Comments on: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back for Democracy at Tulare Public Cemetery District https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2020/08/31/on-step-forward-two-steps-back-for-democracy-at-tulare-public-cemetery-district/ In-depth, locally-produced coverage of the Central Valley. Thu, 23 Apr 2026 19:43:55 -0700 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Xavier Avila https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2020/08/31/on-step-forward-two-steps-back-for-democracy-at-tulare-public-cemetery-district/#comment-76042 Xavier Avila Sat, 19 Sep 2020 00:27:59 +0000 http://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/?p=33775#comment-76042 In reply to <a href="https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2020/08/31/on-step-forward-two-steps-back-for-democracy-at-tulare-public-cemetery-district/#comment-75949">Asking for a friend</a>. It’s not a brown act violation for board members to discuss board meeting dates and times . In reply to Asking for a friend.

It’s not a brown act violation for board members to discuss board meeting dates and times .

]]> By: Asking for a friend https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2020/08/31/on-step-forward-two-steps-back-for-democracy-at-tulare-public-cemetery-district/#comment-75949 Asking for a friend Thu, 17 Sep 2020 17:11:14 +0000 http://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/?p=33775#comment-75949 VV asks "The one unanswered question is, how did Avila, Pennington and Presant coordinate their efforts to vacate Gilson’s seat, decide on conducting strictly in-person meetings, and move the venue from the district office to the First Baptist Church without violating the Brown Act open meetings laws?" The only conclusion that can be reached is 3 Board Members conferred, either by way of a serial meeting, or a three way discussion, prior to the matter being agendized, as it is today. And if so, why would their attorney be ready to go along with an agreement between 3 board members that operated in some kind of potential violation of the Brown Act. Board Member Gilson's appearance at meetings via telephone should have been made available to her from the time of the Governor's order. It's seems it is also a County BOS selection to decide who shall be removed and who shall serve at their pleasure during the remainder of a Board Member"s appointment. Preamble of the Brown Act: “The people of this State do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies which serve them,” states the preamble to the Ralph M. Brown Act. “The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know." Nothing like a little sunshine to clear out the secrets. VV asks “The one unanswered question is, how did Avila, Pennington and Presant coordinate their efforts to vacate Gilson’s seat, decide on conducting strictly in-person meetings, and move the venue from the district office to the First Baptist Church without violating the Brown Act open meetings laws?”
The only conclusion that can be reached is 3 Board Members conferred, either by way of a serial meeting, or a three way discussion, prior to the matter being agendized, as it is today. And if so, why would their attorney be ready to go along with an agreement between 3 board members that operated in some kind of potential violation of the Brown Act.
Board Member Gilson’s appearance at meetings via telephone should have been made available to her from the time of the Governor’s order. It’s seems it is also a County BOS selection to decide who shall be removed and who shall serve at their pleasure during the remainder of a Board Member”s appointment.
Preamble of the Brown Act:
“The people of this State do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies which serve them,” states the preamble to the Ralph M. Brown Act. “The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know.”
Nothing like a little sunshine to clear out the secrets.

]]> By: Barbara Kane https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2020/08/31/on-step-forward-two-steps-back-for-democracy-at-tulare-public-cemetery-district/#comment-73223 Barbara Kane Tue, 01 Sep 2020 20:45:33 +0000 http://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/?p=33775#comment-73223 Ain't that the truth! lol Ain’t that the truth! lol

]]> By: Dannette https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2020/08/31/on-step-forward-two-steps-back-for-democracy-at-tulare-public-cemetery-district/#comment-73200 Dannette Tue, 01 Sep 2020 19:30:41 +0000 http://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/?p=33775#comment-73200 In reply to <a href="https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2020/08/31/on-step-forward-two-steps-back-for-democracy-at-tulare-public-cemetery-district/#comment-73180">Barbara Kane</a>. Yes that worked for John Steinbeck when he wrote "The Grapes of Wrath" Tulare County evils were well-documented in that book and nothing seems to have changed. In reply to Barbara Kane.

