Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Apparatus Crash Kills North Carolina Firefighter..


Apparatus Crash Kills North Carolina Firefighter


Updated: 08-13-2007 12:56:37 PM



Story by wsoctv.com



Mike Porowski/FireNews.net



FireNews.net

Todd Hage
WAXHAW, N.C. --
UNION CO., N.C. -- A firefighter died on his way to a fire call in Union County Saturday afternoon.
It turned out to be a false alarm at a nearby school.
Todd Hage is the first Wesley Chapel firefighter to die in the line of duty. He was the only one in the firetruck that crashed on Waxhaw Indian Trail Road.
Investigators have not said what caused the crash, but there are no indications another vehicle was involved.
Hage joined the fire department in 2006. He left behind a wife and two young children.
Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday Aug. 15 at the First Baptist Church Of Indian Trail, 732 Fairview Road, Indian Trail, N.C.
The funeral service will begin 11:30a.m. A procession of fire apparatus will escort Hage to Heritage Funeral & Cremation Services, 3700 Forest Lawn Drive, Matthews, N.C.
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Rialto Water Case in Stall (San Bernardino Sun 08132007) Legal Wrangling Holds City Back!!!.....

Rialto water case in stall
Legal wrangling holds city back
Jason Pesick, Staff Writer

The long and winding road leading to cleanup of the drinking water around Rialto is getting more tortuous.

On July 31, Goodrich Corp. sued Rialto and other parties in San Bernardino Superior Court to try to force the city to require a local businessman to clean up perchlorate contamination.

Next week, Emhart Industries - a defunct company associated with Black & Decker - Goodrich and Rialto-based Pyro Spectaculars are expected to ask a Los Angeles Superior Court to stay state hearings on the perchlorate contamination.

The legal efforts are the latest action the three companies have taken to thwart the state regulatory bodies trying to get the perchlorate cleaned up.

Perchlorate, a substance used to produce rocket fuel, fireworks and other explosives, has been flowing from Rialto's north end through the city, and possibly into Colton and toward Fontana. Perchlorate can interfere with the thyroid gland, which is important in the development of unborn babies.

"What this is really about is Goodrich's attempt to deflect attention from its own responsibility for contaminating the groundwater," Cris Carrigan, one of Rialto's lawyers, said about the suit against the city.

The State Water Resources Control Board is scheduled to hold hearings on the contamination - which was discovered in 1997 - later this month. The hearings have been delayed numerous times because of procedural objections raised by the three parties.

In the lawsuit against Rialto, Goodrich claims Rialto is obligated to order Ken Thompson, who owns land where perchlorate has been discovered, to clean up the contamination. It also says Rialto needs to enforce its own 1987 declaration requiring Thompson to clean up the area known as the McLaughlin Pit.

Goodrich has also claimed that the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board, whose staff will be arguing against the three companies at the hearings, has not lived up to its responsibility to close the pit properly.

Patrick Palmer, a Goodrich spokesman, said the parties responsible for the contamination should clean it up and that if the proper procedures had been followed in 1987, the perchlorate would have been discovered years earlier. By not pursuing Thompson at the state hearings, Rialto and the Santa Ana board staff are failing to go after one of the responsible parties, Goodrich claims.

"We're very disappointed in this matter, where only select responsible parties and very key facts are being ignored," Palmer said.

Carrigan and Kurt Berchtold, assistant executive officer of the Santa Ana water board, both said their agencies have done nothing wrong and that Thompson might still be pursued in the future.

Thompson hasn't been a focus of the cleanup investigations thus far because he did not discharge perchlorate into the ground; he merely bought property from a party that did, said Scott Sommer, Rialto's lead attorney in the perchlorate matters. So far, the state regulatory agencies have focused on pursuing the parties suspected of actually discharging perchlorate. Any perchlorate he did spread by operating on the site was spread unknowingly because the perchlorate hadn't even been discovered there yet, Sommer said.

Carrigan said it's not even clear what Goodrich wants the city to do and that the suit is just another attempt to outspend state agencies and Rialto by using clever legal tactics.

At last count, Rialto has spent about $15 million on its efforts to investigate the perchlorate and take legal action. As that number has risen, dissatisfaction with the city's legal strategy has mounted.

The three parties being pursued in the state hearings have been criticized for using a number of aggressive legal strategies. One of the environmental groups involved in the hearings, the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice, dropped out after being overwhelmed by how difficult the process had become.

In a letter to one of Goodrich's lawyers, Jeffrey Dintzer, the executive officer of the Santa Ana board, Gerard Thibeault, said the parties' legal efforts cost the state $954,000 and 9,430 hours in staff and attorney time in the 2006-07 fiscal year, and the costs are still growing.

At a Rialto City Council meeting on Wednesday, a woman - who identified herself as Donna Worley and claimed to be a concerned citizen - caused quite a stir when she went before the council to complain about the same matters contained in the Goodrich lawsuit. Earlier, she had provided The Sun with information about Thompson, in a letter calling the situation "just another case of the city helping the rich." At the meeting, she mentioned a potential recall of members of the council, prompting a vigorous response from the dais, especially from Councilman Ed Scott, who noted she lives in Burbank and accused her of working for Goodrich.

In the other matter regarding potential court action in Los Angeles, on Tuesday, James Meeder, an attorney for Emhart, wrote a letter on behalf of all three companies saying that if the hearing officer of the state proceedings did not disqualify the state board and the regional board from the process, he would go to court to ask for a stay in the hearings.

The companies claim the Santa Ana board's staff and the state board have taken part in improper communications or are biased against them because the state board handed out grants to local agencies to treat perchlorate. They have also claimed bias on the grounds that the Santa Ana board's staff erred in its handling of the closing of the McLaughlin Pit and is itself therefore partially responsible. Palmer also said the state board has no right to try the matter at this point.

Hearing officer Tam Doduc ruled Saturday against the companies.

"I think their disqualification argument lacks merit, and it would be sad if the proceedings are stayed," Carrigan said.

Berchtold said allegations of bias or that the Santa Ana board tried to cover up its own actions are "just not the case."

If all else fails, a federal trial on the contamination is tentatively scheduled for October 2008.

_______________________________________________________________________________

BS Ranch Perspective

After reading this it seems that The City of Rialto, and The City Council is being Treated as I was treated when it came to my workers compensation case, It took me 10 years to settle my case, and it was only settled because my lawyer made an offer to settle out of court, well Rialto accepted that offer and that was the only reason that my case was well handled. I even Died On Duty, in a Motorcycle Accident. But that didn't matter.

This case will not be settled and all of the J&K Utility Tax money is going to the lawyer, Owen's so that he can take this case to Court. I don't think that this will go very far in October 88 either...

BS Ranch

Monday, August 13, 2007

Two Die in Gun Battle Outside Rialto Night Club. (Press Enterprise 08052007)

BS Ranch Perspective

It is the case of the Security Guard to do his job and protect the people that are going to that Night Club, One Which is a magnet at times for Hispanic Gangsters that seem to want to bring harm with them as they often do! Funny how the trouble that comes is when you least expect it, I just hope that the job that was done will be seen as a job well done by the District Attorney, after all it Seems That the Men and Woman at the Rialto Police Department have Felt that the Shoot was a good one As they have allowed the Suspect to go Without Booking and the Review of the Case boils down to the District Attorneys Office.

BS Ranch



Two die in gun battle outside Rialto club



Download story podcast

11:43 PM PDT on Sunday, August 5, 2007
By DUANE W. GANG
The Press-Enterprise

Two people were killed and a third was critically wounded after an early morning gunbattle Sunday outside a Rialto nightclub, police said.

About 1:45 a.m., a crowd had gathered outside the El Patio Nightclub at 333 E. Foothill Blvd. when a confrontation broke out and a man pulled a handgun and opened fire, police said.

The man fatally shot Adrian Alvarado, 17, of Rialto, in the head and wounded Eduardo Marin, 25, in the torso before the club's armed security fatally shot the gunman, Rialto police Sgt. Tim Lane said Sunday.

