California City Local News

California City Studios is in Negotiations to open a vocational film school and movie studio in Ridgecrest California.

The long battle to stay in California City is taking its toll on all our resources says Gail Michael head of the studios, we just feel we need another out let Said Gail even though it is much further from Los Angeles than we would like to be, Our film season is upon us and we have had 2 bad seasons here in California City, do to conflicts with this city. Ridgecrest has a lot of film resources we can tap into as well.

The people spoke and the City listened, no one in this City could be more proud of what went on tonight then me.

Although it was a bad night for me, my studio and Viento corporation, It was a great night for California City. The city attorney when he wants to put something off he says, we’re not there yet. A bad statement that delays the inevitable and has no back bone, but put it in the context of what happened tonight with all the complaints about the city not listening and that they don’t care, and well, we can put all that behind us now because "We’re there now", the City is listening and I am happy for them. Mr. Smith made some great points and the citizens stuck to their guns, Mayor Adams listened to the people and stated that he realized that they had spoken and Mr. Edmiston followed suit.

The fact is California City pulled off the worlds biggest Blunder when they allowed me to locate California City Studios in the Wonder Acres. The fact about the water line is that they are stalling, not because of easements. The true fact is that they can not get pressure to the citizens of Wonder Acres, because they need to put in a water tank, 1 million Gallon and a pump sufficient to increase the pressure here in Wonder Acres. In order for the City to do that they need the property, the money for the well and a pump, they don't have it, they spent it getting water to "The lady of the rock" for "Fire abatement", "They need it, but they only meet once a month", "The MX track" "no building or homes there", "Terra DE sole" "1 million dollars form the city to them for infrastructure and there is nothing on the property and they have had it for 4 years", "Matrix Motors" ",no homes, no people, no business, no nothing there" last I heard they were given 1.3 million, 4.5 Million for 152 project "nothing there", we even tried to put a film school there, Thank God we did not.

I would like to correct mistakes made in the Mojave Desert News about water lines to Wonder Acres

1) I sent letters to everyone on the city council about the water line issue three weeks ago and no one answered me! Not one of them.
So much for bringing your complaints to city council, it did not work last time and again it did not work. The Mayor finally asked me yesterday, "If he could do anything to help", after the letters to the press were already published and I had chosen to peal back the onion.
He should have called me, he had plenty of time. This is all fact, I sent them all by Email, only one was returned for improper addressing.

2) After three weeks, I called Mr. Bevins this past Friday and was told the same thing I heard in the city Council hearing, "That it could take up top 5 years" to get a promise made to me 8 years 8 months ago completed, if at all. I was also told my water lines could be shut off by any one of those properties owners that the temp lines are run illegally across.

I feel this was a scare tactic by Mr. Bevins due to his tone. I'll have no part of fear, instead I have contact with most of the owners. I have sent letters to the Fish and game, I have spoken to the Mojave Water district, and I have letters out to everyone else concerned. I am not a thief, I feel these people need to know, no matter what the cost to me. The lines to me run across their property, I would want to know. This city has had 8 years to correct this and 8 months more, give me a break. If the city council did not approve the lines and the city attorney is right, tear out the lines.

3) The city attorney forgets there were city employees and city equipment and city spending to bring all the temporary lines to me.

4) Mr. Bevins tried to scare me with "Anyone can shut off my lines". He should in my opinion drop the tough guy crap. He should've called me and this could have all been worked out. Now it will probably cost the city a lot of money.

5) Mr. Bevins stated several untruths when I called him on Friday. First, Mojave is not a wheeling station and they own the lines up to the meter here In Wonder Acres and we receive our water from a Mojave well, here. They also have an agreement with our city signed in 91' when this property was annexed in. He also stated that an 8" meter would bring the pressure up so we would have adequate pressure for fire abatement here in Wonder Acres, also an untruth, an untruth that could cost lives, if anyone were to buy into that.

6) This city is full of it. I'm not done with the press yet. I'm just pealing back the onion. And the people need to know when the city is messing with someone and treating a business unfairly. If they worked as hard at correcting this problem, as they are trying to excuse it away, we would have been done 5 years ago. Same goes for a grocery store.

7) The city council approved these lines after the battle over conditional use permits. They said 35 days and I have been patient.
And I practice patience, forgiveness and economical harmony. Nothing works with this bunch.

8) Finally Mr. Bevins stated to me on Friday that he has a meter lined up that cost $12,000 and he is going to get it for $8,000.
Well I spoke to Mojave Water district supervisor Mr. Gains and Mr. Bevins is full of it. That meter costs $8,000 and it wont increase pressure. Put a tank in and a pump, try saving lives and not jeopardizing them with untruths, Mr. Bevins.

I have been told too many untruths about why I can't get my lines, but let me get mad and I'm the bad guy. I have right on my side and I'm never going to let up on this city.

I want what was promised to me. I want this city to stop threatening to run Business out of town. I have council minutes where the council has stated that several times about several business. And I want myself and all that live in Wonder acres to have water pressure for fire protection. And I want these promises to be kept.

I am again not interested in suing the city, but I will get justice. There is no argument that trumps safety and I won't have someone like Mr. Bevins spouting untruths that could cost lives. I feel this type of untruth about the meter adding pressure, can cost lives. I hope that from now on someone checks his information for facts, if the city should keep him on at all.

Let me also say, the deal I made with this city was to buy their water, not use my own, that deal was made to benefit the city, for we had proposed a million gallon tank for water shows that would be needed for filming here. This was a good deal made by a brilliant Jack Stewart, it would have made this city a ton of money, for this type of show and been an asset to the entire Kern County for Film Revenue. The same is true about the road, people in the film industry will not drive down 15th street which is not marked, to our restaurants because it is unpaved, again a great deal for the city business, had the city kept its promises.

What is sad here Mr. Bevins and Mr. City Attorney, is not that I went to the press, but that this city did not keep its promises, the city suffers again.

I wish everyone would take a look at all the unfinished projects in town, then take a look at how hard I'm trying to hold on, then make up your own minds about how this city treats us in business.

PS.
Before Friday, Mr. Bevins had No Conversation About These Lines With Me.

Russell Michael

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