Dear Natatorium,
RIP. This School Board selection has nailed the coffin shut. Culver Park Continuation School, here they come.
I am writing on your behalf because Mr. Z has left the building. I met Mr. Robert Smith at my second granted tour of the Nat. two years ago. I had brief communications with him, and I informed him that nothing would become of this project.
I met Dr. Steve Levin during one of his walkabouts in my neighborhood. He was accompanied by Mr. Alan Corlin, another of Culver City’s former mayors.
At least a couple thousand must be wearing that title.
I asked Dr. Levin about his thoughts on the Natatorium. He stated he was for saving it, but had reservations about the operational and maintenance costs, which have been projected at $300-$500K. (Where have I heard that before? Kathy Paspalis, during my first School Board walkathon.
I responded that surely a man of your stature and resources (a rocket scientist) would not let such a meager amount be an obstacle. He made no reply, of course.
I asked Dr. Levin if he was familiar with the project of the nearly completed Culver Villa apartments, down the street from my home. Beaming, Mr. Corlin chimed in that he was on the City Council that approved the project.
(A little recap in case you did not have a chance to read my Published-for-15- Minutes in last Friday’s edition to the anonymous teacher, Ms. Nota Sheep.)
Culver Villas is the same project on Irving Place that started out as a sale of public property for $2.4 million to a private condo developer to finance other Redevelopment Agency projects. Somehow, it became a Culver City $6 million taxpayer-financed investment apartment scam with $4.4 million forgiven for the opportunity for three low- income and nine moderate- income apartments offered first, exclusively, to employees of City Hall or the School District.
Reading from Same Script
The present mayor, Jeff Cooper, was roaring to get the measure passed with only two days of public (legal) notice, given on a Friday for a meeting set for Monday.
I questioned the Council why they did not financially assist the schools. Councilman Scott Malsin (now a former mayor, too, I guess?) replied that they were prohibited by law.
Maybe some of our past, present or future mayors can explain this excellent technique for transferring taxpayer funds to the unsuspecting. Beats the City of Bell system .
Dr. Levin shook his head (I took that for no). So I directed my next question to Mr. Corlin. Why does the city not financially support the School District? He replied that it was prohibited by law. Dang it. They must have a script for these sort of things.
Now I have never claimed to be a rocket scientist. Shucks, I have not even claimed to be smart. Don’t get me wrong. My mother didn’t raise no fool.
As a taxpaying and voting citizen, I am asking someone, anyone, City Councilmember, or a former, present or future mayor, to explain, like you would to a 10-year-old, about this unbelievable, so-called law.
There must be other curious minds out there. But you never know about the citizens of Culver.
Any lawyers in the house?
Kathy Paspalis, where are you? By the way, congratulations. Your machine is awesome.
I still am in shock over the tragic defeat of Karlo Silbiger. To Ms. Nancy Goldberg, our prayers are with you.
Mr. Abrams may be contacted at gabrams@ca.rr.com
