Prepare to be spun

The Joshua Tree Villas project proposed by Katz Development in Joshua Tree would put 2800 homes as well as retail facilities on a pristine square mile of Joshua tree forest at Section 33, opposite Mentalphysics and bordering Yucca Valley at La Contenta. Not surprisingly, the proposal has been provoking strong community opposition, and we've been informed that now Katz Development has hired professional PR firm GCA Strategies to spin troublesome residents into complaisance.

According to the GCA Strategies Website:

GCA Strategies is America’s top public affairs firm when it comes to overcoming NIMBY opposition to and mobilizing community support for real estate proposals. We’ve written the book on land use public relations – books like “Winning Community Support for Land Use Projects” and “Making Community Meetings Work.” We provide our clients with overall entitlement strategies, community relations plans, agency advocacy plans, public opinion polling, and hostile audience and communication training.

Look out, neighbors: The out-of-state developers are "entitled", and we're "hostile NIMBYs." Feeling dizzy yet?

Star account of Super Wal-Mart approval

Hi-Desert Star reporter Rebecca Unger's account of last Wednesday's Special Town Council Meeting approving the Wal-Mart Supercenter project in Yucca Valley can be viewed on the paper's Website here. With numerous quotes.

Greenpath: LADWP in Yucca Valley July 19!

California Desert Coalition has announced that Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the proponents of the Greenpath North transmission project through our desert, will hold a meeting with the public on July 19 in Yucca Valley. Mark your calendar, and stay tuned for exact time and location.

CDC urges residents to attend: "We believe that 1000 of our voices can make a difference, if we all show up and send a clear message that Green Path North is a major concern of ours. Staying home or going out of town will require a death or dying excuse. Well, maybe that's a bit over the top but you all get the point. This is really really important!!!!"

CDC has also recently added to their Website a photo tour of the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC), with an explanation of how the Greenpath North project would impact the ACEC. Take the tour here.


MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC: At California Desert Coalition and on the Energy page of the MBCA Website. Previous posts on this blog: Energy, Green Path North.

Drought in Yucca Valley

In last Saturday's Guest Soapbox in the Hi-Desert Star, Bill Souder has provided a sober and clear-eyed perspective on the Yucca Valley water situation in the wake of Gov. Schwarzenegger's proclamation of a statewide drought:

I also attended Tuesday’s meeting and as Director Stadum said, the immediate impact of the drought is not critical due to our reserves. However, I am concerned that a worsening or continuation of the drought could mean no new water supplies or even more reductions on water supplies to Yucca Valley. As Councilwoman Herbel and Director White pointed out, we should take immediate action to minimize water consumption in the HDWD area. Council member Luckino said that “this isn’t a Yucca Valley issue but rather a state issue.” I don’t expect the state to solve our local problem when it is dealing with a statewide problem.

I am disappointed that Stadum’s and Luckino’s responses indicated that they don’t have a sense of urgency on this issue. My experience is that the conservative approach to potential problems is to plan and begin to address them immediately, then adjust the degree of response frequently as the situation changes or doesn’t change. Our federal government has let down our country’s citizens recently by not planning for likely disasters.

Souder further suggests some constructive steps:

Some simple things that can be done to prepare for a possible worsening of the water availability include an emphasis on water conservation by inserting flyers in water bills, restrictions on landscaping to encourage retaining native vegetation and use of xeriscape vegetation, review of water availability assessment for larger housing projects and, potentially, restrictions on water meters/connections.

Souder also recommends residents "contact their Town Council members and directors of the HDWD and let them know that we would like them to implement pre-emptive measures to protect our valuable water supply."

Read the full text of the Soapbox here.


MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC: On the Water pages of the MBCA Website. Related blog posts: Water, Yucca Valley, YV water/waste/sewage.

Wildlife in the desert's beds and backyards

A black bear has wandered its way through Yucca Valley and Joshua Tree and into Twentynine Palms, the first one spotted so far east in the Basin in years. It's believed to be a 2-year old from the Big Bear area, according to this account in the Desert Trail. State Fish and Game and the National Park are taking an observational stance for now, unless the bear starts to make a nuisance of itself.

And in other summer wildlife news, the Hi-Desert Star gives the low-down on how to handle the not-so-welcome visitor, the kissing bug.

UPDATE: The bear has been hanging out at the Twentynine Palms Inn and shows no signs of leaving the area. People have unfortunately started to feed it, pretty well guaranteeing its doom. According to Saturday's Star, "Morongo Basin sheriff’s Capt. Donnie Miller said Friday afternoon he was waiting for a game warden from Fish and Game to arrive Twentynine Palms to assess the situation." (06/28/2008)

UPDATE #2: The bear was "tranquilized, tagged and crated at 7:42 p.m. Wednesday by Jeff Villapique, a Fish and Game wildlife biologist based in Big Bear", and later released into the San Gorgonio Mountains. Read the story in The Desert Trail. (07/03/2008)


MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC: On the Wildlife page of the MBCA Website, including referrals for issues with both wild and domestic animals.

Wal-Mart Supercenter approved, Stadum project postponed

If you're one of the few people in the Basin who did NOT attend last night's final hearing on the Wal-Mart Supercenter, you may want to know that the Yucca Valley Town Council approved the project 4-1, with Councilwoman Lori Herbel dissenting.

The eyewitness report is that attendance was out the door, with maybe 65% opposed to the project and 35% in favor. The Council was not swayed by the dispute over retail figures, choosing to rely upon the controversial analysis provided in the Environmental Impact Report.

