Cactus Thorns

If the election was held today who would be your first choice?

	Gibson - 16
	Spear - 15
	Clemons - 15
	Curtain - 12
	Flock - 7
	Cole - 4
	Harris - 3
	Benton - 2
	Total votes: 74

Mountain or Mole Hill?

For all the times the competition has come on here accusing us of half-truths and innuendo, we've got to say it takes some real doing to make a campaign finance story out of what is maybe tops $2500 bucks per the top spender in the Council Campaign race in Twentynine Palms. Tops in the valley is over in Yucca where one guy spent $7500. Some have spent far less and are seriously in the hunt. What a deal.

When it takes more than $250,000 to run a decent Assembly race in a compeditive seat, running for council in either Twentynine Palms or Yucca Valley is an absolute deal.

Topsy-turvy California politics buck national anti-GOP trend

Although he is riding into a stiff national head wind favoring Democratic candidates, Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger is drawing closer to winning a second term as governor in a state that is arguably the most Democratic in the country.

In California, which has two Democratic U.S. senators, fields the largest Democratic delegation in Congress and is home to the prospective speaker of the House, the Republican former actor is running 18 percentage points ahead of his Democratic challenger, according to a new non-partisan poll.

Schwarzenegger is leading Treasurer Phil Angelides by 48 percent to 30 percent with less than two weeks to go before the Nov. 7 election, according to the survey by the Public Policy Institute of California. The poll of 1,076 likely voters was taken between Oct. 15 and Oct. 22 and has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points. MORE

Who will turn out to be the bias media?

We made a conscious decision to help make this election the fairest possible. We opened up our site to the People and the Candidates so that they might freely communicate. We hope we've done a good job. We opened up a new section controlled by the candidates themselves. It's worked well.

The front page has always been the mosh pit and it will continue to be that. We've written both good and bad on each candidate. We've given broad-sides to everyone.

Both Mainstream Media outlets have made a big deal about Cactus Thorns. They just know that we are going to break our promise and pick sides. We think we've been pretty fair this election cycle.

The mainstream media like to talk the talk but seldom walk the walk. We have made the conscious decision to not endorse any candidate so you can decide based upon what the candidates themselves have posted here. On the other hand we expect the local mainstream media to make their endorsements. When they do we want it known who the Bias Media really is.

We would challenge the media to keep their big mouths shut and for once and let the people decide who is the better choice.

On Spear's Website: Pushing for answers

Well, we are moving into the last week.

I will be out of town Friday through Sunday. I will be attending Headquarters Battalion's Marine Corps Ball at Primm, Nevada.

By now you have had time to have watched the second Chamber of Commerce Forum.

You too noticed the candidates that wish to continue the "March to 110,000". You also noticed the candidates that wish to fill our city with non-stake holders and build upwards of 7,000 to 9,000 low end apartments.

The offered position, by Kevin Cole, of lowering property values by eliminating an over-the-top build out number of apartments is a Red Herring.

Zoning has, and always should be, a right of the city and the People.

Just how do these other two candidates, Kevin Cole and Dawn Benton, deem that multi-family residential is more valuable than 4 per acre or commercial zoning? What crystal ball do they have that provides them that information?

The other position of "it won't happen for 50 to 60 years", that of Jim Harris, is just irresponsible.

Selling out the future to profit today? What is he talking about!

The time has come to plan now to prevent the disaster that awaits in the wings. Why the other candidates do not see this is beyond me. The candidates in Yucca Valley have seen it and they are in worse shape now than we soon will be.

I know that it is hard to be one that protects the future. But in this last week we must tell all that we know that we are on the right road to success.

Steve Spear

In the political soup

Everyone is an armchair chef these days. I've always thought that politics is like a big pot of savory stew. Every two years we are asked to give our opinion of its taste. Every two years a few civic minded individuals offer themselves up as the new cooks for the communal bouillabaisse.

