Funny thing about politics, is that over time popular opinions change.
Let's take for example, environmental issues. aka The Green Movement.
Now we all know that there is a big public debate about what is important regarding how our society is managed concerning environmental issues. As it should be. The funny thing is how some people decide to take it into their own hands to push their viewpoints on the rest of the public. That being said, my personal philosophy is that we must enforce the laws, as established and let our economic policies determine the balance.
Recently there has been some accusations that the worst environmental water cleanup site in the United States is somehow my personal responsibility. I find this rather funny, considering the source of this accusation is one of the biggest contributors to several of my opposing running mates in the race. Apparently because Baldwin Park is downstream to the original source of this contamination, and at one time I was Mayor there - according to their logic I must be an evil person because I was responsible.
There's only one problem with that accusation. According to a Los Angeles Times article published in 1999, the EPA disagrees;
"EPA officials said they have identified two companies that used rocket fuel in Azusa in the 1940s, but have only been able to link the contamination to AeroJet General Corp.
“In the ’40s and ’50s, we didn’t have the environmental culture we have now,” said Kirby Brill, executive director of the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority. “They were told to [dispose of] it by throwing it on the ground and lighting it up.”
Now, I find this rather funny that I would be personally attacked by the husband of our current city councilwoman, for some how being responsible for industrial water contamination that was due to rocket fuel during World War 2.
At the time I am certain public policy was more in support of AeroJets industrial war efforts for defending our country, rather than against based our contemporary environmental issues, but that is besides the point. The point is, that Al Vogler seems to think that his wife's elected position gives him the right to stretch the truth, and is willing to fund a political campaign to slander someone seeking a seat on the same council.
For those of you who wish to do your own research on this subject, this is referring to a mailed political campaign letter from the "Hesperia Free Press - Albert H. Vogler #1311389" committee. A political committee intended not to support a specific candidate, but rather for the direct intent of influencing the electoral process against the candidates Al has personally funded as one of their largest contributors.
I ask only, what is his personal motivation considering his wife is already on the council?
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Monday, August 4, 2008
Property Taxes
Back in 1978, I saw horrible tragedies as many families in my community were getting forced out of their homes, by wildly increasing property tax assessments.
That immediately motivated me to join forces with Howard Jarvis and Paul Gann. Together we knocked on doors and circulated petitions gathering signatures. I was the ONLY Mayor that endorsed Proposition 13., prior to the election. Other Bureaucrats and public officials almost unanimously were in opposition to Proposition 13 because it threatened their personal budgets and paychecks.
Talk about being unpopular with your co workers!
After the measure passed, homes were saved. Evictions and forced tax sales were immediatly stopped. As a result, to this day the Government can only raise your assesed value on property by 2% per year instead of the doubling which we saw prior to the voters approval of Prop. 13.
As a current member of the County of San Bernardino tax assement appeals board, I have had the priviledge of lowering many peoples assesments on both commercial and residential property.
With the current state of the economy, I fully support the voter mandated cutbacks that are being administered currently with Proposition 8.
~ Russ
That immediately motivated me to join forces with Howard Jarvis and Paul Gann. Together we knocked on doors and circulated petitions gathering signatures. I was the ONLY Mayor that endorsed Proposition 13., prior to the election. Other Bureaucrats and public officials almost unanimously were in opposition to Proposition 13 because it threatened their personal budgets and paychecks.
Talk about being unpopular with your co workers!
After the measure passed, homes were saved. Evictions and forced tax sales were immediatly stopped. As a result, to this day the Government can only raise your assesed value on property by 2% per year instead of the doubling which we saw prior to the voters approval of Prop. 13.
As a current member of the County of San Bernardino tax assement appeals board, I have had the priviledge of lowering many peoples assesments on both commercial and residential property.
With the current state of the economy, I fully support the voter mandated cutbacks that are being administered currently with Proposition 8.
~ Russ
Public Servant - Principals in Action
Philosophy that I live by;
The Government that governs best, governs least.
~Thomas Jefferson
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing.
~Edmund Burk
Service to Others is the rent we pay, for the space we take up on earth.
~Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes
A Public Office, is a Public Trust
~ President Grover Cleveland
and Lastly,
Gandhi's Seven Sins of the World ...
Wealth without work,
Pleasure without Conscience,
Knowledge without Character,
Commerce without Morality,
Science without Humanity,
Worship without Sacrafice and
Politics without Principle
~ Russ
The Government that governs best, governs least.
~Thomas Jefferson
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing.
~Edmund Burk
Service to Others is the rent we pay, for the space we take up on earth.
~Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes
A Public Office, is a Public Trust
~ President Grover Cleveland
and Lastly,
Gandhi's Seven Sins of the World ...
Wealth without work,
Pleasure without Conscience,
Knowledge without Character,
Commerce without Morality,
Science without Humanity,
Worship without Sacrafice and
Politics without Principle
~ Russ
High Density vs. ...
When I was a young man, just leaving my parents home I found myself living in an apartment. The center courtyard with the pool, is what attracted me to the location - and of course - the price. It was a monthly rent payment that I could well afford.
A few years later, I found myself with a wife, three children, several pets and a few sets of exchange students living under my roof. Of course, the ability to add a backyard pool is what attracted me to the large property which during that time I called home. Luckily I had a level lot that was entirely usable, unlike the rolling landscape we have here in some areas or I would have chosen a 2.5 or 5 acre lot to live the lifestlye that I was able to achieve on only a mere half acre.
