May 2, 2009

Water Continues To Flow

Russell Michael From California City Studios is feeling better today after receiving a certified letter from the Federal Bureau Of Land Management, extending him permission to keep the exciting water lines to his studio with no fear of them being removed by the City of California City after being told by California City officials to keep his mouth shut (via Mojave Desert News) or they could be removed. Russell went to the source for permission, stating that he is not one to keep his mouth shut, or bow to a threat. Russell went after answers, not just from the BLM, but other agencies involved in this situation like the State of California, Kern County, the State Fire Marshall, the State Department of Housing and Community Development, LAFCO, and the Mojave Water District. After being told by Mr. Bevins, Public Works Director of California City, that the Mojave Water District refused to allow an 8" water line to his property, the backlash, now according to Mr. Michael, is he is now being pushed aside and treated with the ultimate of disrespect and the cold shoulder.
This is not what we wanted, but it puts us on the path with the first step leading to getting what we want, said Russell Michael, Head Of California City Studios. We needed a decision on the water lines, we needed know if they were put in legally or not, or placed without proper authority and who did it. We got that. We are fighting hard to get promises made to us, kept, said Russell, if for no other reason, but that the City should have kept their promises to us in the first place, stated Russell. Whatever it takes, we will get the promises made to us, kept. We know we can't go toe to toe with the city, They say you can't fight city hall, but we can get the state to look into our situation now. I have prepared myself to do what it takes to get this done. I was lied to. I'm being fluffed off, and I was cheated out of profits, over silly bickering and egotistical crap the belongs in school yards, not city yards or city hall, said Russell.
I can't predict the future, but I can see what's coming down the road for this city, and it is long overdue. I have had it with their fluff. I have nothing to lose. The city has no intention of doing the right thing with my studio or the Wonder Acres area, in general. They have proved that by not doing the right things out here since 1992. I can't fight them, but I can get small victories without fighting them, one by one, that will lead to a decision in my favor eventually from the proper authority. This may take a little longer, but the effects of doing it properly will mean a better decision on how this city conducts itself from now on. The City of California City is not going to do what's right when it comes to my studios anyway. We knew that the minute the elections were over in November. Let the State deal with this, however long it takes. My studio is busy and getting busier, said Russell.

Story By Nute Kelly
For Information contact: Nute at news@asnbc.com

April 17, 2009

Waterfall DownfallIn response to the recent discussions about our City Park and waterfall, I agree that our park and waterfall is not what it once was. However, it seems as if there is much talk going on, but not enough action. I must admit, I am shameful of myself. Shameful for being a resident of California City for approximately 20 years, yet having done nothing to date to assist in the efforts to revitalize our City Park. Therefore, as a resident of California City and owner of Preferred Towing, I would like to volunteer our services. I, my employees, and family will volunteer to assist in cleaning up the City Park in anyway necessary! I agree, there are many more issues within the City that need to be addressed; however, a community effort to clean and beautify our City Park in order to make it a safe and inviting place within the community is essential. Please contact my office in order to discuss cleanup efforts and equipment needed. I am here to help!

Preferred Towing
Amanda Adolf
(661) 775-1500 Office (661) 775-1555 Fax
http://www.preferredtow.com/

