Wednesday, February 20, 2013

City sideways budget solutions


Pacifica Tribune Letters to the Editor, 2/19/13.  "Budget solutions?" by Bob Hutchinson

"Editor:  What a surprise! Reported in the Tribune last week, Pacifica has less than $700,000 in reserves. That's barely enough to pay two weeks salary to city employees. We are now less than one lawsuit away from bankruptcy. 

Celebrating our city
Hey, but they have some great ideas to fix Pacifica's impending insolvency. Yep, you guessed it. Tax us more. That's a great solution, tax tax tax tax tax. Oh yeah, I forgot. Cut services too, cut cut cut cut cut. Give us less and make us pay more, that's the ticket.

And all the while we have dozens of city department heads and managers making well over $100,000 a year. Many making $150,000 to $200,000 a year or more. And not one peep about making cuts here. Not a peep.

But they say, "Oh, but we made big cuts to wages in 2011; we can't cut them any more now." Well, the numbers on the State website don't bear that out. According to the State Controllers site Pacifica increased total wages and benefits by $260,169 in 2011. And we increased another $333,023 from 2009 to 2010. Why then are our officials telling us they cut $1.5 million in wages and/or benefits in 2011?  

You can easily see all the city wage and benefit information here on the State Controllers website for 2009, 2010 and 2011:  Pacifica government compensation (scroll down).  The State made cities post this information after officials in Bell, Calif. paid themselves a little too well and are now facing prosecution.

But some say "oh, we can't cut salary because people will just go work somewhere else." Where are they going to go? Every city is cutting salaries. San Jose and many others cut 10 percent last year. And private industry is not hiring much nor do they pay at these levels for these kinds of positions. California's unemployment rate is still at 9.8 percent. There are plenty of highly qualified skilled people willing to work for much less.

Many of Pacifica's taxpayers suffered large reductions in pay and benefits since 2007. Many seniors are on fixed incomes. Why should taxpayers that are already hurting be asked to pay more so that management in Pacifica can ride the gravy train?

So call, email or write your council members and tell them we don't need more taxes. We don't need to cut services. Tell them to cut back on the absurd amounts being paid to the upper management people making up to $200,000 a year before you try and make us pay more.  And while you're at it ask them what ever happened to the police outsourcing report that we paid over $20,000 for. How can we decide about outsourcing without the facts? And who were they to decide for us?" 

ReferenceCity councilmembers website, includes phone numbers and email addresses.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

72 comments:

Anonymous said...

I thought Hutch vanished!

Anonymous said...

Pretty damn impressive numbers.

City Council Compensation 2011

Wages Pension Health
1@ 19148 + 688 + 1200
1@ 18690 + 832 + 0
1@ 13294 + 832 + 8170
1@ 6739 + 921 + 8237
1@ 00000 + 000 + 0000

Stone waived all comp. The others in 2011, in no particular order, were Nihart, Digre, Dejarnatt and Vreeland.

FYI, Council takes about $700 mnth in wages although the state muni code standard is $400 for a city of <40,000, so that's about $8400 each per year as a base. They then pile on cash taken in-lieu of benefits to sweeten the deal...just as other employees do. Apparently council hasn't been able to kick that habit despite a public promise in 2010 to do so. Given the tone set by our very PT council for their generous wages and benefits, is it any wonder they can't conrol the city's payroll? Hard to ask others to step away from the trough when you don't. Three years into the recession and the worsening city financial crisis, and we still had about 85 of our approx 150 fulltime employees making over $100K per year plus very generous benefits. I wouldn't expect any improvement when the 2012 report is published. Impressive numbers.

Anonymous said...

Hutch asks "And who were they to decide for us?" He appears to be suffering from voter's remorse. Common enough in some circles in Pacifica. No such problem in other circles.

Anonymous said...

I believe "who were they" is referring to the past and the council members of 2012 who kept the outsourcing doc from us, namely Pete, Sue & Ginny.

Anonymous said...

I believe you're dreaming. It's a common way to avoid reality.

Anonymous said...

