Finance Director Jeff Snyder Sues City for Breach of Contract, I think the City is Wrong.
Greg Giles in the Venice Gondolier Sun reports that Jeff Snyder has begun a suit against the City.
Snyder was hired as a Charter Officer and received an employment agreement which was the standard for Charter Officers. In addition to a salary, the agreement provided for certain benefits including a six month termination agreement for breach of contract.
In 2006 the City's Charter Commission agreed to City Manager Marty Black's wish to consolidate his power by hav
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Venice Gondolier Sun.
Posted By Ed Martin at 10:40 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Mayor Holic Contacts Northport With Request For Fire Department Data
Good Morning Tom, (Jones)
I am 4 hours behind you currently and in an area of intermittent phone and internet so I cannot call. I am trying to work up some figures on our fire department and possible revenue enhancements along with cost savings. I requested a lot of information from the County and noticed what came back was virtually void of North Port information. As with most of the request we make, I continually find it is what has not been said that prompts me to ask further questions
Posted By Ed Martin at 9:20 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Perhaps this is why Emilio Carlesimo did not want other Council Members to Have Health Coverage
Hi Emilio,
It was nice of you to come down and visit with me at the last Council meeting even knowing you faced a humiliating defeat on the Challenger issue (which I guess I helped to bring about). I’m glad you liked my newspaper letter and encourage my further engagement. Actually, as long as you are on Council you will continue to be the greatest incentive for my activism. To that point, I’m thinking that you are receiving around $100,000.00 a year in retirement benefits. That wou
Posted By Ed Martin at 7:19 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Celebrate Chick Corea's Birthday This Week, By Listening to the 1972 Recording of "Spain"
Living in a home with two young musicians, Scott, piano and Bruce, percussion and more recently keyboards, our jazz collection planted some seeds. Recordings of early Bird and Miles, Dizzy, Bud Powell, echoed through the halls.
However, when Miles went electric with Herbie Hancock and then Chick Corea, the boys moved the sounds up a generation. To say nothing about Billy Cobham, et.al.
One nice business, vacation trip to L.A. and the sons and
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You Tube, Chick Corea.
Posted By Ed Martin at 3:39 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Marshall Happer Writes Commissioner Robinson: I can find nothing in Mayor Holic's statement...
Editor's Note: Commissioner Robinson has replied to Marshall Happer and he, in turn, has replied. Other readers have also commented. Read Comments below at end of article.
***
Marshall Happer, who ran for Mayor against John Holic has written a very civil response to Commissioner Robinson, expressing his support for Holic.
Happer, a thorough researcher, listened to the tape containing the discussion to which Robinson took offense and did not find reason for such a charge.
Posted By Ed Martin at 4:31 PM in Category:
Inside VeniceThursday, 14
Edmar Castenada, Gifted Harpist from Columbia, with Vibist Joe Locke
I heard samples of Castenada's playing on "Fresh Air" on NPR and sent some friends the link to the pod cast. The reaction was too much talk, too little chance to hear him play.
Here is a cut recorded at the Jazz Standard in NY. There are several selections available on You Tube.
As a non-musician listener, I wonder what musicians and other listeners might think.
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You Tube.
Posted By Ed Martin at 9:32 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Citizen Joe McKee Tries Again to Educate Mayor Holic on Pinebrook Park-Pushing a Rock Uphill.
Dear Mayor Holic,
Citing your words as stated to the Venice Gondolier,
"Characterizing the Plan A site as a pristine nature area isn’t accurate, though," said Mayor John Holic. Besides, he added, “I love green space, but that is land that was bought for city use.” The land, he said, is on the city’s books for athletic fields, not as a preserve.
FYI, Pinebrook Park and Wellfield park are quarter sections of two separate sections of land ( a total two sq. miles) tha
Posted By Ed Martin at 4:10 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Wednesday, 13
Commissioner Robinson questions one Council Member acting individually (see also Snyder contract)
Earlier this month IV discussed the Mayor, unilaterally canceling the Finance Director's contract benefits. So far, results pending in possible legal action. Meanwhile Commissioner Robinson, in her battle of the internet with the Mayor, raises this point, not about Snyder, but another matter in her opinion.
