Sorted by date Results 51 - 75 of 277
It is my firm belief that City Hall over the years has squandered city assets to pay for huge salaries and benefits. Coming soon, a startling expose. No, probably not in your neighborhood but in Fox Hills with “Those People.” When Culver Villas Apartments at 4043 Irving Place in Downtown Culver was originally proposed as a low-income housing project, an unnamed Culver City councilperson quietly approached the Culver City Community Development Office and requested that the plans be changed. The...
Last July, our state’s Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) reported that from June 2016 to June 2017, the state pension fund (CalSTRS) had its unfunded liabilities increase by almost 11 percent, from $96.7 billion to $107.3 billion. That’s despite school districts (statewide) increasing their contributions over 70 percent, from $5.9 billion in 2013-14 to $10.1 billion in 2016-2017. According to an LAO analysis from last February, we haven’t even seen the last of these contribution increas...
The Culver City Unified School District’s annual contributions to CalSTRS and CalPERS, two of the state's largest public-employee pension funds, were expected to rise 215 percent by the year 2020-21. But, under this Board’s fiscal leadership, they have gone up more than 446 percent--just in the last four years. The unexpected huge increase is the result of the Board's continued unrealistic hiring practices and giving unwise, unsustainable salary raises along with their approved increases in dis...
When is the Culver City Senior Center administration going to be fair and honor the civil rights of seniors by providing a hearing before an unbiased judge--not staffers who make a complaint--and the ability of a senior who is accused of wrongdoing to cross-examine witnesses against him or her as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution before punishing these seniors for challenging this corrupt and biased system? When these problems were reported to City Manager John Nachbar, Nachbar said that he...
The obvious winners from the Supreme Court's decision in Janus v. AFSCME last month are the hundreds of thousands of teachers and other public workers who will no longer have union “agency fees” involuntarily taken from their paychecks. In the long run, however, the benefits to "Blue State" budgets may prove more consequential. Having promised public workers big pensions without saving the money to pay them, many of these states are fiscal time bombs. Nationwide, state pensions have unf...
Over five years, from 2011-2012 to 2015-2016, the Culver City Unified School District deficit spent $9 million more than it received in funding. If that wasn’t fiscally scary enough—hold on to your hat, Cousin Clem—in the past two years, the School Board has deficit-spent more than $9.1 million. And now, the District wants local taxpayers/homeowners to pass a new parcel tax to bail them out for their past years of deficit-addicted spending indiscretions. Does it really make sense for us to pa...
It’s been almost six months that your friend and our friend Charles Stewart retired from 30 years of dedicated service to our community first with U.S. Rep. Diane Watson then many years with Holly Mitchell while she was member of the State Senate, and as a member of the Assembly. May I mention just one happening? It was in December 2017 when a car dealer wanted to mess around with our auto license plates. Although California DMV couldn’t find the “Bad guys” paper work Charles stuck with calling...
How one LA firefighter turned a $90,000 salary into $1.6 million over four years. Overtime pay that was at least triple his regular salary in each of the past four years allowed Los Angeles firefighter Donn Thompson to collect a combined $1.6 million in total earnings from 2014-2014-2017 – according to an analysis of newly released pay data from Transparentcalifornia.com. Such outsized overtime pays allowed Thompson to clear over $400,000 in cash earnings for each of the past four years – des...
The Brandeis Men’s Group meets the third Wednesday at Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium on Overland and Culver Blvd. Listen to dynamic speakers discussing very interesting topics. We fund scholarships for research projects at Brandeis University in Boston. On April 18: Breakfast 9 a.m., speaker Rich Richman, graduated from Harvard and NYU Law school; practiced for 30 years. Then on May 16 Lunch Meeting 11-2 p.m.: Speaker Thom Mason. He founded the USC Department of Jazz. He was chairman 198...
If you are into Gospel Music than you need to get to the California African American Museum in Exposition Park before August 26th, 2018 to see “How Sweet the Sound”. The museum uses vintage photographs and video recordings to create a global phenomenon. Just a stone’s throw away is the Ray Charles Foundation Museum at 2101 West Washington Blvd in Los Angeles. As I suggested a while ago the tax on marijuana is in the opinion of many so high, users might return to their former “prov...
Just remember, “Our Gasoline Tanks” should not be Sacramento’s piggy bank. Perhaps you’ve heard, but I haven’t; what is happening with the prison at Guantanamo? When you are, hungry and want good food, large portions and reasonably priced – most people in the know thought of Norm’s on Pico near Westwood Blvd. Well as things happen, these days Norm’s is in the process of being torn down and I have no idea what is coming next. What a Shame. “Unprecedented, misguided, counter-productiv...
A memo from our Congresswoman the Honorable Karen Bass. Somewhere in Russia, Vladimir Putin is laughing at us as Paul Ryan and Devin Nunes receive a slap on the back and “job well done” from Donald Trump in the Oval Office. I am, of course, talking about that sham of a memo the Republicans released last week about the federal surveillance of Trump campaign foreign policy adviser Carter Page. When Democrats objected that the memo omits important facts, Trump lashed out. Today he used Twitter to...
