I try to keep matters revolving Ponte Vista at San Pedro out of this particular blog.
However, there is an election coming up and a race that has impacts not only concerning Ponte Vista, but also with the rest of OUR community.
On ballots within the specific area, there is a race for a member of Division 2 or the Water Replenishment District of Southern California.
The two candidates are Robert E. (Rob) Katherman, listed as "Director, Water Replenishment Dist. of Southern California" and Pete Manghera, listed as "Teacher/Athletic Director".
Water and the ability to supply water to more developments is of great concern. The ability to allow large developments to be constructed in our particular area when there is already not enough water to go around is of great concern to many people.
Pete Manghera opposes the construction of Ponte Vista at San Pedro, using Bob Bisno's current plans because he believes there is not enough evidence to suggest that a project of that size can be built and not have a detrimental effect on water resources for all of us.
There is some evidence to suggest that Robert Katherman worked as a lobbyist trying to get water to at least one project he supported, but it is not Ponte Vista.
Pete Manghera has been officially endorsed for a seat on the Board of Directors of Division 2 of the Water Replenishment District of Southern California by the Southern California Chapter of the Democratic Party.
Pete strongly believes we must protect our dwindling water resources by not allowing large developments being constructed in areas where water is becoming more precious.
Pete Manghera strongly opposes the placement of the Outfall System access for the Sanitation District's new tunnel in a residential area. He feels the access must be constructed on Terminal Island.
Pete considers saving water for current residents and businesses is more important than having Ponte Vista built as Bob Bisno wants it built.
To be honest, I have known Pete for over 35 years, have appeared on his television show, "Pete's Place" (Bob Bisno has been on it, too.), and talk with him from time to time at various events all around OUR community.
Pete is a Social Studies teacher at San Pedro High School, coaches the J.V. Football team there, and works with the recreation program at the high school on Sundays.
I endorse Pete Manghera for a seat on the Board of Directors, Division 2, of the Water Replenishment District of Southern California.
The office is non-partisan and I do not know or care about the political parties either of the candidates belong to because it should not matter in this particular race.
Pete is very dedicated to the causes and issues he supports and he has volunteered to help youth sports for over a generation.
Please vote for Mr. Pete Manghera and allow him to help deal with the water issues facing Southern California.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Pondering Some Stuff
There is quite a bit of things to ponder happening all around the area. We certainly do not live in a sleepy little fishing village any more.
OUR community has quite a number of projects and issues that are going on all at the same time and folks need to consider what it really important to them and what they are willing to spend time, energy, and money on.
Here are some reminders of issues to ponder:
OUR community has quite a number of projects and issues that are going on all at the same time and folks need to consider what it really important to them and what they are willing to spend time, energy, and money on.
Here are some reminders of issues to ponder:
- We are just about the start dealing with the Notice of Preparation and Initial Study for the Clearwater Program for the Sanitation District. Over 90% of those people who have an opinion as to where the Outfall Tunnel should be accessed at, state that it should be located on Terminal Island.
- There will be an election forum for the November 4 General Election that will be held on Tuesday October 21, beginning at 6:00 PM at the Cabrillo Marina Community Building.
- The Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Waterfront Redevelopment proposals is now under review by all of us and comments may be created by anyone to the more than 6,000 pages of documents.
- How, if any, has our lives changed, even slightly, now that Target has opened in San Pedro?
- The Application for the construction of 1,950 condominium units along Western Avenue is moving much closer to official consideration by the Los Angeles Planning Commission and the Los Angeles City Council. It appears that any recommendation, concerning the application at any hearing of the Harbor Area Planning Commission, if it does meet on the matter, will be highly contested because of conflicts of interest claims concerning three out of the five Commission members.
- It appears that some unity in OUR community is forming to continue to find solutions to the major issues being dealt with at Point Fermin Elementary School. I think many parents of children attending that school have a clearer understanding of how OUR community can help them get the issues resolved and their fight with LAUSD.
- Work continues with the Community Advisory Committee of the Community Redevelopment Agency's issues concerning downtown San Pedro. There needs to be lots of community input and consideration as to what the future will hold for the downtown area.
- Many of us strongly feel that the new parking fees in downtown San Pedro suck! We need to all join together and work towards helping the downtown area and fight City Hall on this matter.
- Redevelopment of the Cabrillo Beach area is also continuing to be discussed.
- The idea of having an 810-seat senior high school campus on the Upper Reservation of Fort MacArthur still looms heavily in OUR community and revelations that seem to leak out of LAUSD continue to muddy the discussions and create more problems with LAUSD.
- OUR community's economy is having trouble just like in the rest of the nation. How might we as a community, deal with what has happened and will happen in the future?
- I am sure you know of important issues that I have not covered in this post. There are quite a lot of smaller issues that I have left out that you may think should be larger issues.
We also need to find smiles on our faces and realize how good so many of us have it, living in OUR community.
We are fortunate at having an extremely high percentage of park lands compared to everywhere else in the Los Angeles area.
We have groups all over OUR community that strive to help others and work for the betterment of OUR community.
We have real histories in OUR community that is itself a very historical place.
We have greatness all over OUR community with people like John and Muriel Olguin, Art and Irene Almeida and all those who work to be more like those two great couples to improve the lives of everyone in OUR community.
We have common ties and common strengths that bind us into a stronger community that can deal with issues better than many other communities. We have many examples of this all over OUR community.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Pondering Political Humor on My Ponte Vista Blog
On extremely rare occasions I post comments related to national politics on my www.pontevista.blogspot.com blog.
I do it on that blog because it has a 25 month-long history of posts and is read by more folks than my other blogs.
I originally considered putting the humor on this blog, but until now, I was reluctant.
This blog is actually the better blog to put issues and comments about politics because this blog deals with many different issues surrounding OUR community, including national politics.
I am going to place the political humor I posted on my other blog along with the comments to that portion of that post.
I will then add some further comments that may or may not be funny to folks.
Anyone and everyone is always welcome to submit their own post to all of my other blogs except "Caveman Dairy" which is my own brand of writing.
So here goes:
Sometimes I need to write some humor that isn't really part of the issues dealt with on my blogs.
Since my employment with ATT has been "terminated" effective on October 9, 2008 and the economy the way it is, I find humor is needed during some tough times to help us all carry on.
It is for many reasons that I include, on this post, some things I find funny that have nothing directly related to Ponte Vista.
"Joe the Plumber"
The gentleman's name is Samuel J. Wurzelbacher, yet John McCain think his name is pronounced "Joe Wurzelburger".
'Plumbers do not need a State license to work in Ohio, but they do need one in cities like Toledo, where 'Joe' claims he has worked for fifteen years.
