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My plan is a confident, realistic roadmap of some ideas to take Desert Hot Springs from where we are to where we want to go.

I am laying out a broad, bold new vision for the future of Desert Hot Springs. In the past, the City Council never really dealt with our small town problems before they brought bigger town problems upon us. My goal is simply for Desert Hot Springs to live up to its potential.

I see a city with a modern look that preserves the best of our fine historical architecture. I see a place of art, science, and learning. I see a place well known for excellence and spectacular success in fields such as athletics, art and business. It’s a place where each person is free to live out his or her dreams; and the promise of each new day brings us unlimited possibiities. A place known worldwide not just for our crystal clear miracle waters, but that we respect this blessing and that we cherish and protect our water, air, land, our views and other natural resources. Imagine a bright vision of our future. Imagine a place where uncommon success and entrepreneurship are commonplace. It’s a safe, prosperous place in which to grow a family; a place that stirs our pride, deep down. Desert Hot Springs is our hometown.

My plan works by focusing our city government on the traditional responsibilities of government. Chief among these responsibilities is public safety. Limited government leads to a balanced budget. We have plenty of money for the traditional responsibilities of government without having to raise taxes. I have opposed Scott Matas, Yvonne Parks, and Al Schmidt voting to borrow millions of dollars (more than $35 Million so far) and risking it in the real estate market, which is definitely not a traditional role of government. Land speculation, trying to fight the market is not good business either.

I believe that only when all the traditional obligations of government are being handled well, starting with public safety, then and only then should we have a discussion concerning whether the real estate experts on the City Council should risk the people’s hard earned money in the real estate market.

In 2005 I predicted that Desert Hot Springs could not live up to its potential until we get rid of the corruption on the City Council. In 2007 we made substantial progress in this regard when the voters rejected the corruption of Hank Hohenstein and Mary Stephens. Since then, our city has made some progress but is still not living up to its potential. That is because the revolution is not yet complete. An essential element of success in the future is to eliminate corruption on the City Council. Scott Matas, Yvonne Parks, and Al Schmidt get their campaign money from corrupt influences like the bankrupt felon/developer Walter Luce and the infamous Mike Bickford. Open corruption just like Hohenstein and Stephens. The developers that have given money to Matas, Parks, and Schmidt are clearly making an investment; and they have been getting favors in return. We need to put a stop to this now.

Here’s how my plan works…


CRACK DOWN ON CORRUPTION – The central problem Desert Hot Springs faces is corruption on the City Council. All of our other major problems flow from this corruption. For example, we don’t have enough money for public safety even after a 40% tax increase because Scott Matas, Yvonne Parks and Al Schmidt voted to borrow more than $35 Million and give it to the very developers who gave them campaign contributions, and you the taxpayer are left with a $3 Million hole in the budget each year just for the interest. That is why it is central to everything else.

When you turn on the light the cockroaches scatter. With a little transparency we can eliminate the influence of corrupt developers over the City Council. Open government, transparency, and no more back room dirty deals. We need a leader who has a professional understanding and respect for the law. We deserve a City Council we can trust. We deserve leaders who are loyal to the people of Desert Hot Springs, not outside interests who want to take what is ours.

Nationwide, developers played a central and essential role in the collapse of America’s financial system and markets. You know what went on. Developers, and others, took away bags of money while they left the rest of us holding an empty bag. Corrupt developers like Walter Luce (employer to Mary Stephens when she served on the DHS City Council and voted on his projects) went bankrupt but still kept the money because it was put in a trust to protect it from creditors (people who gave them something of value). The outcome of all this was predictable. I warned anyone who would listen. I am doing well, others are not because I saw what was easily foreseeable and they did not. There are none so blind as those who refuse to see.

I have never accepted any contribution from any developer. We need to eliminate the influence of corrupt developers and to stop the dirty land deals, to restore fairness, avoid needless litigation and put our financial house in order.


FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, ACCOUNTABILITY & TRANSPARENCY – The idea of getting something for nothing is not at all the same as being able to make something out of nothing. There is no credit fairy.