When the marathon reached 11:30 (after starting at 6 p.m.) the Council decided to postpone the planned second focus of the Special Meeting, which was the hearing on Yucca Valley Homes (Stadum) project.


MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC: On the Land Use/Development page on the MBCA Website. Previous blog posts: WalMart, Yucca Valley.

Wal-Mart Spin is Thick with Lies

The following Reader’s Letter by MBCA President David Fick was published in the June 25, 2008 Hi-Desert Star. You are urged to read for yourself the documents in question, now posted on the MBCA Website.

Wal-Mart Spin is Thick with Lies

“Wal-Mart benefits people, environment” was the title of Mr. John Mendez’s Guest Soapbox Saturday.

Mr. Mendez, a senior manager of public affairs for Wal-Mart, starts his spin early with a fantasy engagement with me. I’ve heard enough “that’s a good question” to know what follows is usually not a good answer.

“As Mr. Fick stated,” he begins, and then proceeds to say things I never stated, showing his well-worn craft that makes him the big bucks.

Mr. Mendez states a new store is needed “because Yucca Valley’s population has increased almost two-thirds since the early 1990s.” Yet Wal-Mart’s own environmental impact report analysis says the 1990 YV population was 16,403 and 2005 YV population 19,726. That’s a 19 percent increase, hardly two-thirds!

Don’t people ever read these EIRs?

Also from the Wal-Mart EIR: “Utilizing employment factors … the proposed project is anticipated to generate approximately 589 jobs.” But Mr. Mendez in his Soapbox is, once again, saying something different, that Wal-Mart Supercenter plans to employ about 410 people (260 current, 150 new). That’s 410, not 589, underpaid, off-the-clock and videotaped people working for that big global company in Arkansas. What’s the truth here?

There’s a lot of tall-talking about Wal-Mart Supercenter and that’s all it is. Some dismiss it as spin, exaggerations or even falsehoods, but they do their job. Wal-Mart spends millions per day on public relations to impress people and send the profits along to Arkansas.

MBCA benefits people and the environment of the Morongo Basin without the lies and money. Instead, we fight with heart and truthful information.

Hope to see you tonight at Yucca Valley Community Center, before 6 pm.

David Fick

Morongo Basin Conservation Association

FOR MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC: On the Land Use/Development page on the MBCA Website. Previous blog posts: WalMart, Yucca Valley.

Screening of Wal-Mart film tonight!

MBCA will host a special screening of "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price" on Tuesday, June 24, in Yucca Valley. The film is a "feature length documentary that uncovers a retail giant's assault on families and American values" and will be followed by an open community discussion. Tuesday, 6 p.m. at the Joshua Tree Room of the Yucca Valley Community Center. Free.

And don't forget the big event: Wednesday night the Town Council will hold a special meeting to consider approval of the Wal-Mart Supercenter EIR. Your voice is needed! Wednesday, June 25, 6 p.m., at the Community Center. Read more about the Wal-Mart proposal and the special meeting on the MBCA blog.


MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC: On the WalMart page on the MBCA Website. Previous blog posts: WalMart, Yucca Valley.

"Planned Development Districts" in 29 on agenda

At the regular Twentynine Palms City Council meeting on Tuesday the agenda includes a:

"Discussion on Amending the Twentynine Palms Municipal Code to establish Chapter 19.25 of the Development Code, Planned Development Districts. RECOMMENDATION: Discuss the Planned Development District concept, take public comment and provide direction to staff.

Also on the agenda is a presentation by the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians on their Gaming Project.

Tuesday, June 24, 6 p.m., at 6136 Adobe Road in Twentynine Palms.

Alert! Wal-Mart Special Meeting Wednesday, not Thursday!

Dear neighbors,

Next Wednesday's special Town Council meeting may be your last chance to be heard on two controversial proposals in Yucca Valley: the new Wal-Mart Supercenter and the Yucca Valley Homes (Stadum) project.

IMPORTANT: The special meeting on both these projects is WEDNESDAY, June 25 - NOT THURSDAY, as noted incorrectly in the Saturday Hi-Desert Star. The Council may vote on these projects at that meeting and will be hearing the public. Please plan to attend, and make sure your friends and neighbors know the CORRECT DAY!

MBCA is working on arranging a screening of "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price" before Wednesday's meeting. Look for an announcement soon.

To learn more about the Wal-Mart Supercenter proposal, we send you to the following resources on the MBCA Website and blog:

• President David Fick's Guest Soapbox from the Hi-Desert Star, June 14.
• The documents that stopped the Council from voting on the Wal-Mart proposal last month, including reports and analyses of the project in terms of crime, urban decay, traffic, etc., are linked from the MBCA Website here. Of particular importance is Dr. Philip King's report on the impacts SWM could have on other retail outlets in Yucca Valley.
• Follow posts about the Wal-Mart proposal on this blog. Note particularly "Abandoned Malls, Suburban Blight" by Stacy Mitchell.
• You can also find out more about Wal-Mart's practices and impacts on communities at http://walmartwatch.com/.

The Yucca Valley Homes (Stadum) proposal is for 90 homes on 60 acres and would include mass grading. The proposal was rejected by the Planning Commission and is now being appealed to the Town Council.

Wednesday's meeting is at 6 pm at the Yucca Valley Community Center. A huge showing is needed to convince the Council that the time for business as usual has passed in Yucca Valley. Be there!

Sincerely,

David Fick
President, Morongo Basin Conservation Association