“I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.” – E.B. White
At this weeks candidates forum we had a lot of people looking either to improve our city, or enjoy our city. Three of the candidates running in the Ward One city council race showed to tell us what improvements they would make in Riverside while the rest of us enjoy those changes.
The candidates in attendance were Mike Gardner, Letitia Pepper, and Derek Thesier. Dom Betro had a prior engagement. With the election circus now well under way, mail-in ballots are in our mailboxes as of Tuesday, all of the candidates are bucking up on their seduction skills in wooing the justifiably cynical, worn-out electorate – Riverside City politicians will have a lot to answer in forums like this one for what many voters see as their failure to listen to their concerns. I hope that this forum did its part in pulling from the Ward One Candidates the crucial information needed to make our important voting decisions.
“The only sense that is common in the long run is the sense of change and we all instinctively avoid It.” – E.B. White
At the forum I tried to make sense of what was being said by each of the candidates. Mike Gardner seemed to be the smooth talker of the bunch. He is not a naysayer, and seems to have a realistic view of what can be done and what the city council has little influence over. He has shown his abilities as a levelheaded member and Chair of the City of Riverside’s Citizens Police Review Commission. He has also proven that he can mobilize citizens behind a common cause.
Derek Thesier exhibits a passion for the youth of our city, but shows his newness to the process. I feel that he didn’t really explain why he is running for public office. As far as am able to figure through Internet searches and contacts in local community groups he is not a member of any organization that dedicates itself to Riverside, nor has he taken up any civic causes prior to this election. I believe that Derek needs a little more experience before he takes office. Maybe get appointed to a commission or volunteer for a non-profit or two.
Letitia Pepper on the other hand has displayed a long-term commitment to a number of causes in our city. She is still preaching the same sermon to all that listens as she did fifteen years ago. She has a strong voice as well as a growing public following. I believe that she shows that she has a strong backbone, excellent experience, and wants the best for our city, but some say that she has burnt to many bridges, will she be able to get anything done in City Hall. At first glance she would be my choice as the new Ward One Council Person, but read on.
Dom Betro did not attend the forum so I did not let anyone speak ill of him. For the most part he wasn’t mentioned by name, but I think that he was alluded to. I wish that he were there to answer questions in the format that I presented in. Last year I supported him, but this year without more info I must reserve my opinion.
“It is easier for a man to be loyal to his club [party] than to his planet [city]; the bylaws are shorter, and he is personally acquainted with the other members.” – E.B. White
This forum was meant to be non-partisan as well as for people like myself who have not yet made up their minds as whom to throw their support behind. This is hard to do unless you happen to be a knee-jerk reactionist. This I am not. It is even harder to make a choice when more then one person makes so much sense.
“I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority.” – E.B. White
It is time for me to stop trying to outwit my combative nature and pick a horse to ride. I wish that I could be like Dr. Frankenstein and pick different parts from each of those running, but I can’t. Well I believe that both Mike and Leticia have the goals, and good of the people at heart, I believe that Mike Gardner has the greatest chance of actually getting anything done. So I will cast my vote for Mike Gardner. Now it is up to you to make up your own minds, and post your comments here at this site.
Why should we care what E. B. White thinks? Well, White was known for his crisp, graceful, stress-free approach to his stories. "No one can write a sentence like White," James Thurber once declared. White's stories ranged from satire to children's fiction. While he often wrote from the viewpoint of somewhat sarcastic bystander, he also was a sensitive spokesman for the freedom of the individual. This is a method of writing in which I am trying to develop as my own style. Also his quotes fit the situation.
Between writing columns, White also published children's books. STUART LITTLE (1945) depicted an independent and adventurous child, the size of a mouse, who is born into a human family. After various adventures Stuart goes in search of a bird whose life he had previously saved. CHARLOTTE'S WEB (1952) was about the friendship between a young pig, Wilbur, and a spider, Charlotte A. Cavitica. She craftily saves him from the butcher's knife through the message, ''Some Pig’’; she weaves in her web - only to die alone. In THE TRUMPET OF THE SWAN (1970) a mute swan learns to trumpet and becomes a celebrity. In these works White explored such themes as loyalty, tolerance, and rural living. This seems to be what we are dealing with during the local campaign season. Can we learn from White?
White Thoughts of The Forum
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8 POST COMMENTS (Click Here):
Aric,
I was impresed by your forum and the way you ran it. I am honored that you think I am the best candidate for the Ward 1 seat.
