Yes, the "good old boys/girls" on the City Council, along with their Anti-Stan Fan Club, did it once again and fooled all the taxpaying citizens. And, once again as well, they "appointed" one of their own as the new City Mayor. (Surprise!)

This is something we all have to remember when it comes election day in November. And, who will join me in a petition to remove the Council's power to "appoint" a City Mayor and turn it into what it should be...an ELECTION of the Mayor, by the voting citizens of ALL the people?

Jim Richards

CD?  Ten years ago I had to balance a tape player on a folding chair if I wanted to hear a recording of the city meetings. 

I haven't been attending city meetings because it's become a "jump down Stan's throat" show.  I don't even know Stan, but the behavior of the current council members is disgusting.  I'm not surprised about denying the audit.  When you put sunshine on trash it just stinks more. 

Thanks for the update on the development fee fiasco.  Sounds typical. 

But of course, the gang is going to take your suggestion personal!  That's the only way anything gets taken around here.

Stan, can you please tell me how much Redevelopment Agency debt has been issued, and what it has been spent on or committed to?  To the closest half-million would be great!

In essence, what the other Board members are saying is that we, the taxpayers don't have the right to know exactly what is or has been done with our tax dollars.?    An investigative audit is protection for all public officials.     Like many of you, I wonder why some officials don't want  the audit.

I certainly want to hear the CD.  Tone of voice often speaks louder than the same words said in writing.

On another note--this article is directed toward anyone who is not voting because it's inconvenient,   you can vote absentee from the comfort of your home.

http://www.bakersfield.com/...

gube - what happened at the meeting?  The citizens of Tehachapi got handed their heads. 

Mitigation Fees - The City Council in its' ultimate wisdom chose to make the developers pay the mitigation fees (OK, we're good so far) but, then they decided to carry a two year note on those fees.  The City is not a bank.  Developers are starting to go under and if any one of my collegues would pick up a newspaper on occassion they would know this.  If the developer in this deal goes south the fees are never collected and the City winds up paying for the roads, sewer tie-ins, etc. itself.

The Investigative Audit request was met with many questions from people who did not understand the difference between Annual Financial Audits and an Investigative Audit.  This type of audit is almost always done in business when a CEO or President leaves a company.  And, no matter what Phil Smith says, the City is a business, a huge business in fact and should be treated as such.  I had no idea that these people would take this so personally and be irresponsible enough to vote this request down.  This is a prudent business action.  I really had no questions, but I am wondering now what has been going on all these years that these people don't want uncovered?

In general my rear was in a sling again being used for target practice.  But that's OK.  This just gives me more ammo when election time rolls around.  I have a long memory.

Thanks for asking gube and thank you for your time,

Stan

Some of the pilots understood what type of audit was asked for and why it was different from the financial audits that are routinely done and they commented in favor of the audit.  But, Mayor HAND had her group there, including Holly Hart, and they all got up in line and made their comments which made no sense at all.  It was a set up...again.  Mayor Hand packed the house with her cronies. 

BUT, this DOES raise some HUGE questions about what is being hidden from the public.  Especially with Garrett acting so nervous and absentmindedly stating that the shopping center developers had committed fraud by not disclosing the mitigation fees to their tenants when they signed their leases.  Ooops! 

Beckham got his butt chewed on again about everything, even his request for security protection for the staff at the City Hall who take in money.  It would have been laughable if the whole meeting wasn't so pathetic.

Even our Carin from the T-News went up to the microphone and started berating Beckham.  Completely unprofessional and unethical IMO.  A legitimate reporter is supposed to remain objective and report the news, not make the news.  Too bad.  The citizens lost out tonight.  Again, pick up the CD's at City Hall.  Therein lies the truth.

Gube - I apologize.  You are absolutely correct.  You asked an innocent question.  You are also correct that I was very angry.  I was at the council meeting and I have never seen so much numb-nutted stupidity in one room as I witnessed tonight.  Common, sound business sense did not prevail on any point.  I guess I'm too used to working in business, with professionals and I forget that a lot of people don't have that background knowledge.  And, I guess I just expect an elected official to understand their job and responsibilities.  I'm wrong again, as usual.

Anyway, that's no excuse for going off on you the way I did and I sincerely apologize.  Be sure to pick up the CD's they'll be very entertaining.

Gube - your questions should be:

1.  WHY are Deborah Hand, Holly Hart and all of their cronies taking the audit personally?  Do they have something to hide?

2.  WHY is your City Council NOT looking out for the best interests of the citizens of Tehachapi by doing a PRUDENT business practice of an investigative audit?

3.  WHY is a reporter from the Tehachapi News getting up and  speaking for the paper and lambasting a councilman rather than objectively reporting the news?  This was outrageous and unprofessional behavior on the part of a supposedly legitimate reporter.

It is obvious that you, gube, are more interested in hating Mexicans than you are in caring about yourself, your fellow citizens and your local government.