Barbara A. McGee | rialtonow

City Council Seeks to Further Limit Community Access to Potential Elected Officials

26 Feb 2017 Leave a comment

Rialto Family Festival 2015 || Mayor Deborah Robertson – YouTube
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Rialto Family Festival 2015 || Mayor Deborah Robertson

Written by David Phillips

As a former City Council Candidate I can attest to how difficult it is to reach a large amount of people with your message. I mean signs are an easy way to clog up street corners and blanket the many shuttered buildings but is this the way we want to learn about our elected officials? I personally enjoyed being on both sides of the booth both as the candidate and the community member seeking a face to face with the candidate.

Well we caught wind of a certain elected official who had an issue with candidates having booths at public events. Now his concern has risen to the level of now making it illegal. The issue that the new ordnance looks to address is:

the intent of the City in sponsoring public events is generally to provide a nonpolitical, family-friendly, informative and/or entertaining, and non-controversial event environment;

So given the above statement this will stop not only people running for office but it will also stop groups that are there to spread information on behalf of a political organization and will limit your access to regional leaders who come out to their booths and provide staff to answer community questions. It will officially become harder to meet your elected officials. Is that fair to you?

Also at events like Halloween Hi-Jinks where more than a third of the booths were politically based booths where are Rialto youth going to go for a safe trick or treating environment? You see our leaders forget the consequences of their actions when they are trying to damage chances of certain people ever getting elected.

Questions that need to be answered are:

Will this apply to the mayors luxury cabana that she has every year at the Family Festival?
Will this ban groups like the teachers union, Rialto Democrat Club and Rialto Woman’s Club from having booths at Rialto Events?

I have been to a lot of events and I have never seen anyone get out of hand, there is no fighting and everyone plays by the rules except those who put random signs up and leave them on city property. So we have to wonder if our new council is counting the costs of their actions?

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Local Elected Officials Want To Increase Their Own Pay While Residents Are Busy Planning For Thanksgiving

19 Nov 2016 Leave a comment

Well the corruption that comes along with electing the wrong people normally comes after the new people are sworn in but not in Rialto apperently and not with this rag tag crew of Council Members and Mayor. On Tab 5 of the Rialto City Council agenda for the November 22nd meeting city council members will be giving themselves a raise of $713.11. Currently Our city council makes $918 a month plus medical, dental and vision benefits will be making $1,631.11 the Mayor is by the ordance required to make 150% more than city council so Mayor Robertson will be giving herself a raise from $1,377 to $2,446.66 and increase of $1,069.66 who also gets medical, dental and vision benefits.

The language that gives them this power is listed on the cit council agenda and pasted below:

WHEREAS, the Rialto Municipal Code at Sections 2.12.030 provides that the Mayor receives compensation based on one-hundred fifty percent of the compensation paid to the council members;

The Rialto Municipal Code, at Section 2.12.040, entitled “Council Members,” shall be amended in its entirety to read as follows, with the revised language displayed in redline format: “Under the California Government Code Section 36516(c), each member of the city council (including the Mayor) shall receive compensation in the amount of one thousand six hundred thirty-one dollars and eleven cents ($1,631.11) per month.”

We spoke to City Administrator Mike Story and he cleared up a lot of things for us:

The City Administrator asks City Council at every regular election cycle if the elected body would like to add a pay increase for city council to the agenda, every 2 years.
Last time this was done was 2008 and according to Mr. Story the increase was approved.
Mayor Robertson, Ed Scott & Joe Baca Jr. all approved of having the pay increase on tonight’s agenda.
The decision must be made tonight the incoming council members CANNOT vote on the pay increase.

We talked to a few people about this raise and they were not at all happy about it:

“The city dumps us into a bad water deal, leaves us with torn up streets and taxes us on our trash but they want raises no way” Amber

“Until we give our employees an increase in pay we should not even be thinking about council raises” Councilman Ed Palmer

“We don’t have money for K9 training, we backed out of the Regional Helicopter Program and cut our hiring more public works people but we have money for Council raises?” Javier

“I never looked at what the compensation for city council was the pay wasn’t my motivation for running. I don’t think that city council pay should be increased and if I was allowed to vote on this item I would vote no.” Andy Carrizales Councilman Elect

“We should have a county measure to restrict cities in our counties from raising their pay arbitrary.” Matthew

One thing that everyone wondered was why would Rafael Trujillo leave a higher paying position as a Water Board Director with West Valley Water? Now we know it’s because he will be walking into a massive pay increase which he was aware of since he is highly tied to Mayor Robertson, Council Member Ed Scott and Council Member Joe Baca Jr.

