Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council Has Lost Its Mind

It is amazing that someone can buy a home or rent an apartment next to a power plant or refinery and then ask the power plant or refinery to move. In Redondo Beach it is the power plant that has been there for years. In San Pedro it is the storage tanks that has been there for years on North Gaffey. Worse is that the Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council seems to miss/avoid the refinery right next to the tank!! Do people just have too much time on their hands to protest? Or maybe they are too greedy and self centered? I mean the power plant provides energy and jobs to the region. And the storage tanks provides a necessary service as well as jobs. I mean, if you were too stupid to buy a home in what could be a blast zone, are you really smart enough to tell someone to move? Pedro Guy says: If you don't like the risk, move!!!

Pedro Parks Are the Best

I just finished reading how the Palos Verdes Skate Park effort was set back due to soil issues at one of their few parks. Too bad they don't have a freeway to build the skate park under. I am just kidding. But it does highlight a difference between the folks on the "hill" and San Pedrans. Whereas San Pedran's tend to find a way, laws be damned or skirted. The folks on the hill just tuck in line like sheep. Whereas San Pedran's put a priority on parks and actually look for more space and ways to make what they have better. The folks on the hill live on big lots with little open space. This is why they come to Pedro Parks to play basketball to swim and hang out with their children during the day. This is why we love San Pedro and wear "Pedro" shirts. This is why the folks on the hill where "Pedro" shirts. Pedro rocks. Have a good day.

No Shopping in San Pedro

Thank goodness that Target and Home Depot came to town, otherwise shopping in Pedro would be almost nil. Other than Urban Outfitters and a couple of other stores downtown there is no good shopping. I don't know what comes first, people or the good shops. But at this point someone needs to gamble on Pedro. Unlike the mall you can't just cruise downtown Pedro looking for gifts. I mean, if you want to buy stuff from thrift shops I guess that works, but most of us are looking for something a little higher end. Besides half the stores are closed when you go down town. The lack of coordination in store hours downtown is frustrating. There is something to be said for the San Pedro independent spirit, but not even coordinating with fellow store owners for a core set of business hours is ridiculous. Wouldn't it be good if the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce actually took a lead on coordinating store hours, marketing those core hours, and working to find some more parking to make it easier for people to stay and cruise the shops. Just a crazy thought that the Chamber of COMMERCE would actually focus on commerce and deal with the issue at hand instead of just hopes and dreams of a revitalized waterfront and Ports of Call. There are things that can be done now. Unfortunately our leaders avoid the hard calls to focus on the easy hope and dreams of a better future with no effort expended today to make things brighter.

22nd Street Park - Great Idea

As I drive through San Pedro there are a number of properties with nothing more than a chain link fence surrounding them. When I was growing up these vacant lots were play yards. Places to ride your bike, play catch and dig in the dirt. Now, property owners surround these lots with fences. Times have changed. But maybe we should reverse this trend. Take a look at the HUGE vacant lot next to "The Spot" on 22nd and Pacific. This lot use to be a hotel years ago before it burned down. Now it sits there with a fence around it. Maybe the Neighborhood council and Joe Busciano and the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce look to make this a park. It seems like the city should be able to post some signs up indicating that the owner is not liable for injuries on the property and help avoid the legal issues that caused the fence to go up. Maybe the city could give the property owner a break for lending its property to the neighborhood for a park. Maybe the Neighborhood Council could adopt this property and find neighbors in the area that will work to keep the property clean. Maybe the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce could work with the neighborhood to put up some walls or huge rocks to reduce the chance for dumping on the property and to reduce the chance that the lot will be used for parking. Maybe if the whole community works together San Pedro can have a 22nd Street Park on Pacific. This would give all the apartments dwellers in the area a close place to have their children play, provide a nice place to hang out while doing laundry across the street, and make San Pedro better looking. Now, if we could get everyone to work together we could have a 22nd Street Park on Pacific near the homes and apartments that surround it.

ILWU Should Vote Repbulican

At some point the ILWU needs to start voting Republican. The ILWU needs to start voting its wallet. At some point the ILWU members will realize that its Boss' and Crane Operators ARE the 1% that the Democrats want to tax. At some point the ILWU members will realize that more containers can come into the port with a business friendly Republican party. At some point the ILWU will realize that they get to keep more of their money if the deficit is addressed now rather than later. At some point the ILWU will realize that they have "cadillac" health plans that will be taxed/penalized. At some point the ILWU will recognize that they will have to pay for other's health care. At some point the ILWU members need to vote their wallet. Let us hope for the best.

Buscaino Shines on Parking for Field of Dreams

Anyone that has gone to an AYSO game or practice at the Field of Dreams in San Pedro know the value of parking. On the weekend the Field of Dream is filled with games from early in the morning through the afternoon. The one constant is that parking is limited such that parents park on the street as far away as the Home Depot store. When you have small kids it gets tricky finding a good spot where you can cross the street safely. Given this parking problem, Joe Buscaino is making a push to expand the parking lot at the Field of Dreams. This is a great idea. The Field is not fully used during the weekends and can easily handle additional parking without impacting the games. This is a win-win for San Pedro. The Field of Dreams becomes better with better parking, making it safer for everyone. Way to go Joe!!

No On All California Propositions - 2012

After all these years with the California Proposition system there is one truth. Everyone of them is sponsored by a special interest, and those interests tend to never serve the majority of Californians. In addition, I cannot seem to name one that actually turned out good. I am not saying that there were not good ideas, but in the end the good ideas tend to get corrupted or what was sold is not exactly what was provided. And as a taxpayer I am struggling to understand how all these bonds get passed. Maybe all the voters don't actually pay taxes. But, given that I end up footing the bill for special interest lobbied propositions that really don't help the average joe, my answer is NO to all propositions. Please join me in voting NO on ALL California Propositions. We need to ask our representatives to do their jobs instead of leaning on lobbyist who propose propositions that only server those interests. Say NO to getting abused. Say NO to Special Interest groups taking advantage of voters. Say No to have people pay for taxes that they never have to pay. Say NO to taxation without representation. Because if your representative did not vote for taxes, then it must be illegal. I mean, how is it true that your neighbors and fellow Californians are your representatives that authorize taxation for you.