This just in from the Pomona Now "blog":
"Assemblywoman's son applies for parking board
The eldest son of Assemblywoman Norma Torres, D-Ontario, has applied to serve on the city Board of Parking Place Commissioners.
Robert Torres has submitted an application for the board, which oversees city- owned parking lots in the downtown area.
Torres' application is going to the City Council for approval. Should it be approved, Torres would fill the board seat representing City Council District 2.
Appointments to the board must go to the council for approval because, unlike other commissions, this one is regulated by state laws, according to a city staff report.
If approved, Torres would serve for four years, the report said, or until the nominating council member's term ends. In this case, Torres is being nominated for the board seat by Councilman Freddie Rodriguez who represents District 2."
And so it continues...
THE END
13 comments:
Interesting.
I wonder just how much experience with either downtown Pomona or parking issues this young man has. His family has lived in North Pomona and Ganesha Hills and since he's only even been driving for a few years I'm a bit dumbfounded as to the logic of his choice (except for the cynic in me).
I'd love for more information on his qualifications.
More for the cynic...He's also running for School Board
His application has been attached to the documents for tonight's council meeting (http://public-records.ci.pomona.ca.us/weblink7/DocView.aspx?id=40726), it starts on page 2 and goes to page 3.
Basically he's a 20-year-old student, who lives with his parents in Ganesha Hills. His reason for wanting to be on the VPD is to "provide a safe environment for our citizenry." So I guess that parking lot security is his main issue. What about cost of parking, amount of parking available downtown, upkeep and maintenance of parking, the potential for new parking, the parking requirements for businesses in Pomona, or a raft of other issues of importance to the downtown vehicle parking district.
For his qualifications he states, "my knowledge of city business and I am familiar with the VP commission." So where did he get this "knowledge of city business"? What city business? Does he have an educational background in traffic or parking issues?
With the importance of parking in the downtown (where do we put all the Fox parking? Western U parking?, Antique row parking, etc.) why don't we have business/property owners applying for this position. This is particularly sad considering it's councilman Rodriquez whose district includes a majority of downtown who is making this appointment. The staff report recommends the nomination but there is no information in the staff report as to the nominee's qualifications. Did staff or the councilman making the nomination discuss qualifications with the applicant? Why aren't those discussions part of the report so that the council, who must vote on the nominee, and the citizenry have adequate information to make their decision. Perhaps Mr. Torres is a supremely qualified candidate who is just bad at filling out the application form. Perhaps councilman Rodriquez has fully vetted his candidate and believes him to the fully qualified. However, on the face of it, this does not seem to be the case and I'm sure that anonymous would suggest that it's a political appointment with the goal of higher (paid) position to come.
Again, the public record invites such cynicism. I hope we're unjustfied, but . . .
I don't think John has questioned any other commission so why now?? At least he's older than the Councilwoman for District 1. The downtown is part of her district as well..The problem with this city is people like you John that make comments without going to the source enough with all this gossip.
Anon, I beg to differ. I was quite vocal in questioning the appointment of Jason Rothman and I was also vocal about councilmember Rodriquez's choice for the Historic Preservation Commission. So please, don't paint me with the brush that I'm "suddenly" questioning appointments. And if it's so, can't I be "suddenly" concerned? How long must one wait to become concerned? Do I have to be previously vocal for my opinion to count? And if so, how do I first become vocal?
Maybe I have to hide behind anonymity? No, I prefer to be out here in the light so that anyone can take into account who is making the statement. I stand here naked to your criticism.
Oh, and the source is the actual application that young Mr. Torres turned in which is part of the public record. What source should I have gone to? Who answers these questions? Will they be answered at tonight's council meeting?
I'll be there, will you? Oh, I won't know because you're anonymous.
Actually, Danielle is older than both Jason and Robert, not that age is relevant to anything.
this is hilarious in it's transparency. Her son needs a job, so she calls in a political favor to Freddie to make it happen. hopefully, unlike his mother, the son will actually give a damn about this town, and is not using it as a stepping stone to the mission recycling board of directors.
The vehicle parking district position does not pay anything, so it's really not a job.
Mark
It is sad to see that the Pomona City council and elected officials care so little about appointing qualified candidates. Just as the city is trying to change its image for the better, appointing unqualified and inexperienced candidates to city boards makes Pomona look like a 3rd rate city.
While Mr. Torres may have the will to serve, he does not have the life experience or civic concerns that come with managing personnel, running a business, choosing schools for your kids, or paying taxes. How can anyone take such person seriously? It is even more concerning that Mr. Torres, without having even received a college degree, would think he is competent to be part of the School Board.
For his own sake and reputation, I hope that Mr. Torres withdraws himself from consideration for these positions until he has the requisite experience and education for others to take him seriously.
A little late on the Vehicle Parking District appointment as he was appointed at Monday's council meeting by a unanimous vote, with his mother, the assemblywoman, in the audience.
I wanted to assure Anonymous that no one takes any members of the Torres' family seriously. Of course that's not to say that people don't fake it in order to get a political endorsement for a pet project. I think one too many members of this town are guilty of that!
I too feel sorry for this kid. How sad that he could not just work hard to get something he deserves.
Signing this anonymous, since I don't want to be found in the backseat of my truck, if other rumors about the Torres family are to be believed.
Wow, I understand where a lot of you are coming from with your beliefs, but I cannot believe the negative thoughts coming in. You all should be inspired by the determination of someone this young is showing to make a difference in your city.
He was raised around city affairs and I'm sure he has collected his thoughts and is willing to show his ideas and make improvements. Why not let him get his foot in the door with something small and give him a chance to prove himself? Don't sell him short just yet.
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