Comments by Steven Hyman
August 01, 2008
Cutting the state's staff is a good start. But why limit it to 10%. How about more.
And hopefully we can stop sending everything to them. Some of the requests are absurd.
Kind of reminds me of the joke. What do you call 10,000 lawyers at the bottom of the ocean? A good start.
August 01, 2008
This is probably one of many needed projects that the community needs to do. Is it the most pressing? That's debatable.
Of course if we didn't squander millions and millions of dollars on lawyers over all these years, this and many other projects would have been completed benefiting everyone.
July 23, 2008
This seems like a really tough issue to deal with and something way beyond the level of our school board. There are social issues and parenting issues at work here. My main involvement over the past 12-15 years has been as a parent. I'm surprised to hear all the knocks against the school board but all my attention has been with the teachers for my 2 boys who graduated in 01 and 05. I have been really impressed with the quality and caring nature of the teachers. Some have been outstanding. My only…
June 28, 2008
I guess the oasis Ken is referring to must have predated the gated community of teepees the Oholone's had there. And who told you this was an "oasis"? Did Kermit the HMB Red Legged Frog whisper it in your ear or did you find a tablet from the Oholone Review!
June 28, 2008
Ken, Can I please borrow your glasses cause I'm not seeing the oasis. Even when I'm only going 30mph in my 400 hp Jag, I only see weeds. Perhaps you can ask your Pastor at church to say a special prayer for our man-made wetlands and spare them from their fate with the Grim Discer. I think this makes 2 times that we've actually agreed (about how pretty this place is). You better be careful cause I'd hate to have your buddies think you are fraternizing with the (you fill in the blank) cause I can't…
June 28, 2008
Francis you are right. I am incapable of acknowledging the importance of our man-made wetlands to the health of the coast at Beachwood. That's why I'm hoping we can pass AB 1991 so we can end this long running financial nightmare and use this land for its original intention - houses.
June 28, 2008
Its hard to look at a 300-400 wide strip of dirt between 2 neighborhoods fronting HWY1 as "necessary for the health of the coast". Similar parcels just north of this are disced all the time for growing flowers, etc. This parcel was planned for homes and should be built out. Somehow when I drive past this hollow ground, I don't see the splendor of Big Sur. Its just be a field of weeds that may even be a fire hazard. It would be sad but it may end up being the $20-$40 million memorial to the failed…
June 28, 2008
The gamble was getting AB 1991 passed so as not to pay $18 million. If the City had to give up a field of weeds by a sewer plant and McDonalds, that's ok with me and many others.
Paying $18 million (really a lot more) for something worth a fraction of that is unpalatable. But the City screwed up and has to accept the consequences for the failed policies of the past.
Considering we may be paying for this for a long time, these failures of government won't be easily forgotten.
June 27, 2008
Rick- I don't believe that this was done in order to "stick it" or with "malice". AB 1991 was a clever way of getting out of a mess without having to pay a lot of money for the City wrongfully damaging someone's property. Appealing was a major gamble that we couldn't afford if we lost so the settlement was the way to go. And we reduced the size of the judgment so this accomplished what an appeal would have hoped to achieve. As I said, this mess has spanned many administrations. What's equally stunning…
June 26, 2008
I am pleased to re-read what I wrote and I stand by my words today. Sometimes things work and sometimes they don't. It would be a shame for all the residents in HMB if this bill is defeated. The alternative of paying $18 million plus attorney fees and other City costs for this overpriced parcel will be a travesty. It will end up as a lasting memorial to incompetent government and how failed policies from previous administrations can nearly bankrupt a little town. And since we may end up paying for…
June 21, 2008
Here we go again. An easement is granted usually for access to land-locked property or for sidewalks or for utilities (above or below ground). Easements are done with the approval of both the grantor and recipient of the easement. An official map is prepared by a surveyor showing the exact size of the easement. Then (doesn't have to be but really should to protect the rights of the recipient) should be recorded with the County. Either you have an easement or you don't. There's no maybe. Hopefully,…
June 19, 2008
If we don't get our news from cable outlets that have the time to devote more to segments, should we get the Weekly Reader? In case you didn't get it, Jon Stuart was a joke.
Fox is by far the best and balanced but I constantly flip between CNN, MSNBC, PBS and local news for humor. Limbaugh, Dobbs and O'Reily are very informative than comes Hannity. Savage, while entertaining, is over the top and Oberman is a jealous sore looser and is totally biased.
June 18, 2008
Glad to see that the contempt here isn't just limited to brokers and local business people who try to point out the many great reasons to live here. Its amusing to see the anger here towards democrats like Davis (and Clinton) who are shrewdly moving AB 1991 through Sacramento. I can understand the contempt for Fox even though they are more balanced than many of the other stations. People seem to be jealous of success. I guess these blogs let people vent their frustrations. And its cheaper than therapy.
June 17, 2008
Kevin, Thanks for starting my day off with a smile. We are actually agreeing, first loyalty and now the Clintons. Its only a matter of time till I convince you of the virtues of Fox and Beachwood with Fox being the easier sell. Despite what you think of Davis's former boss, these guys are the masters of spin and they are democrats so they took Sacramento by storm. I don't think Karl Rove would have been as effective. And of course CBS and the NY Times aren't credible either so maybe we should get…
June 16, 2008
At least Lanny Davis remains loyal to the people who made him famous. That is a lot better than Dick Morris or George Stephanoplous who have sold out the Clintons.
As far as biased news stations go, MS-NBC takes the cake. Wow, Kevin are we ever going to agree on anything?
June 16, 2008
Scott, I was referring to the Mayor's 5/6 letter to the CCC. What I found most disingenious was the back-peddling that first the CCC would approve 19 homes and once AB1991 was submitted, they softened their position to maybe allow 30 homes. I'm sure they view this bill as a wittling away of the grip they have on us. All I can say is too little too late. Let me first start out by saying that I think POST purchasing N Wavecrest was a good idea. The City spent a lot of money on lawyers, reports, staff…
June 16, 2008
I initially thought this bill was going to be easily defeated by the onslaught from all the environmental groups because they have historically been so creative/aggressive in pushing their agenda. But it was really a stroke of genius by the City to take the tact they did with HIGH priced lobbyists. Not only did they create a winning coalition but made sure everybody had to lay out their positions early so they couldn't flip-flop later. This may set a new standard in how to do things here by aggressively…
June 16, 2008
Don't know how much the City is spending on its lobbying efforts but if it is successful, its well worth the investment. And its much cheaper than writing an $18 million check too. Time has a way of healing most wounds so hopefully our state agencies are staffed with mature adults and realize that this is business. But I don't hear any concern from you for our residents who are staring at this staggering debt. Should this bill fail, we will be the ones holding the bag for the failures of our government.…
June 15, 2008
Its always fun dealing with people who disagree with you. And I realize my views are in a definite minority here but I do like the fact that I know whom I'm speaking to. Most of the time things are civil. There are a few who like to make disparaging comments and therefore the appropriate response. Beachwood and 1991 are things we will never agree on. So my guess is that we'll be having these colorful conversations for years to come as this outrageously expensive comic opera or greek tragedy plays…
June 15, 2008
Janet, I can see a scenario if AB 1991 passes, it will be challenged in courts until the clock run out and then the City has to write the $18 million check. That would be par for the course in doing business in HMB. Very sad. Its also starting to anger people with this fight everything mentality. We want things done now, not blow millions on lawyers as project costs skyrocket. Look we can't even replace a old waterline without fighting for years. What a joke. I still believe that there is more local…
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