Saturday, March 7, 2009

CM PRESS # 629




AN OPEN LETTER TO THE COSTA MESA CITY COUNCIL ABOUT FINANCES FROM A CM PRESS READER


Dear City Council:

As I am sure you will agree, our city faces a challenge to continue operating at its current level of services due to budget restrictions.

In an attempt to address this problem I would request that a program be developed along the following guidelines;

1) A staffing level pre-positioned contingency plan reflecting 3%, 5% and 7% shortfall conditions that could be implemented by the individual department heads simultaneously.

This plan, pre-approved by Council, would require a simple council notification to staff; not extended debate and evaluation.

This would allow staff to quickly implement any necessary adjustments and would give greater control at the time it is needed.

2) The plan would also contain, at a minimum, a requirement that funds withdrawn from reserves to fund operations during the shortfall period become recorded as a budget line item in future years allowing for recovery as it may become practical.

3) Cuts in expenditures should reflect current labor costs/program ratios. For example, our costs are generally accepted to be 75% labor and 25% program, this percentage should, be reflected in the final cuts in spending.

I hope that you will consider this proposal in the planning of any future budget considerations during these troubling economic times.

Thank you for your consideration,

Name Withheld by CM PRESS
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K-MART SHOPPING CENTER LATINO SHOOTER STILL ON THE LOOSE

The Latino who shot another man last week in the K-Mart Shopping Center is still on the loose.


The CMPD has no leads that we are aware of. Our guess is that the shooter frequents that area of Costa Mesa and may live in nearby apartments near Wallace and Wilson.

One point of confusion. Police are apparently not sure that the Latino who pulled a gun on a man near Wallace and Wilson is the same Latino who did the shooting at the K-Mart Center.

So, there may be two gunmen in that area.
Remember to trust your gut. If something or someone looks out of place or looks suspicious, call the CMPD at (714) 754-5252. You can remain anonymous. If you're wrong, no harm no foul.
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CM PRESS CONTINUES TO RAMP UP FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS

As with many Costa Mesans, we at the CM PRESS are not pleased with the news coverage we're gtting from our so-called local newspaper that has a lefty slant and which hides important facts that may help protect all of us and our families.

Especially troubling is the way that "news" paper censors crime stories to leave out adequate descriptions of outstanding violent criminals.

We believe this can give citizens a false sense of security and may actually put them in danger if they innocently blunder into a dangerous situation.

Accordingly, we will begin including more short news items to help keep you informed and safe, and we're also going to step up our coverage of the local political scene.
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EIGHT CARS HAVE WINDOWS SHOT OUT NEAR MENDOZA DRIVE IN KATRINA FOLEY'S MESA DEL MAR NEIGHBORHOOD
How many times do we have to tell you Katrina that your neighborhood is not going to improve until you thin out the Mission-Mendoza slum? LINK
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Those are our opinions as we continue doing the job that newspapers used to do.

 http://frankspeech.com/