“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” — George Bernard Shaw In Ventura, the city staff uses the Brown Act to do precisely the opposite of what lawmakers created it to do. The California Brown Act guarantees the public’s right to attend and take part in meetings […]
http://www.vregventura.org/wp-content/uploads/Man-with-Megaphone-Talking-to-Hand—WP.jpg6671000VREG Editorshttp://www.vregventura.org/wp-content/uploads/vreg-logo-1.jpgVREG Editors2019-02-05 04:02:582019-03-20 18:18:27Ventura Water Has A Wonderful Opportunity To Be More Transparent
“Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it.”— Winston Churchill Last year was a most transformational year in Ventura’s history. Every aspect of life in Ventura was affected. The city was in the national spotlight, twice. Leadership changed but at a high price. Old ways of doing business didn’t change, though. […]
http://www.vregventura.org/wp-content/uploads/2018-Montage—WP.jpg6661000VREG Editorshttp://www.vregventura.org/wp-content/uploads/vreg-logo-1.jpgVREG Editors2019-01-15 04:00:412019-02-06 05:29:27It Was The Best And Worst Of Times For Ventura In 2018
Ventura held its first City Council election by voting district. The new voting process confused some voters. Others felt disenfranchised. Lorrie Brown (District 6), Jim Friedman (District 5), Erik Nasarenko (District 4) and Sofia Rubalcava (District 1) won. The candidates raised a record amount of money. Campaigning was in districts instead of citywide. One would […]
http://www.vregventura.org/wp-content/uploads/Vertical-Stack-of-100s—WP.jpg6661000VREG Editorshttp://www.vregventura.org/wp-content/uploads/vreg-logo-1.jpgVREG Editors2019-01-10 19:00:402019-01-13 09:05:13Most Money Ever Spent In A City Council Election In 2018
Ventura Police officers sign a new contract with a 5% pay increase. The timing of the announcement was questionable. It came on the heels of the Anthony Mele, Jr. murder. However, the agreement was a fair one. Ventura Fire Unhappy With The Proposed Contract Agreed upon union contracts form the basis for negotiating other city […]
http://www.vregventura.org/wp-content/uploads/Arguing-Politicians—WP.jpg6661000VREG Editorshttp://www.vregventura.org/wp-content/uploads/vreg-logo-1.jpgVREG Editors2019-01-10 18:12:172019-01-10 15:23:08What Do You Think Of The Tactics Used By Ventura Fire?
Jamal Jackson stabbed Anthony Mele, Jr. to death on Ventura’s Promenade in April 2018. Once again, the city was in the national news. Poor Judgment Exercised With The Murder On The Promenade Jackson was a repeat offender and homeless. Many citizens jumbled his criminal act and his impoverished state. Ventura Police received a call that […]
http://www.vregventura.org/wp-content/uploads/Anthony-Mele-Jr.-Memorial—WP.jpg6661000VREG Editorshttp://www.vregventura.org/wp-content/uploads/vreg-logo-1.jpgVREG Editors2019-01-09 18:00:052019-01-09 16:11:50Special Precaution Continues After Murder On the Promenade
The City Council waffled on second-story height restrictions for rebuilding victims’ homes. Indecisiveness delayed the rebuilding process for many. Councilmembers exhibited big hearts and small brains settling on the new height ordinance. They attempted to please fire victims wanting to improve their homes. Doing so delayed rebuilding for everyone. It was clear that many of […]
http://www.vregventura.org/wp-content/uploads/New-Construction—WP.jpg6671000VREG Editorshttp://www.vregventura.org/wp-content/uploads/vreg-logo-1.jpgVREG Editors2019-01-09 14:00:212019-01-18 20:59:46Ventura Has Opportunity To Improve After The Thomas Fire
To understand 2018 begins by understanding December 2017 and the Thomas Fire. The fire destroyed 535 houses in Ventura. It scarred the hillside, displaced families, and created unprecedented demands for services. It was Ventura public safety’s finest hour. Police and firefighters performed heroic feats. As a result, no Ventura residents died in the fire. Thomas […]
http://www.vregventura.org/wp-content/uploads/Helicopter-on-an-Angle—WP.jpg6661000VREG Editorshttp://www.vregventura.org/wp-content/uploads/vreg-logo-1.jpgVREG Editors2019-01-08 18:00:022019-01-18 12:06:33What Prevents The Thomas Fire Findings From Being Public?
The City Council approves a $600,000 per year “roving” fire engine and three paramedics in June 2018. Ventura Fire insisted they needed the engine because response times “were especially high.” He gave no information on what’s driving the increased calls for help. Nor did he offer any cost-effective alternatives to deliver the services. Uncertainty Over […]
http://www.vregventura.org/wp-content/uploads/Under-Thumb—WP.jpg6661000VREG Editorshttp://www.vregventura.org/wp-content/uploads/vreg-logo-1.jpgVREG Editors2019-01-07 21:00:572019-01-07 20:13:07Powerful VFD Union Exerts Its Strength On The Council
“I have never understood why it is ‘greed’ to want to keep the money you’ve earned, but not greed to want to take somebody else’s money.” —Thomas Jefferson Ventura Water will push the boundaries of the law as it tries to use Proposition 218 to raise money to meet the Wishtoya Foundation Consent Decree. […]
http://www.vregventura.org/wp-content/uploads/Non-Vote-Becomes-Yes—WP.jpg6661000VREG Editorshttp://www.vregventura.org/wp-content/uploads/vreg-logo-1.jpgVREG Editors2018-12-19 04:03:582019-01-12 13:45:20Proposition 218 Is The Fastest Way To Raise Money, But Is It Right?
