By Neil Rubenstein
Observer Columnist
For those who are familiar with the terms par, eagle, birdie and tee, you just know the lead paragraph is something about golf. And you would be right. Golf began over 200 years ago in Scotland at Saint Andrews. Now here is the big question: What is the only thing that hasn’t changed in two centuries? If you said, “Women cannot play at Saint Andrews,” you win!!! Later this year members will vote whether ladies can tee off.
I just dusted my old bugle and soon the cavalry “Charge” will be heard. The All Coast Guard Veterans Reunion will be in Minneapolis beginning on August 2nd. Contact Chris Kalogerson, (952) 935-9065 or chriskalogerson@gmail.com. The Coast Guard just never seemed to get the recognition it deserved. Hopefully this will change.
Maria (AKA “the wild gypsy lady”) and I recently returned from the big three story sporting goods store next to the coffeehouse near the city limits on the other side of town. We both bought, in honor of the Mayor’s annual luncheon speech at the Doubletree Hotel, the “Cooper Pogo Stick.” You just have to love Jeff Cooper when he talks about revenue sharing and squashing tax increases. Well, Mr. Mayor, the reason Culver City is socking away so much money is because of our high taxes and fees. Can we be truthful – every time I reach into my pants pocket for a handkerchief or the car keys I feel another hand. My body has so many sets of fingerprints from taxing authorities; the FBI would be hard pressed. The reason Texas is doing well is their low tax structure.
Lastly, Mr. Mayor, you mentioned the storm water runoff filtration project mandated by Washington and costing approximately $50 million. As President Johnson would say, “Let us reason together.” If the city borrows the money, with the interest and other related charges I guess that in the aggregate it would come to well over $125 million. So, with 40,000 residents, perhaps one option might be to have each responsible for $1,250 in order to come up with the $50 million needed, thus saving the extra $75 million plus in expenses. Of course, not everyone would be able to come up with this amount upfront. So, why doesn’t the city think outside of the box and suggest that all who would like to pay the entire amount due by whatever date they establish fill out a form and write a check and presto, nothing would appear on those people’s property tax statements for that project and the city would borrow less. Good for everyone except the Wall Street bankers.
When I started reading in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel how County Executive Scott Walker allegedly, with help from his inner circle, submitted a false response to a document request – a felony – he allegedly had his staff slow down responses to constituents who raised politically harmful issues. Presently Mr. Walker is Governor of Wisconsin and just might be facing a judge soon to clear his name. People should realize public document requests are important and not to be messed with.
I cannot understand why the judges on the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals didn’t read my commentary before they decided to uphold the practice of swabbing for DNA. Many will recall my tongue-in-cheek article saying if some yokel cop in Lodi, CA arrests a member of our city council driving up to Sacramento on suspicion of being a 27-year-old Swedish lady, 6’2”, blond and 38-24-37, who held up three Wells Fargo Banks, the DNA the council member is forced to give up will never go away. In some states if you are set free for lack of evidence or found innocent, your DNA is destroyed.
When the family says, “We never go anyplace anymore,” you can take a short drive to Santa Paula. Santa Paula is a small community with quaint stores harking back to a period of tranquility. Ventura County’s Agriculture Museum with many exhibits has several items dating back to the 1950s, which adults and kids will find fascinating. It’s located at 926 Railroad Ave., open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
In 2012 the United Nations Human Rights Council recommended Brazil abolish its military police. If you think some police are super quick to pull their pistols and do in an innocent or unarmed person, just look south of the border to Brazil where, in 2012, an average of five people were eliminated by the military police each day.
After you review all the candidates for Sheriff I know you will come to the same conclusion I did. Todd Rogers, who ran the Carson Station for many years, is the best choice.
For those who missed an article, all my commentaries can be found at http://www.CulverCityObserver.com by placing Rubenstein in that website's search box.
Reader Comments(0)