Join your fellow community members in telling the Mayor that there will be no raises until some promises are filled https://www.facebook.com/events/907011846096289/

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The Polls Were Just As Wrong In Rialto As They Were Nationally

17 Nov 2016 Leave a comment

This election meant a lot more to people than who would make the hard decisions on behalf of our city or even the presidential election. This was an election that would show if Rialto moving forward or falling backward.

Many saw the last four years under the leadership of Councilman Shawn O’Connell as a breath of fresh air, never did the community have such a strong voice in city hall. Now that has clearly come to an end as money and influence drove the results of this years elections with a bulk of Ed Scott’s Candidates winning on November 8th. Now Ed Scott and Deborah Robertson can travel on the taxpayers dime, verbally abuse employees and contractors and further use the cities general fund as their own personal slush fund.

One of the greatest concerns is the election of appointed Director Rafael Trujillo, re-election of Mayor Deborah Robertson and City Clerk Barbara McGee.

An image that was found on the page Rialto Watch Dogs shows an empty seat https://www.facebook.com/rialtowd/?fref=ts

Rafael Trujillo who was appointed to the West Valley Water Board two years ago to fill a vacancy lost the opportunity to be elected to the board. Once Director Olinger left the water board Rafael was once again appointed to the water board in the summer of 2016. With the passing of Councilman O’Connell and Councilman Ed Palmer choosing to run for Mayor instead of his City Council seat Rafael lost all passion working for the people of the West Valley Water District and put in for Rialto City Council. Rafael proved that he is purely looking out for himself and is not passionate about working for anybody outside of his own personal interests. Rafael also has serious problems following the Brown Act when he was on the West Valley Water Board and he clearly has not learned his lesson as he had a robo call for his campaign come out of City Hall.

Newly elected Rialto mayor Deborah Robertson sits down for an interview at her home in Rialto on Friday, Nov. 9, 2012. Robertson made history this November election with becoming Rialto’s first black mayor. (Rachel Luna / Staff Photographer)

Mayor Deborah Robertson disappointed a lot of the people that supported her into office four years ago with a long list of putting her own interests before those of the city, abusing taxpayer money with questionable travel practices, creating a realm of political favor when it came to appointing commissioners and only allowing her inner circle access to helping Rialto residents, bringing Councilman Ed Scott back into city hall, misusing general fund money, calling our police names and throwing employees under the bus to save her own political skin.

Barbara McGee has been our City Clerk since 1997!!!!!!! She is in total lockstep with the Mayor in all of her bad ideas. Mrs McGee also has had issues in how she treats staff and a couple years ago made an almost $100,000 mistake with Rialto Network funds forcing City Council to use General Fund money to repay PEG funds that Mrs McGee improperly spent. Mrs McGee has locked many groups out of working within the confines of her Healthy Rialto program that caters to a select few during a time where many Rialto residents are working and not allowed to participate.

June Hayes is a person that is so firmly attached to Ed Scott that he even funded her entire campaign. We know this because Linday Fretter and Junes Hayes campaign signs went up at the same time by the same people and when Ed Killgore the incumbent June Hayes was running against questioned June Hayes about outright lies in her campaign mailers she was clueless that mailers had gone out from her campaign. June Hayes has already used her seat as a Utility Commissioner to travel the country on the taxpayer dime and has made herself great friends with many special intrests with no clear boundaries. Now she actually has a seat on a Municipal Water Board.

To add insult to injury the only candidate that had any hope of doing some good in Rialto Andy Carrizales has been witnessed making statements that his campaign promises were only there to get him elected. The one that has upset residents to most was a statement claiming he has no real intention of working to repair Rialto city streets. We spoke to Andy Carrizales and he denied ever making any statement about going back on campaign promises. He told us that he was one of the first people hitting the streets for his run for city council and the residents put potholes and street repairs on his agenda because that was the one issue that rose to the top almost every time. “I went out and hit the streets and had a pad of paper and a pen and wrote down the residents concerns potholes came out on top”

Our last hope out of this election is that newly elected Assembly Member Eloise Reyes will do what Cheryl Brown stopped doing and speak to the people. Rialto needs someone like Eloise Reyes to stand up against the flood of warehouses that Mayor Robertson and Ed Scott are burying us in. Truck traffic and pollution are taking over well established neighborhoods and the Mayor and Council could care less. The people of Rialto are also looking for Eloise Reyes to help them bring opportunities to create an art hub in Rialto where local talent like Wet Paint Larry can launch off here putting Rialto on a national map and showing Rialto youth that they can do something great.

Many are ALREADY making the prediction that this is the point where Rialto begins a very sharp decline.