April 1, 2008, Scott Matas, Yvonne Parks, and Al Schmidt voted to borrow more than $35 Million, none of which can be used for public safety. Where did all that money go? The cruel joke of the “April Fools Day Bonds” as of September 1, 2009 has cost us $795,000.00 in principal and $3,024,050.34 in interest. This debt load is unsustainable. (March 13, 2008 Desert Sun – Quote from Yvonne Parks “…in 2010, based on current revenues and anticipate expenditures…this city will be fiscally insolvent.” Please note that this quote is from just before they borrowed their April Fools Day cash.)

The recent tax increase Scott Matas and Yvonne Parks voted for was a 40% tax increase, yet it will only bring in $900,000 a year. This tax increase essentially wiped out the $250 stimulus check Social Security recipients and disabled veterans were given in 2009 to spend in order to stimulate the economy.

Perhaps the most important thing that we can do to get on a sound financial footing is to stop borrowing more money. We need to find out exactly how much they have borrowed and where it went. I believe it is unarguably fair that the suggestion of borrowing more money is not a proper subject for discussion when we don’t know how much they have already borrowed and where it went. I believe that is objectively fair.

They have spent over $30,000 in less than 6 months of 2009 alone for newsletters to brag about what they plan to do with your money, but they never mention the many millions they have borrowed or the millions more they intend to borrow in the future.

Stop the excessive spending. We should have competitive bidding for City Manager pay and benefits. Our City Manager is paid approximately twice the amount that the President of the United States is paid. We need a City Manager who is loyal to the people of Desert Hot Springs.

Scott Matas, Yvonne Parks, and Al Schmidt have voted to obligate us to use 20% of all redevelopment funds (at least $68,227,782.84 so far with no end in sight) for what they call “low or moderate income” housing. This housing that they will use your tax money to build is required by law to be mixed into every part of our community because if it were too concentrated it would amount to the government creating a ghetto. So the law requires that we all get a little bit of a ghetto on our block instead. Under California Redevelopment Law the tern “low or moderate income” is a legal term that is defined by statute to include very low income and extremely low income. (CA Health & Safety Code Section 50093 - "Persons and families of low or moderate income" includes very low income households, as defined in Section 50105, extremely low income households, as defined in Section 50106, and lower income households as defined in Section 50079.5, and includes persons and families of extremely low income, persons and families of very low income, persons and families of low income, persons and families of moderate income, and middle income families.) Redevelopment Law is a flim-flam of smoke and mirrors. It is designed to trick people into thinking that they can get something for nothing. I have studied California Redevelopment Law with the California Bar. The trick of defining “low or moderate income” to include very low income and extremely low income to hide the very low income and extremely low income part and thereby make it more appealing is just one of numerous deceptive aspects of California Redevelopment Law.

Perhaps the most troubling aspect of this low income housing obligation is that it is projected that the obligation can’t be met. If the obligation is not met litigation may ensue, putting the taxpayer on the hook for untold sums of money. Remember, the city went bankrupt because it claimed it could not pay off a judgment for about $3 Million from a 10-year lawsuit that the city lost for housing discrimination.

Matas and Parks claim that the low income housing requirements of California Redevelopment Law are forced upon them by the state. This doubletalk is another flim-flam lie. It is true that now that Matas, Parks, and Schmidt voted to obligate us we are obligated to provide low income, very low income and extremely low income housing. But to say that it was not their choice is a flat out lie. I warned them before they voted to obligate the taxpayer that it was not a wise obligation.

I oppose giving tax breaks to non-residents that are not available to residents of Desert Hot Springs. I strongly oppose anything that would force the current residents and business owners to subsidize people from out of town. Our local residents and business people deserve all the benefits we get from low taxes spurring small business and jobs. Fairness dictates an even playing field. Businesses looking to locate here should not ask the current residents and business owners of Desert Hot Springs to pay higher taxes so that they can pay lower taxes. Really, it’s a bit rude.

