Yucca Valley, Ca.- OPINION- The Mayor of Yucca Valley has flip-flopped on her stance against new taxes stated during her campaign for office in 2010. On her candidate statement, Rowe listed her “Occupation” as Yucca Valley Planning Commissioner, which is an appointed position, prohibited to use as per the SB Register of Voters’ rules. Raising large sums of money for her campaign, Rowe sent out glossy fliers touting a personal endorsement from Yucca Valley Mayor Bob Leone, which she did not even ask of him. Did the end justify the means? Story>>>LINK
As an inexperienced Council member, fast-tracked to Mayor after a couple of years as Planning Commissioner and a couple of years on the dais, Rowe has not been able to stand up to Town Manager, Mark Nuaimi, and his spending spree for the past two years. Rowe, who claims to be a fiscally conservative member of the council will be leaving a legacy of debt UNLESS Measure U is passed. Legacy of Debt Story>>>LINK
The Town of Yucca Valley cannot legally advocate in favor of their General Fund Tax Measure, 1% for 30 years, but Mayor Rowe has been crossing the line to promote this tax. Her political career and legacy is riding on the General Fund tax to pass in order to bail out all the debt committed on her watch. Is Rowe being advised by the Conflict King Mark Nuaimi-the end justifies the means?
Rowe has written a letter to the Editor asking citizens for a Yes vote which is filled with inaccuracies, innuendo and fear mongering. Guess what else? Rowe donated $1,000.00 to the Yes on U committee to buy signs and radio ads. She included her full title as Yucca Valley Town Mayor posted on their website with her endorsement. I repeat, Mayor Dawn Rowe, not as an individual, has her endorsement posted advocating for Measure U on their website. Follow the Money-Donation Story>>>LINK
Pulling out all the stops to ease the opponents of Measure U, Rowe has been incorrectly announcing her appointment to the tax oversight board of Curt Duffy implying during their “discussions,” he has agreed to do so. Duffy said that was not the case and is aware of Rowe’s statement to another member of the community, which he finds very puzzling.
This conduct should not be allowed or rewarded by voting to place $160 million dollars into this Mayor’s General Fund especially with a Town Manager’s reckless need to spend. It is not his money and he does not live in our community. His residence in Fontana. The Town Council consisting of four members, 2 appointed and 2 elected, have no spine and no experience to rein in this town manager.
To date, the monies spent on Measure U exceed $200,000.00 of OUR tax money. Nuaimi thinks he can buy our vote, Rowe is crossing the line to save her political career and the Chamber of Commerce Board President is also using this for her own political aspiration.
Looks like everyone has forgotten about the citizens and businesses of our town in seeking their own personal gains.
Has Yucca Valley Town Manager Nuaimi taken Rowe and naive YV Chamber President, Jennifer Collins, under his wing to take them down the path of Conflict of Interest?
Frankly, I am disappointed in Mayor Dawn Rowe for her recent actions.
For these reasons cited above, and there are others, please vote NO on Measure U. Stop this madness now.
Margo Sturges Author>>>LINK
Yucca Valley Mayor Dawn Rowe Crosses the Line Trying to pass Measure U?,
You might be interested
Will Mayor Rowe Serve a Second Term to Deal with Her Legacy of Debt?
No! No! Nuaimi! Town Council Cinches Up Purse Strings…
Mark Nuaimi and Yucca Valley Town Staff donate $1,000.00 each towards Pro Measure U
The “Boys” Throw the Dice for Another Yucca Valley Tax!
Yucca Mesa Measure U Forum- A Great Success!
Will Jennifer Collins run for Yucca Valley Town Council?
Nuaimi Misses the Mark regardingTax Impacts to Citizens-Redux
Mark Nuaimi, not much to say here that hasn’t already been said some where. There hasn’t been anything I’ve read concerning Nuaimi that’s been for the good. Corruption, conflicts of interest, bankrupting and more, I also remember when I was personally trying to get in touch to talk to him face to face, about the dog issue, I was told he was out to a late lunch for 2 days in a row, then when i left a short note i get a short and rude email saying he wasn’t going to answer my questions and I was being redundant. Now on the email they sent me they forgot to delete thier side of what they had already been discussing on thier end, and it showed up on my email, oops.
Mark Nuaimi ain’t nothing nice folks and neither are the followers he has puppeting for him as for instance Jennifer Collins, So folks you may want to check on your insurance if you went through her! Conflicts of Interest you betya. This manager and his minions need to be investigated and run out of town! Period! Anyone spending over $50,000 on a dog issue needs questioning! Respectfully, Damn Dawgers. Thanks Margo.
