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Shenkman/Parris file injunction to halt Palmdale election

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PALMDALE – In a press release issued Thursday, Palmdale city officials took aim at an injunction filed to halt the city’s Nov. 5 election. Read the press release below:

In a perplexing move, the Plaintiff’s Attorney Duo of Kevin Shenkman and Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris have requested that the court stop Palmdale from holding its regularly scheduled municipal election which is guaranteed to produce the result they claimed couldn’t occur under Palmdale’s at-large voting system —namely elect a minority candidate to the City Council.

“This decision just provides further proof that Parris and Shenkman are only interested in gouging the taxpayers to line their pockets,” said Palmdale City Attorney Matt Ditzhazy. “There are four candidates vying for two seats: Tom Lackey, Fred Thompson, Sir Daniel Duplechan, and Richard Loa. Three of the four candidates are minorities. That means at least one and possibly two minority candidates will be elected to the Palmdale City Council in November.”

Shenkman and Parris originally sued the City of Palmdale under the California Voting Rights Act claiming that the existence of racially polarized voting in the City prevented minority candidates from being elected.  Palmdale currently utilizes an at-large system for its elections, as does Lancaster and the vast majority of California cities.  Shenkman and Parris, purportedly to increase the likelihood that a minority candidate is elected, are petitioning the court to force the City to halt any election until the City uses a district method, like the City of Los Angeles.

The problem is that Shenkman and Parris are attempting to stop an election where at least one minority candidate is essentially guaranteed to win a seat on the City Council.

“Certainly this latest move doesn’t comport with their stated ‘dubious’ litigation goal of bringing a minority voice to the Council,” said Ditzhazy. “However, it does keep the ‘meter running’ on the attorney’s fees they hope to exact from the taxpayers.”

Shenkman and Parris are embroiled in voting rights lawsuits with the City of Palmdale, City of Santa Clarita, Santa Clarita Community College District and Sulphur Springs School District.  Parris has yet to join Shenkman in a voting rights lawsuit against the Lancaster School District, perhaps fearing a backlash from his voting public.

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Filed Under: Palmdale, Politics

77 comments for "Shenkman/Parris file injunction to halt Palmdale election"

  1. haha santa clarita will never allow this low life of a mayor come over here he can stay with his drug ganbanging city god for bid he comes here hell bring his riff raft with him just saty in DUMPCASTER WERE YOU BELONG perris the roach is it because your close with the homies is why you been in office so long

  2. i got an idea why doesnt this mayor of this wonderful lancaster worry about the gangs and drugs and prostitutes choking his city to death no one wants to live there where the welfare office is the city hall stop worrying palmdale stick your nose in your own dump city and let palmdale worry about palmdale

  3. Mayor Parris is cut throat no doubt, politics and being a lawyer require a certain degree of that, if he’s working for u that’s exactly what u want in your case so it’s not about him it’s about us and what we reward

  4. Both cities (all cities) have dirt in their development process. Money is made.

    However Lancaster appears much worse than Palmdale. In Lancaster, its money-for-the-boys FIRST, good public development policy second.

    So its almost by design that Lancaster development seems spread out and haphazard. Normal non-insider investors can buy land that would make intuitive sense to have prime future development potential. The boys get around that by buying middle-of-nowhere, nobody-could-guess-is-valuable land (like the “Rosamond” Fairgrounds), and they make BIG money that way.

    And sensible, obvious development never happens.

    • Lancaster sure does look like the result of good ol’ boys working the system for themselves.

      There seems to be no planning in Lancaster. I mean ‘smart’ planning.

      • Yes it sure does.

        I can understand the boys’ push to Palmdale: all that useless land that Palmdale’s not using, it is prime for buying cheap and developing!

        Essentially, the more remote and useless the land, the bigger draw for the Lancaster development model.

        • What’s gonna happen with that large empty parcel across from the park on 10th Street West? It was supposed to be an outdoor mall.

          If they do anything mall-like there, it will probably just suck business away from the BLVD.

