Dalton On Politics

PFC Walberg-Riotto

2007-05-04T20:14:32Z

I was contacted the other day by the Army Sgt. who was charged with the burdensome task of seeing that the body of PFC Steven J. Walberg-Riotto US Army was returned to his family here in Paradise. The first military casualty of this conflict our community has suffered.

Sgt. Ward wanted to purchase a flag for our Parade of Flags for PFC Walberg-Riotto and was directed to me.

Like many of you, I have never met PFC Walberg-Riotto, but like many of you, I knew him. He was straight and true, he was brave, he was the protector of family and friends, he was committed to the cause of GOD and country, he was Army.

He stood between my wife and child, and those who would harm them, he kept it safe for me to stand my ground and speak my mind in public, he protected my right to keep and bear arms and your right to oppose me, he was American solider.

Although PFC Walberg-Riotto left behind family and friend he maintained time-honored traditions of valor, courage, and camaraderie. But more over, I believe what he left behind was selflessly less important to him than what he helped to preserved, the future.

Oh there is surely a new flag in our parade, and it will be displayed front and center of the VFW Hall four times a year with all the other heroes, patriots, and grateful civilians, like a red white and blue reminder that freedom is not free, that more often than not it is preserved by our nations youngest and finest. So for those of you who don’t realize or don’t care about the greatness and the goodness of this country, remember men like PFC Steven J. Walberg-Riotto, he never forgot you.

Bank of America

2007-03-09T18:40:55Z

March 9, 2007
Bank of America

I am returning my LL Bean Visa card as issued through your bank (see pieces enclosed) due to your recent change in policy to issue cards and/or credit to illegal aliens in this country. As an American I find this policy not only repugnant, but, anti-American.
Your statements claiming to be simply the “bank of opportunity” runs contrary to the American value system of hard work prior to reward, this would include following the rules of good citizenship. I realize yours is not the first financial institution to do business with illegals, it is however the first to do so so brazenly and with such disregard for the generations of hard working immigrants like many in my family (and likely yours) who stood in line just for the opportunity to follow the rules of this country.
I have also contacted Congressman Herger’s office to review your policy. I was informed that Home Land Security is already reviewing this issue. In fact, I read this morning the Rep. Blackburn ( R ) Tenn. has introduced legislation to address the loophole some seem to be more than happy to exploit.
As a businessman I recognize the responsibility to stockholders to provide returns, but corporate concerns must always take a secondary position to national interests. There seems to be quite a bit of conversation today about people having their Patriotism questioned and most tend to back away from this issue, I do not. I believe it is clear there are those among us who are in this country but do not hold our nations best interest at heart, from Mexicans steeling into our country for reasons noble or ignoble, to Muslims dancing in the street of American communities when tragedies befall us, to financial institutions placing their concerns above that of this country. Make no mistake, I am under no dilutions that my account will have a great affect on your institution, however, I do not believe I am the only American who feels so given that B of A stock is currently falling. I believe it reasonable to say that just being in America does in no way make one an American.
In closing, I would offer just two suggestions to your board of directors. First of course a quick and decisive change in policy. If this is not in keeping with your values I would then recommend a change in your name, the “Bank of South-America” comes to mind.

Ray Dalton, Paradise, Ca.

Tolerance

2006-12-11T15:43:21Z

This past week the Paradise Center for Tolerance and Non-Violence held a public forum at our own library to “educate�? Paradise on the issue of “sexual diversity�?, which after counting the sexes (two), the term “diversity�? in it’s self sounds like something of a misnomer, however, I stand corrected, after a fashion. The rest of the world now needs to add such definitions to it’s sexual lexicon as “homosexual�? (men who have sex with other men), “transvestites�? (men who enjoying dressing as women), “transgender�? (a man or woman who feels GOD has incorrectly placed them in the wrong gender body), and “transsexuals�? (men or women who have surgically corrected GOD’s error).

Now I don’t want to give you the impression I have never heard of these terms, although they don’t come up in daily conversation with people I personally know. It is however a further symptom of a much larger malady. A malady not specific to Paradise, or even America but to every great Nation State GOD has ever created. It is what felled Rome and it is what will tear down this great land if not checked. It is the notion that all views are worth discussing, all ideas note worthy, all life styles healthy and acceptable.

This group (the PCTNV) has worked very hard since coming to town in accomplishing their first objective; gaining advocates in high places such as town council members, high ranking town staff, and misc. community activists. This week they fired salvo number two, divide and concur, attacking the church. I noted in the preceding paragraph the name of the all mighty; creator of heaven and earth, GOD. I do so in juxtaposition to a PCTNV member who in responding to a question from an opposing audience member blurted out “judge not lest ye be judged�?, which is an accurate biblical quote, however grossly out of context, as it always is with non bible believing liberals. You see, one thing groups like the PCTNV will not accept is that as Christian’s we are called to love the drunkard, the adulterer, the liar, and yes even the transsexual, we are equally required to say these things are wrong. They are not good for the transgressor, for our children, or for society at large. They want to be accepted and embraced, they want to be called equal to you and to me, and if we will not grant them our acceptance they will take us to court to litigate us to tolerance. To demand they be allowed to coach our little league teams, to change our Boy Scout oath, to teach in our schools, and to serve in our churches.