Alvarado and Marin had been standing in the parking lot when they were hit by gunfire, police said. The club's private security then confronted the gunman, whose identity has not been released, and exchanged gunshots, police said.

The gunman at the scene and the private security guard, whose name was not released, was not injured, police said.

Alvarado and the suspect died at the scene, while Marin was taken to a local hospital where he was in critical condition on Sunday, Lane said.

Police interviewed and released the private security guard, and authorities will forward the case to the San Bernardino County district attorney's office for review, police said.

No one returned a message left at the nightclub on Sunday.

Reach Duane W. Gang at 909-806-3062 or dgang@PE.com

Friday, August 10, 2007

Fontana Teenager Kidnapped & Raped!! (SB Daily Bulletin July, 26, 2007)

BS Ranch Perspective

This was Terrible news, and it came at the worst time, when the crime report came out indicating that Violent Crime in Rialto was Down, Suddenly this comes out and it looks that this had to have occurred in San Bernardino, the Rapist who Kidnapped his Victim didn't show any Mercy he released her on a city street injured

It seems that The Suspect waited until the Victim was getting into her Vehicle and as she was getting into her car he ran at the Open Driver door and forcibly moved the victim from the driver seat to the passenger side of the vehicle while her friends watched. The Suspect then Grabbed the Shifter the Steering wheel and drove away from the location where they where.

The Suspect to the victim to a remote location raped her & then dumped her in Temecula battered and obviously scarred from fighting or attempting to fight the Suspect off of her, but to no avail. The suspect was to strong and was able to over power her and Well Rape her.

Unfortunately if the suspect, or when the suspect is caught he will only see about Two (2) years Prison and then another Three(3) years of a Formal Probation with checks upon what he is doing and his where abouts. He will have to Register as a Sexual Predator no matter where he is or what he does that is what he does. The Sexual Registrant portion or clause of his Probation will be permanent and will last on his person until he dies. He is a registrant always.

I just pray that they get the suspect that did this and they change the Rape Penalties and he be held longer, The suspect in this case will be held longer just because of the Kidnapping portion of the case, not to mention the Grand Theft Auto, and the Rape, all are part of the same case, so all this will come into consideration when it is time to convict this prisoner

This Suspect however needs to be found and locked up, because he has found the lust for woman, and he has found the way to do it, that works for him. This suspect most likely will attack again in the next few weeks.

BS Ranch






Fontana teenager kidnapped, raped
By Stacia Glenn, Staff Writer

SAN BERNARDINO - She was left bruised and broken on a deserted road last week as her kidnapper and rapist drove away in her car.

Just hours before, the 17-year-old Fontana girl had been gassing up her black Nissan Xterra with four friends when a man ran up - using his hands to simulate a handgun - and ordered everyone from the car.

She didn't move quickly enough. The man pushed her into the passenger seat and drove away, leaving her shocked friends behind. After raping her, the girl was abandoned in Temecula, authorities said.

A man identified as Jose Alvarado, 27, was arrested Wednesday afternoon after the girl's car was found in an alley two blocks from his home, police said. Forensic evidence linked him to the crime, they said.

"This was your daughter or my daughter going to a gas station to get gas," said San Bernardino police Lt. Scott Paterson. "She's just a sweet young lady and this guy ... I don't even have words to describe him."

Alvarado has no record. Police believe he has sexually assaulted other women and encourage victims to come forward.

The girl and her friends were sitting at a gas pump at a Valero station at 1933 W. Highland Ave. just before midnight last Friday

when Alvarado appeared from the darkness. It is unclear why he wanted the car, authorities say.

The Inland Regional Apprehension Team, comprised of police, FBI and San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies, found Alvarado outside his home on West 19th Street on Wednesday.

Alvarado tried to run, police said, leading them on a short chase. Police said he eventually confessed to raping the girl and was booked at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga on suspicion of carjacking, kidnapping and sexual assault.

"End of story. Predator off the street," Paterson said, adding that several future assaults have probably been prevented with Alvarado's arrest.

This was the city's 22nd reported rape this year. There were 23 last year.

Investigators were trying to determine whether there is any link to a similar case in Highland.

A young woman was accosted by three men Wednesday when she returned home from a convenience store. One man took her year-old child, the other two forced her and her baby inside, where they raped the woman for 20 minutes before returning the babies, deputies said.

Sexual assault counselors say it's important for victims to report the crime because it empowers them and may prevent other women from being attacked.

"The only way that perpetrators really get away with this crime is the silence from their victims," said Nicole Richards, site coordinator for San Bernardino Sexual Assault Services.

"By breaking that silence, it's empowering for them because they're no longer holding onto this secret but it's sending a message to the perpetrator that this type of behavior will not be tolerated," she added.

Assault victims seeking counseling, support or just someone to talk to can call a 24-hour hot line at (909) 885-8884 or (800) 656-HOPE.

Anyone with information on the San Bernardino crime or any other rapes to which Alvarado may be linked are asked to call (909) 384-5615.

Contact writer Stacia Glenn at (909) 386-3887 or via e-mail at stacia.glenn@sbsun.com.

_____________________________

UPDATE:

It is my understanding that Law Enforcement Picked up the Suspects in this Horrific Crime was Arrested and is now Facing False Imprisonment Crimes, along with the rape sexual battery, Kidnapping and several other crimes that this retired old officer cannot think of right now!!

I just pray for the Victim to have the strength to go through this and be able to testify against these guys if need be, and if not, that she get the proper help so that she will be able to get through life again, because her life has been torn from what it once was and she will never get that back, once it is believed to be back then is when something happens that her confidence is taken away and everything starts all over again. It seems like I have seen this before, well I have!! I cannot say where or by whom, but I have seen this happen, and it is something that is so hard for a Victim to overcome!! I will do all that I can do that that is to pray for God to show her Forgiveness in her heart for the Asses that did this crime to her, and once that is done the healing can begin. May God be with her and her family, right now they need it!!

BS Ranch

Thursday, August 09, 2007

Renaissance Rialto Project DELAYED ?? (SB Sun 07312007) Economy a factor in plan's slowdown

BS Ranch Perspective

I don't understand why the City Council, City Planning, and the City Administration of Rialto would want to wait on the biggest Commercial planning Event that they have wanted for the past (5) Five years!

Ever since they met in the Cocoa's Restaurant in Diamond Bar, with Rep. Gary Miller (Whittier) and the city Planning Director, and cooked up a plan to close the Rialto Airport, Via a, Pork Measure, Attached to the Largest Transportation Bill that has ever been sent to the Presidents Oval Office to be signed. President Bush Signed the Transportation Bill, Which Meant the Following:
  • The airport could close by a Vote of The City Council
  • The City Council would be Relieved from the money owed to Expand the Airport in the 1990's
  • As Payment for the "Pork Bill" Rep. Gary Miller's Development Company (Lewis Homes) Would get the contract to Develop the Airport-Instead of the Development job going to a bid
  • They would plan a Commercial Shopping area similar to that of Victoria Gardens, Called Rialto Renaissance @ the I-210
Now that all the paper work is done the airport needs to close, and the Real Estate Sales are in a Slump, by almost 50%, so they decide to take it at a snails Pace, Which means that they will not close the Airport when they had planned, Which was at the end of the Summer 2007, and move the Lease's To The San Bernardino International Airport, where they will be located from now on.

The Businesses that are tied to the Airport all will be moved at the City of Rialto's Expense and they're First Year's Lease will be also Paid by Rialto or the inconvenience of having to move.

Now I agree that the City should pay for all this, but I also think that they made a Schedule and they should live by it. the Freeway is open and the sooner that they develop Rialto, the sooner that they will not have to be paying for Rent at the San Bernardino International Airport!!

City of Rialto Get off the POT, WIPE and GET TO WORK!!

