Parker Live News from the Parker Strip since 2009.
The press release below was sent to Parker Live on July 10th by the La Paz County Attorney Sam Vederman in order to make it clear that his office is complying with a large public information request.
The original press release included the email correspondence between the person making the request, Ms. Violet Kiss, and Vederman, so I posted it in its entirety for public information on July 11th. Last week, Ms. Kiss contacted Parker Live asking us to remove her emails from the site, which I did as a courtesy by taking down the piece entirely.
I’m now reposting the original press release and Vederman’s side of the correspondence.
————
La Paz County Attorney’s office: Press release
After this office declined to prosecute Michael Roth, for felony resisting arrest, for an incident at the Quartzsite Town Council meeting on June 14, 2011, some citizens appeared at the La Paz County Board of Supervisors meeting on June 20, 2011, to voice their opinions about this office.
Some citizens came to my office to meet with me after the board meeting. In total I met with four citizens after the meeting (three (3) at one time and Ms. Violet Kiss later) to listen to their concerns and explain why this office made the decision it did in reference to Mr. Roth and some other cases.
Ms. Kiss made a public information request on June 20, 2011, and has since followed up with two more requests which are similar variations of the original request.
I have attached the e-mail correspondence between Ms. Kiss and myself because I would like it to be clear that this office is attempting to work with Ms. Kiss toward resolving her request in a manner that will not hinder the vital operations of this office.
The request she and her husband have made is truly a massive request for public information.
You can read the e-mail correspondence between Ms. Kiss and myself and draw your own conclusions. Thank you.
Sam Vederman
La Paz County Attorney
Reverse order. Latest at top.
From: Sam Vederman
Sent: Friday, July 08, 2011 8:07 PM
Subject: RE: The files are ready for viewing
Ms. Kiss,
We will have to agree to disagree.
The files that you and your husband, Ronald D. Jones, want to view are being made available to you for viewing.
They will all be in the storage unit that Mr. Haws will take you to and you have the ability to view everything in the storage unit with unfettered access.
Anything that you want to purchase will be copied for you with any necessary redactions made by this office.
All you have to do is tell Mr. Haws what you want copied and he will process your request.
As the La Paz County Attorney I have an obligation to ensure this office continues to review and prosecute cases efficiently and effectively and a voluminous request for public information, such as yours, will hinder our ability to do the work we need to do. I estimate that your request requires the viewing of thousands of files and it would cause an extreme hardship for this office to process the request in the manner you are requesting that it be done.
The plan I have put into place will give you access to the files that you wish to view, but will not significantly impair our ability to carry out the necessary and vital functions of this office.
Here are the options you have:
1. View the files as I have offered to make them available to you, which is outlined above. If the weather is too hot you can wait until the Fall or Winter to view them.
2. View the files on a weekly piecemeal basis. Under this scenario we will bring the files to the main office for you to view in our lobby. Mr. Haws will provide you with 20 files per week for you to view and you can let him know what you want to purchase out of each case file.
3. As we discussed when we met on June 20, 2011, you can provide me with specific names of the case files you wish to view and view them in our lobby. Once you are done viewing the files you can inform Mr. Haws of what you would like to purchase.
To make certain there is no miscommunication about this issue, if you have questions for this office, please only contact me and only in writing. E-mail is acceptable.
Mr. Haws is only responsible for making an appointment with you to view the files and to provide me with any request you may make regarding the files you view.
As I stated before we are ready to proceed with you viewing the files. Please let me know which option you are going to choose.
Sam Vederman
La Paz County Attorney
————
Ms. Kiss,
As you stated to me when we met on June 20, 2011, you are a neutral historian, and it is quite an honor to have a neutral historian show interest in our office files.
Frank Haws, our office investigator, will work with you on this.
The files are ready for viewing now.
Please contact Mr. Haws to set up a date and time that is mutually convenient for everyone.
He can be contacted at:
Office – 928-669-6118
Cell – 928-503-4172
Please do not hesitate to contact me if there is anything else I can assist you with.
