Newberry Residents Pissed
At The CSD Directors
Posted: July 12, 2020
Newberry Springs Community Alliance
Blog by Ted Stimpfel
I have received e-mails containing some very strong anger at
CSD directors Robert Springer, Paula Deel, Jack Unger,
Victoria Paulsen, and Larry Clark regarding their disgusting
betrayal of Newberry Springs.
To give a pulse to the feelings, I am sharing the following
e-mail that references my previous blog:
Ted,
I am so upset, I have not stopped shaking for over an hour now.
Just the news of this is compromising my health.
For those of us who cannot afford to move (thanks to property
values that have been declining since this solar agenda started), this is a painful
and perhaps a slow death sentence. This will include many friends whom I have
come to love and care about like they are family. Also, my pets are my
children and all the other wildlife in Newberry. I am saddened beyond
comprehension.
It is unimaginable that 5 people could do this to their community
when we clearly declared our condemnation of any settlement discussions or actions
in favor of the solar project. They are supposed to represent us!
With most of the residents betrayed by the people they trusted
to look out for them, they need to all be recalled.
Just shocking that they would convey that setbacks will do
anything against silica. Just how high and how long of a barrier could they
erect? How does this somehow solve the violations of CEQA law?
One thing I didn't understand about your article was the 10 million
in mitigation being able to go for this God-forsaken hub.
The problem with the law is that I guess you have to prove
damages to get relief. Which doesn't make sense if you want to stop someone
or thing from causing you harm.
The five fools better not run into me anywhere or they will
be informed of what I think.
Sad, sad day.
Still want to thank you Ted for your unceasing efforts to help
this community. Why can't you run for the CSD office?
|
• • •
Indeed, it is very sad that the elected CSD members do not have
empathy for their constituents. Their moral corruption and their high level
of conniving secrecy are despicable.
In my response to the above e-mail, I stated that I was sorry
if I wasn't clear in my previous blog when I mentioned the $10-million number.
The arrogant CSD fools who would not listen to their community
probably still don't fully comprehend the pressure and the uncertainty upon
the developer that their litigation was having in delaying the $1-billion-plus
project. The CSD held a strong case that may have delayed the project
for an indefinite period.
I know that if I was managing a $1B-plus project
that was being delayed by litigation, I would happily "donate" $10-million
for "mitigation" just to get the green light to start construction. $10M
represents less than 1% of the project. I would have already had the
funds built into the project's cost as a contingency. In fact, I would
have built-in a much higher contingency factor for cost overruns.
In short, the money is there for mitigation but you won't
get it if you are stupid. The CSD directors have walked away
with nothing meaningful for the community because they are. . .
So, my $10M figure was low chump change which
should have been easily negotiated, if not a higher figure.
Apparently, the secretive CSD board and the attorney that Director
Jack Unger acquired, don't know how to properly negotiate.
As someone else has e-mailed me, the CSD got badly
snookered. "A real sell out. Except for the 200k+ they
got nothing that isn't already spelled out in mitigation measures or the dust
control plan they are required to file."
For settlement, the CSD was offered a list of unenforceable
and meaningless mitigation measures, some of which already existed, and the
CSD thought that they were great negotiators.
The Newberry CSD directors were played for who they are.
This goes back to an earlier blog which references Director Paula Deel inquiring
if I thought that she was a Hillbilly? Heck, Paula, even Hillbillies know
better than to walk away from millions of dollars, available to the community,
sitting on the table.
I am totally opposed to the CSD's settlement, the damages to the
community are far too great. What I am pointing out is that the CSD directors
could not even betray the community properly without screwing it up !
As to myself running for CSD office, that is a consideration
after this fiasco. If I had acquired a seat in the last election, the secrecy
and the current predicament that Newberry is in now, would not have happened.
Unfortunately, the majority of voters continue to elect those
who continue to depress Newberry. I do not wish to be seated among them.
And, by placing last in the previous election, I do not believe that I am electable.
The majority of voters vote for recognizable names that continue to fail the
community.
In my retirement years, I am content to simply write about the
CSD's constant blunders.
The CSD directors initially took the right step in opposing the
solar project but they then made an incredible tactical blunder. This was
later followed by their unexcusable dark sin against the community... but
it is time to move on.
The CSD has doomed the community's best chance to protect itself,
but there is a glimmer of fading hope for Newberry. There are remaining measures
that can be taken. I don't see them happening because I don't see the community
(as a whole) having enough pride in itself.
While the CSD has betrayed Newberry, not all is lost. If
enough members of the community step forward, some actions can be taken.
Silently, behind the scene, a small handful of residents have been
actively opposing the project. Unfortunately, they alone are not enough.
If the community wants to save Newberry, the community itself must quickly become
actively involved.
• • •
Advice to the Newberry CSD directors.
Registration sign-ups are now open for two Newberry CSD office
seats currently occupied by Paula Deel and Larry Clark. Apply with the
Registrar of Voters.
If interested in running, please feel welcome to
contact
us for possible support.
Should you have any comments on the CSD's solar surrender, please tell us here.
• • •
|