BS Ranch





Renaissance Rialto project delayed
Economy a factor in plan's slowdown
Jason Pesick, Staff Writer
San Bernardino County Sun
Article Launched:07/31/2007 12:00:00 AM PDT

Photo Gallery: Renaissance Rialto

RIALTO - Plans to turn Rialto Municipal Airport and the surrounding area into 1,500 acres of mixed-use development along the 210 Freeway are a little behind schedule, but construction could start sometime next year.

Only a few months ago, it looked as if the City Council would take up a land-use plan for the project, dubbed, later this year and that the airport could be closed this year as well.

But it looks as if the council won't get the proposal until next year, and it's not clear when the airport will close. Officials are even talking about breaking the project into two parts so the commercial zone along the 210 can get going as quickly as possible, said Robb Steel, the city's economic development director.

"I think they're probably re-evaluating some of the things that they had planned with the economy changing," Councilwoman Winnie Hanson said of the developers. She doesn't mind the developers taking their time, she said, if it helps get the project right.

The slowing housing market is a factor in the delay. Steel said the developers, a partnership between the Lewis Group of Companies and Texas-based Hillwood, are considering cutting the amount of housing to be included in the project - and that's why the council will be getting a plan later.

Some city officials also weren't thrilled after a May workshop that discussed the retail options considered for the project.

Until there's a workable plan for the project that the council is happy with, nothing can move forward, Steel said. The developers aren't going to want to pay an estimated $40 million required to relocate the tenants from the airport unless the project is moving forward, Steel said.

Two or three of the airport's 250 tenants have already left, but most probably won't start leaving until the spring, said airport Director Rich Scanlan. The entire process could take nine or 10 months, he said.

The retail zone can be built as long as the north-south runway is closed, meaning the east-west runway could remain open for a while if the project is split in two, Steel said.

The project's environmental impact report is also taking longer than hoped. At the City Council meeting on July 17, the council approved tweaking the EIR.

At the May workshop, consultants and representatives from the development team told council members and residents a Target store will anchor the retail center. It also will likely include an office-supplies store, an electronics store, like Best Buy, and some other large stores.

At the outset, the project won't be able to attract high-end restaurants or shopping, the presenters said. Until the area grows, and wealthier residents move in, the restaurants would probably include places like Applebee's and Red Robin.

Councilman Joe Baca Jr. said he would give the presentation a "C-" at best and that Lewis is going back to the drawing board. He said he's interested in creating a lake in the project and wants there to be community-oriented venues like a movie theater even if they don't generate a ton of sales-tax revenue.

Aside from thinking about reducing the number of homes, Lewis is making small changes to the project, Steel said.

"There is some retooling, but it's not radically different as far as the retail side goes," he said. He agreed the presentation about the types of tenants the area could attract did worry some of the council members, but he said he thought the presentation was also optimistic because the presenters pointed out that as the area grows, it will be able to attract higher-end tenants. Those could include The Cheesecake Factory, P.F. Chang's, California Pizza Kitchen or Claim Jumper, according to a report by Greg Stoffel, a retail consultant on the project.

Some of the properties near the main retail area could host entertainment venues like a movie theater, Steel said.

Hanson said developing the area will take time.

"I do know that luring a higher quality store is not easy, but I think they will come."

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Council: Sucession 'Off The Table' (The Daily Independent Aug. 3, 2007) The Sucession Debate in Ridgecrest is over, at least officially!

Council: Secession 'off the table'

BY NATHANIEL LIEDL
Published: Friday, August 3, 2007 12:21 PM CDT
E-mail this story | Print this page


Staff Reporter

ncliedl@gmail.com

The secession debate in Ridgecrest is over, at least officially.


The Ridgecrest City Council unanimously passed a motion to remove any talk of secession from Kern County and annexation into Inyo County at their meeting on Wednesday night.

In early June, Vice Mayor Tom Wiknich proposed that the Council do a "thorough analysis" on what the City expends and receives from the County. Wiknich also said that "...the City should look into the prospect of Ridgecrest seceding from Kern County and annexing into Inyo County."

That prompted First District Supervisor Jon McQuiston to appear before the Council in June and again in July. On July 18, McQuiston, along with Kern County staff, presented the financial numbers on what the City expends and receives from the County.



At that meeting, McQuiston said the City receives $2.73 for every dollar they give to the County.

Within the last two weeks, Wiknich, with other Council members, met with McQuiston and State Assemblywoman Jean Fuller. Wiknich said last week's meeting with McQuiston, City Manager Harvey Rose, and Mayor Pro Tem Steve Morgan was "very cordial, polite, friendly, and open and candid." The meeting lasted almost three hours with discussion focused on the renegotiation of the Redevelopment Agreement of 1987 and the annexation of County lands.

"Supervisor McQuiston requested us to put our positions and recommendations into writing and he agreed to submit them to County officials for further discussions," said Wiknich. "As a result of these preliminary discussions we decided that we would have more of these meetings in the future on a regular basis."



That meeting, as well as the meeting with Fuller, encouraged Wiknich to permanently pull secession "off the table."

"In conclusion, I believe the numbers we got from the County were very complete and favorable," said Wiknich. "I also believe the meeting to begin the renegotiations was very positive and open and having Assemblywoman Fuller offer to help us on the state level is really exciting. As a result of these positive steps I would like to make a motion that while we have an analysis ongoing as far as trying to get this roads initiative passed I would like to make a motion to take annexing into Inyo County off the table officially."

The Council carried the motion 5-0.



"We can symbolically vote because we never voted on it to begin with," said Mayor Pro Tem Steve Morgan. "But to appease some people let's just get it over with."

Because the City is now aware of its financial situation in relation to the County, it is up to the City to pass a road initiative on their own, said Wiknich.

"Since December 2006 we have been discussing putting to the people of Ridgecrest another roads initiative asking people for the third time to approve a sales tax increase for the purpose of fixing the roads in Ridgecrest," said Wiknich.



"The people were telling us that they want us to fight the higher levels of government to find funding first. Some have even suggested we should sue higher levels of government. They told us that before we asked them to approve a roads initiative they wanted to be sure that we had done everything we can to raise money — as much money as we can — before asking them to approve a tax. And then after, if we can convince them that we've done everything we can then, they may be willing to pass such a final initiative. The last one was very close to passing we just need a few more votes to get one through."

The Kern Council of Governments is scheduling a presentation for the "state transportation fund cycle for the [California Transportation Commission]" on October 3, said Morgan. He said it is "imperative that the community understand what's going on there."

"I think it will drive home the point as we are moving forward on a possible measure exactly what we're not going to get for the next several years," said Morgan. "Again, what [Wiknich] was talking about, trying to get the information to prove to the public we're doing absolutely everything we can to give you all the informaiton necessary to make a well rounded decision on any measure that may make it to ballot."



A bond measure would be "specific" for road improvements which would require a two thirds vote, Rose said last month.

"The Council has talked about presenting another financial issue to the public sometime in 2008," said Rose.

In other matters, the Council passed a resolution to authorize City Manager Rose to enter into an agreement with Hall and Foreman, Inc. for the preparation of plans and specifications for the traffic signal at the intersection of South China Lake Boulevard and Church Avenue.



Funding for construction of the signal had been partially received through Hazard Elimination Safety funds. Hall and Foreman, Inc. will complete the project for $16,000.

The Council also held a public hearing on the sale of a commercial building in the Ridgecrest Business Park. Mary Boster will open a print facility/business center on the lot. There was no public comment.

Lastly, the Council designated Mayor Chip Holloway as the City's Voting Delegate for the League of California Cities Annual Conference, taking place from Sept. 5-8 in Sacramento. Holloway asked fellow council members to e-mail him with input on issues to be discussed at the conference.





___________________________________________________________________________________________

BS Ranch Perspective

I am one that is of the sound and full belief that the City of Ridgecrest that is located in the County of Kern, would have received better service had they voted to move the County line to take in their City and surrounding area into the County of INYO. For the simple reason that Inyo county Seat is so much closer to Ridgecrest then Kern County's Is, I mean really, Kern Counties looks towards Ridegecrest as part of a Step Child that doesn't do their choirs to keep their room clean, so they are looked down upon and they don't get any of the Counties funding to keep themselves as part of the budgeting such as the dogs, and the Dog Pound.

