RECEIVED
Joe Hannan
2022 JUL |1 AM 9: 14
P.O Box 632
CITY CLERK
CITY OF PARADENA San Dimas
CA 91773
Letter: To: Full Council
From: Joe (Citizen)
Subject: Public Safety and The Budget.
Title:
"Down at The Old Bull and Bush"
7/8/2022
* "We include the RBOC budget in The City Managers Budget". (All in one big pot? Nice.)
~
* "Part of the 'confusion' is that they are called "Bonus's" but its really compensation that is baked into contracts"
* "I will give anyone $50,000 if they raise 10 Million" * "Its Good Business"
(Having said this you declare that...)
"Mr Madison is correct".
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If anyone wants to donate directly to Daryl Dunn tell them they can find him peddling around Monaco. If You would like to donate for the sake of Good for The City - Thankyou - on behalf of 1 Both The City and The People. Heartfelt.
I don't think it too difficult to appeal with success for donations with The Pasadena City as platform and The Rose Bowl as a appealing sporting history flag. Especially if You have the resources of a non profit "operating" company to bolster that appeal with or without a Mr D.
Donations should not be seen as Money "earned" - its money given - and collected and should not be depended on or even identified as a source of 'revenue' for a company expected to "operate" a Stadium and produce Money through operation and use of that facility. It can't just rest on its laurels and rely on "donations" and wave that as a flag of achievement. "Donations" go up and down and people eventually get tired of making them and eventually even begin to resent being asked for them. Its a "tap" Pasadena City can readily turn on and off with restraint applied but it should not just be turned on full and left running as a substitute for revenue out of "operating".
Its allso a "Tap" that does not belong to RBOC.
RBOC is supposed to be 'operating' The Rose Bow...as suggested in its name. Maybe we should replace the "O" with "E" as in extracting or mining.
The facility users then provide the revenue to both operate and pay off debt. I think that was what was supposed to happen..in theory?
But thats not happening. RBOC has failed in its part of the 'bargain'. And now depends on and push's forward as achievement money that is donated so as to as Mr Madison triumphantly celebrates and awards "Bonus" over - keep RBOC "afloat"...as he says. "Operating" in this distorted manner will have us bailing out RBOC forever or untill it finally sinks which it inevitably will. Perhaps Mr Madison knows this? I dunno. I'm a Simpleton.
ANY money the RBOC takes in regardless of form needs to be reported to The City Council - with necessary accounting.
RBOC has no right to spend or allocate or divy out as 'bonus' ANY money without seeking the authority and approval of City Council. And if necessary that Council 'approval' should come out of Vote. Not "reaction" as Mermell prefers to recieve and play.
Certainly one can not just "reward" or receive bonus money as one likes and see fits as Mr Madison in what appears to be a too late under duress "admission" seems to suggest has been happening.
And the reasoned way that is defended and the basis of that reason is appalling. Especially so cos it smacks of bailing ship and throwing overboard before "Customs" board. 2 What exactly was the 1.4 million for "consultants" about please - can The People see a item break down of that?. How is need for and - type of - 'needed' determined as far as "Consultation" is concerned?. What are we consulting about? And did You "consult" with City Council about this "outside" - "consultation?".
I am a naive Simpleton. Is'nt paying for consultation like paying for some one to do your thinking for You? Unless its about technical or mechanical expertise I suppose. So lets look at an item break down so as to determine what we're consulting over.
Why are we increasing the money for outside attorney? What kind of Attorney? Contractual I suppose with an interest in cookery or baking.
I'm not paying for cooking or baking classes for Lawyers. They can ask Mr Madison to share his baking skills. He has lots. And He's a Lawyer. I think the Council Member gig is kinda part time.
No?
Of course I accept and confess to being a poor and confused and some times bad mannered Simpelton. (You can't take him any where.) And as you say its complex. But please appreciate that confused simpleton or not this is My only "perspective" and it is provided - by what you present. So this is all of Your making. Cakes and all. What was that WSMaugham book..."Cakes and Ale".
