Let's begin by being confused. New home sales in June fell by 4%. New home sales in July grew by 2.8%. The lending industry is going through some critical times right now, and nobody seems to know where this will all lead.
New construction at Ponte Vista may be more than a year away. The CAC was told that the Planning Department might need "6 months" working with Bisno Development to come up with the number of units the Planning Department will recommend be built at the northwest San Pedro site.
As far as the public goes, the Planning Department has been very tight-lip about what they feel the density of the project should be and disclosing any rumors about what they may be thinking about is not something we should do, at this time.
_____________________________________________
Does San Pedro "need" more new housing? I wish somebody in an objective manner would provide information about whether San Pedro and the rest of OUR community actually need new housing for residents, and especially if there is really a "need" for more senior housing in the area.
I have included several compromise ideas that I have had suggesting that there is definitely a "want" for senior housing in San Pedro. I have listed several ideas about adding more senior housing at Ponte Vista, but that can't really happen with R1, which is now what I support.
_________________________________________________
All of us know where "The Monster" is being built and how Seaport Luxury Homes seemed to slip through the cracks and get approved. This particular issues has provided all of us a very valuable lesson in that we must not have blinders on and let even 136-unit developments slip by our watchful eyes.
Highland Park is PROBABLY coming. This 134-unit project of patio-style homes being proposed by J.C.C. Homes may be built on the site of the old Kinder-Morgan facility on north Gaffey Street.
Kinder-Morgan will not transfer the site to J.C.C. Homes unless and until the site is determined to be completely free of any and all remnants of the old facility and all the post demolition test prove there will be not environmental hazards left in and around that property.
You can not set up a time-lapse camera system and photograph the processes of demolition and construction that will lead us to find a brand new Target store on north Gaffey as well.
It needs to be remembered that both J.C.C. Homes and the folks representing the construction of the new Target worked closely with the Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council. All the efforts by everyone dealing with the local area, the new home site, and the new Target worked to try and find the best results for any problems that may occur in the future. Both Target and J.C.C. Homes were very responsive to the Neighborhood Council area in which they will be located in.
____________________________________________
Sadly, we must continue to report that the folks at Ponte Vista have not shared similar wishes to involve the Neighborhood Council more directly or as well as these two other development companies have done.
It now looks like the developer for Ponte Vista is more adversarial in its dealings with the Neighborhood Council and the area where such a big project is proposed. I would think that Bob and his staff would be working harder to understand and deal with all the issues, rather than taking such a defensive position.
One would imagine that if Ponte Vista is really such a good thing for OUR community, their organization would not have to be so defensive and secretive about the project.
____________________________________________
Remember when Bob proclaimed he would furnish all the information about his 2,300-unit plan, including a public disclosure of the number of bedrooms in that particular proposal. I haven't seen such a public document and I bet nobody else has, either.
If you visit the Ponte Vista Web site, you will not be able to find any illustration of the smallest floor plan that will probably be proposed in the 1,950-unit development, and I still can't find any numbers of units broken down by size, type, and number of bedrooms, if any. The smallest unit illustrated is approximately 800 square feet and the "studio" as illustrated is approximately 850 square feet, according to the illustration.
If you were to visit the Centre Street Lofts Web site, you can view illustrations of the units floor by floor and the smallest units illustrated are about 150 square feet larger than what Bob has in his proposal for Ponte Vista.
You also might want to remember that no new residential development in the area is selling like "hot cakes" and the Lofts have offered buyer incentives to try and lure buyers. Having two years worth of HOA fees and dues paid for as an incentive, is not such a bad thing, in my opinion.
______________________________________
When Bob proclaims that his vision for Ponte Vista means a beautiful place, he is not kidding.
We toured an apartment complex located on MacArthur Blvd. in Newport Beach that Bob is basing his illustrations on, and I strongly believe everyone was very impressed with the quality of construction and the way the development looked and the amenities offered at that 1100-unit development.
However, how beautiful it could be, and how wonderful of a place it may be to live, plucking down a development about 175% larger then Newport Village on a main arterial of a peninsula, simply makes absolutely no real sense, I feel, and can only lead toward dire consequences if a 1,950-unit project is approved.
I know for a fact that many, many Ponte Vista supporters cringe at the idea of placing 1,950 units in northwest San Pedro. So many of them feel that the plans are just too large for the area.
There may be only about 50% of the folks claiming support for Bob's Ponte Vista that would like to see any more than 1,500-units, and if the survey Bob tried used lower total numbers of units, the support for those lower numbers would grow.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Thursday, August 23, 2007
The CAC Report is Final, What's Next?
The title of this post says it all.
For all of us interested in R Neighborhoods Are 1, everything else is next. We all need to keep focused on what the movement is calling for as we await what the L.A. City Planning Department will report as their recommendations for the density of the Ponte Vista at San Pedro project.
Not only is our movement not ending, slowing down, or going onto any "back burner" we are going, growing, and becoming included in the real movement that has definitely begun demanding a better look at over development in the entire L.A. area.
Newspaper articles, opinion pieces, postings in various blogs and other information sources have indicated that the greater L.A. area is finding more activists who are willing to push forward ideas that state that a very large number of residents are fed up with "weapons of mass development" and are willing to become active in trying to slow down that "machine" that is big developments by greedy developers.
In the City of Los Angeles, Neighborhood Councils are becoming much more active in questioning whether they truly represent the folks in their Council areas who are demanding at least a slow down to all the development currently going on in the City. For stakeholders and others, the Neighborhood Council system, working alongside Homeowner Associations and other groups will become the forefront that will help regular residents have a much stronger voice in City government, if they support those organizations.
Since the recent election at Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council, I am growing more pleased to see that San Pedro may have three strong Neighborhood Councils that together, will help OUR community join growing efforts to challenge big developments.
We will probably see, sometime in September, that what I wrote about, will finally come true.
Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council passed a resolution supporting a multi-family development in northwest San Pedro, but it did not, as their President claimed, endorsed Bob Bisno's Ponte Vista at San Pedro. The resolution passed was not an endorsement of Ponte Vista and that Ponte Vista at San Pedro will need to stop claiming that one Neighborhood Council in San Pedro "endorses Ponte Vista".
