21 Responses to “Blogger on strike?”

1. Observer on June 26th, 2009 8:28 am

   How about a new name for your website. “Let’s Fix Los Al!” is a rather negative title because it begins with the premise that there is a LOT wrong with Los Al. In reality, I think there is a lot “right” with this city and perhaps there would be more interest in this site if more was reported on things going on — events; local businesses and what they are doing, etc. The negative title may be partly responsible for some of the nasty, negative comments occurring all too frequently on this site (including the never-ending “Hatfield and McCoy” feud) which may contribute to a loss of interest in this site. This site has potential, but WAAAYYY too much negativity.

2. Los Al resident on June 29th, 2009 12:42 pm

   To Dave:
   Since Residents (Los Al and Cypress) have been talking about the recent many helicopters flying so low over the homes day and night (1AM) Why don’t you interview General Combs and ask him why?
   I hope this is not going to be what happens when the new Commander takes over. Maybe it is time to change this base from a training site to strictly an emergency base, or no base at all.

3. "Joker" on June 30th, 2009 7:52 am

   Do you hear that?

   It is the sound of F R E E D O M !

   Get over it!

   It is a small price to pay.

4. Los Al resident on June 30th, 2009 10:23 am

   To “JOKER”
   The training for the small price of freedom can be done anywhere there are not homes!!!! How about the Mojave Desert?
   Los Alamitos is the only place the DOD allows training so close to homes. There is no buffer zone and it is dangerous.
   So you need to get over your 1940’s mentality.

5. To "JOKER" on June 30th, 2009 10:51 am

   Encroachment explained to Rotarians
   By Karen Gleason
   Del Rio News-Herald

   Published February 20, 2009
   Time and again, encroachment has changed the way military installations operate, a representative of Laughlin Air Force Base told Del Rio business leaders this week.

   Jennifer Harris, chief of asset optimization with the 47th Support Squadron at Laughlin Air Force Base, made her comments during Tuesday’s luncheon meeting of the Del Rio Rotary Club.

   After Harris and City Planner Janice Pokrant were introduced by Najla Weathersbee, Harris discussed encroachment with the Rotarians, using a slide show developed for an Air Installation Compatible Use Zone (AICUZ) seminar.

   Harris said the AICUZ studies, which are conducted by military installations, “are a tool for detecting incompatible use” of land surrounding military installations.

   The PowerPoint slide show presented by Harris then took the Rotarians on a time-lapse tour of several other military installations around the country, beginning with Los Alamitos Naval Air Station in California.

   An aerial slide of the Los Alamitos airfield, shot shortly after the station opened in 1942, shows runways surrounded in all directions by miles of open agricultural land. That open spare remained around Los Alamitos in the late 1950s, when it was one of the premier training facilities for reserve Naval aviators, Harris said.

   Within 20 years, by the early 1970s, development closed in around the naval air station at Los Alamitos and in 1972, the Navy formally closed its training operations there.

   Harris said the Army Guard operates a helicopter pilot training facility at Los Alamitos there now, but added that no fixed-wing training is conducted there now.

   The Navy, she said, moved the flight training operations formerly held at Los Alamitos to an area north of Fresno, Calif. Harris pointed out that to avoid the same problems that had occurred at Los Alamitos, the Navy purchased 19,000 acres to go with the installation and leased an additional 11,000 acres governed by restrictive covenants.

   Harris then reviewed the encroachment on Nellis Air Force Base by burgeoning development in Las Vegas, Nev.

   At Laughlin, though, “I want to reemphasize that our position is not ‘no development,’” Harris told the members of the Rotary Club.

   The goal of the AICUZ studies, Harris told the Rotarians, “is to protect the health, safety and welfare of the people that we’re flying over and to protect our long-term mission capability.”

   Harris also briefly addressed the ongoing concern of Laughlin and other military installations regarding bird strikes. Harris said Laughlin has an aggressive program aimed at dealing with the bird strike hazard.

   She then answered questions posed by Rotary Club members and their guests present at the meeting. Among those attending Tuesday’s meeting was Val Verde County Commissioner Precinct 3 Beau Nettleton.

   Nettleton urged the Rotarians to support a bill to be filed in the Texas Legislature that, if passed, will give the city and the county greater zoning authority around Laughlin Air Force Base.

6. Dave Emerson on June 30th, 2009 11:24 am

   Resident–

   I just shot the General and his communications aid an e-mail enquiring about the helicopters, & will pass on whatever information I receive. My guess is that it’s not base related. I don’t think their tower is even open at night.

