Apr
30
Need to appeal your Los Al prop tax today? Easy 1 minute test:
Filed Under News you can use, Real Estate | 2 Comments
It's your money!
(by Dave Emerson) Yesterday I gave you detailed information about filing to get your Los Alamitos Property Tax reduced.
Since informal appeals for the 2009-2010 tax year must be postmarked today, here’s the instant version:
3 Quick steps to find out if you should file:
Apr
29
OC deadline tomorrow for huge property tax savings: Here’s how to file
Filed Under News you can use, Real Estate | 4 Comments
(Los Alamitos, by Dave Emerson) If you purchased a home in Los Alamitos (or anywhere else in Orange County) between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2007, you’re probably running out of time to save on your 2009 – 2010 property tax bill.
That’s because “informal appeals” of OC property tax assessments must be postmarked tomorrow at the latest.
Fortunately, the links below will enable you or your friends to determine how much you’re likely to save, and to complete the entire process in about ten minutes.
Whether or not you really need to appeal is another hot question, with Orange County Assessor Webster Guillory claiming that Read more
Apr
21
Traffic advisory: Avoid northbound Los Al Blvd @ Katella this week
Filed Under News you can use, Traffic | 32 Comments
6 p.m. update (4/21): The good news is that it looks like Edison is putting Los Al Blvd. back together for peak traffic times. All lanes were open when I went by around 5:30 this evening, as they were at 8:20 this morning. Good for them!
(4/21/09) Guess somebody figureed that it would be a good idea to narrow northbound Los Al Blvd. to one lane now that it’s the main way for about half of the city to get to a northbound onramp on the 605.
Sounds like they’ll be done in about a week–same time as the freeway onramp should re-open. Nice timing.
When I drove past today around 9:40 this morning it looked like Read more
Apr
20
It’s 4 – 1 again: Our new City Manager: Jeffrey L. Stewart
Filed Under 2009 Issues, City Council | 102 Comments
(4/20/09, Los Alamitos) Coming out of closed session around 5:30 this evening City Attorney announced that the Los Alamitos City Council had just voted by 4 -1 with Gerri Mejia voting against to hire Jeffrey L. Stewart as the new City Manager of Los Alamitos.
But, although my original prediction did not come true, thanks to our insightful posters the story broke here first with Dig Doug and others posting information here about a Jeff Stewart a little after 3 this Read more
Apr
20
My neighbor may be just the person you're looking for!
(4/20/2009) An economic downturn is the perfect time for businesses to upgrade their staff by “cherry picking” from among the many skilled workers who find themselves in transition. For example, Kevin Steiner, my friend and neighbor of over 20 years is one of the most dedicated and competent logistics and transportation managers around. Some firm in or near Los Alamitos would be smart to check him out.
What I like about Kevin, besides his positive attitude, dependability, and initiative, is that he owned and operated his own transportation company, Western Sontex, right here in Los Alamitos for 25 years before moving up to manage logistics and transportation for two larger firms. He understands the transportation business from the owner’s perspective.
During those years Kevin owned and ran a fleet of 57 trucks and 63 trailers on a statewide, nationwide, and even international (Canadian) basis while also handling inter-modal transportation and freight brokerage. He not only knows the DOT, FHA, and CHP requirements, he knows how to save valuable logistics and transportation dollars.
After closing his own operation, Kevin ran Read more
Apr
20
Your real-time reporting, thoughts, and comments on tonight’s 7 p.m. regular Council meeting
Filed Under City Council Meetings, Teamwork | 2 Comments
(4/20/2009) Tonight the Los Alamitos City Council will hold both a regular meeting at 7 p.m. and a special meeting at 5. Both include closed sessions, but the open parts of both meetings are scheduled for live airing on LosAlTV 3.
For the agenda of the 5 p.m. Special Workshop Meeting on the topic of forming a non-profit to run LosAlTV, please click here (”‘Earlybird’ Special Meeting April 20 about Los Al TV”). That’s also the link for you if you wish to report or comment on anything you observed at that meeting, whether in person, live on TV, or later on a replay or your DVR.
There’s a whole lot scheduled for the Council’s regular meeting, which begins at 7:00, and this is the place to report or comment on that meeting. The agenda (reproduced below with links to relevent staff reports) is a good example of what I fear is a Council that’s busy but lacking Read more
Apr
19
Belated Sunday Sermon from Kenya: Life’s Curveballs
Filed Under Inspiration, Sunday Sermon | Leave a Comment
The omlette bar line this morning at Constitution Park's "Homeless Church"
Warning: Our occasional “Sunday Sermon” series is religious in nature. If that might offend you, feel free to skip it.
(4/19/09) To show you just how small the internet is making our world, today’s “Sunday Sermon” was delivered this morning in Kenya by a Mike Carmen from Knott Avenue Christian Church in Anaheim. I received it as an e-mail earlier today from a young man from Lakewood named Geoff Nighswonger.
Geoff’s an amazing 21-year-old who organized a weekly Sunday morning church and breakfast for the homeless in Bellflower which grew into a non-profit, “Hands On International.” Geoff’s in Kenya now helping Read more
Apr
19
Council to Discuss LATV at “earlybird” Special Meeting Monday, April 20
Filed Under City Council Meetings, LosAl TV | 6 Comments
(4/19/2009) As the second part of a Special Los Alamitos City Council Meeting scheduled for 5 p.m. tomorrow, the Council will continue a workshop on possibly establishing a new non-profit corporation to run Los Al TV.
