Tonight’s Twentynine Palms City Hall started with honoring Silver Star recipient Colonel Dube. 
After graciously accepting the city’s heartfelt thanks, he talked about the teamwork and the sacrifice that it took to save a pilot’s life in Viet Nam. Colonel Dube left to a well- deserved standing ovation. After the Colonel left, the comic tragedy began.
It was well scripted, like all good theater. Once the city council began discussing the “Chalk Art Festival” they gave away the ending of the show. It was apparent to me that the decision was made, it was just a matter of how much Action 29 was going to get.The grand prize, 10,000 dollar scholarship, slurry seal, and money for etc. During open comments, even those opposed to the way Action 29 advertised the support of the city long before there was a city council vote, didn’t object to the idea of the chalk art, just to the assumption that the city’s money was a done deal. This, of course, leads one to believe that there could have been prior approval from someone at city hall. I believe that the city council, the mayor, and the city manager expected the opposition to show up. They dodged questions like a teenager dodges chores, ignored a great alternative idea made by Steve Whitten, to use Knott’s Sky Park, which he said would be able to handle parking, vendors, and the art with no cost to the city. Several citizens objected to using any taxpayer money to fund the festival. Things were going along as expected, until Steve Spear went “rogue.”
Pure genius! He showed pictures of Lucky Park’s parking lot in pretty good shape, then by contrast he showed Bagdad RD. It is in horrible shape and recently the scene of a fatal accident. Steve pointed out that the money coming out of the general fund to fund the slurry seal would be better spent there to save lives. How do you argue with that? He did the math, he explained how the taxpayers would lose money from this three day event. As a teacher, I appreciate people who do their homework.
Now Mel played right into Steve’s hands! He became flustered and at one point declared that Action 29 could foot the whole bill. (Can you believe he said that?) So Steve called him on it and asked the obvious question, so why don’t you? Mel’s reply…”Twentynine Palms was not worth the investment (what) and that the city had to meet him half way. I think Mel lost the grand prize on this one.
Watching the city council squirm under common sense, facts, and great ideas was like watching a car wreck, you really don’t want to watch it, but you just have to. They were so flustered, that they forgot whether they were motioning, discussing, or voting. At some points even the council had to laugh at themselves, with the audience.
Seriously, if it wasn’t so sad, it would have been pretty funny. I suggest you watch it when it airs on television, then you can rewind your favorite moments. I hate to spoil it for you, but yeah they voted on providing slurry seal for the chalk art festival 2 council members voted nay and with the mayor’s vote, it passed 3-2.
It may have been a good show, but not worth the money that it is costing the taxpayers, not worth the loss of faith in your city government, and definitely not worth using money on a parking lot, instead of the many streets in the city that need repair for safety reasons.
The chalk festers should be allowed to use an area like Adobe to Condor to Valley Vista with no tax payer money spent. Its close to the base and the newly redone historic business area parking lot.
Will they need a special event permit like the over nine person 3973 ordinance?
This chalk fest is funny to me since I just bought big chalk and I’M raising a 32 month old. The money could be better spent to connect 29 to the up coming off-highway vehicle park that is planed
Ken’s you got the chalk, but ken, you’re going to need about $150 bucks for artist entry fees, and another $150 for vender fees for your grandmas’infamous tortoise soupe du jour.
Yes, a fundraiser for Action Council 29. This is not a democratic council, it’s a majority of three bozos — Klink, Cole, flock — who have more than one occasion have run the democratic process into the ground.
Kudo’s to Steve Spear, the other 3 councilmen who voted for the Chalk Fest funds need to be recalled.
Besides Jim Harris standing tall and voting no on spending taxpayer monies on this boondoggle. there were two Stand up Candidates last night who brought clear voices to the battle to save taxpayer dollars. Mark Clemons and Steve Whitten.
Whitten actually gave the council a great face saving alternative for both the council and Action Council 29. He suggested that they use the recently reconditioned Knotts Sky Park. It went over the heads of Klink Cole and Flock.
Yes, I agree Jim Harris was a stand up guy, he gained my respect and possibly my vote. Mark Clemons and Steve Whitten also gained my respect last night.
I also agree that the money should be spent on roads that need repair in the city. Has anyone looked at the intersection of Valle Vista and Condor lately? While Condor is pretty good, the East side of Valle Vista looks like pictures I have seen of the moon’s surface.
The Chalk Fest is a good idea if it can be a self sufficiant program. And if the City needs to feel charitable, I am sure there are several residents who wouldn’t mind getting their yards cleaned up, driveways repaired or just a donation for the heck of it.
MRizzo, when local organizations and non-profits share in a culture of fairness and equal access to the City, we will be better people working together and not against one another. The elections in November may give rise for that to happen. A culture of fairness works in many other cities, it can work here.
wow, seems 29 is no longer the last stop for gas before the edge of the earth. It has become the Santa Monica FU FU last stop before driving off the edge of the earth, oh my !