City council keeps faith in Rancho Alliance
Headlines, schmedlines, say the City Council.
When it comes to making a decision on who should develop the 1,200 acres north of Los Osos, the council members say they can only trust the facts, not the recent headlines on the county's deal with the Colonies.
Jeff Burum, one of the Colonies partners, is also one of the partners on Rancho Alliance, a consortium of developers vying for the 1,200 acres project. Burum has become ensnared in a probe on the Assessor's Office after giving Jim Erwin, former assistant assessor, a Rolex watch and a trip to New York City for aiding the Colonies settlement.
Councilwoman Diane Williams said the news of these gifts came as a shock to her but she's not going to let it cloud her judgment on Rancho Alliance.
"I won't say I'm not disappointed," Williams said. "It's an awkward situation."
When it comes to making a decision on who should develop the 1,200 acres north of Los Osos, the council members say they can only trust the facts, not the recent headlines on the county's deal with the Colonies.
Jeff Burum, one of the Colonies partners, is also one of the partners on Rancho Alliance, a consortium of developers vying for the 1,200 acres project. Burum has become ensnared in a probe on the Assessor's Office after giving Jim Erwin, former assistant assessor, a Rolex watch and a trip to New York City for aiding the Colonies settlement.
Councilwoman Diane Williams said the news of these gifts came as a shock to her but she's not going to let it cloud her judgment on Rancho Alliance.
"I won't say I'm not disappointed," Williams said. "It's an awkward situation."
"I don't think there's any doubt, we follow all these developments with interest," said Mayor Don Kurth. "But we've got to make decisions based on evidence and facts."
A Grand Jury is currently investigating the evidence and facts surrounding the 1,200 acres project, as reported in the paper on Saturday. City Manager Jack Lam, Councilman Rex Gutierrez and Kurth have all been interviewed.
Gutierrez was asked whether he felt there was a sweetheart deal between the county and Rancho Alliance.
Councilman Sam Spagnolo, who was not interviewed by the Grand Jury, said he doesn't have any suspicions of such a deal because he trusts Lewis Homes, another partner in Rancho Alliance.
"I would have to put my trust and faith in the group headed by the Lewises," Spagnolo said. "Things of that nature would not be tolerated. The Lewises have a very solid reputation."
Gee surprise surprise that, that response would come from a city Council backed by Campaign contributions from the Colonies various PACs, SEBA, as well as the partners themselves. Jeffrey Burum said Diane and him were friends when the very people Diane was suppose to represent were trying to get the Signs reduced that would be glaring down into their backyards...the very signs that the Colonies are now trying to add a message board feature to as well as make even higher....so Diane are you going to say anything about that...oh wait you wouldn't want to mess up anything between you a Jeff's Friendship...I imagine this council will once again try and give the 2 1/2 acres they failed to give the Colonies the first go round after the public got wind of the fact it would mean a Asphalt plant would be moved over in that location as well as help make way for a car Dealership...hmmm Message board...Car Dealership...see any relationship there???.
Trust Rancho Alliance????...they are made up of several people involved in helping out the Colonies...O'Rielly(didn't he go on that New York trip too)Diversified Pacific(same as the Colonies)Jeff Burum(Colonies again) Jim Brulte helped the Colonies get 10 million or more from Prop 50 with a last minute clause add to Prop 50 and then was hired onas a Consultant for the Colonies after he retired from politics, but that should surprise no one since many of those help by Developer dollars end up with consultant job...geez it seems their is always a job waiting doesn't it...a job that is never posted for anyone with more experience to apply for. Wasn't Lewis orginally an Investor in the Colonies??. BTW Lewis Homes did not Develop Victoria Gardens, they built homes surrounding it, but Forest City was the Developer, but nice try, trying to give them credit. And Sam, I am very disappointed in you...shame shame...does your conscious bother you at all, or did you lose that once you were elected???...that seems be a disease among those after they are elected
Lets not forget Rex was given one of Postmus "newly" created jobs while having absolutely no experience...but they had to help Rex out, afterall he lost his teaching job. He even got to hold onto a job that supposedly no longer existed while they created a new one for him...all at tax payer expense...and to top it off they allow workers to collect for hours they haven't work, and let them make up the hours later...of course how they make those hours up(if they do) is totally up to them...gee must be nice since everyone else in the world has actually work the hour first. BTW Rex did you ever pay back the supposed loan you said you would pay back to Dan Richards so in your own words "you wouldn't feel beholden"?...yea...I thought not. Before taking the lat minute loan you walked door to door telling the residence you would fight the Colonies Project and fight for open space...of course this is what you do, promise everything and deliver nothing. You justified taking that money as a loan to your campaign because you said Dan Richards(the Colonies) just wanted to be part of the action...so what does being part of the action mean in your book?????...seems Jeff Burum gave somewhat the same answer when ask about Campaign contribution. So does it really surprise anyone That Rancho Cucamonga Council would favor some of their "Friends"...does anyone smell conflict of interest here, because it sure stinks to me.
Whats the old saying...if you forget the past, you are in danger of repeating that...does anyone want to give the Colonies another $130 million of tax payer money so they can destroy 1200 acres of Flood control, water recharge resources, and some of the last open space filled with beautiful examples of our natives plants and rares species of plant and animal life we have?. In exchange we will get more over crowding of highways, and schools, increased flood risks, lessen or natural water resources, get more look alike housing, box stores, and maybe another golf course...don't believe the lake feature or anything they promise...they can promise anything, but they always have a clause they allows them to change their plans, and they always do...go back and look what the Colonies promised in their original presentation...it looks nothing like it was described
This is no surprise is it? I've worked in the development/construction industry for almost 2 decades in the Inland Empire.There's a reason there are so may whispers about developing in this town. Small Developers find themselves tangled in red tape, while "the good old boy's" get all their problems fast tracked.People lining their own pockets while claiming to represent the public interest! You should all be ashamed! If there is even a hint that individuals did something illegal or inappropriate you have a responsibility to investigate!That's why your an elected official.Then if you find they did break the rules you cease to deal with them. That's the right thing to do.It's what we expect. REPRESENT US!
"Councilman Sam Spagnolo, who was not interviewed by the Grand Jury, said he doesn't have any suspicions of such a deal because he trusts Lewis Homes, another partner in Rancho Alliance.
"I would have to put my trust and faith in the group headed by the Lewises," Spagnolo said. "Things of that nature would not be tolerated. The Lewises have a very solid reputation." "
Gee Sam, that is very nice of you...but if you went to the store and and picked up a carton of eggs and 10 of them were rotten and 2 were good would you still buy that carton of eggs...no you woudn't...that same reasoning should apply to Rancho Alliance.
Paul Biane would like to price the 1200 acres between $20-$40 thousand dollars an acre...that is less than what the Colonies boys paid for the Flood control land in 1997. Land values may have gone down, but they have not gone down that much...and you in your ultimate wisdom doesn't think there is any sweet heart deal in the works??? And if Jeff was such an expert on flood control and Basins then why was the Basin at the Colonies built wrong, and now has to be redone???? and why was construction debris one of the issues cited regarding percolation of the Basin over at the Colonies property yet the tax payer is expected to clean it up
Click on the link and read the article about More open space in danger, thanks to the Rancho Cucamonga City council...of course they found a way to steal this away from a conservation group...and why can't they wait until the appeals process is over...why in such a hurry...is the fire getting too hot...Please Grand Jury follow the link and look into this too. If the link doesn't wok, copy and paste into your browser
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_preserve21.422d0f3.html
Rex + Postmus = true love
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