The Land I Love

During the “7^th inning stretch” at every Dodger baseball game, the stirring words of God Bless America ring out, usually with a different singer at the microphone each night.  And that patriotic ritual is followed by the classic “Take me out to the Ballgame” as the enthusiastic crowd of 40 to 50 thousand lend their voices for a sing-a-long fest.

My two passions are indulged and it never gets old!  The gift of America and its national pastime are emotionally acknowledged!  It is an ever-present reminder to me that of course not everyone shares my passion for baseball, but all Americans should share this heartfelt moment of reverent expression for their country. 

Some personal thoughts about the land I love…  

The Founding Fathers began their great experiment … a land governed by the people, of the people and for the people. It was quite unique on the world stage. 

President Lincoln recognized the perils of enslaving a race because of the color of their skin.  He freed the slaves; then fought a war to preserve a nation where all men were free.  It was a union that stands to this day? Yes racism persists, but we have come a long way to make good on the promise that all men are created equal.

It matters that the man in the White House today serving as President - is a black man.  In the final analysis, he will be judged on the content of his character (as well as policies and leadership) and not the color of his skin.

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In my America, our parents and grandparents from that same Generation worked hard, sacrificed much, fought side by side in two World Wars, many died and many returned to start families and raise their children to be better educated and obtain what can only be called the American dream. 

In my America its citizens act quickly and are the most generous in their giving of not only money but time… to people facing catastrophes of all types.  Ask the Sumatra tsunami victims, 9-11 survivors, even the flood victims of New Orleans.

In my America, oppressed people from all over the world were welcomed to our shores under the banner of freedom and liberty? Many a foreigner emerged from their place in steerage to see the beacon of light symbolized by Lady Liberty in New York harbor. They came to escape hate and tyranny; they came to know a nation that opened its arms.

They tearfully read the words engraved on a bronze plaque mounted on the Statue of Liberty?

"Give us your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

Upon reflection, if you can name another country in the world that embraces this kind of diversity, please tell me.  In fact try to imagine what this world would be like without the United States of America.

These same immigrants—our ancestors—were proud to become Americans, and some of the successive generations even settled in the San Fernando Valley.  And they gave back!  Brave young Americans landed on the beaches of Normandy that launched the invasion of Europe and the liberation of that continent from Hitler’s Nazi machine? 

One moving example of America’s greatness rests in no fewer than twenty European cemeteries where over 104,000 men who gave their lives are buried. 

Today we are engaged in yet another controversial war.  How will our present and future generations learn from history and revere and preserve freedom and liberty in this wonderful land of opportunity? 

In his final speech as our 40^th President, Ronald Reagan warned of “an eradication of the American memory that could result, ultimately, in the erosion of the American spirit.”  I’m afraid we may be in that distressed state today. I believe it’s more than an opinion or perception that American students know less about American history than any other subject they study.  

America is surely not perfect and never claimed to be.  But its citizens have strived to stand in the void between a good and evil world.  In the dark days following WWII Pope Pius XII said “The American people have a great genius for splendid and unselfish actions. Into the hands of America God has placed the destinies of an afflicted mankind.”  Indeed, perhaps we are “last best hope of man on earth”.

Profiles in Courage? Not Exactly!

(Initially written in August of 2010)

The furor rising over the Ground Zero Mosque gave President Obama an opportunity to have what in political circles has come to be known as a “Sister Souljah moment”. And … he blew it—big time.

To refresh our memories: It was the presidential campaign of 1992 and Bill Clinton was invited to speak at a meeting of Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow Coalition a month after the Los Angeles riots (a dark period indeed for us Angeleno’s). It so happened that a Black rapper named Sister Souljah was quoted in an interview as saying “if black people kill black people every day, why not have a week and kill white people?”

When Bill Clinton spoke to the group with Jackson present the following night, he took her harmful words and responded in kind by separating himself from that sentiment: “If you took the words ’white’ and ‘black’ and reversed them, you might think David Duke gave that speech”. Jesse Jackson was not amused and wrongfully tried to defend the young rapper by stating that she “represents the feelings and hopes of a whole generation of people.

