“You violated their trust and should apologize, and step down as Mayor Pro Tem” – Scott M. O’Neil

Update June 11, 2025

May 2, 2025 (Originally published)

Ridgecrest California

Below is a letter to the Daily Independent from Ridgecrest resident and Executive Director of the Indian Wells Valley Economic Development Corporation, Mr. Scott M. O’Neil.

5/2/25 LETTER TO THE EDITOR

DAILY INDEPENDENT

RE: Potential Brown Act violation

• By Scott M. O’Neil, Ridgecrest

Dear Mayor Pro Tem Blades,

I am Scott O’Neil, resident of the City of Ridgecrest. As a private citizen, I am following the State of California’s progress on two Bills that can affect the water issue in our Valley, specifically, AB 1466 and AB 1413. I was reviewing the 8 April 2025 transcripts and minutes of the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife hearing on these Bills. Those show that you, Mayor Pro tem Kyle Blades, attended hearings in Sacramento and spoke in favor of both Bills. Specifically, you were identified by the Chair as being present to answer technical questions regarding the Bills. Then when the Chair asked for testimony, you identified yourself as “Mayor Pro tem for City of Ridgecrest” and testified in support of AB 1466. You followed up by saying you were very much in favor. Later for AB 1413, you identified yourself as “City of Ridgecrest” and testified strongly in support.

Clearly Mr. Blades, you were representing the City of Ridgecrest at this hearing, but I cannot find evidence nor do I recollect seeing City Council meeting agenda items announcing a discussion of these Bills. Also, I do not find evidence of specific actions and positions voted on by the City Council, nor discussion and action approving you as the City’s official representative for this hearing, nor of any discussion or action authorizing the use of City funds for travel to Sacramento for this hearing. Of these, if I am in error, please provide me with such evidence. If I am correct, then you and the City Council have egregiously violated the Brown Act; which requires a public agenda announcing the topic, open discussion, public input, and specific action approved by a majority of the City Council.

If this is the case, it is unfortunate that the City continues to act obstinately and independently, counter to many citizens and organizations in this community regarding groundwater sustainability strategies. As the Brown Act protects: “The people of this State do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies which serve them. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know. The people insist on remaining informed so that they may retain control over the instruments they have created.” Again, if this is the case, Mr. Blades, you knowingly and deliberately ignored the requirements of the Brown Act. As such, you have failed in your duty to the citizens of Ridgecrest. You violated their trust and should apologize, and step down as Mayor Pro Tem.

Respectfully,

Scott M. O’Neil

Ridgecrest

City Manager Ron Strand should resign too

Not only should Councilman Kyle Blades step down as Mayor Pro-tem, he should resign his seat on the Council and go back to doing his job, whatever it is, at China Lake.

In any case, Blades knowingly violated the spirit and letter of Ridgecrest’s term limit ordinance, and can’t be trusted. Anyone remember the Placer.AI controversy?

Most residents in Ridgecrest don’t know that City Manager Ron Strand runs the City of Ridgecrest with an iron fist, and he’s fully aware of the Brown Act.

As many in the community know, Strand’s heavy-handed policing and law enforcment includes community surveillance via Facebook “engagements” as well as 24 license plate readers spread throughout town. The recent addition of an armored Bearcat has resulted in numerous deployments.

Mr. Strand, the long-time former police chief of Ridgecrest, will soon retire with a hefty six-figure pension that should place him in the top eschelon of Calpers payees, and he’s rumored to be planning on running for City Council in 2026.

The Ridgecrest City Council doesn’t do anything without Ron Strand’s (or the City Attorney’s) approval.

Ridgecrest residents can’t trust Ron Strand or Kyle Blades.

Ridgecrest has become a militarized police surveillance city under the control of City Manager Ron Strand.

Miguel T. Tonnis

Publisher, Roadrunner395.com