Aug
25
Olympic silver for Los Al!
Filed Under Teamwork
Congratulations are due USA Water Polo’s Silver medal winning women’s team, based right here in Los Alamitos!
Not only did they come within one point of upsetting the Dutch and winning it all, they also became the only team to medal in all three Olympics with women’s water polo!
It makes me proud to be an American, and also to live in the community the team calls home!
Like the Gold medals for our basketball and volleyball teams, it’s a great lesson in the power of teamwork.
Have you ever watched our City Council on LosAlTV? There just isn’t enough teamwork there. Unfortunately, the congestion on our streets, the gophers destroying local parks and yards, and the blighted Base housing shows what a lack of teamwork can accomplish.
How dysfunctional is our Council?
So dysfunctional that in the local paper paper a Rossmoor resident recently cited the behavior of Los Alamitos’ City Council as his # 1 argument against Rossmoor becoming a city!
“The backbiting and petty sniping that go on should embarrass any resident of Los Alamitos,” he said. Amen!
One Example: The August 4 Council Meeting
Our Council is so dysfunctional that almost half of their August 4th meeting was wasted arguing about changes to the minutes of a previous meeting. Minutes that will probably be read by less then twenty people!
That was followed by a long discussion of how the Planning Commission drafted a zoning ordinance affecting a grand total of two Los Al businesses. An ordinance the Council went on to approve unanimously, but felt the need to argue about first.
Then came by a dispute over regional board and committee assignments. Troy Edgar wondered why Ken Parker had 8 assignments, while all Troy got was the Library Board. The highlight of that squabble was Council Member Mejia asking Edgar to “take one for the team.”
What team?
Our Council looks more like two teams, sometimes four or five. What should be a civil discussion looks more like a civil war., and nobody wins a civil war.
It would be a disaster if our Air Force pilots began attacking our Navy’s ships. That’s what’s going on in Los Alamitos’ City Council right now, and we’re all losing.
This isn’t a gerrymandered state legislature—it’s a small town city council. There are far more things that unite us than divide us.
Every Council Member has a unique perspective and unique abilities and skills. It’s in everyone’s best interest for them to work together as a team.
I can’t bring about unity single handedly, but even one voice consistently focused on working together as a team can make a huge difference. With your voice, we can become a mighty chorus!
I’ve spent most of my life trying to help people set aside their differences and work together for the common good. In fact I only get paid when I bring together two parties with fundamentally differing priorities. I frequently remind my clients that we’re all on the same team. Our City Council needs to remember that as well.
How you can help:
If you agree, I’d love to have your support. Whether it’s letting me put a sign in your yard, passing out flyers, or just sharing your good ideas, I need your help.
You can find out more, offer your input, and even point out where I may be wrong here on my website and blog, LetsFixLosAl.com. All comments post instantly without censorship, although I do request the language and tone be kept appropriate for our family-friendly community. I even welcome responses from my fellow candidates. It’s a 21st century town hall meeting in cyberspace!
I’ll be posting my ideas on lots of topics, from my thoughts about Monday’s City Council meeting to how to attack traffic and budget problems, instead of attacking one another. I need your input to make those ideas the best they can be.
Because one thing Los Alamitos needs is more teamwork. And if you live or work in Los Alamitos, you’re an important member of the team!
Related posts:
- What do YOU think of the President’s troop build-up?
- New Los Al City Council Taking over this Monday, 12/1?
- The Los Alamitos City Council’s options on filling Dean Grose’s Council seat
- Moving forward. . . together
Comments
4 Responses to “Olympic silver for Los Al!”
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I have a quick question. Would we be able to watch the entire council meetings if we tuned in to LosAlTV? I’m very interested in seeing the dynamic of these men so that I can better understand them.
Derek,
Good idea! For some reason, the Los Al TV schedule currently up on the city website is two weeks out of date, but generally city council replays are shown most nights at 8 p.m. It’s Channel 3 if you have Verizon Fios, or cable,at least if you live in Los Al or Rossmoor. I don’t believe it’s available if you use satellite or over-the-air TV.
I generally record it with my Verizon Fios DVR, but I have to use the manual record setting since LosAlTV only shows as “local programming” on their guide. Start at 8, end at 10, two nights in a row & you’ll probably get it at least once.
Good show.
Yes.