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Matthews Google Voice Number 8-3pm, 760-515-2608

Apple Valley Public Forum: https://www.facebook.com/groups/473556675301944/

Tired of watching decisions happen to you instead of with you? We sat down with Apple Valley District 4 candidate Matthew Rutledge to pull the curtain back on how town hall can move from box-checking to real transparency. Matthew shares why he’s running, how being raised on integrity shapes his approach, and what follow-through should look like when residents bring real problems to the mic.

We get specific about the Brown Act and how it’s too often treated like a mute button. Matthew lays out a simple blueprint: acknowledge concerns in public, exchange contact info, and follow up after meetings unless it’s a closed-session item. From there we dig into the budget shortfall, the risks of leaning on reserves, and smarter ways to prioritize spending. Measure P takes center stage as we examine oversight that feels anything but independent, why committee selection matters, and how to rebuild trust with clear criteria, public minutes, and visible outcomes.

Land use and quality of life are on the line with a proposed truck and trailer parking site near homes. Matthew makes the public health and traffic case for relocating heavy uses away from neighborhoods, while we also revisit the “free” Sing Center and the costly realities of deferred maintenance. For residents asking what they can do, we map out real steps: attend meetings, contact council members directly, organize neighbors, and push for regular town halls and accessible contact info. We close with a practical plan for durable road repairs that serve wheelchair users, cyclists, and drivers alike, plus Matthew’s commitment to take calls, return messages, and document progress.

If you care about accountability, budgets that add up, and decisions that reflect community voice, this one’s for you. Listen, share with a neighbor, and tell us the top issue you want addressed next. Subscribe for more local deep dives, leave a review to help others find the show, and send your questions so we can take them straight to the people in power.

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Apple Valley Agenda’s: https://applevalley.org/government/meetings-and-agendas/

Apple Valley TV: https://applevalley.tv/internetchannel/

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A decade of courtroom battles, ballooning invoices, and a promise that cheaper, locally controlled water is just over the next hill—only to find another hill. We pull back the curtain on Apple Valley’s bid to seize its water utility, mapping the timeline from a last-minute eminent domain filing to a 67-day trial loss, a reversal hinging on judicial deference, and a California Supreme Court review that could reshape how public takeovers are judged across the state.

We walk through what the judge actually said when he called the proposed takeover a risky experiment, and why the appellate “win” didn’t validate the economics or engineering behind municipal ownership. Then we follow the money: the $13.2 million fee order, ongoing monthly legal bills draining the general fund, and the deeper costs lurking in Measure F’s $150 million debt authorization. Beyond the headline debt, we examine the disappearing property tax revenue if the utility goes public, and what that means for schools and county services that rely on those dollars.

Zooming out, we explore the growing PFAS threat and why remediation liabilities won’t vanish under public ownership. We compare CPUC-regulated rate hikes with the hard reality that a city-run system would still face capital upgrades, bond payments, and compliance costs. Along the way, we track leadership changes, reduced services, and delayed projects, revealing how legal strategy can crowd out everyday governance. If local control remains the goal, we lay out what honest accountability and sustainable financing would look like—so residents aren’t left paying more for less.

If this kind of clear, local oversight matters to you, follow the show, share it with a neighbor, and leave a review with your take on the water fight. Your questions and ideas guide where we go next.

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Apple Valley Agenda’s: https://applevalley.org/government/meetings-and-agendas/

Apple Valley TV: https://applevalley.tv/internetchannel/

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Merissas Address: 13744 Choco Road, Apple Valley, CA

CashApp & Venmo: Merissastable

A front-yard cabinet and a mini fridge changed how our corner of Apple Valley fights hunger. When headlines about a government shutdown put SNAP benefits in doubt, Merissa and her mom didn’t wait for a fix. They rolled a cabinet to the driveway, stocked it with pantry staples, and quietly invited neighbors to take what they needed and leave what they could. That simple move sparked a daily exchange: one to three donors most days, six to eight families picking up food, and a living snapshot of what food insecurity really looks like in the High Desert.

We walk through the origin story and the logistics that keep the shelves useful: why bread, peanut butter, jelly, pancake mix, and kid-friendly snacks disappear fastest; how a donated mini fridge opened the door to milk, eggs, and cheese; and the choices behind location, shade, and privacy to protect people and food. Marissa also shares how she balances variety with a separate donations box and why candid tracking of monetary gifts builds trust. The Thanksgiving chapter hits hard—twelve planned meal bags grew into full dinners with turkeys after a last-minute donor stepped up at the Costco checkout, proving how one generous act can scale a grassroots effort overnight.

The conversation stays grounded and nonpartisan: help first, labels later. We talk about zero safety incidents, respectful neighbors, and what it would take to grow into a nonprofit that can partner with local stores and sustain a steady pipeline of staples. If you’ve ever wondered how to turn concern into action, this story offers a blueprint—practical, transparent, and focused on dignity.

Want to be part of it? Bring bread, PB&J, kid snacks, eggs, milk, and cheese. Share the story so families know where to go. And if you found this meaningful, subscribe, leave a review, and pass this along to a friend who cares about community solutions that actually feed people.

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Apple Valley Agenda’s: https://applevalley.org/government/meetings-and-agendas/

Apple Valley TV: https://applevalley.tv/internetchannel/