How the other half lives

Here is a great example of how NIMBYism counts only if it's in your personal space. There's a project coming up, PC 06-87/Tentative Tract Map 18193. While the current zoning is correct and it meets the current General Plan this is the same kind of subdivision proposal that some of the applicants of this request would have fought against if it was proposed in their own neighborhoods.

Date: October 3, 2006
RE: PC 06-87/Tentative Tract Map 18193
Jay Corbin (applicant) on behalf of Ada Hatch, Martha H. Reich and Elizabeth H. Meyer (property owners) proposes to subdivide approximately 80 acres into 286 numbered lots and several lettered lots for future development of single-family residences. The project is located on a vacant and previously unimproved site, north of Samarkand Drive, south of Amboy Road, east of Mesquite Springs Road, and west of Lazy Joe Avenue, Zone RS-4, Section, APN # 0621-031-21, -22, and -23.

As always depending on who you are and who you know still applies. A year or two ago these same forces would have attended every hearing, rallied environmentalist, wrote letters to the editor in protest and organized van pools of the regular suspects, wheel chairs, walkers and canes included, to stand in righteous indignation of the destruction of "our desert paradise."

Instead of demanding a reduction in density and scores of restrictions as has always been the case when its someone else who's project is up for review, this one will slide through the process like goose crap through a tin horn. The concerns of the "Night Sky" need not apply here. Water issues not a problem. Who cares about desert flora or fauna. Less than a mile away a similar project was the target of an intense protest by the same old suspects and the queen of PETA herself, but this time not a word will be heard from the Latté and croissant crowd.

We could care less one way or the other. But we thought we should bring this to your attention so you might see how the other half lives.

SB Sun: Man gets 16 months in prison for deed fraud

A Cathedral City man pleaded guilty Thursday to a felony charge connected to a fraudulent property deed, according to a San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office news release.

Jack Lee Nakamoto, 38, entered his plea as part of a plea agreement, officials said. He was sentenced to 16 months in prison.

In March 2005, officials accused Nakamoto of forging his victim's name on a deed, transferring real estate in Twentynine Palms to himself.

The deed was notarized in March 2005, containing the victim's signature. However, the victim had died two years earlier.

Nakamoto then transferred the property to another person in June 2005, officials said. MORE

Antiwar Stand May Be Popular, but It's Unlikely to Win Angelides the Governorship

George Skelton
LA Times- Capitol Journal

September 28, 2006

No, Phil Angelides is not attempting an all-or-nothing leap — starting his run for president even before he's elected California governor.

He's not a political Evel Knievel. There's less daredevil here than desperation.

He is desperate for Democratic voters.

Two new polls released Wednesday illustrate the state treasurer's dilemma. Both show him falling further behind Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and failing to excite fellow Democrats.

Among likely voters, the Field Poll has Schwarzenegger leading 44% to 34%, with only 61% of Democrats supporting Angelides. He needs at least 80%. The Public Policy Institute of California has even worse news for Angelides: Schwarzenegger is ahead by 48% to 31%, and just 57% of Democrats are backing their party's nominee.

Angelides' solution is unprecedented for a gubernatorial candidate: Go give an anti-war speech. I know of no other major candidate for California governor who has ever tried to make an issue out of a foreign war — not even when the nation was being torn apart by Vietnam. MORE

Lions met with Spear

We got the word that Steve Spear had a productive meeting  with the Lions Club last night.

The Lions Clubs Serve 1.3 million Lions members in 200 countries and geographic areas answer the needs that challenge the communities of the world. Lions tackle tough problems like blindness, drug abuse prevention and diabetes awareness.

They are Global neighbors - Lions members—men and women—provide immediate and sustained relief in time of disaster and offer long-term assistance to those in need. Lions collect and recycle eyeglasses for distribution in developing countries and treat millions of people to prevent river blindness.

They are Community Leaders - Lions improve the quality of life in their local communities by building parks, supporting hospitals and establishing water treatment programs.

For nearly 90 years, whenever there is a need at home or around the world, Lions members are there to help. To find more about the Lions Club Click Here.

You call that a report?

Is it just me or do others see something suspicious about that Buxton Report?

What a perfect snow job. A little razzle dazzle right on time for the council elections. Quick someone toss out some National Franchise names to thrill the rabble. There are too many blatant mistakes.

Here are two:

1. It makes the center of town at Mesquite Springs and Hwy. 62. The most dangerous intersection in the city. On property that would require a huge expense to make suitable for development.
2. It says we could have an ACE Hardware Store. Did anyone down at city hall bother to open up the Yellow Pages? We've had an ACE Hardware Store for years. Desert Auto Supply and Hardware out on Adobe Road. Whats the plan, to screw him out of his franchise?

We paid for this Drivel? Come on guys this is another Elmer Gantry "Rain Maker" illusion. There are just to many obvious gratuitous lines of Bull Crap.

