Pomona USD Board of Education faces RECALL

Four of Pomona Unified School District Board of Education members were served with a recall notice: Nancy McCracken, John Avila, Richard Rodriguez and Candalerio Mendoza.

At one point of the meeting John Avila made an insulting remark towards Roberta Perlman-Hensen, "There's an oxymoron - Hensen and positives, in the same sentence." Mr. Avila was booed loudly by the audience.

For further details go to the story published in the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin:

http://dailybulletin.com/news/ci_3602841

Howard Jarvis Taxpayer's Association - - Alert Notice

EMERGENCY NOTICE!!!

BOND DEAL CHOCK FULL OF PORK!!!

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR!!!

TO: ALL HJTA MEMBERS, SUPPORTERS AND OTHER TAXPAYER ALLIES

FROM: JON COUPAL, HJTA PRESIDENT

TIME: LATE SATURDAY NIGHT, MARCH 11

WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE BOND IS CRITICAL FORCALIFORNIA'S CURRENT SAFETY. IF THAT IS THE CASE, WHY ARE THEYPLANNING TO SPEND $100 MILLION ON SOCCER FIELDS?FOLKS, WE THOUGHT WE HAD SEEN IT ALL, BUT THIS TAKES THE CAKE. FIRST, MOST OF YOU HAVE READ REPORTS THAT THE SENATE FAILED TO PASS THE BOND PROPOSAL LAST NIGHT. GOOD!!! THE SAD FACT IS THAT NOT ONE SENATOR HAD EVEN READ THE BILL AND THAT THERE WERE ONLY TWO PRINTED COPIES AT THE TIME OF THE VOTE!

FOR THOSE WILLING TO WADE THROUGH THE 102 PAGES OF THE CURRENT VERSION OF THE BOND BILL, CLICK ON THIS LINK:http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_0101-0150/ab_134_bill_20060310_amended_sen.pdf

THE POSITION OF THE HOWARD JARVIS TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION ISSTRAIGHTFORWARD: GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AS A MEANS OF FINANCING INFRASTRUCTURE ARE LEGITIMATE AS LONG AS THEY ARE ACCOMPANIED BY A NUMBER OF SPECIFIC REFORMS.WHAT WE HAVE SEEN SO FAR FALLS WAY SHORT OF THE MARK.ONE OF THE MOST TROUBLING ASPECTS OF THIS BILL IS THAT IT LEAVES IT UP TO A FUTURE VOTE OF THE LEGISLATURE AS TO HOW MUCH OF THE FUNDS ARE SPENT, BY A MAJORITY, NOT A TWO-THIRDS VOTE, OF EACH HOUSE. THIS IS WRONG. THE PURPOSE OF THE TWO-THIRDS VOTE IS TO OBTAIN CONSENSUS OVER IMPORTANT MATTERS, INCLUDING INCUMBERING OUR CHILDREN WITH BILLIONS IN NEW DEBT. THIS PROVISION WOULD REMOVE FISCAL CONSERVATIVES FROM THEPROCESS FOR FUTURE SPENDING.SPECIFIC CONCERNS FOR RIGHT NOW (THERE WILL BE MORE LATER):-- $100 MILLION FOR CALIFORNIA YOUTH SOCCER.-- ANOTHER $500 MILLION TO COASTAL PROTECTION, INCLUDING $300 MILLION TO THE COASTAL CONSERVANCY, AND $100 MILLION IN THE OCEAN PROTECTION TRUST FUND. YET $330 MILLION MORE FOR "RESOURCE PROTECTION." AND THEN, "THE SUM OF ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS SHALL BE AVAILABLE, UPON APPROPRIATION THEREFORE, FOR GRANTS FOR PROJECTS THAT PROMOTESUSTAINABLE RESOURCE USE IN PUBLIC FACILITIES, INCLUDING THE USE OF GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS IN SCHOOLS."-- MAJORITY VOTE OF THE LEGISLATURE TO SPEND $200 MILLION OF BONDFUNDS (30-YEAR DEBT SERVICE) FOR SCHOOL BUS RETROFIT. NOT ONLY IS THE MAJORITY VOTE PROVISION WRONG, BECAUSE THESE BUSES WILL NOT HAVE AN EFFECTIVE LIFE OF 30 YEARS, THIS VIOLATES ONE OF THE IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES OF RATIONAL DEBT FINANCING.-- $1 BILLION APPROPRIATION TO THE STATE LOCAL PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM ACCOUNT, SUBJECT TO A MAJORITY VOTE APPROPRIATION OF THE LEGISLATURE "...AND SUBJECT TO SUCH CONDITIONS AND CRITERIA AS THE LEGISLATURE MAY PROVIDE BY STATUTE...." AGAIN, A BILLION DOLLARS TO BE SPENT BY A SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE.-- $650 MILLION, MAJORITY VOTE OF THE LEGISLATURE, REGIONAL PLANNING, HOUSING AND INFILL INCENTIVE FUND, FOR, AMONG OTHER VITAL THINGS, "GRANTS FOR PRESERVATION OF OPEN SPACE" AND "URBAN PARK CREATION." WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH INFRASTRUCTURE? ISN'T THE URGENCY HERE BECAUSE OF FLOOD PROTECTION?-- $1.45 BILLION FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACCOUNT -- CONTINUOUSLY APPROPRIATED, SO OF COURSE IT'S ANOTHER MAJORITY VOTE. SO MUCH FOR A BIPARTISAN PLAN.-- $135 MILLION TO THE JOE SERNA, JR. FARMWORKER HOUSING FUND. THIS IS NOT INFRASTRUCTURE.-- "THE LEGISLATURE MAY, FROM TIME TO TIME, AMEND THE PROVISIONS OF LAW RELATED TO PROGRAMS TO WHICH FUNDS ARE, OR HAVE BEEN, ALLOCATED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION FOR THE PURPOSE OF IMPROVING THE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROGRAM, OR FOR THE PURPOSE OF FURTHERING THE GOALS OF THE PROGRAM." IS THIS AN OPEN-ENDED GRANT OF AUTHORITY TO CHANGE ALL THE SPENDING PRIORITIES, AGAIN, WITH A SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE?THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT I HAVE HEARD OF NO REPUBLICAN WILLING TO SIGN OFF ON THIS DEAL. HOWEVER, WE ARE URGING OUR MEMBERS TO CONTACT THEIR LEGISLATORS AND REMIND THEM THAT A BOND DEAL WITHOUT REFORMS IS NO DEAL AT ALL.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

