Jun
8
This week’s post for your reports & comments on our local media
Filed Under Miscellaneous reader thoughts & questions, Neighboring Communities, News Enterprise & other local media | 9 Comments
(6/8/2011, Los Alamitos) Once again it’s time for our regular Wednesday media post.
Not only does that include today’s News Enterprise, and Thursday’s Sun, but it also includes all the other local, regiounal, and national print and online media that has something that you’d like to report on, comment on, or simply bring to your neighbors’ attention.
Whether it’s the L.A. Times, L.B. Press Telegram, OC Register, even the Golden Rain News (Leisure World weekly) if you happen to pick it up at a local store, or local websites like The Los Al Patch & OCNews360 or the online versions of any paper.
If you found it interesting, or want to comment (especially on the local weeklies, where it won’t print for a week!), Read more
Jun
1
This week’s post for your reports & comments on our local media
Filed Under Miscellaneous reader thoughts & questions, Neighboring Communities, News Enterprise & other local media | 1 Comment
(6/1/2011, Los Alamitos) Once again it’s time for our regular Wednesday media post.
Not only does that include Wednesday’s News Enterprise, and (if you live or shop in the “right” part of town) Thursday’s Sun, but it also includes all the other local, regiounal, and national print and online media that has something that you’d like to report on, comment on, or simply bring to your neighbors’ attention.
Whether it’s the L.A. Times, L.B. Press Telegram, OC Register, even the Golden Rain News (Leisure World weekly) if you happen to pick it up at a local store, or local websites like The Los Al Patch & OCNews360 or the online versions of any paper. Those work even better because you can also paste in the link so others can find it. If you found it interesting, or want to comment (especially on the local weeklies, where it won’t print for a week!), put Read more
May
25
Your weekly news media post, 5/25/11
Filed Under Miscellaneous reader thoughts & questions, News Enterprise & other local media | 6 Comments
(5/25/2011, Los Alamitos) Time for our regular Wednesday post where you can comment and report on any and all news media reports you find noteworthy.
Of course, that includes Los Alamitos’ only print weekly, today’s News Enterprise, as well as tomorrow’s Sun, but it also includes yesterday’s LAUSD School News, the L.A. Times, L.B. Press Telegram, OC Register, even the Golden Rain News (Leisure World weekly) if you happen to pick it up at a local store.
And please don’t forget the local websites like Patch & OCNews360 or the online versions of any paper. Those are even better because Read more
May
18
5/18/11 Weekly local media reporting & comments
Filed Under Miscellaneous reader thoughts & questions, News Enterprise & other local media, News you can use | 12 Comments
(Los Alamitos) Time for our regular Wednesday post where you can comment on today’s News Enterprise or tomorrow’s Sun without having to wait a week to see your thoughts in print.
This is also the place for comments & reporting & links to any other media reports that recently caught your eye or that you notice during the next 6 days, whether in our local websites (Patch, OCNews360) or print or online versions of the L.A. Times, L.B. Press Telegram, or OC Register. Even the business papers or networks if it affects us.
I’m writing this before my News Enterprise has arrived, but it should make interesting reading as Editor Shelley Read more
Oct
21
“Curious Minds:” One More Thought on Red Light Cameras
Filed Under 2010 Issues, Miscellaneous reader thoughts & questions | 7 Comments
(Los Alamitos, 10/21/2010) Our “Highlands Guy” proposes to give us “a break from hard-hitting political stories” with further thoughts on the Council’s recently approved five year extension of our Red Light Cameras contract with an Australian firm.
As always, he raises some interesting questions, although he never got around to the one that bugs me the most. . . isn’t $450 a bit much for the average citizen to pay for being a nanosecond late on a red light?
by “Highlands Guy”
Since the city has committed us to another five year contract with Redflex Traffic Systems, I think it is time to ask some hard questions.
While the forward thinking communities all around us have opted to incorporate their camera systems into existing signal light standards, we have 1950ish looking behemoths dotting our major intersections. If we’re going to have them, why not demand the latest technology?
Did the council know that Redflex is a really large corporation headquartered in Australia, with tentacles in enterprises in Quatar, Saudi Arabia, and Shenzen (mainland) China, to name a few?
Is the council aware of the numerous lawsuits against Read more
Oct
8
Curious minds: Ask the Candidate
Filed Under 2010 Issues, 2010 election, Miscellaneous reader thoughts & questions | 11 Comments
(Los Alamitos, 10/8/2010) Once again our “Highlands Guy” comes through with a thought provoking and timely commentary.
Before presenting his thoughts, however, let me remind you that not only is “election day” barely 3 weeks away on November 2, permanent “absentee” (vote by mail) voters are already voting!
If you’ve been thinking about volunteering, passing out flyers, or donating, today’s the day! 2 years ago George Briggeman spent an estimated $100,000 to elect the two candidates that created the current 4 – 1 majority. If you want to counter that sort of heavy influence, I suggest you go to LosAl2010.com right now and click the “support” tab at the top to donate online, or call 562-546-2052 or e-mail losal2010@gmail.com.
Please do it today. Make your donation as generous as you can and if it’s over $99 e-mail them your occupation. I did.
Invest in our community.
Now, here’s our own “Highlands Guy,” with a few things you might ask any candidates who knock on your door this weekend:
Ask the Candidate
(by “Highlands Guy”) The next time you run into one of the local candidates for city council walking your neighborhood, or attend one of the upcoming forums you might want to be ready with reasoned, clear, concise questions and comments. Here’s a little starter list that might Read more
Sep
23
Curious Minds on our red light cameras
Filed Under Miscellaneous reader thoughts & questions, Traffic | 5 Comments
(Los Alamitos, 9/23/2010) Once again our “Highlands Guy” asks probing quesstions in his regular Thursday “Curious Minds” feature. This time he’s wondering about one of our town’s most expensive “photo studio:”
Red light cameras. Because of the cost, I presume they are there for a purpose. Is the purpose to reduce accidents, to take up the slack for an undermanned police department, or to generate revenue for the city?