'Joe' doesn't have a plumber's license or even a contractor's license for cities he claims he works in.
'Joe' doesn't like Senator Obama's tax plan and he has a tax lien against him to prove he doesn't like taxes.
'Joe' has never been listed as a plumbers' Union member and there is no record that he ever served an apprenticeship.
'Joe' claims he wants to buy a business that makes "$250,000-$280,000" per year, yet his income for 2006 was recorded to be approximately $40,000 for the entire year.
The business 'Joe' claims he wants to buy isn't worth anywhere near the figures he gave to Senator Obama.
'Joe' would most certainly benefit from the tax plan proposed by Senator Obama.
'Joe' claimed to be an Independent, although he is registered as a Republican.
And now for some more humor.
I'm a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight.....
* If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you're 'exotic,different.'
* Grow up in Alaska eating moose burgers, a quintessential American story.* If your name is Barack you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.* Name your kids Bristol, Willow, Trig and Track, you're a maverick.
* Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable.* Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded.
* If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience.
* If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking executive.
* If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a real Christian.
* If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you're a Christian.
* If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.
* If, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state's school system while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you're very responsible.
* If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community,then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent America's.
* If your husband is nicknamed 'First Dude', with at least one DWI conviction and no college education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely admirable.
OK, much clearer now.
"I do wonder about Obama hanging around with his former bomber friend. I mean this guy bombed military installations. If civilians got hurt that was just "collateral damage." All of this to try to hasten the end of the Viet Nam war. Then he got caught and sent to prison for a few years. In spite of this bad beginning this fellow became a respectable citizen and even got involved in politics. Some say that this makes it OK for Obama to hang with him. By the way, his name is.................John McCain."
----------------------------------------------------------------
Here are the comments left (so far) on the Ponte Vista blog, to the post:
4 CommentsClose this window Jump to comment form
mellonhead said...
We have a great blog here. Let's try and keep the partisan politics out. I had an uncle who told me when I was young and growing up "Mellonhead,don't argue religion or politics with other people. All it does is cause trouble." Let's keep the focus on Mr. Bisno and his proposed folly.
2:43 PM
Anonymous said...
speaking of, he's got a new video with a bunch of local flacks talking it up. check it out:
http://pontevista.com/press/videos.php
4:56 PM
Anonymous said...
Good idea Mellonhead, no politics.But I can't help myself. All politicians suck. Their purpose in life it to distort truth and drive the public "perception" toward their side at ALL COST. Obama is one of them Mark. Don't fool yourself. His big ideas won't mean squat. He will get in and flounder like all the rest. Then the Republicans will be on the attack.And by the way, it doesn't matter who Joe the plummer is. The point is that Obama will take us ever so much closer to Socialism if he implements his plan. The prospect of working hard to become rich has driven innovation in this country from the beginning (Capitolism). Don't forget it. Name one Socialist society that even comes remotely close to the US in the area of innovation, technology and business development. It's okay to hate the rich, but let's face it, they are typically the ones who create job opportunities for the middle class(including union labor).P.S. - I hope your job situation gets better quick!
2:07 PM
M Richards said...
Thanks mellonhead and anonymous.I think I will continue my comments and move your comments to www.sanpedroissuestoponder.blogspot.com.I think I have kept my feeling about national politics out of this blog for the vast majority of posts.MW
6:01 PM
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Now for some more comments from me:
'Joe' doesn't seem to like Social Security. If John likes Joe so much, perhaps he will try to work towards dismantling Social Security.
Democracy cannot truly be compared to Socialism because they are not that alike.
Capitalism can be compared to Socialism more effectively and their differences can be view against each other.
Democracy can be more effectively compared to dictatorship rule and their differences compared against each other.
Socialism and Capitalism are based on economic reasons and Democracy and dictatorship rule is more how people are governed.
Capitalism and Democracy do not necessarily work well together in the long run, as is being proved right now and back in the late 1920's and 1930's.
During both times, government has had to step in and attempt to fix misdeeds created by Capitalism.
The one major point controlling Capitalism is that capital must always continue to be created.
Democracy can be allowed to stand on its own without being spread to other countries for it to survive where it already works.
If for any reason, capital is being lowered or hindered in any way, the structure of Capitalism suffers.
Democracy seems to be able to stand up even when challenged by other types of governments.
As we can see all over the world Capitalism is being used to shore up dictatorships and especially in the Arab countries like Dubai, it seems to be working quite well.
When the Capitalism in a country attempting to use Democracy comes apart, it is not only the Capitalists that suffer, which they should, but also those who are in a Democracy.
I don't think it is fair or correct to try and compare Democracy to Socialism. They are too different to make fair differences.
The 'Democracy' practiced in the U.S.A. is certainly not pure Democracy in the first place and most of us know that.
It may be the very best way to govern citizens the world has ever seen, but when it comes under attack by Capitalism, it seems weak to try and help everyone recover.
I am not a "America, Love or Leave It" person. I am a "America, change it or lose it" person and I continue to fight for it so as to not lose it.
I think Capitalism had screwed Democracy-loving people far too much. I don't know how to fix it, it is above my pay grade.
I also think that someone who has stated on videotape that has been stored that he has voted 'with Bush over 90% of the time' certainly does not know what so many of us know about how life is really like in OUR community.
But I have an out! Since I am quite sure that Senator Obama will receive a landslide number of votes for President in the state I live in, I am free to cast my vote for someone else.
I support the idea that Senator Obama should garner the majority number of electoral college votes for President of the United States, that doesn't mean I need to vote for him.
There are other very important races to deal with in this upcoming election. Maybe we should deal more with them than the national races, other than with humor.
I do it on that blog because it has a 25 month-long history of posts and is read by more folks than my other blogs.
I originally considered putting the humor on this blog, but until now, I was reluctant.
This blog is actually the better blog to put issues and comments about politics because this blog deals with many different issues surrounding OUR community, including national politics.
I am going to place the political humor I posted on my other blog along with the comments to that portion of that post.
I will then add some further comments that may or may not be funny to folks.
Anyone and everyone is always welcome to submit their own post to all of my other blogs except "Caveman Dairy" which is my own brand of writing.
So here goes:
Sometimes I need to write some humor that isn't really part of the issues dealt with on my blogs.
Since my employment with ATT has been "terminated" effective on October 9, 2008 and the economy the way it is, I find humor is needed during some tough times to help us all carry on.
It is for many reasons that I include, on this post, some things I find funny that have nothing directly related to Ponte Vista.
"Joe the Plumber"
The gentleman's name is Samuel J. Wurzelbacher, yet John McCain think his name is pronounced "Joe Wurzelburger".
