04 Jan 2013
by rialto-now
in Andy Carrizales, Budget, Chief Mat Fratus, City of Rialto, Currupt, Deborah Robertson, Ed palmer, Ed Scott, Flores Park, In & Out, Inland Empire, Joe Baca Jr, Megan Matson, Mike Story, mmatson@t-rockcap.com, Rialto, Ron Pharris, Shawn O'Connell, Table Rock Capital, youth
Tags: politics
merchantcircle.com
Sun Editorial Staff:
The problems with Rialto and its budget are as follows.
- We refuse to make the right cuts, the needed cuts. We have attacked employee units that actually work for Rialto and ones that the community needs to function as a city. The city has sold off our water and waste water systems, attacked our fire and police & shut down city offices so much it virtually impossible to get anything done in a timely fashion. They changed graffiti contractors leaving residents in the lurch and at the mercy of resident gangs allowing them to re root in Rialto and add their tags to our walls and electric boxes. City hall refuses to tell the residents what our Mayor, City Clerk, City Attorney and other dept heads make. Our new mayor has already failed to reach out and be open with the public there are rumors swirling that she has ordered new paint and carpet for her office and is asking the city to waste tax dollars on sending her to Washington DC for a Mayors conference and to attend President Obama’s second swearing in, REALLY.
- The city became extremely way to comfortable with RDA funding which led to lazy council members ignoring the ugly business culture that is Rialto. We attract 99 cent stores, Walgreens, smoke shops, liquor stores, indoor swap meets and cash for gold businesses. It was an act of God to get our In&Out moving forward which according to In&Out is still in limbo. Fresh and Easy opened here but the latest word is that the company is abandoning the store concept which means yet another empty store front coming our way.
- Wasting time on failed projects that have further damaged our city:
- The city allowed Ron Phariss and his Lytle Creek Project to take up valuable council time, run our golf course and country club into ruin and create a riff between residents of the city and county areas. If Ron Phariss wants to build his development he needs to get going or get out.
- Wal-Mart claims they want a super center here in Rialto but they refuse to show the people of Rialto that they can operate a clean professional retail business in the Inland Empire. Wal-Mart hires lazy sloppy security for their parking lots and their staff remains rude and not helpful. Why would we welcome the super center if they can’t even offer Rialto residents a quality retail establishment at their current location? Also what happens to the old store once the super center is open, one more ugly vacant building for the homeless to destroy and gangs to tag up.
- The corner of Cactus and Foothill we have yet another gas station/carwash opening up even though there is a vacant falling apart carwash just east of this location. Where was the city leadership allowing another business to fall apart and become an ugly scar on our city and approve the same business to make a similar mistake just down the street?
Current council members and Mayor Robertson need to show us they are serious about working for the community and not just their own personal agendas. Joe Baca Jr. needs to focus on all areas of the cities not just parks. Mayor Robertson needs to figure out what she is doing and get back out into the community like she did when running for Mayor. She played a lot of us for fools by allowing us to think we would have an open line of communication with our Mayor if she was elected. Lets all hope that Councilman Elect Shawn O’Connell has the mental stamina to work in this council and see some positive forward progress. He is a man of strong character and has shown he wants to know and do the WILL OF THE PEOPLE. He has offered his home phone number 909-429-1138 his email address Shawn4Rialto@hotmail.com and he is even learning to use twitter to reach out to residents in every way possible Twitter.com/Shawn4Rialto. We must extend the Utility Users Tax in March, bring in new business to rialto, finish off half done projects and better utilize people in the community that have a desire to help make Rialto a better place to live.
The SB SUn article is below:
Editorial: Rialto must fight financial crisis by taking action
Posted: 01/03/2013 04:31:11 PM PST
OUR VIEW: Talks to rein in costs in Rialto need to give way to action, and the sooner the better.
It’s been almost three years since the Rialto City Council was warned that the city was facing its own serious financial crisis, potentially on par with the disaster that led to San Bernardino’s bankruptcy.
But rather than begin an aggressive campaign to trim costs and address a current $7.6 million budget deficit, the city seems more focused on convincing voters to approve extending a utility user tax set to expire in June.
Meanwhile, the city continues to spend its reserves to maintain services at current levels.
