Obituary: The Gary Daigneault RDA City Playhouse Slush Fund
Opinion / Commentary
Rutan and Tucker has failed the city. They have given bad advice. Can it be denied?
They have left taxpayers with an unbelievable 30 year mega-million dollar debt. They are not too big to get the boot. The City Council has created a $13-15 million debt — all the while special interest and other were pulling the strings.
City Council incompetence? You bet. They, too, need to get the boot.
“A fine mess you’ve gotten us into this time.” With a city debt of $13-15 million at 7% interest the Gary Daigneault City Playhouse to nowhere still going to be a burden to three generations to pay it off.
Cactus Thorns has a new running poll? Have you seen it? It asks: “Because of the bad advice given to the 29 Palms Council, Should City Attorney Anthony Patrick Munoz be terminated?” The vote at this early date is 90.91% YES.
29 Palms Desert Sheiks from left to right, Mayor John Cole, Mayor pro tem Joel Klink, and Council members Council Jim Harris, Jay Corbin and Daniel Mintz
The City Council Five are followers that simply allowed others to take charge of the City, playing reality monopoly with taxpayer’s $13-15 million dollars Bond debt.
These failed Sheiks have hog tied three generations with a debt that ought never of happened. The sheiks of Twentynine…
This cancerous wrecking ball is in submission. Local RDA opportunists are crying the blues. Meanwhile, taxpayers have to pull the plow to pay it back.
No sort of unhealthy “consumers loyalty” should apply to legal council or the City Council. These bastards fleeced local taxpayers. Taxpayers got kicked in the face. The aftermath will be an open sore for the next 30 years.
The unholy alliance of this special-interest-driven city council and its humongous law firm that gave bad advise and enrich themselves on the backs of struggling taxpayers is a complete disgrace to the legacy and the history of Twentynine Palms .
What the hell were all you people thinking?
It was a black and white issue: The California Legislature shut down RDAs; the Supreme Court stayed any further action of the 29 RDA, the economy was at its worse going back to the market crash of the 30s, million of American children undernourished. Yes the writing was on the wall.
However, The five councilmen were above the law. They were lawbreakers.
Who wants lawbreakers who lack the capacity to lead bringing the City into the future? They have lost all credibility. Yet these five bumbling public officials went for the fried ice cream. Who wants opportunist running the city? Other opportunist of course.
Because of bad legal advice given to the 29 Palms Council, the City Attorney and his law firm should be terminated ASAP? In my view, legal council Munoz is a proven bona fide liability to the people of Twentynine Palm. So is this City Council.
You don’t repair damage like this. You get rid of the problem.
29 Palms: Sweet Victory with a Sour Aftermath,
The statement by the Board of Supervisor Chair Jose Gonzales goes like this:
“Today’s state Supreme Court decision constitutes a devastating blow to San Bernardino’s to cope with the economic downturn and realize its potential for good-paying jobs, enabling future economic recovery.” She adds, “Redevelopment has been one of Caifornia’s great successes.
Where do you pull this stuff from? Let me guess…
I would wager that the fine five on the council is already in consultation with the same shysters that lead then around like they had a ring in their nose. the funds you mentioned will turn up in rutan and tucker accounts for billings stemming from their fraud and sham.
Yes, Mark, and their hourly billing will likely be spiked under the existing executed Attorney / Client agreement with the city that provides for a higher hourly rate for dealing with Bond issues/Project Phoenix.
Btw, during the Up Close show this morning the topic was “The Top Ten 2011 Stories in the Basin.” You guessed it, the host avoided talking about RDA issue.
besides a few on this blog I never here about the up close show, Cora has it right by not giving little turd any more of her time. We in my house have came to the conclusion he tries to overcome his inferiority by out right lying.
Over the years I have heard that he reported that I was investigated for being in a driving under the influence accident, involved in an off road accident from being on doped, and a dui, non of it was true. kind of feel dirty like I am lowering my self to his level by bringing it up. I like most I know felt pity and just chalked it up as little man syndrome. hope that was not offensive or politically incorrect to anyone.
1. Conflict of Interest 2. Bad advice given by attorney. 3. Proceeding during a Stay by the Courts? 4. Will Munoz refund the big bucks $$$ charged to the City of Twentynine Palms?
How about filing a malpractice complaint? There are going to be ‘a plenty’ when this RDA ruling shakes out.
Where did your City Manager weigh in on all of this? I read there were two 29P Councilmen that voted against this bonding…where are their kudos?
Hi Branson,
the vote to float the Bonds was as follows:
Yes – Cole, Mintz, Corbin
No – Harris and Klink
Give credit where credit is due and lay the blame where it needs to fall.
Thanks Steve for clearing this up. It shall never be misstatement again. Now as far as the fiasco thereafter, who’s to be responsible?
Hi Branson,
There are five people that will either be rewarded for making a calculated risk that paid off or held accountable for one of the biggest disasters that this city has ever seen.
Those five would be;
City Manager Richard Warne, City Attorney Patrick Munoz and City Councilmen John Cole, Danny Mintz, and Jay Corbin.
The outcome of these series of events is still in doubt.
Remember we had Frank Spevacek of RSG consulting tell us that the tax increment was safe because the Bonds are 3rd party contracts – see this link:
http://www.hidesertstar.com/the_desert_trail/news/article_dfbc293e-1ba3-11e1-8c92-001cc4c002e0.html
Then we have the City Manager as of today, see the following link:
http://www.hidesertstar.com/the_desert_trail/news/article_54a4ea5a-3338-11e1-a82f-0019bb2963f4.html
All were informed at the time of this endeavor that it was a high risk venture. As with most high risk ventures the payout or the disaster can be huge.
Lets see how events unfold over the next few weeks.
What I do know is this. The city did not plan this out very well. They, in light of this decision, sure did not budget enough money to buy all the property that they will need for that Community Center/Theater. It also appears that Eminent Domain is out of the question since “blight” was used primarily in RDA zones that just don’t exist anymore.
What is a pity is that at that Community meeting on November 21, 2011 I asked the City Manager if there was a plan “B”.
I think it went like this “Is there a Plan B to further improve the infrastructure of the redevelopment area?” Spear asked.
Warne said other projects will be completed around the city, outside of the redevelopment area, as money becomes available.”
That would be a “No” on the Plan “B” option in regards to Project Phoenix and these Bonds.
Well again, high stakes – anyone want to place 13 million on lucky number “7″?
Thanks again Steve. Your information is invaluable.
You quip, “Well again, high stakes — anyone want to place 13 million on lucky number “7″?
Mintz, Cole and Corbin threw the dice and assuming it’s going to on Lucky 7. Had it been their money, would they have gambled it on risky bonds? Have any of these spenders and risk takers invested in 29 Palms Bonds?
The issue of should the council be removed is all about the vote. This city voted for Harris, Corbin and Harris in the last election. The next up on the block is Cole and Klink.
Make your choices carefully this next time. Don’t vote for those that have the overwhelming backing of special interests. Go for those that throw their name in because want to do the right thing for the right reason.
We all need to be prepared for the choices that are made.
That would be Harris, Corbin, and Mintz.
Minor mistake unless Jim has a twin that snuck in there.
You are correct sir. Fingers got in the way of typing.
I knew it was something other than two Harris’.