Bill Clinton has always exhibited a knack for being a political opportunist and seized on what turned out to be a defining moment of his campaign, hence the addition of “Sister Souljah moment” to the political lexicon.  Because of Clinton’s political skills, I’m not sure what his true beliefs were about race at the time.  But this moment stood out to help Clinton show the American people that he was willing to take on the left- wing establishment of the Democratic Party, and appealing to independents and disenchanted Republicans alike. While I’m no advocate of Clinton or his presidency, it was a courageous act that happens all too rarely in political circles.

Last Friday night, President Obama attended and stood before a large Muslim group gathering for a Ramadan dinner and spoke the words that may also be another reason for his dwindling approval ratings.  In true Obama fashion, he sought to speak down to Americans by lecturing all of us including the families of those firefighters and their children about religious tolerance at ground zero." "Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country," he said to applause.

By Saturday morning the president said, "I was not commenting and I will not comment on the wisdom of making the decision to put a mosque" near Ground Zero, he told reporters during a visit to the Gulf Coast. "I was commenting very specifically on the right people have that dates back to our founding."

Too late Mr. President! You had your (Sister Souljah) moment to shine the previous night.  What a shame! He could have combined both quotes and said something to the effect of “Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country, but I need to comment on the wisdom of making that decision to put a mosque near Ground Zero." He could have looked them in the eye and meant it.  That would have been worthy of a “profile in courage” write- up.

Instead he waited until he was one thousand miles away the next day. He certainly would not have received applause and would have ruffled many feathers. But he would have spoken up for most Americans in this passionate matter.

There are even some of his apologists (who are getting scarcer by the day) who believe he exhibited courage by speaking up for the constitutional rights of all citizens –even those groups which may be unpopular. Hogwash! It was not courageous to tell Muslims what they wanted to hear in person...  then recant it the following day.  Even High school students can sign on to the 1st Amendment concept of religious freedom and the legal right to build a place of worship in American communities.

He could have taken a cue from the Clinton playbook and demonstrated real leadership by taking on a constituency that needed to hear about wisdom and sensitivity as it related to the still raw emotions of building a Mosque within spitting distance of the murder of three thousand Americans by Islamic radicals.

This issue is wrong on so many levels.  We are constantly reminded of how moderate this Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf is... but he is on record stating how America could have been complicit in the attack on 9-11 because of our foreign policy.  He also refuses to convict Hamas as a terrorist group by simply stating “terrorism is a complicated issue”. Right! They must be “freedom fighters”. We have heard that before.

Since 9/11 Americans have been instructed to be sensitive to Muslims, especially those deemed to be moderate, and I think we have been extremely tolerant in light of many tainted incidents including the Fort Hood massacre, the Christmas bomber and the discussions of conducting jury trials for terrorists. It’s about time these “moderates” show their fellow Americans the same sensitivity and take the Mosque uptown.  Manhattan is a big place.

Even Senate Majority leader Harry Reid has gone against Mr. Obama. You know you are having a bad day when the names Gingrich, Palin and Reid are on the same side. In the midst of continuing poor economic news and mounting unemployment, President Obama picked a wrong time to pour gasoline on the fire of his Presidency. 

Climate Change or Climate Scheme

After getting through the 5^th day of rain in southern California (and wondering if there are 35 days left until we see Noah), watching most of the country in a deep freeze (even Florida), one’s thoughts turn to – Global Warming?  

Blessings to Al Gore for pulling off what may be the biggest boondoggle of the decade –no make that the century.   How things would have been different had he won the razor thin election in 2000 and not George W.?  That would have been a nightmare on its own but now I’m not sure what would have been worse—“President” Gore for eight years or subjecting us to his “Inconvenient Truth” religion and creating a legion of “lemmings to the sea” – if we have any “seas” left (according to Gore) 

Forgive me if my skepticism shows but I can not let myself to get all worked up over an issue that has been scientifically invented and millions of people being proselytized to become converts.  Is it really an environmental crisis that global surface temperatures have increased 0.74 ± 0.18 °C (1.33 ± 0.32 °F) between the start and the end of the 20th century?  Is this an issue to get worked up about?  One degree in 50 years… and for this Mr. Gore banks millions. 

Just a reminder: we have over 12% unemployment in California, a state bordering on bankruptcy; two wars in progress; terrorists in the Islamic world who want us dead; a lack of leadership by our current administration in Washington and politicians running scared everywhere.  Hello!! 

 If you are paying attention, you must know that the entire theory has been debunked by the recent discoveries of confidential e-mails that smack of a huge cover-up and aptly titled by the pundits as “Climategate”.  