          • Isn’t that big empty parcel across from the park on 10th Street West now in front of the new Kaiser Hospital that is under construction? Doubt it will be vacant for long.

      • This is (and has been the plan since Jim Gilley was City Manager.) Frank Visco, Jim Gilley (now partners) et al they buy rural land for say 25 cents a square foot. They get it rezoned to commercial (now worth $8 -10$ a square foot.

        Pretty nice profit. They then, either develop it themselves, sell it and keep a piece of the development.

        That’s how you get rich in Lancaster.

        • Maybe that’s why Lancaster has a disorganized quality to it.

          The Cinemark is in the middle of nowhere instead of near restaurants and other places that would be convenient for movie goers.

          There is no access to Lancaster Boulevard from the freeway which doesn’t help the BLVD or the old Factory Outlet. I don’t know what it’s called now.

          The rest of the town is just a bunch of old scattered shopping centers. The BLVD really isn’t a ‘downtown’. Everything there could be in a shopping center just as easily and probably would do better if it was well located and designed.

      • I agree Paris needs to keep is dirty nose in Lancaster! And stop trying to bully his way into Palmdale and West Side School the guys a joke

  5. MYOB, Rex. There haven’t been hassles between Lancaster and Palmdale in decades, until along came Rex. It’s not a matter of the two mayors not getting along, it’s about Parris not getting along … with anyone.

    • When Parris held that press conference to ‘tear down the Cactus Curtain’ and all get along like adults, the laughter echoed all over the Valley. He is the source of most of the problems with his neighbors.

      • Rex wants to tear down the cactus curtain on his way to invading and taking over Palmdale. He and Frank Visco have long sought to take over Palmdale and exploit the real estate and business market form themselves.

        • Just how does he plan on taking over if that means merging the 2 cities? Won’t he need support from Palmdale residents?

          I doubt he’ll get much support here in Palmdale. What’s in it for us? His big mouth.

          Palmdale has done pretty good without him despite several recessions. And, our bond rating is better than Lancaster’s along with most everything else being better.

          Thank God Mayor Ledford stands between us and Rex and his gang. Heck, a lot of folks in Lancaster don’t like Rex.

  6. Let’s all chip in a buy Rex a one-way ticket to Thousand Oakes (where he can live next to his boss Frank Visco.)

  7. I think R, Rex Parris should stay out of Palmdale’s and Santa Clarita’s business. He is not our Mayor nor Santa Clarita’s. Looks to me he is trying to make headlines for his business.

    • Rex is a no good ambulance chasing shyster. He neither has morals or any ethic standards whatsoever. He’s sue his mother if he could make a dime off it.

      • Best one yet and I can really agree with that. Having used that uncaring so called law firm. Gets his and he’s done then on to destroy the next thing he can get his hands on.

  8. It would be nice if King Rex would worry more about Lancaster than surrounding communities that are doing just fine. The closest thing to retail he has is another Wal-mart in Quartz Hill, What a plague. We shop Winco, Costco and the internet, can’t even buy a book in this town. It has had stinking politics all the time I have lived here. Also a continual exodus of shopping.

    Jim

    • sikntired commented yesterday that the K-Mart is closing. If true, that’s even more bad news.

      I bet Parris has to go down below to buy his clothes or anything else he needs. He ain’t gonna shop at Walmart and for sure can’t been seen in Palmdale at the Mall. If a guy wants to by a suit, is there any place in Lancaster to buy one?

      The only advantage Lancaster has for business is cheaper rent and it’s cheaper the further north you go.

      For a city of over 150,000 people, the shopping is awful in Lancaster but the landscaping in the Avenue L on and off ramps from the 14 is nice.

      Parris said recently that 70% of the shoppers at the AV Mall are from Lancaster. Now, why do you suppose that is the case, Rex?

      • K-Mart closing probably has more to do with the health of what was once a retail giant, Sears is owned by K-Mart, and less to do about Lancaster. The times I have been in that K-Mart, it’s a pretty down market store with really cruddy goods and not all that appealing. Frankly, Walmart is a much better store.