The pot's been boiling since 1987. Some of the ingredients like the promises of jobs, a better business environment and dealing with water issues are the seasonings that everyone wants to add to the pot. Few ever bring meat to the kitchen.

The same soup has been on the stove for so long the meat and 'taders have boiled away and all we have is a bitter brew of broken promises and unfulfilled dreams.

Someone over on the forum asked the question of what is more important this year, experience or fresh ideas?

Dawn Benton to his credit answered it best at the public forum. With the staggard elections of our Council we always have experience on the Council. Again he said it best when he said two terms is enough. We agree.

The question November 7th is not if the soup can be saved by new cooks with new spoons to stir the pot but do we throw out the soup and begin anew?

If we as a community are going to compete in the 21st century yet maintain our desire to save our desert environment the recipe for success has to change.

We are looking forward to the prospect of new cooks, and fresh ideas, infusing the pot with a new banquet of success. We leave it up to you, is it time to change the recipe Twentynine Palms?

Spear: On Second Forum

The second Chamber Forum was a very exciting night.

The new format is much better and I would urge all of you to watch it if you have cable. If you do not, then I believe that you can call the Chamber and obtain a DVD. If that does not work get the air times and dates from the Chamber and go to a friend’s house to watch it.

The true colors and philosophy of the Candidates finally came out.

I was struck by those citizens that came up to me at the break and afterwards to tell me "at least you answer the questions. Some of the others need to be professional politicians".

As you asked, I stayed positive and clearly defined the problem we face - 7,000 plus apartments occupied by people that have no stake in the community.

I hit hard on the value of ownership and that we must cease trying to be another Yucca Valley.

One Candidate came out swinging in regards to our platform of lowering the end build out number but never mentioned it again once it was clear that what we have been talking about is 21,000 renters living in our city.

There were non-specific references to quality growth. However, I laid it on the line by saying that quality growth is mid to high end housing construction and condominiums, not the apartment's that we now see being built.

Resort and Retirement communities do not have thousands of low income rentals. They have real quality homes and condominiums that attract the well to do.

This attraction is made more strong by ensuring that we maintain the beauty of the desert that we now enjoy by keeping growth and nature in harmony.

All of us owe a big "thanks" to Mel Berlin, Christina Dooley, Betty Laferriere, and the other Chamber members that put these two events together - a true service to the community was done by them all.

Steve Spear

Gibson Wins CBIA Endorsement

Homebuilding contributes nearly $68 billion a year to the state’s economy and creates close to 487,000 jobs, according to The Economic Benefits of Housing, a study prepared by the Sacramento Regional Research Institute. The report also found that the entire housing industry — including all goods and services purchased for existing homes as well as new homes — generates nearly $273 billion in economic activity, supports about 960,000 jobs and accounts for about 11 percent of all economic activity in California.

The California Building Industry Association is a statewide trade association representing more than 6,700 companies including homebuilders, trade contractors, architects, engineers, designers, suppliers, and other industry professionals.

By advocating legislative and administrative reforms needed to provide quality, affordable housing for all Californians, CBIA is working to remove barriers to housing construction that have resulted in a housing shortfall that helps make California's urban areas the most expensive housing markets in the nation and threatens our state's future economic health.

The California Building Industry Foundation (CBIF) is the research and education center for California's building and construction industries. Founded in 1978 through the California Building Industry Association (CBIA), the Foundation serves the industry by providing research, scholarships, educational and professional development programs.

The Governmental Affairs division of CBIA advocates for public policies aimed at ensuring an adequate supply of quality, affordable housing available to all Californians. In doing so, CBIA is working hard to increase homeownership in California and promote a healthy, growing state economy.
Click here for more information on CBIA's advocacy efforts.

The professional staff of Governmental Affairs are the principal advocacy arm of California homebuilders, handling myriad public issues that confront the industry.
Click here to contact CBIA staff regarding specific policies and issues affecting housing and homebuilding.