Sam Vederman
La Paz County Attorney
————
From: Sam Vederman
Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2011 12:23 PM
Subject: RE: Request For Information Form
Ms. Kiss,
I received your phone message today inquiring how long it will take to process your public information request.
Your request is quite extensive and voluminous.
Therefore, I cannot begin to give you an estimate or time frame other than to state it will be done in a reasonable amount of time.
I am currently working on a plan to get this accomplished.
I have copied the La Paz County Board of Supervisors so that they are aware of your request and that it has been acknowledged by me.
Sam Vederman
La Paz County
If Violet Kiss is a Neutral Historian, I am Jesus Christ. Wait, Jeff Gilbert already holds that title, or is he God?
He’s definitely a legend in his own mind!
John, why is this news? Does Sam Vederman put out press releases about everyone who requests documents? I know us LIBERTY TERRORISTS need to be controlled but Sam’s really scraping the bottom with this press release!
Violet Kiss is a tool for the Establishment!!!
My guess is that Mr. Vederman didn’t want anyone trying to claim that he wasn’t complying with a public information request.
Yes, I’m sure that is what it is…….(sarcasm)
She is just ticked off that Sam recognized the fact that Roth was the victim of Police Brutality and is helping Quartzsite cronies with damage control.
I believe she is the “Great Leader” John Drum praised at the recent BOS Meeting…
It looks like Mr. Vederman is not going to cow to political agendas. Good Job, Sir! Watching Quartzsite this week has been a true education. Scary, though, to think that those councilpeople were doing all this for so long with no one to intervene on behalf of the people. Where were the proper authorities?
Aaaah, Vederman IS cowering to political agenda, his!
The winds of change have shifted and Sammy sees the handwriting on the wall. He’s a political opportunist!
The same is happening in Quartzsite. One year ago Ed Foster called me a “Right Wingnut” Now he’s doing interviews with all my peeps!!!
Michael Roth you have me confused. What I am reading -this is all about Vederman not charging YOU with a crime-which when looking at the video appears to be the right decision. You should be thanking Vederman for interpreting the law correctly.
Yes, I should thank him and worship the ground he walks upon!
Sam is only interpreting the law correctly now because his friends like Jeff Gilbert are going down and he can’t afford to lose any more votes in his upcoming election. Sam is a chameleon
Senor Roth,
Chief Gilbert is the real problem in Quartzsite, not Vederman. Please focus on the problems that face La Paz.
You were not charged with a crime cause you didn’t do the crime; but last time you did something you were convicted by a jury for a crime.
Vederman is fair. That proves it.
M,
Your undying support for your good buddy Sammy shows you have true loyalty.
However, Sammy was a major reason why we have the problem of Jeff Gilbert.
If Vederman had chosen to act on the criminal complaints filed against Jeff Gilbert and Xavier Frausto we wouldn’t be in the mess we are in today
As far as me being convicted by a jury, let’s just see what the appellate court has to say about that.
Vederman is anything but fair and I can prove it. He IS political, and that is the last thing you want in a County Attorney. (unless you are his best friend)
It appears to me that your friendship with Sammy has clouded your judgement!
My judgement is not clouded Mr. Roth, and not the best friend of Vederman.
You dislike the prosecutor both because he prosecutes you and declines to prosecute you. You like it both ways…..all attack for whatever reason. Sounds like sour grapes and bias on your behalf.
Focus on the firing of Gilbert.
It is so obvious what they are doing. They are trying to DISCREDIT the County Attorney because he isn’t playing ball with them. If he won’t cow to their authority, he is to be subjected to their wrath. Spare the people. The attack on him is just More Lies from Established Liars. Vederman has done the right thing to let people know this is happening and The People will understand why.
M, you focus on the firing of Dan Field, and get back to me when you are finished, OK?
Gilbert’s done! Stick a fork in him, he’s OVER! Alex Taft should be emailing resumes for other towns to destroy.
It’s not sour grapes when someone stands up to injustice. And I’m not getting it both ways here.
Willow, how will the people understand why?
I understand The Sam Vederman Love Fest, too bad it’s based on political alliances only….
roth, get rid of the hoolgin gilbert. start facebook page or online petition against the denier of the 1st. be strong and same to jones! is jones single?
