Thursday, September 13, 2007

Rudderless Steering Committee Meeting

The Rudderless Steering Committee of R Neighborhoods held a productive meeting on Thursday September 13, 2007.

The discussions were lively and several issues have been added to the increasing tasks the committee members and other members of R Neighborhoods Are 1 can become very active in.

240 more names were collected on the R1 petitions and brought to the meeting for inclusion into the data base.

Signature gathering is still a very important issues for R Neighborhoods Are 1. Some of the focus has moved from local markets, where so many great shoppers have already signed the R1 petitions, to other venues. You may see R1 petition gatherers outside local schools where parents pick up their kids, and who have their families at stake from the over development planned by Bob Bisno.

We continue to strongly welcome folks who visit www.rneighborhoodsare1.org and download petitions, then take them to their local areas and collect signatures. You may also start seeing R1 petition gatherers at supermarkets in Harbor City and Lomita, in the coming weeks.

The Rudderless Steering Committee is recommending that you DO NOT vote for Mark Waronek in the upcoming November Lomita City Council election. Any of the other three candidates would be a much better improvement than having Mark serve another term.

If you think or feel that "nothing is going on right now with Ponte Vista", you are incorrect. Right now, representatives from Bob's organization are working with the L.A. City Planning Department and the Department of Transportation to find ways to get whatever Bob wants, through the planners.

The Rudderless Steering Committee (RSC) has been working on issues revolving the current discussions between Ponte Vista's developer and the various agencies in the L.A. City government.

There will be a letter-writing campaigned shortly to demand several things from the Planning Department and the Department of Transportation so that everyone will be well informed as the days and weeks pass by.

We will be asking folks to write letters, in their own words, demanding that all hearings, public comment meetings, Planning Department public meetings, and Planning Commission meetings be held locally. That is a benefit for all of us and demonstrates that supporters and opponents of Bob's outrageous plans must have meetings held locally.

There must be a completely new environmental report accomplished. So many of the issues in the first DEIR, such as traffic, student population, infrastructure, and issues relating directly to the human condition were not done anywhere near appropriate, in the first DEIR.

Information regarding all public documents must be made readily and easily available to those who wish to monitor the progress or lack of progress, throughout all the processes.

We should all demand and better timeline from the Planning Department, as to the progress of the development's plans and when we can expect to learn the important facts and findings that taxpayers pay for.

I hope there is a sample letter I can post on this site in about a week and a half, to give everyone a chance to see what areas they may wish to use in their own letters. We will also post addresses of folks who should receive the letter.

On the organization's Web site, listed above is an address. The RSC is announcing at this point that a legal defense fund is being started to ensure that the 11,000+ folks who have already signed the R1 petition and those who do so in the future can have better grounds to stand on, no matter what Bob tries to do.

Hiring an attorney is not inexpensive. We have been offered pro-bono legal counsel already and have utilized the knowledge of several attorneys already. But we must have a defense fund established to pay for the "big guns" who will represent our interests.

Of course, we also need continuing donations to provide the necessary materials for future mailings and items we can't pay for simply out of the pockets of the RSC members. Many members of the Rudderless Steering Committee have already donated hundreds of dollars to the cause out of their own pockets. We have one RSC member who has donated money in the thousands of dollars arena. We still need every one's financial support.

Your Rudderless Steering Committee continues to strongly demand that the current zoning of the Ponte Vista site, remain with its current zoning. We have been backed up by Councilwoman Janice Hahn's endorsement for keeping the current zoning structure and her Community Advisory Committee has also recommended to her that the number of units be equivalent to what R1 zoning allows for.

We hope to find a resolution being proposed to the Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council, stating that they oppose Bob's current plans for Ponte Vista gets passed, to deal with the ongoing confusion the first resolution brought.

There may be a chance that folks who signed the R1 petition may get a call from us attempting to clear up any issue with the information provided on the R1 petition. Many folks signed their names in two spots and we have found some information hard to read. Folks have been updating the data base, but there are many addresses and names that can't be updated.

Information is power and we all need to keep the information lines open and flowing. Everyone is encouraged to comment, question, and help in the fight to now allow this weapon of mass development coming into OUR community.

The RSC was informed that Seaport Homes was able to change from a purchase-condominium development to a rental project due to the developer's ability to finance the project without getting into too much debt. According to a reliable source in L.A. City government, the folks downtown were not all that surprised when the switch-a-roo took place.

The next RSC meeting is scheduled in two week's time. If you have any issues you feel should be brought up to the committee, please leave a comment or Email me directly at the address on the top of this blog. It seems that I will be able to use crutches to get to the meeting.

Thank you and be well.

Friday, August 24, 2007

Odd and Ends 27

Let's begin by being confused. New home sales in June fell by 4%. New home sales in July grew by 2.8%. The lending industry is going through some critical times right now, and nobody seems to know where this will all lead.

New construction at Ponte Vista may be more than a year away. The CAC was told that the Planning Department might need "6 months" working with Bisno Development to come up with the number of units the Planning Department will recommend be built at the northwest San Pedro site.

As far as the public goes, the Planning Department has been very tight-lip about what they feel the density of the project should be and disclosing any rumors about what they may be thinking about is not something we should do, at this time.
_____________________________________________

Does San Pedro "need" more new housing? I wish somebody in an objective manner would provide information about whether San Pedro and the rest of OUR community actually need new housing for residents, and especially if there is really a "need" for more senior housing in the area.

I have included several compromise ideas that I have had suggesting that there is definitely a "want" for senior housing in San Pedro. I have listed several ideas about adding more senior housing at Ponte Vista, but that can't really happen with R1, which is now what I support.
_________________________________________________

All of us know where "The Monster" is being built and how Seaport Luxury Homes seemed to slip through the cracks and get approved. This particular issues has provided all of us a very valuable lesson in that we must not have blinders on and let even 136-unit developments slip by our watchful eyes.

Highland Park is PROBABLY coming. This 134-unit project of patio-style homes being proposed by J.C.C. Homes may be built on the site of the old Kinder-Morgan facility on north Gaffey Street.

Kinder-Morgan will not transfer the site to J.C.C. Homes unless and until the site is determined to be completely free of any and all remnants of the old facility and all the post demolition test prove there will be not environmental hazards left in and around that property.