Once again, its the story of the Emperor and his new clothes. Another $40,000 down the drain.

Polls: It's all in how you count the numbers

Here was the question of the week:

What will most affect your choice for Twentynine Palms City Council member?

We decided to end our mirror poll asking the same questions that were asked by the Desert Trail this week as of 7:35PM. We thought you would like to view the polls side by side. Mind you this was an internet poll asked on internet sites to internet users. We are quite surprised at the disparities in the polls. Then we came to the only logical conclusion. Both polls are flawed in that they both cater to their user base and are such a small sampling of potential voters they can't tell us anything. It's a lot of fun but neither the Desert Trail or Cactus Thorns could go to Las Vegas with the conclusions of these polls.

Spear: Flip Floppers in Action

We found this little gem over on votespear.com, thought you all would like a good read. 

Given the wide spread support that I received from the community in regards to reducing our General Plan build out number of 110,000, I was curious to find out why such vocal opposition has been offered by a very select few individuals.

Nobody I talked to could put a finger on it. It seemed to be a great mystery.

However, at the Planning Commission meeting of September 19, 2006, it finally surfaced.

During that meeting there was a study session regarding the following:

10.0 STUDY SESSION –
10.1 PC 05-71 - Downtown Revitalization Specific Plan
Review of draft language and development standards.
a. Model Mixed Use Zone District
b. Model Town Center Zone District

One does not see much problem here at first glance. All sounds great and wonderful, until you see and hear what is really being said.

The above terms are disguises by a select group of individuals that actually want to increase density in the downtown area by adding apartments on top of stores. Now these additional apartments are above and beyond the 7,000 plus apartments that the current General Plan allows to be built.

In other words, it is okay for these select few to increase density when it suits their idea of what 29 Palms should be, however it is not okay to increase density when someone else has an idea that may help 29 Palms to prosper. MORE

Gibson Fires Back

The business of politics is not always fair and it is rarely polite; it is in these instances that one can get a glimpse as to what most people detest about an election year. What Gary Daigneault stated on his "Up Close" show was absolutely fallacious. I have not ever been critical of the Chamber of Commerce, as an organization, or the individuals therein. In fact, I have spoken several times over the last few weeks and have espoused nothing but the greatest respect and admiration from what I consider to be one of the hardest working groups. Any comments made have been levied towards the policies of the current administration.

I am supremely disheartened by a blatant attempt to impair carefully cultivated relationships between myself and chamber members. Gary stated that "I should do my homework", so I did. After reviewing my responses from the event in question, I can find neither foul nor critical statements directed at the Chamber. I urge people to consider the source of these inflammatory remarks and while they may be disdainful; they are still just one person's opinion.

During the course of this election I fully expect to be misquoted or accused of anything and everything. I'm waiting for someone to identify me as the mysterious shooter on the "grassy knoll" from 1963. All jokes aside though, it is a fact that in our over zealousness to support our candidates that there will be some folks who get carried away. If your candidate has a solid platform then they will be more effective then the vicious attempts to disparage the few who have already put themselves out there. This is pure silliness and it is almost obscene to think that we would waste anymore time entertaining these rantings. Let's get back to the issues and continue to move Twentynine Palms forward!!!

Sincerely,

Sherrie Gibson

Friday Ambush: Spear's Chamber Email

We asked Steve Spear what he thought about the "Friday Ambush," he gave us a Bcc: of an email that was sent instead. It says it all.

Brault: Tell us how you really feel

I have known Gary Daigneault for more than 25 years and during those years we shared many microphones together during his talk shows and we never failed to light up the switchboard with controversial subjects such as gun control and taxes. The past few years have been different in the respect that Gary has become extremely hostile towards those who disagree with him. In the interest of "getting along" I have overlooked many of Garys' transgressions, but after hearing his tirade against councilman Steve Spear and candidate Sherrie Gibson on his "Up Close" program (9/22/06) it is time to take the gloves off.

Daigneault describes councilman Spears' platform as the most dumb, stupid, idiotic platform he has ever seen in the history of local politics. This is from the guy who claims to be impartial and who is moderating the candidate forums hosted by the Chamber Of Commerce. It is possible to disagree with a candidates platform without accusing them on the airwaves of being dumb and stupid. In his defense Gary will no doubt claim that he was accusing Councilman Spears platform of being stupid, and was not accusing Mr. Spear of being stupid. It's like saying you support the troops, but don't support the war.

There's no doubt that Gary and his small band of cliques want Councilman Spears head on a stick. It was Steve Spear who ended the fiefdom that was Twentynine Palms and restored city government to a Constitutional Republic where all are treated equal. Gary and his cliques want to restore the fiefdom where a privileged few receive special favors from city government.