Each of the Twentynine Palm City Council Candidates were sent a questionaire earlier this year. This year Sherrie Gibson won the endorsement of the California Building Industry Association.

MBPA -Responses

2nd Forum: Fast Paced and Enlightening

This will be the first report of Thursday Nights Candidate Forum. The Chamber put on a really good show. The Oasis PTO put out a good spread. Gary did a good job of moderating.

Best Question: Is there a Old Boys Club?

Best answer to how would you entice Marines to spend more in Town: By Steve Spear "Benton is so rich he ought to buy a franchise for a Hooters."

I've a hundred thoughts going through my head on how to write my impressions of the forum. It was a fast paced two hours of questions. Its going to take a day to let all the thoughts gell.

Talking with a lady on break, she put it in a nut shell. She was more concerned with solutions than platitudes. I think what impressed me most is how those candidates that have successfully used this forum were able to articulate their message in the public forum.

More as I digest the evenings political buffet.

Candidate Forum Tonight!

Jim Harris

I am a retired government employee who has resided in Twentynine Palms for the past 18 years. I started coming to Twentynine Palms in 1971 and have witnessed the growth that has taken place over the years.

I hold a deep respect for our City and look forward to serving the people of Twentynine Palms as a Councilmember. I want to be your voice and promise to represent you vigorously. Change can be good.

Being retired, I can dedicate time investigating solutions to problems/complaints. Those who know me will acknowledge that I will dedicate myself to serving you. Those citizens with concerns deserve answers, not lip service, or excuses.

My background in business management, encompass budgets, contract negotiations, purchasing, and employee relations spans over 30 years.

Our City’s growth of both residential and business brings important issues that affect the Community. I intend to address economic development, traffic enforcement, and crime issues that come with such growth.

My pledge is to enhance the City of Twentynine Palms for all of us; please support me with your vote on November 7.

What a day...

This being fair stuff sure is a tough Job. So here goes.....

It seems I was emailed a PDF to post from the Clemons' camp. I read it and posted as a story. Turns out there was a misunderstanding about the letter to the Chamber by the Chamber. In this case I went from the email and posted it. My reliable source at the chamber tells me there was more to the story. The source said that he/she was sitting in the VIP tent and it is true only one candidate was interviewed, there were physical and technical problems talking with the other two.

Mark seems to have handled his problems on his own. I understand that he will be attending the Public Forum.

Sherrie, though she vented a couple of weeks ago on this site, now tells me she has no beef with the Chamber. She is excited about attending the Public Forum.

Steve Spear will also be attending the Public forum. He is happy with the new format that will be introduced Thursday Night. Like Mark he is capable of handling his own problems.

The good news is, there will be a new format for the Public Forum. Audience questions will be deposited in a box. Each candidate will pull a question from the box. The Moderator will ask the question. The candidate will answer the question. The question will be placed back in the box and mixed with the rest. Contrary to the Desert Trail article, this is similar to the format that the Town of Yucca Valley took after they watched our first Candidate Forum and put this new format in effect. Everyone wins with this new format.

I got through the day with only being called a no good S.O.B. six or seven times. What a pleasant experience. I feel like it's a spring thaw.

Clemons fires off letter to Chamber

Council Candidate Mark Clemons is added to the list of disenchanted candidates today as he fired off a letter to the Twentynine Palms Chamber of Commerce. Click Here Along with Gibson and Spear, this makes three candidates that openly have voiced the opinion that they feel that the Chamber is choosing sides in the local elections.

Jim Harris says he'll come online, thats 6 out of 8

I had a pleasant meeting with Council Candidate Jim Harris today while at the court house. He was up at the Continuing Care Center visiting his mom. We wish her all the best.

Jim wanted to let me know that he was not happy being lumped in with the incumbents in our recent cartoon. I told him our reasons were to get him and the other two motivated to discuss the issues on line. He tells us he will be coming on line with us as soon as he is able.