You can not set up a time-lapse camera system and photograph the processes of demolition and construction that will lead us to find a brand new Target store on north Gaffey as well.

It needs to be remembered that both J.C.C. Homes and the folks representing the construction of the new Target worked closely with the Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council. All the efforts by everyone dealing with the local area, the new home site, and the new Target worked to try and find the best results for any problems that may occur in the future. Both Target and J.C.C. Homes were very responsive to the Neighborhood Council area in which they will be located in.
____________________________________________

Sadly, we must continue to report that the folks at Ponte Vista have not shared similar wishes to involve the Neighborhood Council more directly or as well as these two other development companies have done.

It now looks like the developer for Ponte Vista is more adversarial in its dealings with the Neighborhood Council and the area where such a big project is proposed. I would think that Bob and his staff would be working harder to understand and deal with all the issues, rather than taking such a defensive position.

One would imagine that if Ponte Vista is really such a good thing for OUR community, their organization would not have to be so defensive and secretive about the project.
____________________________________________

Remember when Bob proclaimed he would furnish all the information about his 2,300-unit plan, including a public disclosure of the number of bedrooms in that particular proposal. I haven't seen such a public document and I bet nobody else has, either.

If you visit the Ponte Vista Web site, you will not be able to find any illustration of the smallest floor plan that will probably be proposed in the 1,950-unit development, and I still can't find any numbers of units broken down by size, type, and number of bedrooms, if any. The smallest unit illustrated is approximately 800 square feet and the "studio" as illustrated is approximately 850 square feet, according to the illustration.

If you were to visit the Centre Street Lofts Web site, you can view illustrations of the units floor by floor and the smallest units illustrated are about 150 square feet larger than what Bob has in his proposal for Ponte Vista.

You also might want to remember that no new residential development in the area is selling like "hot cakes" and the Lofts have offered buyer incentives to try and lure buyers. Having two years worth of HOA fees and dues paid for as an incentive, is not such a bad thing, in my opinion.
______________________________________

When Bob proclaims that his vision for Ponte Vista means a beautiful place, he is not kidding.

We toured an apartment complex located on MacArthur Blvd. in Newport Beach that Bob is basing his illustrations on, and I strongly believe everyone was very impressed with the quality of construction and the way the development looked and the amenities offered at that 1100-unit development.

However, how beautiful it could be, and how wonderful of a place it may be to live, plucking down a development about 175% larger then Newport Village on a main arterial of a peninsula, simply makes absolutely no real sense, I feel, and can only lead toward dire consequences if a 1,950-unit project is approved.

I know for a fact that many, many Ponte Vista supporters cringe at the idea of placing 1,950 units in northwest San Pedro. So many of them feel that the plans are just too large for the area.

There may be only about 50% of the folks claiming support for Bob's Ponte Vista that would like to see any more than 1,500-units, and if the survey Bob tried used lower total numbers of units, the support for those lower numbers would grow.

Thursday, August 23, 2007

The CAC Report is Final, What's Next?

The title of this post says it all.

For all of us interested in R Neighborhoods Are 1, everything else is next. We all need to keep focused on what the movement is calling for as we await what the L.A. City Planning Department will report as their recommendations for the density of the Ponte Vista at San Pedro project.

Not only is our movement not ending, slowing down, or going onto any "back burner" we are going, growing, and becoming included in the real movement that has definitely begun demanding a better look at over development in the entire L.A. area.

Newspaper articles, opinion pieces, postings in various blogs and other information sources have indicated that the greater L.A. area is finding more activists who are willing to push forward ideas that state that a very large number of residents are fed up with "weapons of mass development" and are willing to become active in trying to slow down that "machine" that is big developments by greedy developers.

In the City of Los Angeles, Neighborhood Councils are becoming much more active in questioning whether they truly represent the folks in their Council areas who are demanding at least a slow down to all the development currently going on in the City. For stakeholders and others, the Neighborhood Council system, working alongside Homeowner Associations and other groups will become the forefront that will help regular residents have a much stronger voice in City government, if they support those organizations.

Since the recent election at Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council, I am growing more pleased to see that San Pedro may have three strong Neighborhood Councils that together, will help OUR community join growing efforts to challenge big developments.

We will probably see, sometime in September, that what I wrote about, will finally come true.
Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council passed a resolution supporting a multi-family development in northwest San Pedro, but it did not, as their President claimed, endorsed Bob Bisno's Ponte Vista at San Pedro. The resolution passed was not an endorsement of Ponte Vista and that Ponte Vista at San Pedro will need to stop claiming that one Neighborhood Council in San Pedro "endorses Ponte Vista".

It is little issues like that which adds information and resources to the battles many of us are having with over development. When taken individually, they probably don't mean much. Adding the little "beans" together does create a hill that will demonstrate that OUR community, along with other communities, can have an influence on what may happen in the greater L.A. area.

R Neighborhoods Are 1 will continue to seek and welcome signatures on R1 petitions. There is absolutely no need to curtail efforts in gathering signatures. In fact, the more signatures that are collected not only demonstrates to local leaders that keeping Ponte Vista with its current zoning density is important, it also is a great tool that can be exported to other communities faced with over development, to provide them with the incentive that they are not alone in their battles and there are other communities that are willing to take a stand, demonstrate a will, and "just say no!" to too many units in too small an area.

As R Neighborhoods Are 1 moves forward and outward, the movement will continue to need all of your support. There will come a time when we will ask volunteers to attend meetings of various City Departments and Commissions, and we will need funds to hire buses to move the volunteers. Everyone is welcome to join in attending Planning Department and Planning Commission meetings and it is important that you attend and voice your opinions to the bureaucrats who have our futures in their hands.

There will probably come a time when many buses will need to be hired to convey volunteers to L.A. City Hall when the City Council deliberates and votes on motions concerning Ponte Vista and possibly other mass development issues. Hiring buses takes money and your contributions are greatly appreciated.

If an when any decision is made that requires the hiring of lawyers to benefit our movement, that is really going to take a huge effort to fund the folks who are hired to protect us.

But volunteering funds is only part of what our members can do. We can all talk, write, and create an environment where we share our experiences and wishes with others throughout this large area we call "Los Angeles". If you only have friends in OUR community, you can always converse with them about Ponte Vista and other over development issues.

