Welcome to The Banning Informer ! This website is dedicated to take you behind the scenes of the political arena in the City of Banning, CA. Here you will find information that you won’t find anywhere else. Our investigative articles are carefully researched and are documented whenever possible. You can contact The Banning Informer by clicking here. THIS WEBSITE IS CONSTANTLY UPDATED AS NEW INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE - PLEASE CHECK BACK FREQUENTLY
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INCREASE IN WATER RATES
The following article , published in March of 2010, explains the REAL REASON FOR THE PROPOSED INCREASE : it is DEBT SERVICE on a previous water bond that now drives up the water rates. The bond money has been spent by the City Council on the new 14 million police station, a new swimming pool, skate park and other items . In reality, the cost of water has very little to do with the proposed rate hike. Please read :
“The Sun Lakes “reclaimed water” fraud – or how Mayor Botts and rest of the Banning City Council stole your tax dollars” - click here
You can stop the water rate increase. Just download the form below and follow the instructions. Under Proposition 218 , if more than 50 % of accounts protest, the water rate increase shall be stopped.
DOWNLOAD YOUR “PROTEST FORM” HERE
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ALL STAR DODGE : yet another Redevelopment Disaster on Banning’s books ?
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Lyndon Taylor running for Banning City Council
7/14/10 - Banning resident Lyndon Taylor has announced his bid for City Council. Taylor, who has contributed to this website with numerous articles, is known as an outspoken critic of the Banning City Council. In 2008 he appeared on the political scene when he became one of the original authors of the “anti-sludge” petition ; this highly successful effort earned him the title : “The man who stopped the sludge”. Taylor also is highly critical of the Council’s most recent decision to ignore all Grand Jury recommendations. For his press release click here __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
It’s official : four City Council members defy the Grand Jury
. City Issues Official Response to Grand Jury
UPDATED 7/6/10 - The City of Banning has now filed their official response to the Grand Jury report . The response cover letter (view) states clearly that the City has no intention following the Grand Jury’s recommendations. – click here for more __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Botts, Hanna, Robinson funnel another $ 111,500 into Banning Cultural Alliance
6/25/10 - No, this is not a misprint – just further evidence that the Banning City Council is completely out of control : Mayor Bob Botts as well as Council members Barbara Hanna and Don “taxdodger” Robinson, forming a majority, just voted to give yet another $ 111,500 of your tax money to the unaccountable, scandal ridden Banning Cultural Alliance. – click here for full article __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Bob Botts : Banning’s greatest liability . - an editorial by Lyndon Taylor
6/18/10 – click here for editorial __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dictator Bob Botts’ idea of free speech : “leave the room”
6/10/10 - He does not like to be criticized and has long had a pattern of interrupting speakers critical of the council (view video here and here). But now it gets even worse : with an attitude reminiscent of that of a dictator, Mayor Bob Botts recently suggested that speakers who disagree with his point of view ought to “leave the room”. – click here for full article __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
“Curiouser and Curiouser !” - an editorial by Lyndon Taylor
6/1/10 - A line spoken by Alice in Wonderland could not be more apt for present day Banning! Just when you thought Banning couldn’t get more bizarre, something else happens! – click here for full article __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Talkshow host Victor Dominguez kicked out of the Rotary Club after criticizing City Council
5/29/10 - You may have read a recent front page article in Banning’s “rag” about KCAA 1050AM Radio talkshow host Victor Dominguez being kicked out of the San Gorgonio Rotary Club for – what he believes was – a speech he gave before the Banning City Council on May 11, 2010. The session’s subject of discussion was the proposed closing of the Senior Center, Community Center and Community pool due to the City’s ongoing fiscal crisis. Here is what Victor Dominguez actually said – click here for full article __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Record Gazette silent on the City Council’s response to Grand Jury – why ?
