To Much Apathy Among Voters

Elsinore Magazine 2

May 22, 2005 Concerns are on the rise of whether or not councilpersons shall be elected by creating a Charter City by the District or by General City as a whole. EM2 believes while having a Charter City elected council by District may have an edge on election by the city as a whole, the strength of the vote is the same. A majority vote. Citizens who elect by District do have a better communication contact with their District official opposed to all councilpersons. But it really does not make much difference either way as for as the citizens maintaining control of their government. The bigger problem is voter apathy, lack of concern among citizens to investigate and find out what their government is doing and how their tax dollars are being spent. When things happen that directly effect their way of life or pocket book here they come in big numbers and rightfully so. The problem is we should not wait until a problem exist before making a move to receive benefit in the security of our way of life. Action should be taken ahead of time. There is way to much voter apathy and sitting on the fence among the citizens. Not just in this city but everywhere. Believe it or not many elected officials rest to easy under the lack of citizens interest in a city. This is when out of control spending of Public Funds takes place. No one is paying attention! The elected official does not have to do much to retain his or her seat and they have an, easy in, the next election. They are constantly showing you the rosy and glossy color picture up front, while corruption or anything else is slowly creeping in like jeepers creepers. The cats away the mouse is at play because not enough see, not enough care.

Be a doer and a carer about what is going on in your city. The elected official who really cares, which are to few and far between, need your strong support up front. Not, just behind the scenes!!! EM2 urges and supports citizens to form committes in your neighborhood, to have various committee members attend meetings, in an effort to understand what is really going on with the running of your government and to review Public Records.Any citizens from any where have the right to access any and all Public Records. Find out what your rights are.. (1) There are the Ralph M. Brown Act. (2) The Public Records Act. under The State of California Government Code. (3) The Freedom of Information Act. (4) Now, The State of California Constitution Prop 59. Effective January 2005. Stand up be seen be heard. These kinds of committies could be formed throughout the city. Stop sitting back while 20 citizens do the work for all citizens to benefit. All citizens 18 and older are responsible to oversee how your tax monies are spent and how the spending is beneficial to your needs. There are 35,000 who live in this city. An idea would be to incorporate these committies when doing your neighborhood watch. Lets contribute and make it easier for all. If we do not do anything, then we are all part of the problems that befall us. Put up or shut up! Other words no work, then no right to complain. Everyone's strong concerns and comments makes a difference, when used in a good way.

City Clerk Vicki Kasad Resigns

Elsinore Magazine 2

May 21, 2005

The City Clerk ended 18 years of employment effective May 31, 2005 by resignation. Ms. Kasad is giving up a lucrative salary of approx. $115,000.00 Per year, a deffered compensation of $5800.00 Per year, a fuel allowance of $4800.00 per year, a medical, life insurance, and retirement package worth approx. $65,000.00. For a total package worth of approx. $192,000.00 per year. It is not known by EM2, at this time, who will be her replacement. As City Clerk and head of Human Resources Dept. Ms Kasad is one of the city employees who BROKE POLICY (and RESOLUTION 88.1) and took advantage of a Health and Wellness Package to pay for family dental bills, thousands. It is not known what benefits she will retain upon her effective resignation date. Ms. Kasad is the 3rd highest ranking employee to leave the city under resignation. Former City Manager Dick Watenpaugh, who" just happened" to be at City Hall 1 week before Ms. Kasad's resignation, and his assistant Marlene Best, both left the city effective January 14, 2005. Mr. Watenpaugh is presently employed as interim City Manager, part time, in the City of Calimesa, near Redlands. Ms. Kasad will be accepting the positions of Assistant City Manager/City Clerk, also in Calimesa. Marlene Best accepted a position in the City of Calexico as City Manager.

JUST IN!!! EM2 has found out that a member of our Planning Department has or will soon be headed in a direction aimed right at Calimesa also.

"GEE!!! I WONDER IF HE FINISHED HIS CONTRACT WITH LAKE ELSINORE??"

Could it be that these so called appointments are controlled by persons in the Lake Elsinore area? These positions of city POWER it seems, or looks like, have been planned. After all, both of these cities are within 40 to 60 miles of Lake Elsinore and some of these people have to drive further just to get home. Wonder why they didn't take positions in cities closer to where they live or in the cities they live in ??