'Plumbers do not need a State license to work in Ohio, but they do need one in cities like Toledo, where 'Joe' claims he has worked for fifteen years.
'Joe' doesn't have a plumber's license or even a contractor's license for cities he claims he works in.
'Joe' doesn't like Senator Obama's tax plan and he has a tax lien against him to prove he doesn't like taxes.
'Joe' has never been listed as a plumbers' Union member and there is no record that he ever served an apprenticeship.
'Joe' claims he wants to buy a business that makes "$250,000-$280,000" per year, yet his income for 2006 was recorded to be approximately $40,000 for the entire year.
The business 'Joe' claims he wants to buy isn't worth anywhere near the figures he gave to Senator Obama.
'Joe' would most certainly benefit from the tax plan proposed by Senator Obama.
'Joe' claimed to be an Independent, although he is registered as a Republican.
And now for some more humor.
I'm a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight.....
* If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you're 'exotic,different.'
* Grow up in Alaska eating moose burgers, a quintessential American story.* If your name is Barack you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.* Name your kids Bristol, Willow, Trig and Track, you're a maverick.
* Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable.* Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded.
* If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience.
* If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking executive.
* If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a real Christian.
* If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you're a Christian.
* If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.
* If, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state's school system while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you're very responsible.
* If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community,then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent America's.
* If your husband is nicknamed 'First Dude', with at least one DWI conviction and no college education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely admirable.
OK, much clearer now.
"I do wonder about Obama hanging around with his former bomber friend. I mean this guy bombed military installations. If civilians got hurt that was just "collateral damage." All of this to try to hasten the end of the Viet Nam war. Then he got caught and sent to prison for a few years. In spite of this bad beginning this fellow became a respectable citizen and even got involved in politics. Some say that this makes it OK for Obama to hang with him. By the way, his name is.................John McCain."
----------------------------------------------------------------
Here are the comments left (so far) on the Ponte Vista blog, to the post:
4 CommentsClose this window Jump to comment form
mellonhead said...
We have a great blog here. Let's try and keep the partisan politics out. I had an uncle who told me when I was young and growing up "Mellonhead,don't argue religion or politics with other people. All it does is cause trouble." Let's keep the focus on Mr. Bisno and his proposed folly.
2:43 PM
Anonymous said...
speaking of, he's got a new video with a bunch of local flacks talking it up. check it out:
http://pontevista.com/press/videos.php
4:56 PM
Anonymous said...
Good idea Mellonhead, no politics.But I can't help myself. All politicians suck. Their purpose in life it to distort truth and drive the public "perception" toward their side at ALL COST. Obama is one of them Mark. Don't fool yourself. His big ideas won't mean squat. He will get in and flounder like all the rest. Then the Republicans will be on the attack.And by the way, it doesn't matter who Joe the plummer is. The point is that Obama will take us ever so much closer to Socialism if he implements his plan. The prospect of working hard to become rich has driven innovation in this country from the beginning (Capitolism). Don't forget it. Name one Socialist society that even comes remotely close to the US in the area of innovation, technology and business development. It's okay to hate the rich, but let's face it, they are typically the ones who create job opportunities for the middle class(including union labor).P.S. - I hope your job situation gets better quick!
2:07 PM
M Richards said...
Thanks mellonhead and anonymous.I think I will continue my comments and move your comments to www.sanpedroissuestoponder.blogspot.com.I think I have kept my feeling about national politics out of this blog for the vast majority of posts.MW
6:01 PM
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Now for some more comments from me:
'Joe' doesn't seem to like Social Security. If John likes Joe so much, perhaps he will try to work towards dismantling Social Security.
Democracy cannot truly be compared to Socialism because they are not that alike.
Capitalism can be compared to Socialism more effectively and their differences can be view against each other.
Democracy can be more effectively compared to dictatorship rule and their differences compared against each other.
Socialism and Capitalism are based on economic reasons and Democracy and dictatorship rule is more how people are governed.
Capitalism and Democracy do not necessarily work well together in the long run, as is being proved right now and back in the late 1920's and 1930's.
During both times, government has had to step in and attempt to fix misdeeds created by Capitalism.
The one major point controlling Capitalism is that capital must always continue to be created.
Democracy can be allowed to stand on its own without being spread to other countries for it to survive where it already works.
If for any reason, capital is being lowered or hindered in any way, the structure of Capitalism suffers.
Democracy seems to be able to stand up even when challenged by other types of governments.
As we can see all over the world Capitalism is being used to shore up dictatorships and especially in the Arab countries like Dubai, it seems to be working quite well.
When the Capitalism in a country attempting to use Democracy comes apart, it is not only the Capitalists that suffer, which they should, but also those who are in a Democracy.
I don't think it is fair or correct to try and compare Democracy to Socialism. They are too different to make fair differences.
The 'Democracy' practiced in the U.S.A. is certainly not pure Democracy in the first place and most of us know that.
It may be the very best way to govern citizens the world has ever seen, but when it comes under attack by Capitalism, it seems weak to try and help everyone recover.
I am not a "America, Love or Leave It" person. I am a "America, change it or lose it" person and I continue to fight for it so as to not lose it.
I think Capitalism had screwed Democracy-loving people far too much. I don't know how to fix it, it is above my pay grade.
I also think that someone who has stated on videotape that has been stored that he has voted 'with Bush over 90% of the time' certainly does not know what so many of us know about how life is really like in OUR community.
But I have an out! Since I am quite sure that Senator Obama will receive a landslide number of votes for President in the state I live in, I am free to cast my vote for someone else.
I support the idea that Senator Obama should garner the majority number of electoral college votes for President of the United States, that doesn't mean I need to vote for him.
There are other very important races to deal with in this upcoming election. Maybe we should deal more with them than the national races, other than with humor.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Relieving Overcrowding at San Pedro High School
If you support the construction of South Region High School #15 because the Los Angeles Unified School District told you that building it was necessary to relieve the overcrowding ONLY at San Pedro High School, this post has some information that you need to read.
If you believe folks at LAUSD are completely forthcoming with their propaganda concerning who would attend the new campus, please read the document prepared for LAUSD.
If you find yourself feeling cheated because you offered your trust in LAUSD, please don't feel so bad. It seems they are in the business of misinformation, double-speak, and deception by some in order to push forward schools that communities don't want.
If you feel that San Pedro is going to suffer because of a need to relieve suggested overcrowding at Narbonne High School, you are not alone. Oh, by the way, there is less overcrowding at Narbonne High School than there is at San Pedro High School.
If you click on the document it will get bigger and you should get madder!