These e-mails show, among many other things, private admissions of doubt or scientific weakness in the global warming theory. In acknowledging that global temperatures have actually declined for the past decade, one scientist asks, "Where the heck is global warming? The fact is that we can't account for the lack of warming at the moment and it is a travesty that we can't." 

Of course that didn’t stop actor Danny Glover for his bizarre explanation of blaming the Haiti Earthquake on global warming.  Glover told GRITtv that it could have happened to any of the Caribbean island nations: "They are all in peril because of global warming." Really??  Maybe we now know the real cause of the Northridge quake in 1994. Then, he lamented the failure of the climate summit in Copenhagen. As a result of that failure, he says, "this is what happened." A cause like this makes some strange bedfellows indeed. 

For good measure, let’s visit a man named James Hansen who may be the Father of the Global Warming/Climate Change debacle because he supposedly raised the issue before Congress in the 80’s. Did you check that—the 80’s. He just published a book called “Storms of my Grandchildren: The Truth about the Coming Climate Catastrophe and Our Last Chance to Save Humanity”.  A very provocative title, I must admit.  The end of the world always draws people in.  I always though it might be from nuclear weapons and/or the Anti Christ… but carbon emissions?  

I have four grandchildren and I sleep very soundly at night knowing that they are safe in their beds, warm, fed and loved daily.  What I do worry about is how much they will have to pay in taxes with the huge debt being built up by our President and lawmakers in Congress (federal and state) over their goofy environmental Cap & Trade policy. 

Isn’t it telling that Hansen has been evangelizing for over 25 years with tiny morsels of results generating masses of propaganda and no grandchildren lost to global warming yet? And here is a news flash; God will take care of his creation. 

It’s peculiar that so many people will not trust what they see but will declare absolute truth to an ill-defined philosophy based on a futuristic event.  If you want to talk about conserving energy and finding alternate sources – rather than our basic oil and gas, I’m all ears… and eyes.  I can actually SEE the sun and feel its warmth so I know solar cells will work.  I can look into the LA skyline and actually see a greatly diminished smog cloud from 40 years of effort to curb air pollutants by legislating vehicle emissions in this car- crazy culture we live in.  

What I also see is the disgraceful waste of taxpayers money by our very own Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi,  who commandeered three military airplanes to fly 20 house members ( 14 Democrats, six Republicans), their families and support staff (63 total) to the Copenhagen Climate summit in December. It was estimated there were 101 congress related attendees that booked 321 hotel nights at the five –star Marriott.  Don’t forget meals-- you can bet that they didn’t dine at McDonalds.  I visited Copenhagen this past summer and can tell you it may be the most expensive city in Europe to dine out.  

Senator James Inhofe (R-OK)  who attended the summit on his own for just a few hours, and is an ardent detractor of man-made climate change offered  his own assessment of the unholy entourage, "They're going because it's the biggest party of the year. The worst thing that happened there is they ran out of caviar."

Of course, nothing of even minor significance was accomplished. They should have invited Danny Glover. As for Madame Speaker – I’ll quote lawyer Joseph Welch responding to Senator Joe McCarthy during the contentious communists witch-hunts of the 1950’s; “Have you no sense of decency?" Overnight, McCarthy's immense national popularity evaporated. He was ostracized by his party, and ignored by the press.  Wouldn’t it be justice to see “Déjà Vu all over again” (apologies to Yogi Berra) applied to speaker Pelosi.  We won’t hold our breath… but hope these doomsayers will hold theirs. “Hot” air needs to be extinguished before it’s too late for all of us.

There Goes the Neighborhood

(Initially written and published in January 2010 for Valley News Group)

One important “belated” resolution we all could make this year is to fuel the revival of American Community. Whether a New Years resolution or not, striving for better social interaction could truly enhance one’s life.  Oh, to revive the spirit of American community, which somehow dwindled over the past 35 years or so – a time when people were not disconnected from family, friends, neighbors, and social structures like the PTA, church, civic clubs and bowling leagues.  Why bowling leagues?   

I am reminded of a book published in 2000 aptly titled “Bowling Alone” by a Harvard professor named Robert Putnam and a just released film titled “Up in the Air” by director Jason Reitman (Juno) and starring George Clooney.  