It is little issues like that which adds information and resources to the battles many of us are having with over development. When taken individually, they probably don't mean much. Adding the little "beans" together does create a hill that will demonstrate that OUR community, along with other communities, can have an influence on what may happen in the greater L.A. area.
R Neighborhoods Are 1 will continue to seek and welcome signatures on R1 petitions. There is absolutely no need to curtail efforts in gathering signatures. In fact, the more signatures that are collected not only demonstrates to local leaders that keeping Ponte Vista with its current zoning density is important, it also is a great tool that can be exported to other communities faced with over development, to provide them with the incentive that they are not alone in their battles and there are other communities that are willing to take a stand, demonstrate a will, and "just say no!" to too many units in too small an area.
As R Neighborhoods Are 1 moves forward and outward, the movement will continue to need all of your support. There will come a time when we will ask volunteers to attend meetings of various City Departments and Commissions, and we will need funds to hire buses to move the volunteers. Everyone is welcome to join in attending Planning Department and Planning Commission meetings and it is important that you attend and voice your opinions to the bureaucrats who have our futures in their hands.
There will probably come a time when many buses will need to be hired to convey volunteers to L.A. City Hall when the City Council deliberates and votes on motions concerning Ponte Vista and possibly other mass development issues. Hiring buses takes money and your contributions are greatly appreciated.
If an when any decision is made that requires the hiring of lawyers to benefit our movement, that is really going to take a huge effort to fund the folks who are hired to protect us.
But volunteering funds is only part of what our members can do. We can all talk, write, and create an environment where we share our experiences and wishes with others throughout this large area we call "Los Angeles". If you only have friends in OUR community, you can always converse with them about Ponte Vista and other over development issues.
If you have friends and family living on the west side of L.A., you probably have already heard from them the horror stories about over development in their area. Finding common voices in many areas means that we can learn to share ideas and join ever-growing efforts to slow down or stop developments which lower our quality of life.
The CAC report is final. Three recommendations have been put forward. The first motion was to completely rebuke Bob Bisno's current plans for the 61.53 acres of land in northwest San Pedro. The second recommendation calls for allowing for a density equal to the density of R1 housing. The third recommendation, made by a minority of the CAC membership, we for a mixed-use, multi-family development at Ponte Vista where the MAJORITY of the units were for senior housing.
Nothing coming from the members of the CAC came anywhere near what Bob Bisno has been steadfastly proclaiming, and the CAC represented us, in OUR community.
For R Neighborhoods Are 1, the work will not end. Now that we have demonstrated that we are a movement that must be dealt with, it also means that we must move forward, with renewed energy and purpose, and join with others to form an even larger movement to question over development, slow down the developers, and make clear to everyone that we will not allow greedy developers to have their wishes come true at our expense.
For all of us interested in R Neighborhoods Are 1, everything else is next. We all need to keep focused on what the movement is calling for as we await what the L.A. City Planning Department will report as their recommendations for the density of the Ponte Vista at San Pedro project.
Not only is our movement not ending, slowing down, or going onto any "back burner" we are going, growing, and becoming included in the real movement that has definitely begun demanding a better look at over development in the entire L.A. area.
Newspaper articles, opinion pieces, postings in various blogs and other information sources have indicated that the greater L.A. area is finding more activists who are willing to push forward ideas that state that a very large number of residents are fed up with "weapons of mass development" and are willing to become active in trying to slow down that "machine" that is big developments by greedy developers.
In the City of Los Angeles, Neighborhood Councils are becoming much more active in questioning whether they truly represent the folks in their Council areas who are demanding at least a slow down to all the development currently going on in the City. For stakeholders and others, the Neighborhood Council system, working alongside Homeowner Associations and other groups will become the forefront that will help regular residents have a much stronger voice in City government, if they support those organizations.
Since the recent election at Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council, I am growing more pleased to see that San Pedro may have three strong Neighborhood Councils that together, will help OUR community join growing efforts to challenge big developments.
We will probably see, sometime in September, that what I wrote about, will finally come true.
Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council passed a resolution supporting a multi-family development in northwest San Pedro, but it did not, as their President claimed, endorsed Bob Bisno's Ponte Vista at San Pedro. The resolution passed was not an endorsement of Ponte Vista and that Ponte Vista at San Pedro will need to stop claiming that one Neighborhood Council in San Pedro "endorses Ponte Vista".
It is little issues like that which adds information and resources to the battles many of us are having with over development. When taken individually, they probably don't mean much. Adding the little "beans" together does create a hill that will demonstrate that OUR community, along with other communities, can have an influence on what may happen in the greater L.A. area.
R Neighborhoods Are 1 will continue to seek and welcome signatures on R1 petitions. There is absolutely no need to curtail efforts in gathering signatures. In fact, the more signatures that are collected not only demonstrates to local leaders that keeping Ponte Vista with its current zoning density is important, it also is a great tool that can be exported to other communities faced with over development, to provide them with the incentive that they are not alone in their battles and there are other communities that are willing to take a stand, demonstrate a will, and "just say no!" to too many units in too small an area.
As R Neighborhoods Are 1 moves forward and outward, the movement will continue to need all of your support. There will come a time when we will ask volunteers to attend meetings of various City Departments and Commissions, and we will need funds to hire buses to move the volunteers. Everyone is welcome to join in attending Planning Department and Planning Commission meetings and it is important that you attend and voice your opinions to the bureaucrats who have our futures in their hands.
There will probably come a time when many buses will need to be hired to convey volunteers to L.A. City Hall when the City Council deliberates and votes on motions concerning Ponte Vista and possibly other mass development issues. Hiring buses takes money and your contributions are greatly appreciated.
If an when any decision is made that requires the hiring of lawyers to benefit our movement, that is really going to take a huge effort to fund the folks who are hired to protect us.
But volunteering funds is only part of what our members can do. We can all talk, write, and create an environment where we share our experiences and wishes with others throughout this large area we call "Los Angeles". If you only have friends in OUR community, you can always converse with them about Ponte Vista and other over development issues.
If you have friends and family living on the west side of L.A., you probably have already heard from them the horror stories about over development in their area. Finding common voices in many areas means that we can learn to share ideas and join ever-growing efforts to slow down or stop developments which lower our quality of life.
The CAC report is final. Three recommendations have been put forward. The first motion was to completely rebuke Bob Bisno's current plans for the 61.53 acres of land in northwest San Pedro. The second recommendation calls for allowing for a density equal to the density of R1 housing. The third recommendation, made by a minority of the CAC membership, we for a mixed-use, multi-family development at Ponte Vista where the MAJORITY of the units were for senior housing.
