Showing posts with label Alexandra Taft. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alexandra Taft. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Taft gets the shaft, and other council hijinks.
Well, today's regular meeting of the Quartzsite clown council promised to be contentious and we were not disappointed or amused. Mayor Foster had placed items on the agenda to return the meetings to 7pm, as the town code stipulates, bring back a call to the public which would be placed at the beginning of the meeting, remove the authority of the town manager to hire outside contractors, and such.
Remember. the illegal "emergency" meeting on July 10, 2011 "draft minutes"stated that the suspension of the Town Proceedures and Policies Manual, including meetings held at 9am and no public comment were only to remain in effect "until the second Tuesday in September, or until two thirds of the council determines that an emergent circumstances no longer exist which create an imment risk to public safety, and the safety of elective and appointive officials, whichever occurs first". They just kept it that way because they like ignoring the rules.
Now Councilman Ogre-on has never meant a campaign promise he didn't dislike, so he ammended the agenda and removed Foster's items, with the other sock puppets nodding in approval like bobble heads on the dash of a four wheeler.
Then, they all went into executive session, came out and without any discussion they fired the evil Queen Taftalex! Despite this being the only campaign promise Ogre-on is willing to make good on, we must remember that it was his flawed orchestrations that got us into this mess, with Taft being placed on "administrative leave" instead of fired outright the first time. Now she can sue the town for changing the terms of her contract. But since it appears that she was terminated "without cause", I suppose they'll have to pay her "golden parachute" or be forced to admitt that the meeting her new contract was approved in was actually illegal. Of course, that would require admitting that Norma Crooks usurped the office of Councilperson, having been appointed in the aforementioned illegal meeting. How much you want to bet that Marty the barf bagger is providing free legal advice to the other ousted cabal members?
The overpaid engineers that are designing a do over of the wastewater treatement plant gave a fancy power point presentation about how it's only going to cost 5.9 million to expand, and without it there can be no growth. Here's a thought, if our leaders can't manage what little they've got, why are they even talking about growth and expansion? Put your house in order now morons!
Ogre-on's item to direct that the town mismanager spare no expense in pursuit of town debtors passed with Workman dissenting. It appears that she understands the lawsuits this sort of action will incurr. It also appears that Foster will dare them to go after the Big Tent, Lukkasson, Oldham et all. Naturally, Ogre-on had supplied no supporting documents for his agenda item, no definition of how debt was to be determined, provision for due process, or if this gives carte blanche authority to Bruno to enter into contracts for support services in excess of $5,000 without council approval, etc. Do you miss the old cabal yet?
Fraulein Bruno said she found us a possible high risk private insurer, but it's going to cost about $70,000 a year in additional premiums. No worries, she's cutting town staff to compensate for the expense that she helped cause by being unwilling to work with the Risk Pool. Oh, and she still managed to try and blame the insurance cancellation on Councilwoman Workman, according to an alleged "phone conversation" that took place on October 25th, after the Risk Pool already held the meeting to discuss notifying the town that they were cancelling. Nice try honey! Go back to Sacramento and peddle your snake oil because we aren't buying it here in Qville. Rumor has it that Workman filed a 23 page complaint against Bruno a week or so ago. I can say "revenge", can you?
We don't know what Councilwoman Anderson has against that nice man that's managing Desert Gardens RV Park, but she sure tried (and failed) to keep him off the planning and zoning board. The Council also approved that nasty town employee Susan Fonda to be on the Heath and Development Board. You will remember that Fonda quit as Manager for Quartzsite's branch of the Horizon Community Bank and moved out of town. Apparently her employment options have dwindled, because she came back here to be a seasonal vendor permit lackey. Another loser on the payroll. Why did they fire the qualified employees last year? Oh yeah, they knew too much.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Say it isn't so, Mr. O
This is the face of a traitor.
Apparently, Pat Workman is the only member of the council that can't be bought. Quartzsite's rogue councilman Mark Orgeron seems to have pulled off his back room deal with scary Jerry and the neo cabal to swap Ms Graft for Chief Dilbert. After a three hour executive session with a new attorney, all but Workman voted to reinstate El Jeffe as supreme jack booted thug. Marty the Bagger, Graft and lil' Al were not in attendance at today's regularly scheduled meeting of the common council. Reportedly, Orgeron admonished the chief to stay out of politics. Yeah, like that's going to work!
Gilbert is currently the subject of a DPS investigation for pulling a gun on the husband of local activist and publisher Jennifer Jones.
All of this comes on the heels of an unapproved $70,000 voter fraud investigation
and another scathing DPS report, not to mention the town's insurance provider having a meltdown and sending a notice to the town that they don't intend to extend current coverage past the end of the year. At this rate, they'll be lucky they don't get cancelled sooner.
Orgeron had deceived Foster and Workman into putting him on their campaign signs and in their mailer, but threw the opposition party under the bus as soon as he was seated. He has now defaulted on his campaign promise to fire Gilbert. The angry villagers are already crying "RECALL"!
Apparently, Pat Workman is the only member of the council that can't be bought. Quartzsite's rogue councilman Mark Orgeron seems to have pulled off his back room deal with scary Jerry and the neo cabal to swap Ms Graft for Chief Dilbert. After a three hour executive session with a new attorney, all but Workman voted to reinstate El Jeffe as supreme jack booted thug. Marty the Bagger, Graft and lil' Al were not in attendance at today's regularly scheduled meeting of the common council. Reportedly, Orgeron admonished the chief to stay out of politics. Yeah, like that's going to work!
Gilbert is currently the subject of a DPS investigation for pulling a gun on the husband of local activist and publisher Jennifer Jones.
