Because we are gluttons for punishment in California and especially in Rialto our fearless leaders are dropping yet another gas tax on people who buy gas in California. Rialto residents get additionally taxed because Rialto residents have to pay for damage that Burttec has caused to our streets.
California is poised to charge the highest taxes and fees on gas in the COUNTRY once the 5.6 cent tax increase goes into effect on July 1st. What is scary is that State leaders say they will still be BILLIONS of $$$$ short of what is needed to fix California roads. They are still trying to fix what is already there still they have no plans on how to increase lanes yet they keep increasing the population. These taxes are part of the SB1 bill that state Demoncrats approved in 2017 and California Voters failed to pass a proposition that would have killed SB1 and the pending tax increases.
Even with the increased taxes the state claims they will be $78 Billion short of what is needed to bring California Roads and Bridges into GOOD repair. Why are all these taxes not enough? Here are some glaring reasons:
More than 60% of the money from SB1 wont ever go to fund a single road repair project, this money is going to mass transit, failed high speed rail and bike lanes.
Caltrans is a drain on society, they work slow and have thousands of engineers that sit around. They agency is full of fraud, bribery, favoritism, bid rigging, and spending work time to derail a citizen proposition.
California leaders have been robbing the road fund for years only to now say we don’t have enough.
Funding health care, drivers licenses, food stamps, public education and so much more for illegal aliens.
They even go so far as to give themselves yet another raise!
Don’t forget the massive looming deficit coming for the State in the Retirement System PERS!
So it looks like California and Rialto are in for more and more increases in taxes until they start speaking louder from the ballot box!
On May 28th we learned something about our least favorite fee in the city that should have your blood boiling. For the last 4 to 5 year you have been paying and ever increasing tax on your monthly trash bill. This TAX was added to deal with Rialto’s streets that are deteriorating much faster than Rialto officials can keep up at least that is what we were told.
On May 28th we found out that streets that are in poor repair will not be fixed with the Trash Fund money, only newer streets will get any work done from the Trash Tax. There is a promise that they will seek out a way to do something for those residents but they say that as we head for Bankruptcy!
Activists told the city council and the residents that the city would find ways of putting this money back into their own pockets and moving street maintenance money around to other pet projects. The last honest Councilman caught his colleagues playing games with this money shortly after it was approved.
Councilman O’Connell was interviewed by Sun reporter Leslie Parrilla and said:
“We gave the impression that we were going to use that money to help improve the roads,” O’Connell said.
The increased rates for the city’s solid waste collection, recycling and disposal service rates were passed to help maintain Rialto’s deteriorating roads. But after the fees started being collected, the roughly $1.2 million normally budgeted annually for road improvements dropped to $600,000 this year, instead of increasing with money from the new fee.
“It seemed to me the citizens got it right when they said, ‘be careful, they’re going to take advantage of it,’ ” by moving money around, O’Connell said.
The plan was to decrease the Trash Tax and fix the roads with Measure U. Well a year later Councilman O’Connell passed away unexpectedly and since then here are all the things Measure U is targeted to cover:
Millions in behind street maintenance.
Reduce the now PERMANENT Utility Users Tax by 25%.
Cover our $150 Million Dollars of Unfunded Liabilities.
Provide for more cops.
Provide more money for Recreation Programs.
The only problem with these promises is that even with best case scenario is that the tax would bring in $15 Million a year. As of today there is less than $10 Million in an escrow account while the tank farms sue us. It looks so grim that the Mayor and Ed Scott are publicly talking about settling for way less than expected just to get something.
While that goes on Burrtec spends thousands of dollars on campaigns for elected officials that act as rubber stamps for their programs and agendas. While Burrtec is holding a fundraising party for the Mayor they got:
Rialto residents to pay for the damage thier trucks do to the road.
A 10 year contract that never expires because it renews for another 10 years each year and we have to give them 10 years notice if we want out of the contract.
They got $1.3 Million back in their pockets that was supposed to go to create a community garden for the North End of the city.
We now are forced to pay burrtec through our property tax bills so we can’t see the many times they raise our rates.
So the only question is, are you mad yet? Don’t forget gas goes up 5.6 cents a gallon on Monday July 1st for more on that story click here!
FONTANA, CA – MARCH 17: Cars drive five wide prior to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway on March 17, 2019 in Fontana, California. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Auto Club Speedway is known for its five-wide racing where NASCAR stars battle side by side with last lap passes that make fans stand up in their seats. During the NASCAR Auto Club 400 race weekend, Auto Club Speedway creates a festival atmosphere for ticket holders to enjoy live concerts, Monster Energy Smoke Show, autograph sessions, NASCAR driver appearances, Lucha Libre, Lefty’s Fun Zone, sponsor activations and other family-friendly activities all in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Fan Zone.