In some ways it is better that the things stay the same in other ways it would have been a good thing to have Ridgecrest and a Second City, Especially one as big as Ridgecrest in the County of INYO, to top off the County coffers..But as the saying goes, the more things change the more that they stay the same.
they are never more true then with the City of Ridgecrest and the County of Inyo!!

BS Ranch


The Man Behind Rialto's Renaissance (SB Sun July 31st 2007) Rep. G. Miller & Robb Steel. Who doesn't even live in Rialto,

The man behind Rialto's renaissance
Jason Pesick, Staff Writer

RIALTO - One of the most important meetings in city history actually took place outside the city - at the Coco's in Diamond Bar in fall 2004.

About a half dozen people met for a power breakfast that morning. The topic of conversation: getting Rep. Gary Miller's help to close Rialto's airport so it could be replaced with the indiscreetly named Renaissance Rialto, a master-planned community.

Set up by the project's developer, the Lewis Group of Companies, breakfast-goers included Miller, David Lewis, some advisers and Robb Steel, Rialto's economic development director.

"It was such a pipe dream," Steel said of closing the airport, which, with Miller's help, Congress approved in 2005. The breakfast was a success.

After chowing down on the weekday special of scrambled eggs, bacon, hash browns and coffee, Steel, now 50, picked up the check, calling it a "small price" to pay.

It's been a week since the opening of the 210 Freeway extension between Rialto and San Bernardino. The completion of the freeway makes the coming months and years critical for Rialto, and Steel is the man in the center of it all.

"I feel really, really blessed to have him," said City Administrator Henry Garcia.

Garcia said he "begged" Steel to come to Rialto after the two worked in the same capacities in Colton.

An old baseball player with a dry wit and dark hair sprinkled with gray, Steel looks like a guy a developer can do business with. And he talks like someone you want managing projects. He has a tendency to answer questions by referencing complex economic models, footnotes in financial studies and in a bureaucrat-speak it takes a master's degree in public administration to have a chance at decoding.

Steel couldn't be at the city at a better time, said former Councilman Joe Sampson.

"From an economic development and redevelopment point of view, Robb has been one of the best things that has happened for the city," he said.

Earlier this year, Steel saved the city millions of dollars by negotiating an increase in the minimum amount of money the city would make off selling the airport to develop it.

When it became clear the city might get only $6 million because of a disagreement with other parties in the deal, Steel helped negotiate increasing the minimum the city would make to $26 million.

"I respect Robb Steel more than any redevelopment director we've ever had," said resident Greta Hodges, who doesn't shy away from criticizing city officials and decisions she doesn't like. She said she's a fan of Steel because he's honest - he answers even tough questions truthfully, she said - and because he's realistic about what should be built in Rialto.

Steel, who lives in San Clemente, said he's willing to make the drive because working as a redevelopment director in the Inland Empire is exciting. He likes the intellectual challenge of dealing with a region that is growing faster than its infrastructure can be built.

A project like Renaissance Rialto, with a price tag between $1 billion and $2 billion, is almost unheard of in a city the size of Rialto, he said.

"I'd like this to be the last city that I work for."

Steel's office is packed with binders about the projects moving forward in Rialto. He also has a Maxwell Smart bobblehead - "I'm bumbling like he was," he said - and an autographed photo of Barbara Feldon, who played Agent 99 in "Get Smart."

Steel thought the autograph was real, but learned it was a joke perpetrated by some of the staff in the office.

There's an air of levity in the Redevelopment Agency office downtown, which is down from City Hall a few blocks.

Steel's No. 2, Economic Development Manager Greg Lantz, said Steel makes the staff work long hours.

"He's a taskmaster," Lantz said of the boss, "but at least he's good to work for."

_______________________________________________________________________________________

BS Ranch Perspective

That very important meeting as it is quoted as saying took place, and I am actually surprised that the reporter finally!! FINALLY!! A Reporter got it right that there was something funny going on with the Congress, and the "Largest Transportation Bill" in the Congresses History!

Representative Gary Miller of Chino Hills, Whittier, and that area, Which had NOTHING TO DO WITH RIALTO at that time, placed a small piece of "pork" to the Transportation bill. If the president signed the bill, that little piece of added pork that Rep. G. Miller placed in the can was going to allow the City Council to Close the Rialto Airport with a small Popular Vote by them. Something that had NEVER BEEN DONE IN THE UNITED STATES of AMERICA BEFORE!! Rialto was about to make history, against the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). As we know the president signed the bill and the City of Rialto made that Historical Vote Against the advice of the F.A.A.

Rep. G. Miller's Payback for his contribution to this plan was simple, Rialto Council member's Ed Scott and Joe Sampson Promised by a hand shake no doubt, since this is kind of not so up above par, promised the Development of the Airport land to Rep. Gary Miller's Development Company, You know it makes you wonder? How the congressmen, and Representatives of this fine land go into Office and come out Richer then when they entered!!! Just something that makes you wonder?? Especially since this was such a cut and dry thing. However I hope that the properties were held above the standard again. It just makes me sick how this happens. Business is just sickening.

This whole meeting makes me sick, because the hard working development companies that worked hard to get to where they are today!!

I truly hope that the business practices that Rep. Gary Miller took to get the Bid for the development of Rialto's Airport Land ("The Rialto Renaissance) Because that sure puts a bad taste in my mouth about how the business is done for small cities and towns. Bloomington is attempting to become a City, however I feel that Fontana, and Rialto might be putting up some blockages up to keep that land from becoming a City all their own! Now it doesn't seem like it on the news and this report (My BLOG) is the first that you are hearing of it, but mark my words there will be some blockages in a way that you will least expect it, to keep Bloomington from becoming their own City!!

Rialto Renaissance is something that might or might not happen either, they keep closing and slowly closing the airport. but as for now the airport is still open!! The places that they were hoping to make large gatherings of Automobiles and travelers to get from their homes to the 210 Freeway are not happening.

In fact there are less cars on Ayala, Riverside, Baseline, and well most all the commuter streets in Rialto then there was before, with the exception of the ones that are around the commuter streets (Valley S.Riverside Ave, Riverside around the 210 on ramps, Ayala at 210 fwy, Ayala at 210, North Riverside Ave @ Sierra Ave, to get in I-15 fwy) Other then that the city streets have about the same amount of traffic on them and there is less or slower traffic.

There really isn't that much Traffic increase that would warrant any closure of any Airport for shopping and more traffic desire, the Rialto Renaissance should be placed on hold because the demand is slow for it right now. Also the way that the airport was closed should be looked into by the Federal Government for any Criminal Wrongdoing, on the part of Rep. Gary Miller, any and all of the Council members on Rialto City Council, Specifically Edward Scott, and Joseph Sampson, the rest of the council for possible wrong doing on this passing of the note & closure of the Airport Via their Vote!!

