Is this all Orange Cove has to offer?

Apparently, there isn't too much to do in Orange Cove! I base this on the fact that a good majority if its residents spend an astronomical amount of time "trolling" and posting on public message boards. Don't get me wrong, I think it's a great way to stay informed about current and upcoming events...had they utilized it as such! But nooooo, not the residents of the "land that time forgot"...no, they use it to...well..read for yourself..(posts obtained from Topix message boards)

Who wants to be my friend?
Magsjaks:Of course!! I want to be friends with you, Scooby. I like your snacks!!

Scooby Doo: This is so sweet! I can't seem to find Other concerned citizen and I thought I was friendless. But I see there are some that want to be my friend. magsjaks you are great to hang in there with me. Thanks! I think I will have a good weekend now!:)

JGarceea:Poor Scooby, I'll share snacks with you anyday!

Scooby Doo:Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! Why did someone judge my friend magsjaks the lemon, which means 'OFFTOPIC'? Mags was responding about being my friend and that is what this topix is about. I'm confused! I need snacks!!! Aw thanx mags! A round of snacks for everyone!

Esther Gonzalez Tamales! She sells are they good!

Law & Order (good lord):don't need to vote, she has great food. she does not have a business of any kind, past is the past.
keep going krank heads.

A neighbor:Actually your right ! She doesnt have a business . And she does sell food ,because I'm one of her customers. The problem is she doesnt have a business Licence.

joebrown31: I don't understand why everybody says that the mayor is corrupt. When Esther Gonzalez is probably the most corrupt person on the council, her and her family selling food at school's, the clinic and other places while she's on disability. With no business license, no sellers permit, no food handlers permit, and no clearance from the health department, while she's on disability, and not paying any taxes, right there she's breaking several city,county, and state laws.

(I must mention that some asshat actually took the time to create a poll where you could choose yes or no)

This was just from one topix board! But you get the point! People, people, people..for the love of god step away from the computers! Do something..anything. Hell, there's a useless BMX park that's just dying (literally) to get some action!

Everyone who knows me knows that if I'm wrong..I say I'm wrong! That being said, I do owe the NORMAL residents of Orange Cove an apology. It's been brought to my attention that a great majority of the posts are from a few select individuals:..screen name: post..new screen name: post..screen name: post..you get the message! No, they're not bi-polar ( I think) but they have so few who agree with them, they have to resort to lauding themselves. Scary..a bit creepy..but incredibly entertaining (look for blog containing fake names and crazy posts in a day or two). But that's not the gist of it! No, they have the audacity to accuse other posters of using fake names! Cowards! Anyway, my "moles" on the inside have come across some individuals names they believe may be the anonymous posters! Got my shovel, time to start digging!

Mayor Lopez faces fines over mailer

Mayor, city accused of misusing taxpayer funds.
Posted at 11:42 PM on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009
By Chris Collins / The Fresno Bee

The city of Orange Cove and its longtime mayor, Victor Lopez, each face possible fines amid accusations that they broke a state law prohibiting the use of taxpayer funds to mail campaign material to voters.

City Manager Alan Bengyel acknowledged Tuesday that the city is working on resolving the issue with the California Fair Political Practices Commission, which is responsible for enforcing election laws. The commission board will meet next month to vote on whether the city and Lopez should each pay a $1,750 fine.

In a letter to the city dated Oct. 7, the commission said that Lopez and the city violated the Political Reform Act in July 2006 when the city mailed a flier to every resident in Orange Cove titled: "Mayor's Report to the Citizens of Orange Cove -- 2001 to 2005." The city's cost to mail the flier was about $3,400, Bengyel said.

The bilingual flier credited Lopez and the City Council with "working together" to improve the city. But it mostly focussed on what it described as the mayor's efforts to win grants -- a job that is largely the responsibility of the city staff.

"Mayor Lopez has invested considerable effort [into] promoting the city of Orange Cove, which has resulted in direct funding to the city and its residents of over $63 million," the flier read.

It also claimed that Lopez and then-Council Member Roy Rodriguez "spent thousands of hours working without compensation to achieve these results." Lopez, however, has worked for the government-funded Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission since 1971 as a "rural development specialist" and is paid $43,000 a year to attract grants and promote economic development.

The flier was sent out a little more than three months before Lopez was re-elected mayor for the sixth straight time. It was one of the rare elections when Lopez faced any contenders.

One of his two challengers in that race, former City Council Member Frank Martinez, said that he complained to then-City Manager Bill Little that the flier was essentially a taxpayer-funded campaign mailer. He said Little insisted that it was an informational flier only.