All of this comes on the heels of an unapproved $70,000 voter fraud investigation
and another scathing DPS report, not to mention the town's insurance provider having a meltdown and sending a notice to the town that they don't intend to extend current coverage past the end of the year. At this rate, they'll be lucky they don't get cancelled sooner.
Orgeron had deceived Foster and Workman into putting him on their campaign signs and in their mailer, but threw the opposition party under the bus as soon as he was seated. He has now defaulted on his campaign promise to fire Gilbert. The angry villagers are already crying "RECALL"!
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Qville's newest grifter sends lil Johnson home
With "new business" added to today's 2pm council agenda, the council returned from executive session to contract with California Board of Education scam artist Laura Bruno. This brilliant choice was engineered by rogue Councilman Mark Orgeron. Councilwoman Pat Workman was the only "nay" vote.
Her first act in office was to call the council to meet with her in and tell them she was putting Assistant clown manager Al Johnson on administrative leave. Johnson was spotted discussing something (hopefully not town business) with suspended clown manager Alex Taft at her new old residence behind Castor's Antiques around 5:30 tonight. The cabal canabal carnage continues.
Her first act in office was to call the council to meet with her in and tell them she was putting Assistant clown manager Al Johnson on administrative leave. Johnson was spotted discussing something (hopefully not town business) with suspended clown manager Alex Taft at her new old residence behind Castor's Antiques around 5:30 tonight. The cabal canabal carnage continues.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
They eat their own
This week has been cabal cannibal carnage. The appetizers were soooo tasty. 4 star, really. I wonder who the main course will be?
We gleefully witnessed the breakup of the Taft/Gilbert alliance, and today, a crowded town council meeting witnessed the town mismanager sent home on administrative leave. Buh bye!
We gleefully witnessed the breakup of the Taft/Gilbert alliance, and today, a crowded town council meeting witnessed the town mismanager sent home on administrative leave. Buh bye!
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Lizarraga to be sworn in illegally!
Not satisfied with the long list of open meetings violations, open records violations and other assorted illegal and unethical acts, the Quartzsite Town Council appears quite eager to committ one more.
Although Town Code Section 2-3-1 states that elected officials are sworn in at the next "regular" council meeting following the election, an agenda was posted Friday, at 5 pm for a special meeting to do the deed.
http://www.ci.quartzsite.az.us/2011%20Packets/090611%20Sp%20Mtg%20Adg.htm
There is no specific provision for swearing in an elected official at a special meetig. Of course, by 5 pm it was too late to make any inquiries, and this is a holiday weekend, with government offices closed on Monday. Surely, NOT a coincidence!
As of 5 pm Friday, the canvas of the vote had not been completed. One wonders what the hurry is all about? What does Ms. Graft have in mind that can't wait a week until the "regular" meeting?
Although Town Code Section 2-3-1 states that elected officials are sworn in at the next "regular" council meeting following the election, an agenda was posted Friday, at 5 pm for a special meeting to do the deed.
http://www.ci.quartzsite.az.us/2011%20Packets/090611%20Sp%20Mtg%20Adg.htm
There is no specific provision for swearing in an elected official at a special meetig. Of course, by 5 pm it was too late to make any inquiries, and this is a holiday weekend, with government offices closed on Monday. Surely, NOT a coincidence!
As of 5 pm Friday, the canvas of the vote had not been completed. One wonders what the hurry is all about? What does Ms. Graft have in mind that can't wait a week until the "regular" meeting?
Monday, August 15, 2011
Temporary restraining order stays, case moves to federal court
Judge Randolph Bartlett allowed todays hearing to move forward, despite Justin Pierce of Jackson Lewis, the attorney for the town of Quartzsite asking the temporary restraining order to be thrown out, claiming that employee versus employer agreements cannot be intervened in in such a manner. After about 20 or so minutes of riveting testimony by Sgt Will Ponce, the attorney for the town asked to approach the bench. Judge Barltett announced that they were excercising their right to move the case to federal court. He ordered that the papers be submitted in ten days and that the temporary restraiing order will remain in place.
No cameras or other recording devices were alowed, so if you want the transcript, you'll have to pay La Paz County for the CD.
http://www.kswt.com/story/15280504/quartzsite-officers-tro-case-maybe-heard-by-federal-judge
No cameras or other recording devices were alowed, so if you want the transcript, you'll have to pay La Paz County for the CD.
http://www.kswt.com/story/15280504/quartzsite-officers-tro-case-maybe-heard-by-federal-judge
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Here comes the next contestant...
Who will they appoint to the Quartzsite Town Council on Tuesday night? That's the question on everyone's minds now that "Just say - No way Jose" Lizarraga has officially resigned from his council seat to run against "People's Mayor" Ed Foster, in the August recall election.
062811 – 1. Discussion and possible acceptance of Council Member Lizarraga’s resignation and discussion regarding filling the vacancy. (Not open for public discussion)
Alex Taft, Town Manager
Many are speculating that they will reinstall their favorite puppet, former acting like a mayor "Waffling Wes" Huntley. Huntley is currently a co-defendant in the Jennifer Jones harassment lawsuit against the town council, Police Chief Jeff Gilbert, and Town mismanager Alex Taft. Jones, the publisher of popular newspaper "the Desert Freedom Press" is apparently also running for the mayor's seat.
Some speculate that other possible appointees are political mouthpiece Shanana "Rain" Golden-Bear, Violet Kiss(ass), welfare granny Hygea "half wit" Halfmoon, or dark horse and recent roll over Steve Bennett.
