Saturday, December 30, 2006

Returned to Sender:No Such Person at This Address

 
 
Always/Never
count your Peacocks
before they are hatched.
 
HISTORY ?
FOR SALE:
 
Signed
Whitehouse Card
Former Governor of Massachusset
(1975-1979, 1983-1991)
Unsuccesful
Democratic Candidate
for President of the United States of America 

                                           

 thinned along ¾-inch strip at top edge from prior mounting.

Otherwise, fine condition.

 



SEE IF DOCUMENT IS FOR SALE RIGHT NOW!!

This document was available for sale in a previous auction.

It may or may not be currently available for sale.

It is also highly likely that we have more of

this personality available for sale either in our archives

or on our direct purchase.

 

 

NOTE HORSE AND BUGGY TANDEM PARKED


Friday, December 29, 2006

Plausible Peacocks

Advice to a Fanless Dancer   
il Principe
 
 
Why bother
being informed?
Why bother at all with that 
Democracy & Process thing?
 
Why not
just petulantly point out the apparent,
and with a painful to watch,
yet inexplicable arrogance*,
 
* (that engrosses reasonable folk
to stare in amazement;
as they might in watching
a train wreck in progress.)
 
demand Draconian Punishments
to be exacted from 
the Victims of a State Crime...
further corrupt the difficult relationship
between a Behemoth Institution
and its Neighbors...
put needless pressure
on an already overburdened Public Agenda....
usurp the Spirit of A Holiday Season...
and divide a longstanding
organic community,
while at the same time,
depriving it of its charm and dignity?
 
For Extra Credit:
Do all of the above without constituency or mandate;
taking care to use Students
 to assist you in your personal tilds.
 
 
 
To be perfect
at the Political Science of Cynicism;
why not lay low for a month,
thus positioning yourself
for a grand entrance
as
the
Voice of Reason and Sanity?
 
 
..Oh..
you did?
and you are ?
 
WoW..You are Good!
 
Oh well then...
NeverMind!
 
 
 
Quite a piece of work this peacock.
In his own words, a coalition builder;
a broker of consensi in a Democracy.
.Nonsense.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

GM Announces New Model

Announcing
The
2008
Cadillac
Westwood Tandem
 

A Voice In the Wilderness

 
Typical Residential Street Westwood Village 2010
Post Kitty & Mike
 
 
 

Monday, December 25, 2006

Village Person Volunteers to Help Ticket & Tow

Village Person Volunteers to Help LAPD Ticket & Tow
 
Image:Michael Dukakis in tank.jpg
 

Saturday, December 23, 2006

a gift of the obvious

For those of you wondering
just who Professor Shoup,
America's Parking Guru might be...
Go Here:
 
Welcome to meters in your driveways.
 
The man has a gift for stating the obvious
with the air of apparent discovery.
 
WoW ! Important Stuff !
Gosh...whooda thunk it?
There really is no Free Lunch ?
Hoo Knew?
 
 
 
 

Thursday, December 21, 2006

Yes Your Majesties No Your Majesties

"Yes, Your Majesties,
No, Your Majesties,
Give Us A Kick If You Will,
Your Majesties.."
 
 
Thanks Again Mike & Kitty !
Can't tell ya
how much we appreciate you
flattening our home equity
and disrupting the hood
with your cynical meddling.
 
You two are more fun 
than an earthquake..
well done, you two odd & crazy kidz!
 
 
While you are busy
Hijacking our Local Government
and playing with our lives....
perhaps you could take a moment 
to jot down any other little things
that offend your Highness' taste.
 
OR....
If you are just too too busy,
you could have your
Junior Assistant West Coast Promotion Man,
Prince Alex,
tell us
what we,
of the lower castes, 
can do
to makeover our neighborhood
in your images,
and thereby please you more.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

We are pleased ...

... to be informed that ticketing will not happen as planned, however the goal of this organization is to come up with a solution, we don't want to re-visit this issue 6 months down the line, we want to have a solution for it, how bout permit tandem parking ? Issue permits for tandem parking, this would solve the immediate need until a more long term approach were discovered, built by UCLA and community. We are happy to hear other ideas, we would also like very much to be heard by, Mr. Dukakis, City Council and UCLA, we will schedule meetings to discuss all of this in the very near future. The permit approach grandfathers in existing builings with parking needs very real, very necessary to thier lively-hood and well being, (reliance) yet allows the city to enforce its laws which it has not been doing for 30 or more years, to non-permit holders.

Monday, December 18, 2006

Gloss Weiss

Thank You Councilman Weiss:
You mention that recently, the CITY was ADVISED
they must comply with ADA requirements.
Who was the advisor and/or at who's behest?
 
Are there any sanctions for UCLA having expanded without required/proper parking plans?
Mr. Weiss, let's be clear, we are ALL at this impasse because for two years 
Mr. Dukakis's wife made it clear to all who would listen,
that she found the Village Tandem parking  to be "ugly."
The ADA cover is simply a tool used by a cynical Mr. Dukakis to get his way.
 
Perhaps, you have misunderstood our e-mails and requests.
We are not looking to you to voice your take on this issue,
nor to hear reasons why you/we are helpless in this matter.
We are looking for you to represent the Majority Voice on this issue.
 
Enough is enough.
How does a former hood ornament
of arguably one of the more corrupted political states in America
end up inflicting his family's "personal taste" on a California neighborhood ?
Now thats depressing!
 
