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What would you like your Council Member to focus on?
Now that I have been thoroughly initiated into the Altadena Town Council culture, I would like to get back to the real business at hand. What would you like to see your Council Members from 4602 focus on the most? Below are some possible issues for you to choose from. Please vote on an issue below. If what is important to you is not listed, or if you would like to make more than one selection, please post a comment and let us know what is important to you in that specific order.
#1 by gloriana casey on November 3rd, 2009
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Altadena schools would be my first choice: without a well educated workforce, America is going no where.
Beautifying Altadena: we need the Forest Service and the help of the Sierra Club to help those mountains through the winter( and beyond. ) As to”beauty” that is so subjective, and water rationing is putting a new spin on that. However, living so close to the forest, I am a friend of the “natural.”
Business: support your local business, because they are not only our neighbors, but our community. Without them, we are just a bunch of lodgings,( waiting to be swalllowed up by that ( other city.)
Jobs: without them, where will we travel for work? As Ben Franklin once said, ” We hang together, or hang separately.” At this time in history, we need to be very much like the children’s story of ” Stone Soup.” What? You don’t this one. Off to the library with you!
Crime: oh my… if all of the above were working well, this wouldn’t be much of a problem, would it.
Communnication” well this forum is a start. America is a place of many opinions….and good ideas begin here. You just never know where a good idea will come from….STOP HOARDING IDEAS AND SHARE!
#2 by Suzanne on November 3rd, 2009
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My first choice is the speeding. We reside on Loma Alta between Lake and Fair Oaks….and even the Yellow School Buses, Public Works and other government vehicles speed down our street with no concern for the residents safety or quiet enjoyment.
Second choice would be the beautify Altadena…meaning finding grants (not loans) to improve some of the homes where our seniors and low income residents live and can’t afford to make needed repairs. These homes negatively impacts our housing values, neighborhood appeal and pride of ownership. Maybe we can bring Habitat for Humanity into our community and fix some of the worst homes.
Third choice is education…then jobs and businesses.
Good Luck!!!! Your hands are full…and we’re here to help!
Suzanne
#3 by Donna Barnes-Roberts on November 3rd, 2009
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While the schools are of utmost importance, the Town Council has little power. Instead we should all look at electing responsible people to the School District Supervision (vote today).
Beautifying is so subjective, and Altadena is already more beautiful than most places in a unique rag-tag way. I would hate to have the town council get into the mix, except to maybe highlight creative beautification efforts (as opposed to “conventional” beautification). Then when the council highlights something, everyone can argue about how much they hate the decision. As an artist I am familiar with this reaction. OF COURSE, you can never please everyone.
Better public transportation – especially further up the hill would be great and increase the mobility especially for our aging population who are not as spry as they used to be. This also helps our young people to get out and see more of the communities around here.
I am glad to see that getting our own school district and incorporation into a city seem to be getting no traction. I sort of like being a forgotten corner of the larger LA basin. It is true that I would like better schools, but since our school district has more kids in foster homes and group homes than other school districts, they need more resources and resources aren’t going to just appear because we have our own district – in fact many of them may be more restricted.
One of the reasons we have so many group homes here also is BECAUSE we are unincorporated and less restrictive, so it is easier to set one up here than in many other places.
I am fine with that – families in trouble need places to live and heal – I just think that resources should be focused on these communities, and that generally comes from the State and Federal Governments, so those systems and formulas need to be fixed. While the town council can lobby for resources, I am sure that making ourself into a new school district will not bring us what we need.
I would also like to put in a comment about street lights – I like the fact that the community is not all lighted at night – I can see the stars, and the whole place seems quieter and more peaceful without lots of street lights. While it may seem that it helps fight crime – since the spate of burgaries seem to be happening during the afternoons when there is no lighting problem, I don’t think that it will help with those in particular.
The best thing I believe that can fight crime it to know your neighbors, and look out for them. We are all in this together. Nobody is more important than the next person. Period.
We do need to be mindful about changing some things in Altadena. Many of us came here to get away from city lights, onerous restrictions, general citification, and conventional living. If it changes too much, we will become too much like the rest of the basin.
Long live no sidewalks (in the less traveled parts of town, of course)!
#4 by Ashton Rice on November 19th, 2009
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Whatever the outcome of the current closed session proceedings, I would like to see a review and revision of ATC Bylaws that is open to all residents of Altadena.
#5 by Ashton Rice on November 19th, 2009
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I was at the ATC meeting on Tuesday, Nov 17, and there was discussion on what seemed to be a council members-only meeting to set agenda and projects to work on for the coming year. Am I correct?
Can Altadena residents add a voice to what should be included? When is that meeting?
I believe that review and revision of ATC Bylaws (with discussion open to all residents of Altadena) should be on that list of projects.
#6 by Laura @ la car service on August 23rd, 2010
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Interesting page, I would like my council to focus on More Jobs and green opportunities and less crime!
Thanks,
Laura