        TRex and the Runner mob would do lots to improve Lancaster shopping if they did something about improving the fortunes of Lancaster Marketplace through tax exemptions or something similar.

        • I moved to Palmdale in 1990 and before I ever learned about the ‘good ol’ boys’ and all the intrigue between the 2 cities, I often wondered ‘who planned Lancaster?”

          There were scattered shopping centers here, there and everywhere but there wasn’t really a ‘there’ there.

          The old Factory Outlet was never a big success.

          The Valley Central Way Center was fine but eventually deteriorated as some stores left for Palmdale.

          Lancaster Boulevard, back then, was so deserted kids could play ball in the middle of it.

          It’s as though any planning decisions were based on which GOB owned which property and not on what was good for the whole city. They stuck a Cinemark out in the middle of nowhere.

          Even though they fixed up the BLVD, it’s not convenient to get to and it’s surrounded by old neighborhoods and only has a couple blocks worth ‘strolling’ down. Most cities that have done similar things with a old downtown street have had other parallel streets adjoining it with additional businesses and easing traffic on the main one. Heck, it’s Sunday and I bet several places are closed today or close early.

          There just doesn’t seem to be any ‘smarts’ in Lancaster. People don’t want a roundabout so they’re going to build a roundabout. The don’t want a spy plane. They get a spy plane. Just put solar panels on your house and learn to live in Lancaster with few amenities and a laughing stock of a mayor.

          If Lancaster had truly been the ‘heart of the Valley’ in the old days, how come no on and off ramps were build off the 14 to it? That’s odd and probably what helped kill the old Factory Outlet.

          I doubt if any big retailers will locate in Lancaster rather than Palmdale at this point. That’s the direction of the momemtum. Lancaster will have to get by with Walmarts, COSTCO and local small business because the rent is cheaper there. Any restaurant on the BLVD would probably do much more business near the AV Mall or even out at 47th Street East in Palmdale than they are doing now except for the cheaper rent or leases.

          • William, you have a lot of good points and most people have to only agree with your observations.
            However, understand that for many businesses locating in the Mall or in any of the Mall owner properties is not an economically viable solution. (Ironically for all of the Good ol’ Boy stories about Lancaster Forest City owns darn near every retail center in Palmdale)

            There is no doubt that there is more foot traffic at the Mall, but at the same time the demographic of that foot traffic doesn’t exactly match every retail business. Also you can’t even begin to comprehend how expensive and complex the lease terms are for Mall businesses.

            My point is that if you compare the overall retail sales between Lancaster and Palmdale they are basically even and have been for 5+ years. Where the real deficit exists between the two cities is in apparel with Palmdale on average having $70M more annually. (The Mall)

            So when you start to look at that kind of hole it makes anyone with a grain of retail smarts realize that Lancaster is severely lacking in Apparel retailers so much so that ALL of the Antelope Valley is leaking apparel sales to other markets. With that said, our Mall and all of the development in Palmdale does in no way consider an affluent retail shopper in any sense of the word. Our Macy’s carries only house brands and everything in Dillard’s is equally lower range brands that almost always sell at a discounted price. All of the other shops are low end commodity products with only a couple of specialized retailers that have been forced to cater to the lowest common denominator.

            Had the BLVD been managed better from the start it would have been a destination for specialty boutiques and premium retailers, but due to the lack of statistics premium retailers desire and a general lack of organization in attracting those types of retailers it’s no wonder it is evolving as slowly. Whether it’s the BLVD, Quartz Hill, the AV Mall or East Palmdale (in order of likelihood) that the Antelope Valley establishes as an affluent boutique retail center it doesn’t matter, but it’s something that is severely lacking in this community.

