I love LA, but I need to gripe!!!!

kaygee1 · #1 08-04-2009, 08:20 PM

Along with all the budget cuts, I read this the other day about the LA firefighters:
Facing a $56.5-million budget gap, the department will take 15 fire trucks and six ambulances out of service each day, reduce overtime assignments and cut three slots for emergency-room liaisons.
"You're going to compromise care for a lot of people and you're potentially going to kill some people," said Bill Ramsey, a 30-year department paramedic.

Then I read this today about bringing Cirque de Soleil to LA:

The plan to bring Cirque du Soleil here would require the city to approve a $30-million loan to the owners of the Hollywood & Highland shopping center where the Kodak -- best-known as the home of the Academy Awards show -- is located. The theater would have to be retrofitted for Cirque du Soleil. The money comes from a $350-million federal fund for the city to use on economic development. CIM Group, the company that owns the shopping complex, says the installation of the show would create 858 jobs at Hollywood & Highland in retail, restaurants and entertainment. The City Council is expected to vote to approve the loan today.

No really, am I the only one that thinks this is ridiculous?!

chemistry · #2 08-04-2009, 08:34 PM

Yes, that is ridiculous. Its crazy that they had to pay for some of the Michael Jackson funeral and its crazy that they are paying for a retrofit for Cirque du Soleil all while cutting daily pay for fire trucks and ambulances. It what world does that make any sense?

blazedog · #3 08-04-2009, 09:02 PM

In the medieval fiefdoms of Los Angeles where each Councilperson scratches the others' backs in terms of rubber stamping whatever that person wants in their district -- often despite what the constituents want.

In this case, the Councilman from Hollywood wanted it and got the other Council people to vote for it based on HIS vote for THEIR pet projects.

I have gone up against them on environmental zoning issues and once the fix is in (literally) there is nothing that can be done -- Chinatown Redux as far as I am concerned.