the height of the Great Recession, Nuaimi can tout a long list of his accomplishments for Yucca Valley. In order to reflect his actions in the best light possible and as a public...
On Monday, May 14, 2012, at approximately 3:30 PM, officers from the Temecula Police Department responded to the Serena Hills Park in the 40700 block of Walcott Lane regarding an indecent exposure. A female adult arrived at the park, along with her two pre-school-age children, and was sitting in her vehicle waiting for a friend to arrive when she noticed a white male adult sitting on a park bench. The white male adult saw the female driver sitting in her vehicle and exposed himself. The suspect then moved from...
Over the past month, California cities have been learning the fate of countless redevelopment projects—touching everything from graffiti-removal programs to nine-figure transit-oriented developments to billion-dollar stadiums. For many, the news is not good – especially now that the stern California Department of Finance has gotten into the act. April 15 was the deadline for successor agencies to submit Revised Obligation Payment Schedules (ROPS)—essentially lists of projects and assets that they believe should continued to be funded from the Redevelopment Property Tax Trust Fund even while the state appropriates the...
With billions of dollars at stake, school district representatives charged with overseeing the shutdown of about 400 redevelopment agencies may be underprepared. Seven-member local oversight boards consisting of representatives from K-14 districts, the county, the city and special districts are now responsible for vetting decisions about how the former agencies will be dismantled and how the property taxes that previously went to redevelopment will be spent. But some observers are concerned that many school district representatives are not well-equipped to review the complex contracts and financial arrangements left in...
On February 1, after years of terrorizing property owners with the threat of condemnation for private development, redevelopment agencies were officially dissolved in California. Home and small business owners across the state are finally free from the very real daily fear that their property would be next on the chopping block. Redevelopment in California has been a billion-dollar boondoggle that used eminent domain as its development tool of choice. These agencies routinely took from those of modest means to give to rich developers for pipe-dream projects that rarely...
A quick note to folks who have been backing the change to the Peddling and Vending laws in Twentynine Palms. After 7 Months and as many hearings and study sessions a new Ordnance was hammered out last night. The new tough law is now on to the Full Council for approval. I would like to thank those that have supported Fay and I through this. Maybe you will be able to see our food cart in town regularly and as a fixture of the business community.
Kyle McDermott My name is Kyle McDermott. I have been a volunteer firefighter with the Twentynine Palms Fire Department since December of 2007. As a volunteer firefighter I have been assigned between four and ten 24-hour shifts per month, depending on the scheduling needs to keep apparatus available for emergency response at all times. During my time here, I have had the opportunity to respond to an array of emergency incidents within the community. I have also had the privilege of attending specialized state fire marshal training courses which...
Assemblyman Paul Cook signed on as a co-author to AJR 38 urging the President Barack Obama and Congress to reimburse California for all costs of incarcerating illegal immigrant prisoners and to restore full funding for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program. Cook stated, “If the federal government won’t secure our border or deport criminals from other countries, California should be reimbursed for incarceration.” The State Criminal Alien Assistance Program requires the federal government to reimburse the states for the cost of incarcerating illegal immigrant prisoners. Over the past year alone,...
WASHINGTON DC – Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CD49) announced his endorsement of Colonel Paul Cook (ret.) for California’s 8th Congressional District race. Issa stated, “As the Congressman representing Camp Pendleton, I’ve come to know a good number of Marines. They exemplify bravery and tenacity. We can’t afford an unproven Congressman in office; we need a Marine Colonel. We need Paul Cook.” One of the most respected members of Congress, Issa is perhaps best known as the architect of the successful effort to recall former California Governor Gray Davis. Issa serves as...
As summer approaches and daily temperatures begin to climb into the 90s and 100s, the City of Twentynine Palms reminds residents that a Cooling Center is available in the community. The Senior Center, located at 6539 Adobe Road in downtown Twentynine Palms, across from the Fire Station, is climate controlled and open for residents to cool off Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Should the heat index reach 115 degrees or other conditions or emergencies necessitate, the Senior Center will be open additional hours and on...