Other items on Tuesday night's agenda are:
062811 – 2. Discussion and possible approval of Resolution No. 11-10; declaring as public record that certain document filed with the Town Clerk and entitled “The 2010-11 Amendments to the Tax Code of the Town of Quartzsite”. (Not open for public discussion)
Karen Norris, Town Clerk
062811 – 3. Discussion and possible approval of Ordinance No. 11-07; adopting “The 2010-11 Amendments to the Tax Code of the Town of Quartzsite” by reference, establishing an effective date; providing for severability and providing penalties for violations. (Open for public discussion)
Karen Norris, Town Clerk
062811 – 4. Discussion and possible appointment of Public Defender for the Town of Quartzsite Magistrate Court. (Not open for public discussion)
Alex Taft, Town Manager
062811 – 5. Discussion and possible appointment of Prosecutor for the Town of Quartzsite Magistrate Court. (Not open for public discussion)
Alex Taft, Town Manager
062811 – 6. Discussion and possible approval to advertise a request for Statement of Qualifications for Professional Engineering and Related Services on a Task Order Basis on Town of Quartzsite Transportation and Public Works projects. (Not open for public discussion).
Al Johnson, Asst. Town Manager
062811 – 7. Discussion and possible censure of the Mayor regarding violation of the Quartzsite Council Procedure Manual by releasing for publication comments not shared by the majority of the Council, and without the knowledge or permission of the Town Manager. (Not open for public discussion).
Joe Winslow, Council Member
Karen Norris, Town Clerk
062811 – 3. Discussion and possible approval of Ordinance No. 11-07; adopting “The 2010-11 Amendments to the Tax Code of the Town of Quartzsite” by reference, establishing an effective date; providing for severability and providing penalties for violations. (Open for public discussion)
Karen Norris, Town Clerk
062811 – 4. Discussion and possible appointment of Public Defender for the Town of Quartzsite Magistrate Court. (Not open for public discussion)
Alex Taft, Town Manager
062811 – 5. Discussion and possible appointment of Prosecutor for the Town of Quartzsite Magistrate Court. (Not open for public discussion)
Alex Taft, Town Manager
062811 – 6. Discussion and possible approval to advertise a request for Statement of Qualifications for Professional Engineering and Related Services on a Task Order Basis on Town of Quartzsite Transportation and Public Works projects. (Not open for public discussion).
Al Johnson, Asst. Town Manager
062811 – 7. Discussion and possible censure of the Mayor regarding violation of the Quartzsite Council Procedure Manual by releasing for publication comments not shared by the majority of the Council, and without the knowledge or permission of the Town Manager. (Not open for public discussion).
Joe Winslow, Council Member
Who will fill the shoes of the fireman who turned his back on the police? See for yourself. "Come on down! You're the next contestant" on our municipal game show. And now, a word from our sponsors - the tax payers of Quartzsite!
Just say "NO WAY" to Jose! He got us into this mess...brought to you by the my pet goldfish could do a better job committee for election reform.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Better late than never!
The DESERT FREEDOM PRESS has just announced the following press release:
BREAKING NEWS! Quartzsite Police Chief Jeff Gilbert SCANDAL!
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Sunday, May 1, 2011
Quartzsite prosecutor switch - more "special" council meetings
Friday, April 22nd, in a special meeting of the Quartzsite Town Council, Town prosecutor Matt Newman was "released" from his "prosecutorial duties"...
Then, on Friday, April 29th in another Special meeting of the town council, former La Paz County Prosecutor Martin Brannan was hired to replace Newman amidst a firestorm of controversy.
http://www.dailyprosecutor.com/archives/6415
http://www.dailyprosecutor.com/archives/6415
http://www.parkerliveonline.com/?s=brannan
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/03/08/20110308apache-county-attorney0309.html
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/03/08/20110308apache-county-attorney0309.html
The item was placed on the agenda by town mismanager Alex Taft, and was not open for public discussion. All members of council voted to approve Brannan, except Mayor Ed Foster, who voted in opposition.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Al Johnson promoted to assistant town manager?
Rumors have been circulating for weeks that "Building Official" Al Johnson was being groomed by Town misManager Alex Taft as her eventual replacement. Now, it appears those rumors are true.
It has not gone unnoticed, that the Quartzsite building official has been introducing himself as "director of planning and zoning", a title not listed on his business cards, the town website, nor approved by council in open meeting. Now, it appears Al Johnson has received yet another promotion without advertising for the open position or a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) and without public approval by the town council.
On Friday, Mayor Ed Foster received an open records request that had been denied, even though the Office of the AZ Attorney General has previously informed the town that the public can have that information. Whose signature authorized this denial of public information? Why Al Johnson, of course! Something he would only have the authority to sign off on if he had been promoted to a different position.
Maybe, Johnson/Taft denied the request for current payroll because it would show that Johnson is receiving an increase or change in payroll status. Building Official is an employee without a contract, but Taft's position as Town Manager is a salary under contract. Something here smells fishier than the dumpster behind a tuna processing plant!
Saturday, April 23, 2011
DFP publisher Jones arrested after suing for police harassment!
Tuesday night's public meeting with the BLM and SolarReserve was crowded, informative, and constantly disrupted by the Quartzsite Police.
Apparently, on her way into the meeting, Mrs. Jones was approached by QPD Sgt. Xavier Frausto (husband of the town magistrate) who wanted her to sign a citation for "simulating legal process".
A. A person commits simulating legal process if such person knowingly sends or delivers to another any document falsely purporting to be an order or other document that simulates civil or criminal process.
