These are all the Blogs posted in May, 2011.
Monday, 30
AMERICANS ABROAD
Act I—Scene-The Walking Path Along the Quay D’Orsay. Dramatis personae-A Husband and Wife,approaching “ four score” in age, strolling; a young man, about 30 in somewhat worn working clothes.
Scene: The young man, about 10-15 meters in front of strollers, reaches down and picks a shiny object from the path. The strollers walk up as he examines the object, a gold-appearing flat wedding band and holds it out to them, wonder on his face.
Young Man: “Look at this!”
<
Posted By Ed Martin at 3:08 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Saturday, 28
Council Decision to Expand Sharky’s Capacity to 550. Business Relationships Not Disclosed
The following was submitted May 26th to the Venice Gondolier Sun.
“I feel Sharky’s is an asset to the City and my recommendations are consistent with encouraging their successful business, to their and the City’s gain. It is my feeling that the Council should have staff bring additional information to its attention prior to voting on the proposal for expansion.” That is how I opened my remarks to Council, raising questions about the possibility of increasing the rent, confirming th
Posted By Ed at 9:32 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Tuesday, 24
Breaking Council News: Council Approves 150 Person Increase in Sharky's Lease Capacity.
By a 6-1 vote, with John Moore opposed, Council approved allowing Sharky's to build a new addition to their restaurant increasing the capacity to 550 from the 400 allowed under the current contract.
Justin Pachota, speaking for the firm, said the new capacity would be achieved within the "footprint" of the existing restaurant building and the recently approved, (by the previous council), planned new structure. By their comments it appeared Council members felt the height of the str
Posted By Ed Martin at 10:07 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Sharky's Proposal For Expansion Needs More Study
Dear Mayor Holic and Members of the Council. Below is a statement I intend to present in the public comment part of the meeting. I hope you will find it useful.
Sincerely,
Ed Martin
MORE STUDY ON SHARKY’S PROPOSAL IS IN ORDER
I feel Sharky’s is an asset to the City and my recommendations are consistent with encouraging their successful business to their and the City’s gain. It is my feeling that the Council should have staff bring additional informa
Posted By Ed Martin at 8:59 AM in Category:
Inside Venice
Monday, 23
"Bonjour" (Haiku)
The Mockingbird wakes,
A Bagel--not a Baguette,
We are home again.
5/23/11
Posted By Ed at 5:04 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Sunday, 22
BREAKING NEWS--CITY ATTORNEY SAYS CARLESIMO PETITION HAS FLAWS AND DOES NOT MEET REQUIREMENTS
This story is unfolding this weekend. An email, in its entirety, from the City Attorney to Emilio Carlesimo and others states, "Your May 2, 2011 and May 11, 2011 submittals do not comply with the requirements of Article IX and therefore cannot be processed as a citizen initiative. Lori Stelzer and I would like the opportunity to meet with all or some of you to identify the deficiences and to advise you of the roles that the two of us will perform throughout this process. If you would like such
Posted By Ed Martin at 10:40 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Tuesday, 17
From The Independent,Highly Respected, National Journal
A chart on the deficit that thinking people should consider.
Although this reminds me of an Adlai Stevenson story.
Constituent: You will surely get every thinking man's vote, Governor!
Stevenson: I am afraid that will not be enough.
Click Here to Link directly to this article publisheed in the
National Journal.
Posted By Ed at 3:32 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Sunday, 15
Outside Venice This Week
Writing tonite from a third floor garret in a centuries old house on a cobblestone alley in the 14th, Paris. Used busses to see old favorites across the City, 1.75€ Best deal in town. Coffee,table wine and food: encroyable!
Cadiz-small and charming old city: Barcelona should be on your must list- a wonderful City of old and new architecture; happily not encroaching on each other. The Gaudi "Sagred Familia" is as wonderful or more so on every visit. A climb to Ranier's palace and
Posted By Ed at 4:11 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Sunday, 8
Sunset Over Two Continents
Outside Venice, May 8, 2011—The Straits of Gibraltar.
At 9:15 p.m. the sun set, (3:15 EST) and the north coast of Africa and the coast of Spain were both in view as a mini-armada of ships entered the Mediterranean Sea.
We sailed from Cadiz, Spain, this evening leaving what is seen as the oldest city in the Iberian peninsula. A magnificent natural harbor has attracted merchants and invaders from the eastern Mediterranean, Greece, Rome, Sicily, France, Britian and the Moors from North
Posted By Ed Martin at 4:31 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Saturday, 7
IT'S THE WRONG QUESTION! CHEAP HEALTHCARE IS NOT THE ISSUE: THE QUESTION IS AT WHAT PRICE?
The local media keep reporting on part of this issue, and framing the issue in the way a demogogue frames it.
Of course citizens would want to understand why healthcare should be provided free or at low cost to council members.
What is needed is an intelligent discussion of the issue, and so far nobody appears to be doing a basic job of reporting on the issues involved. That is not surprising because neither of the local reporters really dig into issues to present
Posted By Ed Martin at 3:52 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Sunday, 1
Utility Rates, No Easy Answers: Rough Water Ahead?
Reprinted from the Venice Gondolier Sun, April 30, 2011
No easy answers
Representatives of neighborhood associations in mobile-home parks and some multi-family buildings showed up in force at the Venice City Council meeting April 26 to ask that council rectify what they feel are unfair utility fees affecting them more than others. The presentation followed workshops, including one in Bay Indies, and a multitude of emails to council.
Council agreed to hire
Posted By Ed Martin at 8:18 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