April 10, 2009

Rebuttal To Mr McGuire

I don’t wish this to become a bodily discharge contest. Regrettably, you’ve made some comments, assumptions and/or accusations that are totally false and without merit. How can I let that go?
To wit:
You said I claimed to be a contractor. False! I never did. Please show me the minutes of the meeting where it says I did. I had no reason to do so as we were discussing park matters and not construction. I checked with a couple people who were at the meeting and they do not recall I said such things.
You said you checked with the State of California. Would you like my social security number so you can check everything about me every time we speak? I have nothing to hide. I feel a person who does that can’t be one whom you want to exchange ideas with or confide. It’s sad that you resort to “checking up” on people every time they say something. It’s shameful and you can bet I’ll never confide in you as I have done in the past. I’ll watch my “P's” and “Q's” when you’re within ear-shot.
“Lou, what you did, took away part of this city’s history.” Do you know how shallow that sounds Chuck, especially coming from you? The history of that beautiful park was lost the first time someone saw damage or disrepair and did nothing about it. Worst yet, they left it up to the city to fix it. If you’ve had the experience that I have, you would know that to expect the city to do something immediate is a war onto itself by the very nature in which the city is structured. If you felt as strongly about its history, you would have gone out on the limb (as I have) twenty, fifteen, ten years ago and did everything you could to protect it, clean it and maintain it. Sadly, it’s much easier to rant and rave and feel hurt and broken-hearted, than to do something about it. I’m hoping to create history with this new park. The same history that will last for years for the younger people. And yes, I saw what it once was, even before you did.
You stated, "There have been lots of people before you who volunteered and attempted to improve our city park and for whatever reason were either stymied or discouraged in their efforts.” Unfortunately, they are not Lou Peralta. I’ll see you atop the hill come the Fourth of July. By the way, it would have been May 31st if they had only allowed me and my friends to complete it.
You speak of keeping people informed. Let’s see, after speaking in almost all City Council meetings in the past three months, editorials in the paper, editorials in several web forums, updating the City and those who listen as to what we’d like to do and constantly asking for volunteers and their input is not enough? I got the hint. Nobody gives a darn.
Lastly, you stated, “I will be very honest with you, Tuesday night, I was so enraged and hurt that I knew if I had confronted you, the words I would have spoken could not have been taken back. I decided to wait a couple of days to calm down, so I would be thinking with my mind and not my emotions.” Chuck, leave your enragement, the anger, and exasperation for something that is really important; like children in this city being left alone, while the mother or father are getting drunk at the nearest bar; or young kids who are on crack before they are ten years-old; or how about youngsters who are not being fed properly or who have no clothes to wear. Be mad about the inequalities in our city, the trashiness and how some of the elder people are treated so badly. Get enraged about the lack of morality among many of the people among us. Go through the roof when you hear that a business has been robbed, a child or a woman beaten, and be absolutely livid when you realize that other countries hate us because they can’t be like us. But getting “enraged and hurt” about the park that up to now nobody cared about, not even you, that doesn’t speak well for the level of your priorities and convictions. Shame on you!
As I said before, I don’t wish this to be a continuous wetting contest. I don’t have the time for it. However, if you wish to help, be proactive, than come to the park and put in a few hours to create its new history.

Regards,
Lou Peralta “The Devil”

