Someone told me last week that a local Female Attorney is telling the entire Tehachapi Community that SHE HAS TAKEN OVER THE LAW PRACTICE OF CRIMINAL TRIAL ATTORNEY, HARRY M. REYNOLDS, at 106 So. Robinson Street, Tehachapi, CA.  Attorney Reynolds has been a Local Attorney here in Tehachapi since 1976 -- that is OVER THIRTY (30) YEARS. 

Attorney Reynolds is a UCLA Law School Graduate, in whom you can entrust your very life.  (Reynolds formerly tried criminal law cases with Johnnie Cochran when he practiced criminal law during the early 1970s in Century City, of LA County).  Attorney Reynolds IS THAT GOOD.  Johnnie is dead.  So if you need a Criminal Trial Attorney, there is no one else but Harry Reynolds.  Plain and simple.  Attorney Reynolds first came to Tehachapi in 1976 and he never left.

I have personal knowledge and was also told that Attorney Reynolds WOULD NEVER hand over his criminal trial practice OF 35 YEARS to a local attorney with approximately thirteen (13) years experience and comes from  a  NON-ACCREDITED law school that is not accredited by the American Bar Assocation such as UCLA Law School is.   

Attorney Reynolds said that when peoples' LIVES AND FREEDOM are "on the line" that they want the best and want to be assured that the lawyer knows exactly what he or she is doing.  Graduating from UCLA Law School makes my Clients feel safe with me, stated Attorney Reynolds.  "If you were in my clients' shoes, you'd want the lawyer with the most experience coming from the best law school too", stated Reynolds.

I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT ANY CLAIM -- THAT A LOCAL ATTORNEY HAS TAKEN OVER THE LAW PRACTICE OF ATTORNEY REYNOLDS, IS FRAUD BEING PRACTICED ON YOU; AND YOU SHOULD BEWARE.

Any one making such a false claim DOES NOT have Attorney Reynolds' endorsement.  If Attorney Reynolds' practice was ever "taken over", it would not be by the local attorney who is now making the fraudulent claim.  

Attorney Reynolds also said that if and when he ever stopped practicing law, he would take out a full page ad in the newspaper, thank everyone for their 3 decades of support AND VERY CLEARLY TELL YOU WHO would be handling his practice so that there would be a seamless transition.

According to Attorney Reynolds, HE HAS NO PLANS of having anyone take over his practice in the near future.

PLEASE BEWARE.

After all the facts are verified about the Orange County Estate Planner organization coming to Tehachapi on Monday, October 15, 2007, Tehachapi Senior Center, I hope you will recall that there are LOCAL lawyers and paralegals who assist in Living Trusts, Powers of Attorney re Health Care Decisions and Financial Decisions and Health Care Directives.  Guess what?!  You're reading the blog of one of those LOCAL LEGAL PROFESSIONALS who was formally educated about, and worked with, Living Trusts and estate planning for the past 30 years.

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Why on earth would you give some one in ORANGE COUNTY your FINANCIAL INFORMATION -- who has no office here -- you cannot trace --  they're all over the State of California and the United States -- and you won't be able to get ahold of them AFTER they have your MONEY for the annuity AND your private financial information?  Please -- Don't be careful.  

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Do you really, really, really, really, really think -- that Orange County folks are coming all the way to Tehachapi for a $399 Living Trust?  Yup!  Pigs fly too.

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I investigated this group because I DIDN'T WANT TO SEE LOCAL LEGAL PROFESSIONALS PAINTED WITH THE SAME "BROAD BRUSH" THAT COULD HARM US after these Orange County folks come in AND HARM YOU -- if you let them.  I heard from a Bakersfield friend of mine who just lost BOTH her parents this year -- and lost her Father about one month ago.  She wrote to say that HER PARENTS were victimized by THIS SAME GROUP.  At that time they called themselves "Ameri Financial" Legal Plan.  My friend looked up this group on the California Department of Insurance website.  Yup!  Same group.  My Friend also said that AmeriEstate Legal Plan, Inc. has so many different names they're registered under, that it's hard to keep track.  That's probably because they have to keep CHANGING NAMES so YOU can keep track of them or find them.

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I'm sorry I caused my Friend to recall still more pain during this year of incredible loss for her.  I saw her tonight and she looks just great though.  She's a real trooper and was a wonderful, caring, doting Daugher during her parents' final years.  That's because she loved them so much; and it still pains her to recall that this same group took advantage of her parents; and therefore her inheritance as well.

