By John Derevlany. There's been quite a bit of bickering and numbers are flying around, but no one in the entire city has been able to tell me how much this upcoming school bond will cost me personally. I will settle for a rough estimate per $100K. I can't even get that. The School Board site is filled with financial gobbledygook, without any clear answer to this question …
The Trouble with Culver City Voters
By Gary Abrams. Dear Dr. Khin Khin Gyi, your assessment is right on-point. The problem with City Council is the voters’ apathy. As you know, there are five Council members, and only three votes are needed to pass a resolution. Culver citizens who do vote like their politicians and views ..
Business as Usual – That Is the Problem with Our Community
By Gary Abrams.Dear Mr. Michael Milligan … Welcome to the club. Thank you for the information. Some of it is enlightening. I have been involved in exposing Culver City’s “rob the blind” politics since my first stroll for School Board in 2009. My articles are published mainly in this online news outlet. Early in the candidates forums, one of my opening questions is – How many of you use the internet? Of 30 people …
Litvak ‘Seems to be in a Tough Spot’
By Ira NewlanderI claim no particular expertise on the subject of the Culver City Ice Area other than as an occasional recreational skater — and as a court reporter who has listened to attorneys, off and on, since 1975. This poor guy (Bill Litvak, City Hall’s hired attorney) seems to be in a tough spot. His statement seems …
Fracking: Difference Between Hometown and State Taking Action
By Khin Khin Gyi, M.D.Thank you, Mr. Abrams, for your comments. To reiterate, I am drawing the distinction between local action and a petition for state action on fracking. As a city, we have the power to pass a local city ordinance. At the Culver City Democratic Club’s Candidates Forum, Mayor Jeff Cooper stated that he …
Putting the School Bond Debt into Perspective
By Paul Ehrlich.For folks like George Lasse who are concerned about Culver City debt, let’s go through the facts and numbers. In 1997, the Culver City voters passed the first school bond, Measure T, authorizing the issuance of $40,000,000 bonds with payments to be made until 2033. Currently the outstanding debt is $33,000,000. It was intended to pay for …
‘Maybe I Missed Something’
By Gary Abrams.Dear Dr. Khin Khin Gyi, M.D., Ph.D. … You claim that barely more than a week ago, Mayor Jeff Cooper maintained strongly that he would not support a local ban on fracking at the Culver Crest Neighborhood Assn.’s candidates forum. Is Mr. Cooper changing his opinion on fracking as a political move to gain support from an idea that Christopher Patrick King has been advocating all along?
Please, Mr. Laase, Let’s Be Positive
By Paul EhrlichLet’s think positive, Mr. Laase. Instead of George Laase asking questions in a positive or neutral way, he uses negative words. I am referring to “School Board’s ‘Phoney’ Poll Numbers.” Beside “phoney,” he uses other harmful words or phrases: “disregard,” “manipulated, “not sufficient,” “tweaked,” “gimmick,” and “inadequate.” To top off his essay, he sullies the School Board’s good reputation with …
Contenders’ Views Are Similar and Familiar, Abrams Says
By Gary Abrams. [Editor’s Note: Mr. Abrams, running for the City Council in the April 8 election, was unable to attend last night’s candidates’ forum in Tellefson Park because of a work emergency.]The campaign trail does allow the contenders to become familiar with each other. Mr. Jim Clarke casually mentioned that we should …
King, the Idea Man, Was the First to Support a Ban on Fracking
By Dr. Khin Khin Gyi, M.D., Ph.D.Since the beginning of the City Council campaign cycle, Christopher Patrick King is the only candidate who has supported a local ban on hydraulic fracturing, gravel packing and acidization used to extract oil and natural gas. Since the chemicals used in fracking are known carcinogens that have been shown to pollute air and our ground water, Mr. King wants …