Clarity is important for understanding. And its all a bit "Murky" and really that has little to do with my or The Peoples 'limited capacity' to understand things. Your being patronising and condesending as well as dismissive and you can keep the pamphlet. No Thanks.
Alot of this appears to come out of 'Commitee' and We The People do not get to participate in those so I think the onus is on Council to insure that things are presented - by commitee with enough clarity to provide for understanding by The People. Keeping in mind that We are as you like to infer - Simpletons.
Simpletons like to have things tidy and seperated so as to understand better. We view complexity as a mess. Tangled like spaghetti. We like Council Members who try to unravel that so We can see better. Simpletons have poor eyesight.
So the more clear, the more transparent and the more clarity - the better. For Us - Simple People.
So The People depend on Good Council Members to ask particular and specific questions that reveal, lay bare or draw back curtains so that the People can See more clearly.
And You have already acknowledged rather acutely with insult contained that You think The 3 People none too smart so out of that you have even more obligation to provide Transparent Clarity.
I think one of the more important rolls of The Council member is to identify the questions The People want asked and then to ask them even if it upset's. Upset occurs alot in a working Democracy. Its not all smooth sailing.
* Down at the Old Bull and Bush *
Or a drinking hole in Pasadena.
"No - no no..it's more "Complex" than that - its NOT a "bonus!" "It's not?."
"No - He earned that! And look - it COST us nothing - it was PAID - direct! - from Donation." "Yeah?"
"Yeah - Look - its baked into His Contract"...
"It is?.
"Yeah - See - look at this Pamphlet - it explains everything - real simple...look" "Hmm - I like the pictures."
"Yeah - here you can have it - I can get another one".
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There is too much as You call it "baked" Cake being sliced up and handed around. Most of this cooking takes place outside of Council and its 'served up' to Council and then if one Council Member wants to slow the Train down and check the luggage that Member gets thrown under the bus.
Mr Madison appears to take ANY criticism of The "Budget" very personally - He's a brick wall - or thinks he is - its his baby and don't go near it. Don't you dare touch that baby!- thats my baby!
I do not support the way Rose Bowl Operating Company 'operates' and works behind a non transparent I'm immune to accountability curtain. The RBOC needs to be held Accountable when necessary and so does The City Managers office and The Pasadena Health Dept. All of 4 them in cohoots.
* A Burger joint somewhere in Pasadena *
"I'll take the number 2 Special".
"What kinda drink da ya want with that?"
"I don't need a drink and keep the bun - just give me the meat with fries" "No 2 come's with a bun and a drink"
"I don't want a drink"
"You have to have a drink! - it comes with it! And You can't seperate the Bun from the Meat! - Its a HAMBURGER with a Drink!"
"Take the Bun and The drink and....
Both the Waitress and The Customer get upset and no one gets served. The "Budget" fails to pass.
One wants to "seperate" things and save. The other insists its all "baked in" and come's together!.
I don't know why its a "Waitress". Just seems to need someone like My Mum with cigarette dangling from Her mouth. My Mum was a 'nippy' - "Lyons Girl" and wore black and a little white apron and hat. Starched and meticulous. But no one serves People whilst smoking these days so its farcical and ridiculous. Like Life.
Of course as the one vote voice correctly asserted as She stood Her ground under fire - these questions will continue to be asked untill they are answered and the cry to 'have' them answered will grow louder and eventually become vociferous We can't have pernickety Council Members 'scoffing' pedantically over the voice of Democracy.
We can not be seen to be complacently or flippantly rocking the pedestal upon which 5 Democracy sits. Its unseemly. What will the neighbours think? <=+=>
*Somewhere in Pasadena............*
Yeah I know - I am a simpleton and lack the experience you have and I know nothing about "complex" things. Sir?.... Can I please ask a Question? Read the pamphlet! - God damn it - "Budget made simple" - We've removed all the "tricky stuff" and rounded up the numbers - so its easy for you to swallow. You don't need to look at the details - its too much for You. Go sit in a corner and look at the cute pie charts and The People playing ring around a rosey - Gosh - are You still here?. What? SHUTUP!! - Your not allowed to ask questions! What do You think this is - Democracy! Steve Madison understands very well what He calls "Complex". Complexity is The Son of Experience. 'Simpletons' are Children of Innocence. What! - I never said that! - don't point your shotgun at Me!.
