Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Support Pacifica Resource Center


PRC sign
Pacifica Resource Center
I received this petition and I think it's very important to sign and support the Resource Center, as the upcoming budget battle threatens their city funding, which is a miniscule $83,000 per year.  

Sign on-line petition here.

Its easy, just 1) add your name, 2) email address, 3) any comments, 4) "show my name or not", 5) click "sign now".  Done, unless you want to make a contribution on page 2. 

And, if you feel this is important, please forward this to your fellow Pacificans. Thank you!

Submitted by Lionel Emde

Posted by Kathy Meeh

21 comments:

One Pissed Off Capitalist said...

This is soooooooooo karma-like. The whole gang that maintains that "Our ecology is our economy" now is aghast that there is no money! So no growth-build nothing-stoplight pushing-drive the economy into the ground group, is now advocating that we have a petition to support the resource center! Of course, we should support the resource center. A society is judged by the way they take care of their most fragile. We have always taken care of those caught "in between". Now that is in danger of losing funds due to their unrealistic take on economics, it's time for us all to pressure council. We should not even have to have this discussion. I saw this first on Riptide. What a joke. Council puts this on the cutting block every year. It's time to stop that. It's time for the Dinah Verby, Pete Shoemaker, John Curtis, Nancy Hall, Laurie Goldberg, Eileen Carey, and Sue Digre group to realize that you can't take care of, even your own, without some economic output. What a friggin surprise. Once again, those asked to give will, and those that advocate for nothing will not. To hell with them!

Anonymous said...

Capitalist, This is karma-like? How's that? And who's advocating this petition? No names are attached other than Lionel who is forwarding it. Thank you Lionel!
It might indeed be karma-like if one of those you list as to blame for the lack of funding for the PRC were now in need of the threatened Resource Center, but no evidence of that. Just your old rant attached to a Pacifica treasure that deserves a better argument from you and support from this city.
Sign the petition and sign a check to the PRC!

Lionel Emde said...

"To hell with them!"

But don't forget the majority, who had nothing to do with the decisions which have put us where we are.

Kathy Meeh said...

"To hell with them!"

But, don't penalize the poorest among us, and our excellent Resource Center. Think most of us can agree on that.

Lionel, the majority of Pacificans were not in leadership power, and were tricked by those who were. The results of "no growth" policy in this city are clear. We need to think sustainable economic solutions for this city (cost cutting and growth). There are some signs of growth effort in the 3/26/12 City Council Agenda, which I'll post in a few hours or tomorrow morning. We should stop fighting and try to work together to save our community and this city. Wonder if either or both are possible.

Hutch said...

We must remember that Pacifica has a payroll problem. Especially with negotiations beginning with police and fire unions this week.

It is time to start to bring all union contracts more in line with what the average Pacifican is earning.

Pesions are the real problem. With a 20 million and growing obligation, we will be facing bankruptcy in a short time.

The City must be much tougher this time around. Many other cities have imposed 10% and more pay cuts along with employees paying most of their pension contributions. And all cities will soon follow.

This is our problem. Pensions, benefits and wages. Not the Recourse Center or teen activities

Anonymous said...

"stop fighting and try to work together"

And your way of doing that is to constantly point fingers at council instead of coming up with solutions? Or is it to stir up pointless arguments with tea baggers?

Kathy Meeh said...

".. your way of doing that is to..point fingers at council" (Anon 821)

Yes, I am referring to those who have been on city council 10+ years only. Vreeland is gone, DeJarnatt is going, Digre should step-down.

These 10+ year city council members failed to deliver balanced city economic SOLUTIONS, when they had knowledge, when these solutions were available and offered to this city. To improve conditions of this city, pro-economy city council member are needed. 3 make a majority that control this city.

In the 3/26/12 city council agenda, there are some economic solutions moving forward, will you support these? Or, will you continue to allow this city to deteriorate.

Anonymous said...

I see... So "by work together" you mean "waste time and money on a recall effort because I don't like the democratic process".

Kathy Meeh said...

"...I don't like the democratic process"."

That's it, Anon 1122, you apparently don't like the democratic process, and you're acting like a "dumb bunny" to twist "work together" with Recall.

However, Initiative, Referendum, and Recall are part of the Democratic process. And, 2+ additional years of Sue Digre being a drag on economic development for this city should be worth ANY cost added to a general election. At the same time, volunteers are never adequately compensated for their good deeds.

As stated, I think the pre-Recall campaign has been highly effective (Vreeland out, DeJarnatt going), but if Councilmember Digre does not step-down, she will face recall. That's the advisement I've received.

Anonymous said...

Recalling someone because you don't agree with their policies is a perversion, and everyone involved should be ashamed and has no right to talk about "working together".

I don't think Sue has been good for Pacifica at all, but what has she done since she was last elected by the citizens of Pacifica that deserves recall?

Anonymous said...

Who is involved? Was the list of
recall proponent signatures in the paper? I know it includes Therese Dyer and Tod Schlesinger but who else?