There was a whole lot of burying going on. For different reasons. Was there anyone who didn't bury that outsourcing information? All of them had a shovel at one time or another. Kept handy right under the dais for protection in case the citizens storm the barricades.

Anonymous said...

Call your council member and tell them you are a loyal hippie and noobe and nothing should be built.

They will call you back asap

Anonymous said...

The whole country is going to bust. So shut up and pay your taxes and enjoy the good ol'days while they last.

Anonymous said...

@615 This shouldn't be a surprise.

Anonymous said...

Mary Ann quoted in Tribune this week saying "it breaks my heart to think about the option of cutting positions."

Mary Ann needs to realize she was elected to serve Pacifica and it's citizens first, not the employees who she has become friends with.

If council had the cohones to make real cuts in wages then they wouldn't be faced with laying off workers now.

Anonymous said...

Those salaries are insane for a down at the heels place like Pacifica. And council is right there with the rest of the overpaid city employees. They haven't taken any real cuts so why should the rest? Really, why should they? It's grab as much as you can before the gravy train stops.

Anonymous said...

1019 Ms. Nihart is loathe to annoy the unions. No ambitious politician can afford to piss them off. Nihart will need those union endorsements later. Beyond that, she's a passenger on the same gravy-train as the rest of our city employees. Sob, sob, it's all so, sob, heartbreaking. Yeah, give me a break!

Anonymous said...

"Those salaries are insane for a down at the heels place like Pacifica..." Agree 100 %, but what's driving those salaries?

Once upon a time, City employees lived and worked locally; is that still the case? Probably not so much anymore. When most employees live out of town, their is no community buy-in; it simply becomes a workplace, a place to make money to spend elsewhere. I realize that a lot has changed over the years, a $12,500 Linda Mar rancher is now beyond the ability of many City workers, so thry buyin Fairfield, Vallejo, etc. and commute. Not to say that isn't the right thing to do, but there has to be a lack of buy-in, when it's just a job one commutes to.

Anonymous said...

As usual, Hutch is right on the money. Always doing the hard, investigative digging and exposing the hideous truth of public employees being paid a (sort of) competitive wage for their work!

Hutch, you're totally right. You don't need to cut services, or positions, just pay them less! They'll be really glad they still have jobs. After all, they couldn't possibly go work for the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office or SFPD and make more money with better benefits. Oh, wait, they are leaving. Oops. Including one of your captains, who is leaving his sweet gig to become a line level deputy sheriff.

Time to realize that Pacifica has paid too much attention to snowy plovers and trails and beautiful memorial benches for far too long, and not enough to generating real revenue. Have fun sorting that out. Except you can't sort it out from behind your keyboard. You'd actually have to, I don't know, maybe go volunteer for the City, be a productive part of the discussion at community groups, or go start a profitable business or two in the failing Eureka Square.

Sorry, Hutch, but being a keyboard commando with a single idea and single-minded agenda (CUT SALARIES! CUT SALARIES!) doesn't do anything productive.

Maybe you should run for council, Hutch. Or should have shown up to the make Financial Task Force meetings. And spoken. In a forum where decisions were actually made, instead of just mildly-popular local blog.(Though I gotta say, Fix Pacifica has the best comment community of any of the local blogs.)

Anonymous said...

cut their salaries and bring back weekly beatings!! God forbid we should generate any revenue around here. Instead we pick on the city employees. hmmm who is the loudest mouth against city employee salaries? who is trashing the chamber? who is against any development?

Anonymous said...

Spoken like a true public servant Anon 127.

I know, what an absurd idea to cut wages. I mean no other cities are doing that. Oh, except San Ho, Vallejo, Stockton, Fresno, Oakland, Millbrea, San Bruno, HMB .....etc etc etc


And yeah lets pretend this is 1985 and cities never file bankruptcy. That could never happen.


Anonymous said...

Yeah, it's true that this town has been driven to its knees by a succession of under-achieving city councils, and it looks like we've landed another. But what the hell! Let's continue paying about 150 city employees their generous salaries and posh benefits while we face more taxes, less services, fewer programs. A town of 40,000 should feel honored to keep that gravy train running for our golden 150.

Anonymous said...