On the same program Gary criticized candidate Sherrie Gibson for being critical of the Chamber while she was attending a Chamber sponsored event. He admonished Sherrie to "do her homework before she speaks out against the chamber." This is totally inappropriate behavior for a board member of the Chamber and one who is moderating the candidates forum. If Gary had a beef with Sherrie he should have discussed it with his fellow board members and delivered the complaint in writing, not on a radio station talk show. The remark was obviously intended to discredit Sherrie Gibson. May I suggest that the Chamber either reel in Gary Daigneault, or replace him as moderator.

I have always respected Gary for his talent and intelligence, but that came to an end the day I saw him at a local hardware store. I greeted him with a friendly "hello Gary" and in return Gary replied "kiss my ass, Ron!"

Where is the impartiality?

When we started our Candidate Forum a huge outcry was heard that we would not be fair, would pick sides and not let the candidates state their cases fairly. I think we've done a pretty good job dispelling that fear so far. While I would have loved to jump in here and there, its you users that have kept the questions coming and the Candidates that have kept the dialog flowing. I commend all of you on a really wonderful and enlightening exchange of ideas and thoughts. I learn things from each post. No one can question our commitment to a fair election and fair Candidate Forum.

After listening to today's "Close-Up" show, I can pretty well decide who Gary Daigneault will be not voting for. After today it is impossible to suggest that Mr. Daigneault can straight-faced say he has not made his mind up too. He would be hard pressed to stand up on the dias at the next Chamber Forum and say he was an impartial Moderator. If the Desert Trail can keep it apolitical and we can keep it fair so can Gary.

There is no reason that Gary Daigneault should not be held to the same expectations of impartiality as we have been. In all fairness, what is good for the goose is good for the gander. As far as we see it, Mr. Daigneault has abdicated his position as the moderator of the second Chamber Candidate Forum. I hope that the Chamber of Commerce will move as a body to replace him. Rotary should follow suit. Some one call Huell Howser!!!

Wall Street Journal: The Gerrymander Effect

MONTEREY, Calif. — It’s a red-hot election year, with control of Congress at stake, and this political reporter has come to the state with a whopping 53 of the 435 U.S. House seats. That’s one-eighth of the congressional total and 21 more seats than the next biggest state, Texas. So why do the seagulls over Monterey Bay seem to be screaming in reproach? Because it’s less than eight weeks until Election Day Nov. 7, and not a single one of those 53 congressional contests is competitive enough to merit a busy correspondent’s attention.

In a year of anti-Republican and anti-incumbent fever, that fact stands as a testament to the completeness of California’s bipartisan gerrymandering. Of course, California isn’t alone. Nearly all states have maps for their legislatures and congressional districts drawn by incumbents, to protect incumbents. Where one party dominates, as in Texas, the lines reflect that. Where power is divided, the two parties’ mutual back-scratching makes the redistricting process a bipartisan one even when nothing else is. MORE

Pinto Mt. TV Translator to get new power lines

Twentynine Palms-----29 Palms Pistol and Rifle Club president Ron Brault informs us that the Rifle Range will be closed Monday thru Thursday for 1 1/2 to 2 months. Procal Electric will be replacing the High Voltage Power Lines to the County TV Translator on Pinto Mountain. The TV Translator has been running off a generator for over a year.

If you have question concerning availability of range facilities Please call Ron Brault at 760-367-4402

Park's new visitor center to open soon

Joshua Tree--- The newest visitor center at Joshua Tree National Park is set to open Sept. 29.

The center, the fourth for the 800,000-acre park, is at 6554 Park Blvd., a block south of Highway 62.

Park Superintendent Curt Sauer will speak at the opening ceremony, which will be held from 5 to 8 p.m., and will also include live music by the Rojer Arnold Band.

Sauer said the park management's plan calls for a visitor center near the park's west entrance.

Other centers are in Twentynine Palms, Yucca Valley and the Cottonwood Springs area on the park's south side.

The event will be sponsored by the nonprofit Joshua Tree National Park Association and chambers of commerce in Twentynine Palms, Yucca Valley and Joshua Tree, association spokeswoman Nancy Downer said.

For information, call the association at (760) 367-5525.

Meanwhile over in Yucaa Valley: Anger builds over botched project

YUCCA VALLEY - Building activity around Yucca Valley over the last few years has, on occasion, inspired some heated discussion between residents and local government. At least in public, the scrapping hasn't yet escalated beyond the disagreement stage. If Rick Greer has his way, though, that's about to change.

Greer's complaint against the Town ignited when people associated with a development uphill from him started pulling Joshua trees out of the ground on his Sky Harbor property alongside the road.

When he demanded on the spot to know by whose authority this action was being taken, he was told the road needed to be widened for better access uphill.

He objected. Not only was he not consulted about the tree removal from his property, he also wasn't consulted about the widening of a road which runs on his and other neighbors' easements.

Calling both the police and the Town's code enforcement department, he fully expected to see quick and sure protection of the law exercised on his behalf.