If you believe folks at LAUSD are completely forthcoming with their propaganda concerning who would attend the new campus, please read the document prepared for LAUSD.
If you find yourself feeling cheated because you offered your trust in LAUSD, please don't feel so bad. It seems they are in the business of misinformation, double-speak, and deception by some in order to push forward schools that communities don't want.
If you feel that San Pedro is going to suffer because of a need to relieve suggested overcrowding at Narbonne High School, you are not alone. Oh, by the way, there is less overcrowding at Narbonne High School than there is at San Pedro High School.
If you click on the document it will get bigger and you should get madder!"South Region High School #15 needs to be built to ease overcrowding at San Pedro High School."
How many times have you read or heard that, and really believed it?
"South Region High School #15 needs to be built to ease overcrowding at San Pedro High School."
The main reason to build SRHS 15 is to reduce the number of students at San Pedro High School.
"South Region High School #15 needs to be built to ease overcrowding at San Pedro High School."
Students will be allowed to go to a new campus from San Pedro High School because the current high school is too overcrowded and needs relief.
"South Region High School #15 needs to be built to ease overcrowding at San Pedro High School."
Due to a recent request utilizing the Freedom of Information Act, internal documents reveal that if SRHS 15 is built, 150 of the 800 students' seats proposed to be at the new campus will go to students who would have normally attended Narbonne High School.
It is believed that a "boundary change" will be inacted moving areas that would normally have sent high school students to Narbonne High School, to the San Pedro area high school(s).
So it seems 150 slots that could go to students attending the "overcrowded" San Pedro High School campus, would be eliminated because those seats would go to students who would normally attend Narbonne High School.
I think I have written a thing or two about the deception practiced regularly by some at LAUSD.
I think this latest information demonstrates clearly that LAUSD can not be trusted.
"South Region High School #15 needs to be built to ease overcrowding at San Pedro High School."
I guess now the quote needs to be changed to something like; South Region High School #15 needs to be built to ease overcrowding at San Pedro High School and Narbonne High School, or something to that effect.
Please continue to visit the following Web site for great information:
How many times have you read or heard that, and really believed it?
"South Region High School #15 needs to be built to ease overcrowding at San Pedro High School."
The main reason to build SRHS 15 is to reduce the number of students at San Pedro High School.
"South Region High School #15 needs to be built to ease overcrowding at San Pedro High School."
Students will be allowed to go to a new campus from San Pedro High School because the current high school is too overcrowded and needs relief.
"South Region High School #15 needs to be built to ease overcrowding at San Pedro High School."
Due to a recent request utilizing the Freedom of Information Act, internal documents reveal that if SRHS 15 is built, 150 of the 800 students' seats proposed to be at the new campus will go to students who would have normally attended Narbonne High School.
It is believed that a "boundary change" will be inacted moving areas that would normally have sent high school students to Narbonne High School, to the San Pedro area high school(s).
So it seems 150 slots that could go to students attending the "overcrowded" San Pedro High School campus, would be eliminated because those seats would go to students who would normally attend Narbonne High School.
I think I have written a thing or two about the deception practiced regularly by some at LAUSD.
I think this latest information demonstrates clearly that LAUSD can not be trusted.
"South Region High School #15 needs to be built to ease overcrowding at San Pedro High School."
I guess now the quote needs to be changed to something like; South Region High School #15 needs to be built to ease overcrowding at San Pedro High School and Narbonne High School, or something to that effect.
Please continue to visit the following Web site for great information:
Let's analysis what was produced in May, 2008 and around the time the plans for SRHS 15 were changed.
San Pedro High School is 15.7 acres SMALLER in size than Narbonne High School.
S.P.H.S. has had, currently has, and will ultimately have, more students attending it than at Narbonne High School.
Statements made by LAUSD personnell and by a member of the Board of Education since May, 2008 stating that the new campus would be used to relieve overcrowding specifically at San Pedro High School are FALSE and UNTRUE.
Even after the construction of the proposed new campus, Narbonne High School would be further away from its capacity than San Pedro High School will be.
There are more 'portable classrooms' at the smaller (San Pedro High School) campus.
I think you get the picture.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Important Time Change for Service for Ms. Michele Burk
The memorial service for Ms. Michele Burk has had its time changed, but kept scheduled for the same day, Saturday October 25, 2008.
The memorial service for Michele has been scheduled.
Saturday October 25, 2008
NOON
Forest Lawn Memorial Chapel
1500 E. San AntonioLong Beach, CA 90807
Phone: 1-800-204-3131
Email: lbmc@forestlawn.com
There is a tentative plan to have a late-lunch/reception at Ante's Restaurant in San Pedro, following the service.
More information about that will be forthcoming.
Please look for the post that was created just after Michele's passing and read the comments from her friends.
You can find the post by clicking over:
http://sanpedroissuestoponder.blogspot.com/2008_09_01_archive.html
The memorial service for Michele has been scheduled.
Saturday October 25, 2008
NOON
Forest Lawn Memorial Chapel
1500 E. San AntonioLong Beach, CA 90807
Phone: 1-800-204-3131
Email: lbmc@forestlawn.com
There is a tentative plan to have a late-lunch/reception at Ante's Restaurant in San Pedro, following the service.
More information about that will be forthcoming.
Please look for the post that was created just after Michele's passing and read the comments from her friends.
You can find the post by clicking over:
http://sanpedroissuestoponder.blogspot.com/2008_09_01_archive.html
Pondering on More Items Regarding Point Fermin Elementary School
I attended the Parent Teacher Organization at Point Fermin Elementary School today and came away with some information that I feel needs to be pondered further, by all of us.
First I must repeat that I DO NOT wish to see the lunch shelter removed at anytime in the near or far future of the school.
I have posted things about the plight found at Point Fermin Elementary School and I strongly feel that the Facilities Division of the Los Angeles Unified School District started all the problems, continue to resist fixing the problems, and is pitting the students, teachers, parents, and others, against members of the community and keeping everyone misinformed and defiant.
On these issues, folks who want to see the new power grid start working at Point Fermin Elementary School have some very good reasons for having it start working.
On the other hand, LAUSD has acknowledged that is has broken rules, codes, and other things, yet it is holding all of us hostage, especially the students and faculty of the school.
One bright moment came during the meeting when the President of the PTO and the Principal of the school apologized to Mr. James Campeau for their incorrect statements and views that Mr. Campeau began the opposition to getting the new power working because of his views of the area.
Mr. Campeau stated factually that out of the front of his home he has a good clear view of the stucco walls of a condominium building and cannot even see the school unless he stands on his roof.