Yep that's why the city of Pacifica exists by George. To supply wealth to it's employees even if the lower paid residents have to pay more. Oh you're on SSI and scraping by with $600 per month? No matter, we have to maintain those $12,000 a month salaries. No wonder Mary Ann is broken hearted for her poor brethren.

Anonymous said...

Broken-hearted is she? Uh, excuse me, but will that translate into a personal financial sacrifice? A little leadership added to the drivel? Guess it's tough to get off that public employee gravy train once you get all comfy.

Anonymous said...

Here's another heart-breaking story. I'm sure you'll be moved to tears. Apparently, Pacifica's good friend Don "I Didn't Say Forever" Horsley was very quietly double-dipping for 6 weeks before he announced his intent to do so to the public. Yup, and we all know the shitestorm that announcement stirred up. Horsley had to flip his flop and honor his campaign pledge, but not before that gravy train ground out $26,000 for him in those six golden weeks.

Kathy Meeh said...

Venditta Anonymous 11:59 AM, let's not start your personal grudge against Don Horsley again. He made a statement of fact, not an statement of intention.

Horsley is a highly effective County Supervisor, now President of that body. Try viewing the Supervisor meetings. Pacfica is well represented by Don Horsley, as is the coastside.

The core issue in Pacifica is the lack of economic development, which adversely affects this city and its budget. We have the weakest city economy in San Mateo County.

Over years of NIMBY propaganda and shell games, too many Pacificans have come to believe such neglected and inadequate conditions here are normal or "average". They are not.

Anonymous said...

Vendetta? Just the facts, ma'am, just the facts.33

Anonymous said...

Man, PowPow Meeh uses the word nimby like a gun!

Kathy Meeh said...

Anonymous 1:54 PM, I'm just stating the facts.

Affects of NIMBY guidance in this weak economic city are observable, as are variations of public denial.

Anonymous said...

Pow, pow, pow!

Anonymous said...

Kathy, What has Horsley done for Pacifica?

Anonymous said...

Cheeky anon asks, "What's Horsley done for Pacifica?" Well, he doesn't live here. That's big.

Anonymous said...

Well everyone says this guy is so great but I wonder what he has done for Pacifica.

I know he used to be a police officer here years ago.

Don't understand why everyone says he is so great on the County Board of Supervisors.

If you remember correctly these guys endorced Vreeland for city council, not knowing all the damage he caused in Pacifica.

Anonymous said...

Good article Hutch and...Amen to your statement Kathy: "We have the weakest city economy in San Mateo County.". We are adjacent to Silicon Valley, but we do not have a Silicon Valley Economy, we have more of a Rust Belt economy, and the golden gravy train salaries and pensions are no longer sustainable. The region may be high cost, but that argument for high salaries cannot work anymore and these employees are now S.O.L. because unfortunately they picked the wrong community to work for, one which would financially sink during the 2010s...Pacifica broke and an economic basket case.

I wonder anon 2/20 @ 2:19 if Mike O'Neill and Karen Ervin are taking the full rides like much of the 2011 council?

Now we all guess the Council will shortly come to the voters with a parcel tax or a sales tax to shore up the budget. But I propose a "Pacifica Emergency Salary and Pension Control Measure" as alternative to parcel tax or sales tax hike to be put on the ballot ASAP to weed wack and equitably control, cap or roll back Council and staff salaries and pensions until, if and when, "General Fund" grows enough to sustain them at their current levels. Tying salary restoration to General Fund growth provides incentive for Economic Development to both Council and Staff. When I say "Equitable", I mean that those earning over $100K should have their salary and benefits reduced far more than those earning less.

Council does not have the courage to reduce pay for employees or themselves. They do not have courage to do layoffs, which noone wants. What is needed is a fair distribution of the pain without layoffs. Employees won't take pay cuts voluntarily. So we have a real conflict and a difficult to solve problem. I'm no attorney, but is there anyone clever out there who can write up a ballot measure and begin to take signatures? I know in 2010, in Menlo Park, they had a ballot measure that did something like create a second tier for pensions there, the measure won, the unions sued and lost, I don't think any reasonable judge or jury would invalidate a measure that residents overwhelmingly voted for to benefit so few...thats my guess.

