This is our city. This our city council. - Chris is-Free-to-Think - Chris's Blog - Tehachapi News

Jan 24, 2007 at 09:01 AM : Hey we are already...

Hey we are already talking about this on the "Tehachapi recall" blog. Let's go there....................

Jan 24, 2007 at 09:01 AM : Chris- Do you mind me...

Chris- Do you mind me asking what requests and ideas they've been very responsive to? Many of us on here have been to city council meetings and voiced our opinions and concerns. We have asked questions and have offered suggestions. It's kind of hard to act like a "boss" when you are only allowed three minutes to state your opinions and you are only allowed to speak once on a certain subject. It's also hard to be "boss" when the council considers you an "outsider"!

Jan 25, 2007 at 10:01 AM : Just a question, but...

Just a question, but has anyone tried meeting individually with the city council members to have a more lengthy discussion about your concerns? I can't help but notice that they keep being referred to as though they are some distant, unreachable species, when in fact they are just people living in Tehachapi, like the rest of us. I'm sure if you tried making an appointment to see them they would be accomodating.

Jan 25, 2007 at 11:01 AM : Many residents have...

Many residents have talked to the City Council Members in person. Some were told " we don't want this to go to a vote, it's to important to be messed up by ill informed voters." and " we know whats right, not you outsiders" I have asked hard questions in person just to be ignored.

Jan 25, 2007 at 01:01 PM : I think a lot of...

I think a lot of people would love to know who told you that when you met with them. Who did you ask hard questions to, in a one-on-one meeting basis? My point is that I grow tired of reading nebulous posts with things like this, which don't seem like they have anything more than meanspiritedness in them.

Jan 25, 2007 at 02:01 PM : Just...

Just curious- "I can't help but notice that they keep being referred to as though they are some distant, unreachable species, when in fact they are just people living in Tehachapi, like the rest of us."...............and this is why.

Hand also said she believes that Beckham will undoubtedly receive a quick education once seated, and that it is always easier for “outsiders” to criticize than it is for those on “the inside” to perform their duties as public servants under the microscope of constant public scrutiny.

I have been to council meetings and asked question and not gotten answers. I have also been told that I could not speak again at a council meeting.

I admit I haven't made scheduled meetings with all of the city council people before, but I thought that's what the council meetings were for since they are all there together. Maybe I was wrong. I am sick and tired of being considered mean for voicing my opinion. People keep telling us that we haven't done enough and all we do is complain. Well, we have gone to city meetings, we have had news crews up here, letters have been written, a new council person has been elected, flyer's have been passed out, and yes, I believe some have had private meetings. What you are reading isn't coming from a mean, hateful person. It is coming from a person who has been fighting for almost a year for a change and except for two small victories has been completely ignored by our council members. Don't get me wrong. I have no doubt in my mind they know who I am, but it's hard sitting on the sidelines waiting for the train wreck that will undoubtedly come.

Jan 25, 2007 at 02:01 PM : Ok this post...

Ok this post is from Shane Reed on someone else profile. I deleted my profile because I got tired of this bolg thing. I got sucked back in by my roommate telling me what had been posted.

I went to lots of city council meetings, as well as many other residents. We asked hard questions that have to this day never been answered. I have personally talked to Grimes, Smith and Vernon. The News paper has asked questions that have gone unanswered. I have Grimes and Vernon's cell phone numbers and I call them way to much, just ask them. I also talk to Stan. Lots of things you see posted 'justcurious' are true, some are not. All we are asking the City to do is the right thing. We want a more transparent City Government. We want the City Government to keep us informed and to include us in their decision making. I am thinking about running for City Council person when Hand's term is up. I hope to give the City of Tehachapi residents a voice. I want the residents to know what the City is doing. I want more of their input. I feel I want the same things we all do. A safe and well ran city. With all this growth we need to be improving what we already have as well as developing the new. Anyone can e-mail me questions concerning what I have post. shane93561@hotmail.com

Jan 25, 2007 at 02:01 PM : Shane, I appreciate...