If you have friends and family living on the west side of L.A., you probably have already heard from them the horror stories about over development in their area. Finding common voices in many areas means that we can learn to share ideas and join ever-growing efforts to slow down or stop developments which lower our quality of life.

The CAC report is final. Three recommendations have been put forward. The first motion was to completely rebuke Bob Bisno's current plans for the 61.53 acres of land in northwest San Pedro. The second recommendation calls for allowing for a density equal to the density of R1 housing. The third recommendation, made by a minority of the CAC membership, we for a mixed-use, multi-family development at Ponte Vista where the MAJORITY of the units were for senior housing.

Nothing coming from the members of the CAC came anywhere near what Bob Bisno has been steadfastly proclaiming, and the CAC represented us, in OUR community.

For R Neighborhoods Are 1, the work will not end. Now that we have demonstrated that we are a movement that must be dealt with, it also means that we must move forward, with renewed energy and purpose, and join with others to form an even larger movement to question over development, slow down the developers, and make clear to everyone that we will not allow greedy developers to have their wishes come true at our expense.

Friday, August 10, 2007

What's New, What's Next?

The Rudderless Steering Committee of R Neighborhoods Are 1 met Thursday evening and will continue efforts to help bring beautiful single-family homes on R1 sized lots to all of Ponte Vista at San Pedro.

Folks, just because many of us feel we have won Round One in our battle to save San Pedro and the rest of OUR community, we all know that it is only the beginning and we are NOT going anywhere but into Round Two and each and every future round, if necessary.

Here are some of the items discussed at last night's meeting: (What's New)

R1 Petitions:

Every signature counts, every signature is appreciated, and new signatures are required. We will still be at selected sites to gather signatures on R1 petitions. We are continuing to encourage everyone to visit http://www.rneighborhoodsare1.org/ and get news and information, and also download more R1 petitions to get even more folks to sign up to save OUR community.

We all need to continue to be visible throughout OUR community and support R1 NO COMPROMISE, especially since Bob is not even considering any real compromise to his outrageous plans.

Fund Raising:

Bob is rich and his companies have funds to work his way through L.A. City Government. Bob seems to be willing to spend whatever he wants to spend attempting to saddle all of us with a development that is so out of proportion to the rest of OUR community, that is MUST NOT be approved of.

R Neighborhoods Are 1 is an all volunteer organization. Nobody gets one penny of compensation, other than reimbursement of expenses they have funded themselves, if they want to.
Every single button associated with R1 or opposing Bob's plans have been donated to the cause, both in material expenses and time making each and every button.

Now that Round One seems to have gone our way, we need to really start collecting funds to support the rounds that are assuredly coming up.

R neighborhoods are 1
1536 W. 25th St. #223
San Pedro CA 90732-4415


We need to start saving real funds for buses to get our members and others interested in really saving OUR community, to downtown Los Angeles, when it is time. We need to provide lots of reasonable, realistic, responsible, and respectful individuals like yourself to go with us and let the City Government and City Departments know that we demand R1 NO COMPROMISE at Ponte Vista.

Buses and their drivers cost money to hire. This is one item in which your contributions will be greatly appreciated.

R neighborhoods are 1
1536 W. 25th St. #223
San Pedro CA 90732-4415


Bob is rich and his companies have money to fight for what he wants. His legal team is made up of some of the best lawyers and legal firms, anywhere.

There will come a time when R Neighborhoods Are 1 will need to hire lawyers to help in our fight to save OUR community. Legal fees are high and hiring attorneys is very expensive.

It is now time to begin a great effort in seeking contributions to hire lawyers on OUR behalf. I may be sometime before we need them to come on board, but the costs that will be incurred mean we cannot start soon enough, and now is the time.

R neighborhoods are 1
1536 W. 25th St. #223
San Pedro CA 90732-4415


According to the Web Master at www.rneighborhoodsare1.org, there will be links established for contributors to provide much needed funds via the Internet, on that site.

Blight:

Many individuals believe Bob Bisno has made deliberate attempts to make the Ponte Vista site more blighted in order to demonstrate, somehow, that he needs to improve the land.

Everyone driving along Western between Avenida Aprenda and P.V. Drive North, is stuck looking at a site that looks purposely blighted and destroyed.

How much vermin, varmints, and polluted water is on that site, now? How can the developer get away with causing such a site in OUR community.

What does the L.A. City Health Department and/or other City Departments think about the site?

Shouldn't Bob be required to eliminate all the blight and restore the area to the condition it was before anything was built there, so long ago?

The blight at Ponte Vista lowers home values of everyone living in the area, whether they live in San Pedro or R.P.V. Why should these residents be negatively impacted so that Bob can make it look like he "needs" to have new construction built at Ponte Vista?

It is time for residents along Fitness Drive, in The Gardens, down in the Westmont neighborhood, and folks living west of Western Avenue who have as their views the blighted Ponte Vista site, to individually and collectively call on Bob Bisno and the City of Los Angeles to do something about what is now seen at the site.

If Bob won't mitigate the blight, what makes anyone believe he will truly mitigate anything else?

Moving Forward: (What's Next)

We have had our chance to savor what many believe is a victory over Bob and his plans. It is true that the CAC surprised us all with their recommendations, and it looks like the majority of the members of the CAC are on the side of OUR community.

But we all must realize that there is still much to do. We need to continue to volunteer our time, money, thoughts, and efforts all the way through the many steps that still are in the future.

There are still many bumper stickers left and the button making process will continue. We are looking for real interest in folks who truly want yard signs. Even though the Steering Committee has decided to curtail, for the time being, buying any more yard signs, if folks really want them, I suggest they contact R Neighborhoods Are 1, or a Steering Committee member and let us know that it is important to OUR community to continue to provide yard signs.

Your added contributions could also support acquiring more yard signs.

R neighborhoods are 1
1536 W. 25th St. #223
San Pedro CA 90732-4415


Your Rudderless Steering Committee is becoming more involved in reaching out to other areas in the greater Los Angeles Area. Over development is not special to northwest San Pedro and there is a need for all of us to come together and fight developers, all over the area, who want to change how we live, work, and play.

Bob and his bunch have reached out all over the area and we also need to let our movement grow. Including others in our fight means we include ourselves in others' fight for THEIR communities.