A new proposal by California State Assembly Speaker John Perez (AB 1500), which he calls the California Middle Class Scholarship Act, would impose a tax on out-of-state businesses in order to fund scholarships for middle class students to attend state universities. Perez argues that the move is justified because it is simply closing a loophole exploited by those businesses to pay less in taxes, says George Runner, a representative on the California Board of Equalization. But here’s the rub: the loophole he refers to is actually the result of...
Big Bear Lake, CA– On Wednesday, May 9, 2012 at approximately 10:00 a.m., Detectives of the Big Bear Sheriff’s Station arrested a 17-year-old male juvenile who was found to be in possession of a large quantity of stolen property from several residential burglaries that occurred in Big Bear City and the City of Big Bear Lake from February to date. Response to an audible alarm call the previous day ultimately led to the juvenile’s arrest. Shortly after 6:00 p.m. on May 8, Deputies responded to an audible alarm call...
SACRAMENTO - Today Governor Jerry Brown announced that California’s budget deficit has soared to $15.7 Billion. This is a $6.5 Billion increase in debt since January when the Governor’s budget was first released. Assemblyman Paul Cook (R- Yucca Valley) issued the following statement in response to this announcement: “Unfortunately, I can’t say I’m surprised to hear about this massive new deficit. Last June’s majority-vote budget played the same games that politicians have been playing for years by assuming that billions of dollars in new revenue will come in above...
FlashReport– Solar energy development in California is largely driven by artificial state mandates that now have utilities increasing their use of expensive renewable energy. Its a dubious legacy of a state government that cant maintain its highways or keep felons in prison but can arrogantly assign itself the responsibility of curing climate change by destroying its citizens economy. The tools to fast-track this renewable energy development include preferential regulatory treatment by federal and state agencies along with government stimulus incentives, tax breaks and loan-guarantee subsidies. The costs of all of...
On Sunday, May 13, 2012, at approximately 3:22 p.m., Deputies from the Colorado River Station Marine Enforcement Unit received a report of two personnel watercraft colliding into each other approximately 1/4 mile north of the Needles Bridge. A Sheriff’s Patrol Boat arrived in the area and located the crash scene and the two injured parties. The victims were taken to the Needles Marina and Deputies rendered aid to the injured until medical personnel arrived. The victims were initially transported to Colorado River Medical Center in Needles. The juvenile suffered...
The Twentynine Palms Chamber of Commerce is excited that this year’s Street Fair and Car Show will be held on Saturday June 2, from 4pm-9pm! The Street Fair and Car Show will be moved back to the Twentynine Palms Highway in downtown Twentynine Palms. The Annual ASYMCA Soapbox Derby will take place at 5:30 pm on Donnell Hill. All 50 participation spots have been filled. The ASYMCA is looking for volunteers for the Soapbox derby. If you have any questions about the Soapbox Derby, contact the ASYMCA at (760)...
This morning Gary Daigneault has reported on KCDZ-FM that Warne has commissioned yet another Appeal to the Department of Finance to pay for Project Phoenix. It swings from ridiculous to sublime, as the Staff and contract consultants of the City of 29 Palms seem to make it clear that their loyalty is not to the people of 29 Palms but to the revenue stream of the now defunct Redevelopment agency. The Department has repeatedly stated in letters and emails to the city’s Manager, Attorney and this RSG bunch that (DoF wrote...
At 7:34 PM, deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Cabazon Station, responded to a report of a downed aircraft in the area of the Whitewater Fishing preserve in the Whitewater Canyon. Witnesses reported seeing an ultra-light type aircraft flying through the canyon and begin to have problems. They stated after swaying from side to side, the parachute on the aircraft deployed but the ultra-light crashed approximately one mile north of the freeway and west of Whitewater Canyon Road. The witnesses assisted the pilot from the ultra-light and called...