            AND just because a large majority of a market can’t afford to patronize affluent retailers does not mean that they aren’t desired. These are the types of businesses that stimulate growth and help circulate money in the community.
            Too many people went to the Apple Store in Valencia this week from the A.V., HUNDREDS of phones were sold in that store to AV residents.. This is one of many examples of affluent shoppers having to leave this community for their retail shopping needs..
            –PLUG THE HOLE–
            I don’t care how it happens, but it needs to be addressed. The difficult part is that no matter how you spin it the BLVD is hands down the best starting point we have in the AV for a location of this type of retail.

  9. Whats so hard of making districts? Riverside Has them, San Bernadino has them. Perris has them. Just look a the council 4 of 5 currently council members reside on the Westside while 70% of the population reside on the Eastside which has been ignored for years

    • Haven’t you been out to the 47th Street East corridor lately? The development there is awesome in the last couple years.

      The Dry Town park is on the east side.

      What are you talking about? The eastside is doing pretty well. What else does it need?

      • Lets see. The hospital was built on the west side . So is the business park. I remember when Ledford promised to bring a hospital to the easy side back in 2006 on TWC 3 where is that?

        • Why didn’t you move to Lancaster to be near the AV Hospital if that is what is so important to you?

          People move to the outskirts of town then expect everything to come to them.

          Mayor Ledford doesn’t build hospitals and had a heck of a time getting the one we have due to the obstruction from AV Hospital at the time.

          Is there anything else you need on the eastside?

          • The land PRMC is on was given to them by the City why not give them a parcel of land on the Eastside. Oh yes 47th street looks awesome but 70% of the target Center is empty. Do you even live on the Eastside or are you a Westsider and dont want to lose your 4 councilmemeber

          • “Is there anything else you need on the eastside?”

            (tongue and cheek)
            Are you serious? REALLY? You think that all needs are being met on the East side with the Super Target center?

            How about another IN-N-OUT burger?

            Seriously.. the places I have seen In-N-OUT’s pop up lately is just ridiculous.. yet they can’t find the resources to add a couple more to the community of 300,000 people?

            Yea, don’t worry In-N-OUT, Five Guys (the pozer of high quality fast food burgers) will be more than happy to add a couple of stores to the A.V. where you are lacking..

    • Districts work well in large cities, not in small ones like Lancaster and Palmdale. There would always be a district that does not field a candidate and one would have to be appointed. How does this benefit the community?

      Plus, the good folks of Palmdale voted to keep things at-large.

      Let’s not forget the hypocrite scum bag who’s suing everybody for not having districts doesn’t have one in his town.

      • Back in 2001. It’s not same city as it was back then. At that time it was barely getting over the 100k mark. Now it’s at 150.

    • Well, it was bound to happen. Remember K-Mart was going to open a store on the corner of 10th West and Rancho Vista Boulevard across from the Mall but pulled out. I can’t recall if it ever did actually open.

      It would have been a newer and nicer store than the Lancaster one and in a better location, so it looks like K-Mart was simply winding down from years ago. I’m glad they didn’t keep the Palmdale one as the location is better off without it.

      Just where do people shop in Lancaster other than Walmart and COSTCO? It’s weird cause when I moved to Palmdale in 1990, I had to go to Lancaster for everything. The Sears was there as was Duke and Slim’s and other places where I bought stuff for my new house. Now, nothing apparently. Even Smart n Final picked up and left Lancaster.

      I bet BeX would do a lot more business if it were located along Restaurant Row at the Mall if it also had better management. I guess the rent is cheaper on the BLVD but so is the clientele.

      • We don’t shop in Lancaster (other than Costco)… we either drive to Santa Clarita or shop online. There aren’t any stores in Lancaster to shop at & all the ones in Palmdale have chased us out with the horrible music they play & bad customer service.
        The only thing we use Wal-Mart for is to try out something we may want to return – even then if we like the product we usually return it then order on line for less.

        • Sadly it’s a catch 22, businesses don’t want to come here because not enough business (shoppers) in the area, everyone shops in Santa Clarita, the Valley, or online. It’s the nature of the beast, supply and demand.
          We have some of the same stores in our mall as other cities, but people will buy elsewhere because they say they “don’t like AV mall”, how dumb is that. To give our tax dollars away that help support our infrastructure, and bring new businesses to the area

      • The clientele on the BLVD are the homeless. On the plus side, it’s a nicer place for the homeless to live.

