News Stories

“Are city officials in Atascadero using unethical and potentially illegal threats to force out downtown property owners?
"Pat, Sue, this is Marty Tracey from Atascadero. I want to give you a heads up. The City Council last night sitting in the redevelopment agency in closed session has directed staff to move forward with an eminent domain process on your property there across from the Carlton."”

“Marty Tracey is back to work after three months of paid administrative leave with a change in duties and a new title: redevelopment specialist.”

“For almost a year, Atascadero's assistant city manager, Jim Lewis, has courted Wal-Mart while keeping the residents and the city council in the dark, says city councilman George Luna, highlighting the mystery of how this end run was pulled off.”

“"For the mayor to use the Brown Act to muzzle a citizen with a law that governs only the behavior of elected and appointed officials, and to nullify a citizen's Constitutional rights, exemplifies a level of abuse of power, and is behavior unacceptable for any representative of the people." Broadwater says.”

“Atascadero city leaders, I hear, aren't big fans of free speech either, but they aim their ire more at stuff like the First Amendment and the Brown Act.
Until recently, Atascadero Mayor Tom O'Malley wanted conversations between council members and members of the public to be off limits to other city council members, as per, he said, the Brown Act.”

“Staff and council also attempted to explain how negations had proceeded for three years behind closed doors.
Councilman George Luna said, "Tom (O'Malley) and I met with representatives of the Rottman Group in August 2005 and Wal-Mart was mentioned." Though O'Malley admits to meeting with the Rottman Group and Luna, he denies that Wal-Mart was discussed.”

“The possibility that the public's right to information is being undermined by secrecy in Atascadero government becomes more evident every day.”

“Atascadero's city staff regularly fails to provide timely access to public documents as required by California’s Public Records Act.
Both Sasur and Broadwater said they asked for an audio copy of Atascadero's May 30 special council meeting, 'The city said, "The machine broke and the tape was blank"'”

“Throughout this past year, allegations that Atascadero city officials sanctioned and used the threat of eminent domain to force downtown property owners Pat and Sue Gaughan to sell their property across from the Carlton Hotel on El Camino Real—at a below-market price.
The Atascadero City Council met in closed session on June 27 to discuss whether or not to release to New Times a revealing document concerning possible eminent domain threats.”

“In response to allegations from numerous residents that the city of Atascadero violated the California Public Records Act (CPRA) by denying the existence of any official city e-mails mentioning Wal-Mart following a July leak of two such e-mails Atascadero Mayor Tom O'Malley pointed out the city's policy of purging all e-mails older than 90 days. That's an illegal policy, according to representatives from both the California First Amendment Coalition and Californians Aware.”

“Over the past few months, Atascadero City Manager Wade McKinney has repeatedly denied his involvement in promoting the construction of a Super Wal-Mart at the north end of town. However, a recent investigation by New Times uncovered that McKinney may have worked hand-in-hand with Atascadero Fire Chief Kurt Stone to pressure a local business owner to sell a piece of land that the retail giant allegedly desired.
Kelly said that on Sept. 27, 2005, The Rottman Group sent him a letter detailing its plans to build an elevated pad that would restrict access to his land.”
(see copies of recently leaked e-mails and building pad confirming the intent to block Kelly's property)

“Why doesn't Bordonaro work with people who don't have a clear conflict of interest?" queried retired Atascadero Police Officer Mike Brennler. "Cleary this is a breach of ethics. Bordonaro said the association was started in June, then later said it was months and months ago. The date of filing is actually in July.”

“They think I'm the Bob Kelly from your article. They've got the wrong Bob Kelly," said Atascadero planning commissioner and city council candidate Bob Kelley spelled K-e-l-l-e-y. Note that second "e."
Following the Aug. 24 New Times story, "Atascadero leaders allegedly paved the way for Wal-Mart," Kelley said he was bombarded with calls for Bob Kelly, an Atascadero property owner mentioned in the article.
For the record: They're two different people. Leave the planning commissioner alone about this particular subject, at least.”

“Some Atascadero city officials are angry and shocked after reading recently leaked documents that appear to reveal that city staff members were not only aware of the possibility of a Super Wal-Mart coming to the north end of town, but were actively involved in the planning process.”

“The most egregious concern stems from the manner in which you attached your name of your elected position to a brochure which supports a specific development in my city. It is my humble opinion that you, in the capacity of the San Luis Obispo County Assessor, stepped over the threshold of acceptable behavior and into the arena of conflicting interest and there are some who have argued that you may have violated the government code.”

“County Tax Assessor Tom Bordonaro is using his office and partisan political connections to manipulate public policy in Atascadero.”

“Well, we all make mistakes. For example, we all made a mistake when we voted in Mr. Bordonaro.
Of course, you can’t really accuse him of a breach of ethics when he clearly doesn’t have any.”

“The training was made possible by the Rottman Group, a land developing company with offices in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara. They donated the two abandoned buildings for use at the training exercise.
…to meet the firefighters and accept recognition from Atascadero City Mayor Tom OMalley.
…and spent approximately a year completing the preparations for the burn.”

“Wal-Mart's payments, which amount to petty cash for the retailer, went to support the Main Street Association in Paso Robles, so Martin's similar group in Atascadero hopes to be first in line to get their little "donation" when Wal-Mart comes in. Martin clearly has a financial conflict of interest, one his small business members might not appreciate.”

“In response to resident efforts, the San Luis Obispo Tribune News reports that now there is a pro-Wal-Mart group forming, what we like to call an "astro-roots" group, since it is a phony "grassroots" group usually manufactured by the developer or the big box retailer. In this case, the new group is ostensibly led by the county Assessor, and has sent out a color flier to 10,000 households in Atascadero.
The flier claims "Wal-Mart will strengthen the local economy." The glowing quotes in the flier are signed by a city firefighter, the county assessor, and a former Mayor.
The Rottman Group disclaimed any connection to the mailer, as did Wal-Mart. But the giant retailer hired a public relations firm, Meridian Pacific, that happens to be part of the new "astro-roots" group. The PR firm would not discuss its Wal-Mart contract with the newspaper.”

The Rottman Group (Santa Barbara, CA)	$3,300	05/17/2006	05/25/2006
Wal Mart (Bentonville, AR)	$3,300	05/19/2006	05/25/2006

“"...we want to prevent traffic gridlock and preserve our quality of life."
…The Turlock City Council passed an ordinance in January 2004, banning discount stores of more than 100,000 square feet from using more than 5percent of the space for groceries and other nontaxable items.
The rationale for the ordinance, city officials said, was to prevent traffic problems and blight caused when neighborhood grocery stores close.”