SOA, why don’t YOU do it. I’m a little busy. Today I have to be in court AGAIN for daring to exercise my 1st Amendment rights at the most hallowed of American places, Town Hall!
WHEN I WAS IN GRAMMAR SCHOOL, I REMEMBER A CLASSROOM BANNER WHICH READ AS FOLLOWS: 1. IS IT THE TRUTH? 2. IS IT FAIR TO ALL CONCERNED? 3. WILL IT BUILD GOODWILL AND BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? 4. WILL IT BE BENEFICIAL TO ALL CONCERNED?
YEARS LATER, I DISCOVERED THAT THOSE QUESTIONS ARE REFERRED TO AS “THE FOUR WAY TEST”, AND ARE DISPLAYED AND RECITED AT ROTARY INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS AROUND THE WORLD, EVEN HERE IN PARKER.
IN ACTUALITY, THE ONLY QUESTION THAT NEEDS TO BE ASKED IS QUESTION NUMBER ONE, NAMELY: “IS IT THE TRUTH? IF IT IS INDEED THE TRUTH, THE REMAINING THREE QUESTIONS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE ASKED.
HERE’S THE PROBLEM. THE TRUTH APPEARS TO BE ONLY A VAPOR IN LA PAZ COUNTY GOVERNMENT. EVEN THOUGH SEVERAL OF OUR SO-CALLED “LEADERS” RECITE THE “FOUR WAY TEST” EVERY WEEK, THE WORDS SEEM TO BE QUICKLY FORGOTTEN THE MOMENT THEY ARE SPOKEN, WHICH IS EVIDENCED BY THE SITUATION THAT WE ARE IN TODAY.
SUPERVISOR DRUM HAS MADE IT PUBLICLY CLEAR THAT HE CONSIDERS ME PART OF THE “LITTLE NUCLEUS OF CANCER”, ALL BECAUSE I, AND A FEW OTHERS, HAVE THE AUDACITY TO PUBLICLY ASSERT OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS. THE QUOTE ABOVE CAME FROM THE LA PAZ COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISOR’S MEETING ON JUNE 20TH, 2011, AND IS ENTIRELY REPRESENTATIVE AS TO HOW HE FEELS ABOUT ANYONE WHO DISAGREES WITH HIM. HERE’S SOMETHING FOR YOU TO CONSIDER: WEREN’T THE JEWS A TYPE OF “CANCER” TO ADOLF HITLER? HMMM!
AS WE ALL KNOW, THE LA PAZ COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS RECENTLY LAID OFF AT LEAST 13 EMPLOYEES, YET RETAINED THE ABSOLUTELY USELESS “PARK RANGER” POSITIONS TO THE TUNE OF ALMOST $100,000 A YEAR TO LA PAZ COUNTY TAXPAYERS. EVEN THOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS COMPLETE AND IRRESPONSIBLE WASTE OF TAX DOLLARS, THIS BOARD CONSISTANTLY TURNS A DEAF EAR TO ANY AND ALL WHO DARE TO PRESENT A REASONABLE OBJECTION.
THIS PAST WEEKEND, ON MY SCANNER, I HEARD DISPATCH SEND THE UPRIVER DEPUTY TO PATRIA FLATS IN REFERENCE TO A GRAFFITI COMPLAINT THERE. THE DEPUTY REQUESTED DISPATCH TO CONTACT THE “PARK RANGER”, BUT WAS TOLD THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO FIRST CONTACT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, BECAUSE THE “PARK RANGER” WAS NOT ON DUTY THAT DAY, NEITHER WAS THE BOARD. SO EXACTLY WHAT DOES THE “PARK RANGER” DO? NO ONE REALLY KNOWS, OTHER THAN HE ANSWERS DIRECTLY TO THE COUNTY MANAGER AND COLLECTS A HEFTY SALARY FOR BASICALLY NOTHING IN RETURN, OTHER THAN PAID TRANSPORTATION FROM CIBOLA TO PARKER AND BACK.