B. Simulating legal process is a class 2 misdemeanor.
Ms. Jones walked past Sgt. Frausto, and into Quartzsite Town Hall. When Jones refused to sign the citation in front of a crowded room of witnesses, Frausto reportedly tried to hand her the citation to which Jones responded "I'm not interested in anything that comes from you" and she took a seat. Quartzsite police approached her husband John with a citation for the same offense. Sgt. Frausto told him if he refused, the citation would be sent in the mail.
Witnesses report that Mrs. Jones got up from her seat in the second row and walked to where her husband was sitting in the back of the room. From halfway across the room and as she passed the rows of chairs, Jones gave "the finger" to Starr Bearcat, whom she believed had been actively filming the interaction between Quartzsite Police and the Jones', and who previously posted numerous false comments and defamatory videos about them on
Mrs. Jones spoke briefly with her husband and sat back down in her seat.
As the meeting began, John was approached by QPD Officer Herlen Yeomans. Yeomans told John that if he refused to sign, he had been instructed by the sergeant to arrest him. John reports that he then asked to see the law he had allegedly broken, but when he followed Yeomans outside he was handcuffed.
Frausto and Yeomans escorted Jones to the unmarked black QPD SUV. Discussion ensued between the three, and Yeomans asked Frausto if Jones could sign the citation. Jones informed the officers that his wife had filed a lawsuit against Police Chief Jeff Gilbert, Town Manager Alexandra Taft, and the incorporated town for police harassment days earlier, and that Taft had been served several hours before the meeting. Jones was released, he signed the citation, and did not return to the meeting.
During the meeting, QPD officers brought Mrs. Jones her husbands wallet, and repeatedly tried to lure her outside to speak with her husband "before he went to jail" but she refused to speak, or leave with them.
When the meeting ended, Mrs. Jones tried unsuccessfully to reach her attorney by phone. She then handed her belongings to Mayor Ed Foster and told him "Don't bail me out".
Reportedly, as Jones tried to leave the room, she was handcuffed by Quartzsite Police Chief Jeff Gilbert, who had arrived on the scene and was blocking her exit. When she asked what she was under arrest for, Gilbert responded "I'll tell you later". Jones called out to the crowd "Hey everybody! These fine gentleman are refusing to tell me what I'm under arrest for!" She then asked Gilbert "Does this have anything to do with the lawsuit I served on you earlier today?" He responded "You didn't serve me." and Jones informed him "I served the town." She was then escorted through town offices to a cell in the back of town hall before being transferred to the La Paz County jail.
The next day, Mrs. Jones, who has no prior convictions, was released on her own recognizance by Judge Michael Newman.
The Jones case in County Superior Court is # CV201100065
and claims damages for "harassment and intentional infliction of emotional distress".
Duh! Do you think?
Duh! Do you think?
Friday, October 22, 2010
Desert Messenger defames pet groomer AGAIN (and again, and again...)
And Mayor Foster too!
After a restraining order hearing that lasted over three hours on Thursday afternoon through evening in the La Paz County Justice Court, Quartzsite Division, Judge Newman announced that he would not rule on the evidence presented or motions made until next week because of the amount of material to be reviewed (including this blog). So, let's all give a warm welcome to our newest reader, Judge Newman! (sound of applause...we "may be seated".)
Claimant Shanana "Rain" Golden-Bear's most recent issue, page 4 which can be viewed online at: http://www.epageflip.net/title/6362 features a libelous and defamatory letter to "The People's Voice" by Violet Kiss' husband, "Proud Quartzsite Resident" Ron Jones.
The letter states "People were appalled at the unacceptable behavior that was allowed from the podium at the last Town Meeting by Jennifer 'Jade' Harris [Jones]. Shame on her for that reprehensible behavior and shame on Mayor Foster for allowing it. By allowing this behavior, it appears the Mayor wants to incite hatred and anger. Since my wife and I heard Mayor Foster strongly encourage Jade Harris [Jones} to sue the town and town officials at a coalition meeting, it appears there is a conspiracy between those two and others to make things so bad that our Town and Police force are disbanded. Is lawlessness what the good people of Quartzsite want? Why should the good people of Quartzsite allow bullying and vicious, slanderous venomous hatred from the podium and from internet blogs? Are we going to allow a few anarchists take over our town and make it a miserable place to live?...Jade Harris [Jones] was not discussing town issues, she was promoting her business, bullying and spewing vicious hatred. This is not her first time. The good people of Quartzsite need to band together and make sure this is not allowed. The Town Council should vote to bar her permanently from Town Meetings."
