As we listen to candidates for city council around the state they all list “public safety” as their top priority. One would expect nothing less. That’s a safe statement. But if you challenge them to justify budgeting $300,000 for a Tournament of Roses Parade you are labeled as an angry man.
OK. You’ve read enough about self-built or self-funded parade floats in prior posts.
Yesterday I spoke with Mary Hoffman, President of TFRA, the volunteer staff tasked with the city of Torrance 2009 float entry entitled “Mad Hatter Tea Party.”
Let’s now engage in an apples-to-apples comparison.
2009 Float builder Torrance Fiesta Parade Floats
M.V. Fiesta Parade Floats
As such that part of the playing field is equal.
Funding. Torrance Budget $130,000
Mission Viejo budget $300,000
Float status. Torrance. They have already passed the first Tournament inspection
M.V. A design will be reviewed by the council on Sept 2nd
Fundraising Torrance. In addition to membership in TRFA, “Other ways to support our group is through the purchase of candy, pins, patches and t-shirts on sale at various City events that the Association participates in during the year. Come support us at the:·”Fall Boutique” September 13-14, 2008 Torrance Cultural Arts Center·-“Christmas Boutique” December 7, 2008 Wilson Park”
Mission Viejo. We have no organized effort in place for fundraising other than the city’s piggy bank. Take note that Torrance will hold their Fall Boutique in two weeks. That takes advance planning and promotion. They also have T-shirts and other items for sale as stated above.
At no time has our ad-hok team or city council mentioned any comparable fundraising efforts. Why bother. Simply write a check. Based on our CIP track record we excel in that department.
PS: The local OC Register reporter called me on my Rose Parade concerns yesterday but my comments about the vast difference in costs using the same builder, as shown above, were received too late for their story.
Juice readers. You have three choices. 1. Pass, 2. Respond directly at the OC Register, local Mission Viejo story whose headline reads “Officials aim to raise city profile through Rose Parade entry” or 3. reply, as always, on this post.
Thank you for bearing with me on this series that could happen in any of your cities. I will not give up the fight until the last bell rings, which might occur on election day 2008 or 2010.
Larry, Did the entire council vote “Ya” for this? Are all that voted “Ya’ going to share in the campaign donations and IE election pieces?
It sure looks like there is some “Quid Pro Quo” going on in our local governments.
Cook.
Of our five council members Gail Reavis, who removed herself from this years election, has voted NO. While I addressed this issue in public comments this past Monday, and later sent copies of my speech to both a senior member of the Tournament of Roses Assn and copied the President of Fiesta Parade Floats, my sense is that the council majority is too driven to stop now. As such I anticipate a 4-1 vote on Sept 2nd. We will be out of the Country for both Sept meetings so they will not be hearing directly from me in Sept.
After all my hammering on 100% pulbic funding we may end up shaking down city vendors such as our trash haulers, soft scape maintenenace, developers or ambulance companies for donations.
#2 Larry, to add on to you final thought, these companies will then increase their fees to the citizrns of the city and ta-dah The citizens alkso pay an involuntary share and unlike the money from t-shirts this money is ongoing forever.
Thanks for your posts on this and if the council chambers are not filled to overflowing with citizens in September I’ll certainly wonder why.
Maybe the City Manager will contact their favored vendor to run another $15,000 push-pull survey that tells us that we are all so happy and proud to have our council’s egoes floating down Colorado Blvd.
The article on this topic in the Orange County Register can be found here:
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/float-city-community-2131987-council-mission
email response:
;Larry—we are with you on the silly need to have a float in the Rose Parade. Maybe those interested could take money out of their own pockets to do their float. —-Prayer can help open their eyes too=which I will do.