5/19/10 - When the Grand Jury issued their Report in late February of this year, the Record Gazette covered it as front page news. Now that the CRA (City Council) has formulated their response essentially defying the Grand Jury’s recommendations and letting the Banning Cultural Alliance keep $ 162,000 ( plus interest) in taxpayer money, the Record Gazette noticeably avoids covering the story anywhere. For all of what Record Gazette readers know, there was never a response to the Grand Jury by the City Council. Not even on the back pages could we find any mention of the City’s response. Why do you think such vital information is being withheld from the citizens of Banning ? Is the Record Gazette trying to protect a corrupt City Council from being thrown out of office ? – click here for full article __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Cultural Alliance Director caught lying about use of taxpayer money
5/9/10 - The Director of the Banning Cultural Alliance, Carol Newkirk, lied to the public when she stated that no public (redevelopment) funds were used for a political propaganda event . Documents obtained by the Banning Informer now show that the taxpayer forked up the money for “Hang the Politicians”, a so-called “art” exhibit promoting Mayor Bob Botts and Council member Don Robinson. - click here for full article __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Council member Don Robinson bounces several checks to Banning Utility – apparently without any consequences
4/26/10 - Don Robinson’s business, Renaissance Pet Resort and Spa, has bounced several checks to the Banning Utility . Contrary to the Utility’s written shut off policies, they did NOT tag Robinson’s business for non-payment nor was his business ever shut off . Unlike any other utility customer that fails to pay, Robinson was able to enjoy uninterrupted service for his business and did not have to stand in line to pay in person either ….. - click here for full article __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Independent auditors find “significant deficiencies” in City’s financial reporting
4/12/10 - The auditor’s report ( view ) states that fund balances for both the General Fund and the Redevelopment Fund had to be “restated” ( page 8 ), meaning the City’s books are significantly flawed. Furthermore, the City was entitled to over a million dollars in Federal Grants in 2008/09 but never asked for the money. The total expenditures of the City that were subject to these grants were $ 1,388,600 ( page 5 ). Under the program the Federal Government would have matched those funds. - click here for full article __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Government by Secrecy : Botts, Hanna, Robinson holding illegal secret meetings with Banning Cultural Alliance
4/1/10 - Conspiring against all citizens of Banning, three City Council members have been attending secret meetings organized by the Banning Cultural Alliance. The meetings , held under the ambiguous name “Banning Revitalization Initiative”, are conducted in secrecy : the public is not allowed to attend, there is no agenda available, no minutes are published and the time and location is being withheld. According to press reports the meetings are aimed at shaping City policy. – click here for full article __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Council member BARBARA HANNA : Socialist in sheep’s clothing
3/25/10 – Whatever side of the political fence a politician is on should always be easily recognizable by the public. Unfortunately, most professional politicians have hidden agendas that they cover up by an effective smoke screen. One of those professional politicians is Banning City Council Member Barbara Hanna – click here for full article __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Grand Jury Video Flashback : Who is responsible for funding the Banning Cultural Alliance ?
3/9/10 – Let’s look back at who voted for funding the Banning Cultural Alliance with complete lack of oversight : on June 23, 2009, the Community Redevelopment Agency voted to fund the Alliance with an additional $ 131,500. This article contains telling video from this session – click here for full article ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Grand Jury finds abuses by Banning City Government on many levels
2/27/10 – The Riverside County Grand Jury has issued a report that confirms what the Banning Informer has been pointing out all along : The Community Redevelopment Agency ( City Council ) is not doing its job, has overpaid for properties without appraisal and should immediately “cease and desist” funding the Banning Cultural Alliance. Furthermore, the CRA should ask the Alliance to immediately return $ 162,000 plus interest for services they never performed.