What did she really say in that two minutes and twenty six seconds that was allegedly such "vicious hatred" deserving of permanent banishment in violation of AZ law? This:
"Good evening. Tonight I have three brief announcements and one short report. The first announcement, I'm going to indulge myself in a personal nature and I'd like to say that my dog 'Jade's Dynasty Kennels Butterscotch Sundae' took first place at the national specialty last weekend. So, I just had to brag a little bit. The second announcement that I would like to make this evening has been something that has not been an easy decision to come to. I've served this community for ten long years and I've loved every minute of it. You guys have been wonderful to me and it is not without some serious thought, as a matter of fact, I even went out in the desert and prayed on it. But I have decided that I would like to continue to serve this community and I would like to announce that I am going to run for one of the open seats on the Town Council. I look forward to debating all of you on the issues, and keeping it to the issues and doing the business of the people. The next announcement that I have is because I have been grooming for so long and I can't do it forever with this back, it's not going to hold out , I will be grooming this year and I look forward to being open soon but I am starting a new business venture. I am going to be starting a free community newspaper. I anticipate that I will have the first issue on the stands on the first week of December and I've got some great specials. And the last thing that I have is a report. I would like to give my report on the update of the restraining order filed against me by Shannana "Rain" Golden-Bear and Starr BearCat. And let the community know that even thought I don't like to start my candidacy...(big, rude interruptions by "Machine Gun" Joe Winslow and others) I would like (more interruptions) I would like the community to come to the hearing on this. (Councilwoman Anderson interrupts with "I would like to ask our Town Attorney is this permissible?" Then Mayor Foster states "It's a report" To which attorney Pamela Walsma replies "This section is designated for announcements, typically it's public announcements.") Harris-Jones continues "Reports and Announcements. I'm inviting everyone to come to the hearing on October 21st at the magistrate court across the street at 3 pm to hear for themselves why Ms Golden-Bear and Mr. BearCat think that they need to be afraid of me. And I have all of the evidence that was submitted on that claim and if you'd like, after the meeting, you are more than welcome to approach me and I will let you read all of it. Thank you"
Ms. Golden-Bear has a "policy" for "People's Voice", which forbids "letters considered libelous, in poor taste, on a personal issue, mean spirited...", yet she gleefully violates this "policy" in every issue. Although she attempted to play the role of frightened victim in court, her hypocrisy and inflammatory publication clearly show that she is the perpetrator of the hate and divisiveness that is tearing apart our community. From the very first issue with her name listed as "publisher", Golden-Bear went on the attack against then rival news publisher Bob Miller, devoting two full pages to defaming him! She set the bar for journalistic standards very low to begin with, and as you can clearly see from her recent issues, it has declined from there. The message seems clear, opposing voices must be silenced. Here's a letter she refused to publish:
http://www.quartzsitenews.tv/fosterbashing.pdf
http://www.quartzsitenews.tv/fosterbashing.pdf
It was interesting to note that Town mismanager Alex Taft went scurrying out of the hearing to procure additional documents for Golden-Bear's claim against Harris-Jones. Hey Alex, where's the open records request for those police reports? The gallery was also filled by the usual suspects with Councilpersons Winslow, Anderson, Lukkasson and wife Michelle, former "acting" Mayor Wes Huntley and wife Mary, Police Chief Jeff Gilbert and wife Sondra and the rest of their usual "cheering section". One thing is for certain, after the masterful defense by Quartzsite pet groomer Harris-Jones, they were NOT cheering as they left the courtroom.
Stay tuned for more on this story and Judge Newman's ruling, as it becomes available.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Town Hall meetings recap - a whirlwind week!
Well, where to begin? Chronologically, I suppose.
Also at Tuesday evening's regular meeting, everything on the agenda passed. Jennifer "Jade" Jones was the first to enter the political fray and announced that she would run for Town Council, but did not state which recall candidate she would take on in the upcoming election. Jones also announced the tentative December debut of her "free community newspaper" (rumor has it that Mayor Foster may have licensed The Quartzsite Mineshaft" to her) Advertisers wishing to get in on the deep discounts available for the premier winter season should stop by her grooming salon located this year at J & S Covers on Hwy 95.
Thursday was a very busy day with a special meeting, a work session and training from the League of Arizona Cities and Towns.
The special meeting saw the appointment of Doug Ross to the Planning and Zoning Committee. Barbara Bowman's appointment to the Municipal Property Corporation will complete the term of Nella Shaw. In what seemed like an intentional oversight by the Town mismanager, all members of the Council except the Mayor were on the agenda to approve themselves and Alex Taft as "account/check signers for the new Horizon community Bank accounts". An oversight Taft wisely chose to rectify.
The work session had Quartzsite's vendors squarely in the cross hairs of Taft and the (trained at Town's expense) "Building Official" Al Johnson. Talk of changing the business license code, proposals for new County health regulations for mobile kitchens, reducing the vendor permit to 180 days, new ideas for revocation of permits, and other nightmare scenarios are not yet a done deal and changes will NOT affect the current season. However, vendors who want to return next year should attend the next meeting on this topic, the date of which is yet to be announced.
The League of Cities and Towns came to the aide of Mayor Foster and put his critics in their place last night! By the end of the "training", Vice Mayor Cowell's voice was quivering as if on the verge of tears! Police Chief Jeff Gilbert was warned that he had no authority to control the meeting unless ordered to do so by Mayor Foster, and that if he asserted himself in such a manner it could result in a lawsuit. (The warning was overdue, because it already has!). Town Attorney Pamela Walsma was instructed that she works for us, the citizens, through our Mayor and Council. A reality that had apparently not occurred to her as she is dangerously unfamiliar with this legal specialty. At every turn, it seemed as if our Mayor had been correct all along.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Ad hoc - post hoc
Just when you thought it couldn't be done, last nights Town Council meeting managed to lower the bar for Quartzsite politics yet again. How low can you go? I don't know..everybody limbo!
My, my, my, where to begin...the mayhem was brewing even before the meeting was called to order. When Mayor Ed Foster announced that he would be giving the invocation, Councilwoman Patricia Anderson and tho other haters began to wail...all Councilpersons refused to stand for the prayer. (Here's a novel idea, if you truly believe that our mayor is too unholy to bless the meeting, then I make a motion to actually separate church and state and do away with he invocation all together!) Councilman Jose Lizarrage made a motion that Vice Mayor Cowell chair the meeting. I guess he doesn't understand that legally, the position of "vice mayor" only exists in the absence of a mayor. These childish actions set the tone for what was to follow.
The only "new business" on the agenda was Vice Mayor Barbara Cowell's "Discussion and possible action regarding the ad hoc Ethics Committee recommendations concerning Mayor Foster's "official conduct" and "...to renounce and disclaim all of the actions and communication of Mayor Foster" etc. etc. followed by Mayor Foster's agenda item: "Discussion and possible response to the ad hoc Ethics Committee".
