Schwarzenegger stands up for local government

There is plenty of blame to go around for the repeat of the perennial budget mess in Sacramento, but Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's defense of local government is a refreshing break from the partisan gamesmanship.Unable to reconcile their profound disagreements, leaders in both parties in the Legislature have decided to raid cities and counties.

Having dug themselves into a hole by gimmicks and borrowing, they've come up with an absurdly irresponsible plan to "borrow" at least $1.4 billion from already strapped city and county governments, as well as $1.1 billion in funds promised for transportation projects.What is most reckless about this scheme is not the devastating impact it will have on vital local services -- it is that the State will have to pay it back with interest. Why does anyone think that a State that was recently given the lowest fiscal rating in the nation (a D+) should borrow more?

Especially since the borrowing won't produce any tangible assets -- just a bigger hole in the balance sheet?Governor Schwarzenegger chided the Legislators for their arrogance, describing their attitude as: "Let's grab their money now because we've made a mistake."If you would like to express your opinion to local legislators on why the State should not force local governments to make cuts when they won't, here's their contacts:

Assemblymember Pedro Nava (D): (916) 319-2035 assemblymember.nava@assembly.ca.gov

Senator Tom McClintock (R): (916) 651-4019 senator.mcclintock@sen.ca.gov

Kids Vs. Global Warming

There's a new prime time television series on "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" which dwells on the depressing topic of kids growing up way too quickly in ways that can't be good for themselves or our future. How encouraging that here in Ventura, some American teenagers are taking responsibility for the future of our planet.

"Kids Vs. Global Warming" is a movement launched by some amazing middle school students at Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education. Wunderkind Alec Loorz, now 13, apparently started things off by putting together a Powerpoint on the perils of climate change, inspiring a growing cadre of classmates and their parents to crusade for local awareness and action. They quickly rallied around SLAP or "Sea Level Awareness Project." The idea is to erect poles that will show the alarming level of sea rise that scientists predict lie ahead if the planet continues to heat up. It's a way to dramatize that much of Ventura's coastal zone would be under water by the end of the century if current trends continue.

On Sunday, these energetic activists erected their first poles along Ventura's Promenade. Speeches, wrist bands, music and striking new t-shirts highlighted the event.

Loorz is off to El Camino High School in the fall, but his network of activists hopes to continue to spread to other campuses through educational outreach efforts. For more on the group and their ambitious effort to save the planet, check out their web site (and Alec's blog) at:


http://www.kids-vs-global-warming.com/

There is also an in-depth story by Zeke Barlow on the group that ran in the VC Star:

www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/jun/27/teens-warning-on-global-warming-will-be-overhead/

If there is a "secret life" for teenagers, this is certainly a better alternative. Pass on the word . . . and maybe it won't be a secret anymore that some kids have better things to do than getting in trouble or going shopping.