Escondodo wrote on Aug 20, 2008 10:46 PM:Thank you, arts center and Marriott.

jvc wrote on Aug 20, 2008 10:59 PM:Wait a minute, we were to understand that ever since Reagan, no tax or fee increase would occur if we voted
Republican! We must rescind these fees if we are to continue to vote Republican!

The more wrote on Aug 20, 2008 11:21 PM:The more Abed speaks the more reasons he gives us to dismiss him from council. Cost recovery - ha - how many times have we heard that.

No folks, this is about bad financial management...you know like a couple hundred thousand for the rental ban, the costs of the lawsuit over the checkpoints, $200,000 to a consultant for the Maple Pedestrian Plaza, $50,000 for a parking study, $19.8 million for a hotel, etc...

Bad financial management - by the City Council! The council is the authority over the budget - so this is their bumble to the 10th degree.

Abed has never managed a $85 million dollar budget, nor has Gallo, nor has Waldron. They are not capable of overseeing and managing a budget of this magnitude - EVIDENTLY!!!

Hey, city council thanks for unanimously voting to open the wallets of your residents - again - to make up for your shortfalls.

Funny, how the council has never mentioned foregoing their raise or their $9,000/yr GAS ALLOWANCE. Everyone must suffer...everyone but the council. Sick.

What are they doing for us wrote on Aug 21, 2008 1:48 AM:What is the city of Escondido doing different for us? Or is it the same old B.S.? They want to raise everything on us- but not give us any benifits? People are being layed off- loosing their homes, gas prices- Escondido couldn't have picked better timing. You can't even walk down the street in Escondido anymore without being mugged by some gangsters- Escondido is getting worse and worse daily. Makes me sick!

Floyd wrote on Aug 21, 2008 1:54 AM:Now would be a good time to sell off excess real estate such as Stanley Peak. That would eliminate an expense, generate one time revenue from the sale to help balance the budget, and generate continuing property taxes from the new owner.

new council needed wrote on Aug 21, 2008 3:25 AM:ABED is such a hero!!! after wasting almost a million dollars in the rental-ban, now he will save us $10 per bicycle license fee; oops I just remember something!! the city doesn't require a license for bicycles anymore, who he's trying to fool?
let's charge more for oxigen to an accident victim, ...

Sparky wrote on Aug 21, 2008 5:53 AM:Fire officials should be reviewing safety and sprinkler systems for free, not the $90 to $100 an hours mentioned in this story. What else do they have to do but workout in a gym, shop at the local Stater Brothers or wash their vehicles? Their wages and benefits are more obscene than that of the oil executives and the taxpayers are not getting their monies worth.

Bill wrote on Aug 21, 2008 6:37 AM:Services the city provides?

Isn't one of those suppose to be protection of it's citizens?

If that was the case, which we all know it isn't, there wouldn't be the illegal problem here.

Get off your political butts and do your job!!

Citizen wrote on Aug 21, 2008 6:47 AM:I think maybe I was better off when I wasn't reading the paper. The city council gets a $9,000/yr gas allowance? Do they have to buy their gas from the one on the council who owns a gas station too?

They got a raise? Whose idea was that?

If this is true people, we need to open our eyes and stop playing the political games our politicians love to get us involved in and start doing what's right for US, the people.

Do your homework wrote on Aug 21, 2008 7:29 AM:Hope the City Attorney had the ACLU review the changes. The taxpayers don't want to pay for another lawsuit.

Excuse me wrote on Aug 21, 2008 7:32 AM:I have talked to Illegal Aliens, Nurses and Doctors, ambulance rides are free for Illegal Aliens.

Concerned wrote on Aug 21, 2008 7:44 AM:Isn't it time for a real change in the Escondido Government? There won't be any tax payers left soon. Then what will you do? People are already doing their shopping else where.

excuse me too wrote on Aug 21, 2008 7:44 AM:yeah- from now on, I'm going to say I'm illegal !

Susan wrote on Aug 21, 2008 7:59 AM:Comments about Abed and the rental ban are frustrating and it's obvious the poster doesn't understand basic economics. If you have a city full of illegals and low wage earners it's a negative for our local economy. They have less money to spend at businesses that pay the taxes that support services in this town. They crowd our hospital for free care. Just look at some of our shopping centers with empty building where prosperous business once were. Why do the businesses close? Becuase we have a large portion of our population that are either illegal or low wage earners that can't afford to either shop or eat there. Maybe you should elect Olga so she can put out the welcome mat out for more of this type of resident and destroy the rest of the town. Working to keep the economy viable under these circumstanses has been a very difficult job and I commend the council. I am not happy though that this council and previuos ones have wasted millions on the arts center. At least were taking a step in the right direction now.