THE THREE LA PAZ COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS EACH DRAW A SALARY OF APPROXIMATELY $64,000 TAX DOLLARS A YEAR. THE COUNTY MANAGER DRAWS APPROX. $107,000 TAX DOLLARS A YEAR. THE “PARK RANGER” POSITION IS PAID SOMEWHERE AROUND $60,000 DOLLARS A YEAR. I’VE HEARD THAT PART OF THAT IS GRANT FUNDED, BUT SOMEONE’S BEING TAXED FOR IT, IT CERTAINLY IS NOT FREE. THE TOTAL FOR THE ABOVE SALARIES IS APPROX. $359,000 DOLLARS.
RATHER THAN SEND 13 MORE FAMILIES TO THE BREADLINE, HOW ABOUT CUTTING THE UNNECESSARY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR’S POSITION AND THE CERTAINLY UNNECESSARY “PARK RANGER” POSITION AND SAVE APPROX. $167,000 DOLLARS A YEAR, OR PUT THOSE LAID OFF BACK TO WORK? OH, I’M SORRY, I FORGOT THAT COMMON SENSE, REASON AND LOGIC DO NOT APPLY TO THIS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, ONLY SPECIAL INTERESTS.
TO THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND AN OCCASSIONAL BOARD OF SUPERVISOR’S MEETING, HAVE YOU NOTICED THAT NO COUNTY EMPLOYEES, EVER, SPEAK AT “CALL TO THE PUBLIC” AS TO THEIR CONCERNS AS EMPLOYEES AND RESIDENTS OF THIS COUNTY? THIS IS WHY YOU SEE ANONYMOUS NAMES AND MONIKERS ON VARIOUS BLOGS AND POSTS, WITH VERY FEW ACTUAL NAMES.
THE REASONS FOR THIS SHOULD BE OBVIOUS. AS A FORMER COUNTY EMPLOYEE OF OVER 20 YEARS, I TOO WAS RELUCTANT TO SPEAK OPENLY, FOR FEAR OF REPRISAL. I NEEDED MY JOB, SO I DID NOT SPEAK OUT. WELL, NOW IT’S MY TURN! OVER THE YEARS, I HAVE WATCHED THOSE IN HIGH PLACES, EVEN AT THE LOCAL JUSTICE COURT, AS SPECIAL INTERESTS WERE GIVEN PRIORITY OVER OTHERS. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
ON PAGE 5 OF THIS WEEK’S PARKER PIONEER, THERE IS A “NOTICE OF TAX INCREASE”, TELLING TAXPAYERS THAT LA PAZ COUNTY IS INTENDING TO RAISE PROPERTY TAXES. THE ARTICLE USES THE WORD “PROPOSED” THREE TIMES. IT ALSO SAYS, IN PART:…“THE INCREASE IS…”, INDICATING THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN, EVEN THOUGH THERE IS GOING TO BE A PUBLIC HEARING, SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 2011, AT 1:30 PM AT THE BOARD ROOM.
ONE-THIRTY PM. PERFECT TIMING AS USUAL! RIGHT WHEN MOST PEOPLE ARE WORKING AND UNABLE TO ATTEND. HOW ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN IN THE EVENING? LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I SUBMIT TO YOU THAT THE TIMING OF THIS MEETING IS STRICTLY BY DESIGN, AS ARE REGULAR MEETINGS. THE BOARD COUNTS ON A SMALL TURNOUT, SO THEY WILL NOT HAVE TO FACE RESISTANCE FROM THE PEOPLE.
MARK MY WORDS…THE TAX INCREASE WILL TAKE PLACE, MEETING OR NO MEETING! WATCH! PROOF ONCE AGAIN THAT TAXPAYERS IN LA PAZ COUNTY HAVE LITTLE OR NO EFFECT ON ANY PREDETERMINED OUTCOME. RENTERS, THIS AFFECTS YOU TOO. AS YOUR LANDLORD’S TAXES GO UP, SO WILL YOUR RENT.
