@Mr. LocalResident100, you note in your comment below that a person doesn't have to go to CSD or fire meetings to "be informed" because there are other sources of information. You also seem to support PointMan in his head-in-the-sand strategy of NOT contacting CSD directors or staff to get his questions answered. I now understand why you both are so frustrated. It's because you are relying on the historically well-substantiated methods of evidence-gathering we commonly refer to as rumor, innuendo and assumption.

Mr. Simon,

I am disappointed that you have gone off on some tangent with assumptions as to me being a Carol. I am a Mr. as I stated before. Again, you’re paranoid attacking of me, who is not a supporter of Mr. Silver as yet, and not part of this gang you fear so much has now helped me decide who I would not support. That is a public official who bad mouths community residents and is so paranoid it affects their decisions. I read in the newspaper just recently about the fines of $100,000. I think that is important. An opinion on the Fire issue does not mean you have to attend a DBCSD meeting or fire meeting for that matter. Those are not the only two sources to collect information. The rate increases should be justified with information on the state of the art website. Finally, you still have not answered why the Town does not display budget information, yet you complain about people requesting information. These are serious concerns of trust with public entities.

At this point it does not matter, as I now understand more about you by your posts.

As for tobresident, your hate and insults to others in the community speaks of your character. This is another reason why letters to the editor result in conflict, accusations, innuendos, and childish behavior. These are extremely non productive moves towards positive change in our community.

I just wish people would be more adult about this entire campaign and the issues.

I have never met nor seen Mr. Silver, but you Mr. Simon are making him look better with every work you post.

Enough said.

@LocalResident100, your comment that you believe I an somehow against an open government is based on what? I actually fully support an open and transparent government. What I am against is ignorance of the electorate, and I am especially against anyone who simply whines and complains (yes, I'm speaking specifically about Richardson, Flint, Barber, Jackson and Doran) without actually doing the work of getting the facts straight with real evidence to back-up their assertions...And yes, I am speaking directly to the same 5 people and to you as well as PointMan (who I suspect are actually within that gang of 5 anyway).

PointMan steadfastly refuses to contact the town to get his questions answered yet he stubbornly keeps up with the same complaints. Clearly he doesn't want to be proven wrong. Regarding the website, I would like to see more documents on there too but I'm sure the staff is a bit busy responding to all the PRRs you guys keep pushing. Maybe if you gave them a little breathing room they would have the time to address other things. If you're concerned about the rate hike, how 'bout you all stop wasting our town's human and financial resources with your endless and needless requests??

To LocalResident100 continued

I apologhize for not addressing your last statement before submitting my response.

First of all Carol, (it is so much easier if we just use our real names) I would be extremely surprised to see Mr. Silver comment on issues such as town incorporation, when he would have no first hand knowledge of the issue. As far as an opinion on fines paid by the CSD, that too would be strictly speculation on his part, as Mr. Silver has absolutely no past participation dealing with the vendor who caused the fines in the first place. As I'm sure you are aware, Mr. Silver has never requested any information from the towns offices in regards to any past fines paid by the CSD. I would also point out again, that your candidate Mr. Silver, never attended a single CSD meeting until he was recruited by you and Bill Richardson to run for the CSD board 45 days ago. Since that time, he has attended two meetings and one workshop. To answer your final statement about Mr. Silver's opinion on the fire issue, let me answer by saying this. How can Mr. Silver speak on the issue as an informed candidate, when he didn't even attend the meetings held by the fire board before they decided to close our station. As you know, even though the fire district doesn't fall under the authority of the CSD, the board members still attended every meeting and spoke strongly against the station closures.

Coming here Carol and touting your candidate as well informed and ready to solve all of the issues that face the town of Discovery Bay, makes you (in my personal opinion) look foolish. I believe, you would be far better off, giving the man a chance to come out and speak for himself.

If he has answeres, I, as a resident of this town, would be very interested hearing them.

Mark Simon

To LocalResident100..