HOW TO CONTACT YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS

We recommend that you contact your legislators today via e-mailand/or via phone first thing Monday morning.

To determine who your legislators are and get their contact info, visit:http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html

Assemblyman Huff's Commentary - - Fix State Infrastructure

Solution to fix state infrastructure

By Assemblyman Bob Huff

The governor, the Senate and the Assembly are all talking about fixing infrastructure. This is great news for our state, as California's freeway construction was largely halted in 1975. Since then, we've added 15 million residents, and counting. Our levees were constructed many years ago without adequate engineering, and now pose a safety threat larger than what faced New Orleans when its levees broke.

How do we proceed as a state in developing an ongoing plan to address our numerous infrastructure problems? My Republican colleagues and I have co-authored legislation that will enable California to build now, build more and spend less when making improvements to our schools, roads and crumbling levees.

Assembly Constitutional Amendment 27 would dedicate a portion of the general fund each year for statewide infrastructure - roads, levees and water delivery systems. In years when our budget grows, our investment in California's infrastructure will also grow. Over 10 years, our plan will bring in more than $35 billion for vital projects, without having to make interest payments, as we will need to do if we sell bonds.

While California's population has grown larger and more complex, our infrastructure needs have simmered on the back burner in Sacramento, sacrificed to expanding social programs and special interests. Over the last two years alone, revenues and spending have grown dramatically, but only a tiny percentage went to infrastructure. Infrastructure has not been a priority. As such, our roads are now constantly in gridlock, our levees are deteriorating, and our water delivery systems are inadequate for current and future demands. We must plan and build for California's future now.

Our "pay as you go" approach, supported by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers' Association, is the fiscally responsible way to pay for infrastructure without incurring billions of dollars in unnecessary interest payments or raising taxes and fees on working families. By building now and paying in today's dollars we avoid delays and rising costs.

I have also introduced legislation to get California moving again by repaying the billions of Proposition 42 transportation dollars taken in the past. AB 2028 will result in money going to road projects faster, without raising taxes and without bonds that come with expensive interest charges. This legislation is part of a package of Republican reforms that will allow California to meet its infrastructure needs.

Any solution will require bipartisan action to get the job done. I look forward to working with my colleagues to do just that. It is time to mend our levees and repair our roads to create a stronger California for all. __________________________________________________________________
Assemblyman Bob Huff, R-Diamond Bar, represents the 60th District, which includes Diamond Bar, Industry, La Habra, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, San Dimas, Walnut and Whittier.

