Candidates given full control of their forums

This morning we were informed that we had some hateful postings on the forum. I deleted them.

This will mean that if they feel that the content of any posting is in poor taste they can delete it. I would advise those asking the questions to frame them in such a manner as to not invoke their right to delete.

Christopher Curtin comes on board

Christopher J. Curtin, age 41, attended 12 years of private school. I attended Atlantic Community College. I have been self-employed as a builder for more than 20 years. I am raising my two young sons.

      My goal is to make a positive impact on our community. I intend to work to create economic and commercial development which will provide our community with needed goods and services. This development should create hundreds of jobs and enormous tax dollars

      I believe the future of 29 palms lie within our youth. When elected I will donate my entire salary to youth organizations in our community. I want to work to create programs to keep our children focused on school and free from drugs and gangs.

      29 Palms has become a favorable location for retirees. I want to focus tax resources to implement additional services and programs for seniors.

      Enough with the dirt roads! I would support measures to improve our roads and infrastructure. And we need to properly manage residential growth. I will use my 20 years of experience as a builder to contribute to this management.

      29 palms deserves a proactive, strong leader, With your support, let’s enhance our communities future.

Councilmen Benton and Cole invited to post

This time we emailed Councilmen Benton and Cole inviting them to post on the site. As of today we have had no response. I'm sure it must be an oversight on their parts.

From: "Dan O" <xxxx@obtel.com>
To: <council@ci.twentynine-palms.ca.us>
Subject: Councilmen Cole and Benton
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 09:06:01 -0700
MIME-Version: 1.0

When in doubt call it a fee

From Last nights Staff Report. There are more "fees" on the horizon.

Regional Traffic Impact Fees
The City has contracted with Urban Crossroads to evaluate traffic issues including a regional traffic impact fee. This impact fee covers the cost of constructing future regional 4 and 6 lane facilities. These facilities are identified in the General Plan Circulation Element. The study has not been finalized but it is anticipated that the report will recommend a traffic impact fee. This fee does not cover the “local” street improvements as discussed in this report but covers the cost of additional anticipated travel lanes. Additionally, the Street Improvement Impact Fee does not cover the cost of these regional 4 and 6 lane future roads. The Urban Crossroads’ report should be finalized later this year. If the Council chooses to implement the Street Improvement Impact Fee, the Council may also want to consider the recommended Traffic Impact Fee. .

Good Idea?

Last night the city had a study session to discuss the curbs and gutter issue. Solution: Raise the Builder Fees by up to $15,000. That should give a kick start Owner/Builder projects. Read the Staff Report .

LB Press-Telegram: Yes on Proposition 90

Condemning private property for public use has it place. Land "takings" are sometimes necessary - and moral when owners are given fair-market value in return - to build roads, schools, freeways, police stations, flood-control channels and other necessities.

Although using eminent domain strictly for economic development is legal, such utilitarianism can be overused at the expense of individual rights. And when individual rights suffer, so do a community's.

Taking land for shopping centers, car lots and the like easily can become abuses of the awesome 5th Amendment powers given to government bodies. Cities and counties should not be able to forcefully buy land, homes or businesses and hand it to a private developer simply to spark economic activity and take in the tax revenue.

That is why we support, with some reservations, Proposition 90, the "Protect our Homes Act" on the November ballot. More

Let's hear from you

A running theme with all the candidates for this years City Council races is; What does Twentynine Palms want to be?

If you were to listen to all the angry voices you'd think the town was against pretty much every and any kind of plan to bring a fair share of the economic pie to Twentynine.

You can find vocal groups in opposition to just about any idea you could think of. You have folks opposed to Golf Courses, ORV Parks, light industrial, service businesses, old folks homes, low income housing, high income homes, prisons, tourism, Big Box stores, and of course the ever unpopular adult entertainment business for the boys on base to mention just a few. It seems the voices most shrill get the most attention.

I wish I had the magic solution to our economic malaise. I don't. Over the years many a good idea has arrived DOA. Like a battle field littered with corpses the town if filled with pie in the sky public relations gimmicks that over the years have either failed out the gate or sputtered to quiet deaths. Monuments to good intentions gone awry that no one now comes to see or for that matter cares to maintain.

We know by now what doesn't work. I'm pretty sure too that the public is getting weary of listening to the same of old voices promoting the same old ideas and investing in the same old failed not so instant cures. I'll also bet they are getting pretty sick of hearing the same old groups whining about saving their little piece of this desert paradise from the evils of progress too.

I think it is time we start listening to new voices. We may find that there are some good solutions out there.

We'd like to hear from you.

