Saturday, March 24, 2012

Community Dialog with Community Development Director Al Zelinka

Community Development Director Al Zelinka has updated his schedule for his "Community Dialogue" meetings.

These are a great way to find out what's going on, make suggestions, and get answers.  Bring your friends, family, and neighbors!

The next “dialogue” will be held from 8-9 a.m. Tuesday, March 27, at the Fullerton Chamber of Commerce, 444 N. Harbor Blvd.

The schedule for the remaining “Community Dialogues” is as follows:

- May 8 – 6-7 p.m., Muckenthaler Cultural Center, 1201 W. Malvern Ave.

- June 28 – 6-7 p.m. Fullerton Main Library Conference Center, 353 W. Commonwealth Ave.

- July 24 – 8-9 a.m., Fullerton Chamber of Commerce, 444 N. Harbor Blvd.

- Aug. 30 – 8-9 a.m., Fullerton Main Library Conference Center, 353 W. Commonwealth Ave.

- Sept. 27 – 6-7 p.m., Grace Ministries International, 150 S. Brookhurst Road.

- Nov. 27 – 8-9 a.m., Fullerton Chamber of Commerce, 444 N. Harbor Blvd.


Further information about the “Community Dialogue” program may be obtained by calling Zelinka at (714) 738-3347, or by email at alz@ci.fullerton.ca.us.

Persons requiring special accommodations to attend a “Community Dialogue” are asked to notify the Community Development Department at (714) 738-6547 prior to the meeting.

Friday, March 23, 2012

MARK YOUR CALENDAR - Water Rate Ad Hoc Meeting April 9th at 6PM, City Yard

Where is your money going?
The next Water Rate Study Ad Hoc Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 9th at 6PM at the City Yard (Basque & Commonwealth).

Please attend this important meeting and speak up.  If you have ever wondered why Fullerton was in this mess it is because too often we all sit back and expect someone else to do all of the work.  Please do your part and engage in the discussion.

Do you think using your water rates to pay for "rent" of city-owned property is a bad idea?  Do you want a refund of the money you were over charged?  Do you want the City to actually use ALL of the money they collect from water sales do be spent on the Water System?  Are you upset that the Water System has been neglected?  Are you fearful the City will try other tricks and accounting gimmicks to take more of your money and provide fewer services?

Please mark your calendar and bring your neighbors.  Fullerton is YOUR city.  

Water Main Breaks In Front of Water Reformer's House

The irony, astonishing.  The coincidence, unnerving.  The big picture, never clearer.

If you could choose a place to break a water line, would this be at the top or bottom of the list?  It's in front of my house...again!

This is just around the corner from the house that exploded yesterday and has many questioning the water systems integrity and capability when taxed with fire services.  Did the sudden demand on the system place too much stress on the water lines?  One would think so but I have not been able to speak with the Water System Manager, Dave Schickling, or the City Engineer, Don Hoppe, to ask.

After you and I have contributed $27-million through the water tax since 1996 to the City's General Fund, you would think the City would have this under control.

A City of Fullerton representative contacted my wife to tell her that, because the leak is slow, they'll be out TOMORROW, on a Saturday, to fix the line.  Can you say OVERTIME?  Seriously.

If the City was ever going to try to demonstrate water efficiency and commonsense responsible water management, you would think they might want to expedite a water main break.  I wonder how many other breaks occurred since yesterday...
Neighbor's driveway is barricaded 




Wednesday, March 21, 2012

March Money Bomb - Donate Today!

Have you had enough of the games at City Hall?  Tired of politics as usual?  If you want to see actual reform hit City Hall, if you want to know what it means to improve city streets, if you want accountable, open, honest leadership...
Please donate today!  

Its easy and there are no minimum or maximum limits.  
$10
$25
$90
$250
$1,000
You Choose!
All major credit cards accepted.



or go to www.GregSebourn.com and click on the donate page.

Campaigns are costly.  Signs, mailers, and fliers are all important and very expensive when you look at the size of Fullerton and the quantities I need to purchase.

I need your help to make sure I can win the election and represent you at City Hall.  

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Fullerton PD Warns of Sex Predator in North Fullerton!

On 03-15-12, at approximately 0948 hours, a female was walking in the area of Calle Don Juan north of Las Palmas Street in the city of Fullerton. The male suspect approached her from behind and he grabbed her buttocks and he then grabbed her groin.

The suspect ran away and possibly into the area of Flintridge and Las Palmas Streets. There was a silver sedan seen leaving this area shortly after the suspect entered the cul-de-sac. The suspect was not seen inside the vehicle nor was there any other information on the vehicle description.

There was a previous case reported that occurred on 02-23-12 at approximately 0845 hours, in the area of Las Palmas and Flintridge Streets also on a Thursday. The suspect description was the same. During this incident, the victim was walking a stroller, when the suspect approached her from behind. The suspect kissed the victim by force and he grabbed her groin area. The victim screamed and the suspect fled.