Both Martinez and Council Member Glenda Hill said that the flier was approved by the City Council before it was mailed out. But, they said, the version approved by the council was different from the one that was sent out. Hill said that the council-approved version did not focus on Lopez nearly as much.

"I was kind of upset about that flier," said Martinez, who served on the City Council from 1980 to 2005. "It was totally wrong, totally wrong."

It's unclear when the state commission started its investigation or why the inquiry has taken so long. A commission spokesman said he could not comment on the case because it is not resolved.

Lopez said Tuesday that he has signed a statement admitting that he violated the law and has agreed to pay the fine. But, he said, he only did so because that was less expensive than hiring an attorney to defend him.

"I had nothing to do with it," Lopez said of the flier. "But they said that since my name was on it and since I was running for office, I would have to be part of the fine."

The reporter can be reached at ccollins@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6412.


The more I learn about this guy, the more I come to despise him and his ilk! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THE VOTING CITIZENS OF ORANGE COVE? WISE UP PEOPLE!

Mayor Lopez's Travel Expenses

Okay, let me see if I understand this correctly! Orange Cove is one of the POOREST cities in California, yet according to an article published in the Los Angeles Times
"Lopez's penchant to travel the world-China, Mexico, and elsewhere- in the name of official business-over the past five years has cost the city nearly $174,000" (Salladay). The author also notes that Lopez's expenses were higher than Governor Schwarzenegger's FOREIGN TRAVEL EXPENSES! That's a lot of freaking oranges.

In an article from July, the Bee reported that Lopez — mayor of one of the state's poorest cities with a high unemployment rate and gang problems — had received dozens of extra travel "allowances" worth $300 each for attending meetings. One was just 10 miles away. The city didn't require receipts to justify travel expenses until May.And, according to Eldon Thompson "Lopez has spent tens of thousand$ on TRAVEL from 2005-2009. Primarily to Sacto, Southern CA (Paul Rodgriguez + LA area politicos), day trips and overnighters throughout CA for the Ca Latino Water Coaliton, and much more".

Some of Mayor Lopez's expenditures (primarily funded by the tax paying citizens of Orange Cove):

[$] LOPEZ - Morton's The Steakhouse (Washington D.C.)-$80.03 for dinner for one (that includes a $7.00 baked potato)

[$] LOPEZ - The Watergate Hotel -$35.54 for two bottles of Evian Water (these are about two bucks each in a convenience store)

[$] LOPEZ - Morton's The Steakhouse (L.A.)-$79.01 for dinner for one (with same old $7.00 baked potato)

[$] LOPEZ - Wilshire Grand Hotel -$26.92 for breakfast for one (includes Quaker Oats for $7.00)

[$] LOPEZ - Bashear Chevron mini-mart -$3.16 for a bottle of water and a Hostess Ding-Dong

