Taxpayer wrote on Nov 15, 2006 10:58 PM:The city council voted to approve the parks even though they don't have a cost estimate yet? Not a good oversight of my tax dollars. These skaters cause trouble everywhere they go, yet they were treated like royalty at tonight's meeting. What gives?

Oceansider wrote on Nov 16, 2006 7:09 AM:Did anyone else notice that Mackin acknowledged her re-election loss at last evening's council meeting? Since she now clearly understands that she lost, it's time for her to demonstrate a little class by publicly conceding, thanking her supporters, then going quietly into oblivion. So long, and best wishes.

Used to use the Park wrote on Nov 16, 2006 7:16 AM:I (used to) take my children regularly to ML King Park and skaters have practically taken it over, skating everywhere aggressively and behaving rudely. They told my little boy to get out of the (****-ing) way when he was walking across the sidewalk. Now they are they being rewarded by the City Council. None of them are paying for the parks that were just "given" to them, we adults are. And these parks are or will be inaccessible for families. I am very disappointed in the city council for doing this.

Note to Taxpayer wrote on Nov 16, 2006 7:38 AM:The expense for skate parks was a budgetted item in the Park and Recreation budget. There is $500,000 to plan and build skate parks.

kay wrote on Nov 16, 2006 8:39 AM:with new skate parks like these, they're less likely to cause trouble in general. more well-planned parks means less skating in places o'side residents don't want it.

Let them skate! wrote on Nov 16, 2006 9:12 AM:Keep them skating and they will stay out of trouble. It's hard to skate a half pipe with a spray paint can in your hand.

Understand the process… wrote on Nov 16, 2006 9:13 AM:There will be several more hearings before funds are approved/allocated. There is no dollar figure because there have been no funds earmarked for the project. After doing so there will be a bid process and that will require a public meeting as well. Please know the facts about the process before you criticize the policymakers.

Lisa wrote on Nov 16, 2006 10:25 AM:Even though they are skaters they have parents that pay taxes and some of them probadly have jobs also so do not cry about just your tax dollars the kids need positive places and if its up to them they will keep it clean rather than risking a shut down again this is a coastal town of mixed races and skaters do not judge you can be white,black, mexican,asian etc. If people could only see the positives things instead of negative. Sure there are always going to be bad apples but not all kids are bad at least they stood up for what they believe and came forward to the meeting. Way to go Oceanside you didn't kick these kids back to the curb.

Calle Montecito skate park wrote on Nov 16, 2006 10:43 AM:I live on Calle Montecito. There is a skate park across the street from Libby Lake Park. Daily my wife and me go for walks and we pass the skate park. The skaters that use that park cannot follow simply rules: wear a helmet, elbow pads and kneepads. There is sign outside the skate park mandating the safety equipment. I watched as a Oceanside Police Officer stopped and explained that they (skaters) needed to wear the safety equipment in order for them to use the skate park and if they didn't they could not skate there. The skaters left for a short period and after the Officer left they were back in the skate park still not using any of the safety equipment. These skaters's were falling off the ramps in the skate park as they attempted their stunts. My concern is what will the liability be for the city if one of these children hurt themselves by striking their head on the ground. Several days later, the sign outside the skate park that posted the requirements to use the skate park had been painted over with spray paint. I am not opposed to the skate park, I think it is great that the children have a place to spend there time. However the safety equipment needed to skate in the skate park needs to be enforced.

Julie wrote on Nov 16, 2006 10:58 AM:I am a mother of a "skater" and I would rather he be out skating then be sitting in front of the TV playing X-box all day. This country says our kids are overweight, but how many over weight skaters do you know? Have YOU ever tried it? It takes skill and I applaude my son as well as all his friends for getting out there and doing something. Skating does not equal graffiti, crime, noise and trash, bad parenting does. SKATE OR DIE!

oceanside skater wrote on Nov 16, 2006 11:35 AM:if you look at the vista skate park, the area is monitored by a city employee, usually a teenager. the guard makes sure that a helmet is worn by all the skaters, however, elbow pads and knee pads are optional. skating with pads on is nearly impossible, because they inflict with the movement whenever your trying to land. its kinda like jogging with a child hanging on your back, for those of you who have never skated. what opposers dont understand is that no matter what, we will still skate. we will skate at your business and school until we get a new park. Skateboarding is a positive thing, and it doesnt just promote drugs and vandalism. ive known kids who never did drugs much until they quit skating. when they skate, they always have something to do, but when they dont have anywhere to skate, they turn to drugs and gangs. many older people view us as vandals and bad influences, however thats just a stereotype, and whenever these people see us, they immediatley think were bad. if some of these people would jsut talk to us, theyd find that we really are good natured kids. and about the taxes issue, ive been workign since i was 16, and im 21 now. what about my tax dollars? everyone was all for the hockey rink that was put into MLK park, but now that the skate park issue comes around, everyone backs off.

