Mike Proctor May 22, 2013 at 03:02 pm
Are you kidding me. The guy voluntarily helped in the search. He was never asked by any official…Read More agency to help. He said he had hiked the are many times. He knew the risks.
He new of the rumors about drug use by the lost hikers, but still chose to volunteer and help with the search.
He needs to accept responsibility for the medical bills.
Spitzer, is grandstanding, and I find it scary, that he trying to make NEW laws so that he can GO BACK and try and go after these young adults. It looks like he may be trying to save face, because the OCSD dropped the ball, and failed to collect or present enough evidence in the first place, showing that drugs were the reason the hikers got lost in the first place. SORRY Spitzer, you can't have it both ways.
Jim Gardner May 22, 2013 at 11:35 am
Hi Truth,
Yes, tandem parking can be a disaster. The only benefit is that it lets the developer…Read More make more money by building more units and using less land. I suppose that's a benefit. It probably translates into a marginal decrease in the initial home price, but the studies I looked at showed that it also represented a lower re-sale price because tandem parking was not considered desirable.
The big problem is that it adds to the number of cars on the street, and in many areas of Lake Forest this is already a problem.
Hopefully the commissioners will rule against it in the coming revision of the residential parking regulations.
LakeForestTruth May 22, 2013 at 10:54 am
If the parking standard change is approved, I fear that it will establish precedent for use by all…Read More the other developers.
Jim Gardner May 22, 2013 at 08:42 am
Hi Justin,
I agree. It's difficult to know what is and what isn't too much government regulation…Read More and in general it's best to let the market forces determine what businesses succeed and what fail. But in this case it certainly seems that another store selling wine and beer in an already over-saturated area, when DUIs and alcohol related crimes are already a problem, is not good policy.
I also agree that the old dealerships are an eye sore. And if we don't go ahead and fill the space with new homes, the chances are for the next year or so they will remain an eye sore. But in the very near future, more than 2000 new homes will be built in that general area, and this will certainly provide new demand for retail services which can make the area look good again. It's not a perfect solution, to wait for the market forces to shape the area, but altering the Master Plan which already is giving us too many homes, by approving even more homes, is a long range solution that I believe will ultimately be even worse.
Jim Gardner May 21, 2013 at 11:57 am
Hi Lionel,
The only person I can recall who was in favor of term limits was Marcia Rudolph, the…Read More incumbent city council member who was recently defeated.
I think your point about "new blood" is a good one. In my businesses I always liked to change out a lawyer or an accountant to get the benefits of a fresh look. Although there are potential downsides to this, overall I found it an effectrive strategy to look at this every 5 or so years. The fact that you are open to change also helps keep the existing people on their toes.
As far as the record of our legal team, it is a poor one, with millions of dollars being spent every year. No other city around here spends a greater % on legal services than we do. Nor have they had so many fruitless adventures, such as the day laborer ban, the sex offender ban, etc.
Lionel M. May 20, 2013 at 03:13 pm
Is there anyone who is against term limits?
And what about term limits for our staff and our…Read More contractors? Doesn't the same rationale - "new blood" - apply to staff and contractors like our legal firm that keeps getting us into lawsuits, charging great sums, and often leaving us with no gains.
Updated: Sheriff's Reserve Sergeant Beaten in RSM Home, Son in Custody
Reserve officer is in critical condition. His son is a person of interest. Trabuco Hills High was placed on lockdown during a manhunt.
Comment 18 Recommend Peter Schelden (Editor)