    • Meanwhile, In Shape fitness will be opening in the old Circuit City building on 10th st West, and promising another club in Palmdale.Got their flier yesterday.
      No promise of citizenship with a membership.

      • I love it ’bout the citizenship. I’ve been going to the new 24 Hour Fitness since it opened for the pool and jacuzzi, reluctantly. It was nice at first. The towels were stacked in shelves all over the place but the sleazy clientele in Lancaster screwed that up. Now, you have to ask for towels and the slobs leave them on the floor of the locker room and even the showers. Such is Lancaster. Some of the machines are out of order for days or weeks.

        Why, oh why, did 24 Hour decide to relocate an upscale gym in Lancaster? It’s the kind of place that, oh, say a mayor would get into an altercation at. Did Parris have to give them money too?

  11. I had to leave home last Saturday night due to the fireworks in the American Hero’s park, My dog and cat freak out, and so do I. I loaded them in my car and went to Palmdale to Mcdonalds and got an iced coffee then drove around till I felt it was safe and sane to return to my home, which is directly across Jackman from the park and next to the Senior Citizen’s building. When is our elections so that we can replace the mayor?

    • That isn’t going to happen… most of the residents here are to ignorant to vote (hey it will interfere w/the parties & shootings) and the majority that show up are part of the “good ole boys” who want to keep they guys in power so they can get all the benefits/payouts.

      • Just remember, Lancaster Baptist church is where they get all there votes and all who are seated are members of!

  12. Most of the elections in California are held “at large” like Lancaster and Palmdale. Some of them have numbered seats though which allow those unhappy with the status quo to target specific seats. Example of a numbered seats is the Los Angeles Community College District, the largest community college district in the world which covers dozens of cities in LA County. In the case of Palmdale, Fred Thomson or Richard Loa may be elected to the city council. They are African-American and Hispanic, respectively. Two women are running for Mayor, Maggie Campbell and Lynn Minimdis (spelled wrong). Maggie is African American, so it is possible a woman could be elected. (Both of them are literally a heartbeat away.) If the election is allowed to continue, the Palmdale city council will be different and have minorities. If it is postponed, for the duration of the appeals, the status quo will remain. Is this what Mayor Parris wants? He is involved in litigation in the Santa Clarita Valley and will his efforts fail if the Palmdale lawsuit becomes a bust and the issue is resolved by the voters in the end? Mayor Parris has probably made a million dollars already from the Palmdale lawsuit. He will probably win more if the lawsuit against the Santa Clarita City Council and College of Canyons is successful. Why doesn’t he file a lawsuit against Lancaster? It has four white men and is not districted. Last time I checked the city of Lancaster is mostly Hispanic now.

  14. The Antelope Valley League of United Latin American Citizens would like to publicly go on record in support of staying the November 5th Palmdale election until a remedy for polarized voting is found and implemented in the City.

    It is unconscionable that the City of Palmdale would continue with an electoral process found to be harmful to “protected classes”, in this case Latinos and African Americans. We strongly urge the City to seek and implement a remedy first after which elections could ensue.

    The City’s continued denial and inability to acknowledge that their at-large voting system minimizes the impact of minority groups boasts poorly for the vast majority of residents they claim to represent. Latinos and African Americans comprise almost 70% of the total Palmdale population.

    The City’s elected representatives and followers recently clamored publicly that we must be one Palmdale under the banner of “Palmdale First.” As Latinos living in this City, we must express the emptiness of that proclamation; nothing in it reverberated with us. We continue to be left out and not part of the decision making process of the City.

    It is true that the quality of minority candidates in particular races, the effectiveness of their campaigns and voter turnout were not factored in the decision of the Court. The premise of the City attorneys that these factors should have been considered is false. Previous court findings make clear that these factors have no bearing on the case.

