Courthouse Rip-off of Bakersfield Taxpayers

By Ken Mettler | 02/10/09

Why is the Bakersfield City Council allowing a San Francisco based federal bureaucrat to demand that the taxpayers of Bakersfield gift over one million dollars of public property to a private developer?  Why did the Redevelopment Agency spend $428,000 of taxpayers money on an adjacent parcel to provide the parking for this project?  Why would the city consider giving this private developer "property tax relief"?  Why is an... read more »

Taxpayers Abused by Teachers' Union

By Ken Mettler | 02/06/09

For example, the taxpayers are paying the salary of the Kern High School Teachers Association (KHSTA/CTA/NEA) union officials.  Bottom line is that the taxpayers are paying for 5 periods a day, a full day, to public employee union officials not to teach but to conduct union business.How did this happen?  Language contained in union contracts beginning in 1983 and re-ratified by former boards.What do they do?  Basically, they... read more »

Government grows while economy tanks

By Ken Mettler | 01/17/09

The Labor Department report for November 2008 states that the goods-producing sector shed 126,000 jobs in its 23rd consecutive monthly decline.  The manufacturing sector marked its 26th straight monthy decline, losing 85,000 jobs.  The services sector lost 31,000 jobs.  Small businesses employing fewer than 50 workers were hard hit, losing 25,000 jobs.But guess what....the government added 23,000 jobs in the month of... read more »

NEA Spends Like a Drunken Sailor

By Ken Mettler | 01/15/09

The National Education Association (NEA), the parent union of the California Teachers' Association (CTA) is spending $250,000 to send the union elite to the presidential inauguration.It is OK since the NEA is flush with union members dues money, of course, some of them will be unemployed soon....oh well.Tell your teacher friends to get the information that California Teachers Empowerment Network (CTEN) offers at www.ctenhome.org read more »

Social Conservatism Will Save the GOP

By Ken Mettler | 01/11/09

There is no more certain way to fire up liberals than to champion a conservative social cause.  You can tell that you are on the right course by the intensity of the rancor.  These attacks only hone the message and can be used by the GOP to define our brand....unless the GOP is to continue to be democrat light.Fiscal and tax issues are very important but they do no produce the emotional response necessary to achieve a game changing... read more »

New Teachers Need Support !

By Ken Mettler | 01/04/09

How do school board members put kids first and avoid firing teachers, with school districts facing budget reductions?Traditionally, school administrators and union leaders favor cuts that target the newest teachers for firing and correspondingly reduce the class offerings for our kids.  Senior administrators and union shop stewards who participate in the "negotiations" do not favor across the board payroll cuts that would avoid layoffs, as... read more »

Let the TRIP Begin

By Ken Mettler | 12/06/08

The Obama administration has stated that they want an FDR type of road building program to proceed immediately to stimulate the economy.   The local Thomas Road Improvement Program (TRIP) has projects that have environmental and engineering studies complete and are ready to begin.  The projects are held up due to the requirement for local matching funds.   In these uncertain economic times, it is unfathomable that... read more »

What is wrong with education?---GREED

By Ken Mettler | 11/23/08

The Modesto Bee aptly noted that the California State University system will cut 10,000 student admissions next fall while giving raises of up to 19 percent to some vice presidents and hiring 11 new vice presidents with salaries up to $225,000.There is a disconnect when all 23 campuses are directed to cut their budgets 7 percent by reducing offerings and increased class sizes, yet no consideration is given to cutting executive salaries.The... read more »

Redevelopment made painfully simple

By Ken Mettler | 11/07/08

The Kern County Board of Supervisors recently approved spending $908,000 of the taxpayers' money on out-of town attorneys and consultants to initiate another layer of unaccountable government called the Oildale Redevelopment Agency.Why not use the money to just hire some local community activists as Community Improvement Liaisons (CIL) within a designated target area?  The CIL would act as an out reach clearinghouse to coordinate the... read more »

Fran Florez Endorsed by CCPOA

By Ken Mettler | 10/30/08

The latest ad for Fran Florez states she is endorsed by 50,000 police officers is purposely misleading.  The reality is that she is endorsed by the strong arm prison guards' union CCPOA. read more »