After the meeting – Rialto and American Water

Let me start this post with WOW. I have never seen such a ground swelling of the community come out on an issue only to be ignored by the politions in Rialto.

Picture Below I found in a stack of papers left by the residents in the KTRO room:

Dosen’t that say it all, must be nice to be an upper class council person without worries!

First let me say Rialto property owners need to stop this with their paper now or pay for the next 30 years. This deal and this vote is partially the voters fault, you have not voted for years allowing city council and assembly and congress to have a feeling that they don’t speak for us the can do whatever they please. Those select few of you who do vote, vote with a disregard for the people you’re putting in power.

But ultimately those placed in power must be reminded who they ACUALLY work for, its US. The current council and most local elected leaders ignore us and do whatever they wish or please.

Residents compared the council to those who wish to work for American Water since the are guaranteeing a 30% profit to American Water.

30 million will be payed to the general fund that is owed from the utility and this money is going to be used to fund a Target project that Lewis properties have pulled out of multiple times due to the lack of money, when did it become ok for cities to shoulder the brunt of the cost of doing business.

If the city really wanted big retail they would have not imposed a 7 year moratorium on building around the new 210 freeway.

council allowed utilities commission Member June Hayes to accuse Mr Ceasr Acoata of being a card-carrying communist, union labor reps that had conflict of interest issues and didn’t live in the city speak, union workers and developers from the Pharrase group and Lewis homes speak & turned on the heat on the KTRO room to over heat residents and make them so uncomfortable they ended up leaving.

Mr Jim Stienberg of the Sun reported 50 public comments went out yet 80 people singed up. That means the city staff silenced 30 speakers and voted for this even though many speakers were at the las meeting this was on the agenda and were wondering why they were back on the same issue.

The thing is that council never cared what the community thought they just wanted to find as many little ways to stifle this community.

Speakers were not able to hear responses from council members even though most were seeking awnser to better gauge the minds of our (leaders). This council has too often been to busy or to important to talk to the little people this was normal for them.

The final vote was 4-1 in favor the one no vote came from Joe Baca Jr. Not really surprising he can afford any political damage right now because it would hurt is run for assembly and beyond, but whatever his motives I thank him for standing in the divide.

Here are the issues I see with this deal and the community. First off only 200 people are reported to have attended the 2 information meetings that were held on Tuesday & Saturday. Tuesdays meeting was reported to be very dysfunctional and that you couldn’t ask questions. Saturday was better but no one from council was there to awnser questions at either meeting. I was unable to attend these meetings because I work 4 jobs just to get by and have very little free time.

Atmosphere went as follows:

  • Standing room only in chambers.
  • 3 overflow rooms. KTRO building, fire station basement & library.
  • Spanish-speaking residents standing outside watching on a monitor with no translator.
  • Jerry Acosta was passing out bottled water saying “don’t worry this water is free” which brought people to laugh in the KTRO building. Mr Acosta also asked the council to take heed in this decision and think of the poor and unemployed that will be devistaed by these rates. He also spoke in spanish to give some familiar words to spanish speakers outside.
  • The union reps asking the city to employee their union workers at the cost of hard-working tax paying families were: Lori Stonemaker-AFL-CIO labor union, Joe Whicher Sheet Metal Workers Union & William Perez from the construction workers union.
  • The young-looking union workers that spoke up were Juan & Robert asking you to pay more for water so they can have a broken promise of a job.
  • Joe Juladian is a business owner and he told counsel he will be forced to pass these rates onto to customers, they didn’t seem to care.
  • Pastor Gloria Henderson Quoted Ecclesiastes to the council referring to the topic of their is a time for everything and everything has its appointed time, this isn’t the time to levy such large fee increases on a poor and struggling public.
  • Lyn Hurts owner of Dans Lawnmower Shop told council that they are doing this because they wont be around for 30 years. She is right i will be 80 before this contract is up.
  • Sam Wienstien seen here in an interview with our reporter http://youtu.be/PYBW0mkWWxg he was speak out to the lawsuit Mr Ron Pharris served a woman with outside council during the meeting, forcing her to leave for fear for her life.
  • Donald Lee stated that American Water is a German owned company.
  • Robert Tinker a resident since 1958 said he has seen a lot of council members and mayors in his day and if they vote for this he will see some more go real soon.

American Water CEO Jeffry Sterba – who was appointed to the job in August 2010 – has made clear that he wants to expand the company’s “contract operations business” only if it generates more profits for American Water than in the past.  In a recent interview with a trade journal, Sterba stated:

“The contract operations model as it’s generally deployed seems to be geared around trying to shift risks to the service provider in ways which I don’t think are necessarily taken into account appropriately in the pricing. . . . To the extent that we can create a different model that better aligns with what we think we bring to the table, and allows us to be compensated for that, then we will be interested in expanding in that sector.”