As we spread our message, perhaps you have family members and friends fighting for THEIR communities. We need to let these wonderful people know that we want to include them in the greater struggles we are all having, against over development and quality of life issues.

It is not wrong to talk to others about shared problems. combining forces into a greater cause can't be wrong, and you know that.

Moving forward also means moving farther. Providing our message to more people in the desert that is Los Angeles also means that we will no longer be ignored as the community at the end of the world, as far as L.A. goes.

With the very thin strip of land that connects San Pedro to the rest of the City of L.A., San Pedro always seems to be the dangling end of something much bigger. San Pedro get shorted in so many way. Connecting people in other parts of Los Angeles means that we remove that little ribbon of land that separates San Pedro and OUR community from the rest of the area.

Moving forward also means that R Neighborhoods Are 1 should be taken very seriously by governments, politicians, bureaucrats, developers, and everyone else who thought we were just a "rabble" bunch of "ranting elitists".

You all have helped us greatly in stating to everyone that we are here, we are strong, and we will be listened to, no matter what Bob and all the B.s. (Bisno supporters) that surround him say.

Strength in numbers and strength in convictions says to everyone that our members do have a say in what happens in their lives and OUR community.

Saturday, July 28, 2007

You Know Who Makes More Comments

"XXX" has commented on his blog and found it necessary to provide those comments to the fake R1 blog for publication on two posts.

Not only will I not comment on much of what he wrote, but I certainly will not even bother to post these comments on my other blog.

Except I couldn't avoid copying one paragraph from his blog where he states he doesn't even care about what anyone else, including supporters of Bob's think, as far as I can tell.

The fellow claimed he did not attend the July 24 meeting, yet he knew what Dan Dixon said and that wasn't in any newspaper. Perhaps he has his "friends" coach him on what to write, too because he most certainly has not attended as many meetings as I have.

So "XXX" doesn't care about what others think about Ponte Vista. Well, it seems like this individual is being something like Bob; I lost the game I made the rules for and now I am taking my toys and not letting anyone else play.

Please do not make comments about "XXX" on this blog, or my primary blog concerning Ponte Vista. If you know the URL for my uncensored blog, and I strongly hope you don't, I might waste some time writing something about whatever I wish to write, but I don't think the great members of R Neighborhoods Are 1 would want to waste any of their time reading it.

"XXX" has had his or her fun. He/she wants a big development, but too many of us have spoken out that we don't want even medium density at Ponte Vista.

R Neighborhoods Are 1 is not only strong and growing, it is not one of the first groups to join forces with others in the L.A. area to be the beginning of a true movement calling for reexamining the policies concerning development.

As you should read on our Web site; http://www.rneighborhoodsare1.org/ you now belong to a growing group of residents of the much larger area that are going to take to task folks who govern us and their affiliations with developers of big developments.

When Ponte Vista can't even qualify for Smart Growth because it is not near any mass transit hubs, that really means something to folks who read items in support of Ponte Vista claiming it is part of the Smart Growth policies.

It is becoming more apparent that Mr. Bisno is not only doing a huge disservice to OUR community, he will probably make it harder for other developers in the greater L.A. area.

What do you great members of R Neighborhoods Are 1 think might happen to the next developer who comes to OUR community with plans to build higher density units in the Crescent Street area, which is now zoned for higher density? Don't you think what we have endured with Bob will be passed on towards other developers who may actually have real plans for developments in areas that want more housing and better housing, at that?

It appears that Bob Bisno has soured the kool-aid he is trying to serve to his supporters and others in OUR community so that, no other developer might wish to build senior housing of any kind in another part of OUR community.

If you wish to read "XXX" go right ahead. He doesn't care about anyone else and he wrote that in his post. Why should we care about what an anonymous individual who purports to have a "friend" do the fake R1 blog, but doesn't have the courage to name himself of the fake R1 blogger.

Talk about who's 15 minutes are up? I'm not going anywhere and I support R1 NO COMPROMISE, right now and most probably for a long time to come!

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

R Neighborhoods Are 1 Has Been Heard!

I can't thank you all enough for your support and the support you all have given to R Neighborhoods Are 1 and the great members of Janice Hahn's Community Advisory Committee.

Your voices were heard loud and clear by some great folks like Jerry Gaines, John Greenwood, Dan Dixon, and Richard Schuyler. Your voices have been heard for a long time by Leah Marincovich, Lucie Thorsen, Chuck Hart, and Richard Brunner.

We also should acknowledge the great efforts of Sal and Al who voted to reject Bob's plans outright.

Eight members of Janice Hahn's Community Advisory Committee for the Ponte Vista project voted in here presence to reject Bob's plans and call for a density at Ponte Vista not greater than R1 density or up to 9.0 units per acre.

We shouted, we signed, we protested, we explained nicely, and folks listened, learned and quite frankly, shocked the living daylights out of me.

I want you to know that R Neighborhoods Are one is part of a growing movement. Our group, along with folks on the west side, and two neighborhood councils in San Pedro are the genesis of a new movement to slow over development in all of L.A., for at least the time being.

With the help of all of you representing a growing group of citizens, members of two or our neighborhood councils have the backing of many thousands of concerned folks and that give them the power to have real influence with other neighborhood councils and elected officials.

United, we are the beginning of a movement that will move forward to slow down developers who are trying to lower the quality of our lives. together we will demonstrate to those who normally will not listen, that we do know what is best for OUR community, no matter what anyone else thinks.

"Smart Growth" can't qualify at Ponte Vista. There is no real transportation mitigation near enough to the area to really be considered. When we show the rest of the area that "Smart Growth" isn't really smart and should be reconsidered, I feel we can put on hold many greedy developers.

The fight continues. Yes we have won a couple of rounds, but this is just getting started. I think now you will begin to see what attitude Mr. Bisno takes and what he really thinks of us. I have heard he can be very difficult when he wants to be and we need to stay focused on the battles ahead.

Collecting more signatures on R1 petitions is still step one. 10,000+ signatures introduced us into the fray and the more signatures we collect, the stronger our voice will be with the L.A. City Council.

Showing up for planned demonstrations can be fun and informative to those who think we are just going to rest with the few rounds we have won. Showing up to let our voices continue to be heard is more important now that it appears the CAC may be meeting for one last time.

