What Happened to the CSA 100 Streetscape Plan? - Sigmund Lichter: I Voted 'No'

By Patric Hedlund

On Wednesday, Oct. 7, we spoke with Sigmund Lichter about the CSA 100 vote, and how he feels the streetscape can be maintained, now that the maintenance plan has not been funded. This is a transcript of that conversation.

I voted no, I had a fight with Supervisor Watson. He called me before the vote and he urged me to vote yes. He asked me to ask others to vote yes. I said I wouldn't. He was so mad and I followed up with two or three emails.

I said we all agreed that there would be $300 per address some of the properties have 3,5, or even 11 parcels at Alpine Lumber.

When the original plan was shown to us, it was beautiful and we all agreed this was what we wanted.

They used the grant to take people out to lunch and paid for design, then they made blunders in the design. That cost money, so they say they couldn't finish what they said they were going to do.

They haven't done what they proposed. They left half of it off. I was mad at what they did. They encroached with the sidewalk on my property. Across the street from Alpine Plaza they didn't finish the block walls with natural stone to match as they said they would, all this was disregarded and wasn't done. I said, 'I am not going to support it because you did not follow what you said.'

Now it is not $300 per address. Now they say '$300 for maintenance of flowers, and $50 for lighting and if this is not enough it will be adjusted.'

When I talked to them about this, Watson said 'don't mind this,' but once it is signed it is in. They can change it to what they want. I pay $50,000 to Bakersfield in property taxes a year. What are they giving back?

I would propose that everyone should take care in front of their own business. I will instruct my tenants to pull the weeds and water the flowers.

I think the county can spring from our property taxes to pay for the water and the electricity. It is piddling stuff. They get more in our property taxes than what they give back.

Lichter said he would drop the emails with Watson by the office of The Mountain Enterprise if we wanted to see them. We agreed that would be of interest.

Read related story: What Happened to the CSA 100 Streetscape Plan? — Sharon Witt

This is part of the October 9, 2009 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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