Talk about disconnected and disaffected, Clooney plays a modern day hatchet man named Ryan Bingham who travels the country (via plane –hence the title) to arrive at companies for the purpose of “firing” their employees and presenting them with a severance “package” and “packets” of useful separation procedures to move them along in Life. For most people, a job is not just a source of revenue but brings friendship, purpose and feeling s of self worth. In spite of turning people lives upside down (or up in the air), this character’s goal is reaching the 10 million mile mark for frequent fliers of American Airlines. Only six others have that dubious distinction… Bingham also has no wife, no children and a one bedroom apartment in Omaha, Nebraska in which he spends 42 unhappy days (his words) a year – he’s up in the air the other 320 days – which in essence becomes his real residence; A world devoid of neighbors, relationships and community.  

Does this theme sound all too familiar in our present day social and economic climate?

While that answer is a resounding “yes”, it just adds to a long standing climate of a loss in social capital in our present day society.  

Think about our transient population – especially in California. Raise your hand if you know more than a half dozen Southern California “natives”.  Speaking for myself as a transplanted Easterner, it seems like we all come from somewhere else where our memories, close friends and loved ones still reside.   

So not only are we living away from our core support groups, many of our jobs are knowledge based and require frequent travel  or just commuting local freeways to reach “clients” (both external and internal). We are leaving our immediate families, if we even made time to build one, to fend for themselves during our busy weeks.  This is true for both men and women in today’s work force.  Many evenings are spent in hotels, bars, convention parties and client dinners or traffic… instead of little league, piano recitals, school functions or just “face time” with our families and children.  And we call this progress?  

Californians also have a knack for tuning out their neighbors.  We retreat into our garages, closing the door on the immediate world, and exist in our own cocoon. Weeks could go by without talking to a neighbor. UPS could deliver a package that could sit at   our front door for days as we enter and exit out of our “bat caves” on a daily basis.  

With the advent of advanced forms of technology, we don’t need to even speak with anyone. We can email from our computers, blackberries or iPhones. Even our cell phones are used not only for calling people but texting them.  Our caller ID feature allows us to screen all our calls at home and not answer.  These features are convenient but serve to further alienate us in our bubble environment. 

In a sick twist to this connection deficiency, it is almost a blessing that California has a number of natural disasters.  In my 30 years residence here, it was during the Northridge Earthquake in 1994 that I met and actually spent time getting to know my neighbors.  The other calamity was the Topanga fire in 2005 which prompted us to actually “pack” the things that mattered in the event of evacuation. That packing in and of itself is a great exercise in which to partake – we know to take each member of our family, our pets and pictures of our past.  Throw in some financial information, maybe a laptop and a few books including a Bible.  What other “stuff” is important in a crisis.  

Putnam’s account (in “Bowling Alone”) measures social capital rewards, communal activity and community sharing.  His findings are that social bonds are the most powerful predictor of life satisfaction. Just getting married and attending a club meeting (or joining a bowling league) greatly enhances our social capital and is relatively the same as doubling and quadrupling our real income. His findings also foretell that communities with less social capital have lower educational performance, higher teen pregnancy, increased child suicide rates, prenatal mortality and higher crime rates.  Can we get an Amen? 

My own journey in life began in Philadelphia in what I refer to as the asphalt jungle.  We didn’t call it social capital but our environment was devoid of 3 car garages – we parked on the street sometimes blocks away… we lived in row houses (3 bedrooms and ONE bathroom) that were all connected (the town home concept of today) and we had porches in the front of these row houses that fostered communication with one’s neighbors on both sides and across the street.  In the summer, we didn’t retire to a pool in the backyard but got under a hose or a fire hydrant with the rest of our neighbors.  You ladies haven’t lived unless you have been dunked under a fire hydrant by the boys in the neighborhood.  It was character building and defined the concept of a good sport.  And yes, my mother actually belonged to a bowling league with the other mothers who lived on the street.  It now looks like an idyllic lifestyle… though far from perfect.  

As we revisit Ryan Bingham, our disaffected hatchet man, he has also returned to his hometown in northern Wisconsin to attend his young sisters wedding, we are treated to a nostalgic visit to his high school, a very meager but spirited family wedding; and yes a longing for the human condition of social interaction and fellowship...  and a victory in carrying another’s burden. As in life, not everything works out “happily ever after” for our protagonist but we find there is more than a “body in that suit”. Somewhere a soul was awakened and hopefully will emerge before it’s really too late.  That is a lesson for all of us to revisit. Get in the game.  Invite your neighbors over for a rousing game of dominoes, hold a block party, join that bridge club, have that beer bash… and of course, join a bowling league.   Let’s not wait for the next catastrophe to meet our neighbor’s.