EM2 says that, HOPEFULLY, our City Council will stop waisting money and hire one of the EXPERIENCED and DYNAMIC INDIVIDUALS who applied (approx. 50 applicants) for the position of City Manager. Robert Brady has experience with being part of a Planning Department, but knows nothing about being a "City Manager." EM2 does not reccomend a person who has already tarnished this position, be APPOINTED to this position permanately!! How can you put a dishonorable person in a honorable position?? Especially, when a revelation has been released that the CITY of LAKE ELSINORE has a big time EXPENDATURE/REVENUE PROBLEM just recently found by the FINANCE TEAM.

We do not want the same things that have been going on behind closed doors to be allowed to continue at the TAXPAYERS EXPENSE!!!

MILLIONS!!!!!!!!MISSING!!!!!!!!!

Dearest CITY COUNCIL/CITY ATTORNEY, PLEASE, do not attempt to sweep these TRUTHS back under the rug. TAKE HEED, the truth will be exposed in detail !!!

Also Finance Director, Matt Pressey, PLEASE, do not try to "FIX" the budget, I suspect the "MAYOR" will ask you to "BALANCE" the budget to make the public think everything is just "hunky doorey."

Please, do not do what former City Manager Richard Watenpaugh did and use funds from pending developements that he was not even eligible to use. Hell, some developements were still on the drawing board when they got "RAIDED"and other developements were not even started yet.

We have seen the Health and Wellness Package decimated by some of the same city employees who were taking an incorrect amount of $150.00 per month,(Resolution 88.1 clearly states $100.00 per month), 2 years in advance. Then turn around and take the $150.00 per month also.

The Citizens are entitled to the TRUTH, there is no middle ground. SomePeople try to twist, bend, redirect, cover up, stall, blank and or block out the truth because of a decision they made to throw their ethics out the window. It is like EM2 said, "Hold on to your ethics, no matter what temptation arises in front of you, and all decisions made and actions taken will be automaticly correct with a benefit to all!!! Guess what? ethics held on to also guarantee that you will remain in the truth zone." Which is a darn good place to be!!!

Citizens, BEWARE , some of our officials do not tell it like it is!!! It is all to evident in many cities, that officials tend to skirt around and or circumvent the truth.

EM2 says that, "It is liken unto suffocation to suppress and force someone to live a lie !!!"

Poilce Protection Meeting

Elsinore Magazine 2

May 20, 2005 In a meeting, last Wednesday on the 18th, more than 60 citizens gathered on the front lawn of Dennis Sickle's home in protest calling for better police protection. Among the complaints, citizens questioned the maner in which repeated calls are handled. A shooting took place in the area of Grandview, Halfmoon Dr. and Megan St. which left 4 persons injured, 3 with minor injuries and 1 with seriuos injuries. In custody is a Mead Valley resident, Micheal Bowling, who was booked for attempted murder at the Southwest Facility. Members of the city council at the meeting were Mayor Robert Magee, Daryl Hickman, Robert Schiffner and Thomas Buckley. Councilwoman, Genie Kelley, did not show up. Safety Committee members, also at the meeting, were, Ron Hewison, William "Bill" Arnold and committee chair, Mike Lewis. Captain Louis Fetheroff addressed the issues of noise and the 10 pm curfew. But, he stated, that he cannot legally shut down a party unless the person or persons causing the disturbance have been seen by an officer of the law or a citizen who was witness to the disturbance. Thus being able to make an arrest. There were numberous calls to law enforcement about disturbances in the area and the police did respond but, the police were not on scene at the time of the shooting.

EM2 encourages citizens to attend City Council meetings every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm. at the Cultural Center, 183 North Main St. downtown Lake Elsinore. The City Council directs law enforcement and is fully responsible for citizen safety and protection. Safety and protection are of utmost concern and should be prioritized by the City Council. The council could ask the finance team to look for more ways to "cut the fat" in an effort to hire more police officers. The City Treasurer, Mr. Peter Weber, in a news article on April 7, 2005, proposed a $930,000.00 cut in unnecessary spending to be used for hiring more police officers. This is what all cities must do from time to time. Contact your Councilperson and let them know your concerns. (951)674-3124

