The $200 Letter from the City of McFarland
Last month I submitted a public records request form to try to obtain financial statements and records listing what the city has spent on the mayor and his wife for travel expenses. Here is a copy of a letter that I received from the city attorney in response to my request. To summarize the letter, the city attorney is simply telling me that I have to obtain all of these documents directly from the city finance officer. Was it really necessary to have an attorney that charges more than $200/hr write a letter to me to tell me this? This is exactly the type of wastefulness that we are trying to end. No wonder our legal costs have increased so much, these people at city hall can't make any decisions that simply require common sense. Couldn't the city administrator have typed up a letter like this or simply call me?
http://home.earthlink.net/~rrodartejr/mcrg/letters/letter.pdf
By the way, last week I was told that my documents would be provided to me on Wednesday, January 18th. Today I was told that the finance officer would be calling me next week. The countdown continues and now about 38 days have passed since I submitted my request.
posted by Rafael Rodarte @ 7:11 PM
12 comments
12 Comments:
MR. RODANT!
I THINK THAT YOU GOT YOUR QUESTION ANSWERED IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY. THOSE 200 DOLLARS THAT YOU ARE CRYING ABOUT WERE YOUR FAULT. A SIMPLE LETTER FROM THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT WAS ALL YOU NEEDED CORRECT? US KNOWING (MEANING THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY) THE TYPE OF PERSON THAT YOU ARE, A SIMPLE LETTER FROM THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT WOULD NOT HAVE SATISFIED YOUR GREED. THAT IS WHY THE CITY SENT YOU A LETTER BY THE ATTORNEY. TO SHUT YOU UP! YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHARGED THE TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR THAT 2 MINUTE LETTER THAT THE ATTORNEY SENT YOU. BE A GOOD CITIZEN AND PAY THE CITY THOSE TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS BACK! AND SAVE THE EVIDENCE FOR THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING BECAUSE YOU ARE GOOD AT COLLECTING FACTUAL EVIDENCE, CORRECT? POST THIS COMMENT! STOP POSTING COMMENTS THAT FAVOR YOU! IF YOU AND YOUR WIFE CAN NOT TAKE CRITICISM, THEN YOU AINT FIT TO LEAD THIS COMMUNITY. LIKE YOU SAID, THIS WEBSITE WAS CREATED FOR THE MCFARLAND COMMUNITY NOT FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY TO ATTACK THE COMMUNITY LEADERS. ALSO, ONE MORE THING WHY DON'T YOU CAMPAIGN AGAINST DON, AND SOCORRO. THEY SEEM TO HAVE MADE FOOL'S OF THEM SELVES AT THE LAST MEETING. LIKE SOCORRO SAID, IT IS THREE AGAINST TWO IN THE CITY COUNCIL. BACK THEN (TWO YEARS AGO) IT WAS 4 AGAINST 1 WHEN YOUR FATHER IN-LAW WAS IN THE CITY COUNCIL. TELL YOUR FATHER IN-LAW TO STOP GETTING INVOLVED HE ALREADY SERVED HIS TIME FOR THE COMMUNITY. HE IS RICH CORRECT? TELL HIM TO TAKE A VACATION. IM SORRY I APOLIGIZE, I KNOW I SAID ONE MORE THING BUT I GOT CARRIED AWAY. HAVE A GREAT DAY AND A HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!
It seems like nobody has posted any more comments. This is what happens when you moderate the website and only allow what you want people to read. It seems like you get more negative comments than positive ones. You should have never said that you were related to garza, then you might of had a chance to collect at least 20 more votes.
Wow, how wonderfully annoying. To the comment below, if you were not aware before, please be advised now that standard computer etiquette suggests that you don't use all caps when writing e-mails or blogs...it gives off a really childish vibe, not to mention it's difficult to read and in all sincerity no one will take you seriously....but overall...your blog doesn't make that much sense anyway...so i guess it doesn't really matter.
Have a great day :)
TO THE PERSON WHO WROTE A COMMENT AT 8:05PM.
IS THAT THE BEST THAT YOU CAN DO? AT LEAST ARGUE ABOUT SOMETHING!!!!
THANKS FOR THE LECTURE PROFESSOR!