Home Sales Take a Plunge

July sales of existing homes in California plunged nearly 30% from year-ago levels and prices in once red-hot markets such as San Diego and Sacramento dropped, according to a report today that provided yet more evidence of a housing market cool down.

Some areas of the state suffered even steeper sales declines, with Riverside and San Bernardino counties posting a 42% drop in sales.

Prices slipped 0.7% in San Diego; 2.4% in Sacramento and 3.7% in the Palm Springs area. MORE

Annexed residents shut out of vote

When about 14,000 San Bernardino County residents were told they would be annexed into Fontana last week, some vowed to make their displeasure known in the November city elections.

Now, those residents are finding out they can't vote in the Fontana races in which the mayor's office and two council seats are up for election.

Although the county Local Agency Formation Commission approved the annexation of 2,507 unincorporated county acres last week, the annexation does not become final until Sept. 18, said Kathleen Rollings-McDonald, executive director of the agency, which regulates boundary changes. Commission regulations allow for 30 days to request a reconsideration of the change, she said.

"These people aren't yet a part of the city of Fontana," she said.

Residents who opposed becoming part of Fontana say their inability to take part in the election is another example of their rights being trodden. MORE

Colton Update: City Councilman Arrested

A city councilman in scandal-plagued Colton, where several former elected officials have gone to prison on bribery charges, was arrested today on suspicion of charging thousands of dollars to the city for motel rooms and calls to party lines.

San Bernardino County prosecutors charged Ramon M. Hernandez, who was elected on a platform of restoring voter trust, with two dozen felony counts of misappropriation of public funds.

Officials said the investigation was ongoing and more charges could be filed.

Since December 2004, prosecutors say Hernandez, 46, has expensed 20 motel stays unrelated to city business, including stays at the Econo Lodge in San Bernardino and the Roadway Inn in Fontana. He also allegedly ran up $426.02 on his Nextel account with calls to, for example, a party line based in Wayland, Iowa. More

Colton: The councilman's personal charges on City Card and a colleague's payment draw fire.

COLTON-- For a city still trying to recover from corruption scandals that sent top elected leaders to prison, revelations this week of personal charges on Councilman Ramon Hernandez's city-issued credit card has thrown Colton politics into turmoil.

Hernandez, who is seeking re-election in November, on Thursday again denied he made the charges for hotels throughout the Inland area and made calls to sex lines from his city-issued cell phone from May 2005 to June of this year. He said the charges, which totaled $5,457, were fraudulent.

Hernandez said he believes he will be cleared of any wrongdoing, and that he hopes the issue will not set the city back in its efforts to improve its image after past corruption scandals.  More

Here, I got your political intolerance.....

A great many of the negative comments you will find on this web site, deride our so called political intolerance. You'll notice that most are posted anonymously. You will also notice that they stay posted. There are as many posts, viscously attacking anything and everything on the web site or what a writer of an article might say as there are those agreeing. One would be at a loss to find a more free exchange of ideas, opinion and yes down right expression of ones 1st Amendment Right in Twentynine Palms.

Each segment of the Information Highway has its place. Cactus Thorns, is just one the many side roads that can take the reader on an unique linguistic adventure. Other forms of information dissemination are forced by federal and state laws or journalistic ethics to a different standard. They often do not allow anonymous statements. Controlled by these rules Newspapers and Broadcast Media are forced to give equal time. How could they possibly give equal time to the anonymous? Well they can't and it isn't there job to be 100% fair.

Does this mean because they do not allow anonymous letters or air time they practice social occultation or political intolerance? No not at all, they have their priorities to give you the news that they feel is fit to print and opinions by identifiable persons they feel have a salient point to make. Do they edit what is said? Do they have the choice not to print a letter or opinion? Do they have the right to limit you to 300 words or 30 seconds or what ever rule of conduct they feel is just? Can they demand you give your name, address, telephone number or shoe size? The answer is yes, its their sandbox and you play in it according to their rules. Is it fair? It is to them and that's all that counts.

Somehow the Internet is held to some impossibly lofty expectation of free speech by half those that use it and at the same time chastised by the other half as being filled with mean spirited hate speech. In trying to please all, Blogs tend to incite hostility from everyone.

Here, as in most Blogs you are free to post with your name or anonymously. Short of inciting riot, planning for the violent overthrow of government or threatening murder, we've pretty much left the anonymous poster with a free reign. How can this be considered as a recent poster stated "political intolerance?" Well it can't be.

We specialize in Twentynine Palms local politics. There are as many differing opinions on the multitude of issues that face this community, as their are citizens. Citizens have the right to express them. Its called Redress of Grievances. We are a forum to express that opinion and to redress those gripes. How is that political intolerance?

