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Comments:
HH said...
Hello, Mr. Kirk. I just wanted to let you know that I think you will be a great City Council. I am not very familiar with the most pressing problems facing the Hesperia Community, however I have to drive through too many street lights every day going through main street. I wonder how is it that in other cities I can smoothly drive through green lights and here in Hesperia I have to make a stop in every street light. I want know if you plan to do something about reprogramming the time the lights change. I live in the outskirts of the city, you know. Thanks, in advance for you comment on this very small but important, non-the-less, matter. You got my vote.
MK said...
Thanks HH. I have a transportation plan that I'll work to implement if elected. It includes taking a hard look at current practices, which includes synchronization of lights, as well as paving roads around schools, building more sidewalks and fully funding crossing guards at our schools. Thanks for your support! MK
Lisa Kelso said...
As a resident of Hesperia, I would like to know what is your association with Rich Munkvold the CFO of Frontier Homes? Are you a supporter of the BIA and of builder's causes in the City of Hesperia and the County of San Bernardino? I noticed that he is pictured in your latest mailer. This is a very important issue to me and will help me decide whether myself, friends and family will be supporting you in your race for Hesperia City Council.
MK said...
Lisa,
Frontier Homes was kind enough to let me use their facilities after hours for my photo shoot. Rich was one of the employees who volunteered to stay after hours, on a Friday no less, to participate. Apart from that, I have no affiliation with Rich. I support business in Hesperia. That business can be builders, concrete contractors, printers or real estate agents. I don't believe in any one over the other. I want to help businesses expand and locate in Hesperia so we can generate more jobs here. If I didn't address all of your concerns, please feel free to call me on my cell, 760-792-0263. I appreciate you taking the time to visit my website and ask me questions. I hope you find it useful. - Mark
25 year Hesperia resident said...
Like many candidates for council, you say: "If I'm elected to the City Council I20 will be dedicated to bringing those types of amenities up here. There are lots of strategies the City can employ to get quality shops to locate to Hesperia." So my question is: have you at least spoken to the city department that is responsible for doing just that? Does anyone - for example, you and/or "A Voter" - even know whether or not the city has tried to get Trader Joes or Claimjumper? Thanks, I look forward to hearing your response.
MK said...
Thanks 25 year, let me make sure there isn't further misunderstanding. I'm not saying that no one has tried to get these shops. I know that many people have worked on this issue, several with limited success. My statement was that I will be dedicated to the success of getting these shops into Hesperia.
More important than discussing this issue with those who haven't yet found success, is discussing it with those who have. I've had many conversations about this issue with those who have found great success and I feel there are significant strategies that haven't been used, which will prove to be successful. I am confident in that, which is why as a Council Member, I will be dedicated to this end.
Mark and Marylynn Ziesmer said...
Dear Mark, I would like to know if you have given thought yet to the limited
water? A retired teacher and geologist from HHS, also at that time on the AV
Water Board, referred to what we were doing as "mining water". If we remove it
from the water table faster than it is being renewed from the San Bernardino
Mtns, there will be a day of reckoning in the future. Massive rezoning to lots
of 1/4 ac and even 1/10 ac does not make sense for a desert, even if it helps
the big developers. Likewise, a desert basin can only disperse of so much air
pollution. In the last 10 years we have all noticed that now we count the clear
days, rather than the hazy days. My third concern is that we need a city council
that seriously considers the inputof homeowners at meetings. Previous meetings
seemed to me to be just routine polite listening to the homeowners, but then
consistently siding with developers and big business. Lastly, in spite of recent
prop. 99, it is just plain wrong for a city to take by imminent domain private
property to resale it to retailers and developers, in order to increase the tax
base.
MK said...
Mark & Marylynn, you're absolutely right. Water is a significant issue that we have to solve now. Many people are talking about it, but we need solutions now that will maintain our quality of life. Likewise we need to offer solutions to our air quality issues so we don't become as bad as 'down the hill.' Currently there is strong 'Green County' movement in SB County that I believe Hesperia can take advantage of. The progress of new technologies can lead the way for hundreds of jobs here in the desert alongside solutions to these problems. Technology for cleaner air, water and energy are all coming and could potentially find a home in the High Desert. This is great news for our economy and quality of life.