This was not to be, he states. MORE

The Reporter - Reform needed now

Was anyone surprised that the governor's special session on prisons failed to produce any progress on reform?

Just last week, a Democratic response to the governor's $6 billion proposal fell flat in the Assembly.

Not that the measure was perfect by any means.

The $918 million package, which passed the Senate, would have allowed prison officials to add 5,340 beds to 11 existing prisons. At best, the proposal would have been baby steps toward reform.

Now Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has no choice but to take matters into his own hands. The system, after all is in shambles.

A shocking number of inmates have died because of medical neglect and abuse.

Lawsuits have built up. Hearings exposed a culture that had allowed corruption, arrogance and disregard to fester. The budget remains horribly out of whack, with little oversight.

Last summer, a federal judge threw the medical system into the hands of a receiver, who has already begun an extensive investigation and systematic overhaul.

But the receiver cannot stop the flood of inmates, which is threatening to fill every nook and corner of every facility by June.

With 172,000 inmates, experts say, the corrections system is more than 70 percent over capacity and growing.

More

The Campaign Against Land Use Planning

For 30 years, Oregon had the nation's most restrictive land-use laws, and when voters in 2000 passed a property-rights initiative only to see it nullified by the courts, public officials should have seen it as a wake-up call that the rules were alienating citizens. But they didn't, and thus it wasn't surprising that the follow-up, Measure 37, passed in 2004 with 61 percent of the vote.

It isn't hard to see what drove Measure 37: Too many planners telling people they couldn't build on their property; too many rural retirement dream-homes nixed (and too many grand development schemes); a gradual erosion of equity as Oregonians saw neighbors achieve things they themselves had had to forgo. And many held a growing suspicion that the state's planning program was about protecting open space, at their expense. It galled landowners to think that their options might be severely curtailed for others' viewing pleasure - with nobody admitting it.

That's what happened here. But if Oregon's the restrictive state, how can others around the West be so concerned about the far less-demanding land laws they live with? As it turns out, they are at least concerned enough in six states - Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Washington - to have signed petitions to put similar initiatives on their fall ballots. MORE

State shielding corrupt officers

THE PUBLIC HAS lost a major skirmish in the battle for government transparency in California.

Late last month, the state Supreme Court ruled records of disciplinary action taken against police officers must remain secret even when a government body that is independent of the officer's employer holds the documents.

The case involves a San Diego County Sheriff's deputy fired after failing to make an arrest in a domestic violence case and then lying about it. The officer eventually appealed the firing to the county Civil Service Commission.

The San Diego Union Tribune sued the commission under the public records act, seeking documents on the case. The newspaper's lawyers argued the state law that makes any records involving law enforcement personnel confidential doesn't apply when the agency holding those records is not the officer's employer. More

Five onboard: Three tickets left at the Station

Once again our weekly appeal to the last three candidates for the Twentynine Palms City Council to join the other 5 brave souls that have come on board the Cactus Thorns' Candidate Forum.

As you have read none has been bloodied and each have done well in getting their message out to now, thousands of readers each week. Sure the questions asked the candidates here are a bit more pointed than at a public forum. Our users are used to asking direct and pointed questions. There isn't a Moderator other than the candidates themselves. The five candidates have managed to answer most questions and I'll bet they are gathering the information to answer the rest.

We're going to continue to make this once a week appeal for you to join us until election day.

Enemies of free speech advance

Free speech, one of our most precious constitutional rights, is under attack. While that may sound like shrill political rhetoric or hyperbole, it is neither. Forces in Washington, Sacramento and elsewhere are engaged in an ongoing campaign against free-speech protections, a veritable war on speech.

As is usually the case when constitutional rights come under attack, there is much popular support for the effort. And the courts, whose role it is to safeguard the right to free speech, have abdicated their role, delegating it to the very political branches that the courts are supposed to check.

It is political speech that is under attack. And the campaigners are winning, despite the fact that political speech is the core of First Amendment protections.

Unsurprisingly, this war is being carried on in the name of reform and regulation, specifically, campaign finance reform. Anti-speech campaigners have enjoyed recent victories, including the McCain-Feingold Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, which George W. Bush cynically signed into law in 2002. But political speech is restricted on the state and local level, as well. In California, political speech is regulated under the California Fair Political Practices Act. Further restrictions are included in Proposition 89 on the November ballot.

In order to understand how these regulations chill political speech, imagine that there is a cause that you wish to support or oppose – building a toll road, universal health care, universal preschool or saving the endangered brown gnatcatcher. Now you wish to do something about it.

You learn that there is a political committee supporting your position. So, you contact the committee and offer your ideas on how you could create some grass-roots support for the effort. Perhaps, you could set up your own Web site and launch an e-mail campaign. Then you could take donations to support your efforts, or channel donations to the political committee.