It is now strongly believed that LAUSD, and their Facilities Division came up with the misinformation about Mr. Campeau's view because he complained about the issues brought before him as a member of the Planning and Land Use Committee of the Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council.
It is true that "SOME" residents in the area complained about the new poles placed to supply power to the new power cabinet on Carolina. But residents also complained about the potential safety aspects of having a 4.8 kilo-volt set of power cables too close to the metal cover of the lunch shelter.
Mr. Campeau has been attempting to have LAUSD fix the problems they originally created when they first built the shelter on easement land along Carolina Street.
But Mr. Campeau started working on the issue years after the shelter was built and he and so many of us DO NOT WANT the shelter removed.
Mr. Campeau's observations and work towards finding solutions to the problems came about with the placement of new power poles, a new power cabinet, and wiring were done by DWP.
DWP worked on the project because LAUSD told them that it was correct to work on the poles, even though LAUSD knew that there were already easement issues on the site.
DWP correctly placed poles on the site according to LAUSD wishes which were wrong in the first place.
Everything DWP has done so far has been legally correct for the placement of poles on the easement and even placing the new cables where they placed them.
But DWP did not know that they should have not placed them where they did because LAUSD did not tell them that the shelter was incorrectly placed, back in 1999/2000.
Now some folks will state that the situation doesn't need correcting because the new power grid, cables, cabinet, and infrastructure will be used only for air conditioning and it is becoming cooler these days.
They are wrong! The school needs more power for several reasons.
The school is becoming a Marine Sciences Magnet and there are new power requirements for new technologies that are coming to that school.
There is one classroom that has only one working A.C. outlet.
One very important issue is that because of some new technology infrastructure equipment, two classrooms have now lost their radiators/heaters. The students and teachers in those classrooms will need the new power to have electrically-generated heaters.
The simplest "fix" for the problems facing Point Fermin Elementary School, right now, is to place the new power cables underground.
LAUSD doesn't want to pay for that. But they made the mistakes beginning in 1999 and still do not want to provide any real mitigation to solve the problems they created.
One great thing that came from the PTO meeting today is that I feel the parents and teachers who attended the meeting have a better understanding of how we all need to come together and work on how to fix the problems as soon as possible.
All the teachers, parents, and staff at Point Fermin Elementary School are stakeholders in the Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council.
They are encouraged to bring their issues to Council Board meetings so their concerns can be heard and understood by the members of the Board.
The PTO can also work with Coastal Board members and Committee members to draft motions to be voted on that support their cause. I have the belief that their issues will be properly addressed and the outcome favorable to everyone.
It is time to stop pointing fingers at everybody else, other than Mr. Gamble and the Facilities Division of LAUSD. They are the 'bad guys' pitting us against each other so they won't have to deal with fixing the problems they created in the first place.
Until the issues are resolved to best protect the students, faculty, staff, and parents at Point Fermin Elementary School, only the Facilities Division must be known as the culprits.
They are holding our the school's community and the rest of the local area hostage and it appears they really don't care.
You can also read about the discussion concerning Point Fermin Elementary School on a blog more involved with education than this blog is.
That blog can be found by clicking on:
http://www.theunderdogforkids.blogspot.com/
First I must repeat that I DO NOT wish to see the lunch shelter removed at anytime in the near or far future of the school.
I have posted things about the plight found at Point Fermin Elementary School and I strongly feel that the Facilities Division of the Los Angeles Unified School District started all the problems, continue to resist fixing the problems, and is pitting the students, teachers, parents, and others, against members of the community and keeping everyone misinformed and defiant.
On these issues, folks who want to see the new power grid start working at Point Fermin Elementary School have some very good reasons for having it start working.
On the other hand, LAUSD has acknowledged that is has broken rules, codes, and other things, yet it is holding all of us hostage, especially the students and faculty of the school.
One bright moment came during the meeting when the President of the PTO and the Principal of the school apologized to Mr. James Campeau for their incorrect statements and views that Mr. Campeau began the opposition to getting the new power working because of his views of the area.
Mr. Campeau stated factually that out of the front of his home he has a good clear view of the stucco walls of a condominium building and cannot even see the school unless he stands on his roof.
It is now strongly believed that LAUSD, and their Facilities Division came up with the misinformation about Mr. Campeau's view because he complained about the issues brought before him as a member of the Planning and Land Use Committee of the Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council.
It is true that "SOME" residents in the area complained about the new poles placed to supply power to the new power cabinet on Carolina. But residents also complained about the potential safety aspects of having a 4.8 kilo-volt set of power cables too close to the metal cover of the lunch shelter.
Mr. Campeau has been attempting to have LAUSD fix the problems they originally created when they first built the shelter on easement land along Carolina Street.
But Mr. Campeau started working on the issue years after the shelter was built and he and so many of us DO NOT WANT the shelter removed.
Mr. Campeau's observations and work towards finding solutions to the problems came about with the placement of new power poles, a new power cabinet, and wiring were done by DWP.
DWP worked on the project because LAUSD told them that it was correct to work on the poles, even though LAUSD knew that there were already easement issues on the site.
DWP correctly placed poles on the site according to LAUSD wishes which were wrong in the first place.
Everything DWP has done so far has been legally correct for the placement of poles on the easement and even placing the new cables where they placed them.
But DWP did not know that they should have not placed them where they did because LAUSD did not tell them that the shelter was incorrectly placed, back in 1999/2000.
Now some folks will state that the situation doesn't need correcting because the new power grid, cables, cabinet, and infrastructure will be used only for air conditioning and it is becoming cooler these days.
They are wrong! The school needs more power for several reasons.
The school is becoming a Marine Sciences Magnet and there are new power requirements for new technologies that are coming to that school.
There is one classroom that has only one working A.C. outlet.
One very important issue is that because of some new technology infrastructure equipment, two classrooms have now lost their radiators/heaters. The students and teachers in those classrooms will need the new power to have electrically-generated heaters.
The simplest "fix" for the problems facing Point Fermin Elementary School, right now, is to place the new power cables underground.
LAUSD doesn't want to pay for that. But they made the mistakes beginning in 1999 and still do not want to provide any real mitigation to solve the problems they created.
One great thing that came from the PTO meeting today is that I feel the parents and teachers who attended the meeting have a better understanding of how we all need to come together and work on how to fix the problems as soon as possible.
All the teachers, parents, and staff at Point Fermin Elementary School are stakeholders in the Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council.
They are encouraged to bring their issues to Council Board meetings so their concerns can be heard and understood by the members of the Board.
The PTO can also work with Coastal Board members and Committee members to draft motions to be voted on that support their cause. I have the belief that their issues will be properly addressed and the outcome favorable to everyone.