EVERYONE THAT POSSIBLY CAN, SHOULD ATTEND THIS MEETING ON AUGUST 1ST. CARPOOL IF NECESSARY. PLAN NOW ON HOW YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GET THERE. THIS BOARD HAS ALLOWED THIS 14 MILLION DOLLAR LAWSUIT TO BECOME WHAT IT IS TODAY. THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO FIND THE MONEY WITHOUT BREAKING OUR FINANCIAL BACKS TO PAY FOR THEIR IRRESPONSIBLE DECISIONS.
SEE, THE “FOUR WAY TEST” DOES NOT APPLY TO LA PAZ COUNTY!
NOTE: PLEASE FEEL FREE TO POST ACCURATE CORRECTIONS TO THIS LETTER.
KING CLAPPERTON
LA PAZ COUNTY TAXPAYER…PAYER…PAYER…PAYER
WOW, TWO HABOOBS IN THE PHOENIX AREA. WHAT A DISASTER FOR THE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE HEALTH PROBLEMS. ACCORDING TO A RECENT NEWS ARTICLE, MARICOPA COUNTY IS EXPECTING AN ADDITIONAL 3,600 CASES OF VALLEY FEVER TO BE REPORTED IN JULY AND AUGUST. HERE IN LA PAZ COUNTY, WE DO HAVE OUR HIGH MONSOON WINDS EVERY YEAR, BRINGING DUST AND MUD RAINS, BUT WE HAVE A MUCH GREATER PROBLEM THAN METEORLOGICAL DISTURBANCES. WE, UNLIKE MARICOPA COUNTY, HAVE OUR VERY OWN DANGEROUS AND FISCALLY UNHEALTHY BOARD OF HABOOBS. IT SEEMS THAT WHENEVER THEY GET TOGETHER, THEY CREATE DISASTER FOR THE TAXPAYERS OF LA PAZ COUNTY. WITH THE THREAT OF A SANDSTORM OR HIGH WINDS, MOST OF US MAKE SURE OUR VEHICLE WINDOWS ARE ROLLED UP, PATIO CHAIRS AND UMBRELLAS ARE SECURED, TRASH CANS AND PETS ARE BROUGHT IN, ETC. WE DO OUR BEST TO PROTECT OURSELVES AND OUR PROPERTY FROM THE DAMAGING EFFECTS OF THE STORM. EVEN THOUGH WE MAY STILL HAVE TO CLEAN UP AND MAKE REPAIRS, USUALLY THE DAMAGE WILL BE MINIMAL, IF WE MAKE OURSELVES READY. AS VALLEY FEVER, STIRRED UP BY A WIND STORM, IS DEVASTATING TO THE HUMAN BODY, SO ARE THE IRRESPONSIBLE AND EXPENSIVE DECISIONS STIRRED UP BY THE LA PAZ COUNTY BOARD OF HABOOBS. IN ORDER FOR US TO PREPARE OURSELVES FOR ANOTHER ONSLAUGHT BY THIS DAMAGING HUMAN STORM, WE MUST ALL PLAN TO ATTEND THE UPCOMING PROPERTY TAX MEETING, LAST KNOWN TO BE SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 1, 2011, AT 1:30 IN THE AFTERNOON, AT THE BOARD ROOM IN PARKER. LIKE ANY STORM, WE CANNOT STOP IT NOR TURN IT AWAY, BUT WE CAN LESSEN ITS EFFECTS BY BEING PREPARED. IN PREPARATION FOR THE PROPOSED TAX HIKE, EVERYONE THAT POSSIBLY CAN NEEDS TO ATTEND THE MEETING. I SUGGEST THAT PEOPLE TAKE THE TIME TO WRITE A 3 MINUTE LETTER TO PRESENT AT “CALL TO THE PUBLIC”, IF WE ARE ALLOWED TO SPEAK AT ALL. AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE, THIS TAX HIKE HAS PROBABLY ALREADY BEEN DECIDED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, AND THAT THIS MEETING IS JUST A FORMALITY. IN ANY CASE, WE ALL NEED TO BE THERE, WE ALL NEED TO “BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES”, BECAUSE THE HABOOBS ARE COMING AGAIN.
KING CLAPPERTON
LA PAZ COUNTY TAX PAYER…PAYER…PAYER
JULY 21, 2011