After consulting an attorney, the political committee politely declines your help, instead asking only for your money.

This example illustrates how campaign finance regulation reduces political speech to financial contribution, the very evil that it purports to address. Under the California Fair Political Practices Act, the minute that you spent any money on your cause or raised any money for the cause, you became a political committee subject to the Act. Once you raise or spend $1,000, you become subject to the Act's strict reporting and disclosure requirements. And you don't dare "coordinate" your campaign with another "committee." MORE

Feds level charges in Oakland corruption case

OAKLAND — A man with close ties to several prominent city officials, including Mayor Jerry Brown, was charged Thursday with extortion and public corruption for demanding cash in return for a city contract, federal authorities said.

The scheme allegedly involved a prominent Oakland city official, identified by the FBI as only "City Official A." Council President Ignacio De La Fuente (Glenview-Fruitvale), who has not been accused of a crime, acknowledged he is the unnamed official but vigorously denied he did anything wrong.

Maurice Himy, 59, of San Rafael, is accused of telling an Oakland businessman, who wanted a contract to auction the city's surplus vehicles and other property, that he could get him the deal in return for cash.

Himy made his first court appearance Thursday, but did not enter a plea and was released on his own recognizance after surrendering his passport.

M. Gerald Schwartzbach, Himy's attorney, said he had not had a chance to review the charges against his client and declined to comment.

Himy, who was arrested Wednesday afternoon in Oakland, could not be reached for comment. More

Is this a trend?: Severance contract leaves some queasy

LATHROP Ca – When the City Council last week approved a contract with its chief planning official, it set a precedent for this small city.

The inclusion of a severance package in Lathrop’s contract with its new community development director might sound like bureaucratic inside baseball, but the move sent the message that the city is a public employer willing to negotiate certain terms with its top departmental officials.

It was enough to make Mayor Gloryanna Rhodes squirm a little at the dais. She voted against the contract for Community Development Director Marilyn Ponton, not because she didn’t think Ponton could do the job, but because she didn’t feel right approving a severance package.

If Ponton’s contract is ever terminated, the city will be required to pay her a month’s worth of her $115,469 salary for each year of employment up to three years, unless she is fired for misconduct or malfeasance on the job. Ponton could be dismissed for any other reason and still receive a severance package. MORE

Public Assistance Requested

Public Assistance Requested James Robert Wilder, a 53 year old White male resident of the Joshua Tree / Twentnynine Palms area passed away of natural causes at High Desert Medical Center on 09/06/06 at 11:12 a.m. The Coroner’s Division is seeking the Public’s assistance in locating next of kin. Mr. Wilder is believed to have been born in the Detroit, Michigan area. If anyone knows of family for Wilder you are asked to contact the Coroner’s office at 909-387-2978.

The Great Debate

I have never seen a better first debate. Without a doubt the Chamber put on a great first debate of the 2006 Twentynine Palms Council Election Season. Gary Daigneault did a great job at asking the questions and running the show. If I had a complaint, it was that there were too many seats empty. We could do a lot better as citizens in getting involved in our community’s future by attending the next one.

The six candidates that participated, came prepared and answered the questions from the audience with conviction and to the best of their abilities. I was impressed with all of them. I had to leave early because of health reasons but Joey stayed on and was equally impressed.

We encourage everyone who reads this to watch the debate when it is played on Channel 6.

Tonight is the night

Tonight is the night. The suits have been laid out, two minute speeches honed to a razors edge. This will be the night of the first Candidate forum.

Once again the Chamber of Commerce will be sponsoring the first of two of their candidate forums. The meeting will be held at the Oasis Elementary School at 6PM.

For some candidates this will be the only time you will ever hear what they stand for.

Corbin: Crib notes from the Council Meeting

“Councilmember Spear I want to commend you for preparing a platform for re-election and clearly defining your position. Because the issues you raise are critical, I encourage every registered voter in this City to go to your website, votespear.com and read the platform.

You state in your platform that you favor a massive rezoning of the city to reduce the potential buildout of this city to 50,000 residents. You also state that the commerce war has been lost to Yucca Valley. In your platform you state, “We have hoped that something, anything, would come our way. It has not.” This statement overlooks many positive developments in the city over the past few years, the Navy Federal Credit Union, Holiday Inn Express, AM/PM Arco, Wonder Garden Café, just to name a few. Additional developments are currently in the works, these include the Marriott Corporation, Starbucks, Kragen Auto Parts, and Walgreen’s. Are you concerned that the rezoning you propose will cause these prospective new developments to not go forward?

I have talked to business owners who want commercial growth and I am concerned about the impact your plan would have on them.

You are now an advocate for fees to be attached to new home construction. On a local blog you state, and let me read your quote exactly as it is written, “There are other ways to accomplish the same task of limiting growth, minimum lot size laws, or how about $10,000 for a water meter, maybe even astronomical impact fees in the range of $20,000.00 to $50,000.00.”