There are as many people that think the City has treated them fairly as there are those who feel they have been given a raw deal. We allow both to vent here. How is that political intolerance?

Has Political Correctness oozed even down to the municipal level, where those who have views opposite of yours or mine must be muzzled? Shall we only post positive articles and opinions that support the status quo and delete any form of decent? How is that political tolerance?

Everyone has an opinion. Everyone is given the opportunity to post it here. Here you have the right to disagree. Remember, because you disagree with the other guy's opinion or post does not make his or her views any less valid to him or those who feel the same.

Lets get one thing straight. Those that come on here and berate, deride and vilify this sites promotion of the open and bawdy free flow of political discussion are they themselves instruments of political intolerance. If the institution of social occultation is so important to you that you hold all others that might find your version of Political Correctness in question as not worthy of your respect or support, your life will be a series of social disappointments.

OC Register: Prop. 86 a tax increase nonstarter

As we detailed in an editorial yesterday, Proposition 86's backers are touting it as funding $2.1 billion in new health-care programs that, among other things, would reduce smoking, especially among youth, and help Californians live longer by fighting cancer and lung disease. Today we will focus on the tax and a significant likely fallout of the initiative, cigarette smuggling.

What has been downplayed so far is that Prop. 86 likely would spawn a vast black market in cigarettes by increasing taxes $2.60 a pack. Already, California cigarette taxes are 87 cents a pack, 23rd highest of the 50 states, to fund such things as the California First 5 programs for young children.

The new tax would increase total taxes per pack to $3.47, highest in the nation, higher even than in New York City, where a city tax doubles the cigarette tax there to $3. A carton of cigarettes in California would cost about $70.

The legislative analyst's report on Prop. 86 found that the "price increase is likely to result in consumers reducing the quantity of taxable tobacco products that they purchase" in California and turning to other sources, such as "through Internet purchases or purchases of smuggled products."

A decline in smokers is predicted, but the degree is unclear, in part because the tax increase is unprecedented. Will it change smoking behavior or simply cause smokers to look for alternative places to buy? MORE

Peter Schrag: Prop. 89: California nurses' clean money dream

Why is it that noble ideas so often come in such convoluted packages? The latest is Proposition 89, the California Nurses Association's "clean money" initiative, which would provide public funding to all qualifying state political candidates who agree to tight contribution and spending limits.

The measure, which is on the November ballot, cites the long, ugly litany of special interest influence and corruption, both in Sacramento and Washington. It would put much stricter limits on contributions to privately funded candidates, to ballot measures controlled by candidates and officeholders and on corporate contributions to any ballot measure. The Devil is in the details...

G-Sting: Former Clark County Commissioners Are Sentenced

Las Vegas-- They once helped lead the county, but now two former Clark County commissioners are going to prison. Dario Herrera and Mary Kincaid-Chauncey were sentenced Monday on their convictions for taking bribes from a former strip club owner.

The judge handed down a stiffer sentence for Herrera than Kincaid-Chauncey. Both were given until January 2007 to report to prison.

Kincaid-Chauncey and Herrera were two of the four former commissioners caught up in the G-Sting political corruption scandal involving Michael Galardi.

• Dario Herrera was sentenced to a total of 50 months in prison, which is just over four years. He was also ordered to pay more than $76,000 in fines and restitution. Herrera also received three years of supervised release and 100 hours of community service.
  
• Mary Kincaid-Chauncey was sentenced to 30 months, two and a half years. She was ordered to pay $36,500 in fines and restitution.

Desert Hot Springs slashes code enforcement unit

 Bill Byron
The Desert Sun

Desert Hot Springs--- Two Desert Hot Springs employees who were paid $450,000 after filing a wrongful termination complaint are out of work again - axed in the city's massive layoffs.

The irony: the boss who terminated them the first time also got walking papers.

Former Public Works Director Glenn Roberts laid off Emergency Preparedness Director Ernest Calderon and code enforcement officer Richard de la Cruz in 2005.

Now the three are among 20 people cut last week as the city tries to balance a budget of $2.5 million in the red.

City Manager Ann Marie Gallant released the positions cut and confirmed names Monday.

Polls are moving to the Candidate Forum

OK we want no questions of fairness concerning our polls? Here is what we are going to do. We are moving all polls to the Candidate Forum. You will have to be a registered user to vote or post. You will get one vote per poll. No funny business, no cheating. We want to make these polls fair as possible. You do not register you don't get to vote. Pretty simple solution. Questions?