The suspect description:
Male Hispanic, 5’0”-5'6", 160-170lbs
black mustache, 20’s-30's
medium brown skin.

Wearing dark clothing: Black long sleeve shirt/ sweater Black beanie and black pants.

If you are a witness to the above incidents or if you have any additional information regarding the suspect or the incident, please contact Detective Flores at: 714-738-6754 or the Fullerton Police Department at: 714-738-6800.

Fullerton PD would like you to be aware sexual predator information in the attached flyer.

Click to read or download

Water Rate Study Ad Hoc Committee Update

The new conference center at the Main Branch Library was full of City Council candidates.  Also in the back row was Councilman Don Bankhead, who I am running to replace should voters recall him on June 5.  

Thank you to everyone who took time out of their lives to join me at the meeting.  The discussion was lively and comments were appreciated.

There seems to be two camps brewing, though it may still be too early to know.  One position is that any rent-back of City-owned property to the City is illogical and amounts to a double tax.  The other position is that some rent-back is justified.  

I'm of the opinion that we (taxpayers and ratepayers) have already paid for these facilities and that renting them back to the City is wrong and amounts to a double tax.  

With so much material to review and interesting comments by all, no action was taken by the committee.  The transfer study will be further discussed in a couple of weeks along with possible recommendations to the City Council on what to do with the surplus cash from overcharges to ratepayers.

Also, I asked that we place on the agenda discussion and, possibly, a vote on recommending that the City completely forgo any transfers to the General Fund until an audit of the fund is complete.   Speaking of audits, the transfer study was not an audit by any stretch of the imagination.  Therefore, an audit of the General Fund is necessary. 

Stay tuned for more information in coming days...

Water Rate Hike Hearing...Will you be heard?

Tonight the Fullerton City Council will take up, among many issues, water rate hikes.

I oppose the so-called "pass-through" rate increase for a few reasons.

First, the pass-through is supposed to pass along rate increases imposed on Fullerton by the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) and the Orange County Water District (OCWD).  Fullerton passes the increase to YOU 6 MONTHS BEFORE MWD or OCWD actually increase their rates.  If it isn't illegal, it should be.  At the very least, it is unethical.

Second, the MWD is neck deep in a law suit by the San Diego County Water Authority which is alleging that MWD staff together with some of the staff of MWD's member agencies (like Fullerton) have created a "Secret Society" that meets behind closed doors to develop policies and manipulate water rate increases.  

Third, the MWD is raising their rates to help cover $6,000 bonuses for ALL employees, raises that will amount to nearly 6%, and two new pay grades.  And for those who will think I'm picking on the poor defenseless public employee, let me remind you that all public employees work for ratepayers/taxpayers.  These bonuses and raises are being pushed onto water consumers without their input or approval.  The increases are coming in the midst of the worst economic disaster since the Great Depression.

Water is not like any other commodity.  We have no choice which water agency hooks up to our water meters.  It is of the greatest importance that those services which have monopolies over taxpayers are regulated sufficiently to ensure that they are free of corruption and malfeasance.  Taxpayers must be assured that they are receiving the highest level of service at a reasonable and sustainable rate.

Please attend the City Council meeting at 6:30PM at City Hall.  

Monday, March 19, 2012

Are Fullerton's Water Rates and the Proposed Rate Hikes Justified

Tonight is the Fullerton Water Rate Study Ad Hoc Committee meeting at the Main Branch Library at 6pm.

As a member of this committee, I would like to hear your thoughts and concerns on all things water related.

With a massive MWD scandal brewing that implicates Fullerton in even more corruption and with the recent revelation that Fullerton water ratepayers were over charged, I think it is important to hear what you, the ratepayers and voters, have to say.

Tomorrow, the Fullerton City Council will take up a water rate hike.  You have a say in the rate increase but you need to come and speak to the Council.

FULLERTON IS YOUR CITY.

Greg Sebourn

The Beauty of a Storm

The Beauty of a Storm
Orange County, Ca.

My Grandma - A Eulogy

LET'S TALK ABOUT 1914 FOR A MOMENT.



FOR STARTERS, GRANDMA WAS BORN TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1914 IN HER FAMILY'S ATWOOD RANCH HOUSE.



IT IS WORTH NOTING THOSE ALSO BORN IN 1914:

JACK LALANNE

JOE DIMAGGIO

DANNY THOMAS



AND WHO DIED IN 1914:

JOHN MUIR, THE FAMOUS NATURALIST FOR WHICH NUMEROUS ROADS, PARKS, HOTELS, AND NATURE RESERVES ARE NAMED.



IT IS ALSO WORTH NOTING THAT IN 1914 WOODROW WILSON SIGNS MOTHER'S DAY PROCLAMATION AND BABE RUTH MAKES HIS MAJOR LEAGUE DEBUT WITH THE RED SOX. MOTHER'S DAY AND BASEBALL- TWO OF MY FAVORITES!! (PERHAPS HER NICKNAME "BABE" CAME FROM BABE RUTH???)