April 9, 2009

The Devil Made Me Do It

I confess, I was the one who instigated the notion that we ought to do something about our city park and especially the waterfall and what it is commonly known as “Hamburger Hill.” It has been in disrepair, abandoned and vandalized for years. If you were to look back at photographs from maybe twenty years ago, you would see what a wonderful place it once was. But like many things in life, the passage of time is often cruel, especially if the city and its citizens do nothing about it. So, three months ago, I announced in front of the City Council that I was prepared to clean up “Hamburger Hill” and make that waterfall operable. I would personally donate my time, equipment and effort to revitalize what was once the diamond of our city. I asked for help from our citizens. Subsequently, I made several appearances at Council meetings, posted announcements and requested citizens that would be interested in helping in the revitalization of the park, to contact me so that we can arrange a combined effort to make it happen. This went on for weeks and although I heard from exactly four people, nobody else jumped at the opportunity. I knew it would be hard to make it a community effort but I decided to keep trying. Ultimately, two months went by and nothing. Consequently, a couple of my friends, Alan Bell and I started by trying to clean up the hill. It was difficult because part of the hill was damaged with the passing of time, many of the PVC's were broken, over 1100 bricks had been vandalized, most of the canal walls and base cracks and had nasty graffiti, there was a spot where we found several condoms and in general “Hamburger Hill” was a horrendous blight on this community.
Nonetheless, we began by trying to make an access road so that heavier equipment could be driven to the top of the hill to begin its rejuvenation. All along, I kept posting in a number of webs sites, forums, editorials and during personal appearances in the City, that we could use the involvement of those who love the city park. I even invited the Garden Club and the Beautification Commission to come out and help us by "tagging" old dead trees and shrubs, so that we could take them out and plant new ones once the hill was completed. We also asked them to work with us to reach our mutual goals. In the case of the Beautification Commission I was told that it wouldn’t be until mid-April when they could come out. It was mid-February when I asked. I could not wait.
Finally, I saw through the lens of experience that, as in the past, nothing was going to get done, unless I took it upon myself to initiate it. I called on several friends and several city officials and we discussed various possibilities that could be done in order to restore “Hamburger Hill.” Several solutions were submitted and when we finally discussed every possibility, we found the way to do it; which would be the cheapest, most expeditious and one that could bring this project to conclusion by Memorial Day weekend. We were all satisfied with our resolve.
So we started two weeks ago. People in the City knew what we were doing, the Maintenance Department and Parks Department knew what we were doing because they were gracious to perform some tasks for us and lend us a helping hand in the clean-up process. Unfortunately, some department heads said they didn’t know anything about it and when a couple citizens came up the podium last night (April 7), at the City Council meeting, mortified, almost in a catatonic state, to complain about what we had done to “my park,” (as two individuals stated), all heck broke loose. I was the “devil” of this city who did it. Paraphrasing one citizen, “How could you have taken a piece of history away from me, when you filled-in the canals?” Paraphrasing another, “You have destroyed an important part of history of this city.”
As I said, I admitted that it was I who started this whole thing, therefore, I am now the devil incarnate, which is OK by me. After all, my mother’s favorite cry towards me as a young child was, “You little devil, you, come here!” So I’m used to it.
What is so sad is that it took my actions to awaken this community, to get off their collective pedestals and to do something about the problem. I even appreciate my detractors, because they are now going to be involved and will be vigilant. Hurray! Somebody finally lit a match under their well-rounded…well you know what I mean. Just one question?: Where were they for the past twenty years, the last ten years, the last two years, the last three months? It could all have gone so much smoother.
Extraordinary things require extraordinary measures: Today, I’m delighted to report that we had a very productive meeting with Mr. Mike Bevins, California City’s Public Works Director. He started the meeting by saying, nothing in this city gets done without his approval, and he is correct. He is in charge of all public spaces in this town and it’s his responsibility. I started the process without a permit, without the approval or blessing of Mr. Bevins. I was wrong!
However, when well-meaning persons get together and hash things out, anything is possible. I’m thrilled to report that the “Hamburger Hill” revitalization project will proceed post haste. Perhaps it may take a bit longer than I expected, but as Mr. Bevins correctly put it, “It will be done right!” That’s terrific. The end result of today’s meeting is that based on the preliminary input that I and other people have given Mr. Bevins, we will have our waterfall and “Hamburger Hill” and the upper-park and all the beautification done to it in a few months. No, not by May 31st as I had hoped for but I can bet you that come the Fourth of July, we’ll be up there celebrating our new “Hamburger Hill.” (Or will it be renamed; “The Devil’s Hill?”)
I will continue to not only help in its restoration, as I and others have committed the use of our personal equipment and of course our time, but I will also commit to stay right behind Mr. Bevins and his fine staff, to make sure that the work is completed in time. No more of these two-, three-, five-year plans. By this summer that portion of the park will be open to everyone. This time, our children, our citizens and all of us will enjoy “Hamburger Hill” and the waterfall once again. We may even toast a drink to its success and sing "Cumbaya!" You see, it turned out to be a win, win situation for everyone and ultimately California City wins. You can’t ask for more than that.

Lou Peralta “The Devil”