Let's make this fair

We're working real hard to make the Candidates feel comfortable in that they will not be ambushed on the front page of the web site. I know it's tough not to set a match to someone on the main page. But we need to set some guidelines.

While making a user comment on the main page can get a lot of interesting responses, it has always been a way of soliciting an angry comment from an opposing reader. It's kind of the nature of the beast. Its great for issues but is a real pain for the candidates getting their feet wet here and learning the ins and outs of Internet Forums.

We developed and have online a separate section called the Candidate Forum. We encourage you to use that forum for your questions, comments and observations of the candidates and their platforms.

For stories, issues, and rants do continue to use the front page comment section. That is what it is there for. But let's all be fair to the candidates and post your questions, comments and observations on candidates over in the Candidate Forum. That is what we made it for. Give them a chance to respond. Let's see if this can work. Let's give them all a fair shot at this.

Results of the straw poll

If the City Council election were to be held today who would you vote for? Poll Ended
	Gibson	28.42 % (54)
	Spear	26.32 % (50)
	Clemons	17.89 % (34)
	Harris	8.95 % (17)
	Flock	7.89 % (15)
	Benton	7.37 % (14)
	Cole	2.63 % (5)
	Curtain	0.53 % (1)
Total votes: 190

The above straw poll was held August 15-21 2006. The campaigns are in the early stages. We will continue to place new polls as the weeks go on.

The Offer Still Stands

We would like to once again invite Misters Benton, Cole, Curtain, Flock and Harris to take our offer to publicize their Campaigns on this web site. Three Candidates for Twentynine Palms City Council have already taken advantage of our offer to post their platforms here to facilitate their getting the message out to the voters.

Our interest is to inform the voter. There is no hidden agenda here. We are interested in having an informed electorate and a fair discussion of the issues by both the candidates and those citizens that wish to participate in the Candidate Forums.

We offer the posting of your platform and other information that you might feel important with a pledge to each of you of fair play, without comment from either Joey or I. You will be given equal access and equal consideration.

We have had a total as of this posting of 1,621,372 hits. In the last 7 days we have had 47,218 hits. People are reading what is on the site. By all that is fair you should have access to those potential voters. You should have your message posted here.

There are no strings attached. We are offering you a public information asset without cost to you. Again our interest is in a Fair Election and an informed Voter. You would be remiss if you fail to take advantage of this offer.

Spear: It takes two to tango, but three to pass an agenda item

It is good to see two other Candidates for the Council come forward.

I believe that we will hear much the same message from almost all the candidates. As was published in the Desert Trail in July, I had stated that a city of 110,000 is simply too much. I have posted on my website, since 1 August 2006, the two prong approach that I feel is needed to address the issue.

First being, for us as a city, to decide what we want to be through the use of Public Hearings and a Citizen’s Advisory Committee. The next step is to then address the General Plan to implement that decision.

However, the zoning map needs to be looked at very, very, soon.

What many people do not know is that once a project is in the “pipeline”, meaning fees paid, initial plans made etc. there is virtually nothing that can stop that project from becoming a reality.

What I’m talking about is to stop the ability of future “mega subdivisions” from even happening. This can be done by rezoning and establishing some fundamental ground rules for construction in our city.

These are not minor modifications. The effort that will be needed to save our small town character while ensuring growth will be monumental. The critical key to remember is that no one Councilmember will be able to accomplish the task alone.

Remember, a minimum of three members of the Council need to be on the same sheet of music, or at least in the same dance hall in order for any change to happen at all.

For 4 years I have fought some pretty interesting battles in the Chambers. I have won some and lost some. However, I have learned much from these fights of how the inner workings of the city and the Council operate. I also have learned that having great ideas is just not enough at times.One must be well studied, articulate, convincing, insistent, and sometimes outright stubborn, when discussing issues while on the Dias. There is no pre-debate meeting with the other members of the Council.

Many an important issue is decided that night and a candidate for Council needs to be prepared to deal with it on the spot.

I’m sure that as the weeks pass many discussions will be had by the Candidates as well as the voting public.

This will prove to be a pivotal election for the city and an exciting one for the voters to observe and engage in.

Steve Spear

Gibson 1st to Respond to O'Sullivan Editorial

I have studied Twentynine Palms, as well as some other cities that I have heard people mention in the past, and I believe the first thing that we need to do is define what direction that we want to take our city. My vision for Twentynine Palms and the direction that I would lead us is to become a retirement and tourist community.My vision is one that embraces growth, while respecting our desert serenity.

We all cherish the relaxed lifestyle and the simple beauty of our desert, so it is important that the direction we choose today will stay true for what we want tomorrow.