Such fees would cause an immediate slow-down in residential development. Where do plumbers, framers, electricians, concrete workers, and everyone employed in the construction trade, find work if you implement this plan?

I hope you will comment on these issues here tonight and then provide more information about your downzoning plan between now and the election in November.”
Please make your comments in the Candidate Forum ...

Dirty Politics Begins

We received reports that Tuesday’s Council Meeting turned out to be a real donnybrook. The most vilified ex-city official in history, Jerry “Jay” Corbin, took three minutes to lambaste Steve Spear on his political platform during the Public Comment section of the meeting. This is the time when the Council is prohibited by law to address any subject that Citizen’s address to the Council as a whole.

In fact from personal experience citizens are prohibited in making personal attacks on individual council members during the Public Comment Section of the Council Meeting. Been there. Done that. Been Kicked out for it.

Spear objected to the Mayor and candidate for re-election Kevin Cole, that it was an inappropriate personal attack. The Mayor noted the objection but allowed the personal attack to continue.

Upon completion of the Corbin rant, Cole turned to Spear and asked if he wanted to respond knowing full well he was precluded by law to do so.

After the meeting, Spear was overheard that he would be seeking legal advice as to among other things, a formal sanction of the Mayor.

We contacted Steven Spear after the meeting and he refused comment.

Desert Trail Poll: Who's going to the Forum

The current Desert Trail Poll on who is going to attend the Live Candidate Forum this Thrusday is dismal.
The Questions asked were:
Will you be attending the 29 Palms city council candidates forum on Sept. 14?
Yes and I will be asking a question 1 Votes, 3%
Yes and I will pay attention to the answers 4 Votes, 13%
No but I plan to watch it on cable TV 4 Votes, 13%
No but I will read about it in The Trail 11 Votes, 34%
No 12 Votes, 38%

Lets hope that this reflects a lack of readership of the Desert Trail website and not the feelings of the voting public concerning the current election.

Proposition 90: Headed to Victory

What Howard Jarvis started, Howard Rich aims to finish.

Rich, an elusive New York developer, has been bankrolling initiatives aimed at stripping state and local governments of their power to limit development.

His California measure, Proposition 90, masks that agenda. It’s portrayed as simply a ban on government eminent domain actions that take private property and hand it over to developers for private use.

And the strategy seems to be paying off. With comparatively little media coverage to date, the measure has managed to win the support of a strong cross-section of California voters.

The highly respected Field Poll reported early in August that the measure had attracted strong support from both parties, with favorable/unfavorable ratings of 51/28 for Republicans and 42/32 among Democrats. Surprisingly, support was even stronger among those who rated themselves as “middle of the road” rather than conservative (50/46).

The poll was based on a survey of 762 voters conducted between July 10 and 23. MORE

Chamber Candidate Forum

The Chamber Of Commerce will be holding the first of two Candidate Forums. It will be held at the Oasis Elementary School, on Thursday September 14th at 6:00 PM.

---

Remember

That's 5: Flock comes on board to debate

Council Candidate Stephen Flock of the Indian Cove area, retired Deputy Sheriff and long time resident will be joining the other candidates in the Candidate Forum to answer your questions and present his Platform for the future of Twentynine Palms.

Stephen tells me he is a long time reader of Cactus Thorns and wanted to get on sooner but was delayed in his return from a trip up North. We welcome Mr. Flock to the site and wish him the best of luck.

The Advantage of Joining

“(Candidate Forum)”:http://vote29.com/smf/index.php The advantage to joining the Candidate forum is it not only allows you to post comments and ask questions of the candidates but we have added some neat little features to make it fun.

We now have our own instant messaging system that allows you to leave a note to another user on or off line. He or she will be notified by the system with “You’ve got mail!” as they log on or refresh the page. If you’re not a member you can’t take advantage of this feature.

So you want to Blog too? Now you can. From your profile you can start your own personal blog. You have your own area to muse and rant. You decide if others can comment. Your blog is is not connected to the main forum page so tell your friends they need to click on your profile from the Members list. If you’re not a member you can’t take advantage of this feature.

We’ll be adding more features as they become available to us.

New Day Starts NOW

The candidates that have come on this site to discuss the issues deserve far better treatment from our users than they have received so far. We apologize to our readers and the candidates in that we have allowed the tenner of the conversation to digress into a mosh pit. You do not deserved to be treated in such a manner nor do our serious readers have to put up with what we believe is a concerted effort by a certain small minded group to discredit the candidates wishing to participate in this online forum. We will no longer allow this site or the Candidates Forum to be hijacked by the operatives of those who refuse to engage.

Therefore the rules are changing as of this post. This is not a debatable topic or subject. These are the new rules:

The candidates will restrict there comments to the Candidate Forum. They will continue to control their own message base and forum section. Candidates posting on the main page do at their own peril. I refuse to come to their aid as I have my own axes to grind.