Lovers of Truth, Lovers of Lies

Elsinore Magazine 2

May 2005 Until the PUBLIC at large, loan themselves to attending to the business of standing up for the TRUTH instead of PAYING HEED to FALSE STATEMENTS, will have a hard time trying to find the level of confidence needed for a smooth governing body. There was a time back in the day, that what ever information an official or agency released or spoke, one could pretty much rest assured that the information would be factual. Whats wrong with plain old truth and honesty?? It is a shame when citizens are forbade from speaking their positions in truth against wrong doing. What EM2 has noticed is that people WHO DO stand firm in the truth and verbally attack wrong doing are often called "Nay-sayers" and put down by so called "status quo city officials". This one fact is for sure, citizens that stand against wrong doing are actually the official "YEAH-SAYERS' of our communities!!!

Do you think their fist amendment rights, a birth right, is being violated or encroached upon?? EM2 thinks so. Most of your officials at City Hall and the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District hate it when citizens, even other elected officials, are straight forward about improprieties and non policy agendas. A famous EXCUSE is "You are going to make the city look bad."When in reality it makes the city look bad when nothing is done to the perpetrators of wrong doing. Agencies do not run themselves, people do!!! Another falsehood that the perpetrators of lies would have you believe is that items bought in the city which have a sales tax and DMV fees, that citizens pay for, are not contributed to the taxes that help run a city. In fact, they are, along with other sources.

EM2 encourages the public at large to speak up, with factual information in hand, against grievances that concern everyone. Better to be a LOVER OF TRUTH, than a LOVER OF LIES!!! That IS what America is built on. Leaders of communities need to stop using the words negative and nay-sayer against citizens and elected officials who ARE exposing wrong doing i.e. (CORRUPTION)!!!

To do something about what is KNOWN to be wrong, makes for a good strong leader. To do nothing about what is known to be wrong makes for a good strong suspicion of the leader.

If the truth is not spoken, the truth cannot nor willnot prevail !!!

In other words, if the truth is not kept up front, along with ethics, a lie is allowed to live.

Therefore, when something bad or inappropriate does come along, the problem can be dealt with properly. Not by hiding it or using it THEN sweeping it under the rug. Like some officials are doing!! This attitude and or behavior should not be passed on to our children or grandchildren.

DO THE RESEARCH FOR THE TRUTH or LIVE BY A LIE !!!

IT IS YOUR DECISION !!!

Elsinore Magazine Stands Firm

ELSINORE MAGAZINE 2

May 9, 2005 In spite of personal attacks made, EM2 will continue to report the truth with the facts that apply.

Obviously, there are people out there who cannot argue the factual content of the articles. Hence, stooping to a new low, level personal attacks trying to create something they know not the truth on. This situation could prove to be another City Hall mess, similiar to San Diego. Which, according to news reports, may have to file bankruptcy. EM2 feels like the problems that have hit several cities in California are like a plague that just took over and has been growing for the past 10-20 years. To many city officials, now days, want the citizens not to know what is really going on at city hall because of the actions of a few officials before them. So, choices were made and here we are, stuck with the cleanup detail. Many of our problems could have been solved immediately by a newly elected official stepping forward, upon discovery, and calling for a halt to an improper action. Instead of going with the flow( of Money). God only knows where our budget stands. With the help of the city attorney, we may be on the verge of bankruptcy our ownselves!!! Just in, EM2 has recieved news that a housing project, approved by the City Council last year, has been shut down. The news, coming from a good source, is that the city ignored existing maps in approving the project, which clearly show earthquake faults and preola zones.

Is this going to turn into another law suit against the taxpayers?

The other news is, had it not been for another watchdog citizen who reported the boondoggle project, those houses would have been built. The buyers of those homes would have never known until it was to late.

Imagine, deliberately building and selling homes putting families in jeopardy for the almighty dollar, just to appease developement.

The ARMY CORP. OF ENGINEERS has a condition in the 404 permit that under certain flood plain developements an Enviromental Iimpact Statement (EIS) is required before developement. This statement and or study was to have been funded by the city.

Question.....Was the E.I.S. done??

Some develpoers, in the past, were brought in to make money off our money. in several cases they walked away with the big bucks, without completing or building anything. How can these kinds of situations keep popping up, costing the city dearly, when we have a Mayor that is asking "Where is God?" and proffesional employees, with a city attorney, that are supposed to be looking out for what is best for the city?