Nothing coming from the members of the CAC came anywhere near what Bob Bisno has been steadfastly proclaiming, and the CAC represented us, in OUR community.
For R Neighborhoods Are 1, the work will not end. Now that we have demonstrated that we are a movement that must be dealt with, it also means that we must move forward, with renewed energy and purpose, and join with others to form an even larger movement to question over development, slow down the developers, and make clear to everyone that we will not allow greedy developers to have their wishes come true at our expense.
Friday, August 10, 2007
What's New, What's Next?
The Rudderless Steering Committee of R Neighborhoods Are 1 met Thursday evening and will continue efforts to help bring beautiful single-family homes on R1 sized lots to all of Ponte Vista at San Pedro.
Folks, just because many of us feel we have won Round One in our battle to save San Pedro and the rest of OUR community, we all know that it is only the beginning and we are NOT going anywhere but into Round Two and each and every future round, if necessary.
Here are some of the items discussed at last night's meeting: (What's New)
R1 Petitions:
Every signature counts, every signature is appreciated, and new signatures are required. We will still be at selected sites to gather signatures on R1 petitions. We are continuing to encourage everyone to visit http://www.rneighborhoodsare1.org/ and get news and information, and also download more R1 petitions to get even more folks to sign up to save OUR community.
We all need to continue to be visible throughout OUR community and support R1 NO COMPROMISE, especially since Bob is not even considering any real compromise to his outrageous plans.
Fund Raising:
Bob is rich and his companies have funds to work his way through L.A. City Government. Bob seems to be willing to spend whatever he wants to spend attempting to saddle all of us with a development that is so out of proportion to the rest of OUR community, that is MUST NOT be approved of.
R Neighborhoods Are 1 is an all volunteer organization. Nobody gets one penny of compensation, other than reimbursement of expenses they have funded themselves, if they want to.
Every single button associated with R1 or opposing Bob's plans have been donated to the cause, both in material expenses and time making each and every button.
Now that Round One seems to have gone our way, we need to really start collecting funds to support the rounds that are assuredly coming up.
R neighborhoods are 1
1536 W. 25th St. #223
San Pedro CA 90732-4415
We need to start saving real funds for buses to get our members and others interested in really saving OUR community, to downtown Los Angeles, when it is time. We need to provide lots of reasonable, realistic, responsible, and respectful individuals like yourself to go with us and let the City Government and City Departments know that we demand R1 NO COMPROMISE at Ponte Vista.
Buses and their drivers cost money to hire. This is one item in which your contributions will be greatly appreciated.
R neighborhoods are 1
1536 W. 25th St. #223
San Pedro CA 90732-4415
Bob is rich and his companies have money to fight for what he wants. His legal team is made up of some of the best lawyers and legal firms, anywhere.
There will come a time when R Neighborhoods Are 1 will need to hire lawyers to help in our fight to save OUR community. Legal fees are high and hiring attorneys is very expensive.
It is now time to begin a great effort in seeking contributions to hire lawyers on OUR behalf. I may be sometime before we need them to come on board, but the costs that will be incurred mean we cannot start soon enough, and now is the time.
R neighborhoods are 1
1536 W. 25th St. #223
San Pedro CA 90732-4415
According to the Web Master at www.rneighborhoodsare1.org, there will be links established for contributors to provide much needed funds via the Internet, on that site.
Blight:
Many individuals believe Bob Bisno has made deliberate attempts to make the Ponte Vista site more blighted in order to demonstrate, somehow, that he needs to improve the land.
Everyone driving along Western between Avenida Aprenda and P.V. Drive North, is stuck looking at a site that looks purposely blighted and destroyed.
How much vermin, varmints, and polluted water is on that site, now? How can the developer get away with causing such a site in OUR community.
What does the L.A. City Health Department and/or other City Departments think about the site?
Shouldn't Bob be required to eliminate all the blight and restore the area to the condition it was before anything was built there, so long ago?
The blight at Ponte Vista lowers home values of everyone living in the area, whether they live in San Pedro or R.P.V. Why should these residents be negatively impacted so that Bob can make it look like he "needs" to have new construction built at Ponte Vista?
It is time for residents along Fitness Drive, in The Gardens, down in the Westmont neighborhood, and folks living west of Western Avenue who have as their views the blighted Ponte Vista site, to individually and collectively call on Bob Bisno and the City of Los Angeles to do something about what is now seen at the site.
If Bob won't mitigate the blight, what makes anyone believe he will truly mitigate anything else?
Moving Forward: (What's Next)
We have had our chance to savor what many believe is a victory over Bob and his plans. It is true that the CAC surprised us all with their recommendations, and it looks like the majority of the members of the CAC are on the side of OUR community.
But we all must realize that there is still much to do. We need to continue to volunteer our time, money, thoughts, and efforts all the way through the many steps that still are in the future.
There are still many bumper stickers left and the button making process will continue. We are looking for real interest in folks who truly want yard signs. Even though the Steering Committee has decided to curtail, for the time being, buying any more yard signs, if folks really want them, I suggest they contact R Neighborhoods Are 1, or a Steering Committee member and let us know that it is important to OUR community to continue to provide yard signs.
Your added contributions could also support acquiring more yard signs.
R neighborhoods are 1
1536 W. 25th St. #223
San Pedro CA 90732-4415
Your Rudderless Steering Committee is becoming more involved in reaching out to other areas in the greater Los Angeles Area. Over development is not special to northwest San Pedro and there is a need for all of us to come together and fight developers, all over the area, who want to change how we live, work, and play.
Bob and his bunch have reached out all over the area and we also need to let our movement grow. Including others in our fight means we include ourselves in others' fight for THEIR communities.
As we spread our message, perhaps you have family members and friends fighting for THEIR communities. We need to let these wonderful people know that we want to include them in the greater struggles we are all having, against over development and quality of life issues.
It is not wrong to talk to others about shared problems. combining forces into a greater cause can't be wrong, and you know that.
Moving forward also means moving farther. Providing our message to more people in the desert that is Los Angeles also means that we will no longer be ignored as the community at the end of the world, as far as L.A. goes.