Ask yourself and neighbors what they would choose, vote to pay a couple hundred dollars a year more taxes, or vote reduce high salaries? If there are any of the high paid staffers on here reading this, I hope they can answer the question of what is the value you offer that makes it worthwhile to support your high salary and benefits in light of the fact this city is nearly bankrupt? What would your response be to a citizen measure to your salaries and benefits? Feedback anyone? Could a ballot measure work and be supported here?

Anonymous said...

I don't really give a crap about Horsley. It's a distraction. We better concentrate on our own problems that are about to bite us on the ass.

Anonymous said...

I didn't know you could put anything about lowering union wages and benefits on the ballot. Is this true?

Steve Sinai said...

San Jose, San Diego, and other cities voted for and passed pension reform bills.

Whether they hold up in court - who knows?

Kathy Meeh said...

One-liner Anonymous 2:21 PM, I agree with On-topic Anonymous 3:53 PM that your comments and those of Vendetta Anonymous 11:59 PM are a distraction. But I have a few further comments.

Here's the equation: The county has money and services. Pacifica needs money and services. Supervisor Don Horsley effectively advocates for his District, which includes Pacifica.

Example last County Supervisor meeting, discussion item: "new County Measure A 1/2 sales tax distribution". Don Horsley asked the County to assist in funding structural library development for weak cities, Pacifica was named.

Don Horsley supports civic structures and advancements which are good for a community. Pacifica examples include Sharp Park Golf and highway 1 widening. These structures need County support and funding.

You may not be a fan of Supervisor Don Horsley, whereas I am. And I believe Supervisor Don Horsley is the solid advocate this city needs to advance support and funding at County level.

Anonymous said...

I do believe we already began a 2 tier pension system in some of Pacifica's bargaining units.That will help in the future. Probably didn't happen with public safety because that's where the big bucks are.

Anonymous said...

Cities and reform advocates are putting retirement benefits on ballots all over CA because the public knows these systems are unsustainable. They are antiques from an earlier era of shorter life spans and lower costs for health benefits. The Ca courts have persistently protected pension benefits that are already earned, but seem to have an open mind about pension reform for current and future employees. Time will tell.
In San Diego they eliminated pensions for current and future city employees (except police officers)and went with a 401K plan. Other cities have passed hybrid plans.
These various city-authored pension reform measures are all more draconian than Jerry Brown's 12 step pension reform plan so that may encourage unions to pre-emptively choose Jerry's plan as less painful.
Controlling wages for union members through the ballot box is not so easy. Cities enter into legally enforceable union contracts. Breach the contract and you get injunctions, the NLRB shows up, fines, legal fees, etc. And you lose.

Instead of that, perhaps a ballot measure mandating a balanced annual city budget would force our gravy train riding council to do their job. It would remove their
ability to hide their mistakes and inaction in the passage of time--every politician's last and best refuge--and cut down on the cheesy political dramatics so common in Pacifica that guarantee nothing controversial gets done. It would also keep council honest about its pursuit of development and revenue. We could actually vote ourselves an efficient and effective city government.
There is a real anti-public employee bias afoot and we'd be wise to take advantage of that to make changes before the momentum is lost.

Anonymous said...

Oh snap, I'm distracted.

Anonymous said...

This will chap your hide......
Scott Holmes, former City of Pacific Public Works Director and friend of NOBIES and Enviros, retired with a $100,000 per year pension with full medical benefits for the rest of his life.
How do you like them tax dollars?

Anonymous said...

re539 Show me the petition! It's time we learn we can't rely on or even trust any city council to clean up this mess. They're riding the same gravy train. Got their hands in your pocket. I think a mandated balanced budget has been done elsewhere.

Force them to balance the budget every year, no deficit, and we'd see the tough decisions being made when they should be made. No pissing and moaning about it and no politicians pandering to the unions for that all important future labor endorsement.

Kathy Meeh said...

Anonymous 10 ? PM, you said Scott Holmes partially pays for his health insurance. This comment was made in response to Anonymous 9:36 PM who said Holmes receives full medical benefits in addition to a $100,000 pension.

