(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:
Thanks.
Related posts:
What’s with all those profit making businesses putting up their
advertisements on the “Peoples Fence”
at Los Alamitos Blvd and Orangewood?
Seems to me it’s OK to put up your
kid’s birthday wishes, an LAUSD school marching band congratulations, or a
plea from a local non-profit, for a few days duration.
But a for-profit ad that stays up for weeks just doesn’t seem to be a good fit, or use of City property.
That’s just the way I see it.
I live in the New Dutch Haven and received a notification from the city yesterday about increased Coyote Activity in my neighborhood.
I am curious to know if anyone knows of specific incidents in this neighborhood or if this is just a precautionary notice.
Here’s a head’s up for local bargain hunters & garage salers:
Linda Way in Suburbia Estates is having their 10th annual block sale this Saturday, 7/24, beginning at 8 a.m.
Just follow the signs off of Farquhar between Bloomfield and Los Alamitos Blvd. (From the Jack in the Box on Los Al, go east on Farquhar, then right at the second stop sign–Denwood, then 2 rights onto Linda.
This year the sale includes a moving sale for one long-time resident as well.
“JM gets Results!”
Actually, two weeks earlier I presented every council member with a copy of two photographs, one of each location, and a request that this be addressed. The result was that no action was taken despite the evidence.
It was not until I called Mr. Edgar out for the special treatment his friends received verses what a big deal he made out of Mr. Parker having his sign up at his old and new location two years earlier, and pointed out that the perp was a company that developed the CPLA website and was friendly to his political causes that anyone felt a need to move forward on the effort.
It is really very simple. In the city of Los Alamitos if you do favors for Poe, Edgar or Zarkos you get favors back. If you oppose them they will use whatever they can to hurt your. They will attack you, lie about you in public, defame you, and attempt to hurt your business, your income, your livelihood.
As I said in closing, Poe, Edgar and Zarkos are bullies. Whether it be the playground, or the dais, you can tell bullies for who they are. And, as I have taught my kids, bullies can’t stand to be called out for it. Those three are bullies. They are the worst sort of people. They are what you DO NOT want your kids to turn into.
The signs on the fence are not supposed to be there and the city knows it. That property/fence belongs to the county. The city of Los Alamitos regularly removes all the signs and the owners can come in and pick them up at the city. I have been waiting for them to get the new crop of signs, but it’s been and will be awhile because one of the latest signs is from The Southland Credit Union who just gave a large donation to the city for the 50th parade and also for the new 50th bench area at Cottonwood Park. If you want special treatment just make Poe and Edgar happy.
Favors in, favor out.
Call the city on Monday and ask to have the signs removed.
I have also noticed the Pop Warner signs all over the city right of ways. Another no no, I know they donated to the 4th of july, does that give them the OK?
How about the banners at SB Blvd. and Lampson, which I assume are controlled by the City of Seal Beach? The organization that puts on plays and musicals at the Base consistently gets, I assume, free adverstising via the banner on the wire, which I would think should be reserved for SB community activities (Fish Fry, concerts, etc.) Based on the ticket price, volunteerism, and the price you pay to be in the plays, I know for a fact they are not a “Non-Profit”. Does any one know the criteria to use the Lampson signage?
When Los Al residents have to leave Los Al to play in Pop Warner because “it’s too damn expensive” it says a great deal about Los Al Pop Warner.
Personally I would love to see the rec center working with the HS get involved in supporting a competitive organization that served the kids whose families can’t afford the pay-to-play attitude that LosAl Pop Warner seems to have.
You Said:
What’s with all those profit making businesses putting up their
advertisements on the “Peoples Fence”
at Los Alamitos Blvd and Orangewood?
Seems to me it’s OK to put up your
kid’s birthday wishes, an LAUSD school marching band congratulations, or a
plea from a local non-profit, for a few days duration.
But a for-profit ad that stays up for weeks just doesn’t seem to be a good fit, or use of City property.
Answer: The fence at Los Al Blvd. and Orangewood is the property of the Orange County Flood Control District.
To: Signs:
The city has no authority to take down signs that are on county property because the county may have given permission to the posters to put up the signs. If you have a beef, take it up with the county.
the city DOES take down the signs for the county. Call the city to remove signs.
Hi Dave,
I’m sure you’ve seen/read current news regarding the city of Bell and their council appropriating outrageous salaries. Can you tell me/your readers anything about our city council?
Thanks,
Dave, you said that your recollection was that the city council in December of 2008 cut their pay by $50 per month down to $450 monthly, but that you would bet that some readers can fill in the details better than yourself. I am responding to do just that. The new council reduced their pay from $450 to $400 a month after the previous council increased their pay from $300 a month to $450.
Good question. Our Council is nowhere near Bell’s when it comes to their own pay. I’ll bet some readers can fill in the details better than me, but the last remembrance I have of Council pay was in December of 2008 when the Council cut their pay by $50 per month down to $450 monthly, if memory serves.
“To: Dave”–Thanks for the clarification & additional background. Bottom line remains the same, in my opinion: Our Council is not overpaid, and certainly not in the same ball park as Bell. Shoot, we’re not even in the same County!
Whether that’s a good thing or not is another matter.
My neighbor and friend Alice Jempsa said that she had to take the family’s vacation money every election year to pay for her campaign, and her campaigns were nowhere near as expensive as most were two years ago. Plus Alice spent time year-round walking, knocking, and talking to residents.
As I said, there can be substantial additional compensation paid by the various boards to which Council Members are appointed, such as the O.C. Sanitation District, O.C. Fire District, & O.C.T.A., to name a few. Perhaps you or another reader know what some of those boards are currently paying their members.
I will draw upon my 35 years of real world Real Estate experience and 8 years of “public sector experience” (4years on council and 4 years on Sewer District) for this comment:
City councils pay a city manager the same way a seller prices their home for sale. Home sellers find the highest comparable sale in their neighborhood; city councilmembers find the highest comparable salary in a similar city and each declares “this must be the value”. Except… One other similarity…neither one wants to adjust the home price or the salary down to allow for condition/competency or current market forces like foreclosures or high unemployment.
The end result… the real estate agent is stuck with an over priced dog that won’t sell and the taxpayers are stuck with overpaid city managers who would otherwise be unemployed in the private sector. At least with a house sale the market will either force the seller to drop the price or take it off the market. Unfortunately, neither market forces nor the real world plays any part in city hiring practices hence the ever increasing salaries and the continual cry for more money(taxes).
Signs on July 26th, 2010 11:26 pm says :”the city DOES take down the signs for the county. Call the city to remove signs”.
I called the city and they said that since the signs are on County property, they have no say over whatever signs are put up.
Thanks, Dave and to readers who responded so quickly regarding Los Al vs Bell pay. I wonder if this transparency applies to all publicly elected officials. I was astounded and saddened to read about Bell and am glad to know how Los Al rates against them.