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08/28/06
Desert Hot Springs A Better Place
From the 'We get results'
department
Every so often there comes a
moment when you see that this effort is worth it, when we actually
find something tangible has been accomplished, some part of our
Desert Hot Springs that has been made better for our efforts.
Sunday
brought forth such a moment when we happened by a shopping center we
highlighted in our Spotlight-On-Blight feature.
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Back
in May of this year we focused on the shopping center above, and
with the help of Channel 2 News that also took an interest in
our effort, we managed to get some results. What you see above
is what this shopping center looked like before (click
here for all the before pictures). Now look!
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As you
can see, things are looking a whole lot better. Even the
broken tire stops have been replaced. The Handicapped
signs are new and on new posts, the planter on the
street side has been spruced up, there is fresh paint. |
It will not take much to
make our city look a whole lot better than it does now. The
effort above is a case in point. We will continue with this
feature. If you see an area in the city that is neglected, let
us know.
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05/17/06
Recent FODHS Reader Letter regarding the
"Marion Ashley Blight?" Story (below)
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FODHS,
This is county land and Marion Ashley should have done something
about this building. Roy Wilson is also responsible. He too is a
county supervisor and this is county land. Everyone should call
their offices to ask them about this building and why in so many
years nothing been done about it.
The reason as you know is quite clear, they don't care. It
should have been condemned long ago. But unless you press a
politician, they do nothing. That they should ever be proactive
about a problem like this.
Keep Pounding them! Maybe one day they will wake up with some
sense in their heads.
A concerned citizen and reader
(Name withheld)
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05/17/06
Recent FODHS Letter Regarding
Last Night's Council Meeting
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Dear Mr. King,
Tonight I watch you on television at the City Council and I
disagree with you on two area. First you thank the City Council
for being able to speak at the meeting. It is your right to
speak at the meeting and every person can do this. You do not
need the permission to speaking. They must let you talking to
them.
Also, you say last night that you are not popular. Yes this is
only true that you are not popular with the men and women on the
city council but many people watching you on TV like me think
that what you say is very correct and we like you.
(Name withheld by authors request)
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05/17/06 Marion Ashley Blight?
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We've
all seen the blighted eyesore on Indian Avenue in County
land pictured below. We've looked at it for years.
Now we have proof that County Supervisor and Candidate
Marion Ashley has seen it too. Actually, he would have to
be blind to have missed it for all the years he has been a
county supervisor. (Do you think he will move his campaign
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The
question is, why hasn't he done something about the blight so
close to the sphere of influence of Desert Hot Springs. With his
position on the MSHCP and his stated concern for the
environment, does this blight not qualify for Ashley's ire? He
has had plenty that for Desert Hot Springs (see our story
below). We wonder if the voters will have some for him.
Is there no one else (the other media) willing to Ask Ashley why
this eyesore and others in our county have not long ago been
dealt with???
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05/17/06
Last Night DHS Council Meeting Update
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Here is a quick
summary/highlights of last night's meeting, including items the
rest of the local and main stream media missed entirely;
1) Council keeps current police chief another 6 months (See
Desert Sun Story)
2) Council schedules discussion of Eminent Domain Abuse
Issues (Including MSHCP) during next Study Session (5/22/06)
3) New City Manager Ann Marie Gallant passes out information on
possible new California Anti Eminent Domain Abuse Initiative
Constitutional Amendment Information by Tom McClintock &
Cris Norby, c/o Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.
4) Gabriel King spoke & passed out Model Anti Eminent
Domain Abuse Ordinances.
5) Robert Bentley spoke against EDA and the legal technical
particulars thereof.
6) Many small land owners spoke out about the illegal MSHCP land
grab and how it has devastated them. Many told gut wrenching
stories of the financial devastation the MSHCP has already done.
7) Dot Reed announced that their cultural affairs commission
received the total amount needed in donations to fully pay for
this coming Fourth of July Fireworks.
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05/03/06
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Here
is what Mary Stephen said in a Channel 2 interview about
our city's downtown;
"I
don't think we have neglected it, no."
Are
we to believe Mary? Or, are we to believe our own eyes.
The answer is obvious. Mary, you simply can not spin
this one. Up Is Not
Down-Town.
With
a news camera confronting her and realizing she had been
caught, Mary said of the obvious-to-all-problem;
"Do
we need to devote more time to cleaning up the city? Of
course we do." |
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Well
Mary, those words are nice. When do you get started?
Our
bet is we will hear no more of the Mary's devotion to
downtown. But, as is her way, we will hear her blaming
this website - and the news media - for the problem. But
here is a novel idea Mary, Why not just admit there is a
problem and get to work on fixing it.
We have made it easy for you Mary. We identified one
property for you.. Do you know who the owner of the
shopping center pictured below is? Is he owner a friend of
yours? FODHS has a dinner for 2 waiting for you Mary... or
anyone else that can tell us who owns it. |
05/03/06
CBS Channel 2 News
Story On DHS Downtown
Website/Broadcast.
Click
Here For CBS Channel 2 News,
Then
Click On Their News Video Link.
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One
Desert Hot Springs Citizen's
Fight Against Blight
By
Tom Tucker-CBS 2 News
A man is taking action in
Desert Hot Springs because he's tired of looking at blight
and dis-repair around him.
This fellow is doing something about it, launching a
campaign he calls "Spotlight on Blight" |
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When it comes to blight, Desert Hot Springs
has more than the average Valley city, but one man hopes to make
a difference. He is using shame to force property owners to
clean up their lots.
Gabriel King is fast becoming one of the best known community
activists in Desert Hot Springs. After playing a role in helping
oust a city manager, King is now focusing on blight in the city.
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05/01/06
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New Contest To Win Free Dinner
On FODHS!
Spot-Light On Blight Contest
Wanted - The Owner of this Blighted
Shopping Center
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At
FODHS we have spotlighted areas of our city that need
improvement - and in many case our efforts have resulted
in corrections of the problem - as regular readers of our
pages know.
Now we have set our sights on another problem - The
Blighted Shopping center documented below. But we need
your help!
Win a dinner for two at the Sidewinder Restaurant, Casa
Blanca or The Cottage (Your choice and up to $25.00). All
you have to do is tell us, who owns this shopping center? |