Surely, there are better applications for both the ADA
and Mr. Dukakis' o'erwhelming ego,
than screwing over homeowners and families
whose only crime is having cleaned up Los Angeles' and UCLA's mess
in the only manner afforded them.
 
As I recall, Bill Clinton (another politician used to being above the process),
appointed Mr.Dukakis to the Board of AMTRAK.
No wonder he is so good at railroading people.
 
Mike, stick to your job.
Take UCLA's money and at least try be a good neighbor.
 
 
 
 
 
 

FW: North Village Parking

Thank you for contacting Councilmember Weiss regarding parking in the North
Village. Our office understands that there has been a shortage of parking
in this area for many years, which has resulted in cars parking in the
aprons of driveways and on the public right of way.

Recently, the City was advised to comply with federal law requiring access
for people with disabilities (ADA) and must enforce existing municipal codes
that do not allow parking on sidewalks.

Given the extreme shortage of parking, and acknowledging that the majority
of residents in this area are UCLA students, Councilmember Weiss has asked
to defer some of the ticketing. This request for deferment would not
include cars parked in the apron of a driveway encroaching onto the sidewalk
or into the street beyond parked cars. Cars parked in this manner would be
aggressively ticketed. Sidewalks must not be blocked, and parked cars must
not prevent the passage of emergency vehicles in the roadway.

In the meantime, Councilmember Weiss will continue to consult with the City
Attorney and other City staff to seek future solutions to address the City's
legal responsibilities and the legitimate concerns of the residents in the
North Village area. Our office will also keep you posted on any
developments in the next few weeks.

If you have any questions, please call 310-289-0353.


Beverly A. Kenworthy
District Director & Planning Deputy
Council District 5
Councilmember Jack Weiss
822 S. Robertson Blvd., Ste. 102
Los Angeles, CA 90035
310.289.0353
310.289.0365 fax

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE
PLEASE NOTE: This electronic mail message and any attachments hereto are
intended solely for the review of the designated recipient(s) and originate
from the office of Los Angeles City Councilmember Jack Weiss (the
"Councilmember"). This message and any attachments may not be used,
reviewed, copied, published, disseminated, redistributed, or forwarded
without the express written permission of the Councilmember or his Chief of
Staff. The information in this electronic mail message and any attachments
is confidential and may be privileged. If you are not a designated
recipient of this communication or if you have received this communication
in error, please contact the sender by reply mail, then destroy any and all
copies of this message and attachments and delete them from your system. To
learn more about Councilmember Jack Weiss and his district, visit
http://www.lacity.org/council/cd5/

Never open a show in L.A....Baby

Barefoot In the Parking 
 
Hmmm........
I imagine about now,
The Chief O' Police
The Right Honourable etc etc & so forth Bratton
is wishin' he'd never picked up the call from Mikey D.
 
 
Professor Shoup
will no doubt win the coveted  "Who Me? Award;
for managing to take California Taxpayers' money for his salary,
yet somehow not bothering to share his Grand Pooh-Bah of Parking expertise
nor his vast knowledge of enforceable sanctions against institutions,
with the one true offender in this scenario;
his employer,
UCLA.
 
Newcomer Alex Faye comes closest to delivering.
But alas, he is but a promising actor
who has now attached his star
to a wagon...
and been left holding the bag
to cover for the real troublemaker of this
disastrous play without a play.
 
And what about M.C. Mikey D?
In crafting his curious performance of a pompous yet bumbling Iago,
Mr. Dukakis is revealed as having as much to do with "the people" and their processes
as Man of La Mancha has to do with the literature of Cervantes.
 
 
Crowdsley Bothers
 
 

Friday, December 15, 2006

Tanks Mike!

December Police Log
North Village Westwood
December 24, 2006
12:04 A.M.
 
Call received from Dukakis household
Duplicate Report # 6854
Part-time resident reports Suspicious, illicit, illegal, life threatening tandem parking activity
in direct violation of Municipal, State and Federal Laws,
The Patriotic Act, The Geneva Convention, The Mayflower Compact and the Treaty of Ghent.
 
Status/Disposition:
Units dispatched
Suspect Apprehended
Taken Into Custody
Pending Competency Hearing
 
 
 
Vehicle: Unregistered/ Uninsured/ Tandem Parked/ IMPOUNDED
               Animal Control /Assistance
              ( Mr. Dukakis demanded to press charges and agreed to appear to testify against Suspect)
 
Name: Clause, Santa
DOB:  1/1/1
Race: Caucasion
Height: 6'
Weight: 342

Thursday, December 14, 2006

UCLA

Go Bruins ... where's the beef, where are the parking spaces, the real mc-koy ... Coca Cola, McDonalds. While we are at it Dukakis ... Kitty ! I like tandem parking gives the North village an air of a city with flair, class, somewhere where it is happening ! Leave well enough alone.

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Lets all go Boston!

 
What happened here?
 
Mike you got it wrong..... again.
 
Everyone knows 
The Boston Model is as follows:
 
You park wherever you want.
 
You might for a moment 
get in a wee bit o' trouble,
 
But then
you can feel free
to call on your local
"connected guy."
...and possibly,
for a small consideration
he might call "his man"
down at the Local Constabulary
and get the fuzz to look the other way.
 
C'mon Mike, get it right !
 

Solution Win Win

No problem to solve this issue.
Its a Slam Dunk
(go Bruins)
 
Let LAPD Issue Tickets every day !
This will make  Mikey & Family happy.
 
