M EMQRAN DLJ M City of Poway
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS
{Agenda Related Writings/Documents provided to City Council or Staff after distribution of the Agenda Packet for the February 4, 2025 Council Meeting) DATE:
TO:
FROM:
CONTACT:
SUBJECT:
February 4, 2025
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
Carrie Gallagher, City Clerk ~
(858) 668-4535 or [email protected]
Item 9 - Censure of Council member Tony Blain
Attached please find correspondence received after the agenda posting deadline.
Reviewed/Approved By:
Assistant City Manager
1 of 10
Reviewed By:
Alan Fenstermacher
City Attorney
February 4, 2025, Item #9
From: John M. Desantis
To:
Subject:
Steve Yaus; Peter De Hoff: Chris Pikus: Jenny Maeda: Tony Blain: Chris Hazeltine; Alan Fenstermacher February 4, 2025 Council Meeting Agenda Packet Item 9
Date: Saturday, February 1, 2025 7:34:50 PM
Attachments: Desantis comments to city council 02.01.2025.pdf I
Some people who received this message don't often get email from [email protected]. Learn why this is important
EXTl~RN L RMA IL
Poway City Council and Staff members:
Please see attached my comments in regard to Agenda Packet Item 9, Censure of Councilmember Tony Blain.
Thank you,
John DeSantis
M: (858) 208-8546
[email protected]
2 of10 February 4, 2025, Item #9
John DeSantis, 16454 Espola Rd, Poway
February 1, 2025
City of Poway
VIA EMAIL
Attn: Steve Vaus svaus@poway .org
Peter De Hoff pdehoff@poway .org
Christopher Pikus cpikus@poway .org
Jenny Maeda imaeda@poway .org
Tony Blain tblain@poway .org
Chris Hazeltine chazeltine@poway .org
Alan Fenstermacher [email protected]
SUBJECT: February 4, 2025 City Council Meeting, Agenda Item 9, Censure of Councilmember Tony Blain
I would like to present a few comments in regard to the resolution of censure noted above. Note that I do not know Mr. Blain personally, although we have spoken a few times, and I have followed his posts on social media.
Mr. Blain and I spoke by phone on Thursday, January 30th. It was a very brief conversation as Mr. Blain abruptly hung up on me after only a few minutes. I had hoped to share some of these comments with him on that call.
For many months leading up to the January election, Mr. Blain demonstrated what was to me a startling hostility toward our incumbent city leadership. He was vocal in his criticism of city council and staff members, suggesting that they were involved in "back room deals" and were unresponsive to the wishes of citizens. He hinted at accounting irregularities and complained about Poway's water rates, but never offered hard facts to support his arguments.
Even before being sworn in, on multiple occasions Mr. Blain demanded the resignation of the mayor, the city manager and the city attorney, providing absolutely no reason for such demands. Mr. Blain also threatened to recall at least one of his fellow council members. Such behavior is plainly inappropriate: These city officials were duly elected or hired, and one council member should not ask ( or demand) any of them to resign without a broad consensus and without good reason. I was also shocked by the description of Mr. Blain's unprofessional conduct as laid out by attorney Alan Fenstermacher at the January 21 council 3 of 10 February 4, 2025, Item #9
John DeSantis, 16454 Espola Rd, Poway
meeting. I will not go into further detail but suffice to say that I expect a much higher level of decorum, courtesy and respect than what was described.
Based on what I have seen and heard, Mr. Blain appears to be under the impression that he has a mandate from voters to "clean house," even if that means harassing and hounding council and staff members until they quit. I am quite confident there is no such mandate. I have lived and worked in Poway for more than 30 years, and I love this city. This is the BEST COMMUNITY IN THE COUNTY to raise a family, run a business or enjoy retirement, and I thank the long-serving city leaders who have kept it that way! I am confident that most District 2 voters feel the same way. The last thing we want from our council representative is to attack our city leaders in this way.
The city council is a body of 5 individuals: The fact that Mr. Blain may not agree with all of his peers on every issue does not mean that they are wrong and he is right. And it certainly does not entitle him to wage a campaign to remove the people he does not agree with. I say Debate! Argue! Persuade! Honest people can honestly disagree, and I would like to see Mr. Blain winning over his associates with facts, rather than simply "steamrolling" anyone who disagrees with him. I certainly don't want us to lose good leaders due to one leader's rude behavior.
Mr. Blain campaigned in favor of term limits. I say to him: Go for it! If you are successful then those term limits will apply to remove city council members and/or managers at some point. But Mr. Blain's efforts to force out various individuals looks like an attempt to impose immediate, de-facto term limits in hopes of filling current leadership seats with people that he prefers. That's simply inappropriate.
I support the proposed censure of Mr. Blain, and I urge him to STOP his unjustified attacks on his fellow city leaders. District 2 residents would like our council representative to focus on important District 2 issues (we have plenty of them!) and refrain from vilifying others who are simply trying to do their jobs. 4 of10 February 4, 2025, Item #9
5 of 10
From: Tony Blain <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, February 2, 2025 5:45:50 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: John M. Desantis <[email protected]>; Steve Vaus <[email protected]>; Peter De Hoff <[email protected]>; Chris Pikus <[email protected]>; Jenny Maeda <[email protected]>; Chris Hazeltine <[email protected]>; Alan Fenstermacher <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: February 4, 2025 Council Meeting Agenda Packet Item 9 It's amusing how the person in charge of censure Peter De Hoff lied incessantly throughout the entire last campaign with false stories on Poway Votes web site signing his lies "anonymous"
Mayor and Peter, how do you sleep at night? Your lies will be dealt with in the voting box NOV 2025 and 2026! Poway residents are smarter than you think. (Please place this e-mail in my stack of e-mails at the Council meeting tomorrow and I am specifically asking the City Clerk to read this e-mail out loud as my response to Censure)
Please note that our email communications are subject to public disclosure.
