The heated exchange came after Councilman Eric Schmidt told the Council the proposed reduction in sizes were a “significant” change and a “draconian shift” from the standard, with some reductions as much as 25 percent.
While the Council discussed a reconsideration of amending apartment sizes and moving the discussion to a future meeting, Schmidt and Councilman Russ Blewett shared a few words of disagreement before Leonard shared his thoughts.
“I think the biggest question I have is why is it that every time Frontier Homes comes to our town to build they want to change all of our standards?” said Leonard, who was quickly refuted by Blewett. “No, Frontier Homes wanted to change everything we’ve ever done.”
After Leonard said he was getting “tired of the BIA (Building Industry Association) running this Council,” Blewett responded with “nobody runs me” and Leonard answered with “bull crap.”
As Mayor Bill Holland tried to bring order to the dais, Leonard leaned forward, pointed to Russ and shouted, “You laugh, you laugh Paul, you’re in their pocket so deep you suck.”
After Russ told Leonard “I’ll be so glad when you’re out of here,” Leonard fired back “I’ll be back in two years and get your (butt) out of here.”
As Schmidt interjected and asked for a substitute motion to adjust apartment sizes, Holland asked for “a little more civility” at the dais. That’s when Schmidt and Russ began a polite, yet heated exchange, with Russ telling Schmidt, “I don’t have an issue with it.” Schmidt responded with, “Quite frankly Paul, I don’t care if you have an issue with it.”
Russ told Schmidt, “I’m being polite to you and then you have to turn around and be rude. I don’t have an issue with it.”
Russ told the Press the BIA contributed to his campaign when he ran for Council, saying, “They supported me because of my philosophy on pro-growth, development and bringing jobs to the High Desert.”
The mayor pro tem said almost 50 percent of jobs in the High Desert are directly or indirectly affected by construction, and “once you cut construction off, you’ll have massive unemployment.”
Russ also alleged that Leonard has opposed development in the city over the last 15 years and that his fellow councilman did not support him when he ran for council two years ago and recently for the 1st District Supervisor position.
Blewett told the Press “the city built zero apartment units” under the previous building standard,” with Hesperia having some of the highest square footage requirements in the county.
“Some people want apartments because they can’t afford or don’t want a house,” Blewett said. “Some people want smaller units with nice amenities — that’s what Frontier is trying to bring.”
Schmidt told the Press that while it’s nice for the Council to have a unified view and approach to policy, it’s not always necessary.