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Sacramento attorney probing SLO County citizens

November 14, 2015

AG City Council 6

By JOSH FRIEDMAN

A Sacramento attorney is probing political opponents of developer Nick Tompkins, as well as allies of Arroyo Grande Mayor Jim Hill, prompting some to denounce the effort as a campaign to suppress public participation in local government. It is unclear who is funding the inquisition.

Last month, Tompkins won a battle for city approval of a mixed use development at Courtland Street and Grand Avenue in Arroyo Grande after the planning commission voted unanimously to deny the project as poposed. John Mack, a planning commissioner who is also a licensed architect and contractor, had argued for changes to the project because of density and parking concerns.

Tompkins and his supporters then attempted to remove Mack from the planning commission, claiming a conflict of interest. At the same time, Sacramento-based attorney Natalie Bocanegra submitted multiple public record requests for information about Mack and several other individuals who are critical of Tompkins and/or allies of Hill. Mack is Hill’s appointee to the planning commission.

On Nov. 6, Bocanegra submitted seven record requests to the city of Arroyo Grande. Bocanegra wanted information regarding Mack, Lin Hill, the mayor’s wife; Patty Welsh, Hill’s former appointee to the parks and recreation commission; Aaron Henkel, Hill’s appointee to the traffic commission; Beatrice Spencer, a local business owner; and Julie Tacker, a government watchdog.

Her requests pertaining to Mack, Hill, Welsh, Henkel and Spencer were for all communications with Arroyo Grande city officials and staff for varying periods of time. Bocanegra requested all of Mack’s communications dating back to 2006.

Bocanegra also sent records requests to multiple agencies across the county including Arroyo Grande asking for all of Tacker’s public records requests, dating back to Jan. 1, 2012, and the results of the requests. CalCoastNews obtained copies of the requests she sent to the city of Arroyo Grande and the South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation District.

Sources said that the Cambria Community Services District, Cayucos Sanitary District and Los Osos Community Services District also received record requests from Bocanegra regarding Tacker. Tacker participates in government meetings countywide.

In Arroyo Grande, Tacker delayed the approval of Tompkins’ mixed use project by about one month after she reported a Brown Act violation which forced the city council to redo its hearing on the project.

Tacker also argued the council should have denied the project or reshaped it as the Planning Commission recommended.

Bocanegra did not respond when asked for comment about the record requests. She has not stated publicly why she submitted the requests.

Critics of Tacker have previously argued she wastes government time and taxpayer money by submitting a large number of record requests. However, the California Public Records Act allows citizens to submit requests, and Tacker has discovered misuses of public resources by doing so.

When asked for comment, Tacker questioned Bocanegra’s use of taxpayer funds.

“It is a fishing expedition at the cost to the taxpayers,” Tacker said. “By targeting volunteers and government watchdogs, they are putting a chill on public participation.”

Hill also spoke critically over Bocanegra’s flurry of requests.

“It looks like harassment, but they have every right to request public records,” Hill said.

Each of the record requests obtained by CalCoastNews were submitted by Bocanegra. Tompkins did not respond, either, to requests for comment.

Mack previously said supporters of Tompkins were trying to have him removed from the planning commission before the developer has another project come before the body.

“They are trying to conspire against me to help push Nick’s projects forward,” Mack said.

After the Arroyo Grande City Council approved his project, Tompkins filed several complaints against Mack with the California Fair Political Practices Commission. The FPPC then rejected the complaints, clearing Mack of any conflict of interest.

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I look forward to learning what they find out!


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Hold your breath….and wait!


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I guess we will see if our new city manager has what it takes to get control of a out of control staff or if she will just be a seat filler, as her predecessor was.


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City Manager Dianne Thompson is the keynote speaker at Wednesday’s AGGB Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

Get your tickets now!


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I believe Mr. McFall did a fantastic job during his short time here, he did far more than warm the seat. He seemed to work well with each of the council members, was friendly and outgoing with the public and in my opinion, wanted to help guide tthe council and community back to smoother waters after all the upheaval. He actively participated in each and every meeting, his style was refreshing and brought a calmness to the chambers.


I am very interested to learn Mrs. Thompson’s thoughts and ideas for moving AG forward. Hopefully she’s had enough time to make her observations, and we’ll soon see her implementing some changes to put her touch on her new home city.