Limited government leads to a balanced budget. Scott Matas and Yvonne Parks have been on a massive borrowing and spending spree. Creating other costly obligations as they go. They don’t have any other ideas how to accomplish anything and they don’t seem to be able to stop themselves. However, I will say that they have done a great job at keeping the public from knowing most of what they have been up to. The bottom line is that budget discipline, responsibility, and forward thinking are needed now more than ever.


QUALITY OF LIFE – I have lived here 32-years and I love Desert Hot Springs with all my heart. I am personally committed to protecting our natural resources. I support appropriate commercial development, as well as more parks, hiking trails, bike paths, and open space. We should promote wholesome family activities and public events for the people of Desert Hot Springs. Neighbor meeting neighbor builds a sense of community between individuals and enhances our quality of life.

Our community needs to be integrated and well planned from the start. I will never compromise the quality of life of the people of Desert Hot Springs. I recently opposed the City Manager Rick Daniels who advocates putting a prison in our community. This is selling out our community. To have a prison in our community amounts to throwing in the towel on the bright future of everyone here who dreams for success. Game over. Property values would instantly plummet. We can see the many costs not just to us but also to our children. We would be permanently marked. Always to be known as “Desert Hot Springs, the place with the prison”. We can do better than that. You deserve better than that.

I have not seen the City Manager promoting his plan for a prison in Desert Hot Springs since I spoke out against it a few months ago. I believe it is obvious that he intends to shove this down the throats of the people of Desert Hot Springs after the election. By speaking out I put a stop to it until after the election. When I spoke out I told him that he can make fun of me by saying “not in my back yard” if he wants. I told him that when it comes to a prison in Desert Hot Springs “Not in my back yard, I’m not afraid to say it. Not in my back yard”.

There are a lot of people hurting in my town. As for myself, I focus on the fundamental dignity and humanity of people rather than the indignity and inhumanity of human suffering. I firmly believe in the inner strength of the individual. I believe in the absolute right and responsibility of self-determination, to carve out your own future. Kindness should guide our every action; neighbor helping neighbor. But, neighbor helping neighbor should never be forced. We, as individuals, should be the one to decide whether and to whom we will give help. Only you can know if you have enough to give.

The Desert Hot Springs where I grew up was and is a place of generous people who don’t have a lot to give. This is the reality. Some of the most generous people in Desert Hot Springs don’t have enough for themselves. But they see someone they can help, and it makes them feel good to give and really make a difference. When we respond to actual needs we make the most of our little resources. I believe that only you can decide if you have enough to give. I believe that you can decide best where your resources will do the most good. Only you can decide what real world problems are important to you. You decide what makes you happy.


IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY – Our public safety problems are a direct result of corruption on the City Council. The City Council has been borrowing and wasting tens of millions of dollars on corrupt land deals, handing their buddies your money and creating a $3 Million a year hole in the city budget even after the recent 40% tax increase.

My hometown, Desert Hot Springs, used to be a quiet, peaceful community. The developers brought us many big town problems and to this day refuse to pay their way. With the help of corrupt City Council Members, over just the past few years they created the dense population of very low income and extremely low income people in our city through their get rich quick “redevelopment” schemes. The city’s Redevelopment Agency continues to borrow tens of millions of dollars more, each time obligating the city to develop more very low income and extremely low income housing.

An important feature of redevelopment funds is that they can’t be used for public safety. The law prohibits this use. In spite of this I have heard City Manager Rick Daniels, Yvonne Parks, Scott Matas, Hank Hohenstein, Mary Stephens, Al Schmidt, and their buddies assert falsely many times that redevelopment funds can be used for public safety. This is another deliberate lie. A lie that is not hard to fact check if you are interested. This is well known flim-flam to anyone who knows about California Redevelopment Law.