According to the magazine interview, Sterba’s strategy for new municipal contract operations involves long-term contracts with a provision for “price re-determination” over the lifetime of the agreement.  In the March 2011 interview, Sterba also described a contract deal the company had in the works with an unnamed “medium-sized” city:

Below are the slides RUA (Rialto Utilities Association) presented:

To get out of the contract now if the property owners vote to reject the councils vote it costs ua 1 million, If the property owners fail to act then we will be stuck with a 177 million dollar mortgage at a high interest rate. If we cancel in the first year were on the hook for the whole 177 Million plus an additional 2 million, the early termination penalty decreases by 3% every year.
We as property owners must act and renters must contact their land lords and tell them that higher water and waste water rates will force you to look for a cheaper living situation.
Below is the article the sun ran.
RIALTO – City Council voted 4 to 1 in favor of a controversial 30-year contract with New Jersey-based American Water Works Co. Inc., which would mean a 114.8 percent increase in water and wastewater rates by 2016.About 400 residents crammed into City Hall and three overflow sites – the library, the public access television station and the main fire station.The resident turnout was larger than when the issue came before the council last June, which was defeated on 2 to 2 vote.Mayor Pro Tem Ed Scott said prior to his vote, “We have been at this for three years now. We have to do something to bring this city forward,” Scott said.Joe Baca Jr. opposed the American Water contract in June and did again Tuesday nigh for the same reason – that city residents should not pay for a company’s profits and that the rate increases are too steep.

“We need to take charge of our destiny,” said Deborah Robertson, who voted against the measure last summer.

Robertson said that the support of the labor unions for the agreement were a big part in her “yes” vote Tueday night.

Mayor Grace Vargas was out on medical leave starting just before last summer’s water rate vote and has recently returned to her post.

“You people in Rialto elected me for reason,” Vargas said before the vote. She predicted that eventually residents would thank the council for its decision to sign the 30-year contract. The council’s decision can be overturned if the majority of Rialto property owners file a written protest to the decision.In his motion to approve the contract and related rate increases, Council member Ed Palmer said he wanted to take the decision to the property owners and let them have the final say.

“It would be wrong for us to vote this down,” he said.

While most of those at the meeting Tuesday appeared to oppose the measure this time around, several spoke in favor of the agreement, which would lead to financing to pay for $41 million in water infrastructure projects and provide funding to move ahead with develop;ment projects at the municipal airport, a super Wal-Mart south of downtown and retaurants north of downtown.

Upland developer Randall Lewis, whose company is a partner in a planned mixed use development on land now occupied by the municipal airport, said the debate taking place here is occurring across the state and the nation.

“It is a tough decision,” Lewis said, adding that the city staff recommendation to go with a long-term agreement with American Water is the correct one to modernize Rialto’s infrastructure system.

June Hayes, a 16-year member of the city’s Utility Commission, said initially she was against a contract with America Water, but after much research , feels a contract with them is the correct path.

“I speak for the little guy,” she said. With a doctorate degree, Hayes said she lives close to the poverty level, but still is in favor of the rate increases to pay for what needs to be done for the water system.

The agreement also drew strong support from organized labor because it will create some 450 jobs for the building trades.

Joe Whitcher, a business representative for Sheet Metal Workers Local 105.

Whitcher said that the way the contract is structured, labor union rates will be paid and there will be no loopholes allowing some workers to be paid at non-union rates.

But most of the more than 50-residents to address city council on this issue over several hours Tuesday night were opposed to the 30-year contract and its related rate increases, Anne Lopez, said she is putting three children through college, and with the increase won’t be able to live in Rialto anymore.

“I would love to live in Rialto…it is charming, quaint and not to large. But many people will not be able to afford to live here if the rates go trhough.””

Said Frank Gonzalez, “These rates are “unreasonable and unwarranted.” As for the 30-year contract, “it is totally out of the realm.What about a `Plan B’? There isn’t one. Why?”

Hattie Inge, who said she has lived in Riatlo for 39.5 years, asked why is the city of Rialto “trying so hard” to bring American Water to town. And regarding the 450 union jobs, “Those won’t be going to people who live in Rialto.”

Inge said that several of her children live in cities where America Water provides service and that “they never do what they say they will.”

Michele Heal said that it appears that the city council wants to work for America Water more than it wants to work for the citizens of Rialto.

