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.
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