Traditional, proven police techniques should always be used. Visible police patrols, fast response times, thorough investigation and follow up are among the basic areas we can improve immediately with no additional tax money. I suggest focusing on the basics of policing because it provides the foundation upon which we can build specific solutions to our unique problems. Desert Hot Springs is like other cities, but is unique in many ways. If we build a foundation of traditional, proven police techniques, adapting them to our situation we can build an atmosphere of safety without making visitors and the good people of Desert Hot Springs feel like they are under siege with constant crime and police activity that never abates. Desert Hot Springs must create a comfortable atmosphere if we are to live up to our potential. It is essential. I can’t overstate how important it is. We need a safe Desert Hot Springs. You deserve the piece of mind for which you have paid. You deserve a safe Desert Hot Springs.

Police, fire, animal control, code enforcement, emergency medical response, emergency planning and management are issues of the highest priority. I am a strong supporter of high quality hospital facilities with top-notch care – we deserve it. Stop the dumping of sexual predators and other violent criminals in our community. We have more than our share and that is unacceptable to me.

For many years I have been calling for appropriate traffic controls on Hacienda at Tamar, and Palm Drive at Vista Montana. Since I have been calling for traffic controls at these specific locations one young girl was struck and killed by a hit and run driver about 100 yards past where the traffic control should be on Palm Drive; more recently a man was struck on Hacienda at Tamar by a car driven by an intoxicated man driving with a suspended driver’s license, going 70 mph, who crossed the yellow line to strike the victim. It was not random chance that I identified these two spots as particularly dangerous. Elections have consequences. These are serious issues that should be carefully considered. There are no disposable people.

Your issues are my priorities. Sidewalks save lives. Stop speeders and deadly street racing. I have supported more sidewalks and streetlights where people want them for many years.

I have received numerous Certificates of Achievement from the Department of Homeland Security (Leadership, Emergency Planning, Emergency Management, etc.) It is important that we keep an up to date emergency plan.

Public safety is the key to a brighter future. We should give the police what they need to do the job. With safe streets our brightest future becomes possible. Together we can make our town a safer place to grow a family. Making Desert Hot Springs a place where you can feel safe anywhere anytime.


NEW BUSINESSES & JOBS – By focusing on the traditional responsibilities of city government, starting with public safety, we will create an atmosphere where people are willing to invest in our city because potential customers will feel comfortable visiting or moving here. If we don’t attend to these responsibilities people will not invest in our city because people will find places to invest where the local government has attended to its responsibilities. Increasing public safety with more police patrols and a more visible police presence will improve our opportunities to attract needed commercial development.

Only when the traditional responsibilities of government are being handled well should we have a discussion of whether it is wise to expand government in new ways. Focusing on the basics is not viewed as glamorous, but it is essential to success. Stability is good for business.

Desert Hot Springs is “The Spa City”. Our town should be a place where nice people from all over the world come to enjoy all we have to offer. Happy visitors feel satisfied with what they get for their dollar. They are so happy that they gladly leave their dollars here. They leave a lot of those dollars here. They are so happy that they go home and tell their friends how they feel so very welcome in Desert Hot Springs. How they feel almost at home here. They tell everyone that they want to come back and they do. Their friends are so inspired to come to Desert Hot Springs that they come and tell their friends, and so on, and so on…

This is a chain reaction that we can spark through public/private partnerships; working together to make Desert Hot Springs a place people want to come to spend some of their hard earned cash because they get real value here. We have incomparable air, water, and views. Let’s get together and make this town really attractive to our visitors. None of us can do it alone. Make no mistake about it. It will take hard work. But sharing the load makes it easier for all, and promotes a sense that our part counts, and that our efforts will really amount to something.

Bentley means business. We should market and promote our wonderful city internationally; as I have done with my business www.ILoveDHS.com Apparel & Gifts, where I sell items promoting Desert Hot Springs internationally as a health spa and resort destination, with upbeat designs that celebrate our city and promote Desert Hot Springs pride.

Matas and Parks voted to increase the new business license fee by 478%. We should roll back the business license fee increase to promote the seeds of entrepreneurship and small business that lead to real economic development, from the bottom up. After all, every business that has ever been, started as the vision of a single individual.