No Paradise, we cannot stop this social affliction from spreading through the halls of congress, but we can stop if from spreading through town hall, our school board, and our public discourse. We the not completely decent, the not so perfectly righteous, the not at all sin less need to make our stand for what “is�? good for us, for society in general and for the future of Paradise. We have not asked these people to come here yet we welcome them, what we will not do is be compelled to change for them. Stand now Paradise or fall later; we owe this much to our Founding Fathers.

Ray Dalton, Paradise

RDA Funds.

2006-10-02T15:59:10Z

After speaking with a good number of you in the business community it is clear that you are less than satisfied with our local government but live with a certain measure of fear to oppose it. The common thread running through is that the town has not only failed in its promises made of a brighter future if only you do your part, but with the hiring of another code enforcement officer, you have experienced an unwanted presence hampering your progress rather than helping with it. The gap between “public servant�? and those to be “served�? seems to be ever widening.
I believe the evidence shows the town manager has an agenda of his own and it is not you. This was made abundantly clear with the transferring of a reported $250,000.00 from the Redevelopment Agency to the park fund to build a “new train museum.�? That was to be a “ community park�? not a monolith to the locomotive history on the ridge. We have just lost those funds, funds that are a direct result of personal dollars poured into local businesses.
Four years ago council made a commitment to this community, that if you entrusted us with the formation of an RDA we would keep certain promises; among them that your increased tax dollars would be spent on infrastructure and streetscape in the downtown and RDA areas, and to increase pay for police and fire, neither has happened. Where is the parking, where is the cluster septic system that was to bring in new restaurants, where are the traffic calming implementations, where is the leadership? The manager has stated there are projects slated for the downtown in 2007 or 2008, but 2008 is a long way from promises made in 2002, promises myself and others made.
In November of 2004 as mayor I signed Resolution 04-57 applying for a grant from the State of California with full knowledge it would be a matching grant with the museum to provide the match. Now, according to RDA meeting minutes of 1/24/06 by the town manager/exc. director the town is now paying $45,900.00 for design of the existing depot. He further states the town’s portion of the shared cost of the depot is $200,000.00 including the $114,000.00 grant. Now according to town documents the contract cost for REM Construction to do the exterior work only is $233,902.00 placing another burden on the Paradise taxpayer. But wait, there’s more. We now see that the contractor has demolished the entire building, and to date I have met with the town clerk and the assistant town manager, and no one knows who approved the demolition, nor the cost? Further more, I am in receipt of the quite detailed structural report by Stantec Consulting Inc. to the town manager dated 11/18/05 stating the building is in surprisingly good condition. What happened and what’s going on? And why is the Paradise taxpayer being held responsible for the cost?
Our business base and public safety are vital to the success of our community. The commitments made then should still be honored now, for without you, there is no downtown, no park, and no new economy. We have the ability to be one of the largest collective voices in this community, we can if we have the WILL for the coming battle, form and shape not just this election but also the future of Paradise.

Community Park

2006-09-06T17:48:32Z

I have noticed (as have many in the community) that the train depot that was to be renovated has been demolished and is now being rebuilt; one existing wall does not an original make! When I was on council and we first began work on designing the new community park we had offered the train depot to the museum to be moved to a location of their choice, a wonderful idea I thought. But little by little certain elements inside and outside of town hall became advocates for the depot to stay (against my wishes) and be incorporated into the park. This was not a direction I thought best for the community as a whole, but some times your just out voted.

What has become even more of a concern to me now is that all funding for the renovation was to come from the museum, not the Paradise taxpayer. I spoke with Assistant Town Manager Dennis Ivey who informed me the bill is being ‘footed’ by a combination of Parks and Recreation funds, Museum fund raising, and Redevelopment funds. Now Dennis didn’t have exact numbers for me on hand but he’s a straight up guy and I believe him, in fact I would like to see him become our next Manager when Chuck Rough leaves, but that’s another issue.

I am also deeply concerned that Redevelopment funds that were always earmarked for infrastructure and improvements in the Downtown and surrounding Redevelopment Area are being misused. As well, Joe Taxpayer was under the impression his Parks and Recreation tax dollars were to go to parks, not a train museum? Now no one is against museums, it is however a question I believe needs to be asked, and not only by me but by every taxpayer in this community including the business in the down town who have laid out their hard earned dollars and are still waiting for the sidewalks, parking, lighting etc. promised by council and town staff.