Another question that would seem logical at this point is, what follow-up studies have been done to show that the stated goals have been achieved?
On a more basic level these things are ugly and utilize technology and design that was old when they were erected. For years now all forward looking cities have incorporated the cameras into existing traffic signal stanchions. That’s why you do not see them anywhere else in Orange County.
And to add insult to injury, they were installed on a brand new, very expensive (read tax money), center divider. It would be nice to know what Council members made the decision that the rest of us have to live with long after they left office.
In addition, these monstrosities are smack dab in the middle of the City’s major intersection. A location, that I’ve read recently about in the local newspaper, where we profess to want to attract folks passing through our fine little city…think about it.
That’s just the way I see it.
Sep
16
Curious minds want to know: What’s up with those highway dividers?
Filed Under 2010 Issues, Community News, Miscellaneous reader thoughts & questions | 23 Comments
(Los Alamitos, 9/16/10) by “Highlands Guy” Once again, our local Thursday columnist raises some questions I’ve pondered myself over the years. Maybe you have some answers. . . or additional thoughts, especially as the Council is moving full speed ahead to adopt the COMPASS Project’s pedestrian & bus friendly design, at least on Los Al Blvd.
I’ve been wondering for a long time why we have a center divider in the middle of our two major thoroughfares. I suppose they were installed when money was no object and long term planning took a back seat.
I am questioning why we need an area in the middle of the street that is always filled with litter and weeds, plants in need of pruning, and fast growing, water consuming, high maintenance flora.
And to add insult to injury it has taken away any possibility of something we could sure use to enhance the quality of life and intra-city movement, a bike lane.
In addition it seems to me that the plantings lack Read more
Sep
9
Curious Minds “Go to the Spot”
Filed Under 2010 Issues, 2010 election, Miscellaneous reader thoughts & questions | 3 Comments
(Los Alamitos, 9/9/2010)Dave here. This is 5th of our weekly Thursday posts from our newest regular author, “Highlands Guy.”
I really like having another voice post regularly here, and hope others will join him. It’s easy, especially if you love to write and/or love Los Alamitos.
“Highlands Guy” contacted me with his idea through the “Contact Us” link just below the masthead on the top of this and every page, and the rest is history. Whether you want to report on your neighborhood, a specific Commission, your school, or a special interest, as long as others in the community would be interested, your contributions are welcome!
The more community voices here, the better!
This time “Guy” is offering some wise advice to the candidates & Council Members:
Now that the local Fall campaigns are in full swing I would like to offer a couple of suggestions to Read more
Sep
2
Time for a more interactive City Hall? (“Curious minds 4)
Filed Under 2010 Issues, Community News, Miscellaneous reader thoughts & questions | 11 Comments
(Los Alamitos, 9/2/2010) For the 4th Thursday in a row by our “Highlands Guy” is back with yet another interesting question. Looks like we’ve got another regular weekly feature, like our “Sunday Sermons” and our weekly crime reports that I’ll post once I receive them, usually on Tuesdays.
This time “Highlands Guy” has hit on something I’ve been wondering about for two years.
Read it over and tell us what you think. Maybe this is finally something we can all agree on?
(By “Highlands Guy:”) We need to offer alternative opportunities for residents to interact with City personnel and representatives other than the traditional Council or Commission meetings.
The times I’ve spent at those meetings revealed Read more
Aug
26
Curious Minds 3: What’s a teen to do?
Filed Under Community News, Miscellaneous reader thoughts & questions, News you can use | 9 Comments
Once again “Highlands Guy” has come up with an interesting question that awaits your thoughts and comments.
So far these posts have generated some good discussion, and have helped take our minds off politics to things that might unite us, so I’m going to try to get one of these “Curious Minds want to know” posts up every Thursday. If you’ve got a question or thought to submit, use the “contact us” button in the middle of the masthead.
Today’s question:
Help wanted.
Last night my teenage son asked me if there was anything he and his friends could do at little or no cost in Los Alamitos. I think they just wanted Read more
Aug
18
Curious minds want to know, 2
Filed Under Community News, Miscellaneous reader thoughts & questions | 11 Comments
What's happened in the 2 years since I took this picture?
(Los Alamitos, 8/18/2010) Got another “random” brief post from “Highlands Guy,” so I thought maybe it’s time for a followup to our “hodgepodge” of random reader thoughts, questions, and answers, like we did a couple weeks ago (click here for Curious minds, random thoughts and comments, 1)
Basically, I’m thinking of a regular weekly or bi-weekly post for you to post snippets of information, questions, or anything else you’d like to communicate with the community that doesn’t fit under any recent posts.
We’ll kick it off with another submission I received through the “contact us” button in the masthead, this time about a very visible problem we’re all probably aware of, again from Read more
Jul
23
Curious minds want to know. . . random thoughts and questions
Filed Under Miscellaneous reader thoughts & questions | 20 Comments
(Los Alamitos, 7/23/2010) (by Dave Emerson. . . & you!) In the last few days I recieved several comments and questions from Los Alamitos residents via the “contact us” button in the masthead.
They weren’t related to any specific post, but raised good points. So I’m experimenting with a weekly post for you to post snippets of information, questions, or anything else you’d like to communicate with the community.
To read some of the comments and questions I received this week, or to post your own, please click here: Read more