Council Meeting Update for April 27 - NEW

So here are the highlights of what is on the agenda for Tuesday...

1) Resolution supporting AB 1645 - this bill, if passed, will force legislators in Sacramento to balance the budget without the use of gimmicks like including "projected" revenue from laws, programs and actions not yet even in place. It also will require the budget to INCLUDE and ACCOUNT for $200 billion in unfunded liabilities.

As an example, the stated predicted (read: prayed for) $1 billion in revenue from selling part of the State Compensation Insurance Fund. That sale didn't happen, but the revenue they hoped for was included in the budget.

2) Consideration of amending the Lake Elsinore Municipal Code (LEMC) to allow for bow fishing on the lake - I have never heard of such a thing, but apparently catching fish with a bow and arrow is not only a popular sport, it's actually pretty effective at keeping populations of unwanted fish like Carp under control. Who knew?

Big Bear hosts an Annual Carp Roundup every year, complete with prizes awarded to teams who bring in the most Carp. Annually, bowfishers at Big Bear Lake take out about 30,000 pounds of carp. Carp are naughty fish, and like to eat the eggs of the sport fish, which we want to keep. Where they will be allowed to bowfish is limited of course, we can't have people shooting off arrows into the water at the beaches and parks.

3) Commercial Design Review for Walgreens drugstore - Walgreens is looking to build on the site where Burger King once was on the corner of Diamond Dr and Mission Trail. There are a few issues relating to how it will effect the existing State Farm Insurance business, which is directly next to the site. Hopefully those can all be worked out to everyone's satisfaction.



Not on the agenda, but still interesting, is a measure that will be on the ballot June 8 for San Diego residents. Proposition B will impose term-limits on their County Board of Supervisors to two terms, each 4 years in length.

Take Two Aspirin and Call Me in the Morning... NEW

Oh where to begin...

Today I had a conference call to discuss what shall become of the two hospitals Southwest Healthcare Systems runs in our area, those being Inland Valley and Rancho Springs.

In case you missed it, the State has moved to revoke Southwest's license. WIthout a license, you can't operate a hospital. Which means the hospitals would be closed. The move is in response to numerous violations over the past 3 years and the absence of a correction to those violations.

Although the discussion today was interesting, we still don't know what will happen if they lose their license. Will another provider be allowed to run the hospital while the mess is figured out? We don't know.

Each of us on the call made it perfectly clear that not having medical services available is UNACCEPTABLE. Of course, we don't get to make the decision, but we can certainly be a very vocal and loud pain in the neck, as can all of you.

It looks as though if this is the road the state goes down, revocation of the license, that it would not happen until June 1. So don't get sick after that date okay?

I will keep you updated as to what is happening as best I can as more information becomes available.

Monday Musings

Today's blog is going to have a little something for everyone.

First, let's talk about the budget...the proposed schedule will be such that a study session open to the public will be held May 20th. This is your opportunity to hear what's going on, what will be proposed and weigh in on those items.

Depending on public interest, we will hold the "Budget Game" I spoke of in an earlier post. Now let me say I know one person seemed to misunderstand the purpose of the game. I realize calling it a game in the first place seems to trivialize the issue, but that is certainly not the intent. Real numbers will be used, and as I stated, when conducted in the city of Cupertino, the public's suggestions were used in the final budget. So this is not a "hey let's mess around and play monopoly", this is a way to include residents in the process.

We are still in the General Plan update process. The document is available on the city's website for your viewing pleasure.

As you may have read in the paper, our two hospitals in the area are in danger of essentially being closed down until they can prove to the feds they've got their act together. It is an absolute mess, and I don't have anymore information at this point, but I may have more by Tuesday after my conference call Monday to discuss it.

If you would like to leave your permanent mark in history in the city, Animal Friends of the Valley is selling bricks which will be engraved with the words you choose and placed in the new shelter. It's for a good cause and will allow you to be recognized for years to come without having to build pricey monuments and buildings at taxpayer expense throughout the city the way Senator R, Byrd of West Virginia does it!

And finally, election day is coming, again! On June 8, 2010 you will need (notice I said NEED) to vote for the DA and for the 37th district senator who will represent Lake Elsinore (among many other cities). Don't forget!!

Coffee Talk

Just a reminder, this Wednesday April 14th I will once again host "Coffee with the Mayor" at Flour Fusion Bakery on Main Street from 9:00-10:30 a.m. I look forward to speaking with you!

Special Election April 13th

Hello everyone. I want to remind you to GO VOTE THIS TUESDAY APRIL 13th in the special election for the 37th Senate District.

As you may or may not know, our former Senator, John Benoit, was appointed to the Riverside County Board of Supervisors after the death of Supervisor Wilson. We are now without a senator, that is, until Tuesday.

