Wednesday, November 28, 2012

OH CHRISTMAS TREE, OH CHRISTMAS TREE!



The good weather made The Montrose Christmas Tree Lighting Festival a great success...”No rain fell on this parade”. 

A snow-making machine helped make Honolulu Ave feel like a Winter Wonderland. Saw little kids and bigger kids with gray hair throwing snowballs... One even hit one of the carolers … right in the middle of my favorite song “Oh Holly Night”…

The anti Christmas protestors were also out singing their usual songs of...

Behind the scenes Santa’s elves, Steve Pierce and Linda McMenamin, were busy making sure all the equipment was being moved into place. They and the other merchants helped make sure the streets and sidewalks were “spic and span” before the first snowball hit the floor or any walkers-by.

Jolly, Ken Grayson, was the “master of ceremonies” with his helpers Dale and Mary Dawson.

Even saw Mary from the CV Weekly taking notes for her next column. Mary’s boss, Robin, was also in the crowd joining in the festivities. 

Melinda, from the Montrose-Verdugo Chamber of Commerce, was there making sure everything went smoothly.

Since the tree lighting festival fell on Friday, many merchants also were having their White Sales… no sales tax, thank you Santa.

To complete the Christmas spirit, Santa Claus was busy handing out some treats… Did not see Mrs. Claus, but, perhaps, she was home busy baking cookies? 

Having just attended the Oktoberfest and next month the Montrose Christmas Parade and before you know it Montrose in February will be celebrating its centennial birthday,  I know of no other part of Glendale that has such a community spirit. 

Bring on the Holiday Season……….. Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree!

Mayberry, USA is alive and well thanks to the spirit of the residents and business community working together year round.

Mike Mohill

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

SPEECH BEFORE GLENDALE CITY COUNCIL: ORDINANCE FOR $35 MILLION BOND



The Glendale City Council recently raised our water rates 13% over the next four years. In addition, this is on top of the already 38% water rate increases residents, business, and schools have experienced since 2007.
Had our current city council and previous councils not illegally violated Proposition 218 since the year 2000 with transferring approximately $4million annually from the Water Fund account to the General Fund, then our current council would not be discussing the need tonight for a $35million revenue bond to shore up the infrastructure of the GWP (Glendale Water and Power). From 2007 to 2015 the stakeholders of Glendale will be seeing a 51% water rate increase.
In just 12 years, our city councils have drained GLENDALE WATER AND POWER of approximately $235million going into the pockets of our unions’ employees. These monies should have been used for the infrastructure repairs, but, instead, went to our city workers.
Tonight, our city council will approve a $35million water revenue bond to cover-up the mistakes our city councils have made, because they chose to transfer $235million out of the GWP, monies which should have stayed in the utility for needed infrastructure.
Because of council mistakes in July, Fitch Investor Service downgraded $50million worth of water bonds issued in 2008, partially due to GWP lack of liquidity. Today, Moody Investor Service put Glendale on “credit watch” as it reviews possible downgradingof future bonds. 
Council members, why the cover-up at the GWP?

Saturday, November 3, 2012

WHY THE COVER-UP AT GWP?



Our City Council has told the public they want to legally streamline the transfer up to 25% each year from the Revenue Fund of Glendale Water and Power (GWP) and not from the Surplus Fund. By continuing to transfer money first from the Revenue fund and not the Surplus Fund, the public will not be aware there will be little money left over for infrastructure repairs within the GWP. Some would say the streamlining, and transfer would make the violation of Proposition 26 and Proposition 218 appears legal and council wants the voters’ approval in April, 2013.
Our current charter is not obsolete as the City Manager and City Council members want the public to believe. Transferring money from the Revenue Fund first will be like stealing from the GWP for the benefits of our city work force.
Had our current city council and previous councils not illegally violated Proposition 218 since the year 2000 with transferring approximately $4 million annually from the Water Fund account to the General Fund, then our current council would not be discussing the need for a $35 million water revenue bond to shore up the infrastructure of the GWP. Additionally, council  imposed water rate increases from 2007 to 2015 of 51%, so why would we it be necessary for a new water bond?
Instead of keeping Glendale Water and Power revenues with our utility company first for needed infrastructure repairs, except for councilman Manoukian, council members want to  continue doing the bidding for our city unions in making sure there is sufficient money to continue to pay the bloated salaries and pensions of our city employees. Many will leave the city as “millionaires” retiring after 30 years  at age 50 or 55.
In election year 2009 and 2011, our city unions, through their “political action committees,” contributed  thousands of dollars for the election of Friedman, Najarian, Quintero and Weaver.
If the public wants to insure we have needed money in the GWP to handle future infrastructure repairs, we need to vote no to any GWP charter changes in April 2013, and vote for council candidates who are not beholden to the city unions.
Because of council mistakes in July, Fitch Investor Service downgraded $50million worth of water bonds issued in 2008, partially due to GWP lack of liquidity. Today,  Moody Investor Service put Glendale on “credit watch” as it reviews possible downgrading of future bonds.
Why the cover-up at the GWP?