We also need to keep in mind that we have topographical limitations that will not allow us to become like the metropolitan cities that most people don’t desire. For example, we simply do not have the areas to put 127 golf courses like the lower Coachella Valley, nor do we have a port/rail system that would make our city ideal for shipping or manufacturing. I like the idea of having clean industry that will also promote tourism.

So here is my plan:

General Plan- I would like to add areas that are specific to accomplish certain things. First of all, we need more commercial zoned property. I would not mind having a chain restaurant, such as Outback, or a new local restaurant opened. The problem now is that we don’t have enough commercial property to truly encompass new restaurants, shopping centers, or medical offices, etc. We need to add more commercial zones along Hwy 62. From my research most of the brand name retail shops want to be on that main highway.

Next, I would like to see an area that is zoned specifically for horse property. There are a growing number of folks who would like to have a place that they can ride and not have to worry about a subdivision being put in their backyards. This will not affect those who currently have horses in other parts of town.

Finally, the big ticket item… Do I want to see a new golf course/resort hotel and spa added to the general plan? The short answer is yes. I think a golf course, resort hotel and spa are needed. The current course caters to a certain clientele, while a new course would be focused around homeowners and tourists.The long answer is that I would be open to adding the zoning for this type of project IF we have the water, IF they can appropriately mitigate any environmental concerns, and IF the developer would be willing to make some concessions for the housing. Let me make myself understood, this is not a carte blanche to open the door for the next seven developers who come in and want to put up a golf course. This is a systematic review of what works and adds to the amenities of a developing community; especially one who hopes to attract tourists and retirees. I believe that the city has already conducted a study on what would be beneficial to our community.

I hope that my fellow candidates will take a clear position on this issue, as it is important for the community to know where you stand.

Business/Economics- I would like to see the city go after some smaller chain retail stores. How about a Payless, a Barnes & Nobles, or a shop that would sell back packing equipment and JTNP paraphernalia? Population wise we are quite a ways from having a Target brought to town, so we need to establish what works and grow from there.

We need to support our local businesses by making them aware of government grants for store improvement and grants to help people open new business as well. Also, I am a firm believer in advertising our city. More tourists mean more dollars for local business owners.

As a city we should be more aggressive in getting our name out there. It is my position that we need to bring jobs to the area and not just houses. It is also, worth mentioning that the Sky’s the Limit project will be a key asset for the tourism that we are hoping to attract. We need to foster more projects like this one that says, “Come visit us.”

City Hall- Advertise Twentynine Palms. I have seen other cities take the lead to promote events and new projects in their area and it has been very successful for them. Do we advertise in AARP magazine? How about the VA website? What about tourist magazines or tour company websites? These are all things that can be done in order to promote our city as a destination location. Further, we could use an intern in the planning department. It would give one of our college students an opportunity to earn credit and participate in the city that they live in. The best part is that it doesn’t cost the City a dime and they get the much needed help during this busy period of growth.

In conclusion, I know that some of you will take me to task regarding my plan and others will argue for me to be more aggressive. This in no way covers everything, however; I consider it to be a prelude to a more comprehensive plan that will be expanded on as new ideas or objectives arise. I believe that it is unrealistic for any candidate to think that they have 100% of the answers, as new challenges will present themselves all the time. We are a developing community and as we look around, we can no longer avoid that fact. This is the time to focus on our future. Twentynine Palms can be an all inclusive city that continues to maintain its relaxed lifestyle and still make room to allow for new amenities.

Sherrie Gibson
“Moving Twentynine Palms Forward”

Mark Clemons

For far too long the city has been controlled by quiet agendas. If elected, I will work to make city government responsive to the needs of all. We all want fairness in government. I will work to bring that fairness to our city.

I will work for common sense development codes that balance the growth with the universal desire to protect the uniqueness of Twentynine Palms.

General-Law Cities vs. Charter Cities

Twentynine Palms is a General Law City. 

Here are some differences between general-law cities and charter cities:

General-law cities operate within the parameters of California municipal law, which has the advantage of having been tested in court over the years. Charter cities can custom-tailor city government to meet local needs, but charter provisions may not have been tested in court.

Council members' salaries in general-law cities have a ceiling set by city population, unless voters approve a higher salary. Charter cities can set their own salaries.

General-law cities must comply with competitive bidding for contracts and pay prevailing wage on public-works projects. Charter cities do not have to comply with either.

Charter cities can provide public financing for local elections. General-law cities cannot.