    Does polarized voting exist or does it not? That is the only question. If it does exist, then it must be remedied. Our contention is that it must be remedied before our rights are violated once again.

    Xavier Flores, President, AV-LULAC

    • That’s not fair the “Palmdale First” political action committee was conceived and implemented by a female minority.
      Someone Actually Not Doing You Correctly. Opens Really Rare Association Linking Everyone’s Support. Exit New, Enter In Xenophobia.

      Funny how that works.. the system at large is used to establish a minority majority of those running for office. That is used as an example of how the current system is not in fact discriminatory – yet it has in function actually STILL limited the number of candidates resulting in an outcome that doesn’t equally consider the protected classes..

    • Mr. Flores- At this time ANYONE who would like to run for a seat on the city council may do so. Now maybe you can answer a few questions:

      1. Please give specific examples of when a minority was turned away, not allowed to submit their candidacy paperwork etc. Not just conjecture, an actual documented incident.

      2.What do you suggest if districts are formed and there are no candidates running for a particular district? Who is elected then? How would that seat be filled?

      3. This went before the voters of the City of Palmdale in 2001 and they chose to retain the at large system. Why should their wishes no longer be respected?

      4. Instead of halting this election and causing additional costs to the residents of the City of Palmdale why don’t you and your cohorts do what is necessary to have it put on the ballot and before the voters again? Let the residents decide what they want rather than having a bunch of special interest, out for their own glory, agenda pushing individuals forcing their wants on them.

      I await your response.

      • I think the problem with your line of questions is that they make the assumption that discrimination must exist to prove a case. The California Voting Rights Act is more liberal than the Federal Voting Rights Act and “minorities do not have to prove that a specific minority candidate lost due to racially polarized voting, they only have to prove racially polarized voting existed.”
        The requirement for proof is so low based on how the California State Supreme court ruled (as recently as 2007) that unless it’s appealed all the way back to the California State Supreme court for clarification it’s highly unlikely that any elected body will win a case against them.
        Also should it go to the supreme court, does anyone with an ounce of intelligence believe for a second that this Court will rule in any manner that would potentially dilute the ability of a protected group being elected?

        • And for clarification.. I’m in no way trying to justify the lawsuits.. they are total B.S. and BEYOND wrong.. The point is that the State has ruled in a way that gives unnecessary benefits to the litigation and not the actual of the law.. This has got to be wrong..

        • Won’t polarized voting be enhanced with district elections. Say a district eventually becomes 70% Latino and consistently votes for Latino council members, won’t African-Americans and other minorities have a case to make about ‘polarized’ voting that leaves them completely out.

          If a particular district is predominately Latino, one was 50.7% Latino, and a non-Latino wins a council election because of low Latino turnout, then what?

          Is Palmdale going to have to gerrymander its districts into ridiculous configurations to create specific ones designed to give one minority or another a large majority which seems divisive for the city as a whole.

          Maybe, just maybe, the current way Palmdale has governed itself has been very effective in Palmdale’s many successes over the last few decades. We’ve been able to keep moving forward during several recessions including the last severe one. Macy’s and Yard House both located in Palmdale during the worst of the last recession. Would district elections have been as effective in attracting business if each council member was mainly concerned with their own turf and not the entire city?

          I don’t know but I know that the way it is now has been quite effective during bad economic times.

    • So you represent all of us? Calling me a member of a “protected class” is degrading and racist. We are all human beings. Being a separatist only causes trouble for us and makes organizations like yours money….

      This is a new breed of racism…

      • I would have to agree with you. It invokes racism and an irrelevant arguement.
        If somebody wants to run for office, then run for it. The problem isn’t with people that are not white not being allowed to run for office. Te problem is the lack of interest in running for office. Start an initiative to get the people interested in obtaining a seat. Don’t blame the voting process, blame the people not interested in voting or wanting to be voted in to something.