So, there we were Marie AKA "The Wild Gypsy Lady" and myself at our favorite secluded roadside coffee, ice cream and waffle restaurant next door to the De Soto car dealership. Maria overhead a conversation between a civil servant type who just enjoyed spreading unfounded rumors. The rumor going around discusses marijuana dispensaries. Cousin Neil was all ears, because those owners will make big money, even if their location isn’t the best. Maria’s thought was the only location available was in...
By Neil Rubenstein Observer Columnist After all these years scientists found a new body organ. It’s called Interstitium and just might help to better understand its impact on diseases, such as cancer. A study was published in Scientific Reports on March 27th, 2018. At this time additional research is needed. Assemblyman Sebastian Ridley -Thomas agreed to pay a $3500 fine for violating campaign finance rules to California Fair Political Practices Commission for failing to properly report c...
As you recall, it was mentioned in this column last year President Trump signed legislation creating March 29th as National Vietnam War Veterans Day. In recognition the Exchange (PX) offered lapel pins and continuing their policy of low prices, no sales tax and free shipping (purchase over $49). To get your latest military benefit and your Military Star Card visit Email@shopmyexchange.com or customer service (1-800-527-2345). Tom Shull Army & Air Force Exchange Service Director/CEO Current and F...
The voters spoke loud and clear on April 3, 2018 when Sydney Kamlager received 65 percent to assume the 54th District Assembly seat vacated by Sebastian Ridley-Thomas, due to health concerns. Sidney’s background will allow Kamlager to hit the floor running - she ran the district office for Holly Mitchell when Holly was both the Assembly member from Culver City, and also State Senator. These figures from the information sent to Sacramento by the Culver City Unified School District and T...
For those who read my commentary years ago remember I wrote about an experimental stem cell treatment to be used on patients with spinal cord injuries. It now appears Rancho Los Amigos will partner with USC to participate in a multi-million-dollar clinical study proving such therapy can restore key motor functions. I just reread the April 25, 2017 issue of Time Magazine. In my opinion the cover story should be read by everyone as it discusses the $13.9 Trillion United States debt and the...
Culver City High School Associated Student Body Presents” Culver for a Cause run for Better Education”. What: Come be a part of the Culver for a Cause 5K Charity Run! There will be food, live music, free T-shirts, and Medals! Why: Proceeds will be directed towards the CCUSD Culver Closet, which helps provide clothing and toiletry items to CCUSD families in need. In addition, some proceeds will be given to Peruvian women to help them gain access to educational opportunities like the ones we are...
The election to fill the unexpired Terms of Assemblymember Sebastian Ridley-Thomas will be Tuesday, April 3, 2018. At that time, we have the opportunity to send to Sacramento a lady who will be able to hit the floor running. Please look at her endorsements and her background of well over 15 yeas of dedicated service to our community. Sidney knows what’s important to people in our district and will work hard to accomplish those goals. If you want a tireless worker vote Sydney Kamlager you will be...
Let me share an email from Representative Karen Bass. Representative Bass: “This egregious and unprecedented action carried out by the President’s henchmen to ultimately cast doubt on Robert Mueller’s investigation could set the stage for the worst abuse of governmental oversight in this country’s history. Somewhere Putin is laughing at us as Speaker Ryan and Devin Nunes receive a slap on the back and a “job well done” from President Trump in the Oval Office.” Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif,) re...
An email received from Congresswoman Karen Bass. Recently teachers returned to Florida high school where gunman opened fire earlier this month. We ask a lot of teachers these days. Many pay for their own classroom supplies out of pocket. They’re responsible for young people navigating an increasingly complicated and connected world. The last thing we need to be asking of them is carry firearms in preparation for confronting school shooters. Add your name and tell Donald Trump that arming t...
Fracking near you. The largest urban oil Field in the U.S. is in “Our backyard” and may be posing dangerous threats to your health and safety! Now’s the time to weigh in our Culver City’s plan to allow drilling 30 new wells & fracking within the Culver City limits. Health effects include: Respiratory disease & asthma, heart disease, leukemia, lung & other cancers, adverse birth outcomes, endocrine disruption, cognitive disorders, neurological problems and premature death. Seismic effects...
What’s happening with the mosquito borne virus known as Zika? According to Bloomberg Oprah Winfrey age 63 has a net worth of $3.7 billion while President Trump, age 71 is worth $2.9 billion. Can you believe its been four years that MH 370, a Malaysian passenger jet carrying 239 people from Kuala Lompur to Beijing disappeared? Malaysia signed a deal last month to pay an American seabed exploration firm up to $70 million if they can find the aircraft within 90 days of starting a new search in t...
Residents of the 10700 block of Farragut Drive, who banded together to oppose efforts to lift the Permit only parking restrictions to facilitate easy parking for the adjacent businesses refer to March 14, 2016 as “THE MIDNIGHT MASSACRE.” That night the Culver City Council Agenda was changed to make discussion concerning Farragut Drive one of the last items to be addressed. Some residents feel that was done because KNBC-TV had expressed an interest in doing a fellow-up to their previous cov...
Tom Lloyd of Culver City may be onto something to provide affordable temporary housing for the homeless and for victims of disasters, a proliferation of which have occurred locally in California as well as in Texas, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, etc. A few years ago, he and friend were discussing the difficulties faced by returning military vets trying to reintegrate into civilian life. Given the shortage of housing everywhere, temporary housing would be a vital asset in smoothing...