You talked about "Tickets" - There are all kinds of "Tickets" in this World. Tickets to here, there and everywhere. I could relate all kind of story about Tickets.
Last time I went to London they charged my GF for a ticket to go to the Toilet! Or tried to.! was standing there and I said: "Hey - Shes Pregnant - open the Gate" - So He looks at Me kinda sheepishly and mutters "Ok" and opens the Gate.
Then a gaggle of boisterous Women from Australia shouts "Hey - We're Pregnant too!" and rush through the open Gate. The poor little gate man looks at Me and blurts - "See - See what happens Gov!".
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RBOC wants to have it both ways. They expect like a over the years spoilt by parent child BRAT to be heavily subsidised whilst demanding they be rewarded with fat salary and lavish bonus for 'competing' in a grown up material world as they stumble about in a arena they can not compete in. Like Billy Bunter of Greyfriars.
Face it: We were never gonna get The World Cup. Any money spent on the pursuit of that was a waste. Face it: A delapidated, tired, falling apart burdened with debt Rose Bowl is just not capable of competing with whats out there. Not without Development. And thats not gonna happen - not soon... not today. Later.
6 Big Boy has deserted a obviously floundering ship grabbing what he can before leaving it to sink.
We should not be trying to compete with the likes of Staples or inglewood - We should let it go.
Jump off The Wave. Find a new less crowded one. We have to find and accept our "niche' and exploit it to advantage and make our mark. Steady the ship..insert some frugality in the crew.. and sail on.
The Rose Bowl does have a place in The Future but not in its current form. A new and different approach is needed. We can't keep propping up the old untill it all collapses around us and brings the house down with it.
We have to redefine the purpose of the Rose Bowl and reset our ambition for it or we will be left behind chasing and picking up scraps in the tailwind of others. We are neither able or equipped to compete with inglewood/staples and to attempt to do so head to head will leave us humiliated and broke.
Right now We lack alot of things. But perhaps the thing we lack the most is "Vision". Then Leadership and commitment to a new and different future for The Rose Bowl. We have to accept, adjust and change course. We look like broken old men clinging to a lifeboat drifting in the past.
Of course it's a big ship to turn around. But we have no choice. Either turn it around, watch it sink or go down with it. There is little choice contained in that. Most of the choice involves acceptance and then we have to tighten our belt as we will be in for a ride.
Lets not kid our selves these debt payments will hit hard. They will take money away from much needed and deserving areas. It will force us to make cuts in areas we do not want to make cuts in. There will be outcry.
We need to prepare for that assault on our funds and the criticism that will come with it.
When that comes we can not have the Rose Bowl STILL draining funds and bleeding money - most especially NOT in the form of high salary and kick back bonus.
Oh - I just checked - thats alot - $4.1 million needed in 2023; $10.5 million in 2024, $17 million in 2025, according to Barrett. Just to maintain. Thats frightening. We all of us should be fearful of those numbers. This is gonna hit hard. And its just the beginning. Watch out for 2027 when things really heat up.
Why was this City paid for consultation timed to produce its results when it did? <=+=>
7 •
* Rough Seas *
Hey - its rough out there laments Madison as he crys about being 'up against billionaires' as both excuse for failure and appeal for license to award bonus and pay high salaries or..."bake" Cake and slice it up as he and Mr Dunn likes.
And he craves to be applauded for this.. Mr Madison just loves applause with his cocktails...the "seasoned" Council Member who mocks what He calls "Freshmen". looking to "score points".
Move over Mr Madison - theres a new kid in Town.