However...
Change the L.A. ordinances for the affected patreets in the Village
to reflect a penalty of one nickel per infraction (No Tow)
This willmake the residents happy.
 
See?
Easy.
 
Those who find the parking "ugly"
can always look at internet pictures
of beautiful downtown South Boston.
 

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

A response to a letter ...

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Kevin Salatino, and I am Curator of Prints and Drawings at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Like Flint and Terri Dille, I live (am a homeowner, as are all the resident of my complex) at 10966 Strathmore Drive. My partner is a doctor of infectious diseases with responsibilities at 3 hospitals and one clinic, scattered across the city. We could not possibly function without two cars. And while I could theoretically take the bus to work, as head of my department I have appointments virtually every day of the week off site, both during the day and almost as often in the evening. This necessitates my using a car. Nor could I share my partner’s car even if we chose to, given his constant need of it. I am not at all opposed to permit parking if it could be made to work. And I also think it’s important to separate two distinct issues here. One is the way this whole problem is being handled – in an extremely heavy-handed, even patronizing, way that I find deeply troubling, indeed insulting. We are being told that unless we remove our tandem-parked cars shortly, ticketing will begin post haste. This order has been issued as if by imperial fiat without any alternatives being proposed, without a town meeting to discuss proposals to resolve the situation, without any input – that I can see – from the people who must deal with this on a daily basis. At Michael Dukakis’ urging we are being asked instantly to solve a problem largely created by UCLA and the city. UCLA has had unbridled growth in its student population in the past ten years (most recently the astonishing addition of a virtual village for 2000 students on Veteran). It has not adequately provided for, nor considered the long-term consequences of, the parking needs of all those additional students. The other issue is how the problem is to be solved. Is it too much to ask the city to convene a meeting for this to be discussed – democratically, in an open forum – before tickets begin to be issued? I, for one, have no idea what to do with my car in the interim. There is almost never parking on the street. As for your observation that parked cars are blocking sidewalks: that has always been a ticketable offense, and quite rightly. Anyone who abuses it should be cited. My condominium complex goes to great pains to make certain that the sidewalk in front of our building is always clear. What we are actually talking about is parking on the apron, not on the sidewalk. The sidewalk must be kept clear at all times. If proper enforcement of that rule were instituted, I believe your family would not be compelled to walk in the street, which, of course, should never happen. I, for one, just want this issue resolved. Worry over it, and a sense of utter helplessness – beginning with a rehearsal two years ago when warnings and citations suddenly starting being issued, again at Michael Dukakis’ behest (though this was only revealed later, in a startlingly high-handed way) – have caused fear, anxiety and consternation (and, two years ago, not insignificant expense) for everyone in my complex. Then too, the order was issued with no input, no knowledge of who to turn to, little interest from the city in resolving it, etc. Something needs to be done, but I hope you agree with me that it must be done correctly, and with real understanding that the problem must be solved and not simply brushed away. Thanks for listening.

 

Yours,

 

Kevin Salatino

 

 

Children and Tandem Parking

 

Dear Mr. Stevens,

 

Thank you for your very sympathetic response. I think you’re right that we agree on most things regarding this issue. If, as you suggest – and independently of the apron issue – we were to pursue permit parking (which works well in, for example, West Hollywood), my one question is this. Is every resident, whether owner or renter, granted the same number of permits (say, two or three per household), and, if so, given the staggering number of students in the neighborhood, do we end up with a similar situation as now, with an impossibly inadequate number of street spaces? Or do we suspect that many of those parking on Strathmore are, in fact, students attending classes (although the difficulty of finding spaces at night would suggest otherwise)? Of course, I don’t expect you to know the answers to these questions, but I put them out there as ones we might raise. Thanks again.

 

Yours,

Kevin Salatino

 

 

Dear Mr Salatino,

 

Thanks for your thoughtful comments.  Maybe there is not so much divergence in our opinions aferall. 

 As I tried to emphasize, but perhaps still ineffectively communicated, we/I have never had an issue with cars that park on the apron in a way that does not interfere with the sidewalk (indeed, as I indicated before I like it having cars sticking out in the street to slow traffic).   Somehow I don't think Mike Dukakis is bothered by this either --- but that is not the important issue.  The real issue is related to the blockage of sidewalks.  If the city just bans apron parking because it can not adjudicate whether or not the sidewalk is blocked then this I think is legitimate grounds for complaint.  Indeed our neighbor has a mini which parks on the apron without hanging out over parallel-parked cars or the sidewalk.   

 

I think the concerns and emotions this raises presents a great opportunity to address the extent to which the neighborhood is used as a drive through and parking lot for UCLA and I would hate to see us miss the chance.  I this respect I would like to encourage you and your neighbors to think about permit parking, regardless of how the apron issue is resolved.  I am particularly fond of the permit parking because I believe it would reduce traffic (now many people circle looking for parking) and because it would be a way for all of us to more readily arrange places for visitors to park.

