MISSING THE POINT IN THE NEW WPA PROGRAM (aka Economic Stimulus)?
At the February 17, City Council meeting, the Council was asked by staff to send a letter to the feds in support of the Economic Federal Stimulus Program. LINK
Since the actual letter wasn't ready to sign, this was put off by the Council until its next meeting on March 3.
As part of the letter, staff also included a list of projects that could be immediately started in Costa Mesa and which require $ 38,810,000.
Sounds good, right?
Thirty-eight million dollars being pumped into Costa Mesa's economy and helping put out of work people back to work?
Not so fast.
All of the projects submitted by Costa Mesa are things such as "Project # 26 Mendoza Drive reconstruction--$2,500,000." Say, did we mention that Mendoza Drive is in Katrina Foley's neighborhood and runs in front of one of the major slums in the city?
And, if you think you're going to see locals with shovels and pickaxes out doing the work on Mendoza Drive, think again. The City will hire contractors who specialize in this work to do the projects. And, if the past is any indication, most of these contractors will be from cities other than Costa Mesa. Bye bye $ 2,500,000 for Mendoza Drive and bye bye $38 million for the City.
Well, maybe some of the $38 million will go to underground the 55 Fwy? Think again. That's not an off the shelf project so not a penny of the $38 million will go for that.
So, for $38 million dollars of our tax money, we'll get roads repaved that really aren't that bad to start with, and contractors from outside the City will get fat bank accounts.
We're not feeling very stimulated by this.
If we were on the Council we'd push hard to get the 55 Fwy project paid for, and we'd try to get Costa Mesa contractors, hiring Costa Mesans doing the work.
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CITY COUNCIL COMPENSATION
Maybe you've been reading in the local newspaper how Costa Mesa City Council members only get paid about $ 11, 000 per year.
Well, actually, the total compensation each year for each Councilmember works out this way:
Annual salary: $10,984.50
Other earnings: 17,104.75
Annual pension: 5,633.02
Total: $ 33,722.27
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Those are our opinions as we continue doing the job daily newspapers used to do. Thanks for reading them.