Let's grow our army of concerned citizens. We must not get lazy or silent or allow others to fight our battles.

Perhaps this is now the middle of the beginning. Perhaps when the Planning Department give us their opinion and we deal with that will be the real beginning of the middle of the beginning.

The end will be when 429 beautiful single-family, detached homes are built on Ponte Vista.

Until then, we need to stay strong, positive, and caring about OUR community.

Again, thank you to all the over 10,000 members of R Neighborhoods Are 1!

Sunday, July 22, 2007

CAC Meeting, July 24!

The next meeting of Janice Hahn's Community Advisory Committee for the Ponte Vista project is TUESDAY July 24, 2007, beginning at 6:00 PM at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, in San Pedro.

We NEED every person supporting R1, or keeping the zoning as it currently is on the site, at this meeting. Call your friends and neighbors, bring in busloads of folks, this is a very important meeting and one that should not be missed.

It is expected that the members will discuss and make recommendations for the density and/or number of units they would like to pass along to Councilwoman Hahn.

There could be two recommendations. One recommendation by a majority of members calling for a range of numbers for units and/or density. The other recommendation, unfortunately probably in the minority opinion, is for R1 and keeping the current zoning as it is, at the site, and not approving any ordinances that would change the current zoning.

It would be good if the Planning Department representative weighed in with an opinion about what that department might allow in their report about the site, but I can't say that will happen.

I hope that there are chocolate chip cookies there, along with all the other goodies provided. We need to thank Bob for paying for them so all of us could be treated, but that doesn't mean we need to agree with him on anything.

I also wish we are all civil. I apologize beforehand if any of my laughter is offensive to any of you, but sometimes statements are so ridiculous that I just can't help myself. I don't usually make any other comments from my seat other than laughter. I also need to warn folks that some folks use their first amendment right of free speech inappropriately sometimes, but I can't help that, either.

But let's have the best time possible. Let's listen to the committee members, Bob, Betsy, Ms. Hahn if she attends, and all the comments from the floor.

More Deceit From a BDC Contracted Employee.

Dateline: Sunday July 22, 2007.

Place: Point Fermin Park in San Pedro.

Event: Music by the Sea

"BDC" stands for Bisno Development Co. They have contracted with a company that gathers signatures on petitions favoring Ponte Vista at San Pedro. I will call the paid petition gatherers who attempt to gather signatures, "PPG".

There is one particular PPG who is known around town by a number of individuals as being paid to gather petitions. This individual has a job that pays her to gather petition signatures. It is her job and that I do not call into question, at all.

There have been statements made by PPG personnel which are false and not only does Bob know this, there have been claims from representatives of BDC that they have made specific instructions in not stating certain false claims when gathering petitions.

On Sunday I approached the specific PPG because I wanted to listen to what she said to a prospective petition signer. She approached a person listening to music and asked; "Would you sign a petition for affordable senior housing in San Pedro?" She handed the petition to the person who began to fill it out. When the petition was being signed I asked the PPG to see the petition she was trying to get signatures for. She handed it to me and I did read that the first sentence of the petition form stated "We support Ponte Vista at San Pedro." That too, is something I don't need to question. I am glad that it comprised the first real wording on the petition.

I then stated to the PPG that her statement was a falsehood and she replied, "I am just helping a friend out." I asked her if she was getting paid to collect signatures and she again stated, "I am just helping a friend out." She asked me to find the other person in the park gathering Ponte Vista petition signatures, but I wanted to see if this particular PPG would make the same false statement to another person she tried to get to sign the petition.

We had a back and forth discussion where she continue to claim she was not getting paid, she was just helping a friend out, and didn't know that her statement was false. I continued to let her know that I knew she was being paid to gather signatures and she should at least admit that fact. I did state that if she wasn't getting paid that it would be wrong for her not to be getting paid when the other PPGs were receiving pay for the work they do.

Finally she asked me to stop "harassing" her because she had to get back to her "job." I stated that most people with jobs get paid for doing them and if she wasn't getting paid to do the "job" she was doing, then I thought she was being cheated.

She went up to a group of folks who I think she knew and stated to me that if I didn't stop asking her questions she would "call my husband to come down here." I also saw a fellow staring me down in a posture and demeanor that suggested he thought he was a tough guy.

I determined that her comment about calling her husband down to deal with me was enough of a threat that I asked a witness to come over, state that I had received a threat, and it was time to call the L.A.P.D.

Actually, I know that there is a presence of L.A.P.D. members in the park and I really didn't need to call the L.A.P.D., which I never did.

When I talked to the person who holds the permit for the park, he told me that there should never have been any PPG persons in the park during the events he holds the permits for. I pointed out the PPG to the permit holder who instructed the PPG to stop collecting signatures on the grass area of the park and that she had every right to attempt to collect signatures if she stood on the concrete sidewalk on the border of the park. She complied with that demand. I do not know whether the other PPG in the park complied.

So what we had here was a veteran PPG continue to spew language that representatives of Bob Bisno have said should not be used. We have a veteran PPG continue to lie about getting paid, (of course she did finally admit that she was being paid) and she had to threaten me.

There was a period of time she stood nearby where I was sitting and was on her cell phone, but I was not bothered at all by that. It made me and some other folks laugh because I am back to using my crutches. I did get in trouble with a good friend because she told me I should have been sitting down the whole time and not visiting the PPG.

What have we learned. The deceit continues. A veteran PPG still is willing to go against the demands of the contractor and use falsehoods. I can't blame Bob or Elise for this one because I do know that told us they did talk to the contractor.

We also learn that you should be very wary of everyone who approaches you seeking your signature on any petition. We should always read what the petition states and make sure we are not being fed falsehoods. If anyone questions us about the R1 petition, we all have the responsibility to be truthful and have as much correct information as possible. If R1 petition gatherers don't feel they have enough accurate information, they can always contact me or John or Gabriel or Winnie or Nancy or Barbara or Bruce or a host of others in OUR community that can clear up any misinformation they may have.

The R1 petition is simple. It states that the zoning currently at the Ponte Vista should remain and that no zoning change be approved.

We also learned that we must continue to monitor representatives of BDC and their contractors. We can't seem to count on BDC to do anything about their contractors even though they are not working truthfully.

