Archive for August, 2008
« Previous EntriesMore on the Parking Ticket Revenue Issue
Sunday, August 31st, 2008Don’t mean to beat a dead horse…but I just found out that cities can tow a car of any owner who has failed to respond to five or more citations under California Vehicle Code Sections 22651.7 and 22651(i).
Additionally, the City of Long Beach can notify the Department of Motor Vehicles and the owner of said […]
Great Idea About the Oil — Let’s Not Stop at the Port
Thursday, August 28th, 2008I was pleased to read today that Assemblywoman Betty Karnette has introduced legislation to do what I have been proposing for some time — get the state to allow the City to get more revenue out of oil deposits.
Her bill aims at the Wilmington oil field underneath the port and would shift the cost for […]
Who Is Being Held Accountable for $11.7 Million in Uncollected Parking Tickets?
Wednesday, August 27th, 2008I must have been sleeping while the City Auditor made her presentation on August 19 recommending that the City employ a “boot” on cars that have delinquent parking tickets.
Otherwise there isn’t any other reason I didn’t ask the simple question of City Manager: Who is being held accountable for the fact that the City has […]
You Think You Have a Hard Job — Check Out Our Sentinel Chickens
Monday, August 25th, 2008Everyone complains about their job at one time or another. Step into any coffee place and you’ll hear chatter about people’s jobs, their co-workers, their boss. (Although in this economy, you’re bound to hear more talk about how hard it is for even find a job!)
But just imagine for a moment the job being performed […]
Head Pinching, Libraries, Little People and Yoga
Sunday, August 24th, 2008Spent the day at the Huntington Library in San Marino looking at the flowers and a great photography exhibit on Southern California — including a couple of photos taken in Long Beach in the 1950’s. I am currently writing another book (first one was on Rosie the Riveter in Long Beach) and so I am […]
PT Survey on Budget Cuts Has Problems
Thursday, August 21st, 2008Reporter Paul Eakins called me today to discuss several news stories, including the PT’s “survey” on what should be cut to balance the budget.
I asked Paul if the survey had safeguards in place, such as only allowing one answer per person; making certain that only Long Beach residents responded; making certain City Hall didn’t jump […]
$5 million per hour
Thursday, August 21st, 2008The City Council has spent exactly 3 hours discussing the proposed city budget for the coming fiscal year. We have a $16 million dollar deficit and so far all we have managed to spend is 3 hours discussing just a portion of the budget.
That translates into $5 million dollars an hour…we still haven’t looked at […]
Infrastructure Figures Weren’t Given to Council
Thursday, August 21st, 2008This is the most disjointed budget process I have ever seen. Not only are the budget documents lacking details — no line items — but in the case of Capital Improvement Projects — infrastructure — there were no figures given until I made an issue of this during a council meeting.
Yesterday, (two weeks later) management […]
The Taxes Just Keep on Coming
Monday, August 18th, 2008On Thursday, July 24, the LA County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors approved an ordinance, expenditure plan, and ballot language for a proposed half-cent transportation sales tax measure on the November 4 ballot. The tax (like the proposed City parcel tax) would require 2/3’s approval by the voters. (The school bond only requires a […]
Cross Walks
Monday, August 18th, 2008The City has a Pedestrian Safety Advisory Commitee which determines whether or not an adult crossing guard needs to be assigned to a particular intersection for the school year.
The Committee works with the City’s Traffic Engineer and outlines a plan for the coming school year.
I am not quite sure why the City of Long Beach […]