Let me preface the following recap by clarifying the fact that using the word "legal" or "ethical" in a sentence does not necessarily make it so. The Town's "Procedures and Policy Manual - Legal and Ethical Standards of Conduct" is not actually law, code, or statute of any sort, despite Alex Taft's defamatory insinuations to any publication that would waste the trees to print them.(which may be an ethics violation in and of itself as well as a crime under Arizona Revised Statutes 41-772)
Before proceeding to the new business, Mayor Foster explained that Council was "in illegal territory", and should the Council choose to proceed with that knowledge, they would be exempt from the "Executive Protection Clause" and could therefore be held personally liable in a civil action. Apparently, it's a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation our leadership has put the taxpayers in , where the only real winners will be the attorneys. Councilman Lizarraga commented that "We were told by our insurance that if we did not do something, we could be held liable."
Mayor Foster inquired as to whether the ad hoc Committee was proceeding under recommendations or legal council made by Town Attorney Pamela Walsma, and made it clear that nowhere in Arizona Revised Statutes 9-240 Powers of Common Council was there a provision for the Council to take sanctions against one of it's members. Foster asked Walsma if she could provide legal justification for such action, and would she sign a statement approving the Committee's recommendation to do so. Taking a page from the Dan Field play book, Walsma waffled and back peddled just as we would expect. She stated "I do not approve of all the things they do" and declined to sign Mayor Foster's document.
Mayor Foster also offered the Council the opportunity to deal with the matter in "executive session", but the Council declined and a video and audio recorded public free for all ensued.
The unethical Committee's recommendations included a demand that, as Mayor, Ed Foster stop publishing The Mineshaft, cease attending meetings which include the La Paz County Economic Development Board, and not travel at Town expense (something the Mayor has never even done). In addition, it was recommended that recalled Councilman "Machine Gun" Joe Winslow demand Mayor Foster's resignation yet again. Councilman Winslow said he didn't believe the Committee's recommendations went far enough.
Also, it was revealed that Pamela Walsma has been posting inquiries to the Municipal Attorneys online help blog as to the possibility of sanctions and other actions against the Mayor which included withholding his stipend. Foster made public the responses to Walsma's internet inquiry from Attorney Mary Wade of Tempe, and Scottsdale City Attorney Bruce Washburn , advising her that the proposal of censure was illegal. Something Town Attorney Walsma had not bothered to disclose to the Council, according to Councilman Robert Kelley. All six members of the Council voted to approve the censure of Mayor Foster, who stated that he will be ignoring the illegal demands.
Allegedly, Walsma has posted numerous internet pleas for assistance in municipal law since being retained as Town legal council, and one wonders why the Town mismanager would increase the budget for her services from $35,000 to $100,000 annually, when it seems clear that Walsma is practicing far outside of her legal specialty (wills, trusts and estates). If Walsma doesn't approve of the Council's actions, is she just in it for the money? And why did the Town toss aside more qualified candidates like Glen Gimbut and Gerald Hunt anyway? (Walsma's expertise might be useful however, if the Town was looking to engage in the eminent domain taking of property owned by residents unlucky enough to die without their affairs in order...)
Despite Mayor Foster pointing out to Police Chief Jeff Gilbert that he was in violation of A.R.S. 14-772 by engaging in politics while on the job and in uniform, Gilbert showed his blatant contempt for the law and insisted on opining on five, count 'em five separate occasions! Mayor Foster graciously told Chief Gilbert that "freedom of speech" was at work and indeed, Foster seems intent on keeping his promise that he would allow anyone to speak their opinion of him during the meeting.
Resident Violet Kiss falsely alleged that the Mayor had specifically instructed vendor Jennifer Harris to "sue every person on the Council" at a meeting of the Citizens Coalition she attended in June. However, that meeting was recorded and the facts reveal that Harris had publicly notified the Town Council of her intent to do so at a Council meeting roughly a year earlier, before she had ever met Mayor Foster.
"Point of order! Point of order" repeatedly cried Council and audience members who didn't want any opinion expressed but their own and the meeting was continually disrupted by.those who wanted to silence any criticism of the apparent conspiracy against Mayor Foster.Police Chief Gilbert demanded "we will have order" even though, if acting as "Sergeant at Arms" it is not his legal place to make that demand unless acting on the instruction of the meeting's Chairman (the Mayor). Resident Ron Burch was even threatened with being thrown out of the meeting (at the direction of Councilman Winslow instructing Chief Gilbert) for trying to speak loud enough to be heard over the clamor. (He had asked that the entire discussion be tabled for review by the Attorney General ). Council members Bob Kelley, Jerry Lukkasson and Joe Winslow got up and stormed out, but were careful to keep a quorum of four members to avoid have the meeting adjourned prematurely. Mayor Foster rightly pointed out that Burch had the floor and should be allowed to speak his peace, and former Quartzsite Mayor Richard Oldham turned his video camera on Police Chief Jeff Gilbert and advised "I don't think you should Chief". Faced with the probability of yet another round of unflattering appearances on the internet, Gilbert backed down.
When Mayor Foster pointed out that under state law, the only recourse for any allegations of ethics breach was a recall, Councilman Jerry Lukkasson's wife Michelle cried out "November 25th!" (Silly woman! In her haste to pull recall papers on the Mayor, she doesn't even realize that Town Hall is not open on that day because of the holiday.)
Perhaps pandering to advertiser pressure, wanna be journalist Shanana "Rain" Golden-Bear stated that she was putting the next issue of her free campfire kindling to bed, and for now, would be scaling back her print coverage of Town politics...and then went on to post a lengthy internet dissertation with her biased spin on the meeting. You didn't really believe she could keep her anti Foster opinions to herself now, did you?