>>>>> DOWNLOAD GRAND JURY REPORT HERE <<<<<
CLICK HERE to podcast the latest “Pass Politics” Radio show discussing the Grand Jury Report – with hosts Victor Dominguez and Pam Rein – aired on March 3, 2010 – KCAA 1050 AM
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Corruption : Banning School Board President Amy Herr influences votes for personal financial gain
2/26/10 - Conflict of Interest laws say you can’t serve two masters. But that is exactly what Banning School Board President Amy Herr did when she influenced not one, but two votes on the Banning School Board, both resulting in handsome payoffs for herself. Aside from being the President of the Banning School Board , Herr acts also as Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of the San Gorgonio Pass and made sure the Club received two big contracts. – click here for full article __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
City Council allows Haven Coffee to operate without required permits
2/19/10 - Here is yet another example of Banning’s corruption and the “selective enforcement” that goes along with it : Haven Coffee , Banning’s government funded coffee house ( view previous article ) , apparently is above the law : it was allowed to open and continues to operate illegally without proper permits, without paying fees, without plans or City inspection, without Fire inspection, without safety inspection, and without displaying a valid business license - for 3 months now ! – click here for full article __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Banning’s biggest fraud : Council member Don Robinson
2/13/10 – Banning City Council member and confirmed tax dodger Don Robinson has made false claims – under oath – that he underwent training as a Navy S.E.A.L.. As we will show, Robinson’s Navy S.E.A.L. claims are taken straight from his sworn deposition and are a complete lie . – click here for full article __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
City Council member John Machisic lies in financial declarations
2/8/10 - For years, Banning City Council member John Machisic has been filing false declarations under penalty of perjury, lying about the true nature of his economic interest. – click here for full article __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
“High on the Hog” : Mayor Botts orders $ 65 Filet Mignon
2/1/10 - City employees are being laid off. Due to a severe budget crisis Banning City Hall remains closed on Fridays . But Mayor Bob Botts doesn’t seem to care : on an all-expense-paid trip to Washington D.C. in 2009 he ordered a Filet Mignon for $ 64.95 at the plush “Ruth Chris” Restaurant – and charged it to the Banning taxpayer. Way to go, Bob ! – click here for full article __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
MORE INSANITY : City Council (CRA) gets ready to spend hundreds of thousands on Cultural Alliance Art Gallery
1/27/10 - Layoffs and cutbacks in essential City services now are a daily reality within the City of Banning, which is facing the greatest financial crisis in it’s history . But the City Council seems to ignore the crisis : they are getting ready to spend at least $ 250,000 – and maybe as much as half a million – on the most non-essential building the City owns : an Art Gallery operated by the Banning Cultural Alliance - click here for full article __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
“Facade Grant” Monkey Business ?
1/16/10 - Allegations have surfaced that the Banning Redevelopment Agency ( City Council ) has been anything but responsible when it comes to distributing funds under the agency’s “Façade Grant “ program. - click here for full article __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Tax Delinquent Don Robinson unanimously re-confirmed as Chairman of CRA
1/2 /10 – In a move that can only be viewed as the ultimate insult to every Banning taxpayer , the City Council (CRA) on Dec. 8, 2009 unanimously reelected tax delinquent Don Robinson as chairman of the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) for yet another year. Several weeks before this vote was taken, the Banning Informer had exposed Don Robinson as not paying his fair share of taxes – click here for full article __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
UPDATED : Barbara Hanna took money from Special Interest – MORE QUESTIONABLE DONATIONS DISCOVERED
- an investigative report by The Banning Informer – 10/19/09 – updated 12/15/09
12/15/09 - The Banning Informer has learned that City Council member Barbara Hanna has been receiving funding from special interest in at least three five different cases – click here for full article __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Did Council member Hanna’s husband, Ed Ball, perform consulting services for the owners of the Oddfellows building ?
12/10/09 - It is no secret that Banning City Council member Barbara Hanna owns a consulting firm named “Hanna & Associates” which generates declared annual revenues between $ 10,000 and $ 100,000 (view page 2). Hanna’s husband, Ed Ball , is a partner in her firm , however, Hanna keeps the identity of all of her clients a secret. - click here for full article __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Only in Banning : City Council gives Free Rent on City owned building AND relinquishes $ 192,000 in income belonging to the taxpayer
12/2/09 – In mid 2008 the Community Redevelopment Agency (City Council) bought a building on 130 N. San Gorgonio for $ 450,000 specifically for use by the Banning Cultural Alliance as their Art Gallery. The taxpayer was told that this was a good deal for the City because rental income from the building was going to offset the cost of funds used for the purchase. As it turns out, nothing could be further from the truth. – click here for full article __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Redevelopment Disasters courtesy of City Councilmembers Hanna and Machisic (and others)
11/24/09 - If the Banning Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) was a business enterprise, chances are it would have been bankrupt a long time ago. Many projects that were approved for funding by City Councilmembers Barbara Hanna and John Machisic have gone sour : due to foreclosure proceedings they have ended up as a total loss to the taxpayer . - click here for full article __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
San Gorgonio Inn Redevelopment : Who takes the risk ?
