Culver City Education Foundation: From Little Acorns Great Trees Grow

Commentary

 

April 10, 2014



By Neil Rubenstein

Observer Columnist

It wasn't that long ago that many of us were called by Barbara Netzel and Harry Jones to attend the formation meeting of the Culver City Education Foundation. Barbara was the wife of Paul, who was on the Board of Education for eight years and on the city council for two four-year terms. Harry was the Chief Administrative Officer for our town.

So we gathered in one of the rooms in the Veterans Auditorium complex and longtime city treasurer Lu Herrera put a pen in my hand, and that's how I became one of the first trustees.

This year's gala will be on Saturday, May 3 at Sony Picture Studio's Main Street, http://www.ccef90230.org.

Many of us are fortunate to attend classes offered by the Saint John's Health Center. On Tuesday, April 15 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and repeated on Wednesday, April 16 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., there will be a discussion on "Advance Healthcare Directives: Technology vs. End of Life Care." Advance reservations are required. Call (310) 829-8453. The free class will be held at the Santa Monica Public Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd.

"Are you sure you aren't wearing a wire or some other listening device?" I'll be saying that a lot. With all those FBI sting operations going on, I don't want them investigating this old Army sergeant.

I've had so many tax collectors' hands in my pants pockets that the experts could not determine who they belonged to. All they told me was that they have clear images from seven right hand index fingers, all from different folks.

Were you surprised (because I wasn't) when in the Los Angeles Fire Department's newest training class of 70 recruits, almost 25% were related to current employees? Perhaps if I were in the position to give my son a leg up to be earning $143,000 in wages and overtime . . . why not take a chance?

Well, it's time to get out your checkbook. I know Mayor Cooper said we are in the best financial spot the city has experienced in several years, and I believe him. I'm so naïve.

Liberace opened his own museum in Las Vegas on April 15, 1979.

Sacramento has just thought of a new way to save me money. I wonder if they are smoking up there, because they say the average driver spends $600 per year on fixing flats and repairs caused by potholes. Now hear this: They want to double the annual vehicle license fee. With my "savings" from the tax I could take a cab to the poorhouse.

It was only 10 months ago that our District Attorney Jackie Lacey issued a special directive to Los Angeles County prosecutors to hand over all evidence to the defense, including background on police officers and other government employees. I thought lawyers were taught that in law school.

I, too, have heard of unsubstantiated rumors that the St. Louis Rams, after 2015, could be heading for Inglewood. The stadium might be built on 60 acres between the Forum and Hollywood Park. What a traffic nightmare . . .

Edward Snowden, the National Security Agency whistleblower, was elected as the official representative of the student body at the University of Glasgow, Scotland.

In Ventura County two county supervisors, the sheriff, the district attorney, treasurer and superintendent of schools are running unopposed.

Talk about chutzpah. The five members of the Bell, California city council are suing the former city attorney for legal malpractice when he and his law firm led them to believe they did nothing wrong. The post office will send their mail to Cell Block "C".

Whatever happened to the district attorney's examination of the facts to determine if Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas misspent money during work done on his home?

For those who missed an article, all my commentaries can be found at http://www.culvercityobserver.com by placing Rubenstein in that website's search box.

 

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