Center for the Arts cut wrote on May 17, 2008 6:53 PM:OK, so the Council/Staff are throwing the kids under the bus. What about the Center for the Arts? (Center for the Budget Deficits.)

"These things will come back when we weather the storm," said Waldron. "It's sad that we have to cut such a great assortment of programs. But we've also got to keep the water on, keep the streets paved and we can't cut our firefighters and police officers."

Does that list of "necessities" include the Arts Cetner Marie?

to the three stoges wrote on May 17, 2008 7:56 PM:they will cut important programs on our community and WASTE thousands of taxdollars for studies and trips to other cities to implement a parking ban in the city that will be stop in court. stop wasting our money!!!

Mitch wrote on May 17, 2008 7:58 PM:Good thing the California Center for the Arts got their money first!How much is that annual gift amount $2.1 million?

what wrote on May 17, 2008 8:46 PM:so, now more kids will be on the street with nothing to do. or home alone. can't the city cut salaries or landscaping projects, etc... and keep what's really important---helping today's youth? honestly, people, think about it.

Kudos to the cuts wrote on May 17, 2008 10:08 PM:I grew up with dozens of other kids in the neighborhood roller skating, running, riding and riding and riding bicycles (obeying traffic laws), playing mud football and football and football and tag and tree climbing... and the City of Irving, TX didn't spend a DIME on it.

b wrote on May 18, 2008 12:48 AM:This is horrible. I'd rather drive over a couple more potholes and see the grass at the park mowed 1/2 as frequently than lose these programs for the kids.

Whatever Kudos wrote on May 18, 2008 1:28 AM:Yeah...sure...back in what the 50's? Who cares what you did back then - Sorry. I say "BOO" to the cuts! "BOO" to the fact that each council member puts $9,000 into their pockets each year for "gas allowance". "BOO" to the fact that the Arts Center is funded year after year. "BOO" to the fact that the downtown hotel got another $2million. “BOO” to the fact that the clowncil majority will more than likely pass a very costly parking ordinance (for that they'll "dip into the reserves"). A BIG HUGE BELLOWING BOO to Marie Waldron and her fellow one-track mind colleagues (Daniels, Gallo & Abed) for another BAD decision. For more than two years these clowncil members have been wasting the city's time and money going after things BEYOND their purvue! And as a result, the kids will suffer the consequences. This is NO Way to improve OUR KIDS' "Quality of Life". Booooo. Boooooo......

Kudos cuts wrote on May 18, 2008 8:49 AM:50s? No. 70s. 80s. 90s, and I can still recreate without goverment assistance. But that doesn't matter. Government is for police, fire, infrastructure and water. Government is not for babysitting and parenting kids. Parents are responsible for thier reproductive choices. YMCA and Scouts and a plethora of private services are available. Require parents to provide for thier kids. They chose to make them.

to whatever wrote on May 18, 2008 8:51 AM:If you chose to make kids, get off the couch, grow up and be a parent to your kids and stop asking for my tax dollars to do your job that you chose.

Robert wrote on May 18, 2008 9:26 AM:Kudos to "Kudos"! You nailed it!! Too many people want the kids for the "incentives" and tax breaks, but not to be a parent to. Be a parent if you have kids, and don't expect the rest of us to raise them.

If we cant entertain the kids why then the adults wrote on May 18, 2008 9:31 AM:If the City can't afford to "entertain" the kids, then how can it afford to definitely entertain the adults at the Center for the Arts?

By the way, the kids without rec programs immediately CREATE A DEMAND for more police action. Probably have a detrimental effect on the City as a whole. I'm sure that if the Center for the Arts went dark, the wine and cheese crowd former attendees wouldn't then hang out and steal, vandalize, etc etc.

I'd rather see the snobs from the Arts Center turned out on the streets!

Norm wrote on May 18, 2008 9:52 AM:If the ballfields and gyms are available
why can't the kids and parents organize
teams without the city being involved?

Clueless City Council wrote on May 18, 2008 11:13 AM:The Escondido City Council is willing to give millions of our tax dollars for hotels, Lexus dealerships and Developer concessions as well as spending money on a parking ordinance they can't back up with facts while at the same time cutting programs for kids. Vote em' out, Please!

Taxpayer wrote on May 18, 2008 3:20 PM:It is not the job of government to fund recreational programs. We want fewer government programs and lower taxes. There are nonprofit organizations to pick up the slack for recreational programs. How much more in taxes do you want to pay? I applaud the city council for trimming the fat on the budget.

