All of us have heard on the radio or seen on television or read in the newspaper about law enforcement agencies doing bad things to good people. How many instances have there been when police and/or the court and/or the laboratory did something so evil that an innocent person spent as much as 10 or 15 or even 20 years behind bars for a crime he did not commit? Not here in Culver City!!!
Personally, I would rather not have more efficiency in the police department if it meant punishing those who should be home with their families. This world doesn’t revolve around a 30-minute episode of Dragnet, but is strengthened by the good work by detectives and many others capably led by Chief Bixby. A big thank you to the men and women who stand guard every day, keeping us protected from bad people.
Please don’t vote to change a system that isn’t broken for if you do, who will save us from the power grabbers in City Hall in the days and years to come? Folks, this is a power grab! Pure and simple.
If you want a more efficient system, let’s vote to reduce the number of councilmembers from five to three.
In next week’s column it’s three cheers for the fire department and the paramedics.
Public Employee Compensation
Generous retirement benefits, overtime and a variety of “other pay” categories can drive up total municipal compensation as a percentage of a worker’s base pay.
Listed are the top 10 Los Angeles County cities’ average worker’s total compensation as a percentage of base pay, the story City Hall did not want told:
City of Industry 194 %
Redondo Beach 192 %
Downey 187 %
Torrance 184 %
Vernon 183 %
Culver City 180 %
Hermosa Beach 180 %
Alhambra 177 %
Burbank 176 %
San Gabriel 175 %
Culver City pays, as a percentage, more than the base pay for people living in Beverly Hills, Pasadena, South Pasadena, Palos Verdes, Malibu, Manhattan Beach and many other cities.
Although I haven't seen the Culver City ballot for the November 2016 election friends have told me about the famous Mayor Scott Malsin addendum to the City Charter as it pertains to councilmembers resigning and very shortly running for their former seat. That will be a hot button issue, because who would vote against Malsin?
I just don’t know why no one would pick a fight with Scott, since he is probably the most powerful non-elected citizen in these parts. Yes, he still runs your Assembly office and still gets lifetime medical from the overtaxed citizens. This seems a bit excessive.
In my opinion it’s a vicious power grab, but what is so troubling is the ruthless grab on the police and fire chiefs, under very questionable circumstances.
After returning from our vacation this year I was looking through a huge stack of letters and a very impressive pile of magazines. We get so much reading material these days that the mail carrier could easily get a hernia. Could it be true, singer Sonny James AKA the Southern Gentleman died on February 22, 2016 at age 87 in Nashville? What a loss. I was such a big fan and if you are in my age group you probably remember “Young Love,” “Take Good Care of Her,” “Since I Met You, Baby,” and “It’s Just a Matter of Time.”
Over 20 world renowned Bible and archaeology scholars are coming together November 18-20 in San Antonio for Fest XIX. Concurrent sessions over two and a half days will cover topics from the Old Testament, the New Testament and the latest archaeological discoveries pertaining to the world of the Bible.
Whatever happened to the Keystone XL Pipeline? Where is the high speed train these days?
If you are into the arts and crafts movement and Ernest Batchelder, then your big day is almost here. The Batchelder exhibition will open on September 21 in the Pasadena Museum of Art.
When the September issue of Los Angeles Magazine arrived recently I started turning the pages and lo and behold, on page 80 I saw the PHO-Nomenon at 9810 Washington Blvd., Culver City, (310) 596-8266. Its Vietnamese French dip sandwiches have gotten rave reviews.
Just when many thought “The Fracking War” was over the good guys won another victory. In Pinellas County, Florida the county commissioners voted on June 7, 2016 to ban the process.
Cher’s former Beverly Hills equestrian estate is on the market. It is 20,000 square feet with 11 bedrooms and 17 bathrooms on Benedict Canyon Drive. It also has a 7,000 square foot Moroccan guest house with five bedrooms and five baths. Grab your check book; for you, it’s only $28 million.
For those who missed an article, all my commentaries can be found at http://www.culvercityobserver.com by placing Rubenstein in the website’s search box.
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