BS Ranch

Monday, August 06, 2007

Bloggers Take Aim at City Governments--& Hit Home RUN!! (LA Times Aug. 06, 2007)

BS Ranch Perspective

Who said that the Bloggers in this world didn't have any POWER to be HEARD by the Political persons that they are writing about. I guess that means that I better make sure my sentence structure is much more clearer, and understandable! Not so rambling, because when I write a sentence, especially in a paragraph I have a tendency to write run on sentences. he he

I am glad that some of the stuff that we are writing is getting noticed, some of the stuff I have written has been pretty harsh of the leadership of the City of Rialto, since Rialto has had so much trouble with the Council, Owen, who is somebody that seems to be taking the people of Rialto for a Ride!! The Taxpayers of Rialto need to stand up to the City Council and say why! Why! do we need to continue with the Law Suit for the Perchlorate Contamination, when every other City has used the USDA, and spent around $1Million, and change to set up their filter system to clean up their water system. Rialto's Council Owen takes the businesses to court that is responsible for the Water Contamination so far the City of Rialto has paid up wards of $18Million and some change to set up and start the Filters, Court Costs. The Lawyer fees I don't believe are calculated in the $18million, I think those are still being calculated in the hip pockets of Mr Owens pants!! I can say however, that the charges for the Lawsuit against the businesses that are being tallied up and charged upon the TAXPAYERS of RIALTO CITY, by Owen's are ABOVE the already $734, 000.00 that is paid to him by the city each year to retain him just to attend the Council Meetings and the Closed Door Sessions

The City Council really should look at what the other cities have done to rid themselves of the torment of Perchlorate Contamination!! What they will find is that those other Cities Teamed up with the United States Department of Agriculture, and with their assistance they set up a Drinking Water Filtration System that was adequate enough to clean the Perchlorate down to one part per billion, almost none. The biggest news was that the cost to all the cities that used the United States Department of Agriculture, to clean the water, they all spent about $1Million and change to clean the water, when you look at the $18Million that Rialto is at in Court fees now, and wonder What Owen's Thoughts were when he was thinking about how to quickly and the cheapest way to clean the water in Rialto. Owen Came up with a Law Suit that has Cost the Rialto Taxpayer's WELL OVER WHAT THE TAX MONEY THAT THE J&K UTILITY TAX FUND HAS BROUGHT IN!! Now Owen's has said that the Law Suit is imperative and that he is going to win, but Owen's also has said that it was time to join look into using the United States Department of Agriculture, to see if maybe if the city can get the water all set up with the Perchlorate filters all set up, that they will be able to attempt to proceed with their law suits to try to get their money back on them!!

GREAT JOB That OWENS has done so far, it seems to me that all Owen's had to do was to check on one of the other cities that were suffering from Perchlorate Contamination in their Water Wells, and see how they handled it!! But it is the belief of this writer that even if Owen's had found out about the U.S.D.A. assisting on the Perchlorate Clean up at the cost through a large grant via the Federal Government, that Owen still would have looked at all those lawyer's Fees that he is still going to collect on and he still is going to get the extra bonus on his yearly salary because of the clean up of the perchlorate. It doesn't matter what Owens does it is like he is gold here with the Rialto City Council, However compared to the other Cities I would have taken notice and felt that he was trying to take advantage!! WHICH HE IS!!

Owen's Has to be Fired by the City of Rialto from this MISREPRESENTATION!!

BS Ranch






Bloggers take aim at city governments -- and hit home

Some websites are watchdogs, others are just scurrilous, but their influence on the cities they cover is growing.
By Jonathan Abrams, Times Staff Writer
July 23, 2007

"Grandpa Terrace" didn't mince words. He wanted the mayor of Grand Terrace, a small city wedged between two scenic mountain ridges in San Bernardino County, run out of office.

The anonymous blogger posted documents on his website that, he said, showed that Mayor Maryetta Ferre and Mayor Pro Tem Lee Ann Garcia were beholden to developers putting up big-box stores such as Lowe's.

"We need to recall them now," "Grandpa Terrace" fumed a year ago. "We don't want more traffic, more crime, dayworkers just to bring in some pocket change, when the cost to the city will go up to combat the problems brought by these types of development."

His rants helped fuel a recall effort last year against the two council members. Although the campaign ultimately failed, his blog was another example of the growing influence of citizen journalists roiling communities across Southern California, many of which rarely are covered by newspapers or other traditional media outlets.

These muckraking bloggers say they have stepped in to fill the government watchdog vacuum. Some are anonymous, others are scurrilous and, on occasion, possibly libelous. And to local politicians, most are a royal pain in the tuchis.

Bloggers in the San Gabriel Valley have raised the alarm about a possible budget crisis in Sierra Madre; ones in the Inland Empire have written about the high costs of trimming city trees in Claremont and allegations that killers are getting away with murder in Pomona.

"We realize in today's electronic environment, it's a fact of life," said Grand Terrace City Manager Thomas Schwab. "The thing that's the most disturbing is they can put things on the blog that have no basis in fact, and you really can't refute it."

It may only be a matter of time before bloggers start to have a major influence in local politics and policymaking.

"It's inexpensive, and my guess is there are a lot of people who find it fun," said Matthew Spitzer, former USC Law School dean.

"There have always been citizens who love to go to city council meetings and see what's going on. Putting it on a blog makes it a lot easier and it increases accessibility to 24/7."

In Grand Terrace, the recall effort fell about 500 signatures short of the 1,506 needed to trigger the election. A citizen-driven group, buoyed by the blog, collected signatures at a Stater Bros. market and mailed petitions to residents.

"For years the city of Grand Terrace tried to keep residents in the dark," said resident Jo Springfield, a strong supporter of the recall effort. "The blog enlightened many residents to start asking questions and going to meetings."

Several bloggers interviewed by The Times insisted on anonymity, saying they feared a backlash from city officials.

All said they were residents of the area they report on and got involved because their community did not receive enough coverage from the traditional media.

"We want our words to stand on our own, and with anonymity, the only way someone can judge us is by what we write," said Publius of the Foothill Cities News Blog, who takes his pseudonym from the Roman whose name was used by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison when they wrote the Federalist Papers.

"If we send an e-mail to an elected official, the odds are we won't get a response," he said. "But if enough people read it, they are going to have to respond at some point."

The Foothill Cities Blog, which covers several cities in the San Gabriel Valley, was the first to report that Assemblywoman Nell Soto (D-Pomona) was absent from the Capitol for 25 days because of pneumonia. It was later reported that she still collected more than $20,000 in per diem pay.

The website also has been critical of Pomona's high crime rate, saying that the local press ignores the issue.

"It took a rash of violent crime, or should I say a rash of violent crime that finally received lots of press, but the council's new focus on law enforcement is commendable," said a post in June applauding efforts to hire additional law enforcement officers.

But the praise is mixed with criticism aimed at Pomona officials. The site drew the ire of administrators in May after posting that its city manager was forced to step down — which city officials said was untrue.

"It took me back to high school days when you gossip with girlfriends," said Pomona Mayor Norma Torres, adding that she may start her own blog to communicate directly with constituents. "Some of the information reads like a gossip column."

Pomona City Atty. Arnold M. Alvarez-Glasman sent a cease-and-desist letter to the website, ordering it to remove the post.

"While the City of Pomona strongly supports an individual's First Amendment Rights … it is difficult to respond to anonymous fabrications such as those published by you in your web-site publication," he wrote.

The website took down the post but enlisted free-speech attorney Jean-Paul Jassy to respond.

"In many ways, these kinds of sites are at the cutting edge and more modern vision of commentary," Jassy said. "The Constitution and the U.S. Supreme Court placed a high premium on making sure freedom of speech is protected, especially when it comes to commenting on public officials."

It is the anonymity that separates the bloggers from professional journalists, said Michael Parks, director of the journalism program at USC's Annenberg School for Communication.

"Journalists need to accept responsibility for their reporting and comments, and that provides for them to be identified," said Parks, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter who is a former editor of the Los Angeles Times.

"Anonymous blogs are similar to writing something up, not signing it and putting it on a bulletin. It's more social commentary than anything."

Although blogs are protected under the 1st Amendment, they are vulnerable to libel lawsuits, said Erwin Chemerinsky, a Duke University constitutional law professor.

They present unique 1st Amendment challenges.

"They cannot have defamatory speech any more than a traditional media type; however, the difficulty with an anonymous blog is who is actually doing the blogging?" he said. "And if you ask a server to take it down, what happens if they refuse?"

Two years ago, the Delaware Supreme Court ruled that an elected official who makes a defamation claim against an anonymous blogger must have substantial evidence to support the claim. Otherwise the lawsuit could not proceed and the blogger would remain masked.

A similar case has yet to be heard in California.

The California Supreme Court, however, ruled last year that Internet service providers and bloggers cannot be held liable for posting defamatory material written by someone else. The case was brought by two doctors who said they were defamed by a San Diego activist for victims of problem breast implants who called one doctor "arrogant and bizarre" and the other "a bully and a Nazi."