BUT I WILL CHOOSE TO STAY WITH THE CAPS EVEN IF MODERN COMPUTER ETIQUETTE SUGGESTS THAT YOU DON'T USE ALL CAPS WHEN WRITING E-MAILS OR BLOGS. BYE THE WAY, WHAT WAS MY FINAL GRADE PROFESSOR????
I HAVE TO ADMIT. MR. RODANT HAS BEEN MAKING SOME GOOD ARGUMENTS ABOUT THAT TRIP TO LAS VEGAS, BUT I STILL BELEIVE HE IS DOING ALL OF THIS FOR HIS DADDY GARZA. YOU AINT GOING TO WIN OVER THE CITY WITH GARZA NEXT TO YOU, OR WITH THE SUPPORT OF SOCORRO AND DON. SOCORRO AND DON ARE NEXT IN LINE TO GET VOTED OUT. IF I WERE YOU I WOULD TRY TO GET THE SUPPORT OF THE MC FARLAND 9TH STREET POLITICAL GROUP (or as you refer to as the 9th street lynch mob) TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU ARE GOING TO WIN. BELEIVE ME!!! THEY HAVE MANAGED OVER THE YEARS TO GAIN THE SUPPORT OF THIS COMMUNITY. ACCORDING TO YOU AND ALL OF YOUR 21 SUPPORTERS, THE 9TH STREE POLITICAL GROUP ARE ALL IDIOTS.
A CONTRACT WITH R&F FOR 20 YEARS SMELLS FISHY! HOW MUCH WAS R&F CHARGING A YEAR. EITHER YOU ARE THE MOST UNDEDUCATED PERSON TO MAKE A BUISNESS CONTRACT FOR 20 YEARS OR YOU ARE GETTING SOMETHING OUT OF IT. WHICH ONE IS IT. WHY WAS YOUR FATHER IN LAW SO HEART BROKEN WHEN THE CITY DECIDED TO END THE R&F CONTRACT. AGAIN I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ THIS AND I HOPE TO HERE FROM YOU SOON!!!!
Public Records:City staff has 10 days to comply.This is the law.No city lawyer needed,but not in our city.Our finance director & city adm. are at fault. I have proof in documentation & verbal.City does not want the public to know the truth about city's finance
problems.What I can not understand how any body can back Melendez.You dumb
ass's its your money also.
Also quit your crying about Mr.Rodant being Mr.Garza's son in law.Like all American citizens he has the rights to request ANY public records.Why does city not confom to the public record law? Any body & I mean any one with a human brain can see why. Real simple > Guilty as hell. Citizens of McFarland
seek the truth & let the law run its course.
Bias website? I have posted all of your stupid comments (we actually find them very entertaining) along with factual evidence supporting our claims against the council.
Why don't you create your own website? Call it "garza-hater.com" and use it to vent all of your anger. I'm sure it will be very therapeutic. I have another suggestion for you. Since you are so familiar with the Public Records Act, why don't you go down to city hall and request the documents that show that Garza took money from the city and has a monopoly.
As far as the recall goes, my wife alone has collected 85 signatures, and there are 16 other people out there collecting signatures. I think it is safe to say that these guys on the council do not have 100% support of the community and luck will not play a role in the success of this recall.
The person above who responded by calling me a dumb ass & after reading your reply,I feel very sorry for you. i am sorry to say,people like your self,are a prime example that do not care whats right,because you all ready
have your mind thought set.
The work of our city officials is wrong & the D.A. will investigate. As for calling me a dumb ass,
I've been that several times sorry to say but hell
all the B.S. & very bad city govt. is just so very bad.
Question: How in the hell can you blame Mr.Rodart for
the lawyer fees? First of all our law (State & Federal),simply states all
"Public Record Laws". City
officials to this day are
not complying & why ?? No need for lawyer just follow
the State & Federal laws & if city officials are
incompetent to do so, then
changes in city govt. is
needed.