After all, if nothing else–our last election was a shout out for CHANGE!


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One problem is we still have too many “old regime” people working at the city. We just have to see if our new city manager will run her staff or if her staff will run her.


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Calling for records from political activists like Julie Tacker is a clear sign Tompkins has been forced to stoop to intimidation to effect his goal.


Whether Tompkins realizes it or not, stooping to records requests for public activists like Tacker sends a clear message: he cannot reach his goal and so must stoop to intimidation.


Tacker’s opinions are always backed by rock-solid evidence. She has a long history of political activism in SLO County, and is a strong and highly effective political advocate against corruption and cronyism.


AND she does not bow to intimidation by powerful forces. If anything, it makes her more determined to get to the truth.


Tacker has often shed light on corruption and political malfeasance by her efforts. We are lucky in SLO County to have her as a public advocate.


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Glad to see you at the party, Mary!


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Where the hell are Pelican’s tunes?

Did they move to Palm Springs with Big Tony?


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I’m afraid you are incredibly naive on this one.


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Just when the community thought we had seen the last of the Tony Ferrara antecdotes and maniputation, we now have a new Tony! He should pack his bag and follow Ferrara and take his attorney! I don’t mind people taking action, hiring, researching, etc. in question but when you use harassing, imtimidating, scary tactics to go after people, I don’t care what your situation is, you are not wrong and guilty and you become the target.


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DEVELOPERS care about one thing MONEY


Mr. Tompkins does not care about the Master plan of Arroyo Grande.

He does not care about the children, young families and starting professionals in Arroyo Grande nor the seniors on fixed incomes.


Mr. Tompkins cares about himself, his family and his MONEY.


Never lose sight of his motivation.


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But, Julie Thacker is a developer, too (see http://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-tacker-b6a43810). Do your comments apply too her, as well?


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Why does my spell checker insist on spelling Julie’s last name Thacker instead of Tacker? Sheezzz, I hate it when it does thing like that!


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” my spell checker”


Good, you found the source of the problem, just like pointing fingers.


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unlisted says: “But, Julie Thacker is a developer, Linkedin….”


If its on Linkedin does not make it true, perhaps you can show us some of the projects she has developed?


Post links or stop the BS.


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You want a link? I gave a link, but it’s not good enough for you. I guess that any link to a site that includes facts that challenge your world view will never be acceptable to you. That’s what I call BS.


For your information, LinkedIn is a business networking site. It’s not an online version of the National Inquirer. Most of the information on a person’s LinkedIn page was written by that person. The list of skills on the page are things for which the page’s author wants endorsements.


Follow the link that I provided and you will find that Julie lists herself as the Administrative Assistant for JH Edwards, a real estate broker and developer. One of Julie’s top skills is listed as Real Estate Development. If she wasn’t a “developer” or didn’t want to be known as a developer, she would have removed that skill.


I don’t know any project that Julie and Edwards developed, but I know that they tried to redevelop the Oceano airport. I know that I said that Julie is a developer, I didn’t say that she’s a successful developer.


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Sounds like a “TONY” tactic…..think about ti.


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As I have stated before, I am late at this party — involving the Mack issue — and was never involved in the Cortland hearings.


Now that I have joined the party I feel left out knowing that as far as I know attorney Natalie Bocanegra has not issued any requests about me.


I feel left out — my feelings are hurt. I am depressed.


For all I am after is the truth and in doing the right things.


In considering the speculation as to who her employer is, I request she or her employer contact me directly if they concerned about what I am doing. Record searches on me are not necessary given my circumstance.


I am an open book whose challenge life is forestalling my emerging senility while admitting my distaste for things off-color in politics. Bocanegra’s inquiries certainly apply on this last point.


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Sounds like Tompkins is using Adam Hill’s playbook.


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Tompkins is very rich and he wants to be powerful.

This is bullying by the 1% at its finest.


So what.. Julie Tacker asked for public records. She can do that if she pleases and there is nothing anyone can do about it.

WTF!


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We shall see how quiet the community is now—now that there are people who are seeking to actively limit public participation.


Does Nick really think this is going to stop people from attending meetings, from asking questions, and from holding the city leaders accountable?


I predict this is going to backfire—big time.


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