With the very thin strip of land that connects San Pedro to the rest of the City of L.A., San Pedro always seems to be the dangling end of something much bigger. San Pedro get shorted in so many way. Connecting people in other parts of Los Angeles means that we remove that little ribbon of land that separates San Pedro and OUR community from the rest of the area.
Moving forward also means that R Neighborhoods Are 1 should be taken very seriously by governments, politicians, bureaucrats, developers, and everyone else who thought we were just a "rabble" bunch of "ranting elitists".
You all have helped us greatly in stating to everyone that we are here, we are strong, and we will be listened to, no matter what Bob and all the B.s. (Bisno supporters) that surround him say.
Strength in numbers and strength in convictions says to everyone that our members do have a say in what happens in their lives and OUR community.
Folks, just because many of us feel we have won Round One in our battle to save San Pedro and the rest of OUR community, we all know that it is only the beginning and we are NOT going anywhere but into Round Two and each and every future round, if necessary.
Here are some of the items discussed at last night's meeting: (What's New)
R1 Petitions:
Every signature counts, every signature is appreciated, and new signatures are required. We will still be at selected sites to gather signatures on R1 petitions. We are continuing to encourage everyone to visit http://www.rneighborhoodsare1.org/ and get news and information, and also download more R1 petitions to get even more folks to sign up to save OUR community.
We all need to continue to be visible throughout OUR community and support R1 NO COMPROMISE, especially since Bob is not even considering any real compromise to his outrageous plans.
Fund Raising:
Bob is rich and his companies have funds to work his way through L.A. City Government. Bob seems to be willing to spend whatever he wants to spend attempting to saddle all of us with a development that is so out of proportion to the rest of OUR community, that is MUST NOT be approved of.
R Neighborhoods Are 1 is an all volunteer organization. Nobody gets one penny of compensation, other than reimbursement of expenses they have funded themselves, if they want to.
Every single button associated with R1 or opposing Bob's plans have been donated to the cause, both in material expenses and time making each and every button.
Now that Round One seems to have gone our way, we need to really start collecting funds to support the rounds that are assuredly coming up.
R neighborhoods are 1
1536 W. 25th St. #223
San Pedro CA 90732-4415
We need to start saving real funds for buses to get our members and others interested in really saving OUR community, to downtown Los Angeles, when it is time. We need to provide lots of reasonable, realistic, responsible, and respectful individuals like yourself to go with us and let the City Government and City Departments know that we demand R1 NO COMPROMISE at Ponte Vista.
Buses and their drivers cost money to hire. This is one item in which your contributions will be greatly appreciated.
R neighborhoods are 1
1536 W. 25th St. #223
San Pedro CA 90732-4415
Bob is rich and his companies have money to fight for what he wants. His legal team is made up of some of the best lawyers and legal firms, anywhere.
There will come a time when R Neighborhoods Are 1 will need to hire lawyers to help in our fight to save OUR community. Legal fees are high and hiring attorneys is very expensive.
It is now time to begin a great effort in seeking contributions to hire lawyers on OUR behalf. I may be sometime before we need them to come on board, but the costs that will be incurred mean we cannot start soon enough, and now is the time.
R neighborhoods are 1
1536 W. 25th St. #223
San Pedro CA 90732-4415
According to the Web Master at www.rneighborhoodsare1.org, there will be links established for contributors to provide much needed funds via the Internet, on that site.
Blight:
Many individuals believe Bob Bisno has made deliberate attempts to make the Ponte Vista site more blighted in order to demonstrate, somehow, that he needs to improve the land.
Everyone driving along Western between Avenida Aprenda and P.V. Drive North, is stuck looking at a site that looks purposely blighted and destroyed.
How much vermin, varmints, and polluted water is on that site, now? How can the developer get away with causing such a site in OUR community.
What does the L.A. City Health Department and/or other City Departments think about the site?
Shouldn't Bob be required to eliminate all the blight and restore the area to the condition it was before anything was built there, so long ago?
The blight at Ponte Vista lowers home values of everyone living in the area, whether they live in San Pedro or R.P.V. Why should these residents be negatively impacted so that Bob can make it look like he "needs" to have new construction built at Ponte Vista?
It is time for residents along Fitness Drive, in The Gardens, down in the Westmont neighborhood, and folks living west of Western Avenue who have as their views the blighted Ponte Vista site, to individually and collectively call on Bob Bisno and the City of Los Angeles to do something about what is now seen at the site.
If Bob won't mitigate the blight, what makes anyone believe he will truly mitigate anything else?
Moving Forward: (What's Next)
We have had our chance to savor what many believe is a victory over Bob and his plans. It is true that the CAC surprised us all with their recommendations, and it looks like the majority of the members of the CAC are on the side of OUR community.
But we all must realize that there is still much to do. We need to continue to volunteer our time, money, thoughts, and efforts all the way through the many steps that still are in the future.
There are still many bumper stickers left and the button making process will continue. We are looking for real interest in folks who truly want yard signs. Even though the Steering Committee has decided to curtail, for the time being, buying any more yard signs, if folks really want them, I suggest they contact R Neighborhoods Are 1, or a Steering Committee member and let us know that it is important to OUR community to continue to provide yard signs.
Your added contributions could also support acquiring more yard signs.
R neighborhoods are 1
1536 W. 25th St. #223
San Pedro CA 90732-4415
Your Rudderless Steering Committee is becoming more involved in reaching out to other areas in the greater Los Angeles Area. Over development is not special to northwest San Pedro and there is a need for all of us to come together and fight developers, all over the area, who want to change how we live, work, and play.
Bob and his bunch have reached out all over the area and we also need to let our movement grow. Including others in our fight means we include ourselves in others' fight for THEIR communities.
As we spread our message, perhaps you have family members and friends fighting for THEIR communities. We need to let these wonderful people know that we want to include them in the greater struggles we are all having, against over development and quality of life issues.
It is not wrong to talk to others about shared problems. combining forces into a greater cause can't be wrong, and you know that.
Moving forward also means moving farther. Providing our message to more people in the desert that is Los Angeles also means that we will no longer be ignored as the community at the end of the world, as far as L.A. goes.
With the very thin strip of land that connects San Pedro to the rest of the City of L.A., San Pedro always seems to be the dangling end of something much bigger. San Pedro get shorted in so many way. Connecting people in other parts of Los Angeles means that we remove that little ribbon of land that separates San Pedro and OUR community from the rest of the area.
