Where was the city attorney?
It will be years before the city of Bell’s obscene payouts are resolved and it’s the best reason to have sunshine laws and residents who know what their electeds are up to. City attorneys who are supposed to advise them on what is wrong and what isn’t received equally fat salaries and were out to lunch in this fiasco. As a result, taxpayers will be on the hook for years becuz they can now bring salaries in line but not pensions. Do you know what your electeds might be up to when they close the doors?
Sales tax vote is yes
Final word on a half-cent sales tax hike in the Harbor City is on the ballot. But it will be a temporary increase if OK’d, which will expire in five years. However, temporary taxes seem to go on forever.
Tuffer bag ban being considered
San Fran, a leader in environmental causes, now is considering a total prohibition in the use of plastic bags at all retail outlets. Not too long ago it was the first city that curtailed the use of plastic bags at stores. Some exceptions are possible. The alternative is the use of paper bags, for which stores might charge a modest fee like a nickel. Most paper bags can be reused and there are also cloth bags that are the best if folks remember to carry them when shopping. Next a ban on takeout containers?
A cool July
According to figures maintained by the National Weather Service, last month was the coldest in recent times. It averaged 65.8 degrees, the same as in 1914. Considering that eastern states were recording record high temps it’s been a great summer in spite of overcast skies and cloudy weather. Agree?
New revenue source
An LA state senator has suggested raising lottsa revenue by legalizing sports gambling available, which now is only legal in Nevada and at Caliente in TJ, which was once the mecca of Thoroughbred racing. The lawmaker who is seeking to allow Internet poker opines it would save having to make the long drive to Sin City or making illegal phone bets.
Sports park
Vista sports folks have a spanking new sports complex to enjoy plus a walking trail around the perimeter. Available now are a coppla synthetic turf soccer fields, three baseball diamonds plus a picnic area, snack facilities and tot lot. Cost of the recreational development is in the neighborhood of $16.6 mil. Construction began a year ago on already owned city property.
Supe fined two grand
Third District County Supe Pam Slater-Price has paid two grand in fines assessed by the Fair Political Practices Commission for free tickets she received between 2006 and 2008 from cultural events like San Diego Opera and La Jolla Playhouse and didn’t report. Her office reported she now has paid for the tix valued at more than a grand. Several other local electeds have been tagged for similar infractions including Assemblyman Martin Garrick of Solana Beach and State Sen. Christine Kehoe. Commission has been cracking down on electeds now that watchdogs have been taking an active role.
Sing-a-longers displaced
Dr. Ed Seigel’s Sing-A-Longers, who have been harmonizing since 1987, are temporary victims of the Fletcher Community Center redo now under way in Solbeach. They won’t be meeting there again for about a year. Bottom line is several hundred singers need a temporary location. Got a possible spot? Call the doc at (858) 755-0316. Thanx.
Get ‘em quick
Taste of Main Street fest will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 26 and tix are available for $25 bux each but not for long. Folks usually buy ’em quickly and an early sell-out is expected judging from past events. Attend hungry. There are 36 different food stations to choose from.
Still seeking answers
Surfside City electeds still dickering over whether to allow charitable bingo. Meanwhile, potential summer revenue for the sponsoring organizations is passing. Only nonprofits can operate and they have everything to gain and nothing to lose. It’s also an opportunity to meet and greet friends.
One-liners
Carmel Valley Community Board is overwhelmingly in support of the Flower Hill Mall renovation … Veteran San Dieguito Union High School District trustee Dee Rich has declined to run again, a position she held for 26 years … Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges has OK’d MiraCosta College for six more years … Eric Dill, who has been with San Dieguito High School District nearly a decade, has been elevated to associate supe of biz services succeeding Steven Ma who has joined Monterey Peninsula College … Hershell Price, who is heading a fundraising effort to pay for a train wayside horn in Surfside City, reports enough gedes has been obtained to begin the design process … SANDAG has approved a trolley route to UCSD and UTC from Old Town … Recent Bocce tourney held at Dog Beach raised a whopping $66 thousand for Boys & Girls Club of C’bad … Olivenhain Water District will host a free friendly gardening for the water-wise gardener event on Sept. 11 at Rancho Santa Fe Garden Club … Among the crowd of supporters were Deputy Mayor Maggie Houlihan and candidate Tony Kranz when Councilwoman Teresa Barth made her public announcement that she was seeking a second term recently.
Hasta la Vista