Shane, I appreciate your comments. Really. I'm not trying to pick a fight, nor did I say that being critical of the city council is mean. I do think that making general statements about how awful something or someone is without specifics is mean, and have a hard time after a while telling if there is a real issue or if a poster is just an unhappy person in general. I'd just like to see a little more balance between the negative posts and some ideas on how to create a positive change. Shane (or anyone else who wants to answer) - how do you think the city council could be more transparent? I'm honestly asking...

Jan 25, 2007 at 03:01 PM : 1st -How about...

1st -How about updating their website with an agenda of City Council meetings before the meeting. Then post the Council minutes in a timely manner after the meeting.

The residents in Tehachapi are getting older, they commute down the hill for work, they have kids in sports. This would be a fast and easy way to start! People can get the information when they get a brake from life. Then they can go to a meeting if something interests them. As of right now, days of meeting changes don't even get posted.

Jan 25, 2007 at 05:01 PM : Hand was...

Hand was right. Stan said he would keep us informed on his new website about his and the counsel members plans. He talked big while out here on these blogs, now that he is sitting in a counsel members seat, he has been extremely quiet. Hand hit it on the nail.... I haven't heard a word from Stan.

Jan 25, 2007 at 05:01 PM : In Stan's...

In Stan's defence, he has been asking a lot of questions at council meetings. You can tell by the body language of the other City Council members that the questions aren't ones they want to be asked. I don't real care about his web page but I do wish he would come by here once in a while. Sparks Please, Please don't ever use the words 'Hand' and 'right' in the same sentence again. j/k

Jan 25, 2007 at 07:01 PM : Hi all. I...

Hi all.

I honestly must admit it has been a long time since I’ve been to a council meeting. In fact Rhombouts was still mayor the last time I went. One night I got up and told him that his plan to push through a vote on a new sewer line over in the commercial district across the tracks after the regular meeting as an “emergency” issue was BS. I said that as a contractor I believed these types of decisions are made long before the permits are even approved. That in fact this decision would affect every property owner on the street, as they would be forced to hook up to the sewer line. I said it was only proper to give notice to the people affected before the decision was made. I said I agreed with what was being done (putting in sewers) but not the way in which it was being done. Council member Phil Smith (I think that’s his name) agreed with me and they chose to do what I suggested.

At a different planning meeting we had (this was probably 10 or 12 years ago) I suggested they put up the windmill to power the sewer plant and improve the appearance of the roads entering Tehachapi. They all looked like c*** then. Those suggestions were listened to and are reality now.

I have asked the city to clean up or ask the property owners to clean up some illegal messes on or in front of their properties. It was done.

I am not special. I’ve been fined and paid for parking illegally in an alley. I was asked to clean up messes behind my fence in the alley and I did it.

It’s not easy for people who are not trained in “management of a city” to know all the things they need to know. That’s why courteous and thoughtful suggestions are needed.

I had an idea that the old Wells elementary school campus would make a good Government complex building, but the city had other plans and what they’ve done is beautiful. I’m proud to show my out of town friends all the improvements. When I moved here, the red flashing light in the air above the intersection at Green and Tehachapi Blvd. was the only traffic light in town.

And as for the increased population, that’s just the way life is, it’s happening everywhere. I would like to see some sort of minimum density for housing legislation. But honestly when I moved here in ’88 it was like the movie Back to the Future. The mentality here was definitely Good Old Boy. I experienced a lot of it first hand. And wages were not competitive with the rest of the state. Many people were living very simple lives farming and ranching. Us City Slickers just didn’t have a chance.

And where I moved from, Sylmar, my neighbors all had horses and cows and sheep when I first moved there in ‘71. My old street is all condos now. I sure hope we never get to the point where our rural lifestyle gets squeezed out. I seem to remember there were equestrian trails in Golden Hills and I think they are all gone now (I could be wrong about this).

I totally agree with the poster who said that the people who have complaints should be more specific about them. Petitions are a method at our disposal for enacting change. I would like to hear what possible solutions have been suggested to the council to get their agenda posted on the Internet. I did see it (the agenda) in the windowed cabinet across from their front door, so instead of just printing it, a simple copy and paste could get it out to people who just don’t have time to drive downtown and look at it there. Not doing this sends a message that the council does not really want public input and would prefer that we do not come to their meetings. Could we get a simple petition going on the Internet to get this done at least?