Editorial: Estrada should work with council, not for himself
By Doug Spoon, Editor We might have just seen a preview of what the tension level will be like at Menifee City Council meetings for the ne...
http://www.menifee247.com/2024/11/editorial-estrada-should-work-with-council-not-for-himself.html?hl=en
By Doug Spoon, Editor
We might have just seen a preview of what the tension level will be like at Menifee City Council meetings for the next few years. If this is true, residents who are interested in the future of the city had better buckle up for the ride.
On Wednesday – the day Ricky Estrada took the lead in the Mayoral race for the first time – the District 2 council representative decided, in his most extreme terms yet, to set himself apart from the rest of the council. And we’re not talking about promoting a healthy debate and casting a lone dissenting vote, as he has done so many times.
We’re talking about outright defiance of his colleagues – refusing to acknowledge the possibility that anyone else could be right, while providing little or no basis for his own arguments other than to promote himself as “the people’s candidate.”
This has become a pattern in Estrada’s campaign for the Mayor’s seat, but it was never more obvious than at Wednesday night’s council meeting. During the discussion of two warehouse projects that were up for approval, Estrada did more than simply oppose the projects (both were approved, 4-1). He tried to turn the discussion into his own personal portrayal as some sort of symbol for those who oppose industrial growth in Menifee.
Never mind that these projects deserved to be considered on their own merits and fall within the guidelines for the city’s General Plan. Never mind that the General Plan was carefully developed and monitored over the city’s 16-year history to foster the growth of mixed land uses, designating areas such as the Northern Gateway industrial development zone to help create jobs and fund infrastructure.
No, Estrada wants to ignore these factors, which have been successful in the growth of Murrieta, Temecula, and many other local cities. He wants to win support by convincing residents he has the answers to “slow growth”, even though he provides no plan for accomplishing it. He would rather tear up zoning laws that date back prior to Menifee’s incorporation, when Riverside County officials designated areas for the kind of projects that pay for new roads, drainage systems and other necessary infrastructure.
The formula that has worked for decades in the development of cities is simple. Set aside areas for residential units, so the people moving here have somewhere to live. Allow major developers to come in and build those communities, because in paying for the right to build here, they pay for the roads the people will need to travel around.
Set aside other areas for industrial development, because those projects create large numbers of local jobs for residents. They also pay millions for the right to build here, giving even more money to the city to build roads and further improve infrastructure. Once this starts to happen, smaller businesses such as restaurants and shops arrive to serve the growing population.
The warehouse projects approved Wednesday night are near Ethanac Road, where there remains lots of open land. Estrada points to the Winco shopping center north of Ethanac in Perris and says a similar project should be built south of Ethanac in Menifee, rather than warehouses. But who’s going to pay for the infrastructure for such commercial and retail projects? Not a couple of restaurants and convenience stores. Major industrial projects will fund infrastructure that then allow smaller commercial and retail businesses to come into adjacent areas.
Estrada rejects this idea, saying, “I think someone will be willing to come.” Who? Find some commercial and retail outlets that can afford to build there and then talk about rezoning. Don’t talk about “a fresh perspective” simply to score points with constituents who want Menifee to be “the way it used to be.”
No one wants warehouses all over the place. But Menifee needs some warehouses in the proper place. And using that entire issue to create dissension during the discussion of a particular project does nothing more than boost Estrada’s ego. He could ask for a separate discussion about the practicality of warehouses in Menifee, but he won’t because he knows he would once again be outvoted. He would rather continue as the lone dissenting voice because he thinks that will win him more supporters.
Perhaps it will, but to what end? It might ultimately get him the Mayor’s seat, but he will still be only one of five votes on the council. Meanwhile, the Mayor’s position will get only a fraction of the public exposure it gets now, because Estrada’s job as a teacher prevents him from attending many public functions and serving on regional committees. Furthermore, taxpayers could end up paying thousands of dollars for a special election to fill what would then be a vacant District 2 council seat.
During the Sept. 25 Menifee 24/7 Candidates Forum, Estrada admitted that his goal is to get elected Mayor, pursue putting in a candidate of his choice as the new District 2 representative, and move toward “a new majority” on the council. Not sure how he would legally influence the election (or appointment by council vote) of a new District 2 rep. Also not sure how he would get that third vote he would need to gain his “new majority.”
Neither am I sure that a “new majority” is what residents want. At least on social media, there’s a lot more criticism of Estrada than support.
Then there’s the very real possibility that a developer whose project is denied will sue the city. Such a lawsuit was filed by AT&T against the City of Menifee in 2020 when the City denied an application for a cell phone tower in Wheatfield Park. Faced with an expensive lawsuit that appeared unlikely to go in the City’s favor, the council voted to allow the tower.
At Wednesday’s council meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Dean Deines raised this point and asked City Attorney Jeffrey Melching what the City’s liability would be if Menifee started denying such warehouse projects. Apparently not wanting to open that can of worms in public, Melching said the issue should be discussed in closed session.