[$] LOPEZ - Esquire Grill -$89.46 for dinner for TWO (Lopez and Rodriguez – it is written on the receipt).. further research indicates that Rodriguez was paid a $60/day meal allowance, BUT Lopez pays for dinner, Rodriguez keeps his ca$h and Lopez charges the taxpayers for the meal (aka –“Double Dipping”)-- an aggressive/thoughtful investigator may call that fraud and misuse of public fund$.

~~~~~
Someone has some esplaining to dooo!

(Information obtained via Eldon Thompson "Government Accountability". topix board)

He's got a camera phone and he's not afraid to use it

Now, I know this is supposed to be an "expose" but all work and no "snark" makes Jordan...well, it just makes me sad! Besides I see nothing wrong with the occasionally rant! And nothing, and I mean NOTHING gets my blood boiling than someone who threatens an elderly person. Which brings us to the jackass pictured above.

This is Victor Lopez Jr.! Yes, the eldest son of Orange Cove's embattled Mayor. And what is he doing? He is attempting to intimidate a man by the name of Eldon Thompson..resident of Orange Cove, outspoken critic of Mayor Lopez, and current police commissioner. "Why" you might ask? Because Mr. Thompson was parked ACROSS THE STREET from the useless BMX bike park taking pictures. Junior, who works as a security guard at the park (fox, hen house, fox, hen house)saw him and proceeded to walk over to Thompson's car and glare at him through his window. Two things came to mind! What kind of asshat would hire this guy as a security guard? Soon found out it was his father who gave him the job. Another reason why the man should not be running a city, hell, I wouldn't put him in charge of running my bath. And secondly...what's up with JR.pointing his camera phone at Mr. Thompson? Was he trying to "shoot" him? Well..thank goodness Jr. isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer and never realized that a camera can't really do one any harm, although it can forever capture someone making a complete jackass of himself! Apparently the gentleman behind the lens was aware of that! Kudos!

(Image: property of Eldon Thompson. Topix.com :Feeble Attempt at Intimidation")

They're Heeeere

A day that many Orange Covians had hoped for (with the exception of the Mayor, Councilwoman Del Bosque,and anyone connected to them) became a reality! On December 16th, 2009..the city of Orange Cove greeted the new members of its police force. What a great day! Good luck to Police Chief Frank Steenport and the departments ten new officers!

"Law & Order"

Hallelujah Orange Cove! Welcome to the 21st century! That's right, after 22 years of lawlessness, order will be restored in this quaint little community. And it's coming in the form of its very own police department.

This wasn't always so! You see, Orange Cove did have its own police department at one time! That is until the mayor-elect chose to disband it! That mayor? None other than Victor Lopez! Shit-for-brains disbanded it back in 1987! Now, if that isn't a fucking "red flag" then I don't know what is! His reasoning: Budget constraints. Anyway, fast forward to present day. Orange Cove city administrator Alan Bengyel, former city manager for Huron, presented a concept that was successfully used there as the basis for the development of an Orange Cove police department. Citing Orange Cove's contracts with the Fresno County Sheriffs department will cost the City $950,000 in 2009/2010, a significant increase over last year’s $758,000. Bengyl said that brings the cost very close to what he says could fund the City's own police department. And, according to Bengyel, with a few other steps,the City can afford to set up and operate the department until it is fully certified, and thus, eligible for state and federal law enforcement grants and other funding. Hell, sign me up! I don't even live there but I know a good thing when I see it! But not Mayor Lopez and Councilwoman Bertha Del Bosque. Both were adamantly against it!SHOCKER! According to Lopez "If you look at all the cities, financially they're all strapped," Lopez said in an interview. "We have a very poor community, and they cannot be taxed any more." Hey, maybe the new officers could patrol the city on BMX bikes...maybe turn the bike park into police headquarters...a training facility perhaps...anything, so it doesn't appear as though you basically flushed $500,000 down the proverbial crapper!

BMX bike what?

One of Mayor Lopez's greatest achievements was securing a $500,000 government grant for a state-of-the art BMX park. What the f*%k? One of the poorest communities in California has a bike park? Does anyone in the town even have a bike? Hell, can they afford one? My guess is "No"! I'm thinking they might be a little more concerned with putting food in their mouths than they would be about providing junior with an expensive bike. But you know, things are not always what they appear to be. Read the article published in the Fresno Bee and make your own conclusions!


"ORANGE COVE SPENT LAVISHLY ON BMX BIKE PARK THAT IS HARDLY USED"
An investigation found that the project ended up as a big loss for residents.
Records and interviews show the city spent lavishly on a park that today... is hardly used. The park has, however, caught the attention of state auditors, who wonder why the city can't account for some of the costs.

If Orange Cove can't satisfy all of the auditor's questions, the California State Parks Department might not release the $490,000 grant. That would force the city to dig into its meager budget of $1.7 million or tap reserves to cover the costs -- a heavy blow in a town where more than one in three workers is unemployed.

Records and interviews show that city officials broke their own rules in handling the project. They awarded no-bid contracts without City Council approval, kept incomplete records, failed to have all parties sign contracts and paid an electrical-supply company nearly $139,000 -- even though it didn't have a contract with the city.

The city put the son of Mayor Victor Lopez in charge of overseeing the park's construction, even though he had no engineering experience. He also got paid for construction security work that he says he never did. In addition, he was paid to provide security for the city's adjacent skate park for 31/2 years, even though his contract was supposed to last only six months.

The Bee interviewed more than a dozen current and former officials from Orange Cove and other government agencies for this story and reviewed hundreds of pages of documents.