Dawn Rowe’s guest soap box in the Hi-desert Rag clearly shows her no holds barred aproach to decieving and fear mongering the public into voting for higher taxes so she and her cronies in council can continue their reckless spending habits at tax-payers expense. Maybe the $200,000.00+ spent promoting/scaring/decieving the town would have would have been better spent covering the rising costs of services for another year, instead of squandering it away on pushing a bogus tax on the people. If there is justice, if the rule of law is not dead, these people will be brought up on charges, tried, convicted and given long prison setences for the crimes they have commited. I will not be holding my breath.
Watch Rowe’s lips to move… when they move it seems they are a red flag for deception. Yucca Valley is little island in the desert where some local wannabee bootstrapers do whatever they want and compromise ethical values.
Even though I love Y.V. as much as anyplace — It’s lost it’s charm. Driving in that once beautiful town with the unique Joshua Trees and landscape decimated now is more like driving in a any other mundane look-alike city with traffic lights galore and where traffic is nearly unbearable.
Take any five random people out of Wallmart and you have a town council better that you have now.
Yucca Valley desperately needs district wide wards to thwart the insanity.
Why is it “illegal” for an elected member of a city council to advocate for a tax measure?
Why is it illegal for any and all city employees to advocate for measure “U”?
@ Steve Spear-You ask an excellent question and I do not have the case law.
At the Jan. 17, 2012, meeting to place the tax item on the ballot, Yucca Valley Town Council also approved $48,500.00 dollars to “educate” the public as to the need to pass this General Fund tax, plus $50,000.00-$75,000.00 for flyers, surveys and postage.
At that meeting the following statements were made:
“We are precluded from advocating for a ballot measure, but we have every right to ensure that public education is out there so there is not misinformation. We need to ensure that, when the community goes to the ballot in November, they understand the implications, the impacts and the projects that may be delivered as a result of a potential ballot measure.”-Mark Nuaimi
Mayor Dawn Rowe said “it is not a nuance but a definitive line” between advocacy and public outreach, and added it was made clear to her that this program would not cross the line.
Here is the link to the Hi-Desert Star story: http://www.hidesertstar.com/news/article_e50fc80c-4405-11e1-9e46-0019bb2963f4.html
Here is the link to the minutes of January 17, 2012 Town Council meeting:
http://www.yucca-valley.org/pdf/mam/Town_Council/Minutes/2012/2012_01_17_towncouncil_minutes.pdf
Hi-Desert Water Director Dan Munsey, in keeping with “the letter of the Law,” voted NO on the Resolution by the HDWD to support a Town Tax. The actual wording identifying Measure U was removed per my request to their attorney BBK citing it could be an advocacy statement.
I was told the Town of Yucca Valley and the HDWD cannot legally advocate for this Measure U tax, or use public funds to promote, as they were the beneficiaries of the tax.
In the end, since it is a General Fund tax that cannot be designated AND there were no agreements/MOU/MOA or signed lease, Attorney John Brown, BBK, determined the HDWD were not the beneficiaries of this Measure U giving the green light for “support” but not “endorsement.”
I cannot cite the recent rulings regarding the rights of an individual to express his or her personal opinion as an elected official as long as he/she declares they are speaking as an individual and not using their title(s).
Any attorneys out there to weigh in on this matter?
Was that Margo at the corner of 247 and 29 Palms Highway waving to cars going west on 62 and north on 247 Sunday noon? Was that Lori Herbel with a bullhorn telling the 247 traffic about No on Measure U? Good political action.
Hi Larry, You have excellent vision! I wish you would have stopped by to say hello and take a few sheets of information with you. I was pleasantly surprised with the number of passerbys honking and giving thumbs up too. It was fun but somewhat exhausting for three hours. Some citizens joined in bringing their own homemade No on Measure U signs.
The YV Town finance Director, Curtis Yakimow, gave us the thumbs down as he drove North on 247. He donated $1,000.00 to the Yes on U Committee for them to “legally” advocate For the Measure, as did our Town Manager and others.
Congratulations on being the Grand Marshall of the Pioneer Days parade. Good choice!
Measure U is a slam-dunk loser at the polls. Thank you Margo and all the others for all the time you folks are putting in to defeat Measure U.
Pingback: Cactus Thorns: Yucca Valley Mayor Dawn Rowe Crosses the Line Trying to pass Measure U? | iePolitics
Well, as typical Margo is lying again, Margo I will put up ten thousand dollars if you can show that the endorsement was not done by Bob himself. You are a flat out LIAR. Come on put up or shut that pie hole of yours!!!.
@Tim-Most days you sure are an idiot.I did not lie. Bring your 10 Grand, in cash not rubber check, this Wednesday to the YV Farmer’s Mkt and hear the TRUTH about Bob NOT endorsing Rowe directly from him. If you do not show up, I will personally record the TRUE story and place it on YouTube.(Rowe will personally thank you later for that, I’m sure.)
You falsely write about a meeting that you did not attend and now jump into the doo-doo trying to defend a situation you know nothing about. Do I call you a liar? Nope. Your actions and words prove you are indeed the village idiot.