Hello,
I beleive there are some facts to consider. These facts are that the new Council members, Cantu and Santillano had not been known to attend any City Council meetings before they were elected. So where did they pick up their insight on the City's leadership views and issues other than hearsay. Maybe they should have attended at least a few City Council meetings and gained more insight on the City's main issues before attempting to throw their hats in the ring to become our City's leaders. Or during the beginning of their duties acting as City Leaders should have at least restrained from any other decision they voted on other than impartial and be silent observers until they have had ample time to learn the process and be able to make more sound and accurate decision for the better of McFarland's citizens when voting on main issues that effect so many. And the decision on the vote to make Santillano Mayor Pro- Tem was an absolute major joke and embarassment to the City when there were two other experienced Council members who were substantially better qualified to act as Mayor Pro-Tem than Santillano new to his post. That's like giving a promotion to a relative with absolutely no experience than to another who has significant experience and who has applied all the hard work towards being better qualified and the best man for the position. Having personally followed the City's governing for the past seven years has not necessarilly been a preferred choice of mine, but a privilage and my own obligation to research and protect my own interest. Throughout my research, I have had the opportunity to share in depth conversations with an expert in the field of the Brown Act and open forum government. This expert is an attorney that worked as General Counsel for an organization based right out of the State Capitol Building in Sacramento. He has had past knowledge of McFarland's City governing and some knowledge in the governing of our present panel of McFarland City Officials.
During the last conversation I had with this gentleman which was maybe a few months after the last election, he expressed his opinion to me regarding McFarland's City governing expressing and I quote is, "Simply messed up". So all those concerned McFarland citizens who share their beliefs that the City is not being governed properly, their happens to be an expert in the field that also shares this same opinion. Now there is something to ponder over, huh!
i have a couple of questions n comments that i wish mr. rodarte and/or his wife can answer for me.....when mcdonalds was built, shouldn't it have had its own sewer line? was it or is it using the sewer line from the community center? how about the property he purchased in the vineyard estates? did he purchase them while on the board? did he purchase them cheaper then anyone else cause he was on the board? isn't that illegal? how about chevron, did he con some lady in signing over her property thinking she was signing some other papers? all in all, i think ben is a crook, if we go down to ask for records about ben you probably won't find any because johnson and garza destroyed the eveidence, or atleast they think they did.....
HI,
Here are the answers to the questions above.
As for the sewer line it is usual and customary for an adjacent building of equal or lesser square footage to tie into an existing building’s sewer line. (Ask any city admin. in any city). The mayor mentioned it should have built its own line to a main sewer line running down Sherwood Ave. Blue prints show there is no main line running down Sherwood…the mayor should do his homework before making false statements.
As for the property in the Vineyard estates…Michael Hair and my father have been friends long before my father was ever in the city council. Ben Garza’s purchase of the lots had nothing to do with being a council member, it has to do with having the ability to pay for all the lots up front and Michael knowing that he can. If he did purchase the lots for a cheaper price, it is only due to the fact that he was buying in bulk…10 lots. The purchase of the lots would have happened regardless of whether he was or wasn’t in the council. Matter of fact, he may do it again and he’s not even a council member.
As for the Chevron, well that’s a new one! I couldn’t help but laugh..I wonder how these rumors even get started?! My mother and father purchased the gas station from my Mom’s Uncle who wanted to sell it. The only papers signed was the contract my Mom’s uncle drew up as to how much my parents have to pay for the station. The only signing being done was by my parents on his contract. What old lady?...now I’m curious???
If you feel anyone tampered with paperwork at City Hall, please file a complaint to the grand jury and have them come down and investigate, if papers are missing, then the holes in the paper work will be obvious. The mayor has been in office three years? You’d think he’d have proof by now?
Sewer Line : First of all,
yes McDonalds tied into line.Sewer line from Resturant leads into grease
traps in back. Line then goes from traps across parking lot & joins other
line on the other side of wall. No problem here but
one very important issue
needs to be adressed. Traps
like in all fast food sites
have to be maintained on a
regular schedule. The problem is grease & winter
months should be pumped out
even more.Also a Roto vacume truck paid for by city on a regular shedule
should start on Sherwood Ave. man hole & clean & vacume sewer lines to &
from McDonalds. City has
had problems just like all
citys but preventative
means of action are not
being taken. This prevent_
ative procedure should also
be practiced in all city
departments like the street
dept , sewer plant , etc.
City will save money &
keep any bad problem that
could lead city into one
major problem that would
take years to recuperate.
Example > City's only sewer
line from east side leading
under 99(Perkins) to plant.
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