Sorry, during moderation review from my "smart phone", I deleted the comment in error. With my apology, you are welcome to restate, or accept this comment as substantially correct.

Anonymous said...

anon337 If Ervin and O'Neill joined Stone in waiving their council salary, benefits and pension, I think we'd all have heard about it. This bunch can't tan without issuing a public announcement.

Anonymous said...

Our problem isn't as much a balanced budget as it is a lack of reserves in our General Fund.

Anonymous said...

San Jose, San Diego, and other cities voted for and passed pension reform bills.

San Jose and San Diego have revenue to pay city related bills and expenses. Pacifica, does not!

Anonymous said...

The previous city councils idea for bringing in revenue.

Don't charge the surfers and users of Linda Mar Beach.

Build trails and people will come.

And thanks to fiscal genius Sue, our ecology is our economy.

Kathy Meeh said...

"Ask yourself and neighbors what they would choose, vote to pay a couple hundred dollars a year more taxes, or vote reduce high salaries?" Anonymous 5:39 PM

Or pay all salaries within "reasonable" guidelines, but reduce pension funding. Allow employee 403(B), Roth IRA, or savings fund participation.

Nix the health cafeteria plan "in lieu benefits" cash funding benefits. And if the employee already has another medical/dental plan, require that employee to choose one. Add an additional cost for dependents on the plan. 25%-50% dependent cost should eliminate that double coverage issue.

"...If Ervin and O'Neill joined Stone in waiving their council salary, benefits and pension.." Anonymous 8:05 AM

Seriously, this view of "small change" employment jip makes no sense to those of us who think people should be paid for the quality work they do. Ervin, O'Neill, and Stone did not cause the problem. Those who caused the problem, however, were paid, and many receive their "earned +" pensions. We expect Ervin, O'Neill, Stone and Nihart to advance economic development solutions. In doing so, they also deserve our support and our city pay.

Anonymous said...

Kathy,

Do you have any idea how far the city is in debt? And they want to float another 30 million dollar + bond for the pie in the sky library at the old waste water treatment plant.

You can only rob Peter to pay Paul so often.

Anonymous said...

Yes, and Ervin and O'Neill didn't make a campaign promise to forgo salary, unlike Stone and Horsley.

Anonymous said...

Yeah we should cut way back on city council salary and benefits. This position should have no retirement bennies, healthcare and/or cafeteria cash.

That said, city council's compensation is small beans compared with the rest of the $18 million in wages and perks we pay out each year. Shouldn't be too hard to cut 2,000,000 there.

Kathy Meeh said...

"..pie in the sky.." (Anonymous 11:59 PM, 12:02 PM)

How about the rolling 5 year citizen built "it will be fine" Strategic Plan. Remember that one? City strength and solvency (economy, community and environment balance) is just around the corner. Last plan adopted was 2/14/2006 (updated 3/2007). Those prior "Strategic Plans" all directed similar "done" in 5 year results (still waiting).

Pacifica has lived with "pie in the sky", while taking short cuts, acquiring debt, and dismissing economic opportunities. Recent small business ribbon cutting ceremonies include such stores as Goodwill Boutique and Dollar Store. At the same time, the city will lose sales tax revenue from small retail stores that fail, and possibly from Caltrans temporary office activity (with completion of the tunnel).

City debt? With a real plan (rather than a fake plan), flip another city bond, extract a few million dollars to realize economic development goals. And hopefully the Director professional (or consultant) to do that job will NOT waive salary.

The good news, it appears that the Beach Boulevard project will eventually be built. Library or not, the site is estimated to bring-in $500,000 annually (mostly from housing of course).

Campaign promises to waive salary for time certain, or not stated, FMV are flexible unless otherwise determined by advance written contract. Thus such "promises" are not written in "Stone" (or Horsley or Slocum). You like people working for "free", I don't.

Anonymous said...