Source: League of California Cities

Not to offend? That ain't going to happen

"He who dares not offend cannot be honest."
-- Thomas Paine

Over the years, we've taken a lot of heat for standing up for what we believed was right and fair. When others have refused to tell the other side of a story we have stood firm with the downtrodden. We have always given space to anyone and everyone. We are the only soapbox for many folks who feel they have gotten a raw deal by the legitimate media. We tell their stories. We take the heat. We do what we feel is right.

While others have become beholden to the fat purse of government, we have remained stalwart to the premise that government is a necessary evil that should be viewed with a little scepticism. When we see injustice we expose it. When we find mismanagement we tell you about it. When we find abuse of power we publish it. We have been brash and often its corse in the telling. We have won praise and in the same moment utterly offended. We strive to base every post with the facts available to us.

Most of the Issues that we championed over the years have been found to be just and have merited Council action. Many of today's big political concerns were first discussed here by our readers. The General Plan, growth, golf courses, curbs and gutters and fundamental fairness are all subjects that have had a constant dialog here on Cactus Thorns. We have shared our space and bandwidth with all parties and all sides of these and other issues of public concern.

We have posted letters and articles both the pros and cons on many subjects by many people. We have remained an open forum for Gad-flies, Nay-bobs, NIMBYS and developers alike. We have allowed anonymous postings to protect the writer. We have allowed ourselves to take the insults, abuse and the threats in the name of your free speech.

We are proud of what We the People have accomplished. With the help of our readers, we feel we have made a contribution to making the operation of government more transparent. We are proud that we as a group have had a hand in making City Hall accessible to every citizen. At the very least those who serve in local government now know the power of the People.

While the reasons for starting Cactus Thorns have long ago disappeared, it remains as active today as it was when Joey and I started it. It has turned into a public trust. People depend upon us as an alternative source of information. We serve the People of Twentynine Palms as the one place you can go and have your voice heard. We have made a difference. We prove that everyday. Every Citizen knows he or she has a voice here and we respect their right to use it.

"Now, lady and gentlemen, start your campaigns."

UPDATE: Kelly O'Sullivan said as she gave her ring instructions for this years Municipal Election. Kelly told all the candidates in her most recent Desert Trail editorial, to keep it clean and come out fighting.

An open letter to Dawn Benton Jr., Mark Clemons, Kevin Cole, Christopher Curtain, Steve Flock, Sherrie Gibson, Jim Harris and Steve Spear:

Congratulations on qualifying as candidates for Twentynine Palms City Council. You've got a big job ahead of you convincing the voters of this city that you deserve one of the three seats we'll go to the polls to fill in November.

If you're elected, you will have an even bigger job ahead of you steering this city as it grapples with a host of serious issues, not the least of which is growth and development. Our city is changing and you'd better be prepared to lead. MORE

Commentary: ‘Progressives’ Oversimplify Housing, Growth Issues

An excerpt from an article written by John Koenigshofer in the Berkely Daily Planet

....For decades, (like landlords) a developer was a developer was a developer and developers were bad. Then, via smart growth, developers were suddenly good! The ideological devotion to ‘smart growth’ makes it impossible for progressives to critically assess the frenzy of reckless development that is currently underway.

Smart growth asserts that increased urban density will alleviate developmental pressures in outlying areas. This in turn will preserve open space and reduce commuting by providing housing near work, mass transit and commercial and cultural amenities.

Is this true? There is no evidence that suburban and rural development has slowed in response to increased urban density. Perhaps population growth is simply outpacing development or perhaps, what is being built is not what the housing consumer in outlying areas is seeking. Would a young couple that works in San Francisco and owns a home in Martinez (for price reasons) relocate to a small apartment-like condo in a sitory building in downtown Berkeley? Probably not, especially if that building lacks aesthetic character, has no open green space or trees and does not provide adequate parking.

Like rent control smart growth is pushing housing into the hands of bigger and bigger corporate developers. The reason is simple, a site that once accommodated eight to 12 townhouses with open space, courtyards and parking now accommodates a sitory structure with 70-80 small, dense units. There is little green space and inadequate parking. Such density potential profoundly increases the value (cost) of the land so that only big developers can compete in the Berkeley marketplace.

Under the cover of environmental rhetoric the building frenzy is on. It has become taboo (in P.C. Berkeley) to ask how many people should live in California? How many in Berkeley?

Just as progressive blind commitment to rent control prevented its proponents from acknowledging and correcting its problems, current blind commitment to smart growth leaves its proponents unable to say “no” or even “slow down.”

Ironically the same environmentalists who taught us that pavement, concrete and steel heats up our environment now argue on its behalf never suggesting that with each new building there should be significant areas dedicated to greenery. Why not require a 10-foot greenbelt set back along our main transportation corridors (Shattuck, University, San Pablo) to cool the city, convert the carbon dioxide and establish a landscape that greens, matures and improves our city over time?

