DID TELEPHONIC TOWN HALL ON BUDGET OUTDRAW IN-PERSON MEETINGS?
By Greater Long Beach
LONG BEACH (Via LBReport.com)—Participants in the Telephone Town Hall held Thursday evening on the alternative Long Beach budget plan proposed by three city council members appear to have outnumbered in-person attendees visible at budget meetings held in some council districts.
The office of 9th district representative Steve Neal, who along with Rae Gabelich (8th) and Gerrie Schipske (5th) proposes to use Long Beach’s uplands oil fund to restore public safety, parks and libraries instead of Mayor Bob Foster’s plan to impose further cuts, reports that 2,058 residents citywide connected during the 7-8 p.m. live event.
Those wishing to hear the telephonic Town Hall replay on demand can do so by clicking here.
2 Comments
The numbers of those who attended the in person meetings and those who
participated in the telephone meeting should come as no surprise.Most of
the inperson meetings required a trip to City Hall or elsewhere.Some people’s
schedules might preclude the time to attend the in person meeting.
The above is by means to say they telephone meeting was not a good idea.
As to the merit of using the referenced one time revenue stream-based upon
less than stable oil revenues, in my view that is unsound.A better approach would include:
l.Eliminate the Office of a full time Mayor which has become but a
expensive way station for disconnected carpetbaggers and their
posse who have no genuine interest in the community-as they seek
higher office..Retunr to that which worked so well firr so long;have Mayor
elected by Council from within its ranks.
2.Reduce the number of Council Districts from (9) nine to (5)five.
3.Stop lacerating the Tidelands and Port funds which will die from the
death of a thousands cuts.Continual raids will attract the attention of
Sacramento and upland Cities across the State seeking to tap into
those oil and Port Revenues.
4.Pump needed revenues into our Library system by following through
with the excellent concept Elanor Richardson was working on -viz
lease out a corner in libraries to some sort of enterprise such as
Starbucks.There seems to be shortgae of fools willing to pay $8-$10
per cup et al.
On two other budget related items–breaking news on one–all of
which have escaped the attention of the Press:
A.Late last week a ranking official in Department of Boating and
Waterways stated the DBWA grant which was to be used to
jump start the $96,000,000.00 Alamitos Bay Marina Re Build
plan was still being held up visa via the FIRST REFUSAL
clause issue–which would have given LBYC members first
claim to public slips in Basin Four.
Per said referenced DBAW official—our elected City Attorney
had not told DBAW of that he insert the language stating FIRST
REFUSAL RIGHTS ,MAY BE REINSTATED ONCE THE LOAN
IS PAID OFF!!!–in sum–giving public assets and waters to a
restricted organization(LBYC)—which is at WAR WITH STATE
LAW.
The issue for the diligent–including those of the Fourth Estat
other than the Weekly Reader becomes…..IS NOT WHAT THE
ELECTED CITY ATTORNEY OF LONG BEACH DID…the
same thing he claims LEHMAN BROTHERS DID TO LONG BEACH-
—being less than straightforward!!!!!!!!?????
B. Where is the three+ years of missing public money from the
leases for:
l.Gary De Long;s weekly Wednesday Flea Market pawned off
as a Farmer;s Market–now entering its fourth year.
2.NYC lease#30620-March 30,3008–lease for public dock base.
City coffers have yet to see/report any revenue flowing into public
coffers from either of he above–including the 10% penalty any
marina stakeholder pays. YET CITY IS LAYING OFF LBFD/
cutting backing on marina operations.
Both A &B are on the desk of: The US Districts Attorney for the
Los Angeles as well as the Governor.
Among the typo errors in the above posting:
l.Left out the word NOT in the second paragrpah.
2.Left out the word NO in # 4 dealing with Library–ie THERE IS
NO SHORTAGE OF FOOLS WILLING TO PAY….