7. Dave Emerson on June 30th, 2009 11:27 am

   Observer–

   I’ve been thinking about that myself. There are things that need fixed about the town, including the onging “Hatfield and McCoy feud,” traffic congestion, more coordinated and updated zoning, increasing sales tax revenue, and not being our neighbors’ doormat. Still, I think a more “neutral” name might be appropriate.

   Any suggestions??

8. JHubert on June 30th, 2009 4:24 pm

   Just keep pushing the issue and complaining about the Base. Eventually, when General Combs is gone, we could have a different Base Commander who does not embrace the communities like General Combs does. Add in the public bashing and complaints about the base and guess what happens? The base and it’s leaders gives us the bird, they let it go and BRAC comes in for the kill. Then companies, like Briggeman Land and Development Company come in, buy up the land for pennies on the dollar. When the economy turns around they either develop it or sell it and make tons of money. They monopolize more city land, get richer on our backs and we get gridlock! (I can hear the ego inflating even further).

   Why not -

   #1 – Embrace the base (they were here longer than 99% of you) and support the mission of it. The leaders are more open to the community than they have been in the base’s entire history. Work with them now while the channels are open.

   #2 – While the channels are open, get involved with the development of the Base’s Master Plan. You can have a say in what gets built. Work to encourage permanant projects on the base that will benefit the city in the long run (if the base were to close). Parks (Such as The Veterans Park), the pool (and hopefully a real foundation that can run it), the homeland security training facility that will be used by the military and municiple police and fire agencies (including Los Al’s), youth development related facilities, etc. These are all items that will intertwine the property with civilian uses and functions. This has been General Combs plan to solidify the foundation of the facility and avoid another BRAC closure. Do we really want to be another El Toro? Look at the fighting going on there now that the base closed and there was not a proactive plan for the future of it (if it were to close).

   #3 – If BRAC ever does decide to dismantle the base would you be able to say that you did your best to prepare it for its future land use? I don’t want to end up like Irvine and the Great Park. Problem is, that is exactly where we would be. If you think it’s the Hatfield’s and the McCoy’s now….the closure would be WWIII. The lawyers would have a field day. Maybe you would prefer to leave this one to Mr. B and his 4 cronies? Not me!

   I have seen too many times in the past where the complainers (those who rip the Base) get exactly what they want. The base goes away and a much larger can of worms is opened and everyone (including the complainers) wish that they had the base back. Be careful what you wish for.

   Dave, as you can see, this could be a good forum to open. Ideas are what is needed to fix things (such as this town…i.e. – “Let’s Fix Los Al”). I would love to hear more ideas. Ideas are waaay more productive than the typical name calling that is utilized daily by these anonymous posters who have no other productive uses of their time (or their Boss’s time).

   Let’s hear some productive dialogue and ideas. I’m betting that some of the people who have attacked me in the past won’t be able to disagree with what I’ve stated.

   BTW – I am off duty today.

9. To JHubert on June 30th, 2009 5:58 pm

   Our city council could arrange a community seminar or survey to see how residents feel about the base and it’s mission. This base is 99% encroached upon and can not continue to operate with the level of helicopters they are.

   Huberts idea to let outside police and fire use this airfield was already brought up in 2005 and the community overwhelmingly said NO WAY at a community meeting in Los Al. The JFTB didn’t even want them here. The military pilots would have to take the heat for the other pilots who would not stay within the flight pattern. It would have been a nightmare for the tower and anyone living within 10 miles of the base and everyone knew it. They were already having a problems with the visiting pilots at the base, Los Al, Cypress and CPE were all having problems and complaining very loudly about it.

   Huberts idea to work together with the community and the JFTB to see what types of missions could be explored is an excellent one. If the base is going to stay open they should find ways to support it without noisy helicopters. There are already approximately 60 or so tenets at the base that have nothing to do with the mission of the base. The compost project is the most recent one.

   General Combs has been the best commander this base ever had. He has done a great job of engaging the community, but just like the mayor and city council members, they come and go. The ONLY constant is the community, are you Mr. Hubert ready to volunteer to be on the JFTB Community Cares Committee?

10. JM Ivler on July 1st, 2009 12:04 pm

    I used to be anti-BRAC, but over time my mind has changed. That doesn’t mean I don’t support the mission and what the General has done. I do.

    But Washington does not.