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If you have estate planning needs, call my office or call anyone IN TOWN.  You can find us.  We've been here a long time.  THESE FOLKS that will be here at the Senior Center on Monday -- are coming into town FOR ONE DAY FOR 45 MINUTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

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LOCAL FOLKS.  That's where you'll find persons who have YOUR interest at heart.  DON'T LET THESE ORANGE COUNTY FOLKS AT THE SENIOR CENTER ON MONDAY SELL YOU AN ANNUITY that you can't use for another 20 years.  You'll be how old by then?  Also, PLEASE don't give them any financial information.  If they tell you that THE DISCOUNT OR DEAL ONLY APPLIES FOR TODAY -- then WALK AWAY.  They're going to put the "full court press" on you.  Wanna bet?

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Remember THEY ARE PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED in the art of "parting you from your money".  Just watch them on Monday.  They'll be smooth as silk.  I just can't wait to see how long it will take for their discussion to shift from Living Trusts -- to Annuities!  I'll bet they'll shift the focus of the presentation to Annuities -- in about -- 15 minutes.  No -- 10 minutes.    Arab Saying:  "Invite them to dinner -- but tie up your camel."

This is the email I just sent to the small town of Amador, where THE SAME Estate Planning Seminar will be held by THE SAME group on Thurs., Oct. 11, 2007.

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I appreciate the Tehachapi News for its vision in creating the means to bring all people together in discussions regarding many different topics.  We can all agree or agree to disagree. 

As a result, we debate, we comment, we challenge, we think, we read, we write, we express ourselves, we crack jokes, we poke fun, and we speak our innermost thoughts.   Isn't this part of the process that makes America great -- freedom of speech?  Who is better to teach us that than the Tehachapi News, who writes facts, ideas and opinions, and gives us that opportunity too?  All the while we remain civil -- not only because the "Blog Patrol" is watching, but an exchange of ideas and feelings is positive and stretches us.  

Some people perhaps won't talk as much as others, but they'll do so here.  That's great because their opinion is just as important and gives us all something to think about.  I think it also teaches tolerance, teaches us to laugh at one's self  and teaches us to grow a thick skin if you don't have one already.  I think the process prepares one for not only the Blog but the far wider window of the world where we live, work and play. 

Thanks Tehachapi News.  Thanks Bloggers.  Thanks America.

Since the Beautification Program was effected by our City Council, I hadn't even noticed the Star embedded in the middie of the pavement at Green Street and Tehachapi Boulevard.

Silly me -- for looking at 3-way traffic at the intersection, rather than looking down at the Star embedded in the middle of the street.  That's Green Street and Tehachapi Boulevard.

I'm certainly going to begin looking at it now so that I can get some sense of appreciation for what I had never seen -- after hearing that THE STAR COST ONE MILLION DOLLARS.  The next time you drive by Green Street and Tehachai Boulevard, just look down and smile.  I felt so remorseful when I thought about the ONE MILLION DOLLARS' expenditure that I had been so remiss in seeing embedded in the pavement at Green Street and Tehachapi Boulevard.

When I think about Tehachapi High School's Advanced Drama Club performing one of the best renditions of Shakespeare's Hamlet I've ever seen -- in the lunchroom -- because there's no performing arts center --

When I think about the Tehachapi Symphonic Choir and Orchestra that has some of the best talent on the planet, having to perform at the junior high school or the dining room of a church -- because there's no performing arts center --

The Vision of the beneficial interest to Tehachapi -- of a $ONE MILLION DOLLAR STAR embedded in the pavement at the intersection of Green and Tehachapi Boulevard -- just escapes me.

Oh, while I was at the gas station at the corner of Robinson and Tehachapi Boulevard, the lightening thought struck me -- that as part of the Beautification Program of our City Council -- why are trees planted in the street that take up a full car length, when parking is so scarce in the City? 

WOW !  Have you seen Jason Caudle driving his new Black Hummer? 

He looks so handsome driving around Tehachapi   When I realized it was him, it was too late for me to waive at him. 

The next time I see the new Black Hummer around town, I'll waive.

The first and second parts of The Brown Act, when they posted "went off the chart".  Hence, you may have to print it out, or cut and paste and to save for future reference.  Sorry about the snafu.

Here's the 3rd part of The Brown Act that's relevant.

CHARGE OR COMPLAINT INVOLVING INFORMATION 

PROTECTED BY FEDERAL LAW

.

CONFERENCE INVOLVING A JOINT POWERS AGENCY

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AUDIT BY BUREAU OF STATE AUDITS

54956. A special meeting may be called at any time by the 

Presiding officer of the legislative body of a local agency, or 

by a majority of the members of the legislative body, by 

delivering written notice to each member of the legislative 

body and to each local newspaper of general circulation and 

radio or television station requesting notice in writing.  The 

notice shall be delivered personally or by any other means 

and shall be received at least 24 hours before the time of 

the meeting as specified in the notice. The call and notice

shall specify the time and place of the special meeting and the

business to be transacted or discussed. No other business 

shall be considered at these meetings by the legislative body.