Citizens lend me your ear, this is your government, you elected and gave it powers. You are allowed to watch over it. You can even request to review public documents using THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT if something is unclear. A good start would be to read the HEALTH and WELLNESS AUDIT.

Surf on over. In upcoming issues, so there is no doubt about the facts and truth, EM2 will be publishing both.

SHADY DEALS AND PRACTICES (part 2)

ELSINORE MAGAZINE 2 May 2,2005 The sooner elected officials wake up, and smell the strawberries, in operating the offices of government, ABOVE BOARD, the better off in the long run, for all. Most elected officials operate out of an illusive behavior holding back and or not acting on the TRUTH. Thus, making their political careers a priority over serving the Public properly. For some strange reason the officials, through a selfish distorted thinking process, fail to see that it is the CITIZENS that are being cheated. This, because of THEIR OWN SELFSERVING AGENDA to be re elected or advanced in their political careers. EM2 is angered at this kind of Government and will do all in it’s power to expose it for the protection of the CITIZENS first. EM2 has perceived that the citizens of the City of Lake Elsinore are supposed to be so ignorant, that they are not supposed to see through the transparency of illusions that exist. And if by chance, by accident, a citizen has the discernment to recognize and understand what is REALLY BEEN GOING ON, they are EXPECTED to just roll over and join the parties of crooked behavior. An attitude, that has plagued Lake Elsinore for many years. Guess what! The illusions can no longer shelter themselves in hiding. EM2, IS NOW ON BOARD. ALL ABOARD.....ALL ABOARD PLEASE..... The "WHIPPIN TRAIN" is headed for DOWNTOWN LAKE ELSINORE!!! For those who have set themselves aside, on that ungodly throne of corruption, will have that shelter pulled right out from under their murky feet. NO EXCEPTIONS!! EM2 takes this time to encourage anyone having clear factual information about the corruption going on in city hall, to help us help the citizens of our city. Use our comment section. Just give some direction where to go and or where to look. WE WILL FOLLOW UP!! Also, call the Mayor and ask him, why he is sitting on the fence and doing nothing on the clear ABUSE and the MISUSE OF OUR PUBLIC FUNDS? The citizens need not have to beg!! Call 951 674 3124. Ask for the mayors mailbox. If, nothing is being done, then something is being covered up. It is unconceivable how Councilwoman, Genie Kelley, was so eager and boisterous in the past to see that former councilman, George Alongi, be prosecuted for a FPPC violation. He was prosecuted and removed from office. All this because of a BOGUS plan to have a Red Lion Inn built in Lake Elsinore. WHICH, WAS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN ANYWAY!!! EM2"Excuse me! But has anyone rented a room at the new Lake Elsinore Red Lion Inn lately?" Yet, with all of the abuse and taking of Public Funds, one can hardly get a peep out of the dear lady. It’s AMAZING!!. Still, one of the elected officials, Councilwoman Kelley, who understands and knows what the elected officials position should be, has the gall and the audacity to try to put an obstacle, a REPRIMAND, in the path of another elected official. Who is probably the best damn person to have come along in a very long time. A REAL PERSON!! So... KNOCK-IT-OFF NINCOMPOOP'S!! The "WHIPPING TRAIN" IS HERE!! Go back to the classroom and learn again what has been forgotten! We are educated and have ETHICS here!! EM2 has two basic questions: 1.) Who, will UNSELFISHLY stand the test of doing something about the tasteless abuse on the Public Funds? Without worrying about their political career! 2.)Who, will do something about the SHADY DEALS AND PRACTICES that plaque the city of Lake Elsinore, the best kept SECRET at CITY HALL. Because, if city government cannot, the citizens will. PLEASE, LET US KNOW! Just in! Now that the Redevelopment Agency Committee is getting down to the bone truth about the past hidden factors on the Low/Moderate Income Housing Funds, which were exposed to have been squandered on other projects, the mayor now wants to pull the rug out from under the committee. Mr. MAYOR, IT WOULD BE BETTER TO ALLOW THE COMMITTEE TO CONTINUE AS STANDS and LEAVE THE RUG ALONE!!!

Remember, ONLY THE TRUTH CAN SET YOU FREE.