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Unboxing the Rialto Water Services Water Saving Kit

14 Mar 2016 Leave a comment

https://youtu.be/lzaopYAnD5s

As you saw in our un-boxing video there are a number of things you can do inside of your home to save water and most of those things came in this water saver kit. In the video below Joel Greene host of Curiosity Quest shows you how to use the things inside this box and why they work.

https://youtu.be/i8hItStFUs0

Now Rialto Water Services claims to have increased customer service and is working to make your experience with them as painless as possible. What is funny is if you spell the name Rialto Water Services right in google you get this:

Rialto Water Services has not registered their new address with Google. Well who cares right its not like were living in a digital age where use google to locate places. Rialto Water Services spends money where it counts, on the pet projects of our elected officials. Go ahead try and get them to donate money to keep kids off drugs or help people without jobs get training that will help them find work. Unless your connected to one of the elected officials you will find ZERO help here.

Now if your having a bad day you might just stumble over the correct search as long as you don’t click Googles correction of your spelling of the name RialtoWaterServices.

So if your looking for Rialto Water its not as easy as they make it seem………..

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Adult Marijuana Use Attributed To A Rise In Youth Use

11 Sep 2015 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in Barbara A. McGee, Ca, City of Rialto, Colton, Community Coalition, Congressman Pete Aguilar, Crime, David Goldstein, Deborah Robertson, Ed palmer, Ed Scott, Edgar Montes, Edward J. Carrillo, Flores Park, Flores Park Neighborhood Watch, Fontana, Grand Terrace, hardy brown II, Henry Nickel, Inland Empire, James Ramos, Janice Rutherford, Joe Baca Jr, Josef (Joe) Britt, joseph williams, Josie Gonzales, Marijuana, Medical Marijuana, Public Safety, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands PD, Rialto, Rialto, Rialto Fire, Rialto Parks, Rialto Police Department, San Bernardino, San Bernardino Police, SCAT, Shawn O'Connell, SWAT, The Fellas, youth

Below is a message from the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy to local prevention providers. This data and reports further confirm what prevention providers have been warning ever since the lie of Medical Marijuana began to take shape youth use is on the way up. One area where prevention providers have been looking to get to is kids in Elementary and they have been getting resistance due to the thought that these kids are to young to be involved in drug use. This study show a major increase in drug use among youth 12 and older meaning kids in 6th grade are being introduced to drugs.

Another thing that the data shows is a driving force behind an increase in youth use is the widespread use in adults. This matches what the Rialto Community Coalition found in February during their Strategic Planning Session was that one of the biggest reasons youth use drugs especially Marijuana is because of the lax attitude from adults. The investigative reports from David Goldstein on medical marijuana dispensary’s acting as a hub to get Marijuana to youth should be an eye opening period for parents.

We need to support local organizations that are taking this issue seriously and local candidates that value youth health over money from the Pro Drug Legalization Lobby. On of these organizations is the Rialto Community Coalition that meets the first Tuesday of the month from 6-7:30pm at Fire Station 202 at 1700 North Riverside Ave. Another group working locally and more regionally is Inland Empire Youth 4 Today a local network of prevention providers and business owners looking for innovative ways to engage and grow tomorrows leaders.

Today, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) released the latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) report which shows progress in reducing some forms of substance use – especially among adolescents. Substance use levels in many areas, however have remained relatively constant.

SAMHSA issued the 2014 NSDUH report on mental and substance use disorders as part of the kick off for the 26th annual observance of National Recovery Month. Recovery Month broadens public awareness to the fact that behavioral health is essential to health, prevention works, treatment for substance use and mental disorders is effective, and people can and do recover from these disorders.

With regard to substance use, the report found some areas of progress, particularly among adolescents. For example, the percentage of adolescents aged 12 to 17 who were current (past month) tobacco users declined by roughly half from 15.2 percent in 2002 to 7.0 percent in 2014. Similarly, the level of adolescents engaged in past month illegal alcohol use dropped from 17.6 percent to 11.5 percent over the same period. The level of current nonmedical users of prescription pain relievers decreased from 3.2 percent in 2002 to 1.9 percent in 2014 among adolescents aged 12 to 17.

Marijuana continues to be the most commonly used illicit drug. In 2014, roughly 8.4 percent of Americans age 12 and older were current users of marijuana – up from 7.5 percent in 2013. Marijuana use is especially growing among those aged 26 and older – from 5.6 percent in 2013 to 6.6 percent in 2014. The percentage of adolescents who were current marijuana users in 2014 (7.4 percent) was similar to recent years.