You CAN Fight City Hall (or at least a parking ticket)

Redemption! Not guilty! Those are my words… “Not Liable –General Dismissal” were the words the City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation (DOT) used in their letter to my wife, Angela, when they notified her of their decision to rescind a disputed parking citation and refund the exorbitant $353 fine that accompanied it. The infraction was for the much-heralded parking tickets targeting Disabled/Handicapped motorists at the Canoga Park Costco. 

Some of you may remember an editorial column (“Sneak Attack on the Handicapped”) I wrote a few months back admonishing the City’s DOT and what seemed an out of control parking officer named K Brooks who was becoming Genghis Khan among the West Valley residents and patrons of Costco in Canoga Park.  It sure seemed that “Our Miss Brooks” (as she is affectionately known around the Parente residence ~among other unprintable nicknames ~after the 50’s TV show) was on a campaign to balance not only LA but even the state of California budget shortfall by ticketing vehicles that were parked “askew” in the disabled parking spaces at Costco, Traders Joe’s and other retail business’ in and around the West Valley. 

This outrageous abuse of power resonated to become a cause célèbre in local circles around City Councilman Dennis Zine’s office as well as Miss Brooks Supervisors in the Parking Enforcement department.  I had a number of responses in my email Inbox -- as did the Valley News Group office.

I’m also happy to report that those citizens I heard from had their citations overturned and their fines refunded.  One resident, Christie Logan received her ticket from Miss “K” at Trader Joe’s in Woodland Hills... proving she didn’t discriminate. Another WH resident, Joyce Shaefer, was also a victim at Costco—but in Northridge AND in 2005.  How long, indeed, has this offense been going on in the Valley? Two people that were mentioned in the first article were Israel Ruiz and Rene Leyua whose citations were already dismissed.  In fact there was one gentleman named Reuven E. Epstein, who lives in Northern California and happened to read the piece in the Las Virgines Enterprise when he was visiting the SF Valley area for his 55^th High School reunion. He requested from me the picture and wording of the signs that Costco was posting on each parking stall.  Apparently he is aware of the flawed policy and was trying to prevent the same outrage that was mustering in his Northern Cal neighborhood (where a ticket is $400) and he wanted an example of the wording to post in the retail establishments he frequented. Maybe Our Miss Brooks moonlights out of town.

Just beware! Before long this disturbing trend could sweep around the entire country… we all know how California sets the course for cutting edge ideas and direction.  Don’t be surprised if Congress adopts a new disabled parking policy. After all, the US is in bigger financial trouble than any other municipality and $353 parking citations administered to millions of handicapped drivers could put a sizable dent in the national debt.  It could make the Medicare issue look like a “blip” on the entitlement meter.

Sarcasm aside, a heavy burden has now been lifted off Angela, who prides herself in following the traffic laws and knowing the vehicle code from her career in the auto insurance industry. She was noticeably unhinged and upset by the unfair application of the “spirit of the law” action that was applied by a rogue officer, not just to her but a number of unfortunate citizens who merely touched the thin blue line of a disabled parking stall.  We  just wonder how many others simply paid the excessive fine because they couldn’t afford to take a day off from work to appear at a hearing or didn’t know how to express themselves verbally or in writing... or just didn’t want to make waves with a Government authority bent on raising cash for the city coffers. My advice would always be to stand up for your rights as a citizen. Never let any level of government bureaucracies dictate passive behavior. 

On a positive note, I have to admit that our hearing was conducted in a polite, professional manner… not in a court setting but in an office at the Van Nuys location.  The hearing examiner was a man named Surapong Kunkaew and he is to be commended for the manner in which he allowed Angela and me to offer our testimony in a relaxed, supportive atmosphere.  He allowed us both to speak and submit photos of our vehicle, the new Costco sign that was posted after the infraction, and other documents, including the Warner Center News article written by “yours truly” that dripped with sarcasm and outrage that I frankly thought may hinder our case because of its public flogging of the City’s Parking officials and a rogue officer (even though it was deserved). 