Dreier Town Hall Style: Phone Call

The San Gabriel Valley Tribune gave this Editorial on Rep. David Dreier (R-Glendora) approach of a town hall meeting via phone call.

Legislative connection

IF your phone rings this evening, pick up. It could be your congressman. That is, if you live in the 26th District, which runs through the foothill communities from Altadena and part of Pasadena to Arcadia, Bradbury, Monrovia, San Marino, Sierra Madre, Walnut, San Dimas, Glendora, La Verne and Claremont and into San Bernardino County. The district is represented by Republican David Dreier, chairman of the House Rules Committee, who has found a new way to stay in touch with the folks back home while he's in Washington.
Dreier held his first telephone town hall meeting last week, connecting with nearly 800 constituents. He held another Monday night and will be back on the line tonight and Wednesday. We approve. It sounds like a great way to communicate with voters and avoid the isolation that can creep up on our respresentatives on Capitol Hill. It's a more interpersonal approach than an Internet chat and a technology more of our Congress members should try out.
A computer link, marketed by Tele-Town Hall Inc., allowed Dreier to use a telephone switching network to call more than 11,000 homes within minutes for his inaugural forum last week. Twenty constituents got to ask in-depth questions. Dreier could see their names pop up on a computer screen and he answered their questions as the hundreds who had joined the call listened in. The forum lasted more than an hour.
People could say and ask whatever they wanted.
It's a healthy thing for representatives to hear directly from voters.

Former Labor Union Chief cuts deal with Prosecutors

The powerful Los Angeles County Federation of Labor former Executive Director Martin Ludlow cuts a deal in the funds probe of the union and his council campaign.

So egregious on the charges against Ludlow, he is getting a sweet deal to save his own skin. We applaud the District Attorney's office for its role in making sure that our campaign finance laws are enforceable. No one, even a labor chief is above the law.

It is a shame that the rank and file of the union membership that works hard for their money and it is being squandered away. We should educate our fellow union members that they are overtaxed from the government and the Republican party offer better choices to them. We should open up the debate on the issue of "Paycheck Protection".

Now the question remains, what other union organizations in the San Gabriel Valley had this kind of practice going on.

Read on the full story in the Los Angeles Times:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/politics/cal/la-me-ludlow4mar04,1,3665699.story?coll=la-news-politics-california

Pomona may take on D.C.: Immigration Issue

The Pomona City Council is considering a resolution to oppose H.R. 4437 and federal efforts to encourage local governments enforcing immigration laws.

The cities of Maywood and Huntington Park has passed similar resolutions and the City of Los Angeles is considering doing the same.

When will those serving on the dais and our sworn officers that are suppose to "Protect and Serve" understand that it is their duty to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California. It is high time that we hold our elected officials accountable. Their ignorance of ignoring our immigration laws on the books must come to a stop. Bottom line is this: If you are here illegally, you have no right being here! Those on the dias should be removed in the next election or face a recall by the citizens of a given community!

For further information on the story see the link from the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin:

http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_3567763

GOP Candidate withdrew from 49th AD

The 49th Assembly District, which covers Alhambra, El Monte, Monterey Park, Rosemead and San Marino. Recently, a GOP candidate threw from the race, which leaves no GOP nominee to challenge a Democrat for the fall campaign.

It is imperative that we find candidates that are willing to run and not allow a Democrat a free "Pass to Go" to the Assembly.

As of date other Assembly Districts in the San Gabriel Valley has no GOP candidate running:

44th-Arcadia
57th-Baldwin Park, La Puente, West Covina
61st-Pomona

Temple City Developer wants build Mall

Meeting was held with residents of Temple City and representatives from the Developer to discuss building a mall on the intersection of Las Tunas and Rosemead Blvd. The proposal is to have mix use of mall and condominiums on the 4 acre lot.

The Temple City Planning Commission will discuss the proposal at it's regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, March 14, 2006.

For further details of the story go to the SGV Tribune link:

http://www.sgvtribune.com/news/ci_3568189

Diamond Bar Library Survey Results

The Diamond Bar City Council will discuss the library survey results at the study session on Tuesday, March 7, 2006. The public is encouraged to attend.