I wonder what this new crop of would-be council members have to say on this issue? I will be posting their responses later this week.

]]> Kimball Shirey; "I don't believe the taxpayer should be paying for a museum, I also believe the town should have known the total extent of the disrepair of the building prior to starting construction."

Stan McEtchin; "I'm not quite as concerned about the park funds but the Redevelopement should not be spent on the museum."

Larry Aggers; "I have done a preliminary study on the issue but have not formed an oppinion yet."

Frankie Rutledge; "I wasn't aware council had approved funding from the RDA to the depot....I would first like to see that council did approve this and then ask for a full accounting of the funds. I believe a park is esential for a healthy community but I don't know that a train depot falls into that catagory."

Downtown

2006-08-04T15:29:24Z

I had the opportunity a few weeks ago to attend the ribbon cutting of the all new “Back at the Ranch, Barbara Ely’s store moved from the Safeway shopping center into our downtown. I couldn’t help but notice all the new business’ that have sprung up this past year. There are in fact few if any empty buildings in what is now a vibrant business area. I see a lot of private money being spent on clean up, spruce up, and rebuilding, what I don’t see however is the new sidewalks, lights, benches and parking the town was to provide.
Six years ago (when I was young) when I was running for council, rebuilding our downtown was the cornerstone of my platform. In that first year we started our ‘Downtown Revitalization’, next we formed our ‘Redevelopment Agency’, which helped keep local taxes dollars local. We formed committees, we made plans, we hired architects, we made promises. We promised the business community that if they put their funds into the area we would make said improvements. We made a good start at the corner of Pearson and Black Olive, but now we seem to be faltering?
I spoke with town manager Chuck Rough who informed me “not so�?. Although the community park at Pearson and Black Olive is considerably behind schedule, and the new “community village�? (which I have never been a particular advocate of) has taken a lot of time and resources, the town has just acquired the small property at Skyway and Foster for downtown parking. Mr. Manager also informs me the “facade renovation program�? continues to pull in new business’ that wish to take advantage of shared funding. Is this a promise fulfilled? No. Is it an issue that has been dropped by town hall? I hope not. I think it may well be a case of new projects, priorities, and political alliances that form every two years, which is to be expected. I do however hope the November election ushers in a resurgence of leadership that remembers the vision earlier councils had for our rapidly changing community; I trust the community does as well.

November elections

2006-07-27T04:12:18Z

When I left office roughly twenty months ago I promised the lovely Mrs. Dalton I had no desire to get involved with any civic duties not involving GOD or Country (this blog not withstanding) and would try and spend more time on my 'latest new boat' and work on teaching Police Chief Carrigan how to golf. But it's early August, and although the temperature says late summer, the promise of the coming fall denotes the start of one of my favorite blood sports, the off year elections in Paradise. The field of candidates is slim thus far but as a veteran in this field of play I can hardly contain my desire to comment. The fact is there are a number of candidates who have pulled papers but only a few are truely viable.
I have had the great pleasure to serve with Mayor Sam Dresser, who had decided he did not want to run again, but given the dirth of future leadership on the ridge he and wife Joan have made a great sacrafice, He will indeed have my vote and support.
I have as well served with Councilman Scott Lotter. Although he and I are members of opposing political parties (city councils are non-partisan, but make no mistake, it is an issue) we have worked well together as Scott has voted more often than not like a good Paradise conservative, however, you can teach anyone with opposable thumbs to vote, it is character that matters most to the Paradise voter. A quality Mr. Lotter showed to be lacking when we chose to engage in secret meetings with the "tolerance" group to gain their support, a move I believe has cost him credibility with community insiders, and will without doubt continue to plauge him come November. Paradise needs and deserves leadership they can trust.
Kimball Shirey ran as a virtual unknown in '04' and lost by a narrow margin, he is now President of the Paradise Exchange Club, a member of the Redevelopement Committee rebuilding our downtown, and serves on our design review board. He has assumed leadership of the Paradise Ball contributing $7,000.00 to the Paradise Senior Center this past spring and helped raise nearly $50,000.00 for the Paradise Boys and Girls Club. Kimball and wife Tammy are next month sending their daughter to boot camp to serve our county as she sees fit (you gotta love a kid like that). Kimball I believe will enjoy the support of the majority of the current council , the Paradise business community, Paradise Police, Fire Fighters, and one of the most influential members of the community, three-term council member Alan White.
I also have it on good authority that a pair of 'infamous' female members of the business community are poised to pull papers this coming week which will further complicate this political caldron, we shall see.
At this early date these are my observations and/or predictions. There is still lot of time and many issues to be wadded through, but their needs to be a jumping off point. This is mine.