Auto Club Speedway joins 20 other NASCAR tracks across the country competing to win Best NASCAR Track:
Auto Club Speedway
Darlington Raceway
Daytona International Speedway
Pocono Raceway
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Dover International Speedway
Eldora Speedway
Homestead-Miami Speedway
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
ISM Raceway
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Martinsville Speedway
Michigan Speedway
New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Sonoma Raceway
Talladega Superspeedway
Texas Motor Speedway
Watkins Glen International
The public has until July 15 to vote. Online voting is currently open and a person can vote once a day for the duration of the contest. Winners will be announced on 10Best on July 26, then later on USA TODAY.
NASCAR returns for its one stop in Southern California – February 28-March 1, 2020 to Auto Club Speedway in Fontana. Tickets go on sale on October 7, 2019 for the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400 Race Weekend. For more information, visit www.autoclubspeedway.com or call 800-944-7223.
Around 1:15 pm on Saturday June 22nd in the area of Driftwood and Rosewood in the city of Rialto a fire erupted from the garage at a single family residence. According to officials on scene a fire started in the garage and the smell of smoke alerted the family that were in the backyard at the time.
People living East of the fire were alerted to the smell of smoke and said that there was an electrical smell to the smoke from the fire. Rialto fire had six units respond to the fire along with two Rialto Police units. Rialto Fire worked quick to contain the the fire mostly to the garage from appearances.
This fire is a reminder as to why our garages contain fire doors, sheet rock and other materials that are rated to hold up a little longer to give people a chance of escape. Our garages are full of combustible materials including our cars in most cases.
The garage was a total loss and the roof had collapsed on two cars inside. Even though this is a horrible event the upside is that there no injuries or loss of life in this fire.
Something has not smelled right about this entire process of hiring the next city administrator replacing outgoing city administrator Mike Story. Not once did the city council even present a list of other people they were looking at and still refuse to produce the short list of candidates that were also in consideration. The main reason many say that is because nobody else wanted to even be considered for the job! Many highly qualified candidates spoke to us off the record saying they were offered a chance at consideration but turned it down over Rialto’s looming budget issues.
In comes Rod Foster a man that was whisked into Rialto without any word or discussion. The city council handed out a Quarter of a Million Dollar employment contract without any discussion, it was almost too easy like there was something to hide? Here is how Rod Fosters pay and benefits will break down:
A salary of $240,000 per year
$85,000 in benefits
120 hours of vacation leave up front + 10 hours per month
120 hours of sick leave up front + 10 hours per month
140 hours of administrative leave per year + 10 hours per month
Plus a 8,500 cash advance if he moves within 25 miles of Rialto
To make matters worse is if Rod Foster works for just 5 years he will be vested for life in the benefits program with his wife and any dependent children. All of this to some extent was in our 1st article, now onto the new stuff.
It all began on June 3rd when the Rialto Record wrote an article on the hiring of Rod Foster. The Rialto Record added 2 cities that Rod Foster had worked for that were not publicly known until that day. Part of Rod Foster’s experience was as an assistant manager to 2 totally broken cities in the Inland Empire Hesperia and Upland. Then came a message from the former Mayor of Laguna Niguel Jerry Slusiewicz who spelled out claims that Rod Foster is under investigation for mismanaging money in Laguna Niguel.
The past that haunts Rod Foster are claims of money mismanagement in Laguna Niguel by approving contract increases to the eventual tune of $4.1 million dollars. We reached out the Orange County DA and they wouldn’t elude into current open investigations. What is ironically scary is that when these questionable money matters were going on a flury of high end officals close to Rod Fosters office up and left without any notice.
Prior to that Rod Foster was around the city of Upland when City Manager Robb Quincey was involved in hiding facts and playing games with public money. Popular figures like Gary Grosich and Eileen Gomez want you to look past these times in Rod Fosters life and look to when he worked in Colton. Gary Grosich will bite your head off if you ask questions about Rod Fosters past and Eileen Gomez claims Rod Foster is a man of the people yet he refuses to talk to anyone outside of city hall.
Another fact is Rod isn’t the man he was in Colton. In Colton he worked 60 hours a week and did the job of 4 people. Many close to Rod have said he is just looking to max out his pension and carry a high salary job to pay for his sons college education. The San Bernardino Sentinel spells this out in their article on Rod Foster.
Under the control of Ed Scott it seems that he could care less if the people are informed and he will rule this city with an iron fist. Ed Scott moved this item along like it was a simple proceedure and not the highest ranking position in the city government. Ed Scott has asked for more clarification on details of parking lot construction when he feels slighted by the Mayor or a Developer but moved this along like it was nothing. After the cotract was approved he asked Rod Foster to protect him from the taxpayers!