The improvements resulting from the agreement will benefit the existing ratepayers. New large projects, such as the Lytle Creek residential development. and projects planned at the municipal development, said Robb Steel, assistant to the city administrator and director of development services.

There has been criticism by some residents who allege that a portion of the rate increase will subsidize future developments.

Water Rates

So by now you have probably heard in one fashion or another that the City of Rialto has mismanaged our water services for years.

The city has been trying to outsource water services to American Water. American Water says that Rialto residents can expect to see 100% increase in their water rates by 2016.

The city wants us to believe that American Water is going to come in and give over the 30 Million Dollar payment due to the general fund by the water utility, fix the dilapidated water system, hold on to the employees for 36 months rather than 18 months at similar pay and benefits and ONLY raise the rates by 100%. What? Really, only 100%?

Oh and by the way they say they will sweeten the pot by removing the perchlorate surcharge which in their estimation is $18. Once again they are wrong mine was $19.43. This was money we were told would be reimbursed but I guess they forgot about that and just are going to appease us by not making us pay for Jet fuel we didn’t even dump in the first place.

Lets not forget another piece of your utility bills the Utility Tax that was SOLD as a Fire and Police tax, would you be surprised that it never REALLY went for public safety? Just another lie and ploy to dig deeper into the communities pockets.

My favorite part of the article in the sun paper on march 13th was that mike story who gets his water from Fontana Water Co. pays more now that Rialto residents. Dont care sorry you let your utility do that to you.

One of the people who posted a comment on the Sun’s online article said the following:

Felipe M. Antillon

Rialto Residents… make sure you voice your opinion on this matter. Fontana is a private water district similar to what Rialto is proposing. My water bill was over $100 during the winter and my neighbors were close to $300. I have since poured cement in the back and artificial grass in the front. My yard is not very large and I have minimal things to water. My bill is still $75/month. $48/month just in a usage fee to have my water on….
So how many of you want to see your yards turned into skate parks? This poor man had to take his life to the extreme just to make it manageable, but ask someone you know how expensive cement is now, plus artificial turf even done right is ugly expensive and must be replaced eventually.
Below is the Video Mr Mike Story did on this issue:

http://youtu.be/UH9Leb8shDc

I’m not in love with the idea that were going to dump 30 MILLION $$ into a Target project that the developer is shaky at best on. What ever happened to the In & Out? San Bernardino built a new one and its the highest sales location, Highland is building on near LA Fitness. I don’t spend much money in this city beyond Fresh & Easy and Home Depot when I need something quick. I refuse to send my family anywhere in this city alone its just not safe & investment is always done halfway.

There are 2 public forums on this issue we posted the flyers on this blog and we will repost tomorrow, be there and voice your opinion.

City Council and Mayor Vargas have mismanaged this city long enough, this is where the community owns this mess and can fix it. VOTE, VOTE, VOTE!!!!!!!

Everyone came out to vote for Obama but no one educated themselves on anything else. Educate yourself on the candidates and what they really stand for.

Click the Follow button because we will be reaching out to the various candidates this election and getting what their plans are for the city and how their words balance out what their actions have been. By following the blog you get it sent right to your email in full and can read it more easily.

We need real People with real solutions like: http://www.facebook.com/#!/coffeenutzz – Andy Carrizales

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1095984277 – Judy Roberts

http://www.facebook.com/#!/wilmer.carter – Wilmer Amina Carter

People with real solutions and not afraid to get their hands dirty

Kiwanas East Rialto 21st Annual Golf Tournament

Kiwanas East Rialto Golf Tournament is an awesome way to get out play some golf and help a local organization raise funds for the various projects they run throught the year. Here is the info:

You can contact them on the flyer or come on by Wednesday Mornings at Sal & Limons in rialto 7am for thier weekly meeting.

————————————————————————————————-This post was brought to you by:

 

Comments from the SB Sun’s Editor and General Manager

Frank Pine@fpine

@RialtosNow Why a “tired” bedrom community?

 

Above is the Editor and General Manager of the San Bernardino County Sun comments on how I and one of his reporters have quite similar twitter account names.

So we first have to ask why do we have this reputation? Is it deserved? What makes people in professional professions act as though their comments have no meaning or consequences?

We have this reputation in my opinion because our elected officials have missed the mark time and time again (yep we voted them in, or didn’t vote and allowed them to take over). Rialto has failed to strike when opportunity comes and sits at the front of the city hall door. The only reason anything has happened lately is because of the redevelopment funds that now are no more.

