Save Pomona from a Trash Station
United Voices of Pomona for Environmental Justice is a group of people that formed because of one terrible act on July 16, 2012. Six Pomona city council members had the power to vote on that night for the Valley Vista Regional Trash Transfer Station. And out of the 6 people, 4 people voted yes for this terrible station.
Of the hundreds of Pomona residents who were there that night, most were completely against the building of this trash station. Many many spoke out against the trash station. Their growing dismay with the proceedings was kept in check with threats from the city council. "If anyone speaks up or yells, you will be escorted out of the hearing," said Freddie Rodriguez, Pomona city council member.
When the decision was made in favor of the trash station, one man stood up and yelled, "shame on you, shame on all of you, you do not belong up there leading our city, you have condemned this community, shame on you!" Many people followed his lead, voiced their disapproval and left. Those people that stood up and spoke out against that terrible vote met up in the lobby and formed United Voices of Pomona for Environmental Justice.
Since that night, United Voices has organized to find ways to expose the abundant corruption that surrounds this transfer station and the council people that voted for it.
What we found out was startling.
Political Corruption
In his 2008 campaign, the Mayor of Pomona, Elliott Rothman was given thousands of dollars by the very president of Valley Vista Trash Company, the company that is building this waste station! Now it makes sense, the mayor of Pomona is looking after his campaign contributor, not the people of Pomona.
For this reason, the Mayor was excluded from voting on July 16 2012 because of conflict of interest.
But there was even more corruption.
Four council members voted yes for this trash station.
- Paula Lantz
- Stephen Atchley
- Danielle Soto
- Ginna Escobar
Out of these four people, three of them"”Paula Lantz, Stephen Atchley, and Danielle Soto"”received thousands from Valley Vista for their campaigns in 2008. Why were they still allowed to vote? Because that money was hidden behind something called an independent expenditure committee. Under the alias, "Citizens for a Safer and Greener Pomona," and "Citizens for Change in Local Government" these council members indirectly received thousands from Valley Vista. David Perez, the president of Valley Vista, was the president of this alias committees. All the money that was donated into these committees are all from David Perez through different organization names.
Election Season, November 2012
November 2012 came, and United Voices of Pomona for Environmental Justice organized and went out to the community to expose these corrupt politicians. Our members went door to door to drop off letters that told the truth about this trash story, it told the truth about the corruption. One thing was clear from all of the community members that we talked to: six people on July 16 2012 did not have the right to vote on something so monumental to the health, people, and future of Pomona. Six people should not have voted for an entire city! Pomona residents should have been given that chance, the city should have put that decision on the November ballot; but they declined and went behind our backs for their own interest.
In the election, however, residents spoke up and voted out two of those corrupt council members (Stephen Atchley, and Danielle Soto). Citizens voted in two wonderful individuals that actually care about Pomona and its people (John Nolte and Debra Martin). Nolte and Martin oppose the trash station and want a clean, healthy, and safe Pomona.
Paula Lantz only won by 100 votes, and the Mayor with his abundance of campaign money won because his two opponents split the vote. We will continue to expose these two until they are out of city council and can do no further harm to this city or any other city.
Lawsuit
United Voices of Pomona is still fighting.We continue to meet every Monday to organize. Our main focus as a group right now is to continue to raise awareness and to inform our community and surrounding communities that there is corruption in our city and we cannot accept that corruption. We have also been raising money to pay for legal fees that are connected to the lawsuit against Valley Vista.
In August 2012, a member of United Voices of Pomona, James Sanbrano filed a lawsuit against Valley Vista citing that there were many factors that were skipped over, ignored, or blatantly disregarded in the presentation of this project.
The court hearing is set to take place on April 30, 2013. We need to raise $15,000 to pay for all the legal fees. We feel like we have a very strong case with substantial evidence of corruption and good solid facts to either completely kill this trash station project, or make it go back to city council, and let the entire city vote on it.
For a complete outline of the lawsuit, go here:
Outline of Lawsuit against Valley Vista Trash company
A Truly Cleaner, Greener Pomona
We want to see a Pomona with more trees, more clean jobs, more sustainable practices that will pave the way for all Pomona residents to live in a better city.
We don't want a Pomona where we can't even see the foothills and mountains because of all the smog and pollution. We don't want a Pomona where we have to worry about being outdoors because of all the air pollution and carcinogens in the air. We don't want a Pomona where our water is contaminated to the point where it's not even safe to shower in. We don't want a Pomona that is full of trash! We want a better future for this beautiful city and its wonderful people.
Please help us raise $15000 so we can pay for our legal fees, any amount is greatly appreciated and there are rewards for donation amounts, if you want to remain anonymous and don't want any reward that is completely okay with us, just leave a comment in the comment box to let us know. If you would like to receive a reward just provide your email address so we can contact you!
If you want more information, have any questions, or would like to join us in the fight to protect this city and neighboring cities, please email us at [email redacted]
Also, if you want more information please visit our website-
http://unitedvoicesofpomona.wordpress.com/