Quit money-grubbing

EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK

I don’t attend City Council meetings in person for a couple of very

good reasons. No. 1, they are long and boring. No. 2, I could not

keep myself from not only speaking out of turn, but ranting at them.

What is wrong with these people? They make me so mad I could spit.

The council on Monday night voted to spend $45,000 to build a

fence around a sports complex that is already costing about $18

million. And do you know why? So that we can’t park for free at this

city facility. They plan to charge residents $1 to park there. The

fence is needed because they thought that rather than pay the $1 for

metered spots at the sports complex, residents would park for free at

the library. Of course we would!

Community Services Director Jim Engle reported that Phase I was

completed and within budget -- within budget meaning having created a

more than $800,000 deficit. Phase II is what is expected to bring in

revenue to offset that deficit, so he suggests we hurry up with Phase

II and, while we’re at it, add a money-making parking component,

which he and his cronies say will bring in $476,000 annually. That

figure assumes that the $1 a day fee is paid by more than 1,300

people a day to park in the 850 spots. Talk about a blatant rip off.

I say either stop building things this city can’t afford or stop

nickel and diming us.

In this age of bank cards and credit cards, we are required to

carry quarters and singles to appease the city money-grubbers. Up the

usage charges at the field rather than asking for a buck every time

we turn around like a bunch of beggars.

City Councilwoman Debbie Cook asked Engle this very thing --

wouldn’t it be easier just to raise user fees?

Engle’s answer: “We’ve talked about creating a parking pass.”

Nice dodge there, Jim. That’s doesn’t answer the question even

remotely, does it?

So the question for the council became: Will the fence work? They

debated if residents are cheaper than they are lazy.

I realize that it was another council that OKd this facility, but

that is no excuse for making residents pay for it.

I’ve got an idea for you -- make parking free at the sports

complex so that no $45,000 fence is needed and no athletes need use

the library lot. Problem solved.

Would you believe that one possible solution thrown out there by

Councilman Dave Sullivan was to charge to park in both lots? Well

there’s a good idea. We are now officially discouraging reading and

exercise.

He noted that it would not be popular and he was right on. Beach

parking is already outrageous. Couch potatoes are the only ones who

get a break on parking in this city.

I got an idea for you -- picture this: Huntington Beach, where

every road is a toll road.

That way we can get money when children go to school, parents go

to work, families go to church ... you get the idea.

* DANETTE GOULET is the city editor. She can be reached at (714)

965-7170 or by e-mail at danette.goulet@latimes.com.