Moving forward also means that R Neighborhoods Are 1 should be taken very seriously by governments, politicians, bureaucrats, developers, and everyone else who thought we were just a "rabble" bunch of "ranting elitists".
You all have helped us greatly in stating to everyone that we are here, we are strong, and we will be listened to, no matter what Bob and all the B.s. (Bisno supporters) that surround him say.
Strength in numbers and strength in convictions says to everyone that our members do have a say in what happens in their lives and OUR community.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
You Know Who Makes More Comments
"XXX" has commented on his blog and found it necessary to provide those comments to the fake R1 blog for publication on two posts.
Not only will I not comment on much of what he wrote, but I certainly will not even bother to post these comments on my other blog.
Except I couldn't avoid copying one paragraph from his blog where he states he doesn't even care about what anyone else, including supporters of Bob's think, as far as I can tell.
The fellow claimed he did not attend the July 24 meeting, yet he knew what Dan Dixon said and that wasn't in any newspaper. Perhaps he has his "friends" coach him on what to write, too because he most certainly has not attended as many meetings as I have.
So "XXX" doesn't care about what others think about Ponte Vista. Well, it seems like this individual is being something like Bob; I lost the game I made the rules for and now I am taking my toys and not letting anyone else play.
Please do not make comments about "XXX" on this blog, or my primary blog concerning Ponte Vista. If you know the URL for my uncensored blog, and I strongly hope you don't, I might waste some time writing something about whatever I wish to write, but I don't think the great members of R Neighborhoods Are 1 would want to waste any of their time reading it.
"XXX" has had his or her fun. He/she wants a big development, but too many of us have spoken out that we don't want even medium density at Ponte Vista.
R Neighborhoods Are 1 is not only strong and growing, it is not one of the first groups to join forces with others in the L.A. area to be the beginning of a true movement calling for reexamining the policies concerning development.
As you should read on our Web site; http://www.rneighborhoodsare1.org/ you now belong to a growing group of residents of the much larger area that are going to take to task folks who govern us and their affiliations with developers of big developments.
When Ponte Vista can't even qualify for Smart Growth because it is not near any mass transit hubs, that really means something to folks who read items in support of Ponte Vista claiming it is part of the Smart Growth policies.
It is becoming more apparent that Mr. Bisno is not only doing a huge disservice to OUR community, he will probably make it harder for other developers in the greater L.A. area.
What do you great members of R Neighborhoods Are 1 think might happen to the next developer who comes to OUR community with plans to build higher density units in the Crescent Street area, which is now zoned for higher density? Don't you think what we have endured with Bob will be passed on towards other developers who may actually have real plans for developments in areas that want more housing and better housing, at that?
It appears that Bob Bisno has soured the kool-aid he is trying to serve to his supporters and others in OUR community so that, no other developer might wish to build senior housing of any kind in another part of OUR community.
If you wish to read "XXX" go right ahead. He doesn't care about anyone else and he wrote that in his post. Why should we care about what an anonymous individual who purports to have a "friend" do the fake R1 blog, but doesn't have the courage to name himself of the fake R1 blogger.
Talk about who's 15 minutes are up? I'm not going anywhere and I support R1 NO COMPROMISE, right now and most probably for a long time to come!
Not only will I not comment on much of what he wrote, but I certainly will not even bother to post these comments on my other blog.
Except I couldn't avoid copying one paragraph from his blog where he states he doesn't even care about what anyone else, including supporters of Bob's think, as far as I can tell.
The fellow claimed he did not attend the July 24 meeting, yet he knew what Dan Dixon said and that wasn't in any newspaper. Perhaps he has his "friends" coach him on what to write, too because he most certainly has not attended as many meetings as I have.
So "XXX" doesn't care about what others think about Ponte Vista. Well, it seems like this individual is being something like Bob; I lost the game I made the rules for and now I am taking my toys and not letting anyone else play.
Please do not make comments about "XXX" on this blog, or my primary blog concerning Ponte Vista. If you know the URL for my uncensored blog, and I strongly hope you don't, I might waste some time writing something about whatever I wish to write, but I don't think the great members of R Neighborhoods Are 1 would want to waste any of their time reading it.
"XXX" has had his or her fun. He/she wants a big development, but too many of us have spoken out that we don't want even medium density at Ponte Vista.
R Neighborhoods Are 1 is not only strong and growing, it is not one of the first groups to join forces with others in the L.A. area to be the beginning of a true movement calling for reexamining the policies concerning development.
As you should read on our Web site; http://www.rneighborhoodsare1.org/ you now belong to a growing group of residents of the much larger area that are going to take to task folks who govern us and their affiliations with developers of big developments.
When Ponte Vista can't even qualify for Smart Growth because it is not near any mass transit hubs, that really means something to folks who read items in support of Ponte Vista claiming it is part of the Smart Growth policies.
It is becoming more apparent that Mr. Bisno is not only doing a huge disservice to OUR community, he will probably make it harder for other developers in the greater L.A. area.
What do you great members of R Neighborhoods Are 1 think might happen to the next developer who comes to OUR community with plans to build higher density units in the Crescent Street area, which is now zoned for higher density? Don't you think what we have endured with Bob will be passed on towards other developers who may actually have real plans for developments in areas that want more housing and better housing, at that?
It appears that Bob Bisno has soured the kool-aid he is trying to serve to his supporters and others in OUR community so that, no other developer might wish to build senior housing of any kind in another part of OUR community.
If you wish to read "XXX" go right ahead. He doesn't care about anyone else and he wrote that in his post. Why should we care about what an anonymous individual who purports to have a "friend" do the fake R1 blog, but doesn't have the courage to name himself of the fake R1 blogger.
Talk about who's 15 minutes are up? I'm not going anywhere and I support R1 NO COMPROMISE, right now and most probably for a long time to come!
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
R Neighborhoods Are 1 Has Been Heard!
I can't thank you all enough for your support and the support you all have given to R Neighborhoods Are 1 and the great members of Janice Hahn's Community Advisory Committee.
Your voices were heard loud and clear by some great folks like Jerry Gaines, John Greenwood, Dan Dixon, and Richard Schuyler. Your voices have been heard for a long time by Leah Marincovich, Lucie Thorsen, Chuck Hart, and Richard Brunner.