So welcome Jim Harris.

That makes 6 out of the 8 candidates will soon be here to answer your questions and discuss the issue that will affect the future of all of us.

MBProperty.org's Questionnaire.

Twentynine Palms city council candidates Steve Spear and Sherrie Gibson answered the Morongo Basin Property Association's questionnaire. Interesting reading.

Candidates Benton, Clemons, Cole, Curtin, Flock or Harris did not respond to their questionnaire.

League of California Cities: New Laws on Ethics Training and More for 2006

Adverse publicity and prosecutions related to local officials' compensation and use of public resources has led to new state laws that take effect Jan. 1, 2006. One law, AB 11, targets city council member compensation levels. Another, AB 1234, takes aim at expense reimbursement practices.

AB 1234 also requires biannual ethics training for local elected officials or officials who otherwise serve on bodies subject to the Brown Act's requirements - if those individuals receive compensation or expense reimbursement.

Let's examine what these new laws do and how they fit in with the existing legal frameworks. MORE

Caltrans: Political Signs

As a candidate or campaign worker for either office or a ballot measure, this reminder about State law governing campaign signs should be helpful to you.

Encourages a particular vote in a schedule election.
Is placed not sooner than 90 days prior to the schedule election and is removed within 10 days after that election.
Is no larger than 32 square feet.
Has had a Statement of Responsibility filed with the Department certifying a person who will be responsible for removing the sign.

LA Times: Learning from Earl Warren

SIXTY YEARS AGO, California experienced a unique moment in its fractious political history. In the primary of the governor's race of 1946, Republican voters unsurprisingly picked incumbent Earl Warren to again represent the GOP in the November election. What was remarkable, however, was what the state's Democrats did: They nominated him too.

That sealed the outcome, and Warren coasted to victory that fall. He justifiably took pride in having carved a solid political center in a state that often had seemed — and in the years since, has again seemed — to resist moderation. MORE

Too hot in the Kitchen?

We heard from the grapevine that one of the Ostriches is unhappy about his comic character here on Cactus Thorns. It can't be said he didn't know about Vote29.com. Why else would he complain?

This candidate could have just as easily logged on and voiced his opinion. Instead we have to get it third hand, that he's all pissy 'cause we picked on him. He made the conscious decision not to participate on this forum. It was his choice. While five of the eight candidates have braved the cruel world of an online forum, he and two others have hid behind yard signs and a couple of public forums that ask what their favorite color is or some other meaningless crap.

We feel that real candidates should answer real questions from real constituents on a regular basis. We feel the sign of a good leader is one who is unafraid to express their opinion in any forum made available to them. We continue to make this forum available to all candidates.

Who’s bought your lawmaker?

Follow the money. If you can figure out who paid what to whom and when, you can gain some insight into how the legislative process works.

Called “MAPLight.org,” the database lays bare the connection between money and votes in California politics. It’s believed to be the first of its kind in the nation.

"Information that used to take days to dig up and connect is now available at the click of a mouse," says Dan Newman, executive director of MAPLight.org, a Berkeley-based nonpartisan nonprofit. MORE

California Home-Loan Defaults Rise to 4 1/2-Year High

Oct. 18 (Bloomberg) -- California home-loan defaults rose to their highest level in four and a half years in the third quarter as lower sales of houses and condominiums and slowing price gains made it harder for homeowners to sell and pay off mortgages.

Banks and other lenders sent 26,705 default notices to California homeowners in the third quarter, more than double the 12,606 sent a year earlier and up 28.3 percent from the second quarter, La Jolla, California-based DataQuick Information Systems said today in a statement. MORE

Stupidity should not be rewarded.

In the last city Staff Report, City Manager Mike Tree wrote about the National Park Blvd. project, "The work consisted of improvements in the median to control the flow of water, and landscaping. The audit of the City’s use of Measure “I” funds for fiscal year 2005-2006 was recently completed, and most of the median work was disallowed because it does not directly benefit the street."