Users will continue to use the main site for general discussion of current affairs and posted topics unrelated to the candidates that allow comments. Nothings much has changed on the main page.

No user will be allowed to start a question thread past this date to the candidates on the main page. Questions will be deleted. Exception: If a candidate posts first in the comment section on the main page after this date he or she is fair game.

Any user may read the Candidate Forum. You will however be required to register on the Candidate Forum to post. Registration will require an active and correct email address to complete the registration process and activation of your account. Serious people will not have a problem with this new registration process. We will not share your email address, or sell your information to spam miners.

We will still move exceptional posts from the Candidate forum to the main page as opinion pieces. If they are general in nature or exceptionally important facts we will allow comment on them. The reasons for the posts are to get you involved in the forum.

Some users have had a great time at the expense of the candidates and those who are serious in learning the issues. That has come to an abrupt end. We have less than 6 weeks left. If you are serious in discussing the issues with the candidates the forum is where you need to be.

Think of this as a New Day. Let the games begin… again.

Gibson: Let's talk issues

Consider this an answer to the question and then let’s be done with it. While I admire Dan’s desire to set this issue aside, I need to point out the two details that were ignored. First, I did not use a username to bash other candidates or prop up my own platform. My questions were directed to Steve about HIS legitimate platform issues. There has never been a malicious intent behind anything that I have written. Second, I’m not trying to hide it and I have not ever lied about it; I have owned up to it on every page. So, where does this leave me?

If there are some who continue to question my ethics, then I am sure that my robe will not be the only one stained while I stand in the ethics line next to the other seven candidates. For the people who truly did not know, then I sincerely apologize to each of you, but for those of you who want to beat a dead horse…Sorry guys I will not be bullied, badgered, or threatened. YOU CANNOT BREAK ME, SO DON’T EVEN TRY!

A town called Perfect

While we have been preoccupied with all this campaigning, the Planning Commission has been busy working on a new zoning concept. Mixed-use development.

When you think about a small town of the mid 20th century, mixed-use was common. You think of quaint old downtowns with shopkeepers apartments above their establishments. Idyllic scenes of the old candy shop, the butcher, the baker and the candle stick maker. A place where the rural farmers or ranchers brought their old stake beds filled with produce to market, and poodle skirted girls sipping root beer floats with the high school heroes at the local Soda Shoppe. Sounds like a Walgreens commercial doesn’t it? A place called Perfect, where every front lawn is beautiful and green, every child is brilliant, every wife is submissive and where every dog disposes of its own litter.

Well this ain’t Perfect and the mixed-used we are talking about is more like the “Bowery Boys,” with more high-density low-income apartments crammed into the downtown area. A plan to invest even more money into a dying commercial neighborhood so that the few people that are stuck with stagnant property values can use the good offices of government to pull them out of some bad investment choices.

This week in local politics

Back on the 31st of August I posted Post #1022 At that time I turned over a good deal of the control to the Candidates. I strongly suggested that they confine their posts to the “Candidate Forum.” I continue to suggest that they do that. I have made a commitment to both the Candidates and my readers that I would refrain from taking sides. Believe me it takes every fiber of my being not to jump up and say something on any subject posted. I do post as you notice when it is directed at me. I probably shouldn’t.

The point of this is, I’ve promised to provide an open forum for the Candidates to discuss issues with one another and the citizens who might post asking questions and keeping my big mouth out of it.

It’s a ruff and tumble world out there in the Blogoshere. But then it’s a ruff and tumble world of politics.

As much as the local paper would have you think that campaigns should be filled with fluff and baby kissing, campaigning is a mean street to walk. It is not for the faint of heart or the thin skinned. The experienced candidate knows that people will talk behind their backs in the restaurants, barber shops and on the street. They know some folks can be darn right cruel.

The Blogoshere is a microcosm of our world. We have some wonderful posters truly interested in the issues and then some really hateful folks that hide behind their anonymity. Its the same here as on the streets. The difference is its right in your face on the Internet. No matter what one might think the Internet makes you mentally quick on your feet or you quickly go down in a brilliant pyre of self recrimination.

I’ve been using bulletin boards, forums, Usenet, and blogs since the days of 300 baud modems and ASCII text. Almost 35 years. Not much has changed over those years.

This week we saw some hard-core postings that made candidate’s nerves shatter, and start to second guess their decision to ever want to run for office. It was really the first test of their ability to think on their feet. A baptism of fire as it were.

I got to tell you readers, I don’t know if I could have been that tough on these good intentioned people. I am awed by your hootzpa. I wanted so many times to jump in and save them from themselves. But then there I go breaking my promise. So I just sat on the side and let the pots, pans, dishes and silverware fly.