Waiving a council salary is about leadership and commitment not about cost savings. It's putting your money where your mouth is. With Pacifica many millions in debt, no new revenue, and no reserves we're not going to be redeemed by the relatively small savings realized when council waives their salary, which can be up to $20K per year plus benefits plus lifetime pension. Certainly the potential savings of maybe
$150K-200K a year for active and retired councilmembers isn't going to right this sinking ship, but it would send a loud and clear message about the priorities and resolve among our councilmembers. Things really are that critical. Sacrifices need to be made by all and leaders should lead by example.

Anonymous said...

Re paid or unpaid public service in our little town. I like people who are in it to make a difference. We've had a succession of people on council whose motivation to serve seems a little hazy. These positions are very part-time, aggressively sought-after, and the performance standards are, at best, ambiguous.

Some might say waiving a salary is working for free, others would say it merely demonstrates real awareness of our dire situation and a sincere buy-in to lead us out of it. Succeed, and you can share in the loot.

Anonymous said...

@806 A balanced budget with a minimum reserve are things that can be mandated by the voters. If a council achieves those goals through deep cuts and deferred infrastructure maintenance instead of aggressively creating revenue the voters can dump that council. We'd be no worse off.

Anonymous said...

Look what is happening in Harrisburg, PA.

http://www.sott.net/article/257722-In-just-one-month-more-than-40-huge-sinkholes-open-up-all-over-Harrisburg-Pennsylvanias-capital-but-the-city-is-too-broke-to-fix-them

Anonymous said...

Kathy,

Don't you remember the rallying cry of the hippies and noobees. Housing=traffic.

Anonymous said...

We don't need to "create more revenue" as much as we need to live within our means. A town our size can not afford an 18 million dollar pay role made up of people making 2-3 times what the average citizen makes.

Anonymous said...

"You like people working for "free", I don't."

No, I never said that, and please stop making up what people say. I just prefer politicians who keep their word. You apparently don't care.

Anonymous said...

really 529 you're pushing bandaids.
unrealistic and temporary fixes for a problem that isn't going away. cities have bills and smart, well run ones create revenue to pay those bills. poorly run cities like pacifica create excuses and scapegoats and bandaids.

Anonymous said...

Kathy@138 where did you get your "good news" about Beach Blvd being "likely to be built"? Is there an actual and interested developer? Or is it more accurate to say "hopefully will be built"?

This same optimistic story was told at the last council session complete with the $500,000 income figure.
I thought they were channeling Jim Vreeland and his habit of glossing over bad news with fairy tales. I believe Ms. Nihart was the speaker. As I recall Mr. Rhodes tactfully made it clear that it was years away (5?)and that $500K additional annual income would not alone solve our problems.

Has anything really changed or are we simply being "hopeful"?

Anonymous said...

@415 most likely place for sinkholes in Pacifica is Beach Blvd. There was a real doozy right in front of the pier several years ago. Better hurry up and sell the OWWTP before it disappears. Maybe somebody from out of town with a big ego and more money than brains?

Kathy Meeh said...

"..we need to live within our means.." Anonymous 5:29 PM

Good point. In San Mateo County, of 20 cities, currently Pacifica spends the lowest General Fund revenue on its population. This proves how ever little we spend, we can't drop lower in ranking.

Anonymous 5:34 PM, eat dirt. I'm sure you know a lot of politicians that keep YOUR word, not necessarily THEIR word. Sure you do.

And Anonymous 4:38 PM, you're right, housing must equal traffic. So why don't we fix the traffic, as in widen highway 1. Now that's an idea!

Anonymous said...

In most households when there is a budget crisis we cut expenditures. We don't get a second job. That's not a bandaid.

Just sayin.

Anonymous said...

@750 temporary budget crisis? sure, you spend less til it passes. chronic lack of funds growing worse year after year? you have to generate additional income, marry the county, or face a reduced and deteriorating standard of living. pacifica's budget crisis is chronic and all the reliable indicators say it will grow worse. we have nothing in the new revenue pipeline other than some pie in the sky, which is really nothing at all.

having said that, i agree 100% with what i think may be your underlying theme, ie, labor costs are too high. i just see it as a separate issue and one that a well-run city would treat with due diligence in the normal course of business.

Anonymous said...

