Welcome!
Starting today, I will be joining the ranks of bloggers with the goal of providing Ventura citizens another opportunity for real time news and dialogue on City news. I encourage you to post your feedback, questions and comments!
My colleague, Santa Paula's City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz, pioneered this high tech/high touch approach and I've sought his advice. Unlike many "official" blogs, his is designed to promote dialogue. So I'm using his guidelines for what belongs in a civic forum -- and what unfortunately doesn't. So here they are: Comment submissions will be moderated based on the following comment policy:
- Stay on topic. Comments should relate to the topic being discussed in the original post.
- Keep it clean. Comments should not contain profanity, racial slurs or any other derogatory terms.
- Don't make it personal. Comments should not contain personal or defamatory attacks.
- You don't have to agree with me. Reasonable arguments for opposing views are encouraged.
- I don't have to agree with you. A posted comment is the opinion of the poster only, and publication of a comment does not imply endorsement or agreement by myself or the City of Ventura.
- No campaigning. This blog is not the place to endorse candidates or a particular stance on a currently active ballot measure.
- In keeping with an existing City web site policy, links to web sites outside cityofventura.net are not allowed in posted comments.
- This comment policy may be revised at any time.
- I reserve the right to prohibit comment submissions from individuals who repeatedly submit comments that violate this policy.
- Your submission of a comment consititutes your acceptance of this comment policy.
If you have any questions or comments about this policy, please feel free to contact me directly at citymanager@ci.ventura.ca.us.
posted by Rick Cole at
3:22 PM
13 Comments:
Hi Rick,
Good luck with your blog. -KenFmSP
You're off to a great start, Rick. I'm a big fan of blogging as a communication tool. I hope you continue with it.
i am glad to see this blog !
there is so much going on in our precious Ventura !!
we live in Paradise !!
btw , what is up with those crazy contrails that sometimes litter our skies .. are those military planes ??
thanks alot !!
God Bless Ventura / Pierpont !!!!
Great. City Hall is opening more channels of communication.
Have a hot/cold relationship with Ventura. For the most part love it here. But a concern that friends and neighbors (I live in Pierpont) increasingly have, is the crime and homelessness along the bike path. I know many women like me who run/walk/bike the path from Pierpont to the river mouth for exercise, but this has become increasingly uncomfortable. There are homeless people (these are a new breed of angry, homeless by choice young people) passed out in front of the Aloha Steakhouse almost daily, guys drinking in the state park in the morning, aggressive panhandling and it's beginning to be so threatening that I don't go past the pier if I'm alone.
What would it take to get a couple (or more) patrols along the beach front on bikes or foot?
The beach front is an integral part of the paradise that is Ventura for both residents and visitors and it is becoming downright scary.
Most cities are using officers on bikes for the problem mentioned at the beach.
Hello! I read this article! Big thanks to author, very interesting. Write more.
Is there any plan to clean up Seaward ave (Harbor Blvd. to the beach) Filming segments of "Endless Bummer" was certainly appropriate. I believe the fellow from Ojai was confused and looking for Sewer st. and settled on the end of Seaward. When, please tell, is the city going to reverse the slumming of Seaward? Fast becoming the skidrow of Ventura, what a shame. Motels and apartments housing homeless on vouchers, kids without parental care and merchants satisfied with a lousy/seedy level fit for skidrow not my city. Bob Smith bsks123@sbcglobal.net
I am a resident of Ventura and an attorney in Santa Barbara. What is Ventura's ordinance on vehicles with bumping music? The police are not enforcing the current vehicle code section prohibiting such. My intent is to bring this issue to the attention of law makers because the invasion of privacy (and other torts) is something that needs to be enforced ASAP. The "West-side" needs a wake-up call now!
Kristine McCardle, Esq.
I am very concerned about the city budget. I understand that layoff's are in the making. Rather than fire a $30,000 a year clerk, how about anyone making over $40,000 takes a 10% cut. That would not impact the high salary person much and would make a significant change in the deficit.I see in the paper today the Stanford president and provost are both taking cuts and staff members will be taking cuts from their $250,000 and up salaries. A 10% cut from a $250,000 salary is significant and would help to solve our problem.
Pay cuts should certainly get consideration. Our Police Management deferred their scheduled salary increase by 3 months to save money to reduce the impacts of cuts in this year's budget.
Of course, no one makes $250,000 in this organization. My salary is $174,000 (which is less than my predecessor was making when she left five years ago.)
I understand that the City of Ventura currently has a $4 million budget deficit. Could the number of vacant businesses in Ventura be a factor? All these vacant businesses cause lost revenue and jobs? On Victoria, we have a huge former KMart building. On Mills, we have a former Good Guys. On the far north end of the Pacific View Mall we have the former Barker Brothers, Circuit City, Thrifty's and 3 smaller business. On Thompson, we have the former Just Tires, Aamco, McConica Motors as well as numerous other small businesses down Thompson. On Main Street, we have VideoTyme. In the Auto Center, we have the Volvo dealership. And most recently, we have the Mervyns and Linens and Things. What attempts is the City of Ventura making to fill these businesses to create revenue and jobs for the unemployed? I have heard rumors that the City of Ventura is not encouraging new businesses such as Home Depot, Vons Pavillion and Walmart. Is this true? How many Ventura residents shop in nearby cities because of the lack of the above mentioned businesses?
Yes, there are many vacancies in Ventura, but it is important to remember two things: one, we continue to produce the second highest per capita sales tax revenue out of the 10 cities in Ventura County and an estimated 73,000 stores will close this year because of the falling retail market.
So things are tough all over. Ventura actively works with real estate brokers and property owners to market their properties and facilitate tenant improvements. Each year, Councilmembers and staff provide a both and schedule an active round of meetings at the gathering of retailers at the International Council of Shopping Centers conference that draws 40,000 participants. Leads developed there are actively followed up on throughout the year.
We also work very closely with the Downtown Ventura Organization and the Chamber of Commerce on marketing and retailer attraction.
By the way, my latest blog entries are at:
http://www.cityofventura.net/cmblog/
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