Foster allowed supports and critics alike to speak their mind and now (in my opinion) has ample prima facie evidence against his critics to seek possible criminal prosecution in addition to civil damages. Thousands of dollars have reportedly been raised by outraged citizens in the hope that Mayor Foster will use the donations to sue Taft, Gilbert, and the Councilpersons as individuals since Foster has vowed to not sue the Town for the actions of it's officials. The meeting was finally forced to conclude when Al Johnson announced that the timer for the air conditioning would be shutting the system down in five minutes. I'm just impressed it could keep pace with all the hot air as long as it did!
It should also be noted that earlier in the day, the Council held a work session to discuss vendor permits and requirements. Although no action is to be taken this season, Building Official Al Johnson wants the permits changed from the current annual renewal to a permit that would expire every 180 days. This would effectively align the vendor's "temporary structures" with the current definition contained within the Town Building Code, and Johnson could then use the permit records to target long term vendors for citations. Mayor Foster took a stand for the vendors, stating that they might feel short changed, whether they intended to stay and create revenue or not. Police Chief Jeff Gilbert stated something to the effect that "we should not live our lives for the vendors". The La Paz County Health Dept. was in attendance and proposed a plethora of new regulations for the food vendors. These proposals were not actually rejected and may possibly be put into effect for the following winter season...that is, if the currently recalled Council members are not removed from office and replaced with "vendor friendly" candidates. So vendors, make your presence felt this winter and attend the meetings!
Monday, August 9, 2010
Affordable community pool on a Quartzsite budget!
Finally, a community swimming pool that even Quartzsite can afford! This cool story made international news this week. NYC converted three unused dumpsters into public swimming pools and put them right on Park Ave. as part of the city's "Summer Streets" initiative.
Temporary decks were erected around the 4' 3" deep pools and lifeguards were on duty.
The City provided street showers for those impulsive folks who didn't pack a bathing suit, but wanted to cool down anyway.
Portable changing cabanas were set up for those that planned ahead and brought a suit.
Unfortunately for residents of Quartzsite who desperately need a community pool this innovative solution would likely end up buried in the same bureaucracy and infighting that seems to squash any great idea that Alex Taft doesn't come up with herself.
Those shiny, clean, red C & D disposal dumpsters would certainly be swim worthy in this heat, but you can bet Taft and her cronies would rather give the children one of those old, dirty, dented Palo Verde Disposal dumpsters to swim in instead. After all, Palo Verde appears to have the inside track after they donated the land for Taft's Willpower Inc. dirty, dented, broken trailers/makeshift Quartzsite animal shelter. Councilman Winslow proudly announced it is finally almost completed, yet they've had animals there for months without even passing inspection.
Maybe, some private philanthropist would be willing to negotiate with C & D for a dumpster pool before another resident dies of heat exhaustion. If we wait for Town Hall to reach a consensus, all the currently registered voters will surely be dead
Watch the dumpster pool video here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-10905487
Thursday, July 29, 2010
This Week's Council MEETINGS! And yes, that's PLURAL!
Why didn't Taft want this item discussed Tuesday night, when the majority of citizens would be watching? Why wasn't the Mayor notified? Why was Foster defamer Shanana "Rain" Golden_Bear apparently notified before the Mayor?
A quick highlight of Tuesday evenings Regular Meeting of the Common Council:
The proposed drastic increase in Cemetery fees, as requested by the Cemetary Board was Tabled.
Taft convinced the Council to borrow another million for expansion of the waste water treatment plant, but the interest rate is only .5 percent!
The budget was approved.(No mention of how much will be paid to Taft's private charity Willpower Inc. for animal sheltering, even though Paw Power is now turning away animals.)
And at "Reports and Announcements" Quartzsite resident Sean Austin, gave a report on the status of the investigation into the statutory rape of his daughter by QPD Officer Josh Starr, to which Police Chief Jeff Gilbert responded that it was a personnel matter that he was not at liberty to discuss...
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Was Quartzsite prison scheme really a US citizen FEMA internment camp?
In response to the small but vocal critics, I really am trying to find warm and fuzzy feel good things to expose here, but frankly, they can go start their own blogs for all I care, because it's only logical that the deeper you dig, the more dirt you are likely to uncover
Regular readers will remember the scandalous Corplan prison proposal that was exposed here on this blog, and how Town leaders quickly changed their tune, pulling support from the project right before the election (hmmm).. After reading.yet another Corpan expose - Private Corporation Building Detention Camps Across America and then watching the new disturbingly credible documentary Camp Fema, I began to wonder what former mayor Wes Huntley, Town mismanager Alex Taft, and Police Chief Jeff Gilbert really knew about Corplan and it's objectives for this community. What did they discuss at that private meeting?
Knowing how close Quartzsite came to paying for this horror will surely keep me awake again tonight.. Discovering evidence of what our leaders have been doing while so many were looking the other way should cause every American to lose sleep,and rightfully so. This subject affects all of us, therefore, I'm providing both the recent article, and the thought provoking documentary. Read, then watch...then think about who may have been housed in the prison that Chief Gilbert so enthusiastically supported. After all, when questioned directly at "Coffee with Cops" Police Chief Gilbert would not deny placing local citizens on the Federal "watch list", and after counting on his fingers and mouthing numerous names to himself, he dodged the question of how many by stating that nobody really wanted to know the answer to the question. Quartzsite did pay to send him to training at FBI headquarters two years ago, after all.