Herb wrote on Aug 21, 2008 8:10 AM:I am not one to say I told you so; but I told you so and have been telling you so all along. It is all about downtown. And the more they do the worse it gets.
I can see them now, sitting around trying to decide when the best time to spring the cost increases on the residents of Escondido. it goes to show that they are not very bright.
Actually, perhaps they are very good at what they do - but not what the people intended them to do. And we just - well, hold still for it.

Concerned Citizen wrote on Aug 21, 2008 8:22 AM:says: Why does the paper keep saying budget deficits? Escondido just passed a budget balanced and is looking forward to next year. Yeah, they cut costs, but that doesn't mean it is a deficit. I look at that as a savings - kind of like cutting the fat.
As for Councilman Abed, he voted for his own raise a couple of years ago and he supported tax increases like the library bond and the hospital tax.

Isnt this the same council wrote on Aug 21, 2008 8:24 AM:that raised the fees on downtown businesses upwards of 200 to 300% during a down economy? Now the businesses (many mom and pop ones) are closing up shop. Way to go!

To Susan wrote on Aug 21, 2008 8:30 AM:I knew Olga's name wouldn't take long to pop up. This council's moto should be "One step forward and two steps back". You obviously are brainwashed by members of the current council and you obviously haven't spoken with Olga.

To JVC wrote on Aug 21, 2008 9:01 AM:You've been reading those MoveOn dot org talking points for so long that it's apparently impaired your ability to recognize a clear distinction. Republicans believe the users of specialized government services should pay for them, Democrats want to tax the rest of us to pay for services we never use. Hope that helped clarify things for you.

To isnt wrote on Aug 21, 2008 9:06 AM:Nope. The DBA fees were raised by the DBA board, a group of downtown business people. Nice try, though. Maybe you'll find something else to blame on the Council, like that meteor shower last week perhaps...

Yolie wrote on Aug 21, 2008 9:10 AM:$19.8 million for a hotel, etc...

Looks like the hotel won't be needed after all. What tourists Escondido did have, they won't have any more. Carnival's ticket prices will go up to recoup the $400 fire code inspection fee. Carnivals are big fundraisers for local city organizations. A PTA's biggest yearly fundraiser is a game booth at the carnival. Monies from this event fund and defray school related costs that enhance the education experience for all our children. Hiking such fees will be like taking candy from a baby.....

Count Me Out wrote on Aug 21, 2008 9:30 AM:Just wanted to let all you Escondidians know that, having visited your city recently, I won't be coming back. Unless YOU pay ME. What a dump.

Esco native wrote on Aug 21, 2008 9:51 AM:So the police try to clean up the streets and now you are going to raise the fees for sports programs at Kit Carson so parents that are trying to keep their kids off the streets can't because the fees got increased. Really good job guys. As for the ambulance fees, when did we start charging so much to keep a person alive?? This is crazy what are these people thinking!! Well I guess now they can have their big new hotal for the hookers to go too!! Way to go!!

Wayne wrote on Aug 21, 2008 10:05 AM:What is all the fuss about higher fees. Truth is most fees are always below cost.If a special interest group wants to us city property or services let them pay. As for fire protection, my business is in San Marcos, every year the fire dept. inspects my property.This service is of great benefit to me, my emplyees, customers, and to the firefighters. Any hasards can be found and delt with before someone is injured or property damaged.I am sure Escondido has the same program. As for recreational facilities, all citians pay to build them, many never use them. Let them that use pay. T jvc this is a democratic state and has been for many years.

Little Andy wrote on Aug 21, 2008 10:30 AM:Blame PPH. It all PPH fault..Coverts been Bad wasting Taxpayer money

To Wayne wrote on Aug 21, 2008 10:35 AM:Where did you learn to spell......DANG !!

Why cant the citizens sue the ACLU wrote on Aug 21, 2008 11:32 AM:If the ACLU would butt out of Escondido's business we could clean up our town. THEN maybe everything else could fall into place. Until we fight for safer streets and less ILLEGAL aliens in our town we are doomed.

Tell Fire Marshall Fred wrote on Aug 21, 2008 11:57 AM:to stay in his mansion of a fire station until he sees some smoke somewhere! These "safety inspections" are nothing more than extortion, and what cracks me up is, they just show up and demand access to your business without making an appointment in advance like everyone else has to do in my shop. Unless I call you for help, stay busy polishing your wheels and your overblown egos -

to the three stooges wrote on Aug 21, 2008 1:07 PM:I thought that you were Republicans and agains increase in taxes, Abed and Gallo fool us all; they just care about their own pocket and the money that they receive from developers for their campaigns.