That sounds all too much like the scenario that played out in San Bernardino, where city officials depleted reserves and began borrowing from restricted funds to keep up with costs rather than make necessary cuts.
The situation in Rialto is dire – with its reserves expected to drop to $7 million by July, the budget stands to take an $11 million hit next year if voters reject the utility users tax during a special election in March.
Extending the utility tax in Rialto, keep in mind, won’t resolve the city’s ongoing structural deficit, the result of a sluggish economy and escalating personnel costs. The utility tax is a stop-gap that for now prevents the city from digging a deeper hole.
To be fair, Rialto has found some ways to cut costs, such as leaving vacancies unfilled and partnering with nearby
police agencies on some special services such as SWAT and helicopter patrols.
Such cost-savings measures have not been enough to balance the city’s books, however. And, if voters refuse to continue paying an 8 percent tax on their utility bills, the city’s General Fund will take a huge hit. The $11 million in revenue generated by the tax accounts for 22 percent of the General Fund, the city says.
Leaders at City Hall have said they expect to begin negotiating with labor groups to further reduce personnel costs, and there is some talk about restructuring the organization.
Those talks need to give way to action, and the sooner the better.
Those who live and work in Rialto need look no further than nearby San Bernardino for a cautionary tale about leaders who wait too long to take action. Residents who will be asked to continue paying an 8 percent tax on their utility bills deserve to know how the city is going to cut costs before handing over anymore of their own money.
11 Dec 2012
by rialto-now
in Ca, Centurion Security Patrol, City of Rialto, davidsMarketing, Ed palmer, Ed Scott, Edgar Montes, Family, Family Sports, Flores Park, Fun, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Davids-Marketing/156816741049580, Inland Empire, Joe Baca Jr, Mike Story, Nieghborhood Watch, Public Safety, Rialto Fire, Rialto Police Department, rialto unified school district, RUSD, SCAT, Small Business, Street Crime Attack Team, SWAT, youth
Tags: Rialto pd
Watch Santa come in from the sky on a helicopter.
06 Dec 2012
by rialto-now
in Andy Carrizales, Assemblymember-Elect Cheryl Brown, Budget, Ca, City of Rialto, davidsMarketing, Deborah Robertson, Ed palmer, Family, Family Sports, Flores Park, Inland Empire, Party, Rialto, rialto unified school district, Shawn O'Connell, www.careervisionbyjamie.com, youth
Tags: entertainment
Below is a invitation from the newest member of Rialto’s City Council Shawn O’Connell. If you can’t make the reception and meeting watch the council meeting its somthing I know you will enjoy.
Councilman Elect Shawn O’Connell
Good morning,
I just wanted to extend an invitation to my swearing in ceremony that will take place on December 11, 2012.
Reception (food/drink);
When: Dec 11, 2012 4-6pm
Where: Rialto Library
251 W 1st St
Rialto, 92376
Swearing In;
When: Dec 11, 2012 6pm
Where: Rialto City Council
150 S Palm Ave
Rialto, 92376
(Note: walking distance from Library. Both events are open to the public).
If you are available, I would love to share this moment with you.
Sincerely,
Shawn O’Connell
02 Dec 2012
by rialto-now
in Bad Commerce, Budget, Ca, City of Rialto, Currupt, davidsMarketing, Deborah Robertson, Ed palmer, Ed Scott, Family, Grace Vargas, Inland Empire, Joe Baca Jr, Layoffs, Lazy, Protest, Public Safety, Rialto Fire, Rialto Police Department, SCAT, Street Crime Attack Team, SWAT, Uncategorized, youth
So on Tuesdays Council Meeting we had some serious shenanigans going on.
Pushing our police into the brink of disaster
Council Woman Robertson had made statements prior to Tuesdays meeting that she was demanding that Rialto PD pay their full 9% pension costs or she would be the one to vote no on placing the extension of the UUT on the march ballot. So what did the Police do? They did what was in the best interest of the citizens and agreed to pay their full pensions.
So since she got what she wanted the she voted yes, right? Nope she clearly wanted more. She still voted no citing that she wants the police to do more.
After her no vote the council went straight into another closed session. While in the closed session Rialto Police Benefit Association President Richard Royce debunked the notion the police offer was anything more than their way of helping the city and Community and had no conditions as stated by George Harris with city staff. When asked what more does she want Royce said he had no idea.