    • Mr Flores, you are a racist in every sense of the word.In your sick little mind, black votes for black, white for white, oriental for oriental,hispanic for hispanic, and no group could possibly represent the other. Furthermore you assume people only vote for their own race. You don’t seem to get it that Americans value their right to vote and do not take kindly to the threat of having an election cancelled.Guess that lawyer of yours really has you bamboozled.

    • Mr Flores,

      The Antelope Valley League of United Latin American Citizens would like to publicly go on record in support racism?

      It is unconscionable that the you would profess that in a town with 70% in the so called “protected classes”, you would need to try to implement law to ensure a Latino is seated. Why not just pass a law that says if a Latino is not elected the results of the elections are null and void?

      There are plenty of highly qualified citizens of all races. I will always voted for the one who I closely align with philosophically regardless of race, gender, or religion. You on the other hand continue to push that YOU can only be represented by a Latino and that a Latino cannot be elected without help. You sir are a bigot.

    • How can this be true? This is a free country. people can live where they want. You’re stereo typing minorities be insinuating that they only live in certain sections of the city, thus deserve their own districts.

      i have driven all lover Palmdale and I see minorities in every area.

      You are just a Rex Parris tool.

  15. There is obviously some money involved for him otherwise why would he keep sticking his nose in Palmdale’s Business. He must want to give raises to his employees at BEX.

    • This goes without saying, but I can’t help but correct your observation.
      BEX is not owned or operated by R Rex Parris or any businesses he’s associated with.
      It never has been and specifically it’s been owned by just two individuals since the beginning of this year..
      Yes, it’s unfortunate that the names are close and ignorant people continue to associate the two, but they are totally unrelated. It’s really not fair to the owners or employees to pigeonhole them like that since there are a few dozen people relying on that business to put food on their tables and a roof over their heads.
      It’s all fun and games to criticize a public figure for their actions, but associating a private business like that is inconsiderate and arguably libelous.

      • Before I start with the usual “strike me down if Parris isn’t crooked” speech, let Mr post this: http://www.oscarslv.com/
        Of course Rex is getting some cash outta this, haven’t you seen his NEW UPDATED settlement billboards he has every where between Acton and Tehachapi? This mayor is the worst of the scum that thrives off of corruption. He forbids fireworks to the point of having the violation in the sky to rat out the locals with ground fountains but come his “look I have money parade” he held last week, I get mortar round cardboard and [removed] littering my yard the next day, thanks now my neighborhood is covered in your riches and reeks of corruption! He and his minions are filling suit because he can and you can’t stop him ” THE LAW IS ON MY SIDE!” I know people who worked for this man when he want shinola, and all I hear is how crooked he is and how its amazing it its he is still a free man. When will people realize that no matter what the owners employees or customers say, BEX and REX, officially, are not related, but hey, you got some brain cells and prob an eye, see it from a LONG TIME NATIVES point of view, mayor wins election with round 75% of votes and puts some millions into spy toys and facades, when will it click?

        • …oh and did you read the paper when he was reelected? Where did he and Smith gold their victory party? Why didhe kick out businesses that existed there for decades, but allow a movie hall, bowling alley, bar/grill, cup cake shop and motorcycle gear shopnext to the worst deli in the world, including Brooklyn, but boot old shops cause they didn’t “fit the image” of the town and street they helped create. ASSOCIATED OR NOT, THEY ARE ALL COGS IN A CORRUPT IMITATION SWISS CLOCK TICKING AWAY THEIR LAST DESPERATE SECONDS. THE CLOCK WILL STOP. THEY ALWAYS DO.

          • Exactly what is the image they are trying to ‘fit’? The BLVD isn’t charming at all. A lot of places seem vacant still.

            And, driving down the BLVD is annoying. If would be grand in Barstow or Mojave but in a town of 150,000, it’s really not a big deal unless Rex is bragging about it.

      • ReX made a big deal when BeX opened and promoted it like crazy, so it’s fun to mock both of them together. It was his CROWN JEWEL of the BLVD but if you read some reviews on Yelp regarding the poor service and disgusting conditions of the rest rooms by some reviewers and its ‘B’ grade from the health department after a year in business, it’s a perfect metaphor for R. ReX Parris and his terms as mayor. A lot of bragging on the surface but not so nice underneath. No one thinks ReX owns BeX. Have you ever seen that written here?

