Inside Victorville

Ads have been a popular topic in Victorville as of late. What ad was sent by whom… Who paid for said ad… The true intent of those glossy mailers…

The back and forth jabs continue today, with Victorville’s attorney sending a letter to Frontier and Frontier’s attorney jotting off a response back, cc’ed to some local heavyweights including District Attorney Michael Ramos and Congressman Jerry Lewis. The city is demanding Frontier’s Jimmy Previti take credit for smear campaigns against Councilman Bob Hunter, while Frontier is demanding the city issue a retraction of their claims connecting the two in the Daily Press.

Before my story on this topic ran Sunday, I received “encouragement” from Frontier’s Shane Bouchard that it would be in both his and my “best interest” if it didn’t run, since his company spends $9,000 per month on advertising. Luckily for readers (though perhaps not for the Christmas bonuses of DP staff), I can honestly say that our newsroom doesn’t concern itself with what happens in our advertising department.

Meanwhile, another FPPC claim has been filed against the city for the mailers sent to registered voters over the last week or so touting the city’s crime programs. This time challenging candidate Gary Douglas has submitted a paid advertisement from Political Action Committee Progress Victorville alongside the city’s fliers with his complaint. The two do have much in common, both focusing on the incumbents’ platform of crime prevention and specifically bragging about the city’s gang injunction, Operation Desert Heat and the number of cops added to city streets. If Douglas and his attorney are successful, the city may be sued for misuse of city funds to campaign for incumbents.

In spite of this flood of “communication,” there’s sadly been a severe lack of a clear exchange of information. Dan Tate, backing the campaigns against Hunter, couldn’t recall the name of his consultant who advised him to target Hunter rather than all incumbents. In spite of a communication gap resulting in an extra $18,000 flier being mailed out (roughly $2,000 over the annual salary of a minimum wage worker, by the way) city spokeswoman Yvonne Hester couldn’t produce an invoice for the fliers.

For advertisements — designed to notice or inform the public, according to Webster — there’s a lot of nonpublic dealings and miscommunication going on. And once again the public is the victim, without having a clear picture of who’s endorsing who, where their tax dollars are going and whose head will roll for that $18,000 mistake.

In 2006, the biggest city in the Victor Valley had no election, as Mayor Terry Caldwell and Councilwoman JoAnn Almond ran unopposed for re-election to Victorville’s City Council. Fast forward to 2008, and five candidates (down from an original six) are challenging incumbents Rudy Cabriales, Bob Hunter and Mike Rothschild.

Part of this dramatic shift in competition for council seats may come from a nationwide spike in civic involvement, as the country faces an election that will cap off two years of campaigning and the history-making run of a female and black male for president. Reporter Ryan Orr will be taking an in-depth look at the excitement that’s surrounded the presidential race, and how it’s affected local involvement, in a story included in the Daily Press’ upcoming, special election issue.

Discontent with the current economy is also likely a contributing factor, as people search for ways to help those who are struggling.

Others have suggested to me that the increase in candidates comes from a general discontent with the direction the City of Victorville has taken in recent months, losing sight of what the citizens care about.

Why do you feel the number of challengers went from zero to five in two years flat?

Does the current economy mean it’s time for change, or is it a dangerous time to shift control?

Come June, residents will be asked to vote on whether Victorville should become a charter city. This change in status will give the City more local control, allowing the Council to essentially draft their own constitution.

There are many advantages to this autonomy, particularly in light of the current state budget situation. Mayor Caldwell has said that one of the biggest factors motivating the move to a charter is to protect the city’s budget from Sacramento (see archived story). Sounds noble enough.

Since that time, I’ve gotten numerous phone calls and e-mails suggesting more sinister motivations — some by the conspiracy theorists and some by anonymous insiders. I’ve heard everything from the charter allowing limitless pay raises to allowing the City to restrict access to public documents, such as those used in the recent story I did on the Foxborough plant.

If you haven’t reviewed the proposed charter yet, I encourage you to click here and check it out. The words are weighty, but the document isn’t. Rather than being hundreds of pages, like charters in San Bernardino and other cities, Victorville’s version is a mere 773 words. This allows the council to enact the charter through a vote of the people, but to add specifics through council motions down the road.

Here’s a partial list of areas currently governed by state law, according to the League of California Cities, where Victorville would gain control through a charter: election procedures, councilmember qualifications, campaign financing, council members’ salaries, procedures for enacting local ordinances, quorom and voting requirements, bidding procedures for public projects and zoning ordinances.

Now’s the time to brainstorm: Will Victorville benefit or lose by going charter? What do you think is the true motivation behind the change? What would you like to see included in the city constitution?

As the Victor Valley Animal Protection League prepares to end its long-standing contract with Victorville’s animal control, the city is forced to consider opening a shelter of its own.

Understandably, the city has avoided this and still seems a bit hesitant to do so.

Shelters have been a controversial business lately, with an ongoing investigation into Adelanto’s Animal Control over the alleged drowning of kittens. Animal-loving pet owners are always ready to weigh in, evidenced by the fact that many of the most commented stories on the DP Web site lately have been about animals and shelters.

Some of the weight may be taken off local shoulders, if the city is able to move forward with plans to join a county-wide coalition of animal control agencies that is being formed as I type.

In the meantime, what would you like to see happen with Victorville’s animals? What recommendations do you have for a possible new shelter?

Welcome to my blog, “Inside Victorville.”

My name is Brooke Edwards, and I joined the staff of the Daily Press nearly three months ago. If you’ve been reading the paper regularly, you may have noticed that one of the main beats I cover is the City of Victorville.

Are you thinking what I’m thinking? Yes, it’s a BROAD TOPIC.

That’s where this blog will come in handy. I hope to open up a dialogue with members of the community who take an interest in issues beyond what can make it into the daily paper. I know there are so many of you who know this city far better than I yet do, and I want to hear from you.

Though I have roots locally, I am relatively new to the area. I was born at St. Mary’s in Apple Valley and grew up in Big Bear. I got my bachelor’s degree in English, my teaching credential and a Masters in Education from California Baptist University. After teaching high school for four years at Rubidoux High School, I decided to pursue a career in one of the things I was teaching: journalism. And so I spent the last year and a half living in New York City, completing my masters at NYU.

I have been excited to return and see the growth that has happened in this city. I am even more excited to hear some of the city’s plans for the future, with the redevelopment of Old Town and the potential for an express train to Vegas.

However, it has been in getting to know the people of this community that I have found my inspiration. I look forward to getting to know many of you better, through this blog and through future stories.

If you have a question for me or would like to suggest a future topic for this discussion, please feel free to either post it here as a comment or e-mail me at bedwards@vvdailypress.com with “blog” in the subject line.

In the meantime, check back soon for my first posting and take care.