Here's what I wrote to the mayor. No doubt he'll hate my guts!
Dear Mayor Wright:
I recently was told that I needed to jump through a number of hoops to renew my STR license, at a cost of over $600, including taking a “good neighbor” class from the Desert Beacon. The Desert Trumpet reported that you’d announced that you’d received 3 positive emails about this class.
I have a number of objections to the entire process including this ridiculous class.
1. This is too much money for a license I’ve already been granted, especially given the fact that I only rent out my place a few months a year.
2. The money is likely to be spent on an ill-conceived “fitness” park to complement the architecturally horrendous Freedom Plaza that looks like a giant bunker perfect for a Trump neo-Nazi rally.
3. Why am I paying the Desert Beacon, a private company that I’ve found to be incompetent, for a publicly mandated class that I don’t need? Frankly, if you need a class in how to be a good neighbor, you’re beyond hope. I object to being forced to subsidize the Desert Beacon.
So please, next time you’re talking about this handout to a local company at taxpayers’ expense, please mention that you may have received some positive feedback about the class, you’ve also noted at least one objection. It’s an unnecessary expense and a handout to a private company. If the city wants to mandate the class, let the city run it.
Overall, Twentynine Palms should develop some kind of actual economy instead of soaking STF folks and then wasting the money on poorly conceived civic projects that only make the town tackier.
I also noted in the Trumpet that there’s a frequent Christian invocation at the start of council meetings. Separation of church and state is a fundamental principle on which this country was founded, and there were good reasons for that, as you know.
It would be helpful if you and people with your view (there are many) attended city council meetings (today or tomorrow). The STR opponents turn out in large numbers and are very vocal which makes it appear as though they are in the majority which is not the case. You are completely correct but all this overreach, infringement of freedom and unfair treatments will continue if no one speaks up.
Can you put your last name in your profile please? Otherwise this reads as anonymous post. You have valuable comments, but they do need to be credited by name in order for us to include them.
OH NO. We'd changed the subhead when we put the date in the first paragraph, but somehow it didn't take. Correcting now and thanks for that catch. Feel free to correct us in the future too! All volunteers here!
Cindy a correction to the above should note that Commissioner Krushat does not own any vacation rentals in 29 Palms. The recently seated Commissioner Leslie does, but she is the sole owner exception for the seated Planning Commission and City Council.
after watching the most recent commision meeting (apr 18th), i feel commishioner Eileen Leslie should RECUSE herself since as a multiple STR owner she has strong BIAS about her views during discussion.
I believe she does NOT value the preferences of actual home owning residents of 29 Palms.
Here's what I wrote to the mayor. No doubt he'll hate my guts!
Dear Mayor Wright:
I recently was told that I needed to jump through a number of hoops to renew my STR license, at a cost of over $600, including taking a “good neighbor” class from the Desert Beacon. The Desert Trumpet reported that you’d announced that you’d received 3 positive emails about this class.
I have a number of objections to the entire process including this ridiculous class.
1. This is too much money for a license I’ve already been granted, especially given the fact that I only rent out my place a few months a year.
2. The money is likely to be spent on an ill-conceived “fitness” park to complement the architecturally horrendous Freedom Plaza that looks like a giant bunker perfect for a Trump neo-Nazi rally.
3. Why am I paying the Desert Beacon, a private company that I’ve found to be incompetent, for a publicly mandated class that I don’t need? Frankly, if you need a class in how to be a good neighbor, you’re beyond hope. I object to being forced to subsidize the Desert Beacon.
So please, next time you’re talking about this handout to a local company at taxpayers’ expense, please mention that you may have received some positive feedback about the class, you’ve also noted at least one objection. It’s an unnecessary expense and a handout to a private company. If the city wants to mandate the class, let the city run it.
Overall, Twentynine Palms should develop some kind of actual economy instead of soaking STF folks and then wasting the money on poorly conceived civic projects that only make the town tackier.
I also noted in the Trumpet that there’s a frequent Christian invocation at the start of council meetings. Separation of church and state is a fundamental principle on which this country was founded, and there were good reasons for that, as you know.
Susan Zakin
It would be helpful if you and people with your view (there are many) attended city council meetings (today or tomorrow). The STR opponents turn out in large numbers and are very vocal which makes it appear as though they are in the majority which is not the case. You are completely correct but all this overreach, infringement of freedom and unfair treatments will continue if no one speaks up.
Can you put your last name in your profile please? Otherwise this reads as anonymous post. You have valuable comments, but they do need to be credited by name in order for us to include them.
isn't the meeting on the 18th instead of the posting date of the 17th ???
OH NO. We'd changed the subhead when we put the date in the first paragraph, but somehow it didn't take. Correcting now and thanks for that catch. Feel free to correct us in the future too! All volunteers here!
By the way Clyde, we have a new, no anonymous comments polidy. Can you add your last name to your profile? Thanks!
kern................clyde kern
if you add that to your substack profile, it will just post automatically and thanks for your comments!! cb
Cindy a correction to the above should note that Commissioner Krushat does not own any vacation rentals in 29 Palms. The recently seated Commissioner Leslie does, but she is the sole owner exception for the seated Planning Commission and City Council.
Susan- Commissioner Krushat does own a VHR. No 22-141 was issued to him on 11/8/22.
I see that but thought the issue was to his son. I cross checked and indeed it is what you stated. Thank you for the reference.
after watching the most recent commision meeting (apr 18th), i feel commishioner Eileen Leslie should RECUSE herself since as a multiple STR owner she has strong BIAS about her views during discussion.
I believe she does NOT value the preferences of actual home owning residents of 29 Palms.