Below is a letter that was sent to the The Signal by Steve Huerta defending himself and correcting the erroneous spin from The Signal’s opinion staff. Steve forwarded it to me because it had not been published.
This is nothing new to those who have experienced this before. It is common knowledge around the valley that The Signal regularly mis-quotes, spins, and leaves out the facts. It is difficult to call The Signal a newspaper as that would be an insult to other newspapers and to jounalistic integrity.

Stonecrest Residents Have The Right To Vote On Annexation!

It’s amazing what lengths THE SIGNAL’s opinion staff will stoop to try and debase me, and stop the residents from having the right to Vote. They have insinuated that I’m in collusion with CEMEX, and a “liar.” THE SIGNAL has made themselves the voice for the City government, and many others in the community share the same opinion.

I’ve spoken the truth about the issues of annexation at Stonecrest. I spoke about the issues when asked by the residents, to provide balance to the City’s claims. This has always been about the right to Vote, whether it’s yes or no. I’ve spoken the truth about the City plans to eliminate the firm Hillside Maintenance cap of lower Stonecrest, and replace it with one that includes a Consumer Price Index of 3% that can be applied once cost reach $700. I’ve spoken the truth about increased taxes for streetlights and stormwater services, which came from City documents. I’ve spoken the truth about the rights of Stonecrest residents to call City Sheriffs if there is an emergency. I’ve spoken the truth about the CEMEX mine, and that the City can’t stop it even if they annex the additional 1,885 acres. Ask the Mayor and Council members to tell you CEMEX won’t mine there. They’ve said they don’t oppose “historical” levels of mining, and that’s not guaranteed. I’ve also spoken the truth about City-hood benefits, like elimination of the County utility tax, which is based on individual home usage, lower trash collection fees, and park and recreation fees. A City planner misspoke when he said I wasn’t telling residents about the utility tax. He should check his copy of the information sheet more closely.

THE SIGNAL’s opinion writers, with their mighty pens in hand, have sought to use me as a way to divert the attention of the residents. Residents must ask themselves, what other reason could the City possibly have to want to annex Stonecrest and beyond? In a more recent column, residents in other un-incorporated areas were asked to get off their bums and annex. I have no problem with annexation, but residents should Vote on it, and not let LAFCO back-door it in. In a Letter To The Editor in THE SIGNAL, an area resident said that the right to Vote is a lie. The rules of annexation, as carried out by LAFCO, provides this possibility for residents. Maybe he should study them before he puts pen to paper.

The residents must realize that if this decision is left in the hands of LAFCO, who will green-light it, it does’t mean that the majority of residents wanted it. A vote is the only true measure of what the community really wants.

I fully expect THE SIGNAL’s opinion staff to spin this rebuttal against me, and the right to Vote. Despite all their personal attacks, at the end of the day it comes down to one thing – The Right For Stonecrest Residents To Vote!

Steven Huerta