The call and notice shall be posted at least 24 hours prior to the

special meeting in a location that is freely accessible to members

of the public.

54956.5. (a) For purposes of this section, "emergency situation"

means both of the following:

   (1) An emergency, which shall be defined as a work stoppage,

crippling activity, or other activity that severely impairs public

health, safety, or both, as determined by a majority of the members

of the legislative body.

   (2) A dire emergency, which shall be defined as a crippling

disaster, mass destruction, terrorist act, or threatened terrorist

activity that poses peril so immediate and significant that requiring

a legislative body to provide one-hour notice before holding an

emergency meeting under this section may endanger the public health,

safety, or both, as determined by a majority of the members of the

legislative body.

   (b) (1) Subject to paragraph (2), in the case of an emergency

situation involving matters upon which prompt action is necessary due

to the disruption or threatened disruption of public facilities, a

legislative body may hold an emergency meeting without complying with

either the 24-hour notice requirement or the 24-hour posting

requirement of Section 54956 or both of the notice and posting

requirements.

. 

 (2) Each local newspaper of general circulation and radio or

television station that has requested notice of special meetings

pursuant to Section 54956 shall be notified by the presiding officer

of the legislative body, or designee thereof, one hour prior to the

emergency meeting, or, in the case of a dire emergency, at or near

the time that the presiding officer or designee notifies the members

of the legislative body of the emergency meeting. This notice shall

be given by telephone and all telephone numbers provided in the most

recent request of a newspaper or station for notification of special

meetings shall be exhausted.  

.

(e) The minutes of a meeting called pursuant to this section, a

list of persons who the presiding officer of the legislative body, or

designee of the legislative body, notified or attempted to notify, a

copy of the rollcall vote, and any actions taken at the meeting

shall be posted for a minimum of 10 days in a public place as soon

after the meeting as possible.

.

54956.6. No fees may be charged by the legislative body of a local

agency for carrying out any provision of this chapter, except as

specifically authorized by this chapter.

.

If the session is closed pursuant to subdivision

(a), the body shall state the title of or otherwise specifically

identify the litigation to be discussed, unless the body states that

to do so would jeopardize the agency's ability to effectuate service

of process upon one or more unserved parties, or that to do so would

jeopardize its ability to conclude existing settlement negotiations

to its advantage.

54957.2. (a) The legislative body of a local agency may, by

ordinance or resolution, designate a clerk or other officer or

employee of the local agency who shall then attend each closed

session of the legislative body and keep and enter in a minute book a

record of topics discussed and decisions made at the meeting.  

The minute book shall be available only to members of the 

legislative body or, if a violation of this chapter is alleged 

to have occurred at a closed session, to a court of general jurisdiction wherein the local agency lies.

54957.5. (a) Notwithstanding Section 6255 or any other provisions

of law, agendas of public meetings and any other writings, when

distributed to all, or a majority of all, of the members of a

legislative body of a local agency by any person in connection with a

matter subject to discussion or consideration at a public meeting of

the body, are disclosable public records under the California Public

Records Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division

7 of Title 1), and shall be made available upon request without

54957.7. (a) Prior to holding any closed session, the legislative

body of the local agency shall disclose, in an open meeting, the item

or items to be discussed in the closed session. The disclosure may

take the form of a reference to the item or items as they are listed

by number or letter on the agenda. In the closed session, the

legislative body may consider only those matters covered in its

54957.9. In the event that any meeting is willfully interrupted by

a group or groups of persons so as to render the orderly conduct of

such meeting unfeasible and order cannot be restored by the removal

of individuals who are willfully interrupting the meeting, the

members of the legislative body conducting the meeting may order the

54958. The provisions of this chapter shall apply to the

legislative body of every local agency notwithstanding the

conflicting provisions of any other state law.

.

54959. Each member of a legislative body who attends a 

meeting of that legislative body where action is taken in 

violation of any provision of this chapter, and where the 

member intends to deprive the public of information to which the member knows or has reason to know the public is entitled

under this chapter, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

.

54960. (a) The district attorney or any interested person may

commence an action by mandamus, injunction or declaratory relief 

for the purpose of stopping or preventing violations or threatened

violations of this chapter by members of the legislative body, or to determine the applicability of this chapter to actions or threatened future action of the legislative body, or to determine whether any rule or action by the legislative body to penalize or otherwise discourage the expression of one or more of its members is valid or invalid under the laws of this state or of the United States, or to compel the legislative body to tape record its closed sessions as hereinafter provided.