Marilyn wrote on Aug 21, 2008 1:32 PM:My two grandsons ages 4 & 6 just signed up for soccer in Escondido.
Cost $175.00 + $20.00 each for id cards.We have not gotten to the cost of uniforms/cleets/team pictures yet. I am still reeling from the $215 for two small boys to kick around a soccer ball.

Why is this council allowing developers lower or no fees to build here? Giving a wealthy hotel developer $18.9 million?
Giving themselves a salary increase while the citizens are loosing their homes and being asked to pay more in fees?
Because YOU voted these idiots in!
Like many others I no longer spend money in Escondido.My home is for sale and I cant wait for the day it sells.
This entire council should be removed asap.
Join the revolution of taxpayers in Escondido and vote to remove these idiots. VOTE NOV.2008

IOKIYAR wrote on Aug 21, 2008 3:08 PM:As in, "it's (increasing fees) okay if you are Republican"

Go Sam go! (take Gallo With ya when you leave)

Yolie wrote on Aug 21, 2008 5:00 PM:To Excuse me and Excuse me too;

If American Citizens would stop employing Illegal Immigrants (they are not Aliens) maybe they wouldn't all be here. If American Citizen Employers were penalized with real $$ fees instead of the slap on a wrist or the "look the other way" (usual SS Administration tactic) and the occasional "La Migra Raid" you may not be suffering the financial woes that all of you keep crying about. Why not scream about enforcement of Employer immigrant hiring penalties. This would pay for all Illegal Immigrant related city deficits and probably take the city out of the red and into the black.....does anyone remember when the present Bush Administration took office, a White House staff housekeeper was found to be here illegally and his excuse was "he didn't know".....puhleese. When it comes to cheap labor EVERYONE hires the immigrant legal or not.

real councilmenwomen wanted wrote on Aug 21, 2008 6:46 PM:the cost of an ambulance trip will increase from $16 per mile to $18.50 per mile, while the oxygen supplied by paramedics will increase from $70 per trip to $80 per trip.
but it's ok giging millions to developers, Thanks Abed and Gallo!!!

Jenny wrote on Aug 21, 2008 7:30 PM:If they want to reduce spending, there's always cutting ESL, which eats up millions and millions per year. ESL has been single handedly responsible for breaking the backs of taxpayers in cities and towns across the US since it was implemented in the '70s, and it's only increased the dropout rate.

Get rid of it, and watch your taxes drop so fast your heads will spin.

jvc wrote on Aug 21, 2008 8:47 PM:No, I have been reading what fiscal responsible Republicans have been telling us : vote for me and no new taxes!

jvc wrote on Aug 21, 2008 8:55 PM:Sure get rid of all the illegal
immigrants and magic, all of our problems will be gone: war, outsourcing,
unemployement, health care, debt, inflation, poor schools,terrorism,etc..

Floyd wrote on Aug 21, 2008 9:40 PM:Hey, it may be a dump, but it's OUR dump! I'll take our open spaces, low skyline, and almost-adequate parking over the construction madness in downtown San Diego any day!

Just thinking wrote on Aug 21, 2008 10:20 PM:that if the gripers and complainers who are not shopping in Escondido would shop in Escondido then sales tax revenue would go up, the city budget would be helped on the income side and these fee increases would not be necessary.

Yeah, Gallo and Abed have screwed the tax payers good with their giveaways and tax forgiveness to big business, but we have to step up and support our community with our buying power and then with our vote to kick the bums out.

Still thinking wrote on Aug 21, 2008 10:24 PM:ESL classes are offered by the Escondido Union High School District for free. Two big questions:
1. Who pays the teachers?
2. Who attends the classes?

Answers: 1. You and I. On our property tax bill and our income tax.

2. Why do you think the staff likes the campus near a bus stop? Most of the students aren't eligible for driver's licenses.

You connect the dots.

Jaque wrote on Aug 21, 2008 10:54 PM:Raise the fishing permit rates at Dixon Lake and that will generate revenue. Better yet, layoff 1/2 those useless rangers too and that will save gobs of money

I just dont get it... wrote on Aug 22, 2008 8:07 AM:Our city manager makes as much as the City Manager of the 6th largest city in the country. Our City Attorney makes MORE than the City Attorney of the 6th largest city in the country; every major public project (schools, hospital, fire stations, police department) have been paid with bond money, we are GIVING a hotel developer almost 20 million, police officers commute thousands and thousands of miles a week in city cars burning city gas...who is running this town? These are glaring examples of waste if not near malfeasence and we are going to raise fees for oxygen and Christmas Parades?? The house of cards is faltering. Let's all take a deep breath and blow it down.

its time wrote on Sep 14, 2008 9:50 AM:SIMPLIFY< ITS TIME FOR A CHANGE >>> vote the new guy in