We also should acknowledge the great efforts of Sal and Al who voted to reject Bob's plans outright.
Eight members of Janice Hahn's Community Advisory Committee for the Ponte Vista project voted in here presence to reject Bob's plans and call for a density at Ponte Vista not greater than R1 density or up to 9.0 units per acre.
We shouted, we signed, we protested, we explained nicely, and folks listened, learned and quite frankly, shocked the living daylights out of me.
I want you to know that R Neighborhoods Are one is part of a growing movement. Our group, along with folks on the west side, and two neighborhood councils in San Pedro are the genesis of a new movement to slow over development in all of L.A., for at least the time being.
With the help of all of you representing a growing group of citizens, members of two or our neighborhood councils have the backing of many thousands of concerned folks and that give them the power to have real influence with other neighborhood councils and elected officials.
United, we are the beginning of a movement that will move forward to slow down developers who are trying to lower the quality of our lives. together we will demonstrate to those who normally will not listen, that we do know what is best for OUR community, no matter what anyone else thinks.
"Smart Growth" can't qualify at Ponte Vista. There is no real transportation mitigation near enough to the area to really be considered. When we show the rest of the area that "Smart Growth" isn't really smart and should be reconsidered, I feel we can put on hold many greedy developers.
The fight continues. Yes we have won a couple of rounds, but this is just getting started. I think now you will begin to see what attitude Mr. Bisno takes and what he really thinks of us. I have heard he can be very difficult when he wants to be and we need to stay focused on the battles ahead.
Collecting more signatures on R1 petitions is still step one. 10,000+ signatures introduced us into the fray and the more signatures we collect, the stronger our voice will be with the L.A. City Council.
Showing up for planned demonstrations can be fun and informative to those who think we are just going to rest with the few rounds we have won. Showing up to let our voices continue to be heard is more important now that it appears the CAC may be meeting for one last time.
Let's grow our army of concerned citizens. We must not get lazy or silent or allow others to fight our battles.
Perhaps this is now the middle of the beginning. Perhaps when the Planning Department give us their opinion and we deal with that will be the real beginning of the middle of the beginning.
The end will be when 429 beautiful single-family, detached homes are built on Ponte Vista.
Until then, we need to stay strong, positive, and caring about OUR community.
Again, thank you to all the over 10,000 members of R Neighborhoods Are 1!
Your voices were heard loud and clear by some great folks like Jerry Gaines, John Greenwood, Dan Dixon, and Richard Schuyler. Your voices have been heard for a long time by Leah Marincovich, Lucie Thorsen, Chuck Hart, and Richard Brunner.
We also should acknowledge the great efforts of Sal and Al who voted to reject Bob's plans outright.
Eight members of Janice Hahn's Community Advisory Committee for the Ponte Vista project voted in here presence to reject Bob's plans and call for a density at Ponte Vista not greater than R1 density or up to 9.0 units per acre.
We shouted, we signed, we protested, we explained nicely, and folks listened, learned and quite frankly, shocked the living daylights out of me.
I want you to know that R Neighborhoods Are one is part of a growing movement. Our group, along with folks on the west side, and two neighborhood councils in San Pedro are the genesis of a new movement to slow over development in all of L.A., for at least the time being.
With the help of all of you representing a growing group of citizens, members of two or our neighborhood councils have the backing of many thousands of concerned folks and that give them the power to have real influence with other neighborhood councils and elected officials.
United, we are the beginning of a movement that will move forward to slow down developers who are trying to lower the quality of our lives. together we will demonstrate to those who normally will not listen, that we do know what is best for OUR community, no matter what anyone else thinks.
"Smart Growth" can't qualify at Ponte Vista. There is no real transportation mitigation near enough to the area to really be considered. When we show the rest of the area that "Smart Growth" isn't really smart and should be reconsidered, I feel we can put on hold many greedy developers.
The fight continues. Yes we have won a couple of rounds, but this is just getting started. I think now you will begin to see what attitude Mr. Bisno takes and what he really thinks of us. I have heard he can be very difficult when he wants to be and we need to stay focused on the battles ahead.
Collecting more signatures on R1 petitions is still step one. 10,000+ signatures introduced us into the fray and the more signatures we collect, the stronger our voice will be with the L.A. City Council.
Showing up for planned demonstrations can be fun and informative to those who think we are just going to rest with the few rounds we have won. Showing up to let our voices continue to be heard is more important now that it appears the CAC may be meeting for one last time.
Let's grow our army of concerned citizens. We must not get lazy or silent or allow others to fight our battles.
Perhaps this is now the middle of the beginning. Perhaps when the Planning Department give us their opinion and we deal with that will be the real beginning of the middle of the beginning.
The end will be when 429 beautiful single-family, detached homes are built on Ponte Vista.
Until then, we need to stay strong, positive, and caring about OUR community.
Again, thank you to all the over 10,000 members of R Neighborhoods Are 1!
Sunday, July 22, 2007
CAC Meeting, July 24!
The next meeting of Janice Hahn's Community Advisory Committee for the Ponte Vista project is TUESDAY July 24, 2007, beginning at 6:00 PM at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, in San Pedro.
We NEED every person supporting R1, or keeping the zoning as it currently is on the site, at this meeting. Call your friends and neighbors, bring in busloads of folks, this is a very important meeting and one that should not be missed.
It is expected that the members will discuss and make recommendations for the density and/or number of units they would like to pass along to Councilwoman Hahn.
There could be two recommendations. One recommendation by a majority of members calling for a range of numbers for units and/or density. The other recommendation, unfortunately probably in the minority opinion, is for R1 and keeping the current zoning as it is, at the site, and not approving any ordinances that would change the current zoning.
It would be good if the Planning Department representative weighed in with an opinion about what that department might allow in their report about the site, but I can't say that will happen.
I hope that there are chocolate chip cookies there, along with all the other goodies provided. We need to thank Bob for paying for them so all of us could be treated, but that doesn't mean we need to agree with him on anything.
I also wish we are all civil. I apologize beforehand if any of my laughter is offensive to any of you, but sometimes statements are so ridiculous that I just can't help myself. I don't usually make any other comments from my seat other than laughter. I also need to warn folks that some folks use their first amendment right of free speech inappropriately sometimes, but I can't help that, either.