In Claremont, former Mayor Diann Ring threatened the Claremont Insider blog with a defamation suit.

The blog has criticized moves by the city's landscaping and lighting district assessments and targeted former city officials, including Ring, for contracting with a water agency outside the city.

"When you turn on your tap, when you pay your water bill, or if your house burned down in 2003, think of Diann Ring; in fact, call her up and thank her personally for her 'vision,' " one April post said.

Claremont Mayor Peter S. Yao said the blog provided a bit of insight but had to be taken with a grain of salt.

"It certainly is one additional input for the City Council on how some of the population feels on certain issues," he said. "Occasionally, it sheds a little light on a situation, but most of the time it is a rumor mill."

For all the furor the blogs create, city officials could take a cue from Fontana Mayor Mark Nuaimi.

Nuaimi routinely posts on a blog in his city and said he welcomed it as a way to communicate with citizens.

"I'm not going to sugarcoat things," he said. "If somebody misses the issue, I'll tell them. I'm sure folks in the future will use whatever I've written and will twist it. Frankly, my job is to do my job, and part of my job is to answer people's questions."


Fontana Officer Killed in Motorcycle Crash!! (Daily Bulletin Aug. 06, 2007)

BS Ranch Perspective

Being one that came close to loosing my life in a collision between a Motorcycle and another vehicle, it isn't much hope, but I just want to say that I am offering my prayers for the Molina Family, and for his extended family. I understand that he has two small children and that isn't going to be easy on them. The power of prayer works, I am a test to that! However in this case, God had a stronger calling for Jose Molina Jr., Stronger then his own family, and stronger then the Citizens of Fontana and surrounding area that trusted to keep them safe in the crime area that they lived.

I often go through the problem in my Life when this sort of accident happens. See, Officer Jose Molina Jr. was probably a great Officer with Fontana Police Department! The calling that God had for him was to probably to protect the gates of Heaven or the Walls of Heaven or the likes of Security for the Lord God. It was that I fought to hard to stay alive, and when God kept pulling my Heart to stop, the four times that he did, the prayers from my Family, Friends, and the People From the City of Rialto Prayed me back to life.

I am left now in this world with a Chronic Pain Disorder, and now I just pray and pray and pray for all the fallen Officers. They either, Pass while on a motorcycle, or in a car accident, while on duty or off duty! During my accident I had passed away five times, but the doctors and the paddles were able to bring me back to life. I credit the doctor's, however I cannot be blind to the fact that there was half of Rialto praying for me to live. Keeping that in mind, I have to give a very large credit to God, and the Spiritual side that was raised by the people from my Family, Friends, and the people of Rialto.

Because God Granted me a pass, I really wish I could give it up, and pass it on to Officer Jose Molina Jr. so that he could be left to raise his children. and tell them stories of his conquests in his life not just the ones that he had when he was a Police Officer. J. Molina and his family, My prayers are going out to you and that will be it. I am filled with sorrow for you and yours.

BS Ranch



Fontana officer killed in motorcycle crash

MAIT investigates a scene of fatal accident involving an off-duty Fontana PD officer and a big rig that happened early Monday, Aug. 6, 2007 near the intersection of Foothill Boulevard and Cherry Avenue in Fontana.(Mediha Fejzagic DiMartino/Staff Photographer)
FONTANA -- An off-duty Fontana police officer was killed in a motorcycle crash this morning.

Jose Manuel Molina Jr., 28, was riding a motorcycle east on Foothill Boulevard when he collided with a semi truck that was pulling out of a business lot.

The 2:30 a.m. crash occurred at the intersection of Foothill Boulevard and Cherry Avenue. Molinas died at the scene. It is unclear whether the other driver was injured.

The California Highway Patrol's Major Accident Investigation Team came to the scene at 2:50 a.m. to investigate the crash, said Officer Jeremy Pursley.

Officers shut down Foothill between Cherry and Mulberry Avenue.

Thursday, August 02, 2007

Former Councilmember gets New State Post. (Press Enterprise 080107) Kurt Wilson is appointed by California Corrections...

BS Ranch Perspective
I beleive that Kurt Will do good there. He has moved on from working for the Mayor of San Bernardino, and working for the State of California Corrections he is making a great deal more money then he was as a Council Member and has he was running the Crime Prevention Unit of the San Bernarino.
I am proud of Kurt and feel that he will do a great job.
BS Ranch
10:42 PM PDT on Wednesday, August 1, 2007

Former councilman gets new state post

Former Rialto City Councilman Kurt Wilson has been appointed chief of external affairs, a new post with the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, according to a news release issued Wednesday by Gov. Schwarzenegger.

In his new post, Wilson will work with outside groups interested in the prison system and advise department administrators about policies and programs.

Most recently, Wilson, 34, has served for about a year as director of the Office of Community Safety and Violence Prevention for the city of San Bernardino. From 1992 to 2006, Wilson was chief operating officer for Innovation Treatment Centers in Rialto and served as chief executive officer beginning in 2000.

Wilson served on the Rialto council from 2000 to 2004 and as a city planning commissioner from 1992 to 2000. Wilson, a Democrat, will be paid $97,296, according to the release.

--Gail Wesson

gwesson@PE.com

Rialto Airport Project Slow To Take Off (Daily Bulletin July 30, 2007) Economy, Housing Market looked at as possible factors in devlopment slowdown..

BS Ranch Perspective
I feel that the Rialto City Council was in a Hell Fire Hurry to close the Rialto Airport, and Replace it with a Shopping Mall, and over 750-800 Single Family Houses! However since the Real Estate market isn't what it should be there is a change of heart. Does this mean that the Leadership of the City will only lead the City of Rialto if It is the Style the Thing to do at the time. If it's the Buyer's Market, then it's the time to Develop the city into a Place to be inviting and a place to live, but not now!!
Sometimes I wonder about the leadership of the city, they figure that they will get cheaper Law Enforcement with the County of San Bernardino, so with a Quick Decision they decide to close the doors of a Seventy year old Tradition of Law Enforcement in the the Community of Rialto, and Suddenly they voted the Sheriff Department contract on the table to be the Law Enforcement for the Community of Rialto!
After an almost year long fight, from the RPBA (Rialto Police Benefit Assoc.) and the Citizens of Rialto that wanted a Community Police Department, they won that right. Because the Rialto City Council LOST this idea to "save" money, they decided to try to make nice and agree to change the laws regarding the way that Law Enforcement is Controlled for the City.
Way back in 2004, Joe Sampson and Ed Scott both Made a Deal with the Devil, To get things in line with the Federal Government, and Close the Airport. During this Coffee Meeting with Congressmen Miller, Joe Sampson, and Ed Scott they formed a plan to attach a small bit of pork to the Transportation Bill of 2004, and if President Bush Signed the Bill it would allow the City of Rialto to close the Airport and Relieve them of the amount that they owe the Federal Government for the expansions that they did to the airport back in the 1990's.
As we all know President Bush signed the bill and that gave the city council the right to close the airport. It is the first time in the United States history that an Airport has been closed by anything other then the Federal Aviation Administration. The Federal Aviation Administration recommended against the closure of Rialto Airport because (in there words) There is a need for an additional Small Airport, for a small airport for those small planes that fall into trouble and need a place to land suddenly!!
Even with the recommendation from the FAA, the Rialto City Council Closed the Airport, Yet now that the Sales of Real Estate has slowed down to a Snails Pace, so the Leadership of Rialto City decides, to hold off on the Closure of the Airport and the development of the land because of the Common Trends.
But I say if you set out to do a Goal, THEN YOU SHOULD FIGHT TO ACCOMPLISH THE GOAL!!! By waiting because of the Real Estate Trends they can and just might loose the Anchor store such as, TARGET, who has made a Commitment originally, but could back out at any time if the Leadership or Developers of Rialto don't make the area for them to build and open their store available to them to achieve their promise, Target is all about making money, and there are over 90,000 people that live in Rialto who would love to shop at an Open Target Store in the City Limits of Rialto, However Rialto doesn't make the space available for them then Target will just tell Rialto to keep their Airport open and not worry about having any RENAISSANSE.
BS Ranch
Rialto airport project slow to take off
Economy, housing market looked at as possible factors in development slowdown
By Jason Pesick, Staff Writer

Airplanes sit on the tarmac at the Rialto Municipal Airport on Friday. Development plans for the site, which includes 1,500 acres of mixed-use development along the 210 Freeway, have been delayed in part because of the housing market and the economy. (Gabriel Luis Acosta/Staff Photographer)
RIALTO - Plans to turn Rialto Municipal Airport and the surrounding area into 1,500 acres of mixed-use development along the 210 Freeway are a little behind schedule, but construction could start sometime next year.