The results are as follows:

1. They gave info about the existing library, how old, no parking, do you use it?
Often.............13%
Sometimes....24%
Rarely...........39%
Never............23%
Don't know....1%

2. The city is considering constructing a new state of the art library, next to D.B. Center. It would be 3 times larger, internet access, a Global Citizen Center to teach children about cultures around the world (this is in partnership with the 2 school districts) and a Homework Center. Do you favor or oppose building this new Diamond Bar Library?
Favor.....................75%
Oppose.................15%
Need more info.........9%
Don't know...............2%

3. The library can only be built with financial assistance from the community. The city council will contribute $3 million, and the rest of the money will come from the residents. The city is considering placing a measure on a upcoming ballot that would ask property owners to pay $42 per parcel per year for 30 years to pay for the construction. The city is also asking for an additional $11 a year to pay for half of the increased operating costs, with the city paying for the rest. This $11 assessment would be raised each year by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to keep up with inflation. Would you vote yes or no?
Yes....................46%
No......................34%
Need more info....17%
Don't know..........4%

Voila! There you have it. The participants in the survey jumps and down on the library concept, then it sinks in how much it would cost. No way that the conservative city of Diamond Bar voters are going to approve this, which requires 67%.

Furthermore, Global Citizen Center...Interesting concept, coming out of the pages of Communist platform or George Orwell's book "1984"....Scary, eh?

Rest assured this PARCEL TAX proposal will seek its rightful place....in the grave where the tombstone marked "R.I.P. - - Thanks to Wise Citizens"

Rowland USD Board pursue $118 Bond Measure

Rowland Heights-Rowland Unified School District Board of Education unanimously approved placing $118 Million General Obligations Bond for approval by voters on the June 2006 Primary Election ballot. It will be a series of four bond with a the taxation amount to be approximately $39.00 dollars of $100,000 assessed value.

Heidi Gallegos, President of the Rowland Board of Education states, “Our responsibility, as an elected Board, is to make decisions that are in the best interest of the children and families we serve. The action taken last night by my fellow Board members and I is our vote of confidence in the leadership and fiscal management of this District. This Board and administration have acted responsibly with the public’s tax dollars regarding the last bond – Measure R. More work is needed to improve and expand facilities to accommodate current and future needs. A general obligation bond will enable Rowland Unified to continue facility improvements."

The Board of Education has taken a much conservative route and reduced the dollar amount for consideration of property valuation rate. Furthermore, the Board established priorities on the bond proposal of certain projects that are in dire need of improvements.

Rowland Unified serves about 18,000 students through a network of 23 campuses.

Rowland USD may Push $150 Million Bond

Rowland Unified School District Board of Education may push $150 Million Bond measure for approval by voters.

This will be second bond proposal after the first one $70 Million Bond was approved by voters in 2000, called Measure R by a vote of 83%.

Now we have to ask: How can you spend in $70 Million Bonds 6 years ago? Then, asking the taxpayers for double of another bonds? Where does the money go? Can the property owners afford this in the Rowland Heights Community. When does this end? Stay tuned....

For further details on the story go to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune link:

http://www.sgvtribune.com/search/ci_3521805

Pomona USD E-Rate Panel: Bureaucrats only need to Apply

Pomona Unified Board of Education will only appoint internal bureaucrats to oversee the E-Rate Review controversy.

Board Member Andrew Wong, initially proposed the oversight committee wanted a much broader inclusive panel. However, Mr. Wong was overruled by the board majority, which wanted a limited participants. Nevertheless, the panel is still subject to the State of California Open meeting laws known as the Brown Act. It should be interesting what layers will be peeled from this sordid story...stay tuned.

Mr. Wong is to be applauded for his efforts and leadership. We need more accountability of our public school system and those sitting on the Board of Education are answerable to the parents, community and voters.

For further details read the link from the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin:

http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_3560234

Wanted: GOP Candidates for Assembly

The following Assembly Districts have not field a Republican candidate for Assembly:

44th-Arcadia, Pasadena, Duarte
57th-Baldwin Park, La Puente, West Covina
61st-Pomona

The last day to file candidacy for Assembly is Friday, March 10, 2006. If you wish to be a candidate, you must go to the Los Angeles County Registrar Recorder office is located in Norwalk, where you will file necessary papers and filing fee.

These seats should not give the Democrats a free ride.

Up And Running...Back in Action

Greetings:

This Blog is up and running again. I have received numerous of requests on the status of this blog, because a lot of people want to hear what is going on throughout the San Gabriel Valley.

My apologies for being "Missing In Action", but now I am ready to post items that might be of interest to everyone.

I would encourage you all to register to this blog and welcome your commentary as well. Please spread the word about this venture and lets get back into action!!!!

Regards,
Allen J. Wilson