Since December 2017 Rialto has been without a permanent City Administrator. There have been three men to fill the top seat on a temporary basis as the Rialto City Council made poor choices that have moved us closer and closer to financial disaster.
First to fill the seat was Assistant City Administrator Robb Steel he lasted for a short stint prior to looking to take a step back into his old role. Then the City Council brought back Ahmad Ansari, a former public works director and city engineer, as interim city administrator. The most recent person to fill the interim chair is Rialto Fire Chief Sean Grayson.
The spot at City Administrator isn’t the only position to sit without a permanent place holder over the last few years. As the city ignores the looming reality of the unfunded pension liabilities and private vendettas are allowed to hurt employees from bad leaders the city has struggled with attracting new talent. This has shown in the length of time it took to fill this position as well as Police Chief and the fact that is took two years to find a finance director. There have also been jobs in public works and code enforcement that the city offered employment to people and those people turned the city down!
One thing that all Rialto residents and business owners should pay close attention to is the cost of this salary. The article we wrote in the Rialto Record December of 2018 still rings true today. Rialto is spending money it doesn’t have and next years budget which starts in one month is going to be a HOT mess. Your Rialto City Council have spent MILLIONS on raises for employees that we can’t afford.
I say all this to show you how little your city council cares about the taxpayers!
Rod Foster worked as the city manager for the city of Colton, not really the beacon of innovation and clearly not a city to model after. Mr Foster then followed Eileen Gomez to the city of Laguna Niguel. Rod Foster spent ruffly four years at the city of Laguna Niguel and left at the same time as his assistant city administrator. Now Rod Foster may be a very nice man nothing here is to say he isn’t, the problem is can Rialto afford a City Administrtor at the tune of a quarter of a million dollars a year? Rod Foster the new city administrator and Mark Kling the Chief of Police make half a million dollars in Salary alone!!!!
Now you would think that there was a lot of discussion on this appointment and the other top candidates names were presented right? Nope they acted like this effort was a simple, everyday line item and passed this without any explanation or discussion. After the quick motion and second then the comments came. Mayor Robertson spoke about some special trip to Mommie Helens Bakery and her sole reason for picking Rod Foster was his sweet tooth! Ed Scott even more childishly asked Rod Foster to protect him from the many people that Ed Scott has upset over the years, maybe if Ed Scott doesn’t sue Rod Foster he may protect him!
In Rod Fosters defense community members like Gary Grossich and Eileen Gomez have nothing but positive things to say about Rod Foster. These are marks in his favor but why would someone like Rod Foster want to come to Rialto?
To make matters worse Rialto still has no plan on how to deal with $150 Million in unfunded liabilities!! They are still waiting for magic money to fall from the sky! Mark my words bankruptcy or insane tax increases are right around the corner!
Here is what the contract says on the Agenda:
The following provides a summary of key provisions of the proposed employment agreement with Mr. Foster:
• Salary: Annual salary would be $240,000 annually.
• At-will nature of employment: The position of city administrator is an at-will position serving at the pleasure of the City Council.
• Term: A term of 5 years, which can be extended by the parties for 1 year following a positive performance evaluation.
• Severance: If Mr. Foster is terminated without cause, then he will be entitled to severance as follows:
0-6 months with City monthly salary times 18
6-24 months with City monthly salary times 12
After 24 months with City monthly salary times 6
If terminated for cause, Mr. Foster would not be entitled to payment of any severance.
• Benefits:
o The benefits would generally consistent with those of the City’s department heads, except as specified in the employment agreement.
o Vacation leave: Provided 120 hours up front. Thereafter, accrual would be at the rate of 6.15 hours per pay period.
o Sick leave: Provided 120 hours up front. Thereafter, accrual would be at the rate of 10 hours per month.
o Administrative leave: 140 hours per year.
o Deferred compensation: $750 per month.
o Vehicle: Provided a City-vehicle for business and incidental personal use.
o Educational incentive: 7.5% of regular base salary based on master’s degree (same as provided to eligible City department heads).
o CalPERS: Mr. Foster would be enrolled in the City’s 2% at 62 retirement plan consistent with the requirements of state retirement law for “new” CalPERS members. The employee contribution under this plan is presently 8%.
o Health insurance coverage and retiree health: Same as for department heads.
o Relocation reimbursement: Up to $8,500 if Mr. Foster moves to San Bernardino County and within 25 miles of City Hall within 2 years.
o Life insurance: Benefit amount equivalent to 2x amount provided to department heads.
rialtonow 