Only a few months ago, it looked as if the City Council would take up a land-use plan for the project later this year and that the airport could be closed this year as well.

But it looks as if the council won't get the proposal until next year, and it's not clear when the airport will close. Officials are even talking about breaking the project into two parts so the commercial zone along the 210 can get going as quickly as possible, said Robb Steel, the city's economic development director.

"I think they're probably re-evaluating some of the things that they had planned with the economy changing," Councilwoman Winnie Hanson said of the developers. She doesn't mind the developers taking their time, she said, if it helps get the project right.

The slowing housing market is a factor in the delay. Steel said the developers, a partnership between the Lewis Group of Companies and Texas-based Hillwood, are considering cutting the amount of housing to be included in the project - and that's


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why the council will be getting a plan later.

Some city officials also weren't thrilled after a May workshop that discussed the retail options considered for the project.

Until there's a workable plan for the project that the council is happy with, nothing can move forward, Steel said. The developers aren't going to want to pay an estimated $40 million required to relocate the tenants from the airport unless the project is moving forward, Steel said.

Two or three of the airport's 250 tenants have already left, but most probably won't start leaving until the spring, said airport Director Rich Scanlan. The entire process could take nine or 10 months, he said.

The retail zone can be built as long as the north-south runway is closed, meaning the east-west runway could remain open for a while if the project is split in two, Steel said.

The project's environmental impact report is also taking longer than hoped. At the City Council meeting on July 17, the council approved tweaking the EIR.

At the May workshop, consultants and representatives from the development team told council members and residents a Target store will anchor the retail center. It also will likely include an office-supplies store, an electronics store, like Best Buy, and some other large stores.

At the outset, the project won't be able to attract high-end restaurants or shopping, the presenters said. Until the area grows, and wealthier residents move in, the restaurants would probably include places like Applebee's and Red Robin.

Councilman Joe Baca Jr. said he would give the presentation a "C-" at best and that Lewis is going back to the drawing board. He said he's interested in creating a lake in the project and wants there to be community-oriented venues like a movie theater even if they don't generate a ton of sales-tax revenue.

Aside from thinking about reducing the number of homes, Lewis is making small changes to the project, Steel said.

"There is some retooling, but it's not radically different as far as the retail side goes," he said. He agreed the presentation about the types of tenants the area could attract did worry some of the council members, but he said he thought the presentation was also optimistic because the presenters pointed out that as the area grows, it will be able to attract higher-end tenants.

Those could include The Cheesecake Factory, P.F. Chang's, California Pizza Kitchen or Claim Jumper, according to a report by Greg Stoffel, a retail consultant on the project.

Some of the properties near the main retail area could host entertainment venues like a movie theater, Steel said.

Hanson said developing the area will take time.

"I do know that luring a higher quality store is not easy, but I think they will come."

Contact writer Jason Pesick at (909) 386-3861 or via e-mail at jason.pesick@sbsun.com.

$18 Million Down The Drain? (SB Sun July 9, 2007) With NO Results yet, City's Perchlorate Strategy Questioned!!

BS Ranch Perspective

The strategy that the city is taking should be questioned? The City of Rialto is trying to take this on and get it all for FREE!! The City of Rialto wants the business that has been found to be responsible for the contamination of the Perchlorate, However in many cases they are not the original company that are responsible, since they purchased the company that caused the contamination long ago during The First World War!
It has long been my thought that Owen has wanted a case like this that he could charge the city an almost open Check Book of charges for Lawyer Fees, It is not surprising that it is up to $18 Million, I just wonder how much of the $18 Million has entered the bank accounts of Owen's Private home account!! He after all knows that the city of Rialto has to be getting tired of the over paid fees that they pay him, after all to pay a Layer almost $734, 000.00 a year just to be present in most City Council Meetings is just a little bit much.
Now Rialto gets this Perchlorate Contamination in their Drinking water, and come to find out that there are many Southern California Cities that also had Perchlorate Contamination in their Drinking Water Wells within their City Limits!!
Rialto Spends 18 Million in Legal Fee's to clean up the Perchlorate, and gets no where!! All the other Cities in Southern California Clean their Perchlorate Problem, with the help of the "EPA" and spend a total of about $1 Million, with all their filters needed and the water is all paid for and everything is clean!!
What does Rialto Have that is different then these other cities that seem to be able to get things done at about $17 Million cheaper and counting, that difference is a Lawyer by the name of Owen.
Rialto City Council needs to wake up and get rid of this guy and try to clean up his mistake in this "Lawsuit"!
BS Ranch

$18 million down the drain?
With no results yet, city's perchlorate strategy questioned
Jason Pesick, Staff Writer
San Bernardino County Sun
Article Launched:07/09/2007 12:00:00 AM PDT

RIALTO - City officials see their fight to clean up perchlorate-contaminated drinking water as a classic underdog story - a modest city going to court to get big corporations and the Pentagon to clean up a mess.

To City Attorney Bob Owen, it's like David and Goliath, with Rialto as David of course.

It might take more than a slingshot to do the job, though.

It might take $300 million to clean up contamination discovered in 1997.

Thus Rialto has armed itself with a team of top-tier lawyers to pursue lawsuits against suspected polluters.

City leaders say they're on a righteous quest, but some water-cleanup experts and others who have dealt with similar challenges call it folly.

Taking on the likes of the Defense Department, Goodrich, and Black and Decker during the past decade has already cost the city the equivalent of the Police Department's annual budget.

Critics want to know what that money has bought beyond constant delays in court and before state regulatory boards. They also want to know why the city didn't seek the help of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, as other communities with similar

problems have.

"It's just beyond imagination how much money they've spent on this thing," said Anthony "Butch" Araiza, general manager of the West Valley Water District, which also serves water to Rialto residents.

Owen said the city has spent about $18 million on lawsuits, legal investigators, water treatment, public relations and community meetings.

It sounds good to say the city shouldn't spend so much on attorneys, Owen said, but the city would have to pay much more to clean up the mess.

"Everybody hates lawyers," he said. "We know that."

Residents foot the bill

Rialto's legal battle is funded largely by a surcharge for customers of the city's water utility.

The surcharge starts at $6.85 a month and rises based on usage. The city water agency serves about half of Rialto, meaning about half the residents fund the formidable perchlorate effort.

West Valley Water and the Fontana Water Company serve the rest.

If Rialto wins its case in court, residents will be reimbursed, Owen said.

The council also has allocated $5 million from General Fund reserves to escalate the legal effort last year.

Rialto's best hope at getting perchlorate cleaned up quickly is the State Water Resources Control Board, which has planned August hearings on the contamination.

The board could order three suspected polluters, Goodrich, Pyro Spectaculars and Emhart Industries, which the city says is really Black and Decker, to remove the contamination.

"There's been a wealth of evidence that's been generated as a result of Rialto's litigation," said Kurt Berchtold, assistant executive officer for the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board and member of the advocacy team that will argue alongside Rialto during the state hearings.

But the companies' legal maneuvers have delayed those hearings numerous times. The state water board took over cleanup efforts because the Santa Ana board couldn't move forward.

"It's gone from bad to worse to untenable," said Michael Whitehead, president of the San Gabriel Valley Water Company, which owns Fontana Water.

Whitehead and Araiza have publicly talked about the benefits of bringing in the EPA to take over the cleanup.