Mayor Lopez, 66, denies any wrongdoing and insists there are explanations for any irregularities in the city's financial records. "I've been here for 30 years and can hold my head high," Lopez said. "We've done nothing wrong."

When work began on the bike park in the summer of 2006, Lopez was facing one of his most competitive re-election challenges. Odilon Ortiz, the city's former finance manager, contends that the mayor so desperately wanted the park built before Election Day that he classified the project as an emergency and told city officials to ignore normal contract bidding rules.

Ortiz was finance manager from November 2005 until he was fired in June 2007 after the city manager at the time accused him of having a "bad attitude." He has filed a wrongful termination lawsuit; city officials won't comment on Ortiz because of the suit.

In the end, the park cost about $800,000 to build -- including the city's share of about $300,000. One contractor who worked on the project and who has helped build other BMX parks said most comparable projects cost about $100,000.

"I couldn't believe they were spending that kind of money on that thing," said Bill Wilson, who manages Tulare-based Valley Pump & Dairy Systems, which helped build the park's drainage system and retaining walls. "It was a little overkill, but that's what they wanted. If we suggested something, they suggested something a little nicer."

Mayor Lopez said the project was worth the taxpayer money because it is a "first-class" facility that helps boost the community's image.

But despite the big investment, few residents benefit. The park's hours are limited and city officials acknowledge that hardly anyone uses it.

Posted at 11:35 AM on Tuesday, May. 26, 2009
By Chris Collins / The Fresno Be

Orange Cove City Council

Before I start wading into the "cesspool" that is the Lopez administration, I must first identify the major players involved! Brief summary below:

1) Mayor Victor Lopez: A man who considers himself a crusader, a champion of farm worker rights! Instrumental in securing funding for a lavish BMX bike park in the city. Built a child development center, a community center, and is currently a member of the Latino Water Coalition (I will go more in depth regarding these "achievements" later on in this blog).Controversy surrounds this guy at every turn! You either despise him, or worship him...there's no middle ground!

2)Bertha Del Bosque: Councilwoman, school teacher, and one of Mayor Lopez's strongest allies!

3)Esther Gonzalez: Councilwoman, outspoken critic of Mayor Lopez. Recently voted that the city would no longer pay Lopez's travel expenses.

4)Gilbert Garcia: Councilman, also voted to end the cities funding of Lopez's travel expenses

5)Glenda Hill: Mayor Pro-Tem: President of the Orange Cove Area Chamber of Commerce, real estate agent, and central figure in a smear campaign led by Lopez's cohorts.

It should also be noted that Gonzalez, Garcia, and Hill voted to revive the cities police force. Lopez (who disbanded it in 1982) and Del Bosque voted against it!

Mayor Victor Lopez

There he is! Mayor Victor Lopez! One time lightweight boxer and longtime Orange Cove mayor! There are those who consider him a "hero" someone who is behind the "little guy" and wants what is best for the town and its citizens. To others he is a man consumed with power, one they deem so corrupt that rumors of election fraud run rampant every time he is re-elected.

My first observation of Lopez was one bewilderment! "This is the man everyone talks about?" "This is the one people fear?". I thought maybe I was missing something so I read article after article and watched interview after interview, yet still saw nothing that impressed me nor made me the least bit intimidated (growing up in L.A. may have desensitized me). No, what I saw was a man with shirt unbuttoned down to there, hair up to here...a man with a penchant for spewing obscenities in live interviews and town hall meetings, regardless of who is watching or listening...ahem, women & children. A man who constantly refers to himself in the third person and spews out lines that are reminiscent of 1970's cop shows...bad 70's cop shows!A man who names buildings, BUILDINGS, for christ sakes, after himself or other irrelevant members of his family and who calls comedian Paul Rodriguez "a close friend". Let's be honest, Paul Rodriguez, who's only claim to fame is some bad "B' movies and that horrible show "AKA Pablo" is the equivalent of me saying that I'm close friends with the guy who played Donatello in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise. Also irrelevant!

Anyway, two things came to mind! Just how much money changed hands to get this tool re-elected time and time again! And is this Guyana all over again...with Lopez the poor man's version of Jim Jones? In which case..DON'T DRINK THE KOOL-AID..kidding of course!

"Welcome to the O.C."

No, not that "O.C"! The one with the beautiful beaches, the freakishly gorgeous people, multimillion dollar mansions on every corner and fabulous cars parked in every driveway....No, the O.C. I'm referring to is good ol' Orange Cove, California! A small town located in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley. It is a small farming community of about ten thousand residents with a median income of about $22,000 dollars per family. It is a city almost completely cut off from human civilization and surrounded by orange groves. But that is not what makes Orange Cove "unique". No, it's that, upon closer inspection, you see a town so out of touch with reality, so archaic in their way of thinking..that you fear you've ventured into some alternate realm..some other planet. How else does one explain a city run by a man who calls himself the "Mayor", yet his actions run more along the lines of "Dictator"..and man who has held this position for close to three decades, who disbanded the town's police department close to twenty years ago, who had enough gumption to request that dancing be banned in the town AND WAS GRANTED THAT REQUEST? I'm getting ahead of myself here. Let's first take a look at said "Mayor"

New Blog

Loyal followers. Yes, this is a new blog that you've come upon!I chose to create one that related to Orange Cove and Orange Cove only! I wasn't aware of the firestorm that I created by posting about Mayor Lopez, and how passionate you all were in regards to your disdain for the man. And for those of you who support him, you are more than welcome to comment here also. Comments will be allowed shortly. The only requirement is that you DO NOT POST REPEATEDLY UNDER FAKE NAMES! As I've stated this is a new blog, so please be patient as I combine portions of my old blog with this one!

Peace, j-side