Democracy works best when…

… INFORMED VOTERS DECIDE THE ISSUES I – Wildomar Council At Large

13/13 100.00%

	Vote Count	Percent
YES	1,118	59.40%
NO	764	40.60%
Total	1,882	100.00%

 

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J – Wildomar Council By District

13/13 100.00%

	Vote Count	Percent
NO	1,466	79.63%
YES	375	20.37%
Total	1,841	100.00%

 

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K – Wildomar Council From Districts

13/13 100.00%

	Vote Count	Percent
NO	1,538	83.77%
YES	298	16.23%
Total	1,836	100.00%

The stats shown above were deftly lifted from the Riverside County Registrar of Voters’ website.

The voters of Wildomar wisely put a contentious issue to rest by voting to choose their future city councils “At Large,” where everyone gets to vote for eveyone.  Makes sense to Zak. 

Given time to contemplate all of the meaningless ramifications of districts, the voters of Wildomar approved the citywide election protocol by a larger percentage than originally voted for Measure D, and soundly rejected districts, which should cool the shrill howls of district supporters but probably won’t. Obviously, the voters didn’t  listen to the howlers and any threats of legal action by litigious activists would be anti-democratic.

The informed majority of voters has spoken. Give it a rest.

Just because LAFCO says Wildomar could have districts, doesn’t mean Wildomar should.

Congratulations to Wildomar for using their common sense. It bodes well for our future.

Shrill howls may be made directly to Zak, as comments are permitted.  Since Zak gets to approve them before they are seen, any comments about Zak’s challenged wardrobe and his personal life will be deleted.  Ironically, Wildomar Magazine ain’t a democracy. It’s just a blog.  ”Beyond blogging”, to be candid.  

And being read daily by a lot of interested folks.

Vote “yes” on I and “no” on J and K

..VOTE YES ON  MEASURE I AND VOTE NO ON MEASURES J & K 

Zak originally voted for voting districts. It was part of my thinking process as I also voted against cityhood for Wildomar.  I did not have confidence that the activists that I knew that were pushing cityhood were capable of running an actual city govenment. I thought districts would make it easier to run against an incumbent if necessary, as a last resort.

However, despite some confirmation of my fears, overall, the current council has done a respectable job of getting the city off the ground, making complicated and meaningless districts obsolete politically.

After following the expensive, political masturbation that went into cutting Wildomar into five confusing districts, Zak concluded that districts make no sense whatsoever for Wildomar’s 30,000 residents.

I wanted a chance to redo my vote on districts, so tomorrow, Zak will be voting yes on Measure I and no on Measure J and K, voting to return to a simple At Large vote for city council.

Zak invites you to do the same and Wildomar will be a better city for your common sense votes.

I hoped my thoughts might help resolve someone else’s confusion.

Comments can be made to Zak at zakturango@excite.com.

Wildomar Magazine Still….

…..TAKES THE TEMPERATURE OF WILDOMAR POLITICS.

Since Zak began to write Wildomar Magazine on this Word Press platform in July, 2008 (after another platform crashed, taking some fine pieces of Wildomar history with it), Word Press statistics show that Zak has posted 76 times. A total of 7501 curious folks have found WM for an average of 98.6 hits per post, proof that Zak understands Wildomar politics and helps with shaping local political thought in an entertaining format, or they wouldn’t keep coming back for more. 

Certain council members occasionally exceed normal body temps when they are the target of Zak’s notice for doing dumb things. 

Zak even took time off for three months of writing to have an unscheduled major stroke on May 3, 2009, followed by a month of hospitalization and therapy. I was pleased and gratified that about 10 hits per day continued even though I was not writing during that time.

Therefore, to my readers, a humble thank you for your interest.  To my critics, please understand that with only one-half of my brain intact, Zak remains funnier and smarter than you.

 Comments can be made to Zak at zakturango@excite.com.  Please direct them to the left side of my brain ’cause that’s what’s left.

 

Those That Can, Do….

 

….THOSE THAT CAN’T, TEACH…. 

…AND THOSE THAT CAN’T TEACH..SELL REAL ESTATE.