WARNING - OSTRICH ALERT- DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER IF YOU PREFER TO BURY YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND...
http://www.rense.com/general17/statebystate.htm
Revised September 18, 2001
ARIZONA Ft. Huachuca - 20 miles from Mexican border, 30 miles from Nogales. Rex '84 facility. Pinal County - on the Gila River - WWII Japanese detention camp. May be renovated. Yuma County - Colorado River - Site of former Japanese detention camp (near proving grounds). This site was completely removed in 1990 according to some reports. Phoenix - Federal Prison Satellite Camp. Main federal facility expanded. Florence - WWII prison camp NOW RENOVATED, OPERATIONAL with staff & 400 prisoners, operational capacity of 3,500. Wickenburg - Airport is ready for conversion; total capacity unknown. Davis-Monthan AFB (Tucson) - Fully staffed and presently holding prisoners!! Sedona - site of possible UN base.
Private Corporation Building Detention Camps Across America
Paul Joseph WatsonPrison Planet.com
Thursday, May 27, 2010
The shadowy design firm that was behind the infamous Hardin Montana jail is pushing to build detention camps across America, with the latest proposal centering around a fifty acre, five hundred bed facility in Italy, Texas, part of a program that many Americans fear is based around a plan to intern political dissidents in the event of a national emergency.
Private prison development firm Corplan Corrections, headed up by an individual called James Parkey, is working with underwriter Municipal Capitol Markets Group, along with prison “consultant” Richard Reyes from Innovative Government Strategies, an outfit that works with state and local government, to oversee multiple projects concentrated in different states including Arizona and Texas.
Their latest project is focused around constructing a “detention center for illegal immigrants” based in Italy, Texas. The Italy City Council heard Parkey’s proposals last week to build a “gorilla proof facility with a fence,” that would be used as a “processing center”.
The company was also behind the infamous internment facility in Hardin Montana, which attracted national media attention when responsibility for its security was handed to a mysterious paramilitary organization called American Police Force, which was fronted by career criminal and a convicted fraudster Michael Hilton, who operated under no less than 17 different aliases.
The group was also behind controversial plans to build a detention facility on Tohono O’odham Nation land near Sahuarita, Arizona.
Parkey also attempted to convince the Benson City Council to build a detention camp in that part of Arizona earlier this month.
Parkey’s efforts to oversee three separate jail deals with Texas counties failed following insufficient funds being made available to run the facilities, and in 2005, “Three Texas county commissioners were convicted on bribery charges in connection to one of those Parkey-led projects,” reports TPM.
The only stumbling block that Parkey has repeatedly run into when trying to convince local authorities to accept his proposals to build the camps is the lack of prisoners to fill them . Indeed, critics have accused him of fleecing desperate small communities with promises of jobs and economic development that never come to fruition, leaving empty jails and financial black holes.
But should the federal government and Homeland Security activate its “ENDGAME” scenario in response to a declared national emergency, illegal aliens, as well as “potential terrorists” will be rounded up and imprisoned in detention camps that the Feds themselves, not just private companies, have been building over the course of the last decade.
Back in January 2006, we reported on how Homeland Security had awarded Halliburton subsidiary Kellogg, Brown and Root a $385 million dollar contract to construct detention and processing facilities in the event of a national emergency.
The language of the preamble to the agreement veils the program with talk of temporary migrant holding centers, as is the case with the Corplan proposals, but it is made clear that the camps will also be used “as the development of a plan to react to a national emergency.”
The stated purpose of the detention camps, to hold illegal aliens, is routinely cited, yet continuity of government plans clearly indicate that the facilities will have a dual purpose – to hold political dissidents and American citizens in the event of a declaration of martial law.
Veteran author Peter Dale Scott characterized the Halliburton contract as another step towards martial law. As Scott points out, the camps will also be used to “support the rapid development of new programs,” which more specifically relates to a longer term Homeland Security operation entitled ENDGAME, which sets its goal as the removal of not only illegal aliens but also “potential terrorists”.
As we have illustrated, in documents like the MIAC report and a plethora of others, federal authorities define American citizens who are even mildly political, own guns, or support third party candidates as potential terrorists.
“The contract calls for a response to “an emergency influx of immigrants, or to support the rapid development of new programs” in the event of other emergencies, such as “a natural disaster.” “New programs” is of course a term with no precise limitation. So, in the current administration, is ENDGAME’s goal of removing “potential terrorists,” writes Scott, adding that former Attorney General John Ashcroft called for the construction of internment camps for American citizens deemed to be “enemy combatants”.
Other agencies of the federal government have also been busy trying to build detention camps over the course of the last decade. In 2002, FEMA sought bids from major real estate and engineering firms to construct giant internment facilities in the case of a chemical, biological or nuclear attack or a natural disaster.
In February 2003, Okanogan County Commissioner Dave Schulz went public with his contention that his county was set to be a location for one of the camps.
Alex Jones has attended numerous military urban warfare training drills across the US where role players were used to simulate arresting American citizens and taking them to internment camps.
Whether these detention camps will be bossed by private paramilitary security forces, agents of the federal government, or a combination of the two is largely immaterial. What should concern all Americans is the fact that the camps are being constructed at all and that under new legal arguments being re-applied by President Obama, Americans can be abducted and held without trial in such facilities under the enemy combatant designation.
U S Army Regulation 210-35 Civilian Inmate Labor Program click here to read it!
Now, look at this recent example of how peaceful freedom seeking AZ "sovereigns" are now considered terrorists by the FBI, connected with criminals, and "marginalized" as just described in Camp FEMA..
For further reading on this subject::
or just put "potential FEMA internment camps" into your search engine and see what you get. Then think about how issues like state sovereignty will affect your decisions in the upcoming elections.
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