All of the questions you raise are valid and every one of them needs to be addressed by your CSD board. As I stated before, I am here as a resident, not as a board member and I will not discuss the towns business, without the permission of the entire board.

I am quite surprised, that with all of your concerns, you don't find the time to attend CSD meetings and put these questions to the board directly. I have a feeling that if you did, you would be much better informed and not dependant on the Discovery Bay Press for answeres to such important issues.

Thanks for your comments Mr. Simon. My question was not answered. Why is it not on the Town website ? Why does it have to be on Mr. Flints ? What is his website address? As far as $4.76, you are right it's pennies. The point I think is valid would be displaying the budget on the website. Besides, many previous posts talk about the extensive costs to provide requested documents to individuals. Elliminate this nonsense and just post it instead of saying go to a private persons website. There are many more important issues such as the huge fines paid by the CSD, the fire station, and future direction of the Town. Is there a plan for incorporation ?

These are candidate issues I would like toi hear about. Not look on someone private persons website. Maybe we can get Mr. Silver's opinion on these real issues.

Let me respond to both localresident and pointman in this post.

First of all, nowhere in any post that I have written, do I claim to speak for the DBCSD board. I have written every post as a concerned citizen who is affected, just like every other resident, by any increase in costs for services. I posted under my own name with my own opinions. So, let me repeat, I am not speaking for any member of the DBCSD board.

The rate increase is approximately $4.76 per month. Simple math will tell all of us, that we are talking about an increase of less than $60.00 per year. As a resident who will be paying that increase, I really have no problem with it. It is far cheaper than what residents of our surrounding communities are paying.

As far as obtaining a copy of the budget, if I wanted one, I would contact the town offices and ask how to go about getting it. If it's too much trouble for you to do that, it must not be that important.

Finally, I would like to address the comment made by pointman that I have made harsh comment to others regarding letters they have written. I have re-read every post I have written and I find no such comments. In fact, I asked that the candidates refrain from mudslinging and name calling and that they run a clean campaign. If you can give me a direct reference to a post in particular I will be glad to look at it and apologize if necessary.

P.S. If you are really interested in getting a look at the budget, I believe that Don Flint has it posted on his website.

Mark Simon

There must be issues if simple information is not posted on such an expensive fully automated website. A very simple solution to stop the so called “citizen group equivalent to Al Qaeda " as stated by Mr. Haverson would be to post all the information on the website. Other public entities have no problem doing this. Both Mr. Haverson and todbresident appear very defensive and hateful towards anyone who wants open government. This alone makes me very suspicious of DBCSD based on Mr. Haverson's and todbresident's comments. I would like to hear more comments on the website lack of info from Mr. Simon.

My comments related to Mr. Simon cover several remarks he has written on this site pertaining to other letters. I like the fact that he uses his own name and he wants to communicate but I just find it hard to accept an elected official going out of his way to attack citizens, who are not candidates, because he does not like what they say.

Do you really think in 2010 people should have to contact the town office to find out how their tax and water dollars are being spent? We live in a key stroke world and any time basic information is specifically kept out the public domain I become suspicious. It would take a town official about as much time as it takes me to type this message to put the budget and related materials on the web. I know at least Mr. Simon reads this web page so if it is not put up, along with the details of his $5.00 calculation, I will assume something is being hidden or covered up.

@PointMan, I re-read what Director Simon wrote and to be honest with you, I didn't find anything mean. He actually was trying to clarify the Board's process related to the rate hike, and he encouraged everyone to avoid a negative campaign. What's "mean" about that? And before anyone accuses me, no I am not Durector Simon using a different username, and no I am not a relative or friend of his. I simply disagree with your characterization of his comments.

I do find it interesting though that you have emphatically refused to contact the CSD board or staff to get your questions answered. I guess you'd rather have something to complain about than actually become better informed. Hope you aren't a candidate in this election cause if you are, the candidates who DO have the facts will look a whole lot better to the voters.