I will do my best to live up to your expectations and pledge not to forget that I seek the position of representative, not dictator.
To that end, I will remain available to everyone for comments, suggestions, complaints and questions. I may not be able to give you what you ask for, but I will listen and give you an honest reaction.
Please feel free to contact me through the web site at www.MikeforWard1.com or on my cell phone at 951-897-8660.
Respectfully,
Mike Gardner
Thank you Mike. If you win try to use the people that you have learned to trust and respect as advisors, people such as Letitia Pepper. She can be a strong Allie.
Aric Isom
I disagree with your assessment of me ,my abilities or even my values as for being in question of why I am running. I believe we need true representation for all the people and that I know we don't have.
I have been asked by some people to help them as well. and for your other answers to as of why I am running that was in my closing statement. We didn't have any closing statements. I thought that this was a little different then in past forums I didn't realize I was being judged by you of my ability to serve the constituents' of ward 1. I do believe in myself and what I can do for the better of our fine city and as of a problem solver to getting the job done.
Your assessment was that of a few moments or was it just a first impression.
Derek,
My comments are honest and from the heart. The purpose of any political forum is to be judged. My blog has over 500 readers twice a month, this was why I put on the forum. I only want what is best for the city , I have no bad feelings about you nor any candidate.
Keep believing in yourself because you do have potential.
Good thoughts, Aric. Of course, I see things differently!
Whether or not Mike is more likely to get things done, I am more likely to STOP the City Council from doing bad things . . . .: ) . . . and that's kind of important, too, when you stop and look at what's been happening.
Whether or not anyone can get anything done depends on funding, not much else! So, for example, the City Council, for many years, could not find the funding to develop Tequesquite Park It did not get that thing done.
But at least the public, with Mike's help, stopped the Council from turning the park into housing developing. But what about Fairmount Park? Who will stop the development, with offices and buildings, of Fairmount from happening? Who has made a fuss about that, and tried to organize the public to stop its loss? Me.
Who will most likely be successful in stopping the City from using eminent domain to take people's homes and businesses? Me.
Who will most likely always object to efforts to further impair the public's first amendment rights? Me.
Who will work to make sure redevelopment money is used for REAL low and moderate income housing? Me.
Who will try to keep City government from closing down privately-provided services and programs for the poor, homeless, teenagers, etc? Me.
Who has consistently pointed out the illegality of various laws that the City has tried to adopt, before they were adopted? Me.
Sometimes the best way of getting things done is to stop other things from happening. Stopping some things can be just as important as making other things happen.
Letitia
Letitia,
How can I argue with the truth. You are right, but that doesn't mean that I was wrong.
I believe that if you won the election you would have an up hill battle with the current administration trowing every obstacle that they could find in front of you. Good luck anyways.
Aric Isom
I think we need both Mike Gardner and Letitia Pepper.
Letitia Pepper as City Council person for Ward 1 in the current election and,
Mike Gardner as Mayor of Riverside in the upcoming Mayor's race election.
Derek Thesier who beamed in answering queries about music venues in the City would likely make a great advocate for music venues in the City of Riverside as he himselve is a musician himself. The audience also seemed to agree with the individual asking the query and enthusiastically clapped at Mr. Thesier's reply.
As personable and gracious as Mr. Gardner is, he does not know the issues, the history, the legal ropes that one would need to know to make necessary changes.
It is likely that Mr. Gardner would have to rely largely on what the City Attorney and/or the City Manager would say, and in the City of Riverside that would be a huge mistake. The City Attorney and the City Manager have been less than candid about what is really going on, and that is being kind. In my opinion they have misled public about matters before the City Council/Redevelopment Agency. One example, involving the annexation of Univerity City, follows.
Annexation in progress of University City, a residental area on Riverside's border
The City didn't exactly tell the truth when they said the University City residents -- who live in an area the city is currently in the process of annexing -- will have a chance to VOTE.
Not true. Why? It possible but not likely the process will get to a point where they have a chance to vote.
Why is this? Because if less than 25% of the residents of University City reply NEGATIVELY -- ie reply that they do not want to be annexed -- within 2 weeks then the City will automatically annex those citizens. It could be that an overwhelming number of those residents are not aware that this is happening.
To me and to the reasonable person on the street, Voting means ensuring everybody gets a ballot and that a majority rules.
