What Pedro Does Best Is What Pedro Does On Its Own

The independent spirit of San Pedran's is not a good fit for the big government Democratic party in charge of Los Angeles. Pedro's independent spirit is seen with the awesome "Shakespeare by the Sea" born and bread in Pedro and an awesome event. Pedro's independent spirit is seen in the "Clean San Pedro" team of volunteers. Pedro's independent spirit is seen in the Cabrillo Beach Museum/Acquarium started by a great Pedran. Pedro's independent spirit is seen in the Eastview Little League and the Boys and Girls club which independently flourish despite the government. Unfortunately Los Angeles county does not respect Pedro's independent spirit. It's city planners want to tell Pedran's how many homes to have in Ponte Vista and how many bike lanes it needs. Los Angeles believes it is smarter than the city that built the greatest port in the world? It is smarter than the people who live and breath in this town? I don't think so. Until Pedran's start voting to challenge the Democratic status qua Pedran's will continually have to fight the "Man". Unfortunately, the "Man" is the Democratic party and its lack of respect for Pedran's and their independent spirit.

San Pedro Bike Lanes Create Pollution

It was good that our councilman Joe Busciano called a town hall meeting to talk about the new bike lanes in San Pedro. Unfortunately, big city Los Angeles just brought the hammer down and said, just deal with it and more bike lanes are to follow. At the meeting the Los Angeles lacky's actually said that the bike lanes are to address Global Warming and safety. Unfortunately the moron does not recognize that fewer lanes means more cars are starting and stopping which actually increases pollution. In addition, no one is biking to work up Capital. If you made the case that cars were being replaced by bikes you could make a case for some lower pollution, but in reality all the bikers are recreational, hence no reduced pollution. Finally, you could always ride your bike on the street and we have had no bike accidents in San Pedro. Yes, in some corners of Los Angeles where the bike traffic is more dense there has been issues, but no here. Stupid Los Angeles is at it again. Can you say Harbor Gateway Succession from Los Angeles?

Bike Lanes a Pain

In another example of how disconnected Los Angeles is from San Pedro, new bike lanes have been added to Capital and Westmont streets. Not only are these streets not the ones that bikers actually use when they ride around the peninsula, they are on steep hills riders would not go up. And with all the conversation against skateboard bombing, these new bike lanes make it easier and better for skateboarders to bomb San Pedro streets. At some point someone will realize that these bike lanes are a waste. At some point someone will realize that a single lane up Westmont causes more traffic and more air pollution as cars spend more time in traffic. Los Angeles is a far cry from San Pedro. It would be good if the traffic folks actually understood the town's traffic patterns before adding bike lanes to roads that are too steep to ride up. The good news is that the government is good at wasting money so they may have no problem putting the roads back.

Rail Yards are Good for Pedro

As I drive along our waterfront near the LAPD building in San Pedro I continually see lines for trucks producing smog. To help improve our air the Port of Los Angeles has proposed using more rail lines to transport goods. I appreciate that the truck drivers' jobs will be at risk. However, this change will help make our port more competitive and keep overall jobs here. With the advent of a wider Panama Canal we need to be proactive to save jobs here. And, as a life long Pedran, having cleaner air only helps. One day I will have less soot piling up on my car. One day we will have even cleaner air. But to make this happen tell one of those protesters against rail yards to take a look at the big picture. ILWU jobs and clean air go a long way to make our community better in the long run then just saving a few jobs (less truckers).

110 Toll Road - 40% Are Rich

The March 23 "Daily Breeze" confirms an earlier declaration that the 110 Toll Road is for the rich. The paper indicated that 40% of the Toll drivers were single drivers. This means that 40% of the drivers do not qualify for the high occupancy discount. This means that 40% of the users can afford to pay sometimes $15 dollars one way to save time into Los Angeles. When you consider that not everyone has a car, not everyone has a computer (or smart phone), and not everyone can afford the extra money to use the Toll road, the demographics lead to a strongly rich population of Toll users. What the paper failed to ask is whether the Toll road is being used more than before. And where is this money going when our councilman want to propose a bond to fix our roads. And how does a Toll road help to bring all Los Angelenos together when not everyone has access to the road. If Los Angeles cared about the poor they would speak up.

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.