Golden_Hill_Supporter
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As Snail Mail Fails
I find closing two post offices in adjacent communities unacceptable. Golden Hill and North Park are both pedrestrian friendly communities. Both of these post offices always have lines, usually long ones, as there are many in these communities who don't have access to computers, e-mail, or in many cases, cars. Closing post offices in these communities is difficult for everyone but the poor, eldery and disabled will suffer the most. Companies, and individuals who have PO boxes will also suffer. Nearby post offices don't have any empty boxes available. Companys have stationary and printed materials with their PO addresses on them. Mail, bills, grants (for non profits) and all other business mail will be disrupted causing small local businesses to suffer. This will again have a impact on the walking communities as these businesses will begin to fail leaving them nowhere so shop and do business. If we must close post offices then close them in La Jolla and Rancho Bernardo. They already drive everywhere and most residents in those communities have electronioc options. If you havn't written to your local and state representatives yet, do it now, before it is too late!!!— October 4, 2009 10:23 p.m.
Bypassing Bylaws in Golden Hill
Fred, Golden_Hill_Supporter GHsupporter and Pat Martin are three different posters.— October 2, 2009 12:09 p.m.
Bypassing Bylaws in Golden Hill
No other oversite committee has ever been chosen by election. Many oversite committees are appointed strictly by the board of the managing organization and some consist strictly of board members of that organization. The GGH MAD is accepting nominations for any qualified member of the community and the panel revewing the nominations consitsts of various community groups, not just CDC board members.— September 18, 2009 1:24 p.m.
Bypassing Bylaws in Golden Hill
The oversite committee consists of 15 positions (not 12 Dorian) as determined by the engineers report. These positions were divided into three groups The positions up for nomination were drawn by lottery for 1, 2 or 3 year terms. This will ensure that in the future 1/3 of the committee will be replaced each year.This will provide for continuity in the committee. Anyone serving in a position up for nomination may be nominated to serve again. Nominees will be chosen by a committee of 7 representing various community groups chosen from a list in the Engineers report. Each of these groups will appoint their own representative. A letter will go out to the entire community asking for nominations, The job of the oversite committee is to facilitate the proper running of the MAD, not to try and obstruct and remove it. Elections do not insure that good representatives end up on the committee. They ensure that the most vocal end up there by turning into local politicians. They may have been voted on but they don't represent the community. I know several people who voted for current committee members because they recognized their name who are now very unhappy with their votes. Those committee members have acted as obstructionists for two years, making positive progress difficult and more expensive than it should be.— September 18, 2009 1:18 p.m.
MAD Help Wanted
Dorian, You wrote, "At their September 15 meeting, the committee voted — 13 in favor, with 1 abstention." Which is yet another example of your poor reporting. This recording of the vote is impossible as there were only 10 committee members in attendance. Facts often do trickle in with the misinformation you provide but I agree with you on one thing. Interested parties should attend the meeting on October 20th. Congradulations to Alia on the new job. It is a excellent carreer move and I wish you great success. The new Program Manager will benefit from the work you have done for the MAD.— September 17, 2008 3:05 p.m.
None
In your exploration of South Park you chould check out the Moose Lodge. It is a membership only club but if you stop in for information about the Lodge any one of the friendly members there will sign you in and tell and share information with you over a beer. If you like Hamilton you will love some of the charactors at the Moose. 30th and Date, blue building.— September 5, 2008 8:05 a.m.
From Trashy to Classy
Fred, I enjoyed the article. I agree that "artificialy induced" self esteem such as the practice of schools to make sure every student receives a award sometime in the school year is counterproductive. An award for "most energetic" or "friendlist student" may even encourage negative behaviour. The self esteem gained from a job well done is certainly a much more positive goal. You said, "Working while going to school (something I did myself) is NOT always a good idea. Here's a study that shows why:" I agree, not always a good idea. In the case of the young people with Urban Corp they are students that had already dropped out or were going to drop out anyway. For many, if not most of them working is a necesity. The benefit of being able to work with a organization that wants to promote their High School education is great for them. You also said, "The intertwined justifications for paying extra for the clean-up crew, summed up as "self-esteem through work leading to academic success", ought to be questioned." Golden Hill is not "paying extra" by contracting with Urban Corp. I was merely stating that I felt that picking up trash does build self esteem. Three bids were received and Urban Corp had the lowest bid. In addition to what is contracted for Urban Corp is providing two extra employees through their program at no charge to Golden Hill. They will also provide tree planting in parkways and have given us a source of free trees. This is over and above the contract. They have sent teams on our community clean up days at no charge to us and will continue to do so above what the contract requires. Urban Corp has also offered to let members of the community go on ride alongs while they are working in the community. If you are looking for more information I suggest you contact Alia at 696-9992 (the CDC office) and arrange to go on a ride along. I havn't gone on one yet but I hear it is a informative and positive experience.— September 4, 2008 11:14 a.m.
From Trashy to Classy
Fred, You wrote, "Does picking up trash build character and self-esteem?" Yes! Picking up trash builds character and self esteem. Learning how to do a job and being expected to do that job well builds self esteem. Whether the job is stuffing envelopes, picking up trash or waiting tables there is much to be learned. Self esteem can be earned by a job well done. Fred, "Is it required for academic success?" Self esteem is required for success in almost anything we do. Young people don't drop out of high school because they think too highly of themselves. When they value their contributions to society they work to acheive more out of their lives. Fred, "I'm not sure this is true. Rather, such work might be seen as demeaning or "working for chump change" and actually deter some of those who most need academic assistance from participating in the program." These young people receive training in how to hold a job and the education they need to complete High School through the program. Most, if not all of the graduates of the program are proud of their accomplishments as a result of their participation and would likely take issue with you calling what they learned "demeaning." Without the things they learn in the program most of them are likely to be working at minimum wage job for the rest of their lives. Urban Corp is providing many services in addition to the contract with the MAD at no additional charge to the community. The city requires that the lowest conforming bid be accepted and theires was the lowese for the services outlined by the engineers report.— September 2, 2008 3:42 p.m.
Two-for-One Special on Mediators
Fred, Barbara Houlton, a member of the MAD committee, was one of the main proponents of Mediation. The purpose is to improve communication and promote cooperation, not to stifle any opinions. South Park, "I sit here once a month for nothing,” responded MAD member Hilsdorf. “Yes, but you volunteered for this,” responded NCRC’s Barbara Filner. is a drastic misquote. Bill said "I sit here once a month for free,” when asking how much mediation would cost and why it wasn't free. Barbara didn't answer, Robin did and her full answer was "Yes, but you are a volunteer, I am a paid consultant." Jack, Thanks for your comments and support. SouthPark is correct about there being no matching funds. You were correct on your other statements. No-one on the CDC board is paid and if improvements to the community bring them any benefits they are equally shared by all residents and business owners in the community. One of the main misunderstandings is that the CDC staff is responsible for everything that goes on in the neighborhood from code compliance to crime issues. People get angry when they call the CDC about a sign going up that is to large or a neighbors property getting run down. They blame the CDC. The staff and board try to route that information to the proper agencies but cannot enforce results on most of these issues. Just like with prejudice, people get angry at what they don't understand. ________________________________________________________________— August 25, 2008 8:40 p.m.