The 5 p.m. special meeting will start with an opportunity for oral communications from the public, then move into yet another closed session on the appointment of a City Manager, after which the Council will move back into Read more
Apr
19
Coming soon to an onramp near you!
(4/19/2009, Los Alamitos) In case the flashing lights of the past month weren’t enough, you’re not going to be able to get onto the 605 Freeway northbound from Katella westbound until about 5 a.m. next Monday, April 27th.
The logical alternate would be to use the Cerritos Ave. onramp, but that could get jammed up fairly quickly. Next option would be Read more
Apr
17
(4/17/09, Los Alamitos, by Dave Emerson) About now, I’m wondering if Dean Zarkos isn’t asking himself what he got himself into this past Monday night.
Going for another trifecta, the Los Alamitos City Council has 3 meetings (including 3 closed sessions) scheduled today and Monday. At least they’re Read more
Apr
14
Update on City Manager Search:
Filed Under About Los Alamitos, City Council Meetings, Teamwork | 15 Comments
(4/14/00 by Dave Emerson) Last night’s Los Alamitos City Council closed session ended with no reportable action on selecting a City Manager or on the ongoing negotiations with mid-level managers.
Is the majority working hard to address Gerri’s concerns?
Did they want to give Dean Zarkos some time to get up to speed before taking a vote?
Did Dean or someone else bring up something nobody had thought of before?
Did the Council deadlock?
Read more
Apr
13
You heard it here 18 days ago: It’s Dean Zarkos!
Filed Under 2009 Issues, City Council, Teamwork | 47 Comments
Loading ...(4/13/09 by Dave Emerson) Well, it took a bit longer, but to my subjective eye it seemed just as orchestrated as the last two votes for Mayors Grose and Edgar. Regardless, the end result was just as predictable and disappointing.
In fact, “Richard” predicted it right here almost 3 weeks ago in the very first comment on my post, “Nominees to fill Dean Grose’s seat announced.” Interestingly enough, in 100+ comments on that post alone, plus dozens others on other posts since then, I can’t recall one person speaking up for Mr. Zarkos, but I can recall many expressing concern over his statements and his lack of time living in the city.
That didn’t seem to matter to the majority.
Again.
After the nominees had a chance to respond to the same five questions, Mayor Edgar opened the floor for nominations.
Ken Stephens nominated Anne Yee. The nomination died for lack of a second.
Gerri Mejia nominated Brad Sheridan. The nomination died for lack of a second.
Mayor Edgar nominated Dean Zarkos. Marilyn Poe seco0nded. A vote was taken, deadlocked 2 – 2, Poe and Edgar yea, Stephens and Mejia nay.
Marilyn Poe nominated Candace DeWitt-Drucker. Mayor Edgar seconded. A vote was taken, deadlocked 2 – 2, Poe and Edgar yea, Stephens and Mejia nay.
Gerri Mejia nominated Pete Carvojal. The nomination died for lack of a second. Pete had Marilyn Poe’s sign in his front yard right at the entrance to the city’s largest tract, and “Our Most Trusted Voice” couldn’t even be bothered to second his nomination! One of three candidates that had “unanimity, ” “experience,” and “commitment to Los Alamitos” written all over them–none of whom received a second!
Mayor Edgar proposed a discussion, Gerri thought it might be more productive in closed session, but (believe it or not) the city attorney said this couldn’t be done in closed session. Kudos to Dean Derlith!
Ken Stephens made a fairly lengthy speech about Read more
Apr
13
Monday the 13th: A historic opportunity. Council Agenda, your reporting & comments
Filed Under 2009 Issues, City Council, City Council Meetings | 9 Comments
(4/13/09, compiled by Dave Emerson) At 7 p.m. tonight our City Council will interview five nominees to fill Dean Grose’s vacant seat, in open session, probably vote on who to choose, then move into closed session to vote on a new City Manager. The open part of the meeting is scheduled to be televised, but I would certainly encourage you to be there in person.
This meeting could be a real turning point in our deeply divided town, or it could be just another opportunity for the majority to consolidate it’s power.
Logically, the majority will focus on their own interest, but there have been a few hopeful signs over Read more
Apr
12
Warning: This is primarily a community and political blog, but on some Sundays we wander into religious territory. If this might offend you, you may want to skip this post.
(4/12/09 by Dve Emerson) Many Christians don’t realize that the “Last Supper” Jesus celebrated with his disciples on “Good Friday” was actually a traditional Passover Cedar.
Not only were Jesus and all twelve of his disciples Jewish, so were all but one of the authors of the New Testament (Luke). Anti-semites who claim to be “Christian” are quick to focus on the role of Jewish religious and political leaders in the death of the radical preacher who they only saw as a threat to their power, but they are forced to skip over the Jewishness of the entire chain of events and of Jesus himself.
Somehow, the Gregorian monks thought a “Christian” calendar Read more
Apr
11
Big Los Alamitos City Council Meeting Monday, 4/13/09 @ 7!
Filed Under 2009 Issues, City Council, City Council Meetings, Teamwork | 9 Comments
Time for 2 big decisions Monday night
(4/11/09, by Dave Emerson) I’m not sure who decided to place Los Al’s City Hall sundial in the shade, but it’s a pretty good metaphor for trying to figure out what’s going on with the City Council right now.
The good news is, things should be clearer by the end of Monday’s night’s special Council meeting, where two major decisions could be made: Read more