.

(b) The court in its discretion may, upon a judgment of a

violation of Section 54956.7, 54956.8, 54956.9, 54956.95, 54957, or

54957.6, order the legislative body to tape record its closed

sessions and preserve the tape recordings for the period and under

the terms of security and confidentiality the court deems

appropriate.

 54954.2   (2) No action or discussion shall be undertaken 

on any item not appearing on the posted agenda, except 

that members of a legislative body or its staff may briefly 

respond to statements made or questions posed by persons 

exercising their public testimony rights under Section 

54954.3.In addition, on their own initiative or in response 

to questions posed by the public, a member of a legislative 

body or its staff may ask a question for clarification, make 

a brief announcement, or make a brief report on his or her 

own activities. Furthermore, a member of a legislative body, 

or the body itself, subject to rules or procedures of the 

legislative body, may provide a reference to staff or other 

resources for factual information, request staff to report 

back to the body at a subsequent meeting concerning any 

matter, or take action to direct staff to place a matter of 

business on a future agenda.

.

(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the legislative body 

may Take action on items of business not appearing on the 

posted agenda under any of the conditions stated below. 

Prior to discussing any item pursuant to this subdivision, the 

legislative body shall publicly identify the item.

.

(1) Upon a determination by a majority vote of the legislative

body that an emergency situation exists, as defined in 

Section 54956.5.

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(2) Upon a determination by a two-thirds vote of the members 

Of the legislative body present at the meeting, or, if less than

two-thirds of the members are present, a unanimous vote of 

those members present, that there is a need to take immediate 

action and that the need for action came to the attention of the 

local agency subsequent to the agenda being posted as specified 

in subdivision (a).

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(3) The item was posted pursuant to subdivision (a) for a prior

meeting of the legislative body occurring not more than five 

calendar days prior to the date action is taken on the item, and 

at the prior meeting the item was continued to the meeting at which action is being taken.

.

(c) This section is necessary to implement and reasonably within

the scope of paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 3 of Article

I of the California Constitution.

.

54954.3. (a) Every agenda for regular meetings shall provide an

opportunity for members of the public to directly address the

legislative body on any item of interest to the public, before or

during the legislative body's consideration of the item, that is

within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body,

provided that no action shall be taken on any item not appearing on

the agenda unless the action is otherwise authorized by subdivision

(b) of Section 54954.2.  

.

However, the agenda need not provide an opportunity for members 

of the public to address the legislative body on any item that has already been considered by a committee, composed exclusively of members of the legislative body, at a public meeting wherein all interested members of the public were afforded the opportunity 

to address the committee on the item, before or during the 

committee's consideration of the item, unless the item has been substantially changed since the committee heard the item, as 

determined by the legislative body. Every notice for a special 

meeting shall provide an opportunity for members of the public to directly address the legislative body concerning any item that 

has been described in the notice for the meeting before or during

consideration of that item.

.

(b) The legislative body of a local agency may adopt reasonable 

regulations to ensure that the intent of subdivision (a) is carried out,including, but not limited to, regulations limiting the total amount 

of time allocated for public testimony on particular issues and for 

each individual speaker.

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(c) The legislative body of a local agency shall not prohibit public criticism of the policies, procedures, programs, or services of the agency, or of the acts or omissions of the legislative body. 

Nothing in this subdivision shall confer any privilege or protection 

for expression beyond that otherwise provided by law.

.

54954.4 (c) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that complete,

faithful, and uninterrupted compliance with the Ralph M. Brown Act

(Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 

Of Title 5 of the Government Code) is a matter of overriding public

54954.5. For purposes of describing closed session items pursuant

to Section 54954.2, the agenda may describe closed sessions as

provided below.

.

No legislative body or elected official shall be in

violation of Section 54954.2 or 54956 if the closed session items

were described in substantial compliance with this section.

Substantial compliance is satisfied by including the information

provided below, irrespective of its format.

.

(a) With respect to a closed session held pursuant to Section

54956.7:

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LICENSE/PERMIT DETERMINATION

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CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS 

.

CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL--EXISTING 

LITIGATION

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CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL--ANTICIPATED 

LITIGATION

.

LIABILITY CLAIMS

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THREAT TO PUBLIC SERVICES OR FACILITIES      &nb sp;       &nbs p;         ;             .

PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT

.

PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT

.

PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

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PUBLIC EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE/DISMISSAL/RELEASE

.

CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS

.

CASE REVIEW/PLANNING

.

REPORT INVOLVING TRADE SECRET 

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HEARINGS