Our police have given massive concessions over the years from loosing uniform allowances, cost if living, pay reduction and now paying their full retirement.
So after closed session they decided to go with our wishy washy city attorney Jimmy Gutierrez new interpretation of the law regarding just when this vote must happen. For the longest time they have said this vote must be done by the end of November. Jimmy stated that it’s his offices interpretation that they have until December 8th. Why it changed is indicative of what we saw Tuesday.
First off we saw council woman Robertson and city attorney Gutierrez having a dozen side conversations.
Second we saw council woman Robertson bring up the opportunity to delay this vote prior to rejecting it with her no vote.
So now they postponed the vote or finalizing the vote till Monday it leads us to ask what more does she want? Whatever it was she got it and its big, so big no one will speak if it. Not even off record!
The good part is in a message from Deborah Robertson she has been satisfied with the pound of flesh and blood she let from our police to vote with the fellow council members on Monday.
Here is what she said to me:
The changes have already been resolved. RPBA met with me and we appear to be good on my end and they indicated they are good as well. It was a good meeting!
These are 2 text messages she sent to me.
Everyone watch this council meeting Monday and let’s see if she finally lets the residents have a say.
Also check back Wednesday to hear how Deborah Robertson and George Harris plan to raise your trash bill……..
25 Nov 2012
by rialto-now
in Andy Carrizales, Beatriz E. Valenzuela, Budget, Burglury, Ca, Centurion Security Patrol, Chief Mat Fratus, City of Rialto, Coffee Nutz, Crime, Currupt, Deborah Robertson, Ed palmer, Ed Scott, Edward J. Carrillo, Family, Family Sports, Flores Park, Fun, Grace Vargas, http://www.guardianwatch.com/, Inland Empire, Joe Baca Jr, Josef (Joe) Britt, June Hayes, Layoffs, Lazy, Mike Story, Nieghborhood Watch, Poor, Protest, Public Safety, Rafael Trujillo, Rialto, Rialto Fire, Rialto Police Department, Rialto Rotary, Run Watcha Brung, Sarmad (Sam) Syed, SCAT, Shawn O'Connell, SWAT, Taxes, Twitter @IEBeatriz., youth
25 Nov 2012
by rialto-now
in Bad Commerce, Budget, Ca, City of Rialto, Crime, Currupt, Deborah Robertson, Ed palmer, Ed Scott, Flores Park, Inland Empire, Joe Baca Jr, Mike Story, Nieghborhood Watch, Protest, Public Safety, Rialto, Rialto Fire, Rialto Police Department, SCAT, SWAT, Taxes, Twitter @IEBeatriz., Uncategorized, youth
This week I David Phillips learned another hard but valuable lesson.
I had a long conversation with Mrs. Deborah Robertson about her intentions with our police department. She did state that her only intention was pension reform but she never said at the cost of 22% of the cities budget. Yes she is holding her Vote on the Special Election Hostage over the Police officers paying their full 9% pension costs. Her statement to me was my goals while in office havent changed since my campaign.
She has this power for many reasons:
- The biggest reason she has this power is the council took the entire month of October off for the election. Knowing full well the decision on the special election must be made before December 1st to make the deadline for the special election in March (Utility Users Tax sunsets in June 2013). This gives Deborah the leverage necessary to squeeze the Police for what she wants now.
- The tax Measure “V” that just died over the cities inability to be straight and honest with the community.
- Talk of the PERS tax being re-instated.
- That the last 2 chiefs have rebuilt the police into something we can be proud of and staffed the department with people that will bend to a TYRANT forcing her will upon the electorate to see the awesome programs and resources not be lost at the cost of severe arm twisting. FYI the police have taken concessions for the last 4 years with no end in sight.
So whats the solution?
First its supporting the Utility Users Tax at 8%. All council members stated they dont support raising it beyond that point at the workshop last Tuesday.
Second email, call and text Deborah Robertson and tell her what you think of her hard line stance and what it does for her ability to show she wants to work with the council and the community rather than fight us and try to rule with an IRON FIST.
Deborah Robertson
Email: robertsonformayor2012@gmail.com, robertsond@rialtoca.gov,
Phone: Office- (909) 820-2525 Fax- (909) 873-2921 Cell- (909) 644-8520
Third be at the council meeting on Tuesday November 27th and voice your concerns over the possibility that she will vote no on allowing the community to vote on the future of our city and our police.