If the representatives of the company hired to collect petitions for Ponte Vista wish to contact me and discuss these issues, folks already know where to write.

We also have learned since last Monday that Bob hasn't amended his application to reflect his new total-unit application, there continues to be an allowance for falsehoods on the part of paid employees representing Ponte Vista, there was a fake R1 blog created to further confuse real issues that it appears BDC wishes to avoid addressing, and that there have been over 10,000 signatures on petitions that are simple to read, understand, and support.

When Bob and BDC do things correctly like oppose any new high school on the Ponte Vista site, I have stated that and praised Bob and offered my support. When Bob and I both agree that a road from Western to Gaffey and continuing on to new ramps for the 110 Freeway be built, I also thank him for that support and I believe we should all support both the opposition to any new high school and the support for the new road.

I do "attack" Bob's position and the positions of supporters and others who want to place such an overly large housing project at the Ponte Vista site. I do criticize folks who I know wish to achieve their own gain at the expense of the rest of OUR community.

I do condemn folks who claim a "need" when they are actually trying to get what they "want" passed.

But I still believe I am reasonable, responsible, realistic, and respectful, even though I have been subjected to some of the worst personal attacks I and many others have ever seen.

I will try to continue to be nice, but I reserve the right and the obligation to get mean if I think it is necessary. With the vast majority of these posts I have been civil. There is no law that states I must always be civil or fair, but I try as well as I can, anyway.

It's Our Turn to Play

Since the other R1 blog is using shameful, thoughtless, deceitful, pathetic, and disgusting word usage to characterize folks truly supporting R1 at Ponte Vista, don't you think it is about time we respond in kind? NO, WE ARE SO MUCH BETTER THAN THAT!

We can and should imagine them without using the word usage they use on us. Let's see if we can't paint a better picture of them without indulging in the sewage they spew.

I think we should use imagination to create a picture of the folks who write and support the false R1 blog. It would be fun for each of us to view them in our minds, using our own pictures.

First, these folks are so sick in their own minds that we might picture them in a padded room. They have access to a keyboard and a mouse with no sharp corners and only soft keys so they can use their nose to create their words and move their mouse because of the straight jacket that they have to wear so they won't keep putting their fingers up their nose just to see if cheese will come out.

Next we can probably imagine them talking to themselves or the objects they believe are persons. It is possible to think they have a multiple personality disorder, but they don't know who they really are so they are not able to tell us their true identity.

Could it be that we might be able to "see" someone holding up a favorite book, "Mein Kampf" that they enjoy reading or having read to them through the glass?

I think we could also imagine them in their youth. We can see that they had overpowering parents who attempted to drive their spirits down using ridicule. It is sad to imagine them in sitting where they were forced to sit most of the time, they were growing up: in the corner with their faces looking into the corner.

If you can imagine these folks laughing in honest joy, then I think you are imagining something that was extremely rare in their lives. Perhaps the only time they were truly happy was when their fathers took them to the circus and to allow them to be close enough to the elephants, they were allowed only to scoop up the elephant droppings as souvenirs of their visit to the circus. Even today we can imagine that they have saved that poop as representing the happiest time they ever experienced when they were young.

If you can think that they work, perhaps you can see them photographing others having a wonderful time. This too, is probably the closest they can be to having good times in their adult life. I can't imagine any other human willing to live with them, but I see how they can live some happiness through photographing others. Isn't is to sad that they probably only find joy witnessing it in others?

I don't think we should lower ourselves to anywhere near how high these folks wish they could be. We should not do as they did and actually state as fact, things we know are not true. But we can imagine and look upon these poor, unfortunate, desperate individuals to being the scapegoats Bob has forced them to become. It appears they have fallen under the spell of a master marketer who is able to force onto more simple individuals, his vision.

Bob has power over them and all of you do, too. That is a shame that they are so fearful. Their frustration and lies may also be representative of Bob's thoughts, too. Perhaps they are just mouthpieces for Bob.

Some facts we do know about them and it may be that Bob also shares some of these feelings as well, but I do not know that.

The folks creating the false R1 blog either hate their own race or are ashamed of themselves for being in that race. When one attacks, based on race, that indicates they have a problem with their own race. Even to write false things about any race is a very strong indication that they have a problem with who they are. That is truly sad. These folks have injected race where it doesn't belong because it should never belong anywhere.

These pathetic individuals have lowered themselves to fight for something we know is wrong and if we find that the authors of the lies are or were individuals who wanted respect in OUR community, it will be a very sad day for them. I feel several of the folks who write or know who writes the false blog will be looked on as traitors in OUR community. They will need to struggle to keep their identities secret, even though they were willing to break the law and create the situation where the LAPD is now involved.

Lies, identity theft, character assassination, rudeness, racism, and many other negative qualities infect the false blog and perhaps the minds of the individuals supporting that blog.

If you visit it, please don't leave comments. It would be better to make your comments about that blog on this blog. That way you stand a much, much, much better chance of having your comments posted on a blog.

Bisno Supporters or Sympathisers, Their Desperation Grows Each Day

I have decided, in the interest of letting decent folks like you continue to learn about what some supporters and sympathisers of Bob's are willing to stoop to in order to use their own deceit to attempt to cloud the issues with their fake R1 blog.

The posts I have copied are from their site. They are FALSE, filled with LIES, and give us all the opportunity to look at their sick minds.

They attribute reasonable, realistic, responsible, and respectful individuals like so many of you are to actually being vile racists and have the poor characters the creators of the FAKE probably use in their daily lives.

If you can imagine a cheating business person, then you can imagine someone who would create that other blog. If you can imagine a cowardly, fearful, desperate, probably very lonely group of individuals, then you can imagine these pathetic souls, possibly with the backing of Bob's organization, creating such a blog.

I think, before you get angry at these clueless individuals, you should be very pleased that you are do not have to be them or live with them. I think only kitty cats or snakes would tolerate living with the creators and supporters of the FAKE R1 blog, but who knows, even rats might be willing to slum with these folks.

It is most appropriate to have fun with these XXXXXXXXXX's. I know many of you may get angry thinking that their blog is being read by as many people that read my primary Ponte Vista blog, but fear not, it certainly doesn't look like their blog will ever approach the readership of my two decent Ponte Vista blogs, unless of course, and probably, they continue to be the cowardly, lie-filled, deceitful, shameful, thoughtless people their parents raised.