It is time to stop pointing fingers at everybody else, other than Mr. Gamble and the Facilities Division of LAUSD. They are the 'bad guys' pitting us against each other so they won't have to deal with fixing the problems they created in the first place.
Until the issues are resolved to best protect the students, faculty, staff, and parents at Point Fermin Elementary School, only the Facilities Division must be known as the culprits.
They are holding our the school's community and the rest of the local area hostage and it appears they really don't care.
You can also read about the discussion concerning Point Fermin Elementary School on a blog more involved with education than this blog is.
That blog can be found by clicking on:
http://www.theunderdogforkids.blogspot.com/
Trying to Set the Records Straight
Some of the real problems that need to be dealt with in the issues at Point Fermin Elementary School involve misstatements, errors, and untruths.
The great bulk of the errors, misstatements and untruths come from the Facilities Division of LAUSD and have been used as propaganda on those less informed about the situations.
A derogatory letter, filled with misinformation was sent to Congresswoman Jane Harmon by someone at Point Fermin Elementary School and I am going to use parts of it to illustrate the misinformation given to that person by a person or persons representing LAUSD.
I am also then going to include factual comments, now known to be true by the letter writer, once they were finally presented the real facts.
"Last Week a meeting was held with L.A. Councilwoman Janice Hahn, District 15, other stakeholders, and 2 parents of children who attend Point Fermin Elementary. The meeting was in regards to the removal of a power pole that is supporting the transformer which powers the air conditioning unit for the school. The removal request was brought to the Councilwoman's attention by Mr. Campeau, a citizen from San Pedro who lives directly behind the school and also a member of the Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council. The request is stating the transformer and pole is obstructing his view. The meeting was called because Mr. Campeau stated it was a safety issue. But during the meeting both Councilwoman Hahn and Mr. Campeau stated it was a view issue and there was no mention of a safety issue concerning the pole. A stipulation of the meeting was only two parents from Point Fermin were to attend. But when the meeting commenced, Mr. Campeau was allowed twelve of his supporters to attend and many concerned parents were not there to support our representatives."
Now here are some true facts:
Mr. Campeau's view is of the stucco wall of a condominium building and he has no real view of the school site.
Mr. Campeau brought the issues forward on behalf of other stakeholders and not on his own behalf.
The meeting was called because LAUSD needs to have a revocable permit issues to allow DWP to energize the new cables, transformer, and power grid and it was the first meeting LAUSD was willing to sit down with others in the community regarding the issues.
Having climbed up and down hundreds if not thousands of utility poles during my work with ATT, I brought up the potential safety issues at Point Fermin Elementary School that are not found at any of the other 11 regular elementary schools in the San Pedro area.
I never heard of any stipulation as to who could attend the meeting which I and the letter writer attended. It would have been better if the interested parents had ignored the stipulation and attended the meeting which was really open to the public, as it turned out.
The power poles, transformer, and power cabinet were placed where they were because of errors made by the Facilities Division of LAUSD.
Many of us the letter writer claimed were "supporters" of Mr. Campeaus strongly support education and educational facilities within the community. To suggest we were all there to support Mr. Campeau, is an error.
Many stakeholders do believe however, that LAUSD must be held to standards which the rest of the community is held to. Many stakeholders believe that if an entity breaks the rules, continues to ignore their blunders, and attempts to circumvent the rules without regard to the entire community, they must be held accountable and their errors must be dealt with.
"The air conditioning unit was put in during 2006, but has yet to be run because of Mr. Campeau's complaint."
That was a misstatement of facts. The installation done in 2006 was to provide power to air conditioning units, bring more power for new technology applications and more power for general uses at the campus.
The grid has not be provided power because LAUSD must have a revocable permit issued and it has not fixed the problems it originally began creating in 1991 when it placed a covered lunch shelter in an area it was never supposed to be located.
Mr. Campeau is representing other stakeholders whose names have not been included because they feared becoming vilified by LAUSD and others, just like what has happened to Mr. Campeau.
"It is our understanding that if the Revocable Permit is not renewed, then the lunch shelter which is located beneath the pole will have to be relocate(d) somewhere else on the already limited school ground."
Here again we find that LAUSD has muddied the waters with misinformation and misunderstanding.
There is nobody I know that wants or insists that the shelter be removed; not Mr. Campeau, not others attending the recent PTO meeting, and not the vast majority of persons with any knowledge of the situation.
Currently Mr. Campeau's request involves undergrounding the cables that would provide power to the new cabinet and POSSIBLY having the city of Los Angeles finally provide a sidewalk along Carolina Street all the way to 32nd Street. That does NOT mean removing the shelter.
"The unit put into our school was exceptionally expensive due to the concern of preserving the historical character of our school."
It really doesn't matter why the units was put where it was put other than it was put in the wrong place in the first place, and LAUSD knew that when it did it.
Also, is the letter writer feeling that historical preservation is more important than providing for the students using proper guidelines without the potential for safety factors to come into play?
If historic preservation is more important than following modern rules and guidelines, perhaps the letter writer would prefer to have the school turned back to what it was like when it was first constructed.
"Councilwoman Hahn and Mr. Campeau suggested that the LAUSD spend $200- $400K to fix this view or Councilwoman Hahn would not approve the permit the school needs to keep the lunch shelter and air conditioning (which has been ready to go months ago and it has been hot!) electrical equipment. The school said they don't have the money and if they did, should they spend in on one person's view?"
Whatever the Facilities Division of LAUSD needs to come up with to fix the problem and allow the revocable permit to be granted is something they should do. They created the problems in the first place, they have been stonewalling every attempt to have them fix their problem, they have pitted sides against each other and are doing a great disservice to everyone involved, including holding children 'hostage'.
Without the new power grid coming online shortly, two classrooms will not have safe, reliable, and legal heating for students and teachers. Winter is coming.
The 'school' should not have to pay for the blunders done by the Facilities Division. There have already been four bond measures passed totaling billions of dollars going into the coffers of the Facilities Division.
If the Facilities Division continues to claim that there is not money, then they are indicating they have poor fiscal management, or probably worse.
The "unit" was "exceptionally expensive" yet the Facilities Division still put it in the wrong place.
It is already been acknowledged that "one person's view" is not being considered, especially by that person! This is another example of the management of the Facilities Division continuing to create misinformation so they won't be held responsible for their errors and intransigence.
"The parents of Point Fermin Elementary do not feel that our children should endure any hardship because Mr. Campeau lost his view from his house."
That statement is a perfect example of how the Facilities Division is manipulating individuals and groups with a clearly untrue statement that was made to incite too many people into misunderstanding the issues.