There are 7 people now running for the seat.

Essentially the 37th district covers the western edge of Riverside County, parts of Corona and Norco,Lake Elsinore, Canyon Lake, San Jacinto, Hemet,and Perris. A number of unincorporated areas like Romoland and Sun City are also in the district.
Beaumont, Banning, Calimesa, and the unincorporated areas of Cherry Valley and Cabazon, and much of the Coachella Valley is in the district, to include Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Desert Hot Springs, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, and La Quinta.

Only one took the time to come to visit Lake Elsinore and many of our neighboring cities, RUSS BOGH. He came to our city months ago to ask what our needs and concerns were, and subjected himself to a barrage of questions from voters, all wanting to know where he stood on the issues.

Personally, any candidate who can't take the time to come talk to the people he/she wants to represent, doesn't get my vote. I figure, if they can't be bothered now, how much time and attention will that person give us once elected? Likely not much. Which is why I will not vote for anyone who hasn't made the effort to put himself out there for voters to question. None of the other 6 candidates ever set foot in our town.

So, PLEASE GO VOTE TUESDAY APRIL 13th!! If you already have done your homework on the candidates, terrific, cast your vote. If you have not, I urge you to consider voting for RUSS BOGH.

I'm taking a poll...

Approval of next year's budget is fast approaching. Since it's your money, you should know how it is being spent and why.

The city of Cupertino developed a game called "Balance or Bust". It's sort of like monopoly, but the real budget numbers are used. It was designed by Cupertino to involve their residents in the budget process. In the end, they did use some of the suggestions made by residents in how revenue is spent.

I contacted their mayor, who agreed to share the game with me.

Players are divided up into teams, the first one to balance the budget (responsibly of course) wins. I think it's a great way to get everyone involved and educate folks on where the money goes, and of course get your suggestions.

So...I have a few questions. 1) would you come play? and 2) what day/time would you most likely prefer?

Thanks for your input everyone!!

This is open to all residents, including kids who are old enough to actually play and understand the game. (ie: high school age).

The No Illegal Immigrant Left Behind Act

In December of 2009, HR 4321, an immigration reform bill, was referred to a house subcommittee. In English, that means it's not dead.

Under the terms of this bill, literally anyone who is in this country illegally, (at the time of the bill's passage) will be eligible for legal permanent residence. Proponents for this bill say this is not all out amnesty. They say it's not amnesty because those illegally here will have to, wait for it, wait for it... pay a fine.

Not just any old fine, a $500 fine! Ouch, boy that's going to hurt. I know what you're thinking. Did she forget a zero? Or two? No, I did not. It's $500. To receive permanent legal residence all that will be required is to pay a $500 fine.

On average, one illegal alien family costs American taxpayers $10,000 per year. So $500 dollars ought to cover it right? Now if an illegal alien says “I can’t pay the fine”, well, no problem. The bill proposes they still get their amnesty. No sense in letting a pesky fine get in the way of becoming an American right?

State and local police would no longer be able to report bad guys to DHS or ICE, and as an added bonus, the successful, efficient and not nearly used enough E-Verify employment verification system would go to the boneyard.
Protecting our country's borders would diminish (read: no more border fence) and Border Patrol agents will be required to take special training to learn how not to frighten illegal immigrant children trying to cross the border. Seriousy, I’m not making that one up.

Proponents claim ICE agents will still be able to do their job. But only as long as their enforcement actions don’t take place within the vicinity of a school, a childcare provider, a legal-service provider, an administrative building, a funeral home, a cemetery, a college, university, or community college, a hospital, a health care clinic, a place of worship, a day care center, a head start center, a school bus stop, a recreation center, a mental health facility, or a community center. Well, that sure makes it easier now doesn’t it?

The definition of “vicinity” remains unclear. Does that mean within 50 feet, 100 yards, or as long as you can spot one of these places on the horizon using your high-powered binoculars?

There are 11 million illegal immigrants in this country, and 3 million of them live in California.

According to a report by the Federation for American Immigration Reform,

“California's nearly 3 million illegal immigrants cost taxpayers nearly $9 billion each year.
Educating the children of illegal immigrants is the largest cost, estimated at $7.7 billion each year, according to the report. Medical care for illegal immigrants and incarceration of those who have committed crimes are the next two largest expenses measured in the study, the author said. Jack Martin, who wrote the report, said Thursday that the $9 billion figure does not include other expenses that are difficult to measure, such as special English instruction, school lunch programs, and welfare benefits for American workers displaced by illegal immigrant workers.”

Contact members of Congress to let them know how you feel about H.R. 4321, sooner rather than later. After all, it is your money.