    If they did then we would have a base like Pendelton. Kept up, shiny and new. What we have is a “we will use it because it’s here” attitude from DC. At this point I could start complaining that Royce has failed the community. And he has. But bitching about a powerless Congressman with no backbone won’t make any major difference. It doesn’t help that the totally insane Rohrbacher is of no use either. And the Sanchez sisters don’t seem to give a shit (damn Democrats).

    The bottom line, is that the Feds won’t spend the money required to make the base work, the State has no money to spend and we are stuck with this never ending middle ground of keeping the base at a minimal operational level and overtaxing its abilities and underserving the young people that have to use it.

    Thus my belief that either the government should fund it and make it work, or close it down.

    Now since I have NO ability to have any effect on the former proposition, I would like to see a BRAC Working Group created by the City of Los Alamitos to address the possibility of the base closing and having a detailed plan in place that would protect the community from the Briggeman’s of the world.

    The BRAC Working Group would be comprised of five appointed people from the City Council (one person by each member of the council). Two appointed people from the City Manager (one of which must be a city employee). One appointed by the OCFA. And one person voted in by popular vote.

    Initially the group would meet as necessary to create a “plan” for the base, and then they would meet as needed (no less than two times per year) to update or re-approve the plan.

    Recently when I was talking to a neighbor I explained what I would like to see done with the base if BRAC’d and my “vision”. He said I was crazy. Maybe I am, but the idea of thinking about it and discussing all the potential (and crazy) ideas of what could be done with the property in case the base is BRAC’d is a healthy idea, along with a group created to do everything in their power to help the base continue it’s mission (and get the funding required to do so).

    If the Federal government isn’t taking then base or it’s mission seriously, then maybe it is time for it to be BRAC’d. If the people in the community aren’t willing to support it (Yes, I’m talking to you CPE residents) by sharing whatever pain is necessary to help it with it’s mission, them maybe it is time to BRAC it.

    And CPE Residents, imagine for a moment a BRAC’d base. Imagine Lexington going through. Imagine at the corner of Lexington and Lampson a Center the size and model of the Long Beach Towne Center (off te 605). May I suggest that it would be in your best interests to do what you can to work with the base to keep it’s mission afloat, because I know that I would love to see that Los Alamitos Towne Center on Lampson with easy freeway access, a 23 screen theater and Lampson as a six lane road from Seal Beach Blvd to the center.

11. JHubert on July 1st, 2009 7:30 pm

    I was in no way refering to the LA County Sheriff Helicopter Hangar that was proposed long ago at the base. My referance was to a new and state of the art Homeland Security Training Facility that is part of the Base’s Master Plan. It is, to the best of my knowledge, an indoor training facility that is second to none. It will be utilized by Military, Police and Fire to better prepare our military and first responders for the future challenges of the safety of our country. It will help all of us to be able to work and function in parallel and not against or independant of each other. This type of facility was part of our lessons learned that we have had to endure as a country. This facility will also bring in many people from out of town as well as local agencies that will infuse our local economy. I agree that the “Hangar” that would have over doubled or tripled the flight trips per day (and night) and was a loser. As far as the current helicopter issues go…if you have a complaint, Gen. Combs has set up a Helicopter Complaint line. He also has a good neighbor policy that regulates flight times (minus military emergencies). The good neighbor policy require airships to enter the facility from normal approach (Runway) standards. They are to operate or train within the confines of the base fence lines. If you feel that that policy is being violated then call the complaint hotline and launch a complaint.

    As far as serving, I am already on a JFTB Comittee. The JFTB CCC also sounds like a good one. What is the criteria for being a member (Civilian, Military, Retired Military, etc.)? Also, how about a contact for joining the group?

12. So J Hubert on July 2nd, 2009 12:58 pm

    So JHubert must be back on duty today and the voice of knowledge weighs in. The FAA has approved 90 helicopters at JFTB, far less than are being used there. The encrochment was from homes, not the other way around. So Hubert, what is the ‘good neighbor’ policy? And, what committee do you serve on? Who is setting up this CCC group? I agree, what does it take to be on it?

    And Dave, how ’bout something like “Los Alamitos of 2015, the Road To Progress”?

13. JHubert on July 2nd, 2009 1:41 pm

    To the one who seems to dwell:

    Nope, sorry to disappoint…off duty.

    I did not know that you spend soooo much time worrying about me and wheteher or not I am serving our community or not…I must have a history of striking nerves with you. My advice to you…get a life!

    To the citizens who are here to make a difference, help and or care:

    I have Gen. Comb’s power point that spells out the good neighbor policy. I will try to find it and get it to Dave. If he chooses to satisfy all of the “Mrs. Kravitzs’” out there he can post it.