Also a Taxpayer wrote on Nov 16, 2006 2:16 PM:So now the kids will be skating all over town to the skate parks. If they were respectful and not skating on sidewalks whizzing by people and cussing at us because we don't get out of the way fast enough I could tolerate it. But when they do that and now they are getting their own special place to skate free of charge to them. I don't care if the city budgetd $500,000 for this, it's our money, yours and mine, that is paying for them. why not charge them to come and skate to help pay for the upkeep? That wasn't in the budget, only the cost for building them.

ROBERT wrote on Nov 16, 2006 6:02 PM:OH GREAT JUST WHAT WE NEED MORE SKATE PARKS FOR LOUD MOUTH KIDS CANT WAITTTTTTTTTTT

Mother of a Tax Paying Skater wrote on Nov 16, 2006 6:14 PM:There are bad apples in every bunch, but one of the biggest problems in our society is that people can't get past a stereotype and examine the individual. My skater kid works almost full-time and pays taxes just like everyone else. He doesn't graffiti or vandalize because he knows I'd kick his butt if he did. He knows to respect his elders (but also knows that respect is a 2-way street). He cleans up after himself and makes sure his friends do the same. Why does he do these things? Because he was raised right! His tax dollars will be contributing to this the same as yours and mine. Besides, I always kind of thought that a city should work to meet the needs of all its citizens, not just the one's who want to dictate their 'my way or the hiway' mentality.

TIMMY!!!!! wrote on Nov 16, 2006 9:42 PM:im only 15 but wow.. some of you people.. did you know alot of skaters HAVE JOBS and pay taxes to! its OUR city to not just yours.. ive lived in Oceanside my whole life and when my grandmother baught me my first skateboard it made my life great! it keeps me OUT of trouble. and our old skatepark was pretty much a second home to me.. its where i met most of my friends. its where i learned to skate. i went there everyday.. soo how would you feel if i just went and tore down your house? wouldnt you want a new one? well thats how it is with this skatepark issue... and not all skaters are rude, bad, or what ever.. look at me im a lead trumpet at oceanside high! that builds up more self discipline that anything else! I THANK THE PEOPLE THAT LOVE US!!!

Skater wrote on Nov 17, 2006 5:42 PM:Quote: Used to use the Park wrote on November 16, 2006 7:16 AM: Now they are they being rewarded by the City Council. None of them are paying for the parks that were just "given" to them, we adults are. And these parks are or will be inaccessible for families. I am very disappointed in the city council for doing this." End of Quote: I have a question: Did the soccer players, basketball, tennis, golfers, swimmers all pay for their facilities? And what makes you think a skatepark is inaccessible for families when there are a huge population of skateboarding families? Who do you think drives kids to skateparks? Lighten up, you are prejudiced and biased.

Danielle wrote on Nov 29, 2006 7:24 AM:this is sweet i like this idea

O'sider wrote on Dec 28, 2006 2:51 PM:we need a space to skate! if they dont build the new skateparks we'll start skatin' on the streets and plactes like that!!

Rollin' Taxpayer wrote on Apr 23, 2007 10:26 PM:SKATE OR DIE! IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, STAY WITHIN THE INVISIBLE BOUNDARIES OF YOUR 55 AND UP COMMUNITY! The new generation of parents grew up skating just like our kids are going to, difference is they'll have designated parks to enjoy instead of getting chased off private property for skating the only things available in my day. I see graffitti all over oceanside these days, parks have nothing to do with it, that problem is called gangs, and everyone knows bangers don't skate. MORE PARKS FOR O'SIDE IN '07!

donnelly wrote on Jun 21, 2007 7:18 AM:Im a 36 year old contractor and fine funiture maker, homeowner, taxpayer. My wife is a school psycologist. we both skateboard all the time with our daughter. The great thing about the skateparks is that the kids that are there interact with positive role models. like myself and many responsible adults that use the parks. one thing ive noticed from when i was a kid with no skateparks, is the kids there are really good and respectfull kids. Also the parents know where they are. Most importantly, the kids take prids in their park, if there was vandalism and grafitty going on the kids at the park ,I gaurantee you would correct the problem. Old people with narrow minds should just go away, and stop stiffling creative life. Ive made a note of all city council that dont get the positive need for skateparks and will vehimitely support different candidates, as will the people at el camino high school who are also very supportive.

Skater wrote on Oct 8, 2007 4:47 PM:First of all for all of you people complaining about skateboarders taking over oceanside it's because the one good place we had to skate was destroyed and weve had no alternatives to skate at. Yes there are skate facilities in john landes park and Libby lake park but I am unable to skate there because they are built in neighborhoods that belong to certain gangs that will harrass certain people that skate there... i know from experience being harrassed and having insults and names shouted at me not to mention having gang bangers constantly bang on me and throw up gang signs. so we skate in parts of the city that we know we are safe in. like a stair set by a school or in a neighborhood or behind a store...these are the only places we have to skate so let it go ....unless you're going to build a skate park in a safe location with very little gang activity like MLK park.... so im all for this proposal yes it may increase noise in that area but hey look on the bright side at least all were doing is skating....i have no problem with police presence at the skate park and helmets are okay too. so every one needs to stop hating on skate boards and rollerbladers and bikers and just leave us... alone and let us do what we like to do and we'll let you do what you like to-