 

Bjorn

 

On Dec 11, 2006, at 3:29 PM, Salatino, Kevin wrote:

Dear Mr. Stevens,

 

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Kevin Salatino, and I am Curator of Prints and Drawings at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Like Flint and Terri Dille, I live (am a homeowner, as are all the resident of my complex) at 10966 Strathmore Drive. My partner is a doctor of infectious diseases with responsibilities at 3 hospitals and one clinic, scattered across the city. We could not possibly function without two cars. And while I could theoretically take the bus to work, as head of my department I have appointments virtually every day of the week off site, both during the day and almost as often in the evening. This necessitates my using a car. Nor could I share my partner’s car even if we chose to, given his constant need of it. I am not at all opposed to permit parking if it could be made to work. And I also think it’s important to separate two distinct issues here. One is the way this whole problem is being handled – in an extremely heavy-handed, even patronizing, way that I find deeply troubling, indeed insulting. We are being told that unless we remove our tandem-parked cars shortly, ticketing will begin post haste. This order has been issued as if by imperial fiat without any alternatives being proposed, without a town meeting to discuss proposals to resolve the situation, without any input – that I can see – from the people who must deal with this on a daily basis. At Michael Dukakis’ urging we are being asked instantly to solve a problem largely created by UCLA and the city. UCLA has had unbridled growth in its student population in the past ten years (most recently the astonishing addition of a virtual village for 2000 students on Veteran). It has not adequately provided for, nor considered the long-term consequences of, the parking needs of all those additional students. The other issue is how the problem is to be solved. Is it too much to ask the city to convene a meeting for this to be discussed – democratically, in an open forum – before tickets begin to be issued? I, for one, have no idea what to do with my car in the interim. There is almost never parking on the street. As for your observation that parked cars are blocking sidewalks: that has always been a ticketable offense, and quite rightly. Anyone who abuses it should be cited. My condominium complex goes to great pains to make certain that the sidewalk in front of our building is always clear. What we are actually talking about is parking on the apron, not on the sidewalk. The sidewalk must be kept clear at all times. If proper enforcement of that rule were instituted, I believe your family would not be compelled to walk in the street, which, of course, should never happen. I, for one, just want this issue resolved. Worry over it, and a sense of utter helplessness – beginning with a rehearsal two years ago when warnings and citations suddenly starting being issued, again at Michael Dukakis’ behest (though this was only revealed later, in a startlingly high-handed way) – have caused fear, anxiety and consternation (and, two years ago, not insignificant expense) for everyone in my complex. Then too, the order was issued with no input, no knowledge of who to turn to, little interest from the city in resolving it, etc. Something needs to be done, but I hope you agree with me that it must be done correctly, and with real understanding that the problem must be solved and not simply brushed away. Thanks for listening.

 

Yours,

 

Kevin Salatino

 

Dear Flint,

 

my parking situation is that we have one garage and one car that my wife and I share.  Indeed we used to even share it with our neighbor who also taught at UCLA and managed to go car-less for five years.   My guess is that one parking-space (our garage) shared by four people (two adults and two kids) is not overly consumptive, you can decide if that makes me wheat or chaff.  

 

Could it be that maybe you don't walk with your kids around the neighborhood as much (we walk by your place at least once a day, but on the other side).    If so I would think you would be as worried about the safety issues as we are.  Even if  you don't walk in the neighborhood lots, the photo is nice and shows that you do get out.  I especially like the photo because the public sidewalk is free so your kids don't have to go in the street. 

 

I am sorry if I can not understand the need (and perceived right) of people to use public sidewalks to store their automobiles, indeed cars blocking sidewalks is the heart of the issue.  I also fail to appreciate why a permit system like they have east of campus and on Midvale isn't being openly welcomed by you and others.

 

Bjorn

 

 

On Dec 11, 2006, at 12:17 PM, Flint Dille wrote:

 

Lots of us have small kids. I have two of my own (see attached). I live at 10966 Strathmore, probably the epicenter (due to the hill that students barrel over) of nasty traffic and I don’t think the apron parking makes it more dangerous. If anything, the irregularity serves as a virtual speed bump for drivers. 

 

Mr. Stevens failed to include his address.  What is his exact parking situation.

 

Here’s the question that separates the wheat from the chaff. Will he give up his parking lot to Lil and Hal or some of the other seniors in the neighborhood should they be inconvenienced.  After all, as the attached photo of my kids  will testify, kids can make it up a hill more easily than seniors.

 

Flint

 

Date: Sun, Dec 10, 2006 at 12:08 PM

 

As a property owner and a father who lives in the North Village of
Westwood I wanted to thank you and the city for finally deciding to
act on the parking situation (i.e., Apron parking).  The blocking of
sidewalks has long posed a hazard for my family and I; often forcing
us (with small children) to walk in the street in order to navigate
cars blocking the sidewalks.  I have long believed that the failure
of the city to enforce its parking rules exposed it to liability. And
while we have continued to press with parking services to address the
issue, I am glad that the reality of this liability has finally
encouraged the city to act.

The
North Village has some of the highest density of pedestrian
traffic in
Los Angeles, making the environment safe for pedestrians
and clean should be the city's priority, not subsidizing property
owners who are packing
four to six students with cars into buildings
with parking for no more than two cars per unit.

Best wishes,

Bjorn Stevens

 

 

 

Monday, December 11, 2006

Google Earth ...

If anyone has Google earth, zoom in to about 400 feet anywhere in the north village, the pics are crystal clear, tandem parking is very visible.  I just thought this was interesting, the aerial photographs look at least 5 years old, as the terrain has changed quite a bit since the pics were taken, which just goes to show how long we have had this. (at least 5 years, and many long time residents remember up to 30 years) I’ve owned property here for 16 years and remember my real estate agent telling us that tandem parking was available.  Now they want to take this away, with no warning, alternative, or hearing of the community, it’s a completely uncharitable approach !

 

C'mon Mikey ...tell the truth

Mr.Dukakis,
Thank you sir for pointing out the obvious
regarding neighboring a major university.
Bravo ! 