Is it deserved? No because I doubt Mr. Pine has ever lived here, or had to struggle with us. He speaks out of ignorance and that makes his a sad man. But we should expect nothing less from a newspaper group that takes stories and changes and twists people’s words to sell papers. A paper that charges you almost $80 to publish a FBN when you can get it recorded and published elsewhere for less than that.

The reason professional people act as though their words have no meaning or consequences is because of the medium they choose to express themselves. Social Media gives a person the false sense of safety and security. They dont have to see of hear the reaction from the parties involved and can shield themselves from most repercussions. I have not agreed with the Sun for quite a while thank God for ABC 7 news. They cover Rialto just about as much as the Sun does.

THE “GRANDPARENT SCAM”

THE “GRANDPARENT SCAM”
You get a call or an email unexpectedly from someone who claims to be a friend or relative. This often happens to grandparents with the caller claiming to be their grandson or granddaughter. The caller says there’s an emergency and asks you to send money immediately. But beware, there’s a good chance this is an imposter trying to steal your money! Follow these tips to avoid becoming a victim of fraud.

How do these scammers choose you to contact? Sometimes they contact people randomly. They also use marketing lists, telephone listings, and information from social networking sites, obituaries and other sources. Sometimes they hack into people’s email accounts and send messages to everyone in their contact list.

How do these scammers know the names of your friends or relatives? In some cases they don’t. For instance, the scammer may say “Hi grandma,” hoping that you actually have a grandson. If you ask, “David, is that you?” the scammer will say “Yes!” Often these crooks will call in the middle of the night and take advantage of the fact that you may not be awake enough to ask more questions and you may not want to disturb other people by calling them to confirm the information. Sometimes the scammers do know the names of your friends or relatives. They can get that information from a variety of sources. Your relatives may be mentioned in an obituary or on a social networking site. Your email contact list may contain the names of friends and relatives.

What do these scammers usually say? They might say something like, “I’m in Canada or Mexico and I’m trying to get home but my car broke down and I need money right away to get it fixed.” Or they may claim to have been mugged, or been in a car accident, or need money for bail or to pay customs fees to get back into the United States from another country. They may also pose as an attorney or law enforcement official contacting you on behalf of a friend or relative. No matter the story, they always want you to send money immediately.

If you realize you’ve been scammed, what can you do? These scammers ask you to send money through services such as Western Union and MoneyGram because they can pick it up quickly, in cash. They often use phony IDs, so it’s impossible to trace them. Contact the money transfer service immediately to report the scam. If the money hasn’t been picked up yet, you can retrieve it, but if it has, it’s not like a check that you can stop – the money is gone.

How can you protect your email account from being used by scammers? Use a firewall and anti-virus and anti-spyware software. Many computers come with these features already built in. They are also easy to find on the Internet. Keep your software updated. Don’t open attachments in emails from strangers, since they can contain programs that enable crooks to get into your computer remotely.

What else can you do to protect yourself? If you get a call or email from someone claiming to know you and asking for help, check to confirm that it’s legitimate before you send any money. Ask some questions that would be hard for an imposter to answer correctly – the name of the person’s pet, for example, or the date of their mother’s birthday. Contact the person who they claim to be directly. If you can’t reach the person, contact someone else – a friend or relative of the person. Don’t send money unless you’re sure it’s the real person you know. For more information about protecting yourself from fraud, go to www.consumerfed.org/fraud or to www.takechargeca.ca.gov

 

If you feel you are being targeted for fraud call your local Police Dept. Rialto PD dispatch is

909-820-2550

Autism Speaks Fundraiser

Please come in to CoffeeNutzz & Cones Creamery on March 9th and support team Lightning fundraising for the Autism Speaks fondation walk.

If your on facebook please click this link for the Facebook Event portion where you can interact with host and other people planning on atteding:

http://www.facebook.com/events/183821661728686/

Coffee Nutz is on Foothill Blvd in Rialto between Riverside and Sycamore.

Where a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Autism Speaks in team Lightning’s name.

Come out and support a great cause and enjoy a tastey treat!

You can also donate online directly by clicking the link below.

www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/losangeles/lightning

Fontana police cite rapid rise in property crimes

Fontana police cite rapid rise in property crimes since start of early-out program for prisoners

Posted:   02/24/2012 08:48:10 PM PST

 
 

A recent increase in property crimes has Fontana police wondering if Assembly Bill 109, the Public Safety Realignment Plan, is to blame.Fontana police officials can’t say the two are absolutely related, but they are pointing out that the increase in auto theft, burglary, arson and larceny became a reality after realignment went into effect.

“We can find no other logical explanation for the increase in crime other than realignment,” said Police Chief Rod Jones.