Although the survey shows nonmedical pain reliever use continues to be the second most common type of illicit drug use, the percentage of people aged 12 or older in 2014 who were current nonmedical users of pain relievers (1.6 percent) was lower than in most years since 2002, and about the same as in 2013. However, current heroin use increased from 0.1 percent of the population age 12 and older in 2013 to 0.2 in 2014.

Overall, the use of illicit drugs – including marijuana – among Americans aged 12 and older increased from 9.4 percent in 2013 to 10.2 percent in 2014. This was driven particularly by the increase in adult marijuana use.

The data released today show some signs of progress, including lower levels of nonmedical prescription drug use and teen alcohol and tobacco use; however, we still have significant challenges to address. We know that evidence-based prevention efforts are the most effective way to reduce drug use and to support the roughly 90 percent of American youth who do not use illicit drugs.

This Administration will continue to expand community-based efforts to prevent drug use, pursue ‘smart on crime’ approaches to drug enforcement, increase access to treatment, work to reduce overdose deaths, and support the millions of Americans in recovery.

Sincerely,

Michael P. Botticelli, Director
Office of National Drug Control Policy

Rialto Mayor Hands Off 1st Place Trophy For Chili Cook off Winners

03 Sep 2015 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in Assemblymember-Elect Cheryl Brown, Barbara A. McGee, Ca, Cancer, Chief Mat Fratus, City Clerk, City of Rialto, Crime, Deborah Robertson, Ed palmer, Inland Empire, Public Safety, Rialto, Rialto, Rialto Fire, Rialto Police Department, SCAT

The Battle of the Badges Chili Cook Off is an event that brings out our local public safety officers to show off their best cooking skills and compete for the title of best in Chili.

Well over the last few years Rialto Police have taken top honors at the yearly cook off held at National Night Out each year. Well this year the tables began to turn as there was a three way tie for 1st place one from the Rialto Police Department and two from Rialto Fire Department. Then Rialto Police took the second and third place spots.

The Battle of the Badges benefits the American Cancer Society with votes costing $3 each. This is one of the biggest parts of National Night Out which is the event that the Chili Cook Off has been a part of for the last five years. The chili is hot but the competition is hotter with both public safety agencies bringing their “A” game to represent for their agency.

When Mayor Robertson announced the first place trophy to the winners talk of where the trophy would reside showed the serious humor and competition that remains within this event. Councilman Palmer said “I voted for a number and so did City Treasurer Ed Carrillo makes sense that chili was made by a fellow Marine”

1st place winners were Cory Jung (fire) David Toupel (fire) and Andy Karol (police)

2nd place winner was Paul Stella (police)

3rd place winner was Bill Wilson (police)

Is posting last minute agendas the best way to get the community engaged?

17 Aug 2015 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in Barbara A. McGee, Ca, City Clerk, City of Rialto, Crime, Currupt, Deborah Robertson, Ed Scott, Inland Empire, Joe Baca Jr, joseph williams, Lillie Houston, Public Safety, Rafael Trujillo, Rialto, Rialto

Very little change has occurred over the years on various commissions. What also hasn’t changed is the way that commissioners get paid to travel all over the state and country while not doing their duties at home. We have three major commissions that are dark this month, one that refuses to post their agenda within 72 hours of the scheduled meeting time and another that has applications and documents that have time received stamps manipulated with pen to change the date something was received.

What is worse is none of the current or former commissioners have ever undergone a background check. Earlier this summer the Mayor appointed some new commissioners and the lack of background check was brought up Councilman O’Connell spoke up at that meeting and asked why? Councilman Scott said that it was not right to ask them to undergo a background check since elected officials are not back ground checked. Councilman O’Connell said elected are vetted and that is basically the same as a background check.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we had a printed publication that reported these issues to us? So sad that the SB Sun ignores us all together and Rialto Record just writes puff pieces for the city. Well Rialto we are here for you doing the work others refuse to do.

***** Up dated info. We called twice and finally recived an answer to why the Utility Commission agenda was not posted until 8 am the day before the meeting. Apparently there were some last minute changes to the Agenda and staff left the agenda sitting on a desk all weekend and didn’t get it up until Monday morning. Why is this an issue? Well the Utility Commission is the commission that set the failed water deal into motion, approve your trash/water/sewer rate increases and they are big time in bed with all of the utility providers in Rialto. June Hayes the Vice Chair of the commission swoons all over the utility providers and holds each ones hands right up to the decision makers in the city. Also the Brown Act states that any commission/council or other open meeting agenda must be posted 72 hours in advance. Diane from the Engineering Department said that she didn’t get it posted until after 8 am on August 17, 2015 the meeting is on August 18th, 2015 only 34 hour notice not the 72 hour minimum required by law.