To all the mother that were and present mothers, Happy Mother’s Day The “Mother’s Day Proclamation” by Julia Ward Howe was one of the early calls to celebrate Mother’s Day in the United States. Written in 1870, Howe’s “Mother’s Day Proclamation” was a pacifist reaction to the carnage of the American Civil War and the Franco-Prussian War. The Proclamation was tied to Howe’s feminist conviction that women had a responsibility to shape their societies at the political level. - 30 -
Hundreds of California cities are undertaking the painful process of dissolving their redevelopment agencies. But they need to win the state’s assent before they can pay their remaining bills. State finance officials are challenging about a third of the roughly $1 billion in redevelopment expenses city officials here in Alameda say they need to pay, but city staffers said they will continue to press their case. “They’re taking kind of a very hard line of what it means to be under contract,” the City of Alameda’s Debbie Potter said...
Baker, CA– On Thursday, 5/10/2012 at approximately 4:00 PM, a hiker flagged down the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Resident Deputy Sheriff out of Baker in the area of Nipton Road and Interstate 15. The hiker directed the deputy to where a human skull was found in the Mojave National Preserve. On Friday, 5/11/2012, the Sheriff’s Homicide Detail and Coroner Division responded to the scene to conduct the investigation. The remains do not appear to be historical. An examination will be conducted at a later date for possible cause...
This Project Phoenix Bond Scam thing has consumed a huge hunk of time over the last couple of years and disrupted lives of the City Council, Staff, A. Patrick Munoz, and the Bloggers here at CactusThorns. The present Council took a solvent, and well healed city with a reserve of several Million dollars in banks on a 2 year game of 3-Card Monty. Redevelopment was a $1.5 Million dollar a year slush fund that had been contributing to puffed up salaries, lavish junkets for Council and Staff and a huge war...
I opened up the following email this morning from the guy who began the costly and contentious playhouse Project Phoenix. Yes, the man who set in motion the 30 year bond debt that stole $30 million from three generations of taxpayers. Now that money is going back the state of California. He was also the then President of Theatre 29 for eight years. Here is the email: Gary Daigneault z1077fm@gmail.com 4:19 PM (13 hours ago) to me, bh2322 To: Ben Holstrom aka “Branson Hunter” It is common courtesy to...
Everyone has asked for an explanation as to what happened to my finger. I am fine, and it will heal. I was out last night to put a few signs up, and one (one of many) sign was cut down and thrown over a chain link fence. I jumped the fence to retrieve it, but on the return over the fence, my wedding ring caught the fence and did this. Cudos to Beaver staff and Doctor Yoon. Miss Haws and the rest of the nursing staff were wonderful. No...
APPLE VALLEY – Congressional candidate Brad Mitzelfelt received a significant boost today in his campaign for the new 8th Congressional District as a majority of the elected Town Council of Apple Valley is now endorsing the First District Supervisor to replace the retiring Jerry Lewis. Supervisor Mitzelfelt has earned my support because of his accomplishments on behalf of the entire Victor Valley and desert region, said Councilman Scott Nassif, who is also a local business owner. Brad has proven himself as a regional leader in transportation, economic development, public safety...
May 11, 2012 On May 9, 2012 at 4:05 p.m., Brandi Cooper, 21, of 29 Palms was stopped at the intersection of Indian Trail and Morongo Road in 29 Palms in her 2003 Dodge Ram truck. David Knopp, 54, of 29 Palms was riding his 1993 BMW motorcycle westbound on Indian Trail approaching the intersection of Morongo Road. Ms. Cooper failed to yield the right of way and pulled out in front of Mr. Knopp. Ms. Cooper and Mr. Knopp both applied their brakes to attempt to avoid a...
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“They cleaned up the street crime but swept it under the carpet at city hall. It’s time we cleaned this up - its time for a recall."
LAFCO informs the City of Twentynine Palms to take over fire services or contract it out. While the City Council of Twentynine Palms fiddles with a second community playhouse & duplicate town center – like Superman LAFCO flies into action to force the City to act on fire services and public safety. Ratepayers in the 29 Palms Water District rejected a recent fire tax bond measure to fund the fire department. The Measure failed to get a required a 2/3 majority. By 2014 the 29 Palms Fire Department would...
