This blog is a mix of fact and opinion. The facts speak for themselves and are referenced as such. Opinions are expressed as opinions. 

On Tuesday, August 8^th, 2023, Fred Bergloff of First Christian Church located at 200 E. Acacia Avenue, described in detail, the harassment imposed by Hemet Fire Department.  Hemet Fire has suffered under the poor leadership of current Fire Chief Eddie Sell for months.  This was truly an example of gall and inept behavior of a clueless department. 

A little history here.  I’m using bullets to emphasize the number of things that transpired as a direct result of bad decisions, one after another.

• Back in late 2022, Community Development Director, H.P. Kang was “released” from duty.  Kang was a disaster, in terms of community development and planning (that is a fact and not an opinion). 
• He was not only an utter failure, but he played fast and loose with the city of Hemet, engaging in some nefarious activity that benefited developers and not the city of Hemet (that is a fact and not an opinion). 
• In an effort to “streamline” some of Community Development’s work load, Building and Safety, Code Enforcement was moved over to Hemet Fire Department, under the new name of Hemet Fire and Safety Agency (parenthesis are used to show my doubt about intentions). 
• Among other things, HFD took over the previously mishandled Code Enforcement duties.  This all took place November 15, 2022.  
• This move resulted in a colossal mess on the part of Hemet Fire.  
• Fire employees were neither prepared or trained to take on the additional duties. 
• The fire department conveniently managed to also take over part of the Community Development budget.  Previously, code enforcement and permits were an extremely cumbersome process and often left customers frustrated and, in some cases, very angry.  It seemed no one knew how to do their job.   
• To add to this, some developers decided to take their business elsewhere.  In my opinion, the City Manager has been equally inept at handling this mess. 

Back to the complete analyses prepared by Bergloff, detailing how the fire department brazenly tried to exhort money from the church.  The long and short of it is, HFD tried intimidation tactics by telling the church elders they had to have a license or else.   

I’m going to paraphrase Bergloff’s words, with his permission.  He did an exquisite job of explaining how HFD shone in incompetency. To highlight HFD’s errors and lack of ability, in subsequent city council meetings, after numerous complaints to city council members, Fire Chief Sell admitted to being behind the eight ball in terms of addressing permitting issues. It’s all video (You Tube). It is a matter of public record.

Fire paid a visit to the church, advising them that the church did not have the required business licenses for churches.  Bergloff made a personal visit to the City of Hemet’s permit desk on Buena Vista Street, where he spoke with an unidentified female.   Bergloff went on to cite the Declaration of Independence preamble: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” 

He further explained, the Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.  The 1^st amendment states Congress0 shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

He went on to define the following terms: individual, man, business, license.  Bear in mind, churches are NOT businesses.  They are non-for-profit institutions, not in business to make a profit. His final comments “IF WE SUBMIT TO BEING A “BUSINESS” THEN WE ARE SUBJECT TO BUSINESS LAWS OF THE FEDERAL, GOVERNMENT, STATE AND LOCAL!”

We (First Christian Church) are a church (assembly) of the persons who have inalienable rights recognized by Declaration of Independence and the First Amendment   According to the Hemet municipal code:

Sec 18-45 (a) It is unlawful for any person to transact and carry on any business, trade, profession, calling or occupation in the city without first having procured a license from the city to do so and paying the fee prescribed in this article.  Actually, what the code says is churches are not required to PAY for a business license.      

What’s the point?  The point is, Hemet Fire Employees don’t know the municipal code they are tasked to protect.  

If you recall, several months back, I presented a blog “Liar Liar, Pants on Fire” detailing the ineptness of the fire department and its “leadership”

The good news is, the planning department is hiring for that department (Community Development).  It is my hope that the city acquires some experienced and professional planners and other personnel and returns Code Enforcement and otter Community Development tasks to their rightful place in the scheme of things. 

I wouldn’t hold my breath though.  Hemet has a history of hiring the least competent or effective people, usually at the lowest possible rate of pay, particularly when it comes to management.  It is truly a wonder how H.P. Kang lasted as long as he did.  Of course, we continue to have equally inept managers and directors. 

As an aside, one of the things former Interim City Manager and Hemet Police Chief did,  that we should alll be forever grateful for, was to dispossess our former Finance Director, Lorena Rocha and H.P Kang.  I would be taking hard look at the Personnel Department and their criteria for hiring.  Well, actually, we should be concerned about the fact that our relatively new City Manager has now ordained himself as the chief hiring executive.   I’ll be doing a blog on the City Manager and how he actually came to Hemet.  That is a study in nepotism. 

Thank you Mr. Befgloff for standing up to the Hemet Fire Department and to the City of Hemet.  We need more citizens like you!

**if you would like to listen to the video recording of Mr. Bergloff explaining his comments, you may visit You Tube at this address:  City Council Meeting 8/8/2023 – YouTube