Mr. Kunkaew listened attentively, gathered up the evidence and said we would hear have his verdict in writing within 10 days.  His two page decision include a fair assessment of the facts, Angela’s testimony of her ticket-free status of 15 years while in possession of a handicapped placard,  and the officer’s erroneous comments of our vehicle being 100% on the cross marks along with his findings of the facts presented. Additionally, in the course of his investigation, a fact akin to a “smoking gun” turned up.  In the photograph that was submitted, there was a Mercedes Benz parked in the next stall (license plate was visible) that was also on the blue lines and inexplicably NOT issued a citation.    We’ll never know how Miss Brooks explained that faux pas but we again admire the diligence of Mr. Kunkaew in checking out that important piece of evidence. 

 We came away with satisfaction that our case was handled fairly and we were elated.  It’s like getting a refund check from the IRS.  We’ll have to figure out how to celebrate and spend it.  An iPad (not enough) or iPhone (money to spare) sounds good or a shopping spree at Costco (can I use another small flat screen?).  Angela is happy to be still undefeated in fighting traffic and parking tickets.  

More importantly I think there were many “lessons learned” here; 1) As a citizen, you will get a fair hearing and you can always contest a wrong that has been committed if you believe you are right—you can “fight” City Hall so to speak;  2) The whole community will be better served because people are now aware of the infraction and will be extra careful when parking in Handicap zones and parking enforcement officers like K Brooks must use common sense and good judgment ; and lastly 4) Don’t mess with the salt of the earth and awaken the sleeping giant that represents hard working folks who pay the taxes and spend their hard earned money in our great Community.

I’m not a USC graduate (but our esteemed editor Kathleen Sterling is as is my friend Janey Rifkin who writes the Health Column for this paper) but I’m reminded of their school’s motto and battle cry to “Fight On”.  Everyone take notice.

Sneak Attack on the Handicapped

(initially written pand ublished for Valley News group 3/21/2012)

About a month ago, my wife, Angela returned from Costco (Canoga Park) very upset. That is surprising because a Costco trip usually evokes comfortable feelings for having spent the customary “few hundred dollars” on the necessities of present-day life --food, clothing and a flat screen TV. Her anger had nothing to do with the purchase of our “modern-day plunder” or the consistent customer service and price savings that Costco offers.

She was the recipient of a $353 parking ticket. Yikes!!  That is very excessive… what could possibly be her infraction? She must have parked in a red zone with the engine running, the lights on and the horn blaring? No! She must have taken up multiple parking spots – maybe parking horizontally? No again!  Oh she must have parked in a Handicapped spot? You’re getting warm! She did – but she IS handicapped and has had a placard since being diagnosed with MS over 15 years ago.

The ticket was in violation of section VC 22507.8C2 which states:

Parking in Spaces for the Disabled

(1) On the lines marking the boundaries of a parking stall or space designated for disabled persons or disabled veterans.

(2) In any area of the pavement adjacent to a parking stall or space designated for disabled persons or disabled veterans that is marked by crosshatched lines and is thereby designated, pursuant to any local ordinance, for the loading and unloading of vehicles parked in the stall or space.

In the comments section of the ticket were the words “100 pct on cross marks-- no activity/unattended”

You have to know Angela.  She worked in the auto insurance claims business most of her adult life and can almost quote the vehicle code from memory.  She has fought moving violations multiple times and won.  She would never park on the cross marks let alone “100%”.  That is where the rub comes in. 

There happens to be an officer named K Brooks who has been assigned to the Costco parking lot and is beginning to “make her bones” by targeting the handicap/disabled parking section and unleashing parking violations for any vehicle that merely touches any blue line. 

How do I know this? When I called City councilman Dennis Zine’s office to ask for help I was quickly connected to Jessica Forkish, who was familiar with the situation and has been handling the “issue” with at least a half –dozen other recipients. Hmmm! Do I detect a pattern here? You bet! Jessica explained that they were quite aware of the situation and they have notified Costco as well as the City of Los Angeles Parking Enforcement of an overzealous officer – the same K Brooks (a female).  Costco has actually constructed signs at each handicap space warning all disabled drivers to park in such a way that no part of a vehicles tires are “on any part of the line” to avoid attracting the “evil eye” (my words) of Ms. Brooks.  Who, just for good measure, takes pictures of all vehicles that are in violation?  Jessica admitted that she has also called Brooks supervisor, Lt. Sylvia Vasquez of Parking Enforcement to attempt to reason with her fanatical underling. Maybe the Lieutenant could try giving her rogue officer an “order” to cease and desist.