The hearing delays have upset environmentalists as well.

"The corporations know how to use the legal system," said Penny Newman, executive director of the Riverside- based Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice, which will be a party in state hearings.

She defended the city's strategy and the amount of money it has spent.

"When you've been harmed, you go after the person who harmed you, which can be difficult for people of limited income," she said.

The idea is simple: Polluters should clean up their messes.

"Is it an Erin Brockovich scenario? You bet," Rialto City Administrator Henry Garcia said at a council meeting.

But "Erin Brockovich" is the wrong movie to emulate because the contamination is too complicated, Whitehead countered. He suggested watching "A Civil Action," in which the EPA takes over because the case costs too much money to put on in court.

"It's a very conventional legal strategy. It's also a failed legal strategy," Whitehead said.

He and Araiza recommend using the model the San Gabriel Valley used to clean up contaminants including perchlorate: a regional coalition of entities working with the EPA.

Comparing situations

To remove perchlorate discovered in 1997 from Baldwin Park, Whitehead said the San Gabriel Valley Water Company spent less than $1 million on legal fees. Polluters and the U.S. government paid most of the cost.

Wayne Praskins, an EPA Superfund project manager, said that if a polluter refuses to follow an EPA cleanup order but is found responsible in court, the polluter faces penalties of three times the cleanup cost.

"I think going with EPA and the Superfund program is probably the strongest mechanism a city or community has I'm always amazed that people - communities - shy away from that," Newman said.

But the EPA doesn't have super powers. The San Gabriel Valley was already a Superfund site as early as the mid-1980s, which made it easier and faster to get perchlorate cleaned up.

"It's a tough comparison," Praskins said. "It took a long time to reach agreements in the San Gabriel Valley."

To Owen, the city attorney, comparing the Rialto-Colton Basin cleanup to that of the San Gabriel Valley is like comparing apples to oranges. The EPA started looking at contamination in the San Gabriel Valley in the 1970s. When it was looking at whether to go the EPA route, Rialto looked at a number of Superfund sites, and in every case it took between 17 and 27 years to start cleaning the contamination up, Owen said.

"And that was simply unacceptable to us."

The EPA has followed the case but hasn't yet decided whether to take over, Praskins said.

A combination of factors kept the EPA from taking the lead from the get-go. Rialto thought the EPA would take too long. Owen has also said he was afraid a large Superfund site in the city would create a stigma.

EPA officials also thought state regulatory agencies could handle the case.

Berchtold speculated that Whitehead and Araiza might be pressing for an EPA takeover because the state would probably not order cleanup of some West Valley and Fontana wells.

A fault separates those wells from the Rialto-Colton Basin, and Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board staffers said they can't prove the suspected Rialto-area polluters caused the contamination in those wells.

Whitehead says the board is in over its head.

Despite the fault, Araiza prefers a regional approach and said Rialto is selfish for excluding other water agencies.

"I just don't understand being that territorial about this."

Owen said he's just looking out for Rialto. He doesn't want to divide money equally because the problem doesn't affect all agencies equally.

Rialto's City Council is getting uncomfortable with the cost. The council called for an audit of how much the city has spent on perchlorate, but members insist there will be no strategy change.

The newest councilman, Joe Baca Jr., thinks there should be.

"I'm concerned about there being a blank check out there for the attorneys," he said.

He said he can't even find out how much the city has spent.

"We have to look at it as a regional approach," he said.

Owen, on the other hand, doesn't want to change course now.

"This city's involved in possibly its largest legal battle ever in its history," he said.

"Now is not the time to blink."


What is perchlorate?

Perchlorate is used to produce such explosives as fireworks and rocket fuel.

It flows from industrial sites on Rialto's north end through the city and into Colton.

It's not clear how dangerous perchlorate is, but a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released last year says even low concentrations of perchlorate can affect the thyroid gland. Treatment systems remove perchlorate from the water before it reaches residents.

Rialto Airport Project Slow to Take Off (Daily Bulletin 073007) Economy, housing market looked as possible factors in development slowdown..

BS Ranch Perspective
It seems that the "Rialto Renaissance" is going to be placed on hold for another few years until the housing market is considered to be a "Seller's Market" then they will start to close the Airport Down, and Sell off the divided land, since they have land purchaser's ready to purchase land from them, but since the land sales are in a slump, they are in no hurry to get that shopping mall that was promised to the shopping public of Rialto to shop, or the people that were said to have a Target that was to be the only Anchor store that was going to be at this Renaissance Mall, but there isn't any other store mentioned as of yet. but I guess that is pending..
BS Ranch
Rialto airport project slow to take off
Economy, housing market looked at as possible factors in development slowdown
By Jason Pesick, Staff Writer

Airplanes sit on the tarmac at the Rialto Municipal Airport on Friday. Development plans for the site, which includes 1,500 acres of mixed-use development along the 210 Freeway, have been delayed in part because of the housing market and the economy. (Gabriel Luis Acosta/Staff Photographer)
RIALTO - Plans to turn Rialto Municipal Airport and the surrounding area into 1,500 acres of mixed-use development along the 210 Freeway are a little behind schedule, but construction could start sometime next year.

Only a few months ago, it looked as if the City Council would take up a land-use plan for the project later this year and that the airport could be closed this year as well.

But it looks as if the council won't get the proposal until next year, and it's not clear when the airport will close. Officials are even talking about breaking the project into two parts so the commercial zone along the 210 can get going as quickly as possible, said Robb Steel, the city's economic development director.

"I think they're probably re-evaluating some of the things that they had planned with the economy changing," Councilwoman Winnie Hanson said of the developers. She doesn't mind the developers taking their time, she said, if it helps get the project right.

The slowing housing market is a factor in the delay. Steel said the developers, a partnership between the Lewis Group of Companies and Texas-based Hillwood, are considering cutting the amount of housing to be included in the project - and that's


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why the council will be getting a plan later.

Some city officials also weren't thrilled after a May workshop that discussed the retail options considered for the project.

Until there's a workable plan for the project that the council is happy with, nothing can move forward, Steel said. The developers aren't going to want to pay an estimated $40 million required to relocate the tenants from the airport unless the project is moving forward, Steel said.

Two or three of the airport's 250 tenants have already left, but most probably won't start leaving until the spring, said airport Director Rich Scanlan. The entire process could take nine or 10 months, he said.

The retail zone can be built as long as the north-south runway is closed, meaning the east-west runway could remain open for a while if the project is split in two, Steel said.

The project's environmental impact report is also taking longer than hoped. At the City Council meeting on July 17, the council approved tweaking the EIR.

At the May workshop, consultants and representatives from the development team told council members and residents a Target store will anchor the retail center. It also will likely include an office-supplies store, an electronics store, like Best Buy, and some other large stores.

At the outset, the project won't be able to attract high-end restaurants or shopping, the presenters said. Until the area grows, and wealthier residents move in, the restaurants would probably include places like Applebee's and Red Robin.

Councilman Joe Baca Jr. said he would give the presentation a "C-" at best and that Lewis is going back to the drawing board. He said he's interested in creating a lake in the project and wants there to be community-oriented venues like a movie theater even if they don't generate a ton of sales-tax revenue.

Aside from thinking about reducing the number of homes, Lewis is making small changes to the project, Steel said.

"There is some retooling, but it's not radically different as far as the retail side goes," he said. He agreed the presentation about the types of tenants the area could attract did worry some of the council members, but he said he thought the presentation was also optimistic because the presenters pointed out that as the area grows, it will be able to attract higher-end tenants.

Those could include The Cheesecake Factory, P.F. Chang's, California Pizza Kitchen or Claim Jumper, according to a report by Greg Stoffel, a retail consultant on the project.

Some of the properties near the main retail area could host entertainment venues like a movie theater, Steel said.

Hanson said developing the area will take time.

"I do know that luring a higher quality store is not easy, but I think they will come."

Contact writer Jason Pesick at (909) 386-3861 or via e-mail at jason.pesick@sbsun.com.