Zak’s usually sharp brain has finally kicked back to the “on” mode, after being  overcome with annoyance with a Menifee City Councilman abusing his guest privileges at last Wednesday’s Wildomar City Council meeting.

But the same issue attends.  The vote was 3-2 to give developers a 50% reduction in Developer Impact Fees (“DIF”) to stimulate the local job market. What Zak missed is the blatant “aye” votes on the issue by two realtors, whose occupations rely on “inventory” of homes to be bought and sold.  Councilwoman Swanson specifically spoke to the issue that Wildomar currently has so little inventory that Realtor/former Planning Commissioner Casillas had to buy a home in Lake Elsinore.

Realtor/Mayor Scott Farnam and Realtor/Councilwoman Marsha Swanson should have recused themselves from the vote due to an explicit conflict of interest. Now Zak, and other Wildomar residents, will have to absorb the “developer’s impacts” ourselves. 

Wildomar cannot afford to waive developer fees, period.

Comments can be made to former Realtor, Zak at zakturango@excite.com or by making a comment within.

Menifee Mommas, Don’t Let Your Babies….

…GROW UP TO BE ASSES.

Menifee city councilman, Scott Mann, representing the Western Riverside  Council of Governments (“WRCOG”), spoke to the Wildomar Council last evening in an attempt to get support for reducing developer fees by 50% to “bring jobs” to the area. Despite the courageous opposition of Councilman Bob Cashman and Council woman Sheryl Ade,  Mayor Farnam, Mayor Pro Tem Moore and Council woman Marsha Swanson voted “aye,” thereby pushing the matter forward in the process.

Councilman Mann then retook the public dais and mocked Cashman and Ade by gloating that Menifee, who has dropped their fees, will be happy to take the tax increment from Wildomar, an embarrassing breach of civic politeness.

What an ass.

They are cute, however, when they’re little.

Comments can be made to Zak at zakturango@excite.com

A Media Circus….

…MUST HAVE IT’S OWN CLOWN

Mayor Scott Farnam tried to avoid his own agenda item to dismiss Planning Commissioner Gary Andre during tonight’s City Council meeting by describing a ” media circus  created by reporters and Bloggers.” His lame attempt to deflect the matter as only having to do with finding a replacement for Commissioner Casillas was exposed by the number of public speakers withdrawing their speeches in support of Andre, when they each realized that the Mayor was dodging his own issue.

One citizen bravely spoke to the Mayor and correctly told him that this divisive issue was his own doing.

Sorry Mayor, this one’s on you.

Comments can be made to Zak at zakturango@excite.com.  He is the other  one in the center ring.

Farnam Confused By History…

 

A bully pulpit is a public office or other position of authority of sufficiently high rank that provides the holder with an opportunity to speak out and be listened to on any matter. The bully pulpit can bring issues to the forefront that were not initially in debate, due to the office’s stature and publicity.

This term was coined by President Theodore Roosevelt.

…..HE FORGETS THE PULPIT PART..

…but keeps the rest of the quote.

Mayor Scott Farnam’s reported plan to oust Planning Commissioner Gary Andre is not welcome to Wildomar Magazine. 

Gary Andre is a hard working Commissioner and puts in the time to understand the issues.  Yet for his hard work, he is Farnam’s target for Andre’s vote against the Cornerstone Athletic Field and Parking lot expansion.

Councilmembers will be wise to mind their tongues when they give voice to their complants about Andre, who, if he has erred, is entitled to conference with the council and to defend himself, if necessary.  Defamation of his character could be costly to the city of Wildomar. Hell, what’s next? Removing Commissioner Dykstra for code violations on his commercial parcel?

Who is the ultimate bully behind this move to punish Gary Andre?

Comments can be made to Zak Turango at zakturango@excite.com.    

Bullies’ comments might get posted.

The End Of Civility…..

…BROUGHT TO WILDOMAR BY MAYOR SCOTT FARNAM

According to the PRESS ENTERPRISE, Saturday,  October 24, 2009, Reporter Aaron Burgin reports on a Wildomar city council agenda item for next week, wherein Short-term Mayor Scott Farnam (fortunately, his mayor stint ends next month)  targets Planning Commissioner Gary Andre for a hostile removal:

“The actions of an outspoken Wildomar planning commissioner have prompted the mayor to call for a City Council discussion that could lead to the commissioner’s ouster.”

