To the Editor:
Letter to Editor – WHY RISK LAWSUITS AND FINANCIAL LOSSES?

In these difficult economic times, why do the backers of Measure I want to put the city at risk legally and financially?

• From 1991 to the present, the City has already lost over $2.7 million in state revenues and the City cannot afford any additional losses in revenues.
• Measure I will reduce revenue to the Redevelopment Agency by 50% from over $2.1 million per year to approximately $1million.
• Measure I will be a negative impact on the City due to estimated ANNUAL revenue loss from $106,000 to $146,000 per year.
• The City Attorney has stated that the City should be prepared to incur attorneys’ fees if a legal action is commenced challenging the validity of the Measure I.

On September 4, 2008 I wrote a letter to the editor summarizing a list of facts that can be found on the City of Fillmore website regarding the impacts of Measure I on the City of Fillmore if the measure were to pass. In response to my listing the facts and suggesting that the voters familiarize themselves with these facts before voting on Measure I, the supporters of Measure I have responded by hurling false and misleading allegations about my motivations. I guess by assailing me, they believe they can distract voters away from the legal and financial risks that Measure I presents.

Dorsey Smith in his letter of September 11, 2008 implies I have no creditability since I am an “ex-city manager, a well-paid consultant and chose not to live in Fillmore” and that I am only saying what the City Council wanted me to say. Mr. Dorsey, I have not been asked, or directed, or PAID by anyone to comment on Measure I. I have simply chosen to exercise my right to free speech and to point out the facts. If you choose to interpret those facts as scare tactics, then I would suggest that the reason you see them as scare tactics is because the facts point out the flaws in Measure I.

Bob Stroh in his letter of September 18, 2008 states “Roy Payne, in his opposition piece to Measure I chose not to disclose that he will profit if Measure I fails”. Mr. Stroh has no proof of this and I emphatically deny Mr. Stroh’s bold-faced canard. , I have no financial interest in the North Fillmore Specific Plan and I have no intention whatsoever to be involved in any future development projects in North Fillmore. My interest is clear and simple, I have asked that the voters of Fillmore read the facts about the financial and legal risks that are inherent if Measure I passes, so that they are fully informed before they vote.

Roy Payne
Fillmore City Manager (1989 -2005)

To the Editor:
We would really appreciate it very much, if you would print this letter in The Fillmore Gazette.
My husband Gerd is fighting cancer for the last year and a half. The first time around it was throat cancer, which has been treated and is gone. Now he was diagnosed with cancer again on his lungs.
We have been banking at the Santa Clara Valley Bank, since we moved to Fillmore 6 years ago. The staff of the SCV Bank has been so wonderful to us all these years. Since I have been very upset these last 2 weeks about my husband having cancer again, the entire staff of the SCV-bank were absolutely wonderful to me. They even went one step further, each person took the time to write something sweet in a card and send it to us. How wonderful is that.
We really like to express our gratitude to every one at Santa Clara Valley Bank, Fillmore, Sespe Ave. for their support and making us feel to be part of their family.
Gerd and Ilona Kalbreyer,
Fillmore

To the Editor:
With the closing of the Chrysler Jeep agency, that leaves Fillmore with one auto dealership.
When my family moved to Fillmore in August 1939, Fillmore was about 3,300 people. My Dad bought a rundown variety store at 330 Central Ave., and built it into a thriving little business. Back to auto dealership; Fillmore had six of them. Strathern Motors Ford, later Fillmore Ford, William L. Morris Chevrolet and Oldsmobile (still here?), Rudkin Motor Service, Desoto Plymouth, later Dodge, Ted Baker Buick, Jones Brothers Pontiac GMC, and Gazzaway Hudson.
It just makes you wonder what happens when populations increase.
Bill Stocker,
Fillmore