Check out PensionTsunami.com for more than you ever wanted to know regarding CA public employee pensions. You can even get on their email list.

Listed in the $100K Club for the City of Pacifica are 9 retired employees. 8 of the 9 are former PD and fire. The 9th is former city engineer Scott Holmes. The range is $102,431 to $148,773. It seems to be a very current list since former Chief of Police Saunders is on there. Remember former city manager Joe Tanner? He's listed on the Vallejo list with a pension of $149,270.

PensionTsunami.com is a project of the CA Public Policy Center. Even casual reading is sure to produce a bad case of pension envy.

Anonymous said...

I look outside and see this.

Gas prices back over 4 dollars a gallon.

Paychecks wacked another 2% by raising the withholdings

Walmart worried about the economy.

Recession coming soon to a city near you!

Kathy Meeh said...

"I look outside and see.." Anonymous 7:28 AM.

There is a another view of what you see "outside":

Gas tax helps fund Pacifica. Sales tax is our #1 sales tax revenue.

2% tax payroll tax is restored from stimulus, that's all. This restored tax is part of Recession recovery.

Walmart??? Business, government, and everyone else is worried about the economy if obstructionist Congress allows the budget hack "sequester" to set in. You know, its the evil Tea Party "intelligence" at work again.

Kathy Meeh said...

"..Mr. Rhodes tactfully made it clear that it was years away (5?)and that $500K.." Anonymous 2/25/13, 6:09 PM

5 years or more to achieve a stream of $500,000 city revenue and Beach/Palmetto developed is so much better than the "pie in the sky" citizen "strategic plans" which were always 5 years away, no plan, and never happened.

The EIR for Beach/Palmetto is completed for this project, and the city seems to be moving forward. There doesn't seem to be much NIMBY opposition to developing the property. The area utility undergrounding is delayed but is in process, City Council meeting, 2/25/13. Indications are this area will get improved eventually, sooner the better of course.

$500,000 is one component of total development and revenue needed for the city. The project is infill and we need more of these. The economy changer for the better would be the quarry of course.

Developing Beach Boulevard is a variation of Jim Vreeland's City Hall/library concept which included 2 EIRS. But, with the housing component, this mixed-use project is bigger, broader, and better.

Anonymous said...

Ah, yes, Ms. Meeh, and hopefully something will be built someday by someone who has yet to enter this extremely optimistic picture. I'm all for developing the site for revenue, but this rosy optimism from council while the city dies is reminiscent of Vreeland's habit of glossing over the bad news with, ahem, fairy tales. It didn't
help then and it won't help, now.

This council is just not taking our situation seriously.

Anonymous said...

"eat dirt"

Wow, way to raise the level of discourse, Kathy. I don't agree with them, but people who live in rhetorical glass houses shouldn't throw stones at the evil Tea Party "intelligence".

Kathy Meeh said...

Anonymous 10:44 AM, possibly some people who live in anonymous glass houses should disclose who they are, rather than throw stones at named people.

You may be the same Anonymous who wasted a whole lot of my time on the Don Horsley article-- the same Anonymous who repeatedly called Horsley a liar, while you sanctimoniously defending your view of "promise" without proof or specified limits. So my comment stands: "eat dirt".

Tea Party obstruction in Congress and elsewhere is a reality. Such obstruction, ignorance and manufactured fictional narrative hurts us all. To that add, these obstructions further taint the Republican party brand.

Anonymous said...

You and the Tea Party look like two different sides of the same coin from over here... Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

Anonymous said...

Tea Party is a bad joke on America and has turned into the Republican Party's worst nightmare. Watch out Dem's it could happen to anyone.
Crooked corporations started it, fund it and continue to manipulate the political landscape using this low information and very naive group of people.

Anonymous said...

Save the Republicans! 87 cents a day could give a depressed Republican hope. Rescue them from daily debasement at the hands of smarter, meaner, former Republicans. No one, not even a Republican, should have to suffer at the hands of the Tawdry Tea Party. We are all brothers. Check your birth certificate, please.

Won't you help?

Anonymous said...

anon 1222 That is so appropriate. Fits our little anthill perfectly. The Bard has never lost relevance.

Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.