Angela visited Costco and spoke with Rudy, the Supervising Manager; he confirmed the problem along with the fact that the store had indeed placed signs (at every space) at their own expense to warn its disabled patrons of the risk imperfect parking would cause to their pocketbook.  Rudy also divulged that management was put on notice by Costco security when “Our Miss Brooks” was “on the premises” (I guess to observe her ticket writing prowess).  My wife did observe the signs and even prompted a “would-be offender” to read it before they entered Costco... which of course motivated the driver to limp back and “re-park” the vehicle.  Nothing like making it easy for the lame among us… when the lame-brained are on the loose.

In the meantime, Angela has called and spoken to Lt. Vasquez, who informed my wife that the ticket was indeed “legal” but she should fight it.  Angela also spoke with two other nice citizens, Israel Ruiz and Rene ______ who both did just that (fight) by requesting a hearing and both won.  And because both Israel and Rene could prove hardship, they didn’t have to put out the small fortune ($353) first. We will have no such luck. Our check is in the mail for the excessive amount while we request that hearing (which will be in early May). And we will fight it tooth and nail.

Well maybe justice will prevail and “Our Miss Brooks” has been reigned in. Not so fast!! In a recent visit just last week to Costco, Angela met up with another victim of the Parking Gestapo. The man was just frustrated and shocked that he could receive a ticket for this minor infraction. He was resigned to pay it until my wife coaxed him to also request a hearing. The Beat goes on – and on and on… Many, I’m sure are just resigned to pay it rather than take the time and energy to fight. What a shame!

Our misery would love more company… If enough $353 parking tickets in handicap zones are handed out, it will create a huge backlash and could actually stop this madness. You think the recent crowds in Egypt and Wisconsin were raucous and committed to a mission. Wait ‘till you awaken the sleeping giant of West Valley disabled residents with unjust and exorbitant parking tickets.  Maybe we should take to the streets.

Seriously folks, does the City of LA think they found a valid source of much needed revenue –on the backs of the disabled community? This is outrageous! Isn’t it difficult enough for these citizens (my wife included) to maneuver around in parking lots without having to look with laser precision if their car violates the ‘thin blue line”.  The City and its Parking Gestapo may be correct and within the “letter of the law” and we may have to fork over the massive fine for patronizing our local retail establishments. But do we really want a community subjected to this blatant abuse of power that is costing people an oppressive fine in these difficult economic times?

I think not! Is it the “letter of the law” or the “spirit of the law” that administers in a positive way to the public at large? Do traffic cops give tickets to people driving 41 miles per hour in a 40 mile per hour zone? They could I guess but that is not what the spirit of the law implies.

Voltaire had it right when he, from another era mind you, aptly stated a plight that still inflicts us today…  “Common sense is not so common”. Lighten up, Lt. Vasquez and K Brooks. Aren’t there some parking meters out there worth checking instead?

Kick the Job Market Blues

(Initially written and published 8-13-2012)

Similar to the universal call of the real estate profession of location, location, location… the battle cry of Americans today is Jobs, Jobs, Jobs!!  Where are they? The current ruckus in Washington may have centered on the debt ceiling debate and those Tea Party scoundrels having the nerve to force our Government to curb their drunken sailor type spending habits.  Our clueless President continues to call for higher taxes on the so-called wealthy – from small business owners to corporate jet owners (really?) who won’t pay their fair share.  The stock market is tanking faster than Tiger Woods comeback.  And the White House continues to act like eleven year old girls pointing fingers at the GOP, the Tea Party faithful, Standard & Poor and even George W. Bush for getting us into this mess.

As a conservative, I never thought I would be longing for the presidency of Bill Clinton who lingered over an economy that was close to full employment.  It was also helpful that the Monica Lewinsky saga so engulfed Clinton in legal proceedings, rendering him neutered in setting policy, thereby allowing the invisible hand of the market to work its magic without interference from the White House.