After looking over this exchange I have to say that I am troubled. I wish DBCSD member Mr. Simon was more explicit with his $5.00 statement and I really wish the budget information was available for me to look at on the DBCSD web page. No, I am not going to call the town office to get or purchase the budget pages as I suspect then I would also become a target and be hounded just like you hound the other private citizens who you do not approve of. But I would like someone to tell me why they think the budget information is not on the web page. Surely those who make statements like there are "no" issues in this town know enough to know why the web page contains no real information about what happens to our tax and water money.

It seems pretty obvious to even the casual reader that most of you who participate in this site employ a double standard that says you can write what ever you want about regular people that you don't like but the slightest peep of questioning toward a DBCSD member brings out the "slander" grenade. But that kind of skewed logic seems to fit nicely with your proclamation that there are no election issues in DIscovery Bay. I am far from a completely informed citizen but you can bet the stuff written on this comment page, especially the very mean and arrogant things said by DBCSD member Mr. Simon, will now cause me to try to take better notice of what is going on. I will now definitely try to read and listen to what the three new DBCSD candidates have to offer and what the other candidates who are now in office may be trying to cover up or hide. Thank you to todbresident and Mr. Haverson for improving my perspective.

@localresident100

I think the problem is there are no issues. The CSD is running at a high level. The only "issues" out there are political stunts by people running for office.

Thank you PointMan for reiterating what you actually said for the laymen. I understood it easy enough. This is one of the real Discovery Bay Problems. As I said before, why does a letter to the Editor have to always result in personal attacks? Why can't posters just stick to the issues and their opinion of them? Everyone’s opinion of issues is very well received. However, when they are laced with negative comments of community residents, it takes the posters credibility away. I'd also like to know where on this very expensive website the information on budgets and proposed increases are along with the other major issues, not what neighbor to badmouth.

Also, I am not this Carol, I’m not even a female for that matter. Now, I'm afraid to put my name out in fear I will be labeled by the badmouthers.

Please, let’s hear about the issues

@pointman

The increase is on both sides, water and waste water. The increase also depends on the size of home and if it has a water meter. For example, water meter users pay about .803 per unit used, give or take. The water increase for homes depends on size, such as 0-5000 sq, 5000-10000sq', and I think it's no more than two dollars a month in increase. I don't have the exact numbers in front of me right now, but I would call the town for an exact answer.

Hope that helps.

@PointMan, I am NOT a CSD Board member and have never been appointed or elected to any board or public office. How many ways do you need me to say it? Your suspicions are dead wrong, and are unfounded. But where did you get the idea that I have never been to a CSD meeting? I never said that, and yes I have been to CSD meetings. I don't go every time, but I go when I can, which is far more often than most people who live in Discovery Bay. And because I am not on the CSD board and because I am not on staff, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on exactly what is going on with the rate hike and how that is being billed. This is why I suggested you contact the town to get the info directly from people who will have accurate facts rather than supposition here on the this blog. I have no idea why you would rather regular citizens take a stab at the info when in fact CSD Directors or town staff would be positioned to actually get you information that you can count on as correct. They can also get you the documents you are asking for. I personally don't have them because I am not on the board, just like you apparently don't have those documents either since you are not on the board. If you can't find what you want on the website you can ask the CSD to get the specific documents posted. but that would mean you would have to reveal your identity to the board and clearly you don't want to do that. Must have something to hide. Perhaps you are one of the gang of 5? Why don't you look on Flint's website? I'm sure he's got everything you're looking for in spades.