Tony Blain
Councilmember
City of Poway
858-248-1509
Complaints
Thank you for e-mailing me. I look forward to meeting you soon. If you have City complaint or concern, please submit official complaint on form below (there is paper version if you walk into City Hall). If you do not receive appropriate response within 14 days, let me know and I will personally present it and speak on it at City Council meeting and make public request of appropriate City Staff to assist us.
General Service Request
February 4, 2025, Item #9
6 of 10
https://poway .org/270/Serv ice-Req uest
Water
https://poway.org/317 /Water
Thank you. Please also e-mail each Councilmember, City Manager, and City Attorney so we can all research and respond appropriately . All e-mails can be found on Poway City Council web site below.
https: //poway.org
Please e-mail us all in 2 weeks for response if we do not respond sooner.
PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST
You can obtain any document from City of Poway using the following link:
https :/ /poway .org/formce nter/city-clerk-33/pu blic-rec ords-request-form -7 4 From: Tony Blain <TBlain@poway .org>
Sent: Sunday, February 2, 2025 5:38 AM
To: John M. Desantis <jdesantis@fastma il.com>; Steve Vaus <[email protected]>; Peter De Hoff <PDeHoff@poway .org>; Chris Pikus <[email protected] >: Jenny Maeda <JMaeda@poway .org>; Chris Hazeltine <[email protected] >; Alan Fenstermacher <[email protected] rg>
Subject: Re: February 4, 2025 Council Meeting Agenda Packet Item 9 Mr. Desantis,
Your views represent the vocal MINORITY of Poway voters of Poway residents and social media.
VOTE NOV 2025 and 2026!!!
Please note that our email communications are subject to public disclosure.
Tony Blain
Councilmember
February 4, 2025, Item #9
7 of10
City of Poway
858-248-1509
Complaints
Thank you for e-mailing me. I look forward to meeting you soon. If you have City complaint or concern, please submit official complaint on form below (there is paper version if you walk into City Hall). If you do not receive appropriate response within 14 days, let me know and I will personally present it and speak on it at City Council meeting and make public request of appropriate City Staff to assist us.
General Service Request
https ://po way. o rg/270/Se rvice-Req u est
Water
https:/ /poway.org/317 /Water
Thank you. Please also e-mail each Councilmember, City Manager, and City Attorney so we can all research and respond appropriately. All e-mails can be found on Poway City Council web site below.
https://poway.org
Please e-mail us all in 2 weeks for response if we do not respond sooner.
PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST
You can obtain any document from City of Poway using the following link:
https ://poway . org/formcenter/city-clerk-33/pu blic-records -req uest-form- 7 4 From: John M . Desantis <jdesantis@fast majl.com >
Sent: Saturday, February 1, 2025 7:32 PM
To: Steve Vaus <[email protected]>; Peter De Hoff <[email protected] >; Chris Pikus <CPikus@poway .org>; Jenny Maeda <JMaeda@poway .org>; Tony Blain <[email protected] rg>; Chris Hazeltine <CHazeltine@poway .org>; Alan Fenstermacher February 4, 2025, Item #9
8 of10
<[email protected] >
Subject: February 4, 2025 Council Meeting Agenda Packet Item 9 Some people who received this message don't often get
email from jdesantis@fastmail com. Learn why this is
important
EXTERNAL EMAIL
Poway City Council and Staff members:
Please see attached my comments in regard to Agenda Packet Item 9, Censure of Councilmember Tony Blain.
Thank you,
John Desantis
M: (858) 208-8546
[email protected]
February 4, 2025, Item #9
From:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Date:
Tony Blain
Q.ty_Qm
Fenstermacher. Alan: Chris Hazeltine: Jenny Maeda
Censure at Feb. S meeting
Thursday, January 23, 2025 5:25:08 PM
I am requesting this statement be read for me regarding Censure at Feb. 5 meeting:
I did things I am being Censured for BEFORE I got elected - I have not had one single negative City staff interaction AFTER I got elected except for telling City Manager and City Manager I think Poway would be better served without their continued employment - this does NOT rise to public politically motivated Censure of duly elected Councilmember I will read EVERY E-mail but I will not be responding to any further City emails but I'm very happy to speak if you call my cell phone below - no texting please. And we can always meet in person.
Thank you for being actively involved - it is very much appreciated / please also consider speaking at Public Comment at the next Council meeting 7 pm City Hall Please note that our email communications are subject to public disclosure.
Tony Blain
Councilmember
City of Poway
858-248-1509
Complaints
Thank you for e-mailing me. I look forward to meeting you soon. If you have City complaint or concern, please submit official complaint on form below (there is paper version if you walk into City Hall).
General Service Request
https :/ /poway. org/2 70/Se rvi ce-Req uest
Water
https://poway .org/317/Water
Thank you. Please also e-mail each Councilmember, City Manager, and City Attorney so they can all research and respond appropriately. All of their e-mails can be found on Poway 9 of10 February 4, 2025, Item #9
City Council web site below.
https :/ /poway. o rg
Please e-mail them all in 2 weeks for response if they do not respond sooner.
PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST
You can obtain any document from City of Poway using the following link:
https :/ /poway .org/formcenter/cjty-clerk-33/public-records-request-form- 7 4 10 of 10 February 4, 2025, Item #9