Later, after retiring, my wife and I decided to downsize to a much smaller place. We wanted to be closer to our grandchildren, whom have all been raised in the High Desert now called home.
Sometimes less really is more. More time to spend out doing things with friends and family, less time in the yard maintaining a home that was now way too large. More money to spend doing those things, and less spent on the roof we slept under. It was a decision made in the interest of what was best, best for our family and we have never regretted it for a second.
With all these experiences in my life, I find that it is interesting when I am critically attacked for being in favor of "High Density" vs. larger housing lot spaces in regards to the recent changes we have seen in the population growth and all the residential building in this area. Granted, my family is large - but certainly not that large to cause an increase in population over a few thousand!
From my perspective, in all those stages of my life I have found that I have had different needs for my own personal housing requirements. Certainly I can't even imagine that when I first moved from my parents home that I would have needed anything more than a small apartment. High Density was perfect for that stage in my life, as well as I have found it to be suitable in my later years.
Likewise, I have learned that often what stands in the way of the property rights of a land owner is that Not In My Back Yard (NIMBY) neighbors are trying to prevent other people from building on their land. As the current Planning Commisioner in San Bernardino County, it is something I deal with on a regular basis. Perhaps someone could please explain to me why one person is entitled to develop the land that they own, but then they feel that it is their right to deny someone else those very same rights?
The population is changing, it is growing in San Bernadino County. Unless we as a society decide to implement drastic measures such as China has to deal with their population growth, we need to plan for it. We need to make certain that we have the neccesary housing to provide shelter for the people whom are migrating up to the High Desert for all the same reasons that we ourselves chose to live here. And the community services that go along with all that change.
A good community accomodates all different lifestyles, and that takes planning.
~Russ
A few years later, I found myself with a wife, three children, several pets and a few sets of exchange students living under my roof. Of course, the ability to add a backyard pool is what attracted me to the large property which during that time I called home. Luckily I had a level lot that was entirely usable, unlike the rolling landscape we have here in some areas or I would have chosen a 2.5 or 5 acre lot to live the lifestlye that I was able to achieve on only a mere half acre.
Later, after retiring, my wife and I decided to downsize to a much smaller place. We wanted to be closer to our grandchildren, whom have all been raised in the High Desert now called home.
Sometimes less really is more. More time to spend out doing things with friends and family, less time in the yard maintaining a home that was now way too large. More money to spend doing those things, and less spent on the roof we slept under. It was a decision made in the interest of what was best, best for our family and we have never regretted it for a second.
With all these experiences in my life, I find that it is interesting when I am critically attacked for being in favor of "High Density" vs. larger housing lot spaces in regards to the recent changes we have seen in the population growth and all the residential building in this area. Granted, my family is large - but certainly not that large to cause an increase in population over a few thousand!
From my perspective, in all those stages of my life I have found that I have had different needs for my own personal housing requirements. Certainly I can't even imagine that when I first moved from my parents home that I would have needed anything more than a small apartment. High Density was perfect for that stage in my life, as well as I have found it to be suitable in my later years.
Likewise, I have learned that often what stands in the way of the property rights of a land owner is that Not In My Back Yard (NIMBY) neighbors are trying to prevent other people from building on their land. As the current Planning Commisioner in San Bernardino County, it is something I deal with on a regular basis. Perhaps someone could please explain to me why one person is entitled to develop the land that they own, but then they feel that it is their right to deny someone else those very same rights?
The population is changing, it is growing in San Bernadino County. Unless we as a society decide to implement drastic measures such as China has to deal with their population growth, we need to plan for it. We need to make certain that we have the neccesary housing to provide shelter for the people whom are migrating up to the High Desert for all the same reasons that we ourselves chose to live here. And the community services that go along with all that change.
A good community accomodates all different lifestyles, and that takes planning.
~Russ
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Politics is all about Ideas...
Politics is all about ideas, and the testing of those ideas.
Discussing ideas, is what allows us to find solutions for our community. Critics, can complain - but unless they are willing to put on work clothes and contribute to a solution, they remain only a critic. Therefore, let us get to work, making our good community great.
From my 5 generations of family living in the High Desert, to yours.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts,
Russ
Discussing ideas, is what allows us to find solutions for our community. Critics, can complain - but unless they are willing to put on work clothes and contribute to a solution, they remain only a critic. Therefore, let us get to work, making our good community great.
From my 5 generations of family living in the High Desert, to yours.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts,
Russ
Welcome to Blewett's Blog
Hello,
Thanks for dropping by to visit with me.
In today's busy world, we often don't have the chance to sit and talk in person. I hope that here, we can get to learn about and know each other better. My hope is that we can enjoy continuing this conversation, when perhaps we do meet around town.
Until then - take care,
Russ Blewett
Ps. I always welcome your call, if in case you do wish to talk in person about something important to you and your family. You can reach me direct, at (760) 948-9848. Or you can write to me at Russ Blewett, P.O. Box 40-1248, Hesperia CA 92340.
Thanks for dropping by to visit with me.
In today's busy world, we often don't have the chance to sit and talk in person. I hope that here, we can get to learn about and know each other better. My hope is that we can enjoy continuing this conversation, when perhaps we do meet around town.
Until then - take care,
Russ Blewett
Ps. I always welcome your call, if in case you do wish to talk in person about something important to you and your family. You can reach me direct, at (760) 948-9848. Or you can write to me at Russ Blewett, P.O. Box 40-1248, Hesperia CA 92340.
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