I believe elected officials need to listen intently to their constituents. After all, that's who they work for. If elected, I will periodically host town hall events throughout the City, inviting residents to come and discuss issues of concern. Likewise I plan to keep my website up and running, answering questions like this from people who don't have the time to meet in person, but who want answers to valid questions.
Finally, you're right again. Eminent domain is a very powerful tool municipalities have and should only be used in the strictest cases for the public good. I do not believe in using eminent domain for private development purposes.
Thanks again for your great questions. Feel free to contact me if you have anything else I can do for you. - MK
Anon said...
It would seem the most common accusation leveled at you is over the campaign contributions you have received to date. Most are from out of town by large companies. Don't you have local support and how do we know you won't sell us out to the highest bidder?
MK said...
Thanks Anon, great question. Most of my support comes from people who live, work, or play in Hesperia. I'm very proud of that. But to directly answer your concern, I'm also supported and endorsed by our local firefighters and deputy sheriffs. I think that says a lot about my commitment and dedication to the city of Hesperia. Thanks again for the question, don't hesitate to call me should you wish to discuss this more. - MK
A Voter said...
I am wondering how you feel about trying to bring in more upscale shopping such
as a Trader Joes or premium outlets and nicer quality restaurants like Claim
Jumper and Cheesecake Factory. It seems the current priority is for Section 8
stores like Walmart and Target.
MK said...
Thanks for bringing up a great subject. I believe the time has come for us to go after premium retail outlets like the ones you mentioned. If I'm elected to the City Council I will be dedicated to bringing those types of amenities up here. There are lots of strategies the City can employ to get quality shops to locate to Hesperia. I have no problem with Target or Wal Mart, however I've heard the desire for better, high-end retail from so many residents. I look forward to working on this problem as your City Councilman.
TRJ said...
I agree we need more jobs - more high-paying jobs so that we don't have to
commute. What would you do differently that hasn't already been tried? It seems
there have been grandiose plans here and there but nothing ever comes to
fruition because of the no growth faction.
MK said...
Thanks TRJ. You're right, it seems we haven't made as much progress in this area as we should. Still about 50% of workers in Hesperia drive down the hill for work everyday. There are a lot of things we can do; one of those would be to work together as a region to capture those jobs, rather than individually. Too many times we compete with Victorville or Apple Valley, when our real competition is Ontario and Rancho. We need to work together to promote our region with those other cities. I'd like to explore a sales tax sharing agreement that will give even more reason to work together. I appreciate your question TRJ. I have a lot more to comment on this that won't fit on a blog. Please feel free to call me if you'd like to discuss this or any other issue more. Thanks again, MK.
High Desert Resident said...
Hello Mr.
Kirk, Hesperia is years behind Victorville and now even
Apple Valley in providing our citizens with quality
businesses so that we can shop locally and reap the
benefits of our sales tax revenues. It seems our city
council has been short-sighted with all of their
in-fighting rather than making their priority the
welfare of the citizens. I know your family is
established here but I have not seen you involved
locally so it seems you are an outsider. How can you
turn this around, especially if you don't already have
alliances on the council?
MK said...
Thanks "High Desert Resident" for
your comment. Just because I haven't gotten
involved with the political in-fighting doesn't mean I'm
an outsider. I've lived in this community for over
two decades and I've worked with many local leaders to
solve some of the problems we've faced or are currently
facing. I believe in making this community better
by working together. I have many alliances but
most importantly, I have good working relationships that
I feel will help mend fences and make this a better
community. Economic Development is a top priority
of my campaign. We need more jobs and more quality
businesses here in Hesperia. I absolutely agree
with that. My cell phone number is 792-0263, if
you have any other questions, or would like to discuss
this more, please feel free to call. Thanks again
for making your comment. - MK.
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