"The amount of money being requested for one man's luxury and the amount of money and time being requested to plan, remove, rebuild a new lunch shelter is preposterous."
This is another great example of LAUSD trying to escape really clearing their errors and using suffering parents and kids as bait in their fishing for the revocable permit.
The lunch shelter can stay for generations to come if the cables are placed underground AND even if a sidewalk were to be placed along the eastern side of Carolina Street.
LAUSD has some grounds to prevent a sidewalk from ever being placed all the way to 32nd Street because the city has not chosen to use its easement since before 1931.
There is precedent for the 'use it or lose it' rules in the city of L.A. and 78 years is a long time.
But that is another fight that isn't really involved in the issues currently being dealt with at the school and it is a matter for the future, anyway.
There MAY be a sidewalk continuing to 32nd Street, but the shelter need not be removed to provide a 3-foot sidewalk as it goes past the shelter.
" We understand Mr. Campeau's dilemma and agree everyone is afforded their right to express their opinion. We have heard his opinion, but think for the greater good not one person's gain that this issue needs to be resolved and Councilwoman Hahn should also support Point Fermin Elementary in this matter."
First and foremost concerning the statement above is that Councilwoman Hahn fully supports Point Fermin Elementary, it students, parents, faculty, staff, and others!!!!!
It was Councilwoman Hahn that brought the groups together representing all sides and concerns, for the FIRST TIME, even with LAUSD's reluctance to be involved with parents and others.
The letter writer not only did not understand Mr. Campeau's dilemma, they had never heard directly from Mr. Campeau about all of his issues regarding Point Fermin Elementary School.
Mr. Campeau can be recognized as an expert in the issues surrounding Point Fermin Elementary and he has vastly greater knowledge of the issues than any parent, PTO member, faculty member, or even the Principal at the school.
Again we find the Facilities Division and their propaganda has influenced too many people who either haven't been provided the true facts or are not willing to accept the facts as they are.
"Councilwoman Harmon (sic), I genuinely thank you for your time and consideration. Hopefully you understand that the only people that will really suffer are the children of Point Fermin Elementary."
Whenever LAUSD is allowed to circumvent rules and guidelines, everyone suffers, even the children.
How many of us have spent 13 years attending LAUSD schools that were never air conditioned?
Even the letter writer is attempting to use children as the particular 'victims' to the opposition to having the revocable permit granted.
We all should have a stake in demonstrating to everyone that LAUSD must be held accountable for their misdeeds. It provides a lesson to the entire community when we stand up against an uncaring bureaucracy that believes it can continue errors, ignore rules, and not be willing to fix the problems they created in the first place.
If the cables are placed underground, I strongly suggest the remaining problems will be fixed almost immediately after the undergrounding is complete, Point Fermin will grow even greater than it already is, and be a shining star in elementary education.
________________________________________________
Now here is even more news about individuals within the Facilities that have an impact on continuing the problems faced at Point Fermin.
Mr. Gamble is paid $164,215.20 per year to get it right as Director of Maintenance & Operations, along with Mr.Finstad who is paid $128,980.00 as Local District Facilities Director. Perhaps their boss Mr.Guy Mehula who is paid $232,572.00 as Chief Facilities Executive might use a little from their paychecks to get some money for an easy solution to this problem.
Mr. James Campeau also wrote the following:
"Unhinged by what I read for the first time yesterday in the chain letter petition (as evidence of Mr. Gamble's doing) from the current PTO president to Congresswoman Harman, it would not be fair for me to single out the PTO president or the school Principal responsible for the wrong information to the Congresswoman.
I would hope as they understand all the information and what we are trying to accomplish for a WIN- WIN solution for all, that they would kindly take the time to write a letter and retract the original statements against me."
The great bulk of the errors, misstatements and untruths come from the Facilities Division of LAUSD and have been used as propaganda on those less informed about the situations.
A derogatory letter, filled with misinformation was sent to Congresswoman Jane Harmon by someone at Point Fermin Elementary School and I am going to use parts of it to illustrate the misinformation given to that person by a person or persons representing LAUSD.
I am also then going to include factual comments, now known to be true by the letter writer, once they were finally presented the real facts.
"Last Week a meeting was held with L.A. Councilwoman Janice Hahn, District 15, other stakeholders, and 2 parents of children who attend Point Fermin Elementary. The meeting was in regards to the removal of a power pole that is supporting the transformer which powers the air conditioning unit for the school. The removal request was brought to the Councilwoman's attention by Mr. Campeau, a citizen from San Pedro who lives directly behind the school and also a member of the Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council. The request is stating the transformer and pole is obstructing his view. The meeting was called because Mr. Campeau stated it was a safety issue. But during the meeting both Councilwoman Hahn and Mr. Campeau stated it was a view issue and there was no mention of a safety issue concerning the pole. A stipulation of the meeting was only two parents from Point Fermin were to attend. But when the meeting commenced, Mr. Campeau was allowed twelve of his supporters to attend and many concerned parents were not there to support our representatives."
Now here are some true facts:
Mr. Campeau's view is of the stucco wall of a condominium building and he has no real view of the school site.
Mr. Campeau brought the issues forward on behalf of other stakeholders and not on his own behalf.
The meeting was called because LAUSD needs to have a revocable permit issues to allow DWP to energize the new cables, transformer, and power grid and it was the first meeting LAUSD was willing to sit down with others in the community regarding the issues.
Having climbed up and down hundreds if not thousands of utility poles during my work with ATT, I brought up the potential safety issues at Point Fermin Elementary School that are not found at any of the other 11 regular elementary schools in the San Pedro area.
I never heard of any stipulation as to who could attend the meeting which I and the letter writer attended. It would have been better if the interested parents had ignored the stipulation and attended the meeting which was really open to the public, as it turned out.
The power poles, transformer, and power cabinet were placed where they were because of errors made by the Facilities Division of LAUSD.
Many of us the letter writer claimed were "supporters" of Mr. Campeaus strongly support education and educational facilities within the community. To suggest we were all there to support Mr. Campeau, is an error.
Many stakeholders do believe however, that LAUSD must be held to standards which the rest of the community is held to. Many stakeholders believe that if an entity breaks the rules, continues to ignore their blunders, and attempts to circumvent the rules without regard to the entire community, they must be held accountable and their errors must be dealt with.
"The air conditioning unit was put in during 2006, but has yet to be run because of Mr. Campeau's complaint."
That was a misstatement of facts. The installation done in 2006 was to provide power to air conditioning units, bring more power for new technology applications and more power for general uses at the campus.