Yes that worked for John Steinbeck when he wrote “The Grapes of Wrath” Tulare County evils were well-documented in that book and nothing seems to have changed.

]]> By: Barbara Kane https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2020/08/31/on-step-forward-two-steps-back-for-democracy-at-tulare-public-cemetery-district/#comment-73180 Barbara Kane Tue, 01 Sep 2020 18:20:15 +0000 http://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/?p=33775#comment-73180 In reply to <a href="https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2020/08/31/on-step-forward-two-steps-back-for-democracy-at-tulare-public-cemetery-district/#comment-73114">Alberto Aguilar</a>. If you believe that this is business as usual with all of the above individuals as the players then by all means send a complaint to California District Attorney Becerra's office. If Becerra's office declines to get involved then you really should step away and get on with your life. Your talents are being wasted trying to protect a town that doesn't want you to protect them. Life is short, don't waste it spinning your wheels when it becomes apparent that you will never make it past go. Spend you time writing a best seller about the grift and corruption you found here in "Tulare Place" (it might be better that you change the names of the people and the name of the town.... wouldn't want these people getting richer off of lawsuits against you). In reply to Alberto Aguilar.

If you believe that this is business as usual with all of the above individuals as the players then by all means send a complaint to California District Attorney Becerra’s office. If Becerra’s office declines to get involved then you really should step away and get on with your life. Your talents are being wasted trying to protect a town that doesn’t want you to protect them. Life is short, don’t waste it spinning your wheels when it becomes apparent that you will never make it past go. Spend you time writing a best seller about the grift and corruption you found here in “Tulare Place” (it might be better that you change the names of the people and the name of the town…. wouldn’t want these people getting richer off of lawsuits against you).

]]> By: Xavier Avila https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2020/08/31/on-step-forward-two-steps-back-for-democracy-at-tulare-public-cemetery-district/#comment-73174 Xavier Avila Tue, 01 Sep 2020 18:06:14 +0000 http://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/?p=33775#comment-73174 In reply to <a href="https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2020/08/31/on-step-forward-two-steps-back-for-democracy-at-tulare-public-cemetery-district/#comment-73114">Alberto Aguilar</a>. Alberto , at our May 30 2018 meeting. You spoke for 30 minutes on the agenda item names “ Charges against Phillip Deal . You accused him of fraud and embezzlement. Do you still hold this opinion that Phillip Deal was not a qualified board member? https://www.facebook.com/vickimama/videos/10211448054534183/ In reply to Alberto Aguilar.

Alberto , at our May 30 2018 meeting. You spoke for 30 minutes on the agenda item names “ Charges against Phillip Deal . You accused him of fraud and embezzlement. Do you still hold this opinion that Phillip Deal was not a qualified board member? https://www.facebook.com/vickimama/videos/10211448054534183/

]]> By: Alberto Aguilar https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2020/08/31/on-step-forward-two-steps-back-for-democracy-at-tulare-public-cemetery-district/#comment-73114 Alberto Aguilar Tue, 01 Sep 2020 14:26:02 +0000 http://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/?p=33775#comment-73114 The drama at Tulare Public Cemetery would have ceased a long time ago if the Office of Tulare County District Attorney did their job. The DA's office, Supervisor Pete Vander Poel, County Counsel, Xavier Avila, Stephen Presant, Linda Maloy, and members of the public are well aware of the on-going illegal activites by the cemetery district office manager, that include but are not limited to: Falsifying Payroll Records, Paying herself and other employees for hours not worked, nepotism, and Gift of Public Funds. I have asked to have these matters placed on the Board's agenda however the chairmen of the board have refused my requests. The officers of the board continue to condone these illegal activities instead of complying with the law as noted within CA Penal Code 424. Since the office manager has continually refused to provide me with information I have had to hire an attorney to help me. The Chairman is denting the requests by Trustee Gilson and myself from placing items on the board's agenda. The public needs to get involved and ask for accountability of the on-going mismanagement and misuse of public funds. This is a Public Cemetery, not a private business. The drama at Tulare Public Cemetery would have ceased a long time ago if the Office of Tulare County District Attorney did their job. The DA’s office, Supervisor Pete Vander Poel, County Counsel, Xavier Avila, Stephen Presant, Linda Maloy, and members of the public are well aware of the on-going illegal activites by the cemetery district office manager, that include but are not limited to: Falsifying Payroll Records, Paying herself and other employees for hours not worked, nepotism, and Gift of Public Funds. I have asked to have these matters placed on the Board’s agenda however the chairmen of the board have refused my requests. The officers of the board continue to condone
these illegal activities instead of complying with the law as noted within CA Penal Code 424. Since the office manager has continually refused to provide me with information I have had to hire an attorney to help me. The Chairman is denting the requests by Trustee Gilson and myself from placing items on the board’s agenda. The public needs to get involved and ask for accountability of the on-going mismanagement and misuse of public funds. This is a Public Cemetery, not a private business.