The point is sir, the neighborhood and the enforcement agencies had already arrived
at a flexible and common sense truce about the issue and its painfully obvious solution.


Sir, I believe your efforts and defense of those efforts are disingenuous.
Kindly stop your tedious incantation of State and Federal requisites
to anoint your self-righteous personal crusade.

There are also several State Statutes and Regulations that dictate UCLA MUST continue to grow
and there are all manner of Federal requirements for States, Institutions and Cities to
PLAN and EXECUTE discrete and dedicated Parking Facilities within schemes for expansion.*

* I believe these issues fall under the canopy of Public Policy.

This is a longstanding mission you have had for the last two years.
The fact is, a member of your family thinks the parking in the Village is "ugly".
I believe that you sir, have mounted this entire fiasco to please that family member
and exercise your own sense of personal entitlement.

The Los Angeles City Agency responsible for considering "complaints" such as yours,
has denied your "claim" at least twice in the last 2 years.


Messrs. Shoup and Dukakis:
Thanks for adding more stress to a neighborhood
that had already "solved" the problem at the grassroots level.

At this point Sir, your family's taste in urban visuals and your ego
are the larger problems in this neighborhood

Let Mikey Try It !

AN OPINION ON DUKAKIS

Subject: Mo' Bettah Dukakis mit spelling etc

Yih Ken Pahk Yah Cah at Hahvad Yahd
but at UCLA,
yah cahn't !

Dear Mike....
Pffffffffffttttttttt!!!!!!!
Blow it out your ear.

Now,
I could understand it
if perhaps,
you have some small issues
as regards finding yourself
all alone
in the midst of a center
for higher actual learning,
if only for a very short while.

You might feel
overwhelmed,
even trapped
among so many many,
very very big and scary
SUV's and stuff.

It must be terrifying
without your tank and trusty helmet.

It must really be scary out there
in the big world,
gettin' in the newspapers again.
Golly Gee Gosh Mike...
its just like the old days!

Except now,
instead of taking Federal Dollars
to service your absurd addiction
to providing answers to questions
that most folks would never ever
think of asking you, in particular,
in the first place;
you have to settle
for mere State Dollars
to keep the Mikey D. Show
on the road.

Hey...
This is LA Mike !
no worries,
everyone gets it:
When you are dropped
in the Social Contract
to a second opening act,
bitch about the Parking Clause !


Here is a rapid syllabus on
Public Policy
for students abused in
the "Dukakis Project":

The best policy
any public can have
is to:
ignore
the petty griping of
ungrateful,
ungracious,
unqualified
carpetbagging
politicos
whose main claim
to 15 minutes
of anyone's attention
is as a laughstocking footnote
to American Presidential History;
a hubris filled man who was
at every level of governance
and leadership,
consistently in
over his head.

Yet somehow,
transplanted miraculously
in time and geography,
you have arrived anointed
in Westwood,
yea, rising up
heads and shoulders
above your neighbors
when it comes to dictating
(determining)
the best policies
for a longstanding
creative community
which has creatively
solved its own problems
for 35 years.

Apparently Mike,
being an ousted political apparatchik,
and reaching out for an unethical boost
from a fellow Massachussetsian,
The Right Honourable etc etc Bratton
Chief O'Police,
( bypassin' the best needs, will and processes
of those actually involved in the problem
for the long term...)
is not in itself enough of a contradiction
to give you pause
as you reveal yourself
to be a cynical manipulator
of the best systemic protection
against pedagogues
offered a citizenry:
the very public fashion
in which we
debate and determine
our Public Policies .

( Your petty unethical manipulations of the public agenda
and backroom handshakes be damned.
its business as usual here in The Bay State West,
eh Mikey boy?)


The actual residents of this community
must feel like Little Richard's character
in Down and Out in Beverly Hills.

I'm surprised you stopped
with the Police Chief, Mike.

I mean,
given how important you are and all,
I'm amazed ya didn't pick up the phone
and tell Der Governator to mandate that
the people who actually live
in the No Parking Zone of Hell
you have just created
Must,
under penalty of death,
drive cars
no longer than 5'8" tall..
oww, my bad (long)
Would that make it all better Mikey?
Perhaps we should all admit the obvious
and make all those big dangerous streets
One Way.
Would that help make it better Mikey?
I mean...what ever you want dude.

Mike,
Its nice
when ya know
the very Cheef O' Police hisself,
from the olde country.
I imagine it comes in very handy.

But as an American Public told you
the last time anyone took yourself seriously,
We prefer "Public Policy" to be in the hands
of an informed and creative Public,
not shortsighted, shortcutting
visiting Politicians.


P.S.
While your here Mike,
have a "wicket bitchin' time"

Will Mr. Stevens give up his parking space to our seniors

Dear Mr. Stevens,

 