Anonymous said...

"Recall proponent signatures in the Tribune?"

Be sure to support the Resource Center.

Anonymous said...

Lionel Emde you make me laugh. You the no growth friend of Peter and Sue. You sued Pacifica about the garbage and got us nothing but a big legal bill. If we want to object we have to half the city write letters. You limited the franchise fees which means less money is going to pacifica and now you are crying because the Resource Center will have no money.

Anonymous said...

You, too, anon345. Guess that's a secret list.

Anonymous said...

yes indeed, let's keep it simple

Hutch said...

I get a kick out of people who say dumb stuff like "why do you hate democracy" referring to the recall.

A recall is absolutely part of the democratic process. And the people will decide.

People say we can't afford a recall. I say we can't afford to keep these two obstructionist council members any longer.

Anonymous said...

I get a kick out of people who say dumb stuff like "we're gonna recall these people" and then can't come up with a defensible reason why. Simpletons.

Kathy Meeh said...

"You limited the franchise fees which means less money is going to pacifica.."

Are we all getting along yet? Maybe think of Lionel as a kind of hero. Anon 404, the Big CITY Franchise and recycle fees are excessive to begin with. Remember, in this CITY we pay among the highest franchise and other fees in San Mateo County for almost everything, including garbage, water, and sewer.

How about the decade-long city council "perversion" policy (your word), Anon 255? The sewer plant, for example, 1) the city took money from our sewer infrastructure to pay ordinary General Fund bills. And, 2) only because of sewer-spill negligence (lawsuit 2008), the sewer collection pipes will be replaced.

Of course, there were other sewer-spill lawsuits, neglected maintenance, the interest-only bonds until about 4 years ago (now with fixed bonds we may begin to pay-down debt). Continued are the plant enterprise management, legal, and subtantial city accounting fees.

Anon 255, don't you think city council members are accountable to their city and to all their citizens? Hint: they are. No reason to excuse a "vote to nowhere" remaining on city council for 2+ additional years. Recall city councilmember Sue Digre. Removiong Vreeland, DeJarnatt and Digre is long overdue and this city is worse-off for not doing this sooner.

Kathy Meeh said...

No Anon 903, your comment is simplistic, "dumb stuff" (your comment), because the structural reasons for 2+ more years of damaging city council votes and "no growth" promotion is indefensible. The city is broke, the infrastructure is broken-down. Isn't now the time to get serious and fix the city?

If you're for the environment those neglected, leaky sewer collection pipes and the sewer spills are nasty, not good for the environment.

If you want something other than city failure, try thinking about the worn-out Einstein quote: "insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." Still true, still defensible.

Recall those who have caused this problem and have continued influence. Vote-in those who have the best chance to move this city forward and fix our economic deficiencies. Think "bold" in the process.

Heather said...

I could have sworn this article was about the Resource Center?

Let me tell you why I think we should support the resource center. They are a no-thrills, low budget alternative to addressing the issues that will occur if they disappear (i.e., increased homelessness, blight, and population flight). The economy has had a terrible effect on California, but in areas like Pacifica, it has been worse. The resource center has been a life-line for many of our citizens and it is why we haven't seen a dramatic increase in poverty-related issues. The PRC helps people remain fed and housed, which is the least we can offer to help struggling citizens.

$83,000 sounds like a lot until you consider it is a drop in the bucket in Pacifica's budget. Do you realize we spend $200,000 a year to contract out humane society services? Our budget is in the millions. Yet, the resource center's $83,000 is somehow going to turn around Pacifica's economy???

PRC turns that $83,000 into so much more. Because they can show community support, they are eligible for a much wider range of grants than they would be without them. These grants help fund programs that support the resource center. They also work tirelessly to get much-needed services to people who cannot help themselves. I've volunteered at some of the events and have met people who don't have other options - - we have quite an elderly population without family or other resources to support them.

Pacifica is a gem in that it is one of the few communities left that comes together for the whole of the community. PRC is one of the reasons we are special. Given what is going on in our country, I think we can ill-afford to lose such a valuable resource.

I, for one, would not have survived the last 3 years without them. If you think people are just sitting at home putting their handout to the PRC, you are dead wrong. I was laid off, without warning and without any severance. It took unemployment 7 weeks to send their first check, at which time, I had burnt through quite a bit of my savings just to keep afloat.

One day, I got an eviction notice for my late rent. The kids started crying because they were hungry and I had no food. My son's shoes had holes in the bottom and his asthma was acting up. I finally went to PRC because I knew I couldn't solve any of those problems that day, but I needed some help. I was ashamed to ask - I'd always been self-sufficient (worked since I was 11, first at a paper route).

Because of PRC, I was able to get back on my feet. I am also able to give back. I will always do whatever I can to help them. They do good for this community and should be funded!!!

Anonymous said...

Have Dejarnett and Digre hand over their city council income, pension over to the resource center.