The ideological answer is simple; that would reduce density. Density is good. Ever inch must be devoted to housing. Add to that rhetoric “low-income housing” and “non-profit developers,” you have a formula that makes every blind ideologue gleeful and transforms every vacant lot into a big box building with little parking and less greenery.

We must ask what will these buildings will look like in 10, 20, 50 years? What will the traffic and parking really be like? How will it be to live in a city with thousands of more people and less and less open space and greenery? What are the implications of consolidation of housing ownership in fewer and fewer and richer and richer hands?

I do not know the answers. I do know that blind endorsement of progressive catchphrases and associated programs (smart growth, affordable housing, rent stabilization) lead us down a road of unintended consequences. “Progressive” rhetoric generalizes and demonizes ironically providing cover for the real devil that waits in the details.

John Koenigshofer is a Berkeley resident. The Complete Text

A Libertarian Smart Growth Agenda

 Author: Michael Lewyn/Planetizen www.planetizen.com

Move for redistricting reform is DOA

YOU'D be hard-pressed to find a politician in Sacramento who doesn't support redistricting reform - at least one who doesn't support it in public, if not behind the scenes.

Those running for election or re-election in particular endorse the wisdom of having an independent panel redraw the state's notoriously gerrymandered legislative and congressional districts.

Republicans, Democrats - darn near everyone - says it's the right thing to do for California, even if it does take power out of their own hands.

With so much enthusiasm, surely the state's legislators will approve some sort of redistricting plan to be put on the November ballot by the

Friday deadline.

And surely they would not doom such a bill by attaching a term-limit expansion

measure to it. Surely.

It's not such a sure thing, as it turns out.

Even while legislators have been embracing the concept of redistricting reform, they have been working to thwart its realization at every turn. MORE

State leaders belly up to the bars and buffets for their annual, unseemly special-interest shakedown.

WHEN legislators returned to Sacramento last week, they had 1,700 bills to pass or kill before this session ends Aug. 31. And 75 fundraisers to attend.

The fundraising orgy starts with 7:30 a.m. bagel breakfasts, moves on to sirloin lunches and ends with cocktails, sushi and fine cigars. All are cloaked as parties, but they're intended to shake down lobbyists and special-interest groups for contributions — ranging from $1,000 to $22,300 a head — at what marketing folks call the "peak moment of interest." Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who will sign or veto the bills that make it to his desk, is asking the maximum per plate for breakfast Thursday. Those who miss out on the bacon and eggs can pay 10 grand later for schnapps with the guv and possible presidential candidate Rudolph Giuliani. MORE

Sherrie Gibson comes on board

I have lived in Twentynine Palms for 8 years. I am married and we have two children.

I am a licensed real estate broker and more recently I will be teaching a class at Copper Mountain.

My platform is the economic development of Twentynine Palms.

I firmly believe that we need to be more aggressive in trying to get new businesses to come and bring jobs in. All these houses and still no retail? Small business is great and I think that the City should play a wider role in supporting the new businesses that we do have.

I see other Cities that really promote their town and I think that we need to do the same.

I believe that City Hall needs to be fair across the board for all. I have heard numerous complaints from residents as well as developers, who told me that they were given one story while the next guy is told something else. This is not a criticism of the City after all there are two sides to every story. I have a B.S. in Political Science, so I understand that the wheels of government take longer to turn sometimes.

Finally, we as a city, need to decide where we want to be. Do we want to be a tourist community? A retirement community? What do we exactly what we to be?

I would like to see the city have businesses that are not mainly supported by the Base. We need something that will stand alone, just in case we end up loosing some more troops to the war.

When I first moved here, the town was empty and lots of businesses were closed down. It can happen again if we do not take precautions to better our position economically.

Sherrie Gibson

Freebies corrupt political process in Sacramento

Are state legislators paid enough? That’s a matter of opinion. But most of us would agree they can afford to pay their own way to a ball game.

They don’t. As the Sacramento Bee reported last week, based on disclosure reports, businesses, lobbyists and other organizations spent $218,000 to make sure elected politicians and their staff members got to attend sports events, concerts and a variety of other entertainment without having to pay.

Even if you believe that legislators’ pay is too low at $113,097 a year, remember they also get $153 a day tax-free for living expenses (about $27,000 a year), and they have a lot of latitude on how they spend money they raise for election campaigns. They don’t need freebies from interest groups that would like to shape legislation toward their own ends. MORE

A good first day response to our Candidate Challenge

In the first business day out we have a good response to our Candidate Challenge. Three Candidates for city council have said yes to the posting of their Platforms and Bios on the site. Mark Clemmons, Sherrie Gibson and Steve Spear campaigns have given a thumbs up. Mr. Clemmons and Ms. Gibson are gathering their information. Steve Spear has used the site for sometime for gaining public feedback.

