CHECK OUT THE VIDEO TO THE LEFT OF THIS COLUMN. IT IS A VIDEO INDEPENDENTLY PRODUCED. IT WAS NOT PAID BY OR AUTHORIZED BY CLARK FOR COUNCIL.
I have offered my biography and my platform of 5Es: Equity, Environment, Engagement, Economy and Ethics. I have shared some of the accomplishments I achieved in my previous service to you. I have honed in on Sammy’s unethical record as a councilmember. Yet you may not be ready to vote for me.
For the years that I served as your councilmember I was honest and ethical. I never abused your trust. While some councilmembers charged mileage or their cell phone expenses to the city, I never did. All of the Sammy mailers implying that I mismanaged city money is simply a lie. I have already stated why he is using these lies. It’s his only path to reelection for his record is a shameful one.
I am not the type to brag about myself but it seems now is the time to offer some instances of my service to you. There was a constituent who had a front yard full of weeds, knee high. City Code Compliance had cited her repeatedly and she was facing a deadline. She was unable to do the work and furthermore did not have the money to rectify the problem. I used my own money, not a dime of city or taxpayer money, and had rock delivered and spread on her front yard. She didn’t ask for help other than my intervention with the city. That I could not deliver. So I delivered a permanent solution instead.
There was another instance out of so many… the time when a small neighborhood had a problem neighbor. Lots of teens/young adults, late parties, constant noise, cars parked everywhere, perhaps drugs, refusal to acknowledge a problem…you get the idea. After I met with the neighborhood to learn the extent of their problem, I called my “go to” Glendale police officer. Within a matter of days the problem was solved. I was a facilitator. Once I knew what the problem was, I knew where to go to get it solved.
There was a time when an entire apartment complex’s water was about to be turned off. The tenants called me desperate for a solution. The owner of the complex owed back payments and was refusing to pay. I contacted the media who then ran stories on TV about the situation. Within 24 hours the complex owner had made arrangements to pay his bill in full.
There was my request to council, approved, for the first 50,000 Christmas lights in Murphy Park. Today those first Christmas lights have grown into over a million lights for Glendale Glitters or my tour of my district for senior management resulting in the Neighborhood Partnership Program.
Another instance that comes to mind was the battle of the burned out house. It took constant prodding of various city departments, including the city attorney’s office, to finally have the house demolished, perhaps not as quickly as nearby residents expected, but I did get the job done.
Land use and zoning was a constant battle. Although I did not win all battles, I won 90% of them. I believe, as many Yucca district residents do, that Yucca is a prime location for large lot development. If you travel along 83rd Avenue you see many large lot developments…Desert Sunset, Missouri Ranch Estates and Missouri Ranch are just a few. I am especially proud on my work on Rovey Farm Estates with lots from 7,000 to 9,000 SF on its western side to one acre lots on its eastern side. On each of these residential developments, I worked closely with the residential developer and the city’s Planning Department, insisting on larger lots and making a successful case for them.
I have not bragged about any of my accomplishments because I felt it was just part of my job as your councilmember. Sammy Chavira has no such record other than a string of unethical actions.
Yucca district residents could always reach me. To this day, I readily offer my home phone number and my personal email address. While I could not successfully solve all constituent problems with the city I did solve an overwhelming number of them. I listened respectfully to all and occasionally there were arguments that changed my mind on an issue. I did not pander to people. If I could not solve their problem, I told them so. They may have gone away unhappy with me but I did not play games with them and promise something I could not deliver.
I have always been active and engaged. To this day, I know the problem areas in our district and welcome the opportunity to address the city’s attention to them. I have demonstrated over and over again that I cared about people and offered my services to help them.
There is still so much to do for our district. It’s time to complete Heroes Park as designed. Even though it is not in my district (I lived in this area for 30 years), O’Neil Pool in the Ocotillo District must be repaired or replaced. It is a disgrace that this economically challenged area has lost its only major recreational amenity.
There is still so much to do for our city. The major focus must be the city’s financial position. While the city has begun its financial recovery there is more to be done.
I have shown that I was an active and engaged councilmember. I want to continue to be that councilmember. I want to help you. I want a fiscally healthy Glendale. I want what you want, safe neighborhoods, the availability of good-paying jobs within Glendale, and a variety of recreational amenities for your families. If you want the same things, then I ask for your vote on Tuesday, August 30th. Together we can make Glendale better.
© Joyce Clark, 2016
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Joyce, Sammy defensive is getting you upset, we know your success and voting history and your professionalism. The voters of Yucca district will show up in record numbers to vote you in.
City of Glendale has two suites at Hockey area, Who is using the tickets? COUNCIL MEMBERS for the Rattlers Championship game on 8/26/2016.
Respectfully:
Michael Hernandez Ocotillo resident Retired Disabled Veteran/ M. ED BSW
Michael, the reason I posted the blog “Why me?” is that it was suggested that I write about myself and my record. Sammy has not and never will upset me. He has been a hoot. Who else could shoot himself in the foot so many times by making unethical decisions?
I don’t know which councilmembers, if any, will be using the city’s arena suites for the Rattlers game. I’ve been kind of busy and haven’t been checking information in my usual fashion. I do know that councilmembers attended the state League of Cities convention this week. But it would be interesting to find out. Any bets on whether Sammy attended? After all, he’s never met a convention he didn’t like!
Ms.. Clark:
You mention your commitment for appropriate land use and zoning requirements and the fact you where not always successful in that endeavor. That is understandable.
There currently is discussion ongoing related to amending zoning regulations applicable to the keeping of chickens on residential property zoned RI-10 thru RI-4. Have you taken a pposition on this issue and if you have, would you kindly share it with the community? Thank you..
Jack, Understandably, I have been very busy with my campaign and have not researched this issue. After Tuesday, I will take the time to understand this issue. It might be a good idea to run a poll survey about this on my blog site.
Ms. Clark”
Thank you for your reply and I understand your campaign is first and foremost. Let me share a little information with you.
City Council has directed city staff to investigate/research the modification of zoning regulations regarding the keeping of chickens on properties within the City of Glendale. Currently chickens are allowed on properties zoned A-1 thru SR – 12 (larger sized lots). The suggested change would allow keeping chickens on properties zoned RI – 10 thru RI – 4 (Smaller residential lots).The proposed change will effect all residential properties in the City of Glendale.
An informal neighborhood meeting was held Wednesday evening, August 17th at Council chambers. Approximately 85 community members attended and were able to express their views, both pro and con. This meeting was sponsored by the City Planning Department.
At this meeting comment cards were gathered and of the 55 cards collected 44 were opposed to any change and 11 supported the proposed change. The Glendale Star is currently conducting a survey on their website and over 80% of people responding are for leaving the zoning requirements alone. Of course more meetings are planned for the future and the unfortunate thing is that their are a whole lot of people in the City of Glendale that this activity is ongoing. City staff is spending their time and taxpayer dollars to fix something that is not broken. We would be better served having staff assemble a better way to improve services from cod compliance or repairing the roads.
Thank you for listening to your community. Good luck on Tuesday
Jack Martino.
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Jack, Thank you for the very useful information you provided. From what you reported citizen consensus seems to be to leave zoning regarding this issue as it is. Very interesting. Again, thanks for the information.