SHADY DEALS AND PRACTICES (part 1)

ELSINORE MAGAZINE 2

May 1, 2005 San Diego Mayor, Dick Murphy, resigned on Monday April 25, 2005. The Mayor was criticized for failing to lead California's second largest city out of a Federal Investigation of San Diego City Hall. He was called, "ONE OF THE WORST MAYORS," by Time Magazine. Newly elected City Attorney, Michael Aguirre, reported to have found that the Mayor and City Council had been violating Federal Securities Laws by hiding KEY information about city finances. (This is an example of what a City Attorney SHOULD BE on top of!!!) On top of which a 1.4 Billion Dollar deficit in the pension funds was also found. A very similar cloud hangs over our city, Lake Elsinore. Information on city finances has long been a problem here at OUR City Hall. The "POLICY",that is not policy, of hiding, covering up and failing to give accurate information on the state of city finances and debts IS ILLEGAL!!! Those individuals who perpetuate this kind of POLICY will eventially have to take responsibility for their actions! After EM2 reviewed the Health and Wellness audit, it was determined that much of the information the auditors should have had access to was found to be hidden or omitted. Especially documentation concerning the use,(MISUSE), of CITY CREDIT CARDS issued to the CITY MANAGER and STAFF MEMBERS. The audit found improprieties in the following areas: 1.) Vacations 2.) Insurance Reimbursements 3.) Health and Wellness Reimbursements 4.) City Credit Card Reimbursements The audit also showed various city credit card receipts just ?MISSING? and NO stipulation as to whether or not the card vsage was for city business and or benefit. EM2 HIGHLY RECOMENDS that all offices of city government sit down and READ or STUDY, if necessary, the law on record reguarding CITY CREDIT CARD USE!!! One of the MOST EGREGIOUS CONCERNS about the audit is when Mayor Magee took it upon himself, IN CLOSED SESSION, to write the auditors requesting the following; a cover letter, HIGHLIGHTING A FALSE STATEMENT, that "NO EVIDENCE of ANY ILLEGAL ACTIONS HAD TAKEN PLACE". and that "CURRENT PRACTICES AND POLICIES will be effective when put into place". " EM2, "GEE, I WONDER WHAT PRACTICES AND POLICIES THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT NOW??? After all, it would appear that the City Council and city employees do not adhere to their own POLICY on RECORD." This, after the Mayor HIMSELF circulated a memo of what he had found going on in several areas of city government, which he did absolutely nothing about . (THIS IS DOCUMENTED!!!!). The audit clearly reveals the ABUSE and MISUSE of PUBLIC FUNDS!!! EM2 WHOLEHEARTEDLY DISAGREES with Mayor Magee on his actions! AND, as if that were not enough, the Mayor allowed Councilwoman, Genie Kelly, to read these FALSE STATEMENTS into public record at the March 22, 2005 council meeting as TRUTH! Then the Mayor sent the memo to all the council members for their input. NEVER bringing it to an OPEN MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL as REQUIRED under the Ralph M. Brown Act. So,..the citizens would NEVER KNOW that he WROTE TO THE AUDITORS!!!!! The Brown Act states clearly that, "There shall be NO CLOSED SESSION CITY BUSINESS OR COMMUNICATION WITH ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS WITHOUT POSTING AN OPEN MEETING FIRST !!! Because, "A REPORT SHALL FOLLOW THE CLOSED SESSION AS TO THE OUTCOME OF THE CLOSED SESSION MEETING ! Who do they think they are fooling other than THEMSELVES! To add to these facts there is one more. As to the meeting on March 22, 2005, complaints are arising that comments made at this meeting have been entirely omitted from the minutes of the meeting! Mayor Magee PROMISED to fix the problem through phoning the complainant party. EM2 says, "What about letting the city clerk, do his or her job, and correct the error. Phoning the complainant party does not change the status of omitting statements from the minutes of a meeting." Could these actions and behavior be an example of how dictatorial countries get started??? A salute to the residents of Murrietta for thier efforts and taking a stand against major problems in THEIR city! If the public at large does nothing about problems in the cities, then the public will lose control to the MASSES OF CORRUPTION!!!!!!! BESIDES,We have the VISION and the ABILITY to PRE-EMPT POOR TECHNIQUE! End of part 1, SHADY DEALS AND PRACTICES. Log on for part 2 in the next issue.