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Kevin Salatino, and I am Curator of Prints and Drawings at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Like Flint and Terri Dille, I live (am a homeowner, as are all the resident of my complex) at 10966 Strathmore Drive. My partner is a doctor of infectious diseases with responsibilities at 3 hospitals and one clinic, scattered across the city. We could not possibly function without two cars. And while I could theoretically take the bus to work, as head of my department I have appointments virtually every day of the week off site, both during the day and almost as often in the evening. This necessitates my using a car. Nor could I share my partner’s car even if we chose to, given his constant need of it. I am not at all opposed to permit parking if it could be made to work. And I also think it’s important to separate two distinct issues here. One is the way this whole problem is being handled – in an extremely heavy-handed, even patronizing, way that I find deeply troubling, indeed insulting. We are being told that unless we remove our tandem-parked cars shortly, ticketing will begin post haste. This order has been issued as if by imperial fiat without any alternatives being proposed, without a town meeting to discuss proposals to resolve the situation, without any input – that I can see – from the people who must deal with this on a daily basis. At Michael Dukakis’ urging we are being asked instantly to solve a problem largely created by UCLA and the city. UCLA has had unbridled growth in its student population in the past ten years (most recently the astonishing addition of a virtual village for 2000 students on Veteran). It has not adequately provided for, nor considered the long-term consequences of, the parking needs of all those additional students. The other issue is how the problem is to be solved. Is it too much to ask the city to convene a meeting for this to be discussed – democratically, in an open forum – before tickets begin to be issued? I, for one, have no idea what to do with my car in the interim. There is almost never parking on the street. As for your observation that parked cars are blocking sidewalks: that has always been a ticketable offense, and quite rightly. Anyone who abuses it should be cited. My condominium complex goes to great pains to make certain that the sidewalk in front of our building is always clear. What we are actually talking about is parking on the apron, not on the sidewalk. The sidewalk must be kept clear at all times. If proper enforcement of that rule were instituted, I believe your family would not be compelled to walk in the street, which, of course, should never happen. I, for one, just want this issue resolved. Worry over it, and a sense of utter helplessness – beginning with a rehearsal two years ago when warnings and citations suddenly starting being issued, again at Michael Dukakis’ behest (though this was only revealed later, in a startlingly high-handed way) – have caused fear, anxiety and consternation (and, two years ago, not insignificant expense) for everyone in my complex. Then too, the order was issued with no input, no knowledge of who to turn to, little interest from the city in resolving it, etc. Something needs to be done, but I hope you agree with me that it must be done correctly, and with real understanding that the problem must be solved and not simply brushed away. Thanks for listening.

 

Yours,

 

Kevin Salatino

 


From: Bjorn Stevens [mailto:bstevens@atmos.ucla.edu]
Sent:
Monday, December 11, 2006 12:35 PM
To: Flint Dille
Cc: Sina Bolour (Verizon); Salatino, Kevin; jeanlouisr1@yahoo.com; susanlieberman@earthlink.net; hal_lieberman@yahoo.com; emeyer@firstregional.com
Subject: Re: Will Mr. Stevens give up his parking space to our seniors [html]

 

Dear Flint,

 

my parking situation is that we have one garage and one car that my wife and I share.  Indeed we used to even share it with our neighbor who also taught at UCLA and managed to go car-less for five years.   My guess is that one parking-space (our garage) shared by four people (two adults and two kids) is not overly consumptive, you can decide if that makes me wheat or chaff.  

 

Could it be that maybe you don't walk with your kids around the neighborhood as much (we walk by your place at least once a day, but on the other side).    If so I would think you would be as worried about the safety issues as we are.  Even if  you don't walk in the neighborhood lots, the photo is nice and shows that you do get out.  I especially like the photo because the public sidewalk is free so your kids don't have to go in the street. 

 

I am sorry if I can not understand the need (and perceived right) of people to use public sidewalks to store their automobiles, indeed cars blocking sidewalks is the heart of the issue.  I also fail to appreciate why a permit system like they have east of campus and on Midvale isn't being openly welcomed by you and others.

 

Bjorn

 

 

On Dec 11, 2006, at 12:17 PM, Flint Dille wrote:

 

Lots of us have small kids. I have two of my own (see attached). I live at 10966 Strathmore, probably the epicenter (due to the hill that students barrel over) of nasty traffic and I don’t think the apron parking makes it more dangerous. If anything, the irregularity serves as a virtual speed bump for drivers. 

 

Mr. Stevens failed to include his address.  What is his exact parking situation.

 

Here’s the question that separates the wheat from the chaff. Will he give up his parking lot to Lil and Hal or some of the other seniors in the neighborhood should they be inconvenienced.  After all, as the attached photo of my kids  will testify, kids can make it up a hill more easily than seniors.

 

Flint

 

[]From: Bjorn Stevens <bstevens@atmos.ucla.edu>

To: rdelgadillo@atty.lacity.org

Cc: councilmember.weiss@lacity.org, ngreenstein@ucpd.ucla.edu, westwoodparking@gmail.com

Date: Sun, Dec 10, 2006 at 12:08 PM

 

As a property owner and a father who lives in the North Village of
Westwood I wanted to thank you and the city for finally deciding to
act on the parking situation (i.e., Apron parking).  The blocking of
sidewalks has long posed a hazard for my family and I; often forcing
us (with small children) to walk in the street in order to navigate
cars blocking the sidewalks.  I have long believed that the failure
of the city to enforce its parking rules exposed it to liability. And
while we have continued to press with parking services to address the
issue, I am glad that the reality of this liability has finally
encouraged the city to act.

The
North Village has some of the highest density of pedestrian
traffic in
Los Angeles, making the environment safe for pedestrians
and clean should be the city's priority, not subsidizing property
owners who are packing
four to six students with cars into buildings
with parking for no more than two cars per unit.

Best wishes,

Bjorn Stevens

 

<PICT0019.JPG>

 

Sunday, December 10, 2006

Apron Parking

Councilman Weiss,

 

This morning I received a WARNING that my vehicle was illegally parked and that in the future it would result in a parking violation. I have been a property owner in the North Village for 29 years and at the time my residence was built (70 + years ago) one garage plus street parking was adequate. Unfortunately over the years high density building development, approved by the city, to accommodate the University of California has substantially changed things. To accommodate this situation apron parking has been permitted for many, many years, before I became a resident of the North Village. It now seems that a part time resident with political clout wants to exacerbate an already trying situation without the foresight to offer any workable solution or alternative.