The annexation of University City isn't a done deal yet, so we don't know what will happen. The vote or negative vote has not yet been taken but the City of Riverside is passing other matters that will accelerate the annexation of this property. This when the the current Council members stated they were reluctant to do, and really did not want to annex this property. Well actions speak louder than words, and their actions show that they do want to annex University City.
Mike Gardner may not be familiar with such processes, such as the Annexation of Univerity City or that fact that the citizens would not necessarily ever get to vote -- should he have been in office when this vote was taken.
Each week a great diversity of matters come before the City Council both in the Chamber and in the Committees Council members sit on. Letitia has knowledge of years of research that money cannot buy, that could be put to use in favor of both Ward 1 residents and this wealth of knowledge likely would also serve to benefit residents of other Wards as well.
I'm sure Mr. Gardener would read the background materials, but that alone does not educate one about all the inter-related processes and issues and the underlying meanings of words in these document. Without this knowledge he cannot be as effective of a Ward 1 City Council member as Letitia Pepper will be if elected.
The sheer volume of paper that will need to be reviewed weekly, is overwhelming, but Letitia is trained to effectively review this paperwork in depth and more. I'm not sure Mr. Gardner realizes the thousands of pages of backup documents that may and frequently do accompany each weeks agenda.
If he is not familiar with the issues, processes, and hidden things that go on in the City, as Letitia is, how can he possibly address these isses?
Mike was able to generate support for saving Te
I think we need both Mike Gardner and Letitia Pepper.
Letitia Pepper as City Council person for Ward 1 in the current election and,
Mike Gardner as Mayor of Riverside in the upcoming Mayor's race election.
Derek Thesier who beamed in answering queries about music venues in the City would likely make a great advocate for music venues in the City of Riverside as he himselve is a musician himself. The audience also seemed to agree with the individual asking the query and enthusiastically clapped at Mr. Thesier's reply.
As personable and gracious as Mr. Gardner is, he does not know the issues, the history, the legal ropes that one would need to know to make necessary changes.
It is likely that Mr. Gardner would have to rely largely on what the City Attorney and/or the City Manager would say, and in the City of Riverside that would be a huge mistake. The City Attorney and the City Manager have been less than candid about what is really going on, and that is being kind. In my opinion they have misled public about matters before the City Council/Redevelopment Agency. One example, involving the annexation of Univerity City, follows.
Annexation in progress of University City, a residental area on Riverside's border
The City didn't exactly tell the truth when they said the University City residents -- who live in an area the city is currently in the process of annexing -- will have a chance to VOTE.
Not true. Why? It possible but not likely the process will get to a point where they have a chance to vote.
Why is this? Because if less than 25% of the residents of University City reply NEGATIVELY -- ie reply that they do not want to be annexed -- within 2 weeks then the City will automatically annex those citizens. It could be that an overwhelming number of those residents are not aware that this is happening.
To me and to the reasonable person on the street, Voting means ensuring everybody gets a ballot and that a majority rules.
The annexation of University City isn't a done deal yet, so we don't know what will happen. The vote or negative vote has not yet been taken but the City of Riverside is passing other matters that will accelerate the annexation of this property. This when the the current Council members stated they were reluctant to do, and really did not want to annex this property. Well actions speak louder than words, and their actions show that they do want to annex University City.
Mike Gardner may not be familiar with such processes, such as the Annexation of Univerity City or that fact that the citizens would not necessarily ever get to vote -- should he have been in office when this vote was taken.
Each week a great diversity of matters come before the City Council both in the Chamber and in the Committees Council members sit on. Letitia has knowledge of years of research that money cannot buy, that could be put to use in favor of both Ward 1 residents and this wealth of knowledge likely would also serve to benefit residents of other Wards as well.
I'm sure Mr. Gardener would read the background materials, but that alone does not educate one about all the inter-related processes and issues and the underlying meanings of words in these document. Without this knowledge he cannot be as effective of a Ward 1 City Council member as Letitia Pepper will be if elected.
The sheer volume of paper that will need to be reviewed weekly, is overwhelming, but Letitia is trained to effectively review this paperwork in depth and more. I'm not sure Mr. Gardner realizes the thousands of pages of backup documents that may and frequently do accompany each weeks agenda.
If he is not familiar with the issues, processes, and hidden things that go on in the City, as Letitia is, how can he possibly address these isses?
Mike was able to generate support for saving T
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