Attending to the traditional responsibilities of government promotes real economic development. In the process we should be respectful of the current businesses in Desert Hot Springs. A stable fair playing field for business is best. Our local business people have served us well and probably know better how to be successful here. It makes more sense to an investor to back a proven winner. Therefore, I believe that the City Council should let the local businesses and investors know that we won’t suddenly pull the rug out from under our local businesses.


WHOLESOME YOUTH ACTIVITIES – Inspiring our kids to reach their highest potential is an essential element for Desert Hot Springs to reach its highest potential. We should teach our youth by example, demonstrating good old fashioned dignity, honor, the value of kindness and the power of a smile.

I cherish education and educators. We can help kids aim for college and give them the resources they need to be really successful. Our future depends on building a community of successful individuals. Successful people who want to give back to the Desert Hot Springs that helped them to be so successful. Good creates good and we all benefit. The long-term success of our children and city takes commitment, but because our children’s success and therefore our success is what hangs in the balance, we must make whatever commitment is necessary.

I have long supported wholesome youth activities with parent input as to what the parents and children want. I would never have kids doing something their parents don’t want. I have lived here 32-years. I grew up here. I know how it is to grow up here. Wholesome youth activities are an investment in real people that is worth making. The benefits of such an investment are many. With wholesome youth activities our kids naturally learn good sportsmanship, teamwork, and respect. Teens become good role models for their little brothers and sisters because they know the little ones are watching and they don’t want the little ones to go down a bad road. We build a community where our pride doesn’t come by making others feel as less, but instead our pride wells up because we do all we can to uplift the spirits of others.


ART IN PUBLIC PLACES – I am a strong supporter of art in public places. I believe that public/private partnerships may provide the most satisfying results. In this area we need an open process, encouraging public input and participation. Potential litigation should be avoided in relation to what type of art we should have. Recognizing the potential of litigation, in my view, is the first step to avoiding needless litigation. However, the city should not let the legally baseless threats of the Building Industry Association stand in the way of the public’s right to have art in public places. Maximum public input and involvement ensures our best chance at inspiring all while offending none.


PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT – Our natural resources and beauty are the source of our wealth. Our spa industry and family lifestyle depend on our clean air and water. It is truly a miracle that we need to protect. I have seen 32-years of destruction of pristine desert with no plan for the future other than more destruction. Where will we be if we eventually completely destroy our only source of wealth?

When I was a kid I found barrels of toxic waste in our desert. I cried about it because I knew it was just a matter of time before my desert would be completely destroyed. I made a commitment to the land that I would do what I could to protect it. I love Desert Hot Springs with all my heart.

It is shocking to me when people say mean spirited things about the animals. Yvonne Parks has said on many occasions that, “the pocket mouse can find somewhere else to live”. She said it with a tone as if the pocket mouse had done something wrong to her personally. I was disgusted when a local political website featured a recipe for fringe-toed lizard soup. This type of attitude is revolting to me. During the Cold War I volunteered to jump out of airplanes in a foreign land to protect my home town Desert Hot Springs. I risked my life for the pocket mouse, the fringe-toed lizard, and all our natural resources and beauty, as well as the people of Desert Hot Springs and my nation. They are part of the irreplaceable wealth of our nation and don’t belong to any one person.

I am deeply committed to preserving open space and protecting our air, water, views, and other natural resources. We should promote water conservation and recycling as being the smart thing to do economically as well as the right thing to do for the environment, our children, and ourselves.


QUALITY CONSTRUCTION & DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS – There are people trying to convince you that our city is desperate and so we must beg and give your money to developers through their “redevelopment” schemes, so they will come here and build whatever they want wherever they want, trampling the rights and dignity of the people of Desert Hot Springs. This is no way to get the quality development we need.

We will attract needed commercial development when we effectively deal with the traditional responsibilities of local government, starting with public safety. I strongly support private property rights and oppose eminent domain. I am guided by traditional American notions of fundamental fairness.