The grid has not be provided power because LAUSD must have a revocable permit issued and it has not fixed the problems it originally began creating in 1991 when it placed a covered lunch shelter in an area it was never supposed to be located.
Mr. Campeau is representing other stakeholders whose names have not been included because they feared becoming vilified by LAUSD and others, just like what has happened to Mr. Campeau.
"It is our understanding that if the Revocable Permit is not renewed, then the lunch shelter which is located beneath the pole will have to be relocate(d) somewhere else on the already limited school ground."
Here again we find that LAUSD has muddied the waters with misinformation and misunderstanding.
There is nobody I know that wants or insists that the shelter be removed; not Mr. Campeau, not others attending the recent PTO meeting, and not the vast majority of persons with any knowledge of the situation.
Currently Mr. Campeau's request involves undergrounding the cables that would provide power to the new cabinet and POSSIBLY having the city of Los Angeles finally provide a sidewalk along Carolina Street all the way to 32nd Street. That does NOT mean removing the shelter.
"The unit put into our school was exceptionally expensive due to the concern of preserving the historical character of our school."
It really doesn't matter why the units was put where it was put other than it was put in the wrong place in the first place, and LAUSD knew that when it did it.
Also, is the letter writer feeling that historical preservation is more important than providing for the students using proper guidelines without the potential for safety factors to come into play?
If historic preservation is more important than following modern rules and guidelines, perhaps the letter writer would prefer to have the school turned back to what it was like when it was first constructed.
"Councilwoman Hahn and Mr. Campeau suggested that the LAUSD spend $200- $400K to fix this view or Councilwoman Hahn would not approve the permit the school needs to keep the lunch shelter and air conditioning (which has been ready to go months ago and it has been hot!) electrical equipment. The school said they don't have the money and if they did, should they spend in on one person's view?"
Whatever the Facilities Division of LAUSD needs to come up with to fix the problem and allow the revocable permit to be granted is something they should do. They created the problems in the first place, they have been stonewalling every attempt to have them fix their problem, they have pitted sides against each other and are doing a great disservice to everyone involved, including holding children 'hostage'.
Without the new power grid coming online shortly, two classrooms will not have safe, reliable, and legal heating for students and teachers. Winter is coming.
The 'school' should not have to pay for the blunders done by the Facilities Division. There have already been four bond measures passed totaling billions of dollars going into the coffers of the Facilities Division.
If the Facilities Division continues to claim that there is not money, then they are indicating they have poor fiscal management, or probably worse.
The "unit" was "exceptionally expensive" yet the Facilities Division still put it in the wrong place.
It is already been acknowledged that "one person's view" is not being considered, especially by that person! This is another example of the management of the Facilities Division continuing to create misinformation so they won't be held responsible for their errors and intransigence.
"The parents of Point Fermin Elementary do not feel that our children should endure any hardship because Mr. Campeau lost his view from his house."
That statement is a perfect example of how the Facilities Division is manipulating individuals and groups with a clearly untrue statement that was made to incite too many people into misunderstanding the issues.
"The amount of money being requested for one man's luxury and the amount of money and time being requested to plan, remove, rebuild a new lunch shelter is preposterous."
This is another great example of LAUSD trying to escape really clearing their errors and using suffering parents and kids as bait in their fishing for the revocable permit.
The lunch shelter can stay for generations to come if the cables are placed underground AND even if a sidewalk were to be placed along the eastern side of Carolina Street.
LAUSD has some grounds to prevent a sidewalk from ever being placed all the way to 32nd Street because the city has not chosen to use its easement since before 1931.
There is precedent for the 'use it or lose it' rules in the city of L.A. and 78 years is a long time.
But that is another fight that isn't really involved in the issues currently being dealt with at the school and it is a matter for the future, anyway.
There MAY be a sidewalk continuing to 32nd Street, but the shelter need not be removed to provide a 3-foot sidewalk as it goes past the shelter.
" We understand Mr. Campeau's dilemma and agree everyone is afforded their right to express their opinion. We have heard his opinion, but think for the greater good not one person's gain that this issue needs to be resolved and Councilwoman Hahn should also support Point Fermin Elementary in this matter."
First and foremost concerning the statement above is that Councilwoman Hahn fully supports Point Fermin Elementary, it students, parents, faculty, staff, and others!!!!!
It was Councilwoman Hahn that brought the groups together representing all sides and concerns, for the FIRST TIME, even with LAUSD's reluctance to be involved with parents and others.
The letter writer not only did not understand Mr. Campeau's dilemma, they had never heard directly from Mr. Campeau about all of his issues regarding Point Fermin Elementary School.
Mr. Campeau can be recognized as an expert in the issues surrounding Point Fermin Elementary and he has vastly greater knowledge of the issues than any parent, PTO member, faculty member, or even the Principal at the school.
Again we find the Facilities Division and their propaganda has influenced too many people who either haven't been provided the true facts or are not willing to accept the facts as they are.
"Councilwoman Harmon (sic), I genuinely thank you for your time and consideration. Hopefully you understand that the only people that will really suffer are the children of Point Fermin Elementary."
Whenever LAUSD is allowed to circumvent rules and guidelines, everyone suffers, even the children.
How many of us have spent 13 years attending LAUSD schools that were never air conditioned?
Even the letter writer is attempting to use children as the particular 'victims' to the opposition to having the revocable permit granted.
We all should have a stake in demonstrating to everyone that LAUSD must be held accountable for their misdeeds. It provides a lesson to the entire community when we stand up against an uncaring bureaucracy that believes it can continue errors, ignore rules, and not be willing to fix the problems they created in the first place.
If the cables are placed underground, I strongly suggest the remaining problems will be fixed almost immediately after the undergrounding is complete, Point Fermin will grow even greater than it already is, and be a shining star in elementary education.
________________________________________________
Now here is even more news about individuals within the Facilities that have an impact on continuing the problems faced at Point Fermin.
Mr. Gamble is paid $164,215.20 per year to get it right as Director of Maintenance & Operations, along with Mr.Finstad who is paid $128,980.00 as Local District Facilities Director. Perhaps their boss Mr.Guy Mehula who is paid $232,572.00 as Chief Facilities Executive might use a little from their paychecks to get some money for an easy solution to this problem.
Mr. James Campeau also wrote the following:
"Unhinged by what I read for the first time yesterday in the chain letter petition (as evidence of Mr. Gamble's doing) from the current PTO president to Congresswoman Harman, it would not be fair for me to single out the PTO president or the school Principal responsible for the wrong information to the Congresswoman.
I would hope as they understand all the information and what we are trying to accomplish for a WIN- WIN solution for all, that they would kindly take the time to write a letter and retract the original statements against me."
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