]]> By: Phillip Deal https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2020/08/31/on-step-forward-two-steps-back-for-democracy-at-tulare-public-cemetery-district/#comment-72994 Phillip Deal Tue, 01 Sep 2020 04:46:38 +0000 http://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/?p=33775#comment-72994 Barbara Kane you nailed it!! Barbara Kane you nailed it!!

]]> By: Barbara Kane https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2020/08/31/on-step-forward-two-steps-back-for-democracy-at-tulare-public-cemetery-district/#comment-72991 Barbara Kane Tue, 01 Sep 2020 04:02:17 +0000 http://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/?p=33775#comment-72991 All this drama playing out over and over again is so damn predictable and tiresome. This is no longer a functioning cemetery board. It is an in-house tag team fight club, 3 on one side and 2 on the other. There is more than enough hypocrisy to go around. Avila, Pennington, and Presant with the help of Zaheen keep trying to bully and push Gilson out and if Alberto would just leave too that would please them to no end. If Gilson lives in Missouri far more time than living in Tulare, legal or not she should resign her seat. She knows this but she probably doesn't want to give those pesky 3 amigos any kind of satisfaction. Alberto is a very proud and stubborn man; right is right and wrong is wrong and he took an oath to do his job and by God no one's going to stop him. I personally think his talents are wasted serving on this board of misfits and they sure as hell will continue to make his life a living hell, as bullies often do. In the meantime each and every one of them are making Tulare Comedy Central around here (along with Jones and Nunley on the city council). Stay tuned for our local soap box saga of AS TULARE TURNS (and turns and turns and turns). All this drama playing out over and over again is so damn predictable and tiresome. This is no longer a functioning cemetery board. It is an in-house tag team fight club, 3 on one side and 2 on the other. There is more than enough hypocrisy to go around. Avila, Pennington, and Presant with the help of Zaheen keep trying to bully and push Gilson out and if Alberto would just leave too that would please them to no end. If Gilson lives in Missouri far more time than living in Tulare, legal or not she should resign her seat. She knows this but she probably doesn’t want to give those pesky 3 amigos any kind of satisfaction. Alberto is a very proud and stubborn man; right is right and wrong is wrong and he took an oath to do his job and by God no one’s going to stop him. I personally think his talents are wasted serving on this board of misfits and they sure as hell will continue to make his life a living hell, as bullies often do. In the meantime each and every one of them are making Tulare Comedy Central around here (along with Jones and Nunley on the city council). Stay tuned for our local soap box saga of AS TULARE TURNS (and turns and turns and turns).

]]> By: Phillip Deal https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2020/08/31/on-step-forward-two-steps-back-for-democracy-at-tulare-public-cemetery-district/#comment-72990 Phillip Deal Tue, 01 Sep 2020 04:01:54 +0000 http://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/?p=33775#comment-72990 They obviously conducted a serial meeting which violates the Brown Act. They obviously conducted a serial meeting which violates the Brown Act.

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