I took all of 35 seconds to surf over to San Bernardino Associated Governments hereto known as SANBAG. I'm an average guy, no one has ever accused me of having special powers. I just Googled Measure I and bang there it was. One "Click" and I was on the site. I quickly found all the information one could ever want to know about Measure I.

Here is the problem with all this. If I could figure that POLICY states the project never qualified for funding under Measure "I" why couldn't anyone in the city figure it out?

I guess we'll hear that the Council was mislead by Mike Swigart or Jay Corbin or someone else, that they the Council, were lead to believe that the project was going to be funded. But this time I'm not going to buy into that excuse. I'm not going to blame the Staff. That would be too easy and too predictable. It would not in reality be correct.

While the Buck stops at the whole Council the blame does not. The blame goes to the members that served on SANBAG. Since 2004 Kevin Cole has been setting on SANBAG's Mountain/Desert Committee. It was and is his job to represent our city and to know the policies that govern Measure I Funds.

It was Mr. Coles responsibility and duty to be thoroughly aware of the rules and policies of SANBAG and Measure I. Policies are clear and written in everyday English. His failure in leadership has lead to a $250,000 blunder. A blunder that if he would have spent 5 minutes studying the subject would have never happened.

Stupidity should not be rewarded.

Attorney General?

Jerry Brown?

Moon Beam?

Someone is pulling my leg!

The only thing Jerry Brown ever did was Linda Ronstadt and the Jury is still out on that.

A vote for Jerry Brown is more dangerous to the California Economy than a Barrett 50 Cal.

Some fear California's bulky ballots may intimidate voters

SAN FRANCISCO - Voter guides are landing with a big thud on doorsteps across California, where residents are confronted with an unusually large number of ballot measures and candidates in next month's election. Election officials worry that the state's largest guides - 192-page books sent to 12 million homes - will overwhelm and discourage would-be voters.
More

Keeping their heads low...

Gibson: We don't need more affordable housing

I heard one of the other candidates say, "We need to look at staying an affordable housing community." No Sir, we do not.

When an area is designated as "affordable housing," the developer can ask for (by state law) an increase of density up to 35% in many cases. Being in real estate has enhanced my awareness of what that truly means for Twentynine Palms. Imagine the types of housing we would get if every developer sited this law for a density increase.

Right now the median home value per the Buxton Report 2006 is $119,236; whereas, the median home price in the state of California is $576,360. I would say that we are more than affordable as it stands. We need to work with developers who want to bring quality home projects into our town that will enhance our natural surroundings. As an agent, I see folks come into the town on a regular basis who are now coming because they cannot afford to live in other cities.

California Says, 'Bring a Worm to Work'

Just when we thought California couldn't get any wackier, with Fidel Lockyer as their Attorney General and with Arnold signing bad bills left and right. comes this item from ABC News.

"Always on the cutting edge of all things environmental," says the story, "California is encouraging public and private-sector employees to bring worms to work so that the creatures can chew up apple cores, sandwich scraps and other lunch leftovers and produce compost." It doesn't stop there, however. Read on: "The employees are then invited to take the stuff home and use the all-natural fertilizer in their gardens and on their houseplants."

Even California's Integrated Waste Management Board (Yes, they have an agency for everything), has on its website a "Top 10 Ways to Recycle at the Office" and right there, prominently featured at #2 is "Keep Worms in Your Office." (What if you already work with some....?) That site sends you to yet another site that tells you how to start a worm bin. Keep in mind, gang, that all these websites are written and maintained by some state employee somewhere.

National Park Drive Disallowed Measure I Funds

Here is an excerpt from last weeks City Council Staff Report:

"The City has recently completed work on National Park Drive. The work consisted of improvements in the median to control the flow of water, and landscaping. The audit of the City’s use of Measure “I” funds for fiscal year 2005-2006 was recently completed, and most of the median work was disallowed because it does not directly benefit the street."

