Pick up your PIN ORDER at the ranch on TUESDAY after 6pm

A chosen way of life

No one lives on an acre by accident.

We chose this more rural lifestyle.

Then came the developers and the city, and then more developers.

Something's gotta' give.

Oh! Wait...

The developers and planners say, "Where's the problem?"

People can always move into town, or away somewhere else if they don't like it.

Sorry about that.

Tough luck.

The city?

If they weren't going to help us, they could at least have stayed out of the way

Planning & Code Enforcement?

They gave us bad infomation and then used us like an ATM

Home Business?

Their "help" so far has been all warm and fuzzy talk, but no action

Protect our way of life!

Outback in Menifee, California

Tom's Wooden Nickel Ranch

"Local is our Future!"

Outback rural isn't for everyone

Rooftops everywhere sounds appealing if you want your neighbors up-close.

We certainly don't begrudge anyone's lifestyle decision.

But it's not what many in the rural community signed up for.

Treat us equally and fairly, and then please, just leave us alone

We understand our situation.

We know that most of our rural life in Menifee will be gone in 30 years; our geography guarantees it.

... but at least, don't hurt us!

If our city officials would take a lesson from the past and become better neighbors to the rural community, these next 30 years could be the brighter future we want for all of Menifee!

Protect our way of life!

Support!

Wear the buttons and give them out everywhere. Tell the neighbors to tell the neighbors!

Wearable commentary

Share!

Get on the mail list and share on your social media. Speak your mind in the blog comments!

Mail list

Act!

Come to a Tuesday Work Party at the ranch for hands-on work and planning, community sharing and inspiration!

To confirm

Frustrated with downtown? Let 'em know!

Local government captured by the developers? Do they really contribute benefit to the common good at this point? Or, more likely, do they pat each other on the wallet while pushing this disastrous run-away "growth model" they call "progress?" $1.00 USD
I'm not advocating or condoning, merely stating my candid observation of real life for anyone who looks at the situation realistically and honestly. $1.00 USD
It's getting harder to deny that we have a climate mess on our hands. I know people don't want to admit humans caused it. I know because I was one of them. $1.00 USD
From satellite you can see the lungs of the earth dying in real time. $1.00 USD
Sit down and talk it through with respect, or walk away. When the yelling starts, the thinking has stopped. $1.00 USD
We all need to smarten up about how we use water. Did I really need that second shower yesterday? $1.00 USD
The way it is now, the average person cannot afford to do home repairs and improvements "by the book" because the fees and conditional requirements are too damn expensive! Plain and simple, it's a racket run by the city to generate revenue. $1.00 USD
If you get right down to it, all the big issues are ultimately decided on the micro level. What each of us says and does makes up the big picture overall. It will make ALL the difference in the end! $1.00 USD
That's a serious question! Who actually came up with the bulk of this stuff? I'm confident telling you it wasn't any small property owner. Big banks, developers, and insurance companies, more like it! $1.00 USD
Big corporations don't seem to care that our house is on fire. $1.00 USD
We don't have money on our side, we have people. People have voices. Peoples' voices topple empires big and small. $1.00 USD
There are many of us, all doing our small part. That's how the really big jobs get done. $1.00 USD
Our officials are confused. They seem to think their primary purpose down there is to expand the tax base that pads their little empire, allowing ever more city employees to do less (per head). $1.00 USD
Don't have to tip your hand, just give me a wink that we both know something is wrong down there. $1.00 USD
Scott Mann and his stubbornly malignant personality did a lot of harm, to me and to the city. One good from all this so far, it's my understanding that he is finally gone. $1.00 USD
We will have to live with the choices we make today. Our Menifee home will be what we make of it. Local is our future! $1.00 USD
Except for the sun and palm trees, we could be in Pocatello and not notice the difference. Ho hum. $1.00 USD
Sweetheart deals and preference for rich developers; broken promises and postponements for Menifee residents. $1.00 USD
In the thinking of our Menifee officials, a fat cat developer from New York or Orange County is a "stakeholder." But your small business owner in Menifee, well... not so much. $1.00 USD
Why do our city officials seem to discourage home-based small businesses? $1.00 USD
What has "cityhood" brought us but an extra layer of taxing bureaucracy and clueless, over-paid officials scratching one another's backs? $1.00 USD
Menifee city officials don't have a clue about what makes a real community. All they look for is tax revenue. $1.00 USD
Work for a franchise in town and be a slave. Make the good life from your home shop business and be a king. $1.00 USD
With this past year, and the storms and the floods and the fires, I can no longer deny this is a climate emergency, whatever the cause. $1.00 USD
Will someone please answer that damn phone? Anyone? Hello? $1.00 USD
They entered public service to do good. And they did right well. $1.00 USD
The city snoops around our homes and rural businesses looking for "blight" to be ticketed and "abated." They don't want us? Fine! Then leave us the hell alone! $1.00 USD
Sure, it's not their money! Whadda' they care? $1.00 USD
Support Tom Fuhrman! Because the city keeps piling on ... $1.00 USD
Menifee city incorporation seemed like a good idea back then... Well, that sure turned out to be an ooops on us! $1.00 USD
It's the good life. Nothing like it! $1.00 USD
It's something of a puzzle that we gladly choose a life work that we know won't pay much... $1.00 USD
If they can do it to Tom, they can do it to you ... $1.00 USD
I suppose developers could have a different opinion ... $1.00 USD
By necessity, side work has always been a part of the rural lifestyle, and that's a fact. $1.00 USD
Did he say he's gonna ship 'em out, or have 'em put down? $1.00 USD

Tom's recent blog posts

... but our city officials see it differently

... but our city officials see it differently

Worse than benign neglect, it seems almost an attempt to BLOCK peoples' efforts to take care of themselves and their families on their own terms and on their own property. Why don't our officials get it?

Read more
My, but aren't our candidates nice?

My, but aren't our candidates nice?

I was a stubborn voice for my people and my district, and this put me square in the sites of that pro-development crowd running the council and the city.

Read more
Why is it so hard to get the City to do the right thing? It's been 8 years.

Why is it so hard to get the City to do the right thing? It's been 8 years.

It has been 8 years and it really should not be this hard. Why can't the city demonstrate a commitment to good public policy and planning that benefits ALL citizens in equity, and not merely the monied “development” faction? 
Read more

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