Now you also need to know that "Tom Field" claims to know who created the FAKE R1 blog, but he contends he is not the creator. In fact, with the assistance by "Tom" the creator removed the illegal comments that were on that blog.

Warning: if a name appears with comments attributed to it, of a real person you know, please contact that person and inquire whether those comments actually came from them. If they didn't then another case of identity theft has occurred and it would be very correct to contact me and give me the particulars. An LAPD detective has been involved with the issue of the identity theft that occurred with myself and Doug Epperhart and the more evidence we collect, the better the chance that we can close that FALSE, FAKE, and LIE FILLED R1 blog down for good.

So are the 2 posts, attributed to every member of R Neighborhoods Are 1. If you choose to get angry, that is your right. I still think they are using our power over their pathetic lives to continue to push through their demand to lower the quality of your lives to theirs:

Well, the folks at the Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council are demonstrating they are serious about enforcing their Resolution and preserving their white, middle-class, European-descent enclave. They have announced the formation of a new elite fighting group called the Northwest San Pedro Special Forces (NWSPSP). We at RNeighborhoodsAre1.org support and applaud their dedication and resolve.

( I have omitted a photo of folks you may imagine to be Bob, some members of his Advisory Boards, and "Tom Field" or a child of his.)

Here are the details:

Bubba, Hoss, Cooter, and Boo will be responsible for keeping out all people-of-color. They have been given instructions to pay special attention to people from Scottsdale Estates in Carson, since that area was specifically and frequently used as an example as the type of ghetto the Northwest district would become if Ponte Vista was zoned anything other than R-1. Here are their instructions:1. The season opened last weekend.2. There is no limit.3. They taste just like chicken.4. They don't like beer, pickups, country music, or Jesus.5. Some is queer.6. They are directly responsible for the death of Dale Earnhart.The NWSPNC anticipates they will be extremely effective at enforcing the Resolution. Considering the other "experts" and "consutltants" Northwest has hired, we agree this is a very cost-efficient way to keep all the mud-people out.We at RNeighborhoodsAre1.org are extremely happy to see NWSPNC taking active measures to protect the "whiteness" of their district. We recommend other neighborhood councils to consider the same type of actions. Let's show Bisno who really runs this town!
Posted by RNeighborhoodsAre1.org at 5:05 AM 0 comments
Wednesday, July 18, 2007

This is the first post.
Latest Breaking News Your RNeighborhoodsAre1.org Rudderless Steering Committee is committed to bringing you all the latest and greatest news. This is about as good as it gets.Tonight at a Special Meeting of the Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council they passed a Resolution regarding the position of their Neighborhood Council and the constituents they claim to represent.The Resolution was very, very long with many twists and turns and rationalizations. Much too long to waste any time on. Instead we will just summarize. Basically they said:1. We want only single-family homes.2. We do not want work-force housing, or any type of affordable housing.3. This would mean purchase prices for homes would be around $2 million.4. If you cannot afford this, too bad. We do not want you trying to move to our neighborhood anyway.5. So this means poor white-trash are not welcomed. Find a trailer park somewhere else.6. This also means Hispanics are not welcomed. We already have too many of you living mainly east of Gaffey who are responsible for all our gang, graffiti, and taco-truck problems.7. Given the above, of course African-Americans are not welcomed. You would just be brawling with the Hispanics anyway. So just stay where you are and don't come here.8. Unfortunately we cannot keep out the Chinese, Japanese, or Indians with these exorbitant prices. They have economies which allow them to earn enough money to come here. We can, however, keep out most other Asians. Koreans, Cambodians, Vietnamese, Thai, etc. need not bother to try to move here. We do not want you.9. We are a white community of European background, and we will do everything we can to keep it that way.

Saturday, July 21, 2007

The False Comments Have Been Removed

The creator of the fake R1 blog has removed comments purported to have come from myself and another person, but were actually written by the blogger.

The LAPD had been notified about the identity theft, but I haven't received a final report on what might happen. Their actions may end because the comments were removed, but I documented and saved the misinformation and false comments.

The post on that blog, which is an entire fabrication and a lie is disgusting in its own right. Perhaps that author is also so enraged about the desperation Bisno supporters now MAY be feeling, that they have to attempt whatever deceit they want to, to try and stop a movement that grows stronger every day, it seems.

The person who writes another blog about Ponte Vista claims they did not create the fake R1 blog, but they admitted they know who that person is. Could these two individuals be related to each other, or just good friends? Who really knows or cares? We now know that there are double the number of Bisno-supporting bloggers out there who will seemingly do just about anything to pressure their points on the rest of us. I guess it is now double the shame.

Thursday, July 19, 2007

We've Gone OVER 10,000!

Howdy folks,

If you visit www.rneighborhoodsare1.org you will see some great news posted on the front page.

Our R1 petition signature tabulator, the wonderful Mr. Bruce Horton has tabulated 10,236 signatures on R1 petitions as of Wednesday July 18, 2007!!!

Not all of the petitions have been given to Ms. Hahn's office. Only 8,423 signatures have been fully processed to date. But we are now over the 10,000 mark and that is amazing!

I would first like to thank about 10,100 of you great individuals. You are the folks who believe what others believe that the current zoning at Ponte Vista must be maintained in the face of what Bob is trying to do to OUR community. Organizers and petition signature gathers came to you with honest concerns and you listened, learned, and showed your support for this grass-roots efforts at protecting OUR community from over development. Without you, we would have stay a tiny group of people trying to fight, almost alone, against a giant developer.

Next, I must thank and congratulate the many petition gatherers who began their quest long ago in the Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council area, where the petition came from. I also must thank many individuals who walked their own neighborhoods and other neighborhoods and gathered signatures.

What can I write about folks like who came on weekends to markets in the area and told the story that needed telling and gathering so many signatures? Giving up hours on weekends, leaving family members to help gather signatures, working their regular jobs and working weekends for OUR community, these individuals provided me with strength, positive feelings, and I learned that sometimes what is thought to be impossible, may only be really tough to acquire.

Thank you all, for this great beginning.