I was looking over the various news stories regarding the Council meeting of Tuesday, May 8, 2012. I found what I imagine is a quote on Z107.7. Let me post it here for you to ponder: “He (Warne) added that the successor agency is willing to sue the State over the issue…” that would be the issue of the Bonds and Project Phoenix. My first question is how does Mr. Warne know what Klink, Cole, Mintz, Harris and Corbin are willing to do or not do in regards to...
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer Posted: 05/10/2012 04:08:26 PM PDT An attorney for the Twentynine Palms Band of Mission Indians and a Rancho Cucamonga contractor were among four people indicted this week in a federal bribery and money laundering case. The 48-count indictment, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, names as defendants attorney Gary Edward Kovall, 66, of Ely, Minn., Rancho Cucamonga general contractor Paul Phillip Bardos, 57, David Alan Heslop, 74, of Templeton and Peggy Anne Shambaugh, 56, also of Ely. The four are accused...
On Thursday, 05/10/2012, Deputies from the Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Station and Detectives from the Sheriff’s Narcotic Division served a search warrant in the 6300 block of West Court in 29 Palms for suspected methamphetamine sales. Detectives contacted Teddy Lambros a 43 year old white male, at the residence. Lambros was sitting on his bed next to a scale and packaging material. It was later discovered that Lambros was in possession of methamphetamine packaged for sales. Lambros was arrested and booked into the Morongo Basin Jail for violation of HS...
What do you do as an elected official when it becomes crystal clear that you have been given bad advice by individuals that are paid handsomely to give you good advice? One can and does understand minor errors of advice. Such things as misinterpretations of codes or perhaps that this street should not be paved yet. But what do you do when three people provided you advice that did the following: Placed our city into debt for 30 million in order to build something that would cost 11 million....
I received the below email from our request to DOF in accordance with the California Public Records Act. For the THIRD TIME…. Project Phoenix is OVER!!! Done, dead finished. From: Suess, Evelyn Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2012 2:30 PM To: mmccleary@webrsg.com Subject: RE: Twentynine Palms Successor Agency Response to DOF Letter Mr. McCleary, I’m responding to your email below dated May 3. Please see my comments in red font. Thanks, Evelyn Suess Auditor/Evaluation Supervisor|California Department of Finance |É916.322-2285 Ext. 3179| - 300 Capitol Mall, Ste. 801, Sacramento, CA 95814 CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This communication with its contents...
SACRAMENTO- Assemblyman Paul Cook (R-Yucca Valley) received the California Association of County Veterans Service Officers (CACVSO) Lifetime Achievement award. The award was presented in appreciation for his continued dedication to Veteran issues. The CACVSO promotes state and federal laws to support veterans, their rights and their issues. The association works to provide ideas, information, training and support while helping to deliver services to nearly three million California veterans. Said Cook, “I’m deeply humbled by the County Veterans Service Officers for presenting me with their Lifetime Achievement Award. I have always...
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Story Comments
Margo can you verify the list???? Either the list of 72 or the short list. It should be a public ...
Happy Trails, Buckaroo
I would say what ever the fair market value is.....
One of the directives from the DOF is to sell the RDA's assets as soon as possible and get the ...
Alligators to the right of me.... Crocodiles to the left... A charging rhino to the rear.
Amen to that Brother. I just can not believe the staff at the city now - there is no simplicity at ...
It's a very small step in my opinion. My intent was to use the KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) method and ...
That's funny!
Mark.... do you ever read the articles attached or do as I suspect you use the "Leave a Reply" feature ...
Larry I agree it will be drawn out, we won't know how or where thing are going to fall as ...
Well the more that Schools and the Hospital District realize that the money they leave on the table at the ...
The game ain't over till it's over
The game ain't over till it's over
Yehhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!
Oops, that should have been: Dan should *join* the Chamber of Commerce.