It is suggested that residents who care about their local government watch the video of Wednesday night’s council meeting, which can be viewed here. Afterward, your feedback is welcomed.
It appears that we won’t know for a couple weeks who the Mayor of Menifee will be. Either Estrada wins the election and gets four years as Mayor or he loses and stays as the District 2 representative for two more years. Either way, it would make for a more productive city government moving forward if he began working together with his colleagues and not simply for himself.
We might have just seen a preview of what the tension level will be like at Menifee City Council meetings for the next few years. If this is true, residents who are interested in the future of the city had better buckle up for the ride.
On Wednesday – the day Ricky Estrada took the lead in the Mayoral race for the first time – the District 2 council representative decided, in his most extreme terms yet, to set himself apart from the rest of the council. And we’re not talking about promoting a healthy debate and casting a lone dissenting vote, as he has done so many times.
We’re talking about outright defiance of his colleagues – refusing to acknowledge the possibility that anyone else could be right, while providing little or no basis for his own arguments other than to promote himself as “the people’s candidate.”
Never mind that these projects deserved to be considered on their own merits and fall within the guidelines for the city’s General Plan. Never mind that the General Plan was carefully developed and monitored over the city’s 16-year history to foster the growth of mixed land uses, designating areas such as the Northern Gateway industrial development zone to help create jobs and fund infrastructure.
No, Estrada wants to ignore these factors, which have been successful in the growth of Murrieta, Temecula, and many other local cities. He wants to win support by convincing residents he has the answers to “slow growth”, even though he provides no plan for accomplishing it. He would rather tear up zoning laws that date back prior to Menifee’s incorporation, when Riverside County officials designated areas for the kind of projects that pay for new roads, drainage systems and other necessary infrastructure.
The formula that has worked for decades in the development of cities is simple. Set aside areas for residential units, so the people moving here have somewhere to live. Allow major developers to come in and build those communities, because in paying for the right to build here, they pay for the roads the people will need to travel around.
Set aside other areas for industrial development, because those projects create large numbers of local jobs for residents. They also pay millions for the right to build here, giving even more money to the city to build roads and further improve infrastructure. Once this starts to happen, smaller businesses such as restaurants and shops arrive to serve the growing population.
The warehouse projects approved Wednesday night are near Ethanac Road, where there remains lots of open land. Estrada points to the Winco shopping center north of Ethanac in Perris and says a similar project should be built south of Ethanac in Menifee, rather than warehouses. But who’s going to pay for the infrastructure for such commercial and retail projects? Not a couple of restaurants and convenience stores. Major industrial projects will fund infrastructure that then allow smaller commercial and retail businesses to come into adjacent areas.
Estrada rejects this idea, saying, “I think someone will be willing to come.” Who? Find some commercial and retail outlets that can afford to build there and then talk about rezoning. Don’t talk about “a fresh perspective” simply to score points with constituents who want Menifee to be “the way it used to be.”
No one wants warehouses all over the place. But Menifee needs some warehouses in the proper place. And using that entire issue to create dissension during the discussion of a particular project does nothing more than boost Estrada’s ego. He could ask for a separate discussion about the practicality of warehouses in Menifee, but he won’t because he knows he would once again be outvoted. He would rather continue as the lone dissenting voice because he thinks that will win him more supporters.
Perhaps it will, but to what end? It might ultimately get him the Mayor’s seat, but he will still be only one of five votes on the council. Meanwhile, the Mayor’s position will get only a fraction of the public exposure it gets now, because Estrada’s job as a teacher prevents him from attending many public functions and serving on regional committees. Furthermore, taxpayers could end up paying thousands of dollars for a special election to fill what would then be a vacant District 2 council seat.
During the Sept. 25 Menifee 24/7 Candidates Forum, Estrada admitted that his goal is to get elected Mayor, pursue putting in a candidate of his choice as the new District 2 representative, and move toward “a new majority” on the council. Not sure how he would legally influence the election (or appointment by council vote) of a new District 2 rep. Also not sure how he would get that third vote he would need to gain his “new majority.”
Neither am I sure that a “new majority” is what residents want. At least on social media, there’s a lot more criticism of Estrada than support.
Then there’s the very real possibility that a developer whose project is denied will sue the city. Such a lawsuit was filed by AT&T against the City of Menifee in 2020 when the City denied an application for a cell phone tower in Wheatfield Park. Faced with an expensive lawsuit that appeared unlikely to go in the City’s favor, the council voted to allow the tower.
At Wednesday’s council meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Dean Deines raised this point and asked City Attorney Jeffrey Melching what the City’s liability would be if Menifee started denying such warehouse projects. Apparently not wanting to open that can of worms in public, Melching said the issue should be discussed in closed session.
It is suggested that residents who care about their local government watch the video of Wednesday night’s council meeting, which can be viewed here. Afterward, your feedback is welcomed.