Well no kidding? Like we've always said it made for a great driveway but as for a street improvement, no way.

Hmm... the Auditor saw the same things we did. Why was it that we saw the flaws in the funding logic here on this site but the city could not? Could it have been that old Spingalli once retired could not hold the story together?

Holy cow! Now we have to borrow on our future to pay for it? This and other projects have to be NOW paid for by the city treasury loaning money to the Redevelopment Agency to the tune of $1,000,000 to keep all the pie in the sky going. This is unacceptable, this should be coming out of someones hide.

Spear: They Just Don't Get It

It's Just Not That Hard

I read with amazement Larry Briggs latest letter to the Editor.

He goes to great lengths explaining How Victorville is so very different than 29 Palms.

Interstates, railheads, railways, etc, etc.

Victorville is used an analogy, a comparison, an example.

Victorville is what it is at 90,000 plus. How it got there is not my point.

My point is do we want to look like and live like that.

Mr. Briggs, along with Ms. Meyers and the others are offering the same old argument in new clothes.

29 Palms will never be 110,000 people. Or it won't happen for 60 to 100 years.

Again, if it won't happen, or if it won't happen in who knows how many years, then why have a plan to make it happen at all?

They have no answer for that question. They realize, as well as you and I, that even they do not want to live in a city of 110,000. For if they did they would proclaim it loudly.

We do not even hear a whisper, not a murmur. They are so very silent in support of 110,000, but ever so vocal to criticize an idea that can save our city, character, and charm.

These people are living in a world where if you don't see it coming then it won't happen. They are not leaders and planners they are gamblers. They are gambling with our future using the stakes of "it can't happen here".

I prefer to plan for the future instead of gambling with it.

Steve Spear

Victorville Daily Press: California hostility

We knew it was bad, but we confess we weren't aware of just how bad it is. We're talking here about California's onerous tax system, and the terrible damage being done to businesses and individuals by the usual suspects. Democrats, as it turns out.

The Tax Foundation, best known for its annual calculation of Tax Freedom Day — the day the average American finishes working for government (via taxes) and starts working for himself. This year's Tax Freedom Day was May 5 in California, which was considerbly later than the national average of April 27. That's because California — also according to calculations by the Tax Foundation — ranks 45th among all states in the foundation's State Business Tax Climate Index (SBTCI). MORE

Gibson: Listen here Mr. Gillick...

It's funny to me that people seem to think that I arrived on the scene as a real estate broker, when in fact, I came here as a Marine wife and a college student. I also pounded the pavement here looking for a job,which was not to be had in our town, so what did I do? I went to Yucca Valley to look for work and was lucky enough to land a job at Walmart.

Then, my husband and I opened a little carpet store. Being the sole proprieters we worked day and night trying to keep our heads above water when there was very little income at the time. I look back on those days and I shutter when I think about the times when we had to shower in the homes that we were installing carpet, because we lived in a house with well water and we could not afford to replace the broken pump.

I have worked hard for everything that I have accomplished. It took me eight years to get my Bachelor's degree, but there I stood proudly accepting it alongside the rest of my class. My success has been both a blessing and a hard life's lesson in tenacity.

I'll make NO APOLOGIES for my career. I don't believe that all the people who have previously been involved in real estate have made decisions that were based upon self interest. I am a resident who has a vested interest in seeing our community be prosperous. It's silly to judge someone soley based upon their career choice.

I also believe that it is an insult to Liz Myers, Jim Bagely, Fred Libby, and others who have worked so hard to make this community a good place to live. Take the opportunity to get to know me and let's not rush to judgement. I want what's best for our town too; most importantly I want to keep Twentynine Palms moving forward.
Sherrie Gibson

Gillick: Off Target

To the defense of all of the candidates, Owen Gillick when he wrote his most recent letter to the Desert Trail Editor thought that we wouldn't recognize a slight inconsistency with his intelligence gathering. Let's take water for instance. Every candidate on this site has discussed water and their concerns for our future water needs here on our Candidate Forum. We know he reads us, I guess the old fellow just forgot about that.