The place reeks of self serving non transparency and collusion, cooking, baking and back scratching.
The opinion heralded by Mr Madison that a "Bonus" is OK cos it was paid "directly" through donation to deserved reward is an abusive and dangerous pandoras box.
When Steve Madison defended Bonus's He talked about the extra ordinary....in a manner and way I found extraordinary.
"One of those was reimbursed in its entirety by the Legacy foundation!..for truly extra ordinary work during the Panademic...keeping the RBOC afloat" What do you mean by that Mr Madison?. That does not sound right-to put it mildly.
The notion that RBOC practice's "complete transparency" is simply not true - and its a deceptive notion to present as fact to Council. I see nothing to substantiate that. I know - out of fact of experience - which is Mr Madisons 'forte' - that RBOC is NOT - in truth of Fact - "Transparent".
Have You read all those Books displayed behind You? Have You read "Heart of Darkness" Mr Madison?
You see - I can be "patronizing" too - its really a very easy card to play and better left in the pack along with the "The Joker".
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< "As a Council Member I have the right to ask Questions". > That statement made by The Good Councilwoman whilst "under fire" - is 8 correct - and has the Peoples support!
Yes: The Good Councilwoman does have the "Good Right" to fight the Good Fight and ask Good and meaningfull questions the People want asked - from where I stand those questions are representative of The Peoples concerns and correctly reflect the pursuit of "Good" answer. Or what We commonly call The Truth.
I think too they are intelligent questions about Money. Its very Good to have some one who is clever and understands Finance and numbers ask question on behalf of The People. I mean - alot of People will think something does not look or feel right or sound right but not be able to translate that into specific question so its very Good to see someone try to translate things for Us. And We are Gratefull for that. Us Simpletons.
Sure: You can distribute Your made simple for simpletons propaganda pamphlets about how the "Budget" - "works". Go ahead - send me one - I like bright color pie charts and pictures of children sitting in a ring under the sun. (Please don't send Me one)
OR - We can Care and ask probing questions and attempt to get real and meaningfull answers as The One Voice Council Member attempted before She was shot down. But She stood Her ground and even fired back. Good for Her.
Let the one vote voice speak (and present question) unfetterred by the overlording of pedantic and pompous know it all Council Members.
She is speaking and asking on behalf of The People who elected Her. And speaking well and out of sincere and considered concern.
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Big Boy runs...his pockets bulging... and on his way out the door grabs a $75,000 "bonus" that was a cooked up and packed with sugar "baked" to order "incentive"...he earned it..no..wait a minute..it was..uh.. re directed 'donation'.
No? OK OK - We stole it from the donations piggy bank we have hid under the bed so NO one has to pay and least of all NO one has to know!. Whats the problem?! - Here - its Happy Hour - Have a cocktail - celebrate - We're rich and privileged People. 9 Mermell talks grotesquely about "Holidays in Hawaii" ..and "Extended Sabaticals" whilst softly purring at a demure Ying Ying Goh who swoons and coyly affirms. "Humbled" by recognition and talk of generous gift...before snuggling back into the warmth of Mermells pocket.
Your rewarding RBOC and Big Boy for failure whilst doing nothing about RBOC, City Managers Office and Pasadena Health Dept's abuse of Life, Health and Safety in Pasadena, County and State.
You see - Thats my Baby. But no one wants to touch My Baby. That Baby is a Simpleton's Baby.
Mermell is talking about sabaticals and vacations in Hawaii against a backdrop of Death and Devastation. Like a scene out of Apocalypse now - "lets go surfing" > "/ love the smell of napalm in the morning".
We're raiding the Piggy Bank and slicing up "baked cake" to keep RBOC "afloat".
Big Boys cruising round Monaco and The Silver Fox is playing Golf in Florida.
What a Wonderfull World.
*Down at The Old Bull and Bush*
"Hey Joe! ~ You leaving now Joe?"
"Yeah"
"Have a Good Day Joe!"
~~
"You too"
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