What Are We Doing?

Serious omission (August 31, 2016)

Your article about the monies spent by the Town to create its own ballot measure contains a serious omission (Town paid more than $50K for ballot measure, Daily Press, August 31, 2016). You report that the Town’s Measure W and the voter-initiated Measure V would each offer similar oversight. This is what the Town would like everyone to believe, but it is far from accurate.

For years the Town has been trumpeting the benefit of local control that would be afforded by the takeover of our water company. In fact, it has utterly ignored the pleas of vast numbers of Apple Valley residents who oppose this insane jihad. The voter-initiated Measure V would provide at least a chance at local control (by residents), but as might be expected from the history of its actions on this matter, the Town opposes it. Worse, the Town’s Measure W would actually diminish if not eliminate local control.

The Town’s Measure W promises a public hearing before obtaining public financing. The Town is already obligated to do this, so Measure W offers no new protection.

The Town’s Measure W promises an annual independent audit. The Town is already obligated to do this, so Measure W offers no new protection.

The Town’s Measure W is thus just another cynical attempt by the demagogues running the Town to muddy the issues, with the added goal of splitting the vote so voter-initiated Measure V will fail.

Given the Town’s miserable track record in following existing laws, yet more promises to follow the law do not represent protections to the residents of Apple Valley. Passing voter-initiated Measure V is a good start, but really what is needed is new blood on the incestuous Town Council, and a thorough house-cleaning of their financial indiscretions.

— Greg Raven is Co-Chair of Apple Valley Citizens for Government Accountability, and is concerned about quality of life issues.