    Still haven’t seen any further ideas…. Anyone?

14. JHubert on July 2nd, 2009 3:08 pm

    Here’s an idea Dave. Change the name to something more nuetral. The town hall idea is a good path to follow. Make it mandatory that your screen name be your real one and the one you post as. By doing that everyone will be on their best behavior and I’m bettin’ that you will see some legitimate and productive ideas come forward. It will certainly give the site a more reputable status. The drive-by style cowards will disappear and we will have a real forum to discuss and get the pulse of city issues without the 2 week wait (in real time as you state).

15. JM Ivler on July 2nd, 2009 10:36 pm

    I would love to be able to respond to this thread… but

    JM Ivler on Your comment is awaiting moderation. July 1st, 2009 12:04 pm

16. Dave Emerson on July 3rd, 2009 10:52 am

    Sorry, JM, just approved it. Only a few things trigger moderation here–might have been vocabulary, sometimes it’s multiple links, but my apologies. Take a day off & that’s the day I’m needed.

    Have a good 4th.

17. Macaroni on July 7th, 2009 7:28 am

    Off the military subject for a minute because Dave asked for things that need fixing….

    Carrier Row has street sweeping every Tuesday. Cost? Anyone? Seriously I’d like to know if anyone can tell me.

    Half the neighborhood doesn’t even have trees on the sidewalk. Why do we PAY to sweep every week? The other half of the neighborhood only has trees at less than half the properties on the sidewalk (mostly because they’ve been removed and never replaced). Clean gutters are cool I guess but at what price.

    I do get a kick at watching some of my neighbors scramble to find a parking place on Tuesday mornings. They either have any combination of too many cars, garages full of stuff other than cars, driveways occupied by RV’s….whatever. Many of them I see park their cars on their lawns (violation of city code). Even if only for an hour or two.

    By the way, Los Al might be the only city I’ve ever seen that sweeps BOTH sides of the street in the same day. Other cities at least gives people the opportunity to park on the other side of the street when it sweeping day. Novel idea.

    Is it just me?

18. To JM on July 7th, 2009 7:29 pm

    JM, you are not crazy. Crazy are the residents who don’t ask their city councils to plan for the future. We need a plan even if we never get to use it.

    You are right in expecting DC to support the mission of the JFTB. I don’t think they care because the base is being used mostly by the State of CA. Since nobody seems to have any money to support it maybe it is time to give it up.
    If it’s needed for Homeland Security where is the money to make it work?

    Who keeps property they can’t afford? It is not good business, but why would that stop the great minds in DC?

19. DSmith on July 8th, 2009 9:22 am

    Let’s fix Los Al by getting rid of the curb painter who includes this line at the bottom of his note:

    If you do not desire to cooperate please tape this notice to your curb number

    Shouldn’t I be taping the note on if I want to have my numbers painted? Am I really not cooperating if I don’t have it done? Are these the guys who were given a permit by the city?

20. So J Hubert on July 8th, 2009 12:11 pm

    You still didn’t say what committee you serve on at the base; and as far as being on duty or not, just being clear that our tax dollars are spent to allow you to post here. Plus all you are concerned about it appears is getting your fire buddies to replace the federal fire fighters at the base, why?

21. JM Ivler on July 8th, 2009 9:25 pm

    as far as being on duty or not, just being clear that our tax dollars are spent to allow you to post here.

    I’m just curious. What the F do you think firefighters do while on shift? They have to be at the ready, but what do they do? They don’t “train” all the time. So what do you think that they do?

    Do we “pay” them to watch TV? Read books? Listen to music? Surf the Internet? Read and send e-mail? Write letters to their loved ones in far away places? Do we “pay” for their food? Do we “pay” for them to eat?

    I realize that you seem to have a problem with a first responder who you really want to be at your home when smoke comes pouring out. Who you really want to have him and his buddies put their life on the line for you. Who you really want to have worry about saving your life and your property.

    These are also human beings who, when they are not out on an emergency call, live their life in an enclosed space waiting for that call. Their lives are NOT put on hold while they sit around the table, dressed and ready to respond at a moments notice.

    So rather than attack a person who is a local hero (and he will be and has been when he does his job in an emergency) why not spend a shift over with E2 and see how and what they give up in order to serve. Then maybe you will find something better to do with your time than harass a good man doing a hard job that few of us would be willing to trade places with him.

    Sorry to flame, but JH is doing a task that I know I couldn’t do. When he walks into the station he knows that he may face certain death in order to save a life. He deserves our respect as much as those being shipped off that base do.

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