Supervisor Josie Gonzales is Doing very well in recent polls

Supervisor Gonzales will press on despite recall attempt

By ALEJANDRO CANO

Despite being faced with a possible recall, Josie Gonzales is standing firm in her convictions and is vowing to press on with redevelopment plans for the areas of Muscoy and Bloomington.

Gonzales, the Fifth District San Bernardino County supervisor, was served by Linda Thacker with a notice to circulate a recall petition on July 5.

Thacker, a Muscoy Community Plan Committee member, is accusing Gonzales of using intimidating, threatening, and foul language toward Muscoy and Bloomington residents. The recall letter also alleges that Gonzales has threatened to have two other supervisors vote to change the land use designation and to use the tax revenues at her desire if residents don't agree with redevelopment projects.

"Redevelopment is good when it is needed, and right now we don't need it in Muscoy. We have all the services we need withina five-mile radius," said Thacker. "We have a Wal-Mart, a hospital, a Highway Patrol office and freeways on three sides of us. We don't need another one running in the middle of our streets. But she doesn't listen, she is into her own agenda and ignores our concerns."

Gonzales, however, feels the area is in desperate need of economic development. She also stated redevelopment for the area was planned long before she became a supervisor in last November's election and that all she is doing is trying to overview the plan andtry to make recommendations as to how the area could be improved.

"They have misinterpreted my comments. I have not been disrespectful, I have been honest. Honesty is one of the most difficult things for people to accept," said Gonzales. "Linda Thacker has been trying to find a way to disable my efforts to help the community from the beginning. I believe she is suffering from a severe case of sour grapes."  

Mike Farnam, another recall supporter, argued that redevelopment has nothing to do with the intent of the recall.

"We know that whether Supervisor Gonzales is recalled or not, redevelopment will still take place. We also know that redevelopment was not her decision," said Farnam. "The reason for the recall is her threats, insults, intimidation and complete and total lack of respect for the taxpayers who put her in office."

Thacker specifically expressed in the letter Gonzales' alleged lack of respect forhistorical and cultural assets and members of the community she represents, especially the veterans, low income and minority residents.

"We feel she has lost sight of her constituency and is only concerned with her private agenda," stated Thacker in the letter. "She was elected to work with and for the people, not against them, and this has not been the case with Mrs. Gonzales."

GONZALES, a minority herself, stated she has always treated people with the same respect throughout her political career and that she will continue doing it for the sake of the community.

The letter also included 30 names and signatures of registered county voters. But if organizers want to succeed, they will need 11,724 more as mandated by law -- 10 percent of the total registered voters in the district.

Organizers will have a total of 160 days to collect the signatures and if they succeed, a special election could be held next year with Gonzales' response on the ballot.

"We will be collecting signatures in public areas and open locations. We will go to the people," said Thacker. "I have nodoubt that we will succeed."

Rev. Gloria Dickey, a Muscoy Community Plan Committee member and former Fontana resident, is convinced that all organizers will accomplish, if they get enough signatures, will be to waste taxpayers' money with an unnecessary special election.

Dickey, who applauds Gonzales' efforts to improve the image and quality of life of Muscoy and Bloomington residents, thinks that all recall organizers are after is power and control of the zone.

"We have basic needs in Muscoy; we have nothing. Those who say we need no redevelopment should take another look at State Street," said Dickey. "They (organizers of the recall) think they are helping the area, but all they are doing is blocking those who really want to help. They are angry because they can't have the last word. If they don't have the power, they will be against whoever has it."

Gonzales, a former member of the Fontana City Council, now serves the eastern portion of Fontana as well as the cities of Rialto, Colton, and San Bernardino and the county areas of Bloomington and Muscoy.

Her comments on how to improve residents' quality of life started a big controversy late last year during a Muscoy meeting, where she stated that residents needed to voluntarily clean up the area, otherwise Animal Control and Code Enforcement units will force them to do it.

Some residents, however, took such comments as a threat and demanded an apology. Even though Gonzales provided one, residents remained hurt. They argued Gonzales has no business telling them how to run their lives, and if staying rural is what they want, she will have to deal with it.

"We are a rural community; we are farmers, we grow our gardens and animals, we want to stay that way," said Thacker. "If we wanted to live in condos and have no space to grow chickens, we would have moved out. Everyone is entitled to live whatever way they want."

Early this year, Gonzales became embroiled in another controversy after removing from office 12 advisory board members, seven from Bloomington and five from Muscoy, including Thacker.

Dawn Crawford, president of Students Against Corruption, argued that the intent of the recall is not an act of revenge by recall organizers.

"Linda is not acting on revenge. This recall was in the works long before she was removed from her seat," said Crawford. "My organization will help them collect signatures and Josie will be recalled."