The overriding issue in our country can be summed up in three words -- Americans Need Jobs – and now.  Instead of raising taxes on an already struggling working class, which includes those upwardly mobile and much maligned affluent professionals, wouldn’t it be better to raise “revenue” from a few million more workers who will make up the government shortfall by contributing their fair share of federal income tax and payroll taxes (Social Security), instead of being a huge drain on spending by collecting an ever extending 99 weeks of unemployment insurance? 

At this point, all we have received are those “shovel-ready” road fixing government “chain gang” jobs to upgrade our national infrastructure.  But where are the private sector knowledge based opportunities that were so indicative of the 90’s high tech boom and an emerging college educated work force?

It is no secret that many successful companies are reporting excellent financial returns … and they are doing it with fewer workers, thereby driving American productivity to record highs.   How nice... but why aren’t American companies hiring. The unemployment rate dipped ever so slightly last week one tenth of a point to 9.1% due to a better than expected jobs report of 117,000 new jobs created.  It was a modest report that did little to quell the free falling stock market and the high level of uncertainty that is handcuffing American business.  It is a climate caused by this President’s continual threats to raise taxes and increase Employers health care costs through the oncoming national Obama care program.   It is a formula that falls altogether short of what is needed to reverse the trend of our “jobless” recovery.

We have waited eagerly for some semblance of leadership from our President and/or anyone from the administration with experience in job-related economic matters.  Unfortunately we can’t hold our collective breath while Rome continues to burn and the current administration “fiddles” around without viable ideas or proposals that could work.

We can probably all cite the ghastly numbers relating to the job market… 13.9 million people unemployed; when the underemployed and the discouraged are added to the numbers, the unemployment rate rises to 16.6% (from the actual reported 9.1%). Teens looking for jobs this summer faced one of the toughest job markets in 60 years.  Their rate is close to 25%.

But I want to offer some simple advice to the political class along with solid business axioms that have actually worked in the past:

1.     Tell the truth and stop playing the class warfare card with the American people! 

Government doesn’t create the type of jobs that are needed in a free market system, but the private sector does. Public and private companies need to be engaged in producing goods and services that are of a marketable nature.  Many of these companies are very entrepreneurial in nature and operate small businesses, a key engine of job growth in our economy... These are the very people Obama continues to pick on as wealthy millionaires driving corporate jets and walking away without paying their fair share of taxes.  Never mind that the top 1 percent of income earners paid 38 percent of all federal income taxes in 2008, while the bottom 50 percent paid only 3 percent; .Forty-nine percent of U.S. households paid no federal income tax at all and the top 10% of wage earners pay 71% of federal income taxes.  Those are the hard cold facts and the dirty little secret that our politicians fail to point out.  It kind of changes the notion of “fair share”

2.     Relieve businesses of the enormous burden of costly Government regulations that stifle job growth.

As part of an ongoing debate, small business owners have spoken of the devastating impact the tsunami of Obama Administration regulations is having on their ability to grow and create jobs.  They are far too numerous to mention here but just turn to the EPA to get the picture. It really defies all common sense that the EPA would move forward with instituting some 30 new costly regulations and not take into account any job losses that will be a direct result.

3.     Create incentives for businesses to loosen up that cash they are sitting on and begin hiring workers.

 Institute immediate tax credits for any Company hiring workers over the next year.  This would help defray the costs and allow government to participate in the private sector job engine.

4.     Allow companies to bring in workers who are being paid unemployment insurance at no cost to them. 

This would tie in to the very successful welfare- to-work program initiated during the Clinton Administration (Democrats do have it in them to expect some return for entitlements).  I can speak from personal experience that being unemployed creates not only financial hardship but a psychological barrier.  Work is intrinsic to our human need to contribute to our families and society.  A pattern of unemployment is destructive to this very fabric of life.  The longer someone is unemployed, the harder it is to return to the work force.  Can you imagine how many businesses could use the extra help if it is being subsidized by Uncle Sam?  Those workers could even end up gaining full employment by virtue of their visible work ethic.  It is a “try before you buy” scenario that currently works today in the temporary employment business.   We have that ominous sign of 13.9 million people collecting money for up to 99 weeks with more talk from our political leaders to extend it.  These “99ers” need an incentive to lead productive lives until jobs become available.

Those are some ideas, Mr. President!  Please stop blaming the Bush tax cuts, the Tea Party, S&P, etc.  and come up with a plan. Try not to speak in platitudes like a college professor.  You don’t have to walk on water, just get out of the boat and get wet. That’s what true leadership is about.