Wildomar Magazine  believes that Farnam’s actions will trigger the eventual end to Farnam’s brief political career in Wildomar with this unfortunate attack on a hard working, dedicated public figure like Gary Andre.

Since Andre was appointed by Councilmember Sheryl Ade, if Farnam had a problem with Andre, political civility and council agreed-upon rules should have led Farnam to contact Ade to discuss Andre, which he has not done.

Andre is further quoted as to the reason behind the ouster:

“Andre said he believes his recent criticism of Cornerstone Community Church’s plans to expand its parking lot is prompting Farnam’s ire.”

And, of course, this is a warning shot over Ade’s political bow for her apprpriate motion and vote to appeal the Cornerstone project (it’s been stated that she committed “political suicide” for her vote) before the full council, which Farnam and fellow Cornerstone lapdog Mayor Pro Tem Bridgette Moore  voted against.

This uncivil act by Farnam will unleash an adverse reaction within the Wildomar body politic that Farnam has only started to realize. Wildomar Magazine will appear tame and restrained in comparison to what’s currently being emailed about Farnam.

For the first time in Wildomar Magazine history, comments will be permitted on this post to allow readers a robust commentary on Farnam actions against Andre.

Quiet Commissioner Casillas Resigns….

 …He showed Wildomar how to handle a project nightmare

Reported in today’s Press Enterprise, Commissioner Miguel Casillas “said the commission’s recent approval of Cornerstone Community Church’s parking lot expansion was the toughest decision he was part of.

Soft-spoken, Casillas often deferred comment to other board members, but he said he did not want people to misconstrue his silence as a lack of knowledge or caring.

“I know that there are people out there who might think that, but it’s just the person that I am,” Casillas said.”

Wildomar Magazine thanks Casillas for his public service to the community of Wildomar.  The Planning Commission is tough work, with lots of documents to read and then to have to publically face project owners and, approve or deny their dreams or, in some recent cases, nightmares.

Zak has only three humble suggestions for Councilmember Swanson, whose Commissioner chair she must nominate to fill: 

One, no more realtors (the real estate industry is well represented by the council’s current make-up), and;

Two, no more Cornerstone members ( for the same reason).

Third, surely, Wildomar would be well served by “someone like”  long-time resident George Taylor, who applied for the Commission last year.  George knows the community and along with his late wife, Marie (one of Zak’s favorite Wildomarians), served the community faithfully. Further, he would be able to express himself openly as he did at the last city council meeting. He’s not afraid to state his opinion.

It’s not Zak’s call  but I’m just saying….

Comments  in support of “someone like”  George Taylor can be made to “someone like” Zak Turango at zakturango@excite.com.

Planning Commission Doesn’t Yet….

..UNDERSTAND THEIR AUTHORITY

Zak Turango attended this evening’s Planning Commission hearing on the RV storage facility. Of course, they approved it. 3-0.  Commissioner Andre left early to attend another public meeting and Commissioner Dykstra was absent.

“Land Ace,” as Developer Guy Larry Markham’s license reads on his yellow Corvette handled all questions in his usual soothing style.  Water collection  from the currently dry creekbed on the parcel, not a problem as their development will push the water from upstream to Lake Elsinore more efficiently and actually help the area.

The discussion between staff and commission highlighted a significant problem inherited by Wildomar from the County. No one has tackled the standing water, during and after rainy season in what is known as the Wildomar Swamp. So approval of the latest project merely continued an old practice; ignore the problem this time, we’ll catch it later. The issue seems to be water flooding septic tanks and failing leach lines in neighboring parcels.

The Commissioners should have taken the project in the context of the larger issue and delayed approval and/or conditioned the project relative to neighboring parcels andt hen instruct planning staff to take the lead and try to get the surrounding parcels hooked into a sewer system at the same time as construction. It wouldn’t cure the entire problem but, as the old saying goes, a journey of a thousand miles……

City Council should make this issue a high priority now and begin to tackle a real Wildomar matter. And encourage the Commissioners to flex their muscles. They have legitimate power to shape Wildomar in a quality manner.

Comments can always be made to zakturango@excite.com.