        It coulda been different and a lot better but consider that everything ReX touches gets tainted somehow.

        But, Adam, I know it’s your job to protect and defend.

  17. This entire matter is disappointing. Mayor Parris should be ashamed at his actions yet he gloats. He doesn’t get it and views the entire situation through eyes know one else has. It’s unfortunate. This is a No Win situation because at the end of the day we all suffer; especially the present candidates running. Guess it was necessary to inflate ones Ego, again!

    • Rex will benefit. He wins the lawsuit he gets BIG $$$$$$. That’s all Rex cares about. The rest of us can pound sand for all he cares.

  18. “Parris has yet to join Shenkman in a voting rights lawsuit against the Lancaster School District, perhaps fearing a backlash from his voting public.”

    You think…TRex a hypocrite? When is TRex coming out for a change in how the city of Lancaster changes from at-large to district based elections? If it’s good for Palmdale, ought to be good for Lancaster.

  19. Parris has got to be the worst political official I have ever seen. Mind youre business and concentrate on the city you keep crapping on as mayor

  20. What a bunch of crap I’ve lived in Palmdale my entire life and being Caucasian I’m the freakin minority. The Hispanics can’t get elected because the majority of Hispanics are illegal or just to ignorant to vote.

    • The whole idea of districts, while sounding good, would result in each district being identified as a certain minority district and will eventually become even more so over time. That’s divisive for the city as a whole when it’s just a bunch of districts protecting their turf and not thinking of the city as a whole. Palmdale is fairly diverse all over the city. If a certain district were to become known as the ‘X’ district, people will either be attracted to living in it or avoiding it if that’s their thinking. That’s creates turfs and the negative dynamics of such things such as opposing projects that don’t benefit them directly but the city as a whole.

      Plus, it’s likely that it will be easier and cheaper for Parris to ‘buy’ a council seat in Palmdale if it’s a ‘district’ seat rather than an at-large seat, to do his bidding on behalf of Lancaster and not Palmdale.

      Even with the at-large council elections, look at what has been happening in the 47th Street East corridor with all the new development. It had been under-served during the 90s as the Antelope Valley Mall got a lot of business development around it but now it’s booming WITHOUT district council elections. In fact, the newer development of 47th East, done fairly quietly, puts the re-development of Lancaster Boulevard to shame despite all the braggadocio on behalf of Rex. Poor Rex musta needed a lot of praise and acknowledgment as a toddler being potty trained and he still needs it even more. Then, it was “Look, Mommie, I did a big poop in the toilet” and now it’s “Look, World, I created the BLVD. Look at me”.

      Palmdale is still growing and absolutely needs at-large council elections and at-large thinking for the entire city and future development and not just a councilperson’s commitment only to their own district.

      As for Parris. He can’t be gone fast enough before he does even more damage. When are the good people of Lancaster, who maybe haven’t voted or participated in local politics because they are too busy working, commuting and living their lives, going to wake up and support a good, honest mayoral candidate that ISN’T one of the good ol’ boys?

      Look at how our new Assemblyman Steve Fox has accomplished in less than a year more than the previous Runner’s had done in forever. Lancaster needs new blood and new thinking. The residents want low crime, potholes fixed, jobs, shopping and other amenities and less talk about roundabouts and landscaping the entrance to the BLVD. And, they don’t want the proposed ‘birthing tourism’ of their community hospital forced upon them when a substantial majority oppose it.

      I wonder how many good ol’ boys in Lancaster own and rent out Section 8 homes. Parris once said on the news that the Antelope Valley ‘needs’ Section 8 to fill the empty houses. Remember, the government money, your tax dollars, go to the owners of the Section 8 homes and not to the voucher holders. Yeah, they get a guaranteed check from the government for renting out those homes so they don’t have to rent them on the open market.