Does Rialto need five Mc Donalds?

11 Aug 2015 1 Comment

by rialto-now in Assemblymember-Elect Cheryl Brown, Barbara A. McGee, Budget, Ca, City Clerk, City of Rialto, Crime, Currupt, Lazy, Public Safety, Rialto, Rialto, Rialto Fire, Rialto Police Department

As the construction of yet another Mc Donald’s fast food restaurant nears completion on the corner of Cedar & Foothill in Rialto we ponder the Question does Rialto need five Mc Donald’s? Now I know what your going to say Rialto doesn’t have five Mc Donald’s and I am here to tell you soon we will. Below is a map:

The red dots are the three that come up when you Google Mc Donald’s in Rialto. Baseline, Foothill & Riverside Ave all have Mc Donald’s but there is also one inside of the Walmart across the street from the Riverside Ave location so that makes four. Number five is part of multiple deals to further burden the North West Corner of Cedar & Foothill. One of our readers posted this photo saying “Do we really need another Mc Donald’s in Rialto #healthyrialto

The multiple deals that happened to further burden the poor people of Rialto was put under the heading were trying to make things safer for Rialto. Later they admitted that it had little to do with safety and a lot to do with TAXES……. When a local community member from Flores Park Neighborhood Watch asked why this development was getting a new stoplight and cement median extension the council responded Neighborhood Watch Groups don’t make money Gas Stations & Mc Donald’s do!

Tonight the Planning Commission is going to show this off as a win during their annual report, is this a win in your eyes?

Should Election Candidates Be Responsible For Election Trash

26 Jul 2015 Leave a comment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdYTbDjFEUM

One of the biggest problems with candidates with more money than they know what to do with is the pay people to place thousands of signs all over the city. The Baca family has prescribed to the election technique of the person with the most signs wins not the quality of work you do for the community. The problem with this is when you ask them why their signs are placed on private property without permission, attached to leasing signs or left up after the election to litter our city streets they say I didn’t put up the signs so I am not responsible.

Well I’m not sure about you guys but as we approach a presidential election year where here locally we will also be electing a Mayor, Two Council Members, City Clerk and other more regional elections the time is now to say candidates need to be more mindful about the placement of their signs and making sure they are removed in a timely fashion.

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Dedicated City Administrator Gets A Well Deserved Recognition

01 Jul 2015 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in Assemblymember-Elect Cheryl Brown, Barbara A. McGee, Chief Mat Fratus, City Clerk, City of Rialto, Deborah Robertson, Ed palmer, Edward J. Carrillo, Grace Vargas, Inland Empire, June Hayes, Lillie Houston, Mike Story, Public Safety, Rialto, Rialto, Rialto Fire, Rialto Parks, Rialto Police Department, Shawn O'Connell, youth

A large group of city officials, elected officials, community members and family gathered at the Johnson center meeting room to honor Mike Story city of Rialto City Administrator for his recognition of Mr. Story’s dedication to the community of Rialto.

Story after story was told about the Rialto Man of Distinction award recipient and they all spoke to a man of high moral character and a work ethic that never made Mr. Story feel like he was too good to help out his fellow city employee. Mayor Deborah Robertson spoke about Mr. Story and his dedication to making sure that Frisbee Park host site for the Rialto Jazz Fest be kept looking nice. Something very odd happened at this event that you would not normally see. Elected official after elected official gave Mr. Story the credit for bringing Rialto into a functional balanced budget something not all cities can say in todays climate.

As each speaker came to the podium a slide show played in the background showing Mr. Story in his various roles around Rialto. Many of the speakers spoke of Mr. Story wearing many different hats in his employment with Rialto and looking at the pictures he has worn a lot of aprons too!!!!

Mike story speaking to Greta Hodges long time Rialto resident and chair of the Friends of Rialto K9 Association.

Mike Story speaking with City Councilman Shawn O’Connell both men were smiling and having a good conversation. Councilman Shawn O’Connell spoke about Mr. Story’s character and dedication to being ethically balanced. Councilman Shawn O’Connell also spoke to Mr. Story being a person that works to make sure that city government is transparent and fair.

Mr. Story with Councilman Shawn O’Connell and Fire Chief Matt Fratus prior to the event beginning. Rialto Fire Chief Matt Fratus said he is newer to rialto but having worked in other cities under a lot of other city administrators that Mr. Story’s character makes working for the community a lot easier.

So next time your out and about say hello to Mr. Story and tell him how thankful you are that he is working so hard to make Rialto a better place to be.