Artsyrat wrote on Nov 20, 2008 4:01 PM:Thank you Gronke and Lopez for standing up for the S Santa Fe/Mercantile project! We are waiting for that to begin as promised by Mr. Rawlings at the beginning of the PAC campaign in February. I know a large number of tax paying Vistans who want the Santa Fe/Mercantile to begin. Mr. Vance does not have all the answers, we should not trust his opinion and decisions as always being right. Thankyou again Lopez and Gronke for trying.

Ken wrote on Nov 21, 2008 3:53 AM:I attended that meeting. Morris Vance again and again voiced his intentions to shift focus away from the South Santa Fe corridor and concentrate on the north end. In a tanking Obama economic slump, Morris Vance prefers to spend recklessly and irrationally. Of course, he couldn't care less about the burden of debt and other obligations he may leave the city. Mr. Gronke had the most thoughtful, reasoned points on this matter, but the mayor brushed them aside in an arbitrary and capricious manner. We need to GET RID OF MORRIS VANCE!!!

Sue wrote on Nov 21, 2008 4:47 AM:Take care of the current issues of the city before spending money else where.

Realist wrote on Nov 21, 2008 5:35 AM:Once again...the "leadership" of Vista is "buying" with no specific plan. I know I'm going to just go out and buy lots of stuff with no specific plan. Now is the time to hold the "elected" officials responsible for their actions. Attend the next Council meeting and be heard. We elected them to use good judgement when doing city business. We, it is painfully obvious, did not use good judgement when electing the individuals who voted to "spend with no plan" so we must take action. Choose the behavior, choose the consequence. Do not wait until next election, attend the council meetings and be heard. Vista will now be known as the city of "spend with no plan". Wlecome to Vista!

Vista Granny wrote on Nov 21, 2008 8:09 AM:I've never cared for Morris Vance. And, I don't understand the city picking up small vacant lots, either. And, why is the city purchasing property because some developer wants it? Is this article correct about that? Think I'll check out the next council meeting.

council meeting wrote on Nov 21, 2008 8:40 AM:Sounds like a plan. Can someone post the next scheduled city council meeting in Vista? I cannot believe Vance. Who does he think he is...his majesty.

When the City of Vista was looking for PAC members and they were introducing their new plan, it was stated at that meeting that the redevelopment of the South Santa Fe corridor would begin before the end of the year. I will hold them to that at this next meeting.

Artsyrat wrote on Nov 21, 2008 8:49 AM:If you cannot attend the next city council meeting then write the Vista city council and the Mayor. Here is an email address I got off the City of Vista webs site that will direct the email to the appropriate persons. I would write in the subject line, To: Mayor and City Council.

dcalvo@cityofvista.com

John wrote on Nov 21, 2008 9:31 AM:I read all of the negatives listed here and I think you I feel you are all very short sighted.The city and Bill Rawlings do have a "redevelopment plan" and they are acting on that plan with $16,000,000 in their coffers.The city is buying up property and yes they will probably resell it to developers for redevelopment. That is the whole idea behind redevelopment. This a time to be proud of our city for having the forsight to move forward with many projects, parks and redevelopment plans while other cities are forced to cut back.

Weird Ken comment wrote on Nov 21, 2008 11:45 AM:Ken been drinking the kool aid. We are in the worse recession since 1930's thanks to decades of Republican deregulation of banks and wall street while they attacked middle class wages and benefits. Blaming a man who is not even in office for the horrors of Republicanism is palin nutty.

No more unions, no more good paying jobs, means no one with money to spend to help out our economy. Too much greed not enough regard for the future of our country--the republican ideal--but that has failed.

Now is the time to for our city council to buy property while it is cheap thanks to the REPUBLICAN depression. Government spending is the only toll we have left to get us out the financial problems our city citizens are in.

drmcb wrote on Nov 21, 2008 1:55 PM:Vista residents, especially John, should realize that $15 M redevelopment has in its coffers is money that was borrowed from the General Fund at interest rates less than inflation, no interest due until the end of the loans. They get tax increment money and have the power to sell bonds, but gosh, they can always grab money from the General Fund at whatever terms they wish. You see the City Council and the Redevelopment Agency are one and the same so there's no oversight! Total owed so far: $20 Million. $5M was just borrowed for thirty years at 1.8% interest. So when the City says it doesn't have money to fix the streets, put in traffic signals, or maintain City infrastructure, just remember the empty lots they're buying up on speculation with General Fund money. Don't like it? Go to a City Council meeting and you can speak for three minutes to deaf ears.

to John wrote on Nov 21, 2008 2:07 PM:So John, do you know what their plan is? We've tried for months to find out their plan and they told us they didn't have a specific plan. I believe you are either just assuming or you are uninformed.

to wierd ken comment wrote on Nov 21, 2008 2:23 PM:Talk about Kool-aid!! Dems are just as, if not more responsible for our current situatuion. Get real.