Surviving this “hell week” will make the candidates stronger and more capable leaders, able to listen to the will of the People. Through the process you are helping develop the true leaders of our future.

New Republic Critic Tumbles in Blog-land: My ‘Dumb Mistake’

“The transcendent rules of journalism apply, even in the ‘Talkback’ section of the magazine,” Franklin Foer, The New Republic’s editor, said. “We don’t let our writers misrepresent themselves to readers.”

“I made a dumb mistake, and I’m very sorry I did it. I took the blogosphere’s bait, and I stooped to the level of these people who were commenting on my pieces, and I shouldn’t have,” Lee Siegel said. “And I’m especially sorry that I embarrassed a magazine that was nourishing me as an intellectual, long before it began publishing me as a journalist.”

The New Republic’s cultural critic was on the phone on Sept. 4, explaining what was coursing through his mind when he fired off comments in the “Talkback” section of his own New Republic blog, “Lee Siegel on Culture.” In the missives, he heaped praise on himself and insulted his critics—all under the anonymous handle “sprezzatura.”

Mr. Siegel’s barely camouflaged Internet self had offered him swift entry into the race to the bottom known as online reader commentary. In a sample posting, from Aug. 27, “sprezzatura” wrote to another poster, a nemesis named “jhschwartz”: “You’re a fraud, and a liar. And a wincingly pretentious writer. You couldn’t tie Siegel’s shoelaces.”

“It never occurred to me” that it was wrong, the 48-year-old Mr. Siegel said of his frame of mind at the time. “This is really cowboy territory, with very few boundaries. I think now that it was wrong. I assumed an alias, I guess, because I didn’t want to stoop to their level, not realizing that I was stooping to their level.” More

Florida: Katherine Harris' Comedy of Errors

Considering how much ridicule she endured from political opponents during and after the 2000 Florida presidential election recount debacle, it’s almost astounding that Katherine Harris would willingly put herself in a position to be the butt of more jokes. But as a candidate in the absurd political circus that has been the Republican Senate primary race, that is just what the former Secretary of State and two-term congresswoman has done, and she now finds herself imploding on the eve of the primary election next Tuesday, painted as a bumbling, Starbucks-swilling, intolerant party pariah.

It is only thanks to her unknown and ineffective trio of opponents that Harris, 49, is nonetheless expected by many analysts and recent polls to win the primary — before undoubtedly losing the November election to incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson. “It really has been a disastrous campaign of epic proportions,” says Aubrey Jewett, political science professor of University of Central Florida in Orlando. “I don’t think you’ve ever seen anyone fall from grace so fast in their own party.” MORE

Forum Pearls: "What is your involvement in the new construction?"

Here’s a post we found in the Dawn Benton section of the Candidate Forum.

I’ve noticed you several times at the construction site next to the post office. Are you the Owner/Builder of these units? Is Benton Bros Const. tied in with this project? My reason for asking is that the Contractors State Licensing Board shows that Benton Bros Const is solely owned by another individual and under his contractors license. The address of record that the Licensing Board has for them, oddly enough is the same address as Desert Cycle Works. There is no contractors license issued under your name period. What gives? Are you working as a employee of Benton Bros Const then? And if so, why is it that BBC is claiming that they are exempt from paying/filing workman’s comp – due to having no employees?

I’m very unconfortable with your involvement/connections you seem to have with the new construction going on it town. With you currently on the City Council and seeking reelection, I can’t help but question a conflict of interest. Are you seeking reelection to wrap up some personal agenda, or are you doing it to better our City? When I say “better our City”, I don’t consider the mass multi-family units that are popping up in town (behind City Hall, next to the Post Office, & so on) as a plus for the City. Not if there’s a possibility that the County will start relocating people on public assistance out here to fill them up. The owners of these units get top dollar rent, and my neighborhood goes to crap, taking my property value down with it.

Mr. Benton, I would like to know your involvement (not as a City Council member) in the new construction going on in town. Your personal involvement. What is it? Owner/Builder, Property Owner, Project Foreman, Investor, or what??? I voted for you when you first ran for City Council, but at this point I will not vote to keep you there if my questions and concerns aren’t answered by someone.

It was signed:
Wondering Out Loud

Forum Pearls: "A failure to engage"

This post was found on the Kevin Cole section of the Candidates Forum.

I have a personal comment about the public conduct of a public official.

Your "Blog Squad" defends your failure to engage with the other candidates on this web site by saying you should not give the site legitimacy. They give the site legitimacy by their own presence.

I watch the other candidates discuss the issues. I've learned a lot about the four people running for office who use this site. I learned that each of them are courageous and unafraid to jump into the fray. I learned that while each have strong opinions but remain civil to one another. I've learned that they each respect the voter and want them to be as informed about their choices as humanly possible.

Your failure to engage brings into focus a disconnect with those that you are asking for their vote. To have a culture of negativity develop as your defense to not engage with the other candidates,