Fell free to jin us on the Rialto Now Facebook Page or the Rialto Residents for Rialto PD group at the following link:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/309058217201/
Below is a message put out last night
****Urgent Action Required***
Deborah Robertson is holding the communities ability to decide on the need of the Utility Users Tax hostage. She has made a strong ultimatum to the cities most important barging unit. Pay you full 9% pensions or I vote no one the Utility Users Tax Special Election. We must show our support for these men and women to have enough time to discuss this impact on their families. The vote on the Special Election must be unanimous one no vote and it doesn’t happen. Plus because council went dark in October this is it. If the vote doesn’t happen in November the special election wont happen prior to the tax unset in June.
We need a mass showing of resident support for these vital men and women. Make signs and show up.
20 Nov 2012
by rialto-now
in Budget, Ca, City of Rialto, Deborah Robertson, Ed palmer, Ed Scott, Family, Grace Vargas, Joe Baca Jr, Poor, Public Safety, Rialto Fire, Rialto Police Department, SCAT, SWAT, Water, wwwstoprialtowaterratehikes.com
Wow this issue has brought the normal people out of the wood work. Here is some of the statements being made in reference to the issue and our prior post:
*The city and council have been good stewards of your money and city.
Lets not forget the massive step they made to bring our water and waste water systems up to date. They made a massive sell off our our systems because of the years of neglect. Plus now they eant to borrow another $5 million dollars to make rates increase by 115% in 4 years.
*Without the UUT at the current rate the city looses $11 million in yearly revenues forcing the city into bankrupcy. With this we loose police and fire services to the county.
Yes loosing the UUT would be tragic and I don’t want to loose public safety to our mess of a county. I support the UUT at the current rate.
*We have been told that the UUT issue is highly polarized and that this blog should stick to the facts and hold our personal opinion.
Wow I thought Rialto was in America not communist China! We present the facts with commentary that isn’t soley mine but a loud collective set of voices saying the same thing.
People that take issue with what is said here can comment on the post, comment on the Facebook page, twitter page or call me on my cell. I have no problem diologing with the Community on issues effecting us all its the reason I write this blog.
The point is tomorrow night at council Chambers downtown @6pm and insert yourself into the discussion on this polarizing issue.
17 Nov 2012
by rialto-now
in Bad Commerce, Budget, Ca, City of Rialto, Deborah Robertson, Ed palmer, Ed Scott, Family, Flores Park, Grace Vargas, Inland Empire, Joe Baca Jr, Layoffs, Mike Story, Public Safety, Rialto, Rialto Fire, Rialto Police Department, Uncategorized, youth
Tags: economy, government, politics
Hello Rialto Now readers there is a workshop we need to attend our very TAX DOLLARS depend on it.
merchantcircle.com
Five Years ago the city put a Utility Users Tax on the Ballot it was sold as a way to pay for Police and Fire supplies, services and Equipment we thought exclusively. Now looking back it was thrown into the general fund and used a revenue source to keep the city afloat. I am very proud of you Rialto residents for showing the city council that lies and using the fact that we like our fire and police services as tax hostages with measure “V”. Sadly though because we told them with our vote on measure “V” to be honest with us and stop lying they are floating the idea of raising the Utility Users Tax.
Now the Utility Users Tax expires in June 2013. City Council is holding this workshop to get your opinions as well as hopefully show what services will need to be cut and personnel we will lose if its not extended. Another reason to hold the workshop is to float increasing the rate to as much as 15% up from 8%. At 8% they bring in just over $11 million they were banking on measure “V” bringing in about $5 million the amount we are short year to year.
What happens from here:
- Workshop to get the cities temp on an increase or leaving it the same, showing the cuts that will be made if the tax isn’t extended and talk of impending bankruptcy if it fails.
- The results will be tabulated together and city staff will make a recommendation to the council on a direction to proceed at the November 27th council meeting. Be advised this council meeting is just as important as the workshop, why? Because the decision to reinstate the tax and put the issue on a special election ballot in March must be made in November. If the decision isn’t made in November and unanimous the tax will end and the city will be scrambling to find ways to pay its obligations.