But let's have the best time possible. Let's listen to the committee members, Bob, Betsy, Ms. Hahn if she attends, and all the comments from the floor.
We NEED every person supporting R1, or keeping the zoning as it currently is on the site, at this meeting. Call your friends and neighbors, bring in busloads of folks, this is a very important meeting and one that should not be missed.
It is expected that the members will discuss and make recommendations for the density and/or number of units they would like to pass along to Councilwoman Hahn.
There could be two recommendations. One recommendation by a majority of members calling for a range of numbers for units and/or density. The other recommendation, unfortunately probably in the minority opinion, is for R1 and keeping the current zoning as it is, at the site, and not approving any ordinances that would change the current zoning.
It would be good if the Planning Department representative weighed in with an opinion about what that department might allow in their report about the site, but I can't say that will happen.
I hope that there are chocolate chip cookies there, along with all the other goodies provided. We need to thank Bob for paying for them so all of us could be treated, but that doesn't mean we need to agree with him on anything.
I also wish we are all civil. I apologize beforehand if any of my laughter is offensive to any of you, but sometimes statements are so ridiculous that I just can't help myself. I don't usually make any other comments from my seat other than laughter. I also need to warn folks that some folks use their first amendment right of free speech inappropriately sometimes, but I can't help that, either.
But let's have the best time possible. Let's listen to the committee members, Bob, Betsy, Ms. Hahn if she attends, and all the comments from the floor.
More Deceit From a BDC Contracted Employee.
Dateline: Sunday July 22, 2007.
Place: Point Fermin Park in San Pedro.
Event: Music by the Sea
"BDC" stands for Bisno Development Co. They have contracted with a company that gathers signatures on petitions favoring Ponte Vista at San Pedro. I will call the paid petition gatherers who attempt to gather signatures, "PPG".
There is one particular PPG who is known around town by a number of individuals as being paid to gather petitions. This individual has a job that pays her to gather petition signatures. It is her job and that I do not call into question, at all.
There have been statements made by PPG personnel which are false and not only does Bob know this, there have been claims from representatives of BDC that they have made specific instructions in not stating certain false claims when gathering petitions.
On Sunday I approached the specific PPG because I wanted to listen to what she said to a prospective petition signer. She approached a person listening to music and asked; "Would you sign a petition for affordable senior housing in San Pedro?" She handed the petition to the person who began to fill it out. When the petition was being signed I asked the PPG to see the petition she was trying to get signatures for. She handed it to me and I did read that the first sentence of the petition form stated "We support Ponte Vista at San Pedro." That too, is something I don't need to question. I am glad that it comprised the first real wording on the petition.
I then stated to the PPG that her statement was a falsehood and she replied, "I am just helping a friend out." I asked her if she was getting paid to collect signatures and she again stated, "I am just helping a friend out." She asked me to find the other person in the park gathering Ponte Vista petition signatures, but I wanted to see if this particular PPG would make the same false statement to another person she tried to get to sign the petition.
We had a back and forth discussion where she continue to claim she was not getting paid, she was just helping a friend out, and didn't know that her statement was false. I continued to let her know that I knew she was being paid to gather signatures and she should at least admit that fact. I did state that if she wasn't getting paid that it would be wrong for her not to be getting paid when the other PPGs were receiving pay for the work they do.
Finally she asked me to stop "harassing" her because she had to get back to her "job." I stated that most people with jobs get paid for doing them and if she wasn't getting paid to do the "job" she was doing, then I thought she was being cheated.
She went up to a group of folks who I think she knew and stated to me that if I didn't stop asking her questions she would "call my husband to come down here." I also saw a fellow staring me down in a posture and demeanor that suggested he thought he was a tough guy.
I determined that her comment about calling her husband down to deal with me was enough of a threat that I asked a witness to come over, state that I had received a threat, and it was time to call the L.A.P.D.
Actually, I know that there is a presence of L.A.P.D. members in the park and I really didn't need to call the L.A.P.D., which I never did.
When I talked to the person who holds the permit for the park, he told me that there should never have been any PPG persons in the park during the events he holds the permits for. I pointed out the PPG to the permit holder who instructed the PPG to stop collecting signatures on the grass area of the park and that she had every right to attempt to collect signatures if she stood on the concrete sidewalk on the border of the park. She complied with that demand. I do not know whether the other PPG in the park complied.
So what we had here was a veteran PPG continue to spew language that representatives of Bob Bisno have said should not be used. We have a veteran PPG continue to lie about getting paid, (of course she did finally admit that she was being paid) and she had to threaten me.
There was a period of time she stood nearby where I was sitting and was on her cell phone, but I was not bothered at all by that. It made me and some other folks laugh because I am back to using my crutches. I did get in trouble with a good friend because she told me I should have been sitting down the whole time and not visiting the PPG.
What have we learned. The deceit continues. A veteran PPG still is willing to go against the demands of the contractor and use falsehoods. I can't blame Bob or Elise for this one because I do know that told us they did talk to the contractor.
We also learn that you should be very wary of everyone who approaches you seeking your signature on any petition. We should always read what the petition states and make sure we are not being fed falsehoods. If anyone questions us about the R1 petition, we all have the responsibility to be truthful and have as much correct information as possible. If R1 petition gatherers don't feel they have enough accurate information, they can always contact me or John or Gabriel or Winnie or Nancy or Barbara or Bruce or a host of others in OUR community that can clear up any misinformation they may have.
The R1 petition is simple. It states that the zoning currently at the Ponte Vista should remain and that no zoning change be approved.
We also learned that we must continue to monitor representatives of BDC and their contractors. We can't seem to count on BDC to do anything about their contractors even though they are not working truthfully.
If the representatives of the company hired to collect petitions for Ponte Vista wish to contact me and discuss these issues, folks already know where to write.
We also have learned since last Monday that Bob hasn't amended his application to reflect his new total-unit application, there continues to be an allowance for falsehoods on the part of paid employees representing Ponte Vista, there was a fake R1 blog created to further confuse real issues that it appears BDC wishes to avoid addressing, and that there have been over 10,000 signatures on petitions that are simple to read, understand, and support.
When Bob and BDC do things correctly like oppose any new high school on the Ponte Vista site, I have stated that and praised Bob and offered my support. When Bob and I both agree that a road from Western to Gaffey and continuing on to new ramps for the 110 Freeway be built, I also thank him for that support and I believe we should all support both the opposition to any new high school and the support for the new road.