GRANDMA WAS BORN INTO A PERIOD OF TIME FILLED WITH TURMOIL. IN JUNE OF 1914 ARCHDUKE FRANZS FERDINAND WAS ASSASSINATED. WITHIN ONE MONTH WORLD WAR I RAGED ACROSS EUROPE. TWO DAYS AFTER HER BIRTH HOWEVER, GERMAN AND BRITISH TROOPS INTERRUPTED WWI TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS. (PERHAPS THEY PAUSE KNOWING THAT A GREAT WOMAN WAS BORNE) WORLD WAR I CONTINUED UNTIL THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES IN 1919.



ALTHOUGH SHE WAS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD, SHE SAW THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS CREATED AND THE 19TH AMENDMENT WAS APPROVED BY THE U.S. CONGRESS GUARANTEEING THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN TO VOTE.



SHE LIVED THROUGH MANY NOTABLE EVENTS. LIKE THE 1933 LONG BEACH EARTHQUAKE OR WHEN ATWOOD FLOODED ALONG WITH MOST OF ORANGE COUNTY IN 1938 AND THE FLOOD-WATERS CLAIMED MORE THAN 50 PEOPLE, 43 OF WHICH WERE FROM ATWOOD! ALL OF THIS DURING A TIME THAT WE READ ABOUT IN SCHOOL AND KNOWN AS "THE GREAT DEPRESSION". SOMEWHERE IN ALL OF THAT SHE FOUND THE LOVE OF HER LIFE, GRANDPA LEO, GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL, GOT MARRIED, AND HAD KIDS!



THEN THERE WAS WORLD WAR II. FROM PEARL HARBOR TO HIROSHIMA, GRANDMA WAS RAISING MY UNCLE BOB AND MOM ARLINE. WITH AIR-RAID SIRENS AND BLACKOUTS SHE WAS A WIFE AND MOTHER. WHAT A TIME TO RAISE CHILDREN! I BET GRANDMA'S PARENTS WERE ABEL TO TELL HER A THING OR TWO ABOUT RAISING KIDS IN WARTIME.



GRANDMA WAS THERE WHEN THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA HELD THEIR 3RD ANNUAL NATIONAL JAMBOREE IN 1953. SHE SAW AIRBASES OPEN IN '42 AND CLOSE IN '99. SHE WATCHED WALTER KNOTT START UP HIS BERRY FARM AND WALT DISNEY TURN ORANGE GROVES AND STRAWBERRY PATCHES INTO DISNEYLAND!



SHE SAW THE HORSE AND CARRIAGE FADE AWAY INTO HISTORY AND SPACE TRAVEL EXPLODE BEFORE HER WITH THE FIRST LUNAR LANDING. JUST IMAGINE HOW MUCH TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED OVER THE LAST 100 YEARS. FROM TUBE RECTIFIERS TO SUPERCONDUCTORS; FROM TRANS-ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH CABLES TO SATELLITE TV.



SHE SAW MORE IN HER 93 YEARS THAN MOST OF US WILL EVER READ ABOUT, LET ALONE LIVE THROUGH!



OF THOSE 93 YEARS IT IS MY HONOR TO HAVE BEEN HER GRANDSON FOR 35 OF THEM. SHE WAS MY MOTHER WHEN MOM HAD TO WORK. SHE WIPED MY NOSE AND PUT FOOD IN MY MOUTH. SHE LET ME PLAY WITH GRANDPA EVEN THOUGH SHE NEEDED HIM TO TAKE HER TO THE STORE. SHE WAS MY GRANDMA AND I WILL MISS HER IMMENSELY.



JUST LOOK AROUND THIS ROOM; SHE DID THIS. SHE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR BRINGING SO MANY GOOD PEOPLE INTO THIS WORLD AND TOGETHER TODAY. THIS IS HER LEGACY.



A Dedication To My Loving Wife, Stacey. Thank you for all you do for me!

Brad Paisley - I Thought I Loved You Then


I remember trying not to stare the night that I first met you
You had me mesmerized
3 weeks later in the front porch light taking 45 min to kiss you goodnight
I hadn’t told you yet but I thought I loved you then

Chorus
Now you’re my whole life now you’re my whole world
I just can’t believe the way I feel about you girl
Like a river meets the sea
Stronger than it’s ever been
We’ve come so far since that day
And I thought I loved you then.

I remember taking you back to right where I first met you
You were so surprised
There were people around
But I didn’t care I got down on one knee right there
And once again I thought I loved you then

Chorus
Now you’re my whole life now you’re my whole world
I just can’t believe the way I feel about you girl
Like a river meets the sea
Stronger than it’s ever been
We’ve come so far since that day
And I thought I loved you then.

I can just see you with a baby on the way
I can just see you when your hair is turning gray
What I can’t see is how I’m ever gonna love you more
But I’ve said that before.

Now you’re my whole life now you’re my whole world
I just can’t believe the way I feel about you girl
Well look back some day at this moment that we’re in
And I'll look at you and say I thought I loved you then
And I thought I loved you then...