Mr. Haverson please read what I wrote again. I did actually say candidates should expect scrutiny. But to expand on that thought if a candidate has not previously held pubic office I would expect the scrutiny towards them to be less so than an incumbent who actually has time in office that can be examined and possibly questioned. My point really was that when posters, who I believe are office holders, tear into, repeatedly and aggressively, just plain people who are not seeking office, it is wrong. Lets remember all who have sacrificed so that we can maintain the right to question the performance of those elected and to vote them out if we so choose. I just don't believe it is very American to try to silence those who peacefully disagree with government. And come on no one can say the stuff these dissidents say or write is way out or crazy. It seems they typically talk about wanting more openness and doing things the way they think is better. So what, is that a reason to rip into them as if they are carriers of some dreadful disease? I find it funny that you accuse me of slander (it would be libel by the way) and I never specifically mentioned one person but I have seen many posts you seemingly have no issue with that look very much like they have been written to specifically destroy the character of selected private citizens just because they have an opinion the writer does not like. If you accuse me of slander do you feel anyone has slandered Mr. Richardson? Or is the slander accusation just something you routinely toss at those who have a different point of view in an effort to get them to go away?

But all that aside, please help me understand what seems to be a reasonable campaign issue for this election, that being the town's budget and rate increase. Please tell me how to find the details on the website. Is the $5.00 going to be per my annual tax bill? Sure I could call the town office and I well might but I would like the posters to this board to show me that they really know all about what they say they know. If the budget and rate information is not on the website, just say so and we can move on. If it is not $5.00 per my billing cycle just tell me what it is. If the budget and rate info is not on the website it should be.

And with all do respect I find it highly suspect that the poster named todbresident has never been to a town meeting or is not directly involved in the mix. It is my opinion that this poster is an elected official and if that is true that person should be ashamed of him or herself.

@PointMan - Just an FYI that I am also just a regular citizen and have never been on the CSD Board, or any other Board for that matter. I am just someone who lives in Discovery Bay who understands the town's political climate. CSD Director Mark Simon posted here and identified himself openly as such. I don't know who everyone else is though I'm pretty certain that LocalResident100 is Carol Jackson. I would suggest that you direct your budget questions to the CSD Board rather than here in a blog post because it's tough to know who has the correct info or not. Regarding the budget or other documents just follow the process for submitting a public records request. If you don't know how, ask Richardson, Flint or Barber...

Might accusations, Point man. I hope you have proof to back up your slander. On a side note, once you file papers you are no longer a private citizen, you are a candidate for office and have to suffer the same nonsense office holders suffer from the people. Or does being in office mean you lose your 1st amendment rights?

I hope you all do not mind if just a regular person chimes in.

First of all I don't think it is very smart for people who I would bet are part of the DBCSD to be defaming private citizens just to preserve their political futures. People who are elected or running for election are much more fair game for criticism than private citizens. I'd say knock it off, it makes our town look bad and it is not too hard to figure out who you are. I don't think it matters how outspoken or critical a person is, I think it is very bad form for an elected official to attack a member of the public just because they are being scrutinized and challenged.

Since it looks like the budget increase is being made a campaign issue by more than one candidate, I would like to truly understand it better but I am having a hard time. I read a couple weeks ago a candidate say the annual budget was increased by something like $800,000 and now I see it said that is actually less than $5.00 per household. One would assume he means $5.00 annually since that is how I am billed but it was not really said if it was $5.00 a day, week, month or year. I'm no math wiz so maybe it is me but I could not get the numbers to compute with what I have read in the paper and on this chat board. So I went to the towns website to look up the budget that was passed in May I think and I wanted to also see last year's budget. Hard as I looked I could not find anything, can one of you in the know please direct me to its location on the town's web page? It has got to be there I must just not be able to find it. I also remember getting something in the mail and I thought that might be on the website but that also seemed to be eluding me.

Mr. Haverson, Maybe I should have clarified conflict. The comment was not directed to the CSD board but rather the entire community infighting. I shows quite well even with this small thread. I would hope that those people you named do not come on here and post back blame remarks. It gets no one anywhere. I would like to here maybe a debate. I think the rate increase and how each candidate feels about the new registration tax and fire tax proposed. Those items along with the rate increase while individually minor, total a very significant dollar for those elderly residents or fixed income residents. Does anyone know if there will be a debate ?