Our federalist system gives us many opportunities to participate in our democracy. Some forms of participation are more common than others. And some citizens participate more than others, but almost everyone has a voice in government. Meet Your 2019 City Councilmembers We have a new Ventura City Council for 2019. We have three new Councilmember […]
http://www.vregventura.org/wp-content/uploads/2019-City-Council-Montage-Classic-by-District—WP.jpg6661000VREG Editorshttp://www.vregventura.org/wp-content/uploads/vreg-logo-1.jpgVREG Editors2018-12-11 04:00:002019-01-08 09:34:32How To Connect To Your 2019 Ventura City Councilmembers
Ventura Water Has A Wonderful Opportunity To Be More Transparent
/0 Comments/in Newsletters /by VREG Editors“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” — George Bernard Shaw In Ventura, the city staff uses the Brown Act to do precisely the opposite of what lawmakers created it to do. The California Brown Act guarantees the public’s right to attend and take part in meetings […]
It Was The Best And Worst Of Times For Ventura In 2018
/0 Comments/in Newsletters /by VREG Editors“Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it.”— Winston Churchill Last year was a most transformational year in Ventura’s history. Every aspect of life in Ventura was affected. The city was in the national spotlight, twice. Leadership changed but at a high price. Old ways of doing business didn’t change, though. […]
Most Money Ever Spent In A City Council Election In 2018
/0 Comments/in General News /by VREG EditorsVentura held its first City Council election by voting district. The new voting process confused some voters. Others felt disenfranchised. Lorrie Brown (District 6), Jim Friedman (District 5), Erik Nasarenko (District 4) and Sofia Rubalcava (District 1) won. The candidates raised a record amount of money. Campaigning was in districts instead of citywide. One would […]
What Do You Think Of The Tactics Used By Ventura Fire?
/0 Comments/in General News /by VREG EditorsVentura Police officers sign a new contract with a 5% pay increase. The timing of the announcement was questionable. It came on the heels of the Anthony Mele, Jr. murder. However, the agreement was a fair one. Ventura Fire Unhappy With The Proposed Contract Agreed upon union contracts form the basis for negotiating other city […]
Special Precaution Continues After Murder On the Promenade
/0 Comments/in General News /by VREG EditorsJamal Jackson stabbed Anthony Mele, Jr. to death on Ventura’s Promenade in April 2018. Once again, the city was in the national news. Poor Judgment Exercised With The Murder On The Promenade Jackson was a repeat offender and homeless. Many citizens jumbled his criminal act and his impoverished state. Ventura Police received a call that […]
Ventura Has Opportunity To Improve After The Thomas Fire
/0 Comments/in General News /by VREG EditorsThe City Council waffled on second-story height restrictions for rebuilding victims’ homes. Indecisiveness delayed the rebuilding process for many. Councilmembers exhibited big hearts and small brains settling on the new height ordinance. They attempted to please fire victims wanting to improve their homes. Doing so delayed rebuilding for everyone. It was clear that many of […]
What Prevents The Thomas Fire Findings From Being Public?
/0 Comments/in General News /by VREG EditorsTo understand 2018 begins by understanding December 2017 and the Thomas Fire. The fire destroyed 535 houses in Ventura. It scarred the hillside, displaced families, and created unprecedented demands for services. It was Ventura public safety’s finest hour. Police and firefighters performed heroic feats. As a result, no Ventura residents died in the fire. Thomas […]
Powerful VFD Union Exerts Its Strength On The Council
/0 Comments/in General News /by VREG EditorsThe City Council approves a $600,000 per year “roving” fire engine and three paramedics in June 2018. Ventura Fire insisted they needed the engine because response times “were especially high.” He gave no information on what’s driving the increased calls for help. Nor did he offer any cost-effective alternatives to deliver the services. Uncertainty Over […]
Proposition 218 Is The Fastest Way To Raise Money, But Is It Right?
/0 Comments/in Newsletters /by VREG Editors“I have never understood why it is ‘greed’ to want to keep the money you’ve earned, but not greed to want to take somebody else’s money.” —Thomas Jefferson Ventura Water will push the boundaries of the law as it tries to use Proposition 218 to raise money to meet the Wishtoya Foundation Consent Decree. […]
How To Connect To Your 2019 Ventura City Councilmembers
/2 Comments/in General News /by VREG EditorsOur federalist system gives us many opportunities to participate in our democracy. Some forms of participation are more common than others. And some citizens participate more than others, but almost everyone has a voice in government. Meet Your 2019 City Councilmembers We have a new Ventura City Council for 2019. We have three new Councilmember […]