It appears that we won’t know for a couple weeks who the Mayor of Menifee will be. Either Estrada wins the election and gets four years as Mayor or he loses and stays as the District 2 representative for two more years. Either way, it would make for a more productive city government moving forward if he began working together with his colleagues and not simply for himself.
Menifee was never meant to be another cookie-cutter suburb like Temecula or Murrieta, and it shouldn’t try to be. This city’s charm has always been in its close-knit community, and that’s worth protecting. Pushing for more warehouses on Ethanac Road might generate revenue, but it also brings noise, traffic, and environmental headaches that will impact residents far more than they’ll help them. Menifee doesn’t need to follow the same formula as every other city—it needs thoughtful growth that actually benefits the people who live here.
ReplyDeleteThe idea that warehouses will solve infrastructure issues or bring meaningful jobs to the area is a stretch. Warehouses offer low-paying, high-turnover jobs and attract heavy truck traffic, which will only add to the strain on already overburdened roads. Instead of focusing on industrial sprawl, Menifee should be attracting businesses and projects that improve the community, not just fill it with more trucks and concrete. Growth is fine—but it has to be the right kind of growth, the kind that adds to the quality of life here instead of taking away from it.
Menifee deserves leaders who listen to the community and fight for a balanced, thoughtful approach to growth—not just rubber-stamp whatever developers want. Preserving Menifee’s identity while planning for its future is possible, but it requires prioritizing residents over developers and focusing on what truly makes this city a great place to live.
Considering that Ricky is now scheduled to win, this election has clearly demonstrated that he does represent a lot more people in this City than Doug and the rest of the council seemed to be aware of. I think the (apparent) majority of menifee residents are looking for the shake up of the status quo. Time after time we’re seeing articles from Menifee 24/7, unbiased I will add, of the city council approving more housing and more warehouses, week after week. What are the two giant problems actual Menifee residents will tell you we have? Traffic/lack of infrastructure, and lack of entertainment/identity. I think residents are throwing in Ricky because he at least vocalizes he wants to slow everything down. You really only get one shot at what you put and where. Once you put a giant warehouse or 1,000 home community, that’s it. You can’t go back and put in Menifee’s own downtown, or outdoor mall, or any recreation area. Menifee’s identity used to be a nice, slow paced retirement, farmland, and peaceful outdoor haven. Now it’s just all housing. People say you can drive to Temecula for entertainment, but how many of us are persuaded to stay home and order takeout because they don’t even want to go through Newport to get on the freeway? The Krikorian area is simply not big enough for entertainment for this growing city. The approach of the growth of Menifee needs to be slowed down and well thought out. Spending over 6 million on a concrete dome is not slow and well thought out. That park is simply too small to handle whatever they plan to hold there. There is over 110,000 people here now, and growing. Yet this city council continues to approve more housing. Additionally, there’s a planned bridge to connect to the Aldi’s/PetSmart parking lot to “help with parking”. I dare one of the other council members or anyone who thinks that’s a good idea, to go to that parking lot on a random Tuesday at anytime of the day.. That parking lot is packed. At all times. You think you’re gonna fit MORE for a city event happening there? On top of that, the people who live in those condos by the park didn’t sign up for a dang concert venue in their dang backyard! The amenity was a nice small peaceful park they could walk to. At least Ricky and Bill were the only ones to realize that. Doug, you make a good point that maybe he needs to secure a developer before he can claim a certain area can be something else. But does that mean it should just be approved in the mean time? Maybe Ricky would have help finding funding if his colleagues had the same vision as him? If the status quo is to spend 6 million on a unneeded concert venue, and continue to approve more and more housing that Newport and McCall can’t handle, then that’s the status quo we want to shake up. I think that’s what Ricky Estrada voters and essentially the majority of residents are feeling.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is that with all the people and families that moved into the city, the manner of work becomes an issue. Saying that Menifee needs entertainment means only providing jobs related to the service industry, an industry that is well-known to be one of the lowest paying jobs. In contrast, warehouses are indeed higher paying and more stable in the long term. Don't get me wrong, though. Warehouse work isn't for everyone, just like service jobs, and they don't have adequate worker rights for the time investment they demand. But growth will happen regardless of the say of the already-residents here. Menifee is not a small town anymore. I grew up here in the late 90's/early 2000's and I can say that it was a very different place from then. But I know we can't go back to time anymore and nor should we. What Estrada is doing is playing off residents' nostalgia, giving a voice that is no longer valid. Are warehouses the solution? Probably not. I would personally emphasize education as many families are moving into the city and need proper education services. What I am saying here is that both Estrada and the Menifee Council do not care for the average resident. But at the same time, the average resident is blind to nostalgia and fails to realize that growth is inevitable. If you ask me what the identity of Menifee is, I would say it is growth because that has been the only constant in this city.
ReplyDelete