Harsh, unsavory headline, but as previously written,
I don't sugar-coat the facts. The headline is an understatement as
readers will discover below. A government overthrowing the People.
When it comes to leadership, it is appalling that
this community continues to elect such deficient, short-sighted, rogue
representatives for the Community Services District.
People who do not know better, don't know how to do better.
This is especially true regarding CSD director Paula Deel
who has been consistently on the wrong side of the community on so many past
issues as previously documented in earlier blogs.
This time ineffective PaulaDeel, with her cohorts
VictoriaPaulsen, JackUnger, and fellow board members
RobertSpringer and LarryClark, have outdone
themselves in their treachery against the community.
Remember this earlier news blog photo of the February 25, 2020,
CSD board meeting? The community wanted the CSD's support to fight the
Daggett Solar Project. The CSD directors have now dry-gulched these
voices.
The CSD now appears to be seriously considering the possibility
of settling the solar litigation. The CSD directors are also pressing
their repressive knee against the jugular of Newberry's residents so that the
community members can not have a voice and that the CSD can acquire its dirty
30-pieces of silver. Under the CSD's directors, Newberry can't
breathe !
But Newberry's residents must continue to breathe the truth
of the community's devastation should the Daggett Solar Power Project be built.
The CSD board of directors at one point were heros.
After a large turnout of residents that insisted that the CSD file litigation
to protect the community (the residents' health and their investments), the
board acted righteously.
The CSD hired an attorney and litigation was filed.
Named in the filing were the "NEWBERRY COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT, a
community services district; FRIENDS OF NEWBERRY SPRINGS, an unincorporated
association, Plaintiffs and Petitioners."
The "FRIENDS" in the litigation is clearly identified:
"Petitioner
and Plaintiff FRIENDS OF NEWBERRY SPRINGS ("Friends" or collectively with NCSD as
"Petitioners"), an unincorporated association, is an organization in San Bernardino
County comprised of residents and property owners in Newberry Springs, dedicated to
protecting quality of life and environmental health in the area. Its members
live, work, and recreate in and around the Project Site and would be affected by
the Project. Friends, and its members, are beneficially interested in
and will be impacted by the outcome of the Project."
At this point, the CSD board members were true champions in
the eyes of the residents. But then, the directors are too reckless and
mindless to remain that way.
Over-playing the stupidity of unnecessary secrecy, CSD president
Robert Springer and the other board members have intentionally interfered and have
prevented the residents from knowing what has been internally happening within
the litigation.
When disclosure best serves the Public's interest, California's
Constitution requires public officials to openly disclose the Public's work that
they perform on the Public's behalf. There is no secret strategy sauce in
the litigation that outweighs the Public's right to know.
With the residents lacking information and highly sensitized
over the potential collective loss of tens of millions of dollars in their property
value, and with the associated health issues of the solar project, anxiety rose.
Especially, when president Robert Springer acknowledged during a board
meeting that the idea of a sell-out settlement could be considered.
With the naming of their "FRIENDS" organization in the filing,
the residents expected to have an opportunity to present some input in the litigation
that would have such an impact upon them. After all, wasn't the
litigation's purpose suppose to defend and benefit the residents?
Then, at the February 25, 2020, CSD board meeting, CSD director
Jack Unger ignited a firestorm when he announced the CSD's hijacking of the
citizens' participation. Egoist director Jack Unger publicly announced
that the residents would not have any say and that he alone was the
"FRIENDS OF NEWBERRY SPRINGS."
At that point of censorship, any chemistry the CSD board
had with the community was lost.
The legality of Jack Unger's censorship to subvert the residents'
participation is questionable as there is a direct legal conflict-of-interest
in Unger representing both the CSD and the "FRIENDS." Of course, Jack
Unger's action was with the other CSD board members' full approval.
Recorded at the February 25, 2020, CSD Board meeting.
~ From a March 1, 2020 blog.
As repeatedly forecasted in my earlier blogs, the
Newberry CSD directors appear to be leaning towards selling-out the
community. It is not because they have a weak case. The
fact is, the litigation has a fantastic likelihood of success as best
outlined in
Pat Flanagan's comments
before the board on January 28, 2020.
The CSD directors should be embracing the residents in a
united front to protect Newberry Springs. Instead, the CSD directors appear
fixated in surrendering Newberry's property values, the health of its citizens,
and the community's economic survivability to the solar industry's marauders,
with the CSD's expectation of receiving a monetary settlement.
To that end, the CSD doesn't want the community's FRIENDS to
object and interfere by blocking a settlement.
At a very short noticed Newberry CSD SPECIAL MEETING on
May 12, 2020, the board went into a Closed Session and spoke via phone with
the CSD attorney (who, by the filed Complaint, maybe later ruled as having
owed a fiduciary obligation to the community's "FRIENDS").
Returning from the Closed Session, the board headed by
President Robert Springer refused to reveal anything, including the general
nature of the meeting with the attorney. Per the official
Minutes
of that meeting as signed-off by General Manager Jodi Howard, there was
No Action Taken. Yet, 9-days later, the CSD attorney
filed papers
dismissing the FRIENDS from the litigation. An action the attorney
would not have taken without the board's approval.
As the community's residents wanted to have a say in their
community's destiny, the CSD directors simply decided to remove them from the
litigation to censor their voice.
The actions by the CSD has opened a number of questions
and potential liability. The solar developer is reported to be now lining-up
union workers to start the project.
As of the time of this blog's release, we are about to enjoy
the 4th of July. The 4th is not so much about crazy fireworks as it is
to commemorate the spirit of our country's forefathers fighting against a
repressive government.
I don't know of anything more repulsive should the CSD directors
surrender our community for the greedy funding of their personal projects, such
as Jack Unger's proposed civic hub or the Deel's NSEDA's farm that will be of little
benefit to our then decaying community.
Jack Unger's betrayal of his community that placed
its trust in him is beyond reasonable comprehension.
He appears possessed by the Newberry CSD's
dark evil that lacks any moral compass.
On July 13th, registration sign-ups will begin for candidates
for two Newberry CSD office seats currently occupied by Paula Deel and Larry Clark.
I am encouraged by one great candidate that will be running.
One more highly recognized resident supporting the PEOPLE is needed.
If interested in running, please feel welcome to
contact
us for possible support.
• • •
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