OXNARD ’S HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER
Gun owners advocate for the Second Amendment Sanctuary Ordinance VOL. XXVIII NO. 36
n See page 18
SEPTEMBER 4, 2020
By Chris Frost chris@tricountysentry.com Oxnard-- The Oxnard Recreation Program had a raucous evening at College Park, Aug. 31, as it was Zumba night, which meant high energy music, lots of movement, and plenty of positive people.
Nguyen defends the city over Fisherman’s Wharf
T
HE recreation department had some access problems because of the Covid-19 social distancing requirements. Staff devised a plan and used a new machine, named “Joey” to create individual social distance circles, so attendees could lose the mask and let go. The City of Oxnard purchased Joey
By Chris Frost chris@tricountysentry.com
n Joey, see page 5
It would take one person, plus four people doing the labor to stripe a field in 150 minutes. Now it takes one person
Molina stands and fights for his elected duties By Chris Frost chris@tricountysentry.com Oxnard-- The ballot initiatives are heating up again before the election in Nov. as City Treasurer Philip Molina, who faces reelection this year, wants people to realize that the City of Oxnard is violating the California Constitution by its actions. Molina discussed the transparency initiative, which
makes the elected City Treasurer accountable for the city’s financial functions and requires the online posting of city expenditures and their supporting documents. It requires the finance department to hire a certified public accountant and publish monthly financial statements; and requires the publishing of performance measurements for city departments. By a majority vote on May. 5,
the Oxnard City Council removed all administrative functions from Molina after a dramatic report of his actions while in charge of the treasurer’s office. Molina filed a lawsuit against the city, and he wants the City of Oxnard to follow the written law and return the treasurer’s statutory duties to his office. An appointee, Assistant City Treasurer Eden Alomeri, handles statutory n Molina, see page 6
Phil Molina
(Courtesy photo)
Oxnard-- As Fisherman’s Wharf sits almost empty, run-down and without options, the war of words over who did what to who rages on. The California Coastal Com mission rejected a plan from the Ventura County Harbor Commission for a local coastal plan override to build a 400-unit apartment complex with an urban village. Tom Tellefson from Channel Islands Harbor Properties said he’s made “numerous attempts” to meet with Oxnard city officials and discuss a path forward. Harbor Director Mark Sandoval said at this point; they’ve not met. On first response, Nguyen said Oxnard and Ventura County get along well on a lot of issues. “This situation has been constructed in a way that the county and city have to advocate for and respect each organization’s interest,” he said. “I have to defend the city, and the county has to defend and protect its interests. I understand that.” When Tellefson says he hasn’t been able to work with the city toward a resolution, he rolled his eyes. “He and the city had multiple meetings with city officials,” Ngu yen said. “There were multiple com munity meetings and public hea rings to discuss the proposed pro ject at Fisherman’s Wharf. To claim that no one on the city’s side didn’t say what they did and didn’t want is absurd. The bottom line is Mr. Tellefson didn’t like anything he heard from the city and continues to try and make a backroom deal. I’m proud that Oxnard didn’t go for that. That’s the bottom line. He couldn’t get a backroom deal done here, so he has to fuss about the public process. To claim the city didn’t respond is utterly false.” n Nguyen, see page 7