"Last year a Council Member was publicly admonished for acting individually on an issue pending before Council as he was a part of a Council body. You have confirmed Council g
Posted By Ed Martin at 5:08 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Dick Hyman Welcomes Grand Piano at Presbyterian Church
From Fran Valencic of the Venice Gondolier, June 13, 2011
Not undecided
“I like the piano,” Dick Hyman said after performing “Undecided” at a summer concert at Venice Presbyterian Church, which is featuring onehour concerts each Wednesday in June at 1 p.m. to celebrate its new Kawai piano.
The first concert brought several hundred year-round residents together for a perfect Venice afternoon. It included music by a fabulous jazz pianist, refreshments an
Posted By Ed Martin at 4:56 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
County Commissioner Robinson, continues to express anger to Mayor Holic. What's an "Inside Story?"
A City Hall insider told me today they suspected that Christine Robinson is choosing to make an email war with the Mayor, because she is worried about her election this fall and wants to get her name in the paper as a fighter. Robinson will face Northport resident Jennifer Cohen in the election and Northport has a lot of voters.
In an interesting turn, Holic has contacted outgoing Commissioner Jon Thaxton, to discuss the matter in person.
I thought the em
Posted By Ed Martin at 2:53 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Saturday, 9
Live from Vic's in Boulder, CO-- fine piano solo on Sonny Rollins' St. Thomas, One minute clip.
Scott Martin and friends have turned Sunday at Vic's into a jazz destination.
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You Tube .
Posted By Ed at 5:14 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Friday, 8
Whoops! Mayor Rubs County Commissioner Robinson the Wrong Way.
Thank you for your e-mail. I have copied the County Administrator with your request. I was anticipating a conversation between our Administrator and your Manager based upon the agreement of your Council at the May 22nd meeting. I did not hear additional records requests as part of Council's direction at that meeting so I am assuming that this is an individual request by you, which we will provide as expeditiously as possible.
Your e-mail also gives me the opportunity to express
Posted By Ed Martin at 10:41 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Thursday, 7
Anybody guess what's on the Mayor's Mind? (And after the firemen spent all that money on Emilio)
Dear BCC Chair Robinson,
Would you please forward to the appropriate County department for processing? The data you provided on the 3 ambulance stations in Venice was very helpful and this is a supplement to that data. I am not in urgent need of the figures as Venice City Council will be in a one month recess starting June 13.
Thank you in advance for your attention to this request of 11 questions, if there is a resource on line that provides the data, I would be satisfied with the
Posted By Ed Martin at 5:11 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Perhaps Venice City Council Believes in "Welfare for the Rich. (and well-connected.)
From the Venice Gondolier Sun, June 6,2012
Editor:
I agree with your “Fine Whines” column on rules regulating uses of Venice Beach for profit as it applies to the yoga classes that are supported by donations. Groups have to reserve beach and park areas for their private use — e.g., using Centennial Park, the shelter at Maxine Barritt Park, etc. Why should this activity, while worthy, be different?
While we are thinking about this issue the owner of S
Posted By Ed Martin at 4:15 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
Tuesday, 5
Gondo News Editor Greg Giles Misreported Council Action on Finance Director's Snyder's Contract.
Greg Giles reported in the June 2 edition that the Council had agreed to the cancellation of City Finance Director Jeff's Snyder's contract. (see link below for Giles' story.)
That never happened. What happened is the Mayor, John Holic, unilaterally, cancelled the contract. It was a surprising action as was the legal advice he presumably followed. Letters between lawyers continue.
Council Member Jim Bennett who takes seriously questions
Click Here to Link directly to this article publisheed in the
Venice Gondolier Sun.
Posted By Ed Martin at 6:06 PM in Category:
Inside Venice