Elvin wrote on May 18, 2008 3:42 PM:I think it's shameful that this inept city council continues to SUBSIDIZE the losing arts center to the tune of a million dollars plus while recreation programs for the kids in this city are axed. How does Vicky Basehore and her board sleep at night? If this arts center cared anything about the community, they would either turn back over $200,000 to the city so these programs could continue; or, they should turn that under attended art museum into a gymnasium so it can finally get some use.

teri wrote on May 18, 2008 4:11 PM:ah yes, the good old days...when kids were kids, games were games and all was wonderful. Also remember that you probably had actual organized sports in the schools...schools which today have cut P.E. to an extravagance offering. This has resulted in fat and unhealthy kids. Plus, the parks in which you probably played in as a kid were probably patrolled by Mr. Friendly cop, where as now, the cops are not always around to casually wander through the parks ensuring your safety. You probably also had houses with actual yards or streets that could be played in...most of the neighborhoods today not only have houses with virtually no yards - courtesy of zoning allowances- they don’t even have sidewalks. Why keep harping on the number of kids people have when the real issue is there is no place for kids to learn sportsmanship, organized exercise, or teamwork. How many jobs today stress hiring someone who is a team player...how is anyone going to learn what they means? Between the two wonderful necessary aspects of life - arts and exercise, only one helps in training people to live longer healthier lives. The city council should start looking at the health of their constituents and not their pride. They don't have the guts to shut down, rent out, or contract out a long time continual money glut!

Benjamin wrote on May 18, 2008 5:01 PM:How about we just dump the entire Border Patrol? They really aren't doing anything anyway, are they?

Big Norm wrote on May 18, 2008 5:04 PM:Hey Norm, ever heard of insurance companies and lawyers?

Puzzled wrote on May 18, 2008 5:48 PM:I still don't get it. I was raised in Escondido in the 1950s and 60s, and there were plenty of avenues to amuse and occupy oneself without the intervention of the "Nanny State". Whatever happened to just "getting a summer job"????? Now that's a phrase we haven't seen in quite a while. I should be paying taxes for Police, Fire, road maintenance, etc., and NOT to amuse the kids. For some reason, we were able to keep our bodies and minds occupied WITHOUT "attention" from the police. What's different about today's kids?

just me wrote on May 18, 2008 6:29 PM:maybe the city of escondido should look at the police department? why should the tax payers pay for GAS and city vehicles that police officers and other staff drive home every day? with people living in riverside county, i'm sure some good money could be saved!

Glory Days wrote on May 18, 2008 10:19 PM:"Glory Days". Anyone familiar with that song? That sounds like the song alot of these bloggers are singing. It's the old song that goes like this..."Back in my Day...in the Glory Days". Yeah. I remember what it was like growing up...in the 70's. Back when there were alot of open fields. Back when kids didn't have to wear helmets when they rode their bicycles or skateboards. Back when a kid could have a sling shot. Back when we could ride our mini bikes in the field across the street. Back when the speed limit was 55. Back when you knew your neighbors. Back when your neighbor helped out in the neighborhood. But, it's no longer the Glory Days. There are no more open fields, no more sling shots or mini bikes or skateboarding wherever you wanted. Now - there are restrictions for this and restrictions for that...and there are few places for young folk to go and few extra-curricular activities that don't cost a small fortune. Why would anyone want to kick the kids to the curb...just because "back in your day"...you guys did just fine? The year is 2008...circumstances are different and the needs of children are different...let's address those needs and not yesterday's.

Nina wrote on May 20, 2008 12:54 PM:Fascinating that the museum is open at all!! Good grief - choosing between keeping kids OFF the streets, OFF the computers and actually doing something OR keeping open a museum that sits for HOURS with only the employees inside...When they shut it down a few years ago, they told the people that were laid off that it was costing the center over $500,000 and with the museum and the education department closing the center could make money...Once again more misinformation by Vicky Basehore and her board

teri and glory days wrote on May 20, 2008 7:36 PM:you assume erroneously. there ARE fields and parks, bicycle lanes to get to them, and balls for sale at a variety of stores. Parents and kids being responsible for kids, is just not expected here. People just oops make kids?

To Teri from Glory Days wrote on May 24, 2008 9:07 PM:You are the one assuming. I know there are fields and parks and bicycle lanes and balls for sale. Most people KNOW that! But...you assume people have the money to buy the ball. And you assume that parents are not accepting responsibility for their kids. You assume that people are just "oops" making kids. And which area would that be where responsibility is not expected? Is that a specific area or just in general?

Back to the ball fields, parks and bicycle lanes. My point about the "fields" was that I could ride my mini bike in it...there was nobody out there hassling me about the land and the noise and the lack of helmet. My point about riding bicycles was that "back in the Glory Days", we could ride without helmets and without fear of being hit by a car (there are so many more vehicles today - many driving excessively). My point is that: it was much more mellow in the "Glory Days" - it was in my day. But, today's children experience new challenges and an environment different from the one I grew up in. I recognize that. If I had the choice of spending money on activities for children or giving $2million MORE to a hotel that will "entertain" a few select adults...WELL you can BET that my money goes to the KIDS. Where would your money go?