We are very hopeful That the use of this site to interface with the voting public will help us all to make an informed decision on November 7th, 2006.

Funeral details set for Marine Killed on Hwy 62

Springfield, Ohio--Funeral arrangements have been set for Marine Sgt. Paul Russell, killed in a head-on collision Aug. 5 at Highhway 62 and Copper Mountain Road.

A gathering of family and friends will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Littleton & Rue Funeral Home, 830 N. Limestone St.

The service will begin at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with Pastor Floyd Smith of the Donnels Creek Church of the Brethren officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow in the Emanuel Cemetery.

Memorial contributions can be made in Russell’s name to any Great Dane rescue association.

Judge orders three to stand trial for post-bar-brawl death

By Jutta Biggerstaff / Hi-Desert Star

JOSHUA TREE - Despite defense attorneys' claims that the prosecution “failed to meet the burden” of proof, a trio of alleged killers was ordered to be held to answer in Joshua Tree Superior Court Tuesday afternoon.

After listening to more than three hours of testimony during the preliminary hearing, Judge Bert L. Swift ruled there is sufficient evidence to try Brandon Hibler, Anthony Wilson and Naomi Sims for the alleged murder of 28-year-old Louis Clarence Kimble III of Twentynine Palms. MORE

Steve Spear

The first candidate to accept our challenge is Councilman Stephen Spear. Not being shy, Steve wrote us, " I will throw my little piece of political pie into the mix."

Spear has served on the Council since 2002 and is now up for his first reelection bid.

He has made our job of posting his Platform and Biography a lot easier by putting up his own web site. http://www.votespear.com/

He says, "It is intended to be an interactive web site. I have my platform posted as well as other matters that may be of interest to the voters of this city. There is a blog and for those that do not wish to engage in a blog there is a link to my personal email address. I will respond to all that ask questions or make rational comments..."

Mr. Spear's platform covers a great many issues including growth, public safety and commerce.

Spear asks us the important question, "...what does Twentynine Palms want to grow to be?"

When it comes to where we want to go as a city , Spear believes, " Let's stop trying to be everything and being nothing."

Candidate Challenge

OK, now that we have everyone on the same page.

The future of Twentynine Palms is too important to leave the reporting of the campaigns for city council in the hands of a once a week paper and a couple of minutes a day of partisan radio commentary.

We would like to challenge all candidates to post your platforms here for discussion.

We'll give you all the room you need to explain why you would make a great Council Member.

We encourage you to hone your message here.

If you desire to know if your version of the future will carry you into a November victory, this is the place to get that citizen feedback. You will be given as much coverage of your platform and political stands as your are able to generate in your posts. There is nothing like instant feedback to get a sense of the People.

We have a readership in the thousands and we have proven to be effective at getting the message out. While everyone who visits this site does not always agree. Everyone that frequents this site votes. It would be a political mistake to discount the distribution of Vote29.com and its message.

If you are interested in getting your message out contact Joe Breuer down at the Chrysler Dealer and he will give you the email address to send your files. We'd like a photo of you to post with the article, so send a Jpeg or Gif file also. If you have a web site we will link to you.

Candidates we wish you luck and may the best persons win.

Election Season Rule

While Glenn Freshour and I will never be attending each others Birthday Party, and we'll always snipe at one another when given a chance. Thats the reality of our relationship. That being said I do respect his long commitment to this city. Would I vote for him? No. But do I listen to what he has to say? Yes.

When Glenn takes the time to send a letter to the editor of the local paper, its usually pretty well thought out. He wrote his letter because he must feel he has something to contribute to the dialog. I believe this is the case here.

When I linked his letter it was for the purpose of giving another viewpoint and to increase the honest discussion of local politics.

I have been told by both sides of the fence, This years election might be the most important election in the City's history.

Instead of intelligent discussion, we get from ONE guy, yes just one guy in a multitude of guises, an avalanche of personal attacks on the Sysop.

I have been told that all this bickering detracts from the important issues of the day. I hate rules, but I am forced to agree. I am as guilty of the back biting as anyone. I do not feel it is fair to our readers nor those who wish to be heard on this years issues to have to worry about being beat down. So the rules will be changing as of today. Effective as of the time of this posting and until November 8, 2006 12:01 AM, the following rule will be enforced.

Pointed off-topic personal attacks against any ind