Gillick complains that Clemons has too many signs and has not explained his vision of change. If blunt were a color Mark would be the brightest shade. His platform is so clear you have to wear shades to prevent blindness.

Here is a winner, Gillick says, "Another candidate describes herself as a practicing real estate broker but doesn't mention real estate in her campaign." Is the old guy having a short term memory problem cropping up? Her campaign has been an open book. She openly and honestly communicated with the voters. Either he has purposely misstated himself or he has just lost it.

Gillick says , "I recommend that, for starters, we not vote for anyone who makes his or her living buying, selling, building or developing real estate." If the old sod would have held that original argument from the time of incorporation just imagine how different our community would be today. Historically more than half the council members elected have been members of that industry. Some have been great contributors to our community. To take a bigoted stand on a whole industry is beyond strange. Using the sage advise of the great Dr. King, shouldn't we be judging the candidates by the content of the character and not what they do for a living?

I have yet to decide on who I will place my vote with. I prefer to weigh the arguments and make my choice based upon my own conclusions. I'd like to invite Mr. Gillick to our Candidate Forum where he can actually communicate with the Candidates.

Angelides, Schwarzenegger fight over taxes in debate.

The Dodgers weren't the only losers over the weekend. Voters tuned into the debate between Phil Angelides and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger probably felt like the Mets knocked them around, too.

Angelides and Schwarzenegger relied on that good old election standby - taxes - and that good old election strategy - insulting one-liners - to get their points across. So much for the free exchange of ideas.

Viewers learned for the umpteenth time that Schwarzenegger, a Republican, is against raising taxes, and that Angelides, a Democrat, favors cutting them for the middle class and raising them for the rich and businesses. MORE

Is Brown no longer the flaky "Governor Moonbeam"???

To hear political pundits up north tell it, attorney general candidate Jerry Brown is a changed man.

Editorials and commentaries in recent months have declared ad nauseum that Brown is no longer the flaky "Governor Moonbeam" of yesteryear, but a hard-nosed, git-er-done kind of guy when it comes to crushing crime in California.

Tell that to the people of Oakland, where Brown is mayor. Folks up there must be pleased as punch with their city's crime rate, which includes the murders of 118 people, in a city of only 300,000, so far this year.

Intrigued by the notion of a former flower child turned crime fighter, I switched on my computer Thursday for a live debate between Brown and opponent Chuck Poochigian, the Republican state senator from Fresno. The debate, which reportedly will be the only meeting of the two candidates before Election Day, was sponsored by the San Francisco Chronicle and broadcast live on the Internet. MORE

Mailbox is today's war zone

Technically, Election Day is still nearly four weeks away, but voting begins this week as millions of absentee ballots are mailed out to Californians who prefer, for whatever reason, to do their voting at home.

Within a few days, those ballots will start pouring into county election offices -- a phenomenon that has transformed the dynamics of campaigning ever since Republican George Deukmejian won the governorship in 1982 with the state's first large-scale absentee vote campaign while losing among voters who cast ballots on Election Day.

Politicians now know -- or should know -- that they can no longer wait until the last minute to make their big pitches, because by Election Day, it's entirely possible that half of the ballots will already have been cast. It's not a coincidence that the candidates for governor and hundreds of other offices, not to mention pro and con sides on ballot measures, are ramping up their media ad buys this week, or that the "slate mailers" that recommend votes on candidates and measures are beginning to show up in voters' mailboxes. MORE

Council Candidates Getting Their Message Out

They allow you to compare the candidates and learn about the cadidates and what they stand for.
More

Fontana: Residents resist apartments

FONTANA - Residents in north Fontana point to the city's downtown and say they don't want their neighborhood to deteriorate similarly with the addition of apartments.