 

As my councilman I am looking to you to protect my long held rights as a permanent resident of the North Village as well as my property value. One space for a three bedroom family residence is not adequate.

 

Lets work together to find mutually satisfactory solutions to our parking problem and not exacerbate the situation by blindly following an ill considered response offered by someone who has no clue to its ramifications.

 

Respectfully,

 

Edward W. Meyer

 

Dukakis Officially Responds ...


     Alex Fay, one of my best undergraduates who will be taking my graduate course this winter, will be working with me and Professor Shoup on this. Believe me, there is nothing unique about the North Village that isn't found in every neighborhood close to a university. What is unusual is that a lot of illegal parking has been permitted for so long which violates both local and Federal law and creates serious public safety problems. There are obvious and effective solutions to the problem, and, obviously, any new plan should be discussed in detail with people who live in the neighborhood and shouldn't be implemented until June when we have the big student turnover in the neighborhood. That alone will make a big difference, and a parallel parking and permit program should do the rest.

     I have asked Alex to be in touch with you, and both Professor Shoup and I will be happy to work with you when I get out there for the winter quarter.

                                                                                                                                       Mike Dukakis

Saturday, December 9, 2006

Parking

I will be writing later with comments on parking. Just want you to know that this is super.  I forwarded the link to friends in North Village.  I saw the flyers around Levering and Le Conte, but did not see any flyers near me. (Strathmore and Midvale)

Although I will be out of town until the end of December I will be willing to canvas or do something to help out upon my return.

 

I am glad to be listed as a community member, but please correct spelling of my first name.  I would like to see the actual names of people who have submitted comments.

More later.

Thanks,

 

Roxane Stern

11053 Strathmore Dr

LA CA 90024

310 443 1106

 

Letter From A Concerned Resident

I am Responding to the front page article in yesterdays Los Angeles Times about Michael Dukakis' campaign to inforce the laws against tandem parking in the North Village in Westwood.

 

I live in a building on Strathmore Drive built in the early 30's which is now a condo and most of us are property owners.  I am a Professor at UCLA and have been working there for the past 19 years.  We have two other professors from UCLA in the building and most other residents are professionals with families.  Not one student lives in the building.  One parking spot was alotted to each unit  and most of us have families with more than one car.  It is necessary for us to tandem park behind our parking garages.  We leave enough space on the sidewalk for the legal requirement and our cars are not sticking out in the street.  Residents in our building have been tandem parking for the last 30 years.  Enforcement of the "apron parking" law would make it impossible for us to live in our building because most other parking in the neighborhood is already taken by UCLA students.  Officials at UCLA and City Officials need to seriously take a look at their lack of action in dealing with this long standing problem of parking at UCLA and in the neighborhood.  Solutions need to be found for long standing residents and property owners in the area- parking permists must be issued and additional parking must be created to address this problem.  Enforcing tandem parking law and punishing everyone with tickets at this time including long residents is not the solution.  Complete responsibility for this enormous problem rests with the Officials at UCLA and the Officials at Los Angeles City Hall.

 

University of California, Los Angeles has been building more buildings, offering more programs,  and attracting more students around the world and staff without dealing with the urgent need for more parking in the area.  It is time to face up to this problem full on- before it becomes a disaster that will explode in student and citizen unrest. 

 

 

Jean-Louis Rodrigue

Professor

UCLA School of Theater, Film, Television and Digital Arts

102 East Melnitz Hall

Box 951622

Los Angeles, CA 90095-1622

310-209-9023

 

Friday, December 8, 2006

Enforcement of Apron Parking

I am a property owner in the North Village (Midvale near Landfair) and as long as I have owned this property, which is 25 years, the city has not enforced the ban against apron parking.  Everyone has understood that the North Village is unique to this city because it is highly congested and there are no viable alternatives to the cars parking in this manner.  Now that we are being told that this type of parking will not be allowed effective January 1, I have spoken with all the involved parties (the councilmember's office, UCLA, DOT) and I realize that we, as owners, have no pull in changing their policy.  The reason is because the threat of liability exposure, particularly regarding ADA issues, is too precarious for anyone to oppose, because they would then become liable themselves.  I understand this, although I don't agree with it, but it means that we need to concentrate our efforts on what we can do to change their minds.
All my life experience tells me that the only thing that can work is for everyone -- students, owners, and caring individuals -- to stand together in a powerful manner.  We need to galvanize our people in a show of support, one that is strong enough that cannot be ignored by the people who are too scared to take on liability issues.  If we all stand together, we at least have a chance to be heard.  I would welcome ideas on what form you feel is most appropriate and most effective. 
Those of us who have experienced non-violent activism know that it can be a powerful tool for change -- let's stand up and make sure that we make our voices heard.

Check out the new AOL. Most comprehensive set of free safety and security tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from across the web, free AOL Mail and more.

SINKING HOSPITAL ?

Did someone say the new UCLA hospital is sinking ? It must be due to all the parking they built, are all those cars that heavy ????? Something tells us there is something much larger here. What do you all think ...

Thursday, December 7, 2006

VALETPARKING UCLA ?