I hate taxes more than life itself, we never seem to get real representation in our government and the unions have the elected officials ears so we are unheard. We also pay the highest taxes across the board here in California and these taxes crush the hard working middle class as well as chase away the wealthy job creators to other more business friendly states.
With that being said I will vote for the extension of the Utility Users Tax but only at 8% and only if the city doesn’t lie to get the tax passed just tell us what you need!!!!!!!!
Finally please contact Mr. Joe Baca Jr. and let him know it’s important that he does his job as a Rialto City Council Member and attend Tuesday’s workshop. He ran for this office now he must take time out of his schedule to work through this issue together.
Below is the information on the workshop:
Utility Users Tax Workshop
The City of Rialto is conducting a Public Workshop to receive updated information regarding the Utility Users Tax. The Workshop will take place at 6:00 pm on November 20th at the Civic Center 150 So. Palm Ave.
http://www.ci.rialto.ca.us/gov_5913.php
14 Nov 2012
by rialto-now
in Andy Carrizales, Bad Commerce, Budget, Burglury, Ca, City of Rialto, Crime, Currupt, Ed palmer, Ed Scott, Family, Grace Vargas, In & Out, Inland Empire, Mike Story, Rialto, Rialto Police Department, Small Business, Target, Twitter @IEBeatriz., Uncategorized, youth
Last night we covered the massive tax grab that is before Rialto voters this next year (2013).
Well let’s ease your fears not everything I saw last night before leaving at 8pm was bad. They are moving along with some great projects that will bring commerce to the city of Rialto.
We saw the intern class of 2012 and it looked like a good group of educated young men and women looking to make their mark on city government. The program’s goal is to increase young people desire to enter working for a city.
City Staff Introduced the Intern Class of 2012
First off they are helping Target move forward smoothly on the construction of its massive cold storage facility they are building on Alder and Easton up by the 210 freeway. This cold storage facility will handle all distribution of all cold storage items for the entire west coast. Target has a great grocery program and great deals and this facility will be busy and create tons of new jobs in the Rialto area.
Second is the best news of all In & Out project is underway.
It seems the city finally understands that we want this fast food restaurant like YESTERDAY. The cities contractors are working on providing the In & Out Contractors a working useable pad. This means that the parking and egress will be complete then In & Out says it can complete the building in 180 days (150 days of construction 30 day grace period). Below is a picture of the stats provided by Robb Steel.
Picture shows money and time frames
Finally the moratorium on Cash For Gold businesses was extended for a year to allow city staff and police personnel develop working guide lines for these types of businesses. At the last coffee with the chief we were informed by Chief Farrar that an investigation was done and found that the existing Cash For Gold businesses were buying Gold that was stolen and not asking for ID then just sending it off to be melted and sold. For this reason the Moratorium was originally put in place to keep thefts from rising even higher and more of these places pop up. Let me begin by saying our Chief of police and his officers don’t just accuse you of doing something they get proof and then catch you doing the crime or wrongful act. So while this TAB item was being discussed Ed Palmer and Ed Scott said they visited 2 of these businesses and saw them doing everything right and wanted to make sure they were brought in on the formulation of the new guide lines so to be given a fair shot at complying with these new rules. These two almost went as far to say that this seemed like a witch hunt on reputable businesses that have done nothing wrong. That’s funny Chief Farrar pointed out all three as the ones buying stolen gold without taking the proper ID techniques.
Then the most irritating portion of the two hours I saw (besides the massive tax grab) was when someone asked if these new rules would apply to door to door Gold Buyers? Then Mayor Vargas said yes I had someone come to my door and ask if I had gold I wanted to sell, after those two homes on my street were broken into. She wasn’t sure if the two incidents were connected but had concerns. Then one of the council members said oh Grace is referring to people passing out flyers for Gold buying businesses and that people didn’t buy gold as an independent buy without a shop. It showed the ignorance of the people leading our city. As a security guard for a shopping mall we were kicking independent gold buyers out of the mall all the time. They would both hover around the Cash for gold stores and kiosks and tell people that the price they were being offered was to low and try and steal the sale, or hit up people eating in the food court. People like these do exist; they are aggressive and can be very underhanded. They carry a small jeweler’s magnifying glass and sometimes a small chemical test kit. If someone like this approaches your home inform the police and then send them down to council chambers to educate the city council and staff.
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