"Just look at the downtown areas and south end of Fontana to see what our beautiful northern Fontana will be looking like after a few apartment projects go in here," resident Sandra Macrum wrote in opposition to a proposed apartment development.

But city officials said they have learned from past mistakes, and plans for a 233-unit complex are headed to the Planning Commission next month for approval.

If approved, the development could be the city's first large-scale apartment complex in at least 15 years.

The Lytle Creek Apartments, proposed by Holland Development, would be built on 10 acres of vacant land on Lytle Creek Road, just north of the Interstate 210 extension.

The city's existing 10,000 apartment units are concentrated in the downtown area. The area around the intersection of Citrus Avenue and Arrow Boulevard is known as Apartment Row.

"The city of Fontana has been burned in apartments," said Councilman Frank Scialdone. "We built too many apartments, very poorly designed, all in one area." MORE

Cable Internet Down

Adelphia cable customers around the county got letters reminding them that Comcast will take over their service soon. Well soon came sooner than anyone ever thought. This weekend most of the once reliable cable Internet system of Adelphia was changed over and quickly computers locked up and streaming audio and videos went blank.

No comment from our local system on when it will be fully back on line. Isn't corporate merging fun?

Our own Watergate or Waterloo?

A major criticism of redevelopment agencies is that they have the power to act independently of the public planning processes that otherwise must be followed in developing public land use policy. Redevelopment agencies have a separate legal authority, unique powers to become active partners in property development, and control over large amounts of investment funds. Since agency projects and spending are decided by politicians -- locally, the Twentynine Palms City Council -- critics say that redevelopment power gives politicians a seductive opportunity to build personal "monuments" or to direct major projects to favored developers.

It's hard to deny there seems to be a problem with a project contracted by Dawn Benton Jr. in 2002. We've not made a judgement on this one yet. But we thought you would like to read the City Documents that were provided us so that you could decide yourself. Notice the time lines.

Redevelopment's Downside

While this story is about Oakland it illuminates the pitfalls of the California Redevelopment Code.

You just know incoming Mayor Ron Dellums wants to do big things in Oakland. He'll want to create more job training and antipoverty programs. He'll salivate at the prospect of hiring more health workers and librarians, making sure poor kids in the ghetto are inoculated and have a place to hang after school, far from the gangs and drug dealers that stalk their streets. For God's sake, the man wants to create "universal health care" in Oakland. Finally, his supporters imagine, this city will realize its dream of being a leftist utopia, reflecting the values of its most progressive residents.

Don't count on it. The sad fact is that there's no money to finance lefty programs. Well, that's not exactly right. There's plenty of money: $4.9 billion over 45 years, in fact. But aside from a few dollars, Dellums and his supporters won't be able to touch it. MORE

Grey time ahead for California dreamers

IT IS a land synonymous with all things youthful, from golden beach babes to twentysomething dot-com millionaires and aspiring young starlets.

But California’s image is set to be turned upside down in the coming decade as retiring baby-boomers turn it from the Golden State to the greyest. New predictions have California’s senior population set to double by 2020, challenging Florida for the greatest proportion of elders in the country. MORE

A Parents Nightmare

On October 5, 2006 at 3:15 AM the California Highway Patrol received a report of a vehicle striking two persons, a teen-aged male and female, in the roadway of the westbound lanes of State Route 62 approximately 200 feet west of Green Trail in Morongo Valley. The driver of the westbound vehicle was in a vehicle described only as a black car, and did not stop at the scene. Tracey Nelson, a 16 year old male resident of Morongo Valley, was pronounced dead at the scene. Samantha Nadine Schattler 16, was later located deceased along Highway 62 in Riverside County. For more information, contact CHP and Riverside County Coroner’s Office.

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