It was brought up as a joke, could it be made into reality ? I think this is an excellent way to make use of student resources, how bout a car wash and detail while they are at it ? UCLA needs to start getting creative, otherwise a whole lot of people are going to get angry.

RELIANCE

It goes like this ... say you live on a corner and somebody constantly takes a shortcut through your property to get to thier destination, if time goes by and you can prove that you did this for umpteen years, you have a reliance claim, it's a bit more complicated than that, but that's the gist of it ... we are thegist of it and a whole lot of us ... watch out City of LA if this thing ever gets to court, you got a huge legal battle, how bout being more civil, how bout UCLA builds some parking structures and give back to the community, so far all they have done is take from us, and threatening to take more ....

Wednesday, December 6, 2006

PARKING ENFORCEMENT COMMENTS

Officer Turner says I have been working here for 30 years and as long as I remember we never issued tickets for apron parking, says it will be a blood-bath if it were ever implemented, he says " I am with you" I think some peope go through life and are never happy, referring to Michael Dukakis.

MICHAEL DUKAKIS RESPONDS

Read Juicy email trails to and from Michael Dukakis, note how every email takes a different turn, interesting, they have nothing, just grasping at straws ... Bottom line when has anyone ever been hurt by this ? True we want to foreword think ... but what about thinking about more parking structures, maybe one on our corner ! Every corner ... Don't take something away without a better alternative, Bus did someone say take the bus ?

APRON PARKING

Who has ever torn an apron on a car bumper ?

OVERVIEW OF EVENTS

What overview ? This was slammed on the community by Michael Dukakis, if there was an overview if there is an overview we'd love to know about it ...

THE BRUIN ARTICLE

In October November 06 an article appeared in the Daily Bruin stating cars in the North Village area would be ticketed for tandem parking.

THE LA TIMES ARTICLE

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-dukakis30nov30,0,2605352.story?coll=la-home-headlines

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/letters/la-le-monday4.3dec04,0,1600721.story?coll=la-news-comment-letters

http://www.scrambledbrains.net/2006/11/30/michael-dukaka-needs-to-get-a-life/#comments

AN OPINION ON DUKAKIS

Subject: Mo' Bettah Dukakis mit spelling etc

Yih Ken Pahk Yah Cah at Hahvad Yahd
but at UCLA,
yah cahn't !

Dear Mike....
Pffffffffffttttttttt!!!!!!!
Blow it out your ear.

Now,
I could understand it
if perhaps,
you have some small issues
as regards finding yourself
all alone
in the midst of a center
for higher actual learning,
if only for a very short while.

You might feel
overwhelmed,
even trapped
among so many many,
very very big and scary
SUV's and stuff.

It must be terrifying
without your tank and trusty helmet.

It must really be scary out there
in the big world,
gettin' in the newspapers again.
Golly Gee Gosh Mike...
its just like the old days!

Except now,
instead of taking Federal Dollars
to service your absurd addiction
to providing answers to questions
that most folks would never ever
think of asking you, in particular,
in the first place;
you have to settle
for mere State Dollars
to keep the Mikey D. Show
on the road.

Hey...
This is LA Mike !
no worries,
everyone gets it:
When you are dropped
in the Social Contract
to a second opening act,
bitch about the Parking Clause !


Here is a rapid syllabus on
Public Policy
for students abused in
the "Dukakis Project":

The best policy
any public can have
is to:
ignore
the petty gripings of
ungrateful,
ungracious,
unqualified
carpetbagging
politicos
whose main claim
to 15 minutes
of anyones' attention
is as a laugstocking footnote
to American Presidential History;
a hubris filled man who was
at every level of governance
and leadership,
consistently in
over his head.

Yet somehow,
transplanted miraculously
in time and geography,
you have arrived anointed
in Westwood,
yea, rising up
heads and shoulders
above your neighbors
when it comes to dictating
(determining)
the best policies
for a longstanding
creative community
which has creatively
solved its own problems
for 35 years.

Apparently Mike,
being an ousted political apparatchik,
and reaching out for an unethical boost
from a fellow Massachussetsian,
The Right Honourable etc etc Bratton
Chief O'Police,
( bypassin' the best needs, will and processes
of those actually involved in the problem
for the long term...)
is in not itself enough of a contradiction
to give you pause
as you reveal yourself
to be a cynical manipulator
of the best systemic protection
against pedagogues
offered a citizenry:
the very public fashion
in which we
debate and determine
our Public Policies .

( Your petty unethical manipulations of the public agenda
and backroom handshakes be damned.
its business as usual here in Bay State West,
eh Mikey boy?)


The actual residents of this community
must feel like Little Richard's character
in Down and Out in Beverly Hills.

I'm surprised you stopped
with the Police Chief, Mike.

I mean,
given how important you are and all,
I'm amazed ya didn't pick up the phone
and tell Der Governator to mandate that
the people who actually live
in the No Parking Zone of Hell
you have just created
Must,
under penalty of death,
drive cars
no longer than 5'8" tall..
oww, my bad (long)
Would that make it all better Mikey?
Perhaps we should all admit the obvious
and make all those big dangerous streets
One Way.
Would that help make it better Mikey?
I mean...whatever you want dude.

Mike,
Its nice
when ya know
the very Cheef O' Police hisself,
from the olde country.
I imagine it comes in very handy.

But as an American Public told you
the last time anyone took yourself seriously,
We prefer "Public Policy" to be in the hands
of an informed and creative Public,
not shortsighted, shortcutting
visiting Politicians.


P.S.
While your here Mike,
have a "wicket bitchin' time"