AB 109, which results in the early release of some inmates from jail, went into effect on Oct. 1.

Between January and August, property crimes went up 5 percent compared to the previous year, Jones said. But in the months following realignment, property crimes increased 20 percent to 25 percent.

“They went up at least four times as much … the last past of the year,” he said.

In Ontario, it’s a different story as property crimes have stayed flat, officials said.

“It’s such a small sampling of time,” said Ontario police Sgt. David McBride. “There is no accurate way to correlate the early release of individuals and any change of crime statistics.”

It would be better to wait until a full year passes to get a more accurate picture, McBride said.

Jones agreed that there will be more conclusive evidence in time.

“After a year, two years, we will see people released who reoffend, and we can track those things,” Jones said.

But Fontana police officers are frustrated with the new bill.

“It’s very discouraging and doesn’t serve as any kind of deterrent for these guys,” said Fontana police Sgt. Billy Green. “There are people we arrest for burglary – we have confirmed that they kicked in a door and burglarized a home, which is a felony crime – and they are getting out of jail in 14 hours.”

In addition to the lack of jail time, Green said he is frustrated with the exceptions in the Penal Code of crimes for which those convicted are not eligible for early release.

“Penal Code 598c – the possession or importation of horse meat – is not eligible for AB109 for early release,” Green said. “But burglary is.”

To air their frustrations, and ask for front-line public safety funding, Jones has eight appointments Tuesday with local legislators.

“Our budgets are strapped the same way theirs is,” Jones said. “We’ve got to have funding for this.”

Read more: http://www.sbsun.com/ci_20041470#ixzz1nV34amxF

Stolen Money

Below is the link to the story that soured this post:

 

http://www.newsday.com/news/nation/calif-lawmakers-switch-days-to-collect-payments-1.3538968

The link above is to an associated press story about the continued waste of money that our legislators are guilty of almost daily. The go to Sacramento only to ensure that they will make their per diem, on that cost tax payers 65,000 TAX DOLLARS. That means 65,000 less to help fix the budget problems, but the have once again lined their pockets without any regard for the voters concerns.

You know the old saying how do you know when an elected official is lieing? When their lips are moving.

Seems about right, because when its election time they will tell you why they are in Sacramento the people (lie). I’m sorry to say that democrats and Republicans are both just as bad. They are not in Sacramento for your voice they are there to line their pockets and live off the government forever. How long are we going to let these people continue to take advantage of us and destroy our cites, state & country. 5th district supervisor Josie Gonzales actually told the sun in an interview in reference to pension reform and the San Bernardino County employee union putting out a petition to make San Bernardino County supervisors a part-time job, that she had financial obligations that must be met and if the board became part-time she would step down. REALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So why are you there Mrs Gonzales?

Below are some other articles where CA is hurt and hemorrhaging and could use every penny we can find.

Employee losses due to loss of RDA’s and tight budgets:

http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_20006550

“Rialto and Highland, for example, have found ways to keep their former Redevelopment Agency employees on the payroll, officials said.”

Mass Teacher layoffs due to 22 million dollar budget cuts:

http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_20001266

“In a best-case scenario, reduced funding from the state will force the district to cut its 2012-2013 budget by roughly $22 million, which would mean roughly 162 employees, including teachers and administrators, would receive layoff notices before the annual March 15 notification deadline. ”

Redevelopment dollars gone without a solution:

http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_19998785

“You hear a lot of stories about California redevelopment agencies being abused to advance the agenda of the downtown elite, but more often than not, CRAs are used for their expressed purpose, which is to address blight, serve underrepresented communities, and maybe, more importantly than anything else, provide affordable housing in regions where there isn’t enough.”
This one cracks me up, they say that their was abuse and misuse? What about what lawmakers do daily?????????
People stand up and take action before its to late. Look for lawmakers that will fight their voters convictions not their own and fight it through even if it will make relection harder.

 

Relay for Life Zumba Party

Relay for Life Fundraiser on February 18th.

It’s a Zumba party!
There will be lots of dancing/excercise, refreshments & FUN! The money raised goes to the Rialto Relay for Life to benefit the American Cancer Society. I know that most everyone knows someone that has fought the battle with Cancer. We are raising money to help fund research & services for those fighting Cancer so that hopefully soon no one has to hear the words ” You’ve got Cancer”.
The brochure is attached. You can get tickets @ the Rialto Racquet & Fitness Club or by contacting one of the Rialto Relay for Life committee members below.
Michelle Leonard 909 815-5418
Delynda Kobbe 909 816-3364

Rialto Branch Libary Calendar

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