I have a deep respect for the history of Desert Hot Springs and important historical locations in our area. Historical preservation is not only a worthy goal because it could be very profitable but because it gives us a sense of our place in the world. Desert Hot Springs history is a gift we all can share. It is a gift that, with just a little work and forbearance, we share with countless future generations.

We need to be more selective with development projects and make sure proper inspections are performed. Homebuyers need to be given proper disclosures as required by law. Unscrupulous real estate people and developers have hoodwinked many homebuyers in a seemingly infinite number of ways. Dishonest people are crafty and an honest person often doesn’t see it coming. Regular folks are entitled to the protection of the laws too. I am here to protect regular folks.

Developers want to make a profit from us. That is why they will come here, for the opportunity (but only to the extent that our city effectively attends to the traditional responsibilities of local government). We don’t have to beg them or give them your money. I will make sure that the people of Desert Hot Springs profit; that we get the best deal for the taxpayer. I work for you the taxpayer. I strongly oppose the City Council continuing to risk more of the taxpayer’s hard earned money in the real estate market.


BUILD COMMUNITY PRIDE – We need to always demonstrate our deep respect for the contributions and viewpoints of individuals. This helps to promote community involvement and build community pride. When people are appreciated they feel good about helping.

The people of Desert Hot Springs deserve reasonable, principled leaders who are open to the opinions and ideas of others. We deserve leaders who take responsibility for their actions; who build a reputation of professional competence and responsibility for our city government.

One way the City can help build community pride is by providing fair and effective code enforcement. We need to stop illegal trash dumping, graffiti, etc. However, fining people $1000 a day for all code enforcement violations with no notice or opportunity to be heard is unfair, counterproductive because it prevents voluntary compliance, and is probably illegal.

Immediate public safety hazards should be a top priority. And any public safety hazard should be treated differently than a code violation that does not threaten the safety of the public.

Clear instructions need to be given by the City Council to Code Enforcement Officers, as has been recently requested by the Chief of Police. Voluntary compliance is enhanced if the requirements of the law are clear.

Due process, which at a minimum consists of notice and a right to be heard, enhances voluntary compliance as well. In cases not involving a public safety hazard, a respectful note from the city may get substantial voluntary compliance. I believe most people are reasonable, and a respectful approach will work most of the time without any other expense.

Additionally, a logical approach enhances public trust. It is logical to treat code violations that do not threaten the safety of the public in a more flexible way than those that do.

In either case, we should assist voluntary compliance in those cases where the person wants to comply but is unable due to disability, etc.

Fines should be based on a scale that relates the amount of the fine to the severity of the violation in terms of its threat to public safety. A flat $1000 a day fine is arbitrary and eliminates all the benefits of graduated punishments.

The fact is that there are traditional, proven approaches to code enforcement. In law school I have studied this subject with great interest. The City Council currently has no member that has professional legal training in this area. I can tell you simply that there are a number of proper approaches one can take to code enforcement; and that making it up as you go is not one of them.


A CALL TO ACTION
Imagine your personal vision of beauty for Desert Hot Springs and feel the inspiration. With the power of our vision and the strength of our will, we will fulfill our destiny of success. It’s going to take hard work. But with optimistic resolve, determination, and vigilance, we can make working together to improve our city fun and exciting.

I look forward to upholding the highest dignity and respect, making you proud that you voted for me. My campaign is about fundamental fairness. My core values of leadership are honesty, integrity, trust, dignity and respect.

I have no doubt that deep down in their hearts the other candidates feel that excessive taxes and wasteful spending are wrong. The question is who has the strength of their convictions. Think about it, in any compromise between right and wrong, the wrong wins; in any compromise between good and evil, the evil wins. It is an objective fact that excessive taxes and wasteful spending are wrong. There can be no compromise.

I am the one lower taxes candidate. I am the one. Now is the time. It’s your money. Now is the time to take a stand against excessive taxes and wasteful spending. Please vote Robert Bentley, new leadership for lower taxes, limited government, and individual rights.

Thank You,
Robert M. Bentley