I do "attack" Bob's position and the positions of supporters and others who want to place such an overly large housing project at the Ponte Vista site. I do criticize folks who I know wish to achieve their own gain at the expense of the rest of OUR community.
I do condemn folks who claim a "need" when they are actually trying to get what they "want" passed.
But I still believe I am reasonable, responsible, realistic, and respectful, even though I have been subjected to some of the worst personal attacks I and many others have ever seen.
I will try to continue to be nice, but I reserve the right and the obligation to get mean if I think it is necessary. With the vast majority of these posts I have been civil. There is no law that states I must always be civil or fair, but I try as well as I can, anyway.
Place: Point Fermin Park in San Pedro.
Event: Music by the Sea
"BDC" stands for Bisno Development Co. They have contracted with a company that gathers signatures on petitions favoring Ponte Vista at San Pedro. I will call the paid petition gatherers who attempt to gather signatures, "PPG".
There is one particular PPG who is known around town by a number of individuals as being paid to gather petitions. This individual has a job that pays her to gather petition signatures. It is her job and that I do not call into question, at all.
There have been statements made by PPG personnel which are false and not only does Bob know this, there have been claims from representatives of BDC that they have made specific instructions in not stating certain false claims when gathering petitions.
On Sunday I approached the specific PPG because I wanted to listen to what she said to a prospective petition signer. She approached a person listening to music and asked; "Would you sign a petition for affordable senior housing in San Pedro?" She handed the petition to the person who began to fill it out. When the petition was being signed I asked the PPG to see the petition she was trying to get signatures for. She handed it to me and I did read that the first sentence of the petition form stated "We support Ponte Vista at San Pedro." That too, is something I don't need to question. I am glad that it comprised the first real wording on the petition.
I then stated to the PPG that her statement was a falsehood and she replied, "I am just helping a friend out." I asked her if she was getting paid to collect signatures and she again stated, "I am just helping a friend out." She asked me to find the other person in the park gathering Ponte Vista petition signatures, but I wanted to see if this particular PPG would make the same false statement to another person she tried to get to sign the petition.
We had a back and forth discussion where she continue to claim she was not getting paid, she was just helping a friend out, and didn't know that her statement was false. I continued to let her know that I knew she was being paid to gather signatures and she should at least admit that fact. I did state that if she wasn't getting paid that it would be wrong for her not to be getting paid when the other PPGs were receiving pay for the work they do.
Finally she asked me to stop "harassing" her because she had to get back to her "job." I stated that most people with jobs get paid for doing them and if she wasn't getting paid to do the "job" she was doing, then I thought she was being cheated.
She went up to a group of folks who I think she knew and stated to me that if I didn't stop asking her questions she would "call my husband to come down here." I also saw a fellow staring me down in a posture and demeanor that suggested he thought he was a tough guy.
I determined that her comment about calling her husband down to deal with me was enough of a threat that I asked a witness to come over, state that I had received a threat, and it was time to call the L.A.P.D.
Actually, I know that there is a presence of L.A.P.D. members in the park and I really didn't need to call the L.A.P.D., which I never did.
When I talked to the person who holds the permit for the park, he told me that there should never have been any PPG persons in the park during the events he holds the permits for. I pointed out the PPG to the permit holder who instructed the PPG to stop collecting signatures on the grass area of the park and that she had every right to attempt to collect signatures if she stood on the concrete sidewalk on the border of the park. She complied with that demand. I do not know whether the other PPG in the park complied.
So what we had here was a veteran PPG continue to spew language that representatives of Bob Bisno have said should not be used. We have a veteran PPG continue to lie about getting paid, (of course she did finally admit that she was being paid) and she had to threaten me.
There was a period of time she stood nearby where I was sitting and was on her cell phone, but I was not bothered at all by that. It made me and some other folks laugh because I am back to using my crutches. I did get in trouble with a good friend because she told me I should have been sitting down the whole time and not visiting the PPG.
What have we learned. The deceit continues. A veteran PPG still is willing to go against the demands of the contractor and use falsehoods. I can't blame Bob or Elise for this one because I do know that told us they did talk to the contractor.
We also learn that you should be very wary of everyone who approaches you seeking your signature on any petition. We should always read what the petition states and make sure we are not being fed falsehoods. If anyone questions us about the R1 petition, we all have the responsibility to be truthful and have as much correct information as possible. If R1 petition gatherers don't feel they have enough accurate information, they can always contact me or John or Gabriel or Winnie or Nancy or Barbara or Bruce or a host of others in OUR community that can clear up any misinformation they may have.
The R1 petition is simple. It states that the zoning currently at the Ponte Vista should remain and that no zoning change be approved.
We also learned that we must continue to monitor representatives of BDC and their contractors. We can't seem to count on BDC to do anything about their contractors even though they are not working truthfully.
If the representatives of the company hired to collect petitions for Ponte Vista wish to contact me and discuss these issues, folks already know where to write.
We also have learned since last Monday that Bob hasn't amended his application to reflect his new total-unit application, there continues to be an allowance for falsehoods on the part of paid employees representing Ponte Vista, there was a fake R1 blog created to further confuse real issues that it appears BDC wishes to avoid addressing, and that there have been over 10,000 signatures on petitions that are simple to read, understand, and support.
When Bob and BDC do things correctly like oppose any new high school on the Ponte Vista site, I have stated that and praised Bob and offered my support. When Bob and I both agree that a road from Western to Gaffey and continuing on to new ramps for the 110 Freeway be built, I also thank him for that support and I believe we should all support both the opposition to any new high school and the support for the new road.
I do "attack" Bob's position and the positions of supporters and others who want to place such an overly large housing project at the Ponte Vista site. I do criticize folks who I know wish to achieve their own gain at the expense of the rest of OUR community.
I do condemn folks who claim a "need" when they are actually trying to get what they "want" passed.
But I still believe I am reasonable, responsible, realistic, and respectful, even though I have been subjected to some of the worst personal attacks I and many others have ever seen.
I will try to continue to be nice, but I reserve the right and the obligation to get mean if I think it is necessary. With the vast majority of these posts I have been civil. There is no law that states I must always be civil or fair, but I try as well as I can, anyway.
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