Yes, it has been a great beginning, but it is only the beginning. Now that we have seen number 10,000 be achieved, let's continue to gather many, many more signatures on R1 petitions. As long as Bob seems to not be willing to listen, learn, and consider that his plans are too large for OUR community, we need to continue our efforts to help OUR community instruct him in what is best for OUR community.

If Bob still doesn't get it, then let's give it to him in the form of many more thousands of signatures on R1 petitions. Not only will we continue to be seen in OUR community, we will be even more influential towards our leaders, persons in government positions, and more interested people in the greater Los Angeles area.

Having 10,000 folks united and the possibility of creating a real movement towards challenging over development within the entire L.A. area, is something I believe we can do. With more signatures gathered, we can help show the other areas, especially on the west side of Los Angeles that regular individuals can band together and do their best to slow the schemes of developers and members of governments who are not willing to listen to us. 10,000 is just the beginning of the start of making a difference for all of us, I feel.

The machine is now in motion and has been fueled by reasonable, realistic, responsible, and respectful citizens who are willing to stand up against over development and state; Enough is enough.

Let us try to all work together for a Ponte Vista that we can all be proud of.

An Email Sent Out Today

Earlier today, a number of R1 supporters received an Email from "Tom Field" announcing a new site, supposedly created by R Neighborhoods Are 1. this site is the one I found and decided to create this blog to counter. The fact that "Tom Field" Emailed individuals we know he has the addresses of, it seems logical to believe that "Tom Field" either is the creator of the other "R1" blog, or certainly knows who is.

This now seems to be another shameful act by a supporter of a large development in Northwest San Pedro. "Tom Field" claims that he is not a "Bisno supporter" and has written negatively about Bob's 1,950-unit plan. "Tom's" plan, the one he has had since last March, is for 1,700-units, still way, way to many units for most thoughtful folks.

"Tom Field" has also used name calling as a tactic. When he wonders why he seems to always be attacked on my blogs, don't you think that name calling is just one of the reasons he continues to receive the attacks from folks other than me? Of course I do not feel that I need to call Mr. "Field" any derogatory names. He has set himself up for attack by his own word usage and submissions on his own blog, it seems to me.

I have to again question Mr. "Field", why such rage? When more than 10,000 people are willing to call for no change in the current zoning at Ponte Vista, shouldn't there be some type of reasoned discussion of why that number has gone from 3,096 to where it is now in less than four months?

If "Tom Field" is the private citizen he claims he is and is not affiliated in any way with Bob Bisno, any advisory board, any paid lobbying individual or group, why so much rage when he claims to be so disconnected from the Bisno organization?

Might we be able to imagine that a person who's sole issue is getting 1,700 units built at Ponte Vista, without any support or guidance from Bob and his staff, is not to be believed?

Why would one "unattached" individual to the folks supporting Bob's plans, feel the need to inject himself so far into an issue that he claims he will not personally benefit from?

To create two blogs in opposition to keeping the current zoning at Ponte Vista, and attacking folks personally and in groups, on his very own, seems to be disturbing to a lot of people, don't you feel?

Thanks to all the readers of this new blog. I have to concede though that the other blog got at least 65 views on its first day. These were based, I believe on the Emails sent out by "Tom Field" to folks who support R1. I hope everyone realizes which blog is the true R Neighborhoods Are 1 blog and returns to view this blog from time to time.

Oops, He Did a No-No

When the other fellow created comments and used my name and Doug Epperhart's name and attributed those comments to living persons, that is considered identity theft as far as the Los Angeles Police Department is concerned, if the creator of those comments lives within the city limits of Los Angeles.

The rules governing the standards expected of bloggers also considers the use of real persons and attributing comments to them by other persons, is also counter to the standards set forth.

I cannot determine at this time, if the creator of the other "R1" blog is "Tom Field." I think it is reasonable to believe that if I don't hear from "Tom" in a short to moderate spell of time by his usual methods of contacting me, folks may start feeling that the creator of the new blog is "Tom Field".

Still not knowing the true identity of "Tom Field" it seems that we should not post comments we create and attribute to him by his name. If there truly is a real Tom Field, then we should be considerate of this.

However, there are names on blogs of fantasy persons. "Tom Field" may not be the true name of the individual, just as "Gus" is not my true identity.

Whoever has created the other "R1" blog and has attributed comments to Doug and I, should delete those comments. Fortunately for me, I have saved both the first post of that blog and the comments attributed to Doug and I, if someone needs to read them at a later date.

My blogs have not dealt very much with my suspicions about the identities of "Tom Field", the foul-mouth fellow, and some others I believe know "Tom" and are either working with him or have worked with him to create the other "R1" blog. It is also very true that there are a few individuals who I completely omit from my blogs for my own reasons. There are a few folks who I want to keep off the posts of these blogs, and I do not believe writing about them is important or justified, at this time.

There are some really decent and good folks who support a larger development at Ponte Vista and they do not need to be put into this fray, even though I disagree with their opinion about Ponte Vista.

It seems my battles continue with this new "R1" blog, but I am not deterred because it now appears that I have information that aids me and all of us who support keeping the current zoning at Ponte Vista while under the existing plans by Bob.

The First Post on This Blog

Unfortunately I have had to create yet another blog dealing with Ponte Vista.

Another individual has created a fictional blog, complete with fictional comments from me and Doug Epperhart, and had continued to live in a fantasy world.

I believe this individual is either "Tom Field" or a conspirator of "Tom's". Also in a comment from a foul-mouthed, very insulting individual, where he alluded to what he was going to do next, If his new blog is what he intended to do next and is either "Tom" or an associate of "Tom", Shame, shame, shame.

I will also have to moderate this blog as well as my primary blog, www.pontevista.blogspot.com.
I do have another blog concerning Ponte Vista and comments, but I don't want reasonable, respectful, realistic, and responsible folks like you to read it. It contains bad words, personal attacks on my and my wife and is something created for folks to have their weaknesses illustrated.

As you can see by the Email address at the top of the page, this is a genuine blog and I will now put more emphasis from R Neighborhoods Are 1 on this blog and may lower the number of posts concerning the group on by primary blog.

Thank you for visiting this blog. It has had to have a rocky start and I hope we can all look on this blog in a positive manner.

Mark Wells
aka M Richards.