In recent months, huge crowds have flooded the Council Chambers on hot-button issues, hoping and pleading with the City Council to vote their way because they form a large bloc of citizens.
Mr. Gross recalled those scenes when she evaluated motivations of the Cooper picnic participants.
“We do not operate this city by taking a poll of residents, whether by email or face-to-face,” she said.
“I have not heard any compelling logic for changing the location (from the grassy area to a paved area bordered by shrubbery and variously shaped greenery).”
Hungry for Information or for Food?
Taking note of the proximity of the day’s events, Ms. Gross was skeptical of the assertion that the picnic, organized by Mr. Cooper of the Parks and Recreation Commission, attracted only residents in favor of changing the Skateboard Park site.
Two hours before Mr. Cooper’s picnic began, the Culver City Little League launched its baseball season in another section of Culver City Park.
“I assume some people came down the hill (to the Cooper picnic setting) because they were hungry,” the Councilwoman said.
“I don’t think people who were eating had a feeling one way or the other about the Skateboard Park.”
As she had said last week, Ms. Gross told thefrontpageonline.com that the entire enterprise of trying to overturn the City Council’s Skateboard Park designation on Jan. 9 is — or should be — an exercise in futility.
She had a tart, succinct five-word reaction to an unanticipated move by Councilman Steve Rose at last week’s meeting.
When he introduced a successful motion to bring back the subject of Skateboard Park location (at next Monday’s meeting), Mr. Rose gave no hint that he would change his pro-grassy area vote.
“Makes no sense to me,” Ms. Gross said.
In the warm fumes spewing across the Council Chambers following the January vote, much was made of one tantalizing observation by Ms. Gross that was left dangling.
During fiery debate over whether a paved patch of the park or the aforementioned grassy area was more desirable for skateboards, the Councilwoman said that “the Police Chief” had told her the grassy picnic area was safer for young skaters. His reasoning was obvious, she said.
Which Chief Did She Mean?
In plain sight of drivers and pedestrians along heavily traveled Jefferson Boulevard, the skaters “obviously” would be more secure than if they were romping in the paved area, she said.
Too much greenery bordering the paved area would make patrolling by police or casual observation by passersby difficult, Ms. Gross said.
At the time of the debate, it was not clear to all of the principals involved whether Ms. Gross’s source for the security comment was John Montanio, who had retired one month before, in early December, or the Interim Chief Bill Burck.
It was Mr. Montanio.
Mr. Burck, who said he will be retiring in about one month, as soon as a new permanent chief is selected by the City Council, holds a different opinion.
At the behest of City Councilman Alan Corlin, Mr. Burck and Bill LaPointe, did a security-check walk-through at Culver City Park.
Without ambiguity, Mr. Burck told thefrontpageonline.com that “the paved area is just as safe as the grassy area.”
Ms. Gross said that “my understanding of Chief Burck’s position is that he is neutral.”
Regardless, she added, “it does not dissuade me.”