11/20/09 – The US commercial real estate market is the worst it’s ever been and is on the verge of a total collapse. Commercial real estate financing is practically unavailable. Warnings of ghost malls, too much commercial real estate, rising vacancy rates are all over the place. So why on earth is the City of Banning thinking that we still need MORE retail and/or office space ? - click here for full article __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Is That The Coffee You Smell ? - by Lyndon Taylor
11/17/09 - Amazing things continue do happen in the operation of the City of Banning ! With Measure L settled and more taxpayer money flowing to the City, the Banning Community Redevelopment Agency has found a new way of spending tax dollars. Imagine someone comes to you requesting a $30,000 loan to start a coffee house in downtown Banning…. click here for full article __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
“Downtown Revitalization” efforts fail to attract any new businesses
11/12/09 – After receiving over $ 700,000.00 in Redevelopment Funds from the City of Banning , Cultural Alliance Executive Director Carol Newkirk is forced to admit that the Alliance’ activities have failed to attract even a single new business to Banning. – click here for full article __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The strangely identical voting records of Bob Botts (“Dr. Evil”) and Don Robinson (“Mini Me”)
11/5/09 – In this article we will examine the strangely identical voting records of Bob Botts and Don Robinson on the Banning City Council. In 2009, the Council voted a total of 89 times . Not a single time was Robinson’s vote different from that of Botts - click here for full article ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Councilman Don Robinson delinquent on over $ 20,000 in taxes
11/4/09 – He portrays himself as a responsible and honest businessman claiming to be qualified to sit on the City Council. As current Chairman of the Banning Redevelopment Agency Don Robinson decides how Millions of dollars in taxpayer funds are being spent. Yet a look at the tax roll reveals that he has not paid his own property taxes since 2005. - click here for full article ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The $ 110,000 Rip Off
10/28/09 – How the Banning Cultural Alliance ripped off the taxpayer for $ 110,000 – with the CRA (City Council) looking the other way click here for full article ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Expert warned against funding Banning Cultural Alliance
10/26/09 – In 2006, right before the City first contracted for “services” by the Banning Cultural Alliance, the acting Redevelopment Director Oscar Orci issued a memorandum in which he concluded that funding the Banning Cultural Alliance would be a bad idea. - click here for full article ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Grand Jury investigation focuses on City officials and Banning Cultural Alliance
10/23/09 : The Press Enterprise reports on a pending Riverside Grand Jury investigaton (click here). The focus appears to be on City funding of the Alliance. Since Botts, Hanna and Robinson unconditionally support the Alliance , they probably never imagined that the day would come when a demand for full accounting would be made. The Alliance says they are not concerned – but given what they have produced so far (view) maybe they should be . _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Banning Cultural Alliance : first audit raises more questions than it provides answers
10/19/09 – For several years – since 2006 – the Banning Cultural Alliance has received massive taxpayer funding from the City of Banning totaling roughly $ 750,000. However, how this money was used has always remained a mystery. Giving in to public pressure, the Banning Cultural Alliance has now released it’s first audit . – click here for full article ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Banning’s $110 Million Dollar Bond Debt – or how Hanna and Machisic mortgaged our future
10/19/09 – Most voters of Banning have little or no idea that in 2005 the City Council indebted Banning with over $ 110,000,000 for the next 30 years ! You may say this cannot be true. Why is it that we never got to vote on this ? No, this is not a misprint. Over Onehundred Million Dollars were borrowed in 2005/06 via several bond issues. This was voted for by no other than Barbara Hanna and John Machisic, who apparently thought that they – not the voters of Banning – should make the decision to borrow this unprecedented sum of money. They felt that they knew best what’s good for us. - click here for full article __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Your tax dollars at work - by Chuck Katz
10/19/09 – Very recently we learned that the Banning Cultural Alliance presented us with a show entitled “Hang the Politicians”. The event featured the “art” work of Mayor Bob Botts, Council member Don Robinson and former Council member Jenkins . Unfortunately the local press failed to mention a very important detail about this event: The City of Banning , meaning you the taxpayer, was the official “sponsor” of the event . - click here for full article ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Video : Botts and Hanna interrupt speaker critical of City Council
10/19/09 – During the public session of October 13, 2009 Banning resident Chuck Katz, an activist who helped defeat the Liberty sludge plant, addressed the City Council. He was cut off by Bob Botts acting in concert with Barbara Hanna - click here for video __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________