December 4, 2022, marks the fifth anniversary of the Thomas Fire, and many issues are still unresolved. What has the City of Ventura learned since the catastrophe? Are we safer? Are we better off? What has changed because of the fire? Did the city government fulfill its commitment to the victims? These are difficult but […]
“Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; leadership is defined by results not attributes.” —Peter Drucker Ventura Mayor Sofia Rubalcava presented the 2021 State-of-the-City Address (SOTC) in June. Unfortunately, over time, the City Council has lost sight of the purpose of a State of the City address. The speech should aim […]
“When government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.” —Thomas Jefferson It’s true what they say, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” At least, that’s the case within Ventura Permit Services Department. Nine years after the Ventura Grand Jury ruled that Ventura’s Code […]
“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” —Albert Einstein Ventura Fire Department (VFD) is asking the City Council for more money so they can maintain the inertia they’ve had for the past fifty years. The basis for their demands is an operational assessment of Ventura Fire by […]
“To sin by silence, when they should protest, makes cowards of men.” —Ella Wheeler Wilcox Decisions made by past and present City Councils led to Ventura Water increasing water rates by 7% and wastewater rates by 6% for each year over the next four years. Extrapolated out, the water rate increase for the […]
“Turbulent changes do not affect reality on a deeper level other than to cement the status quo.” —Proverb The City of Ventura is proud of the changes it has made in code enforcement since 2012. Here is a complete account of the changes city officials consider the most important. Changes Within Code Enforcement Since […]
“We are weary of politicians’ politicians. We want ours.” —Gerald Stanley Lee, American author On Saturday, February 20, 2021, the Ventura City Council will have the opportunity to select a new City Councilmember to join them for the next two years. This situation gives four of six City Councilmembers the power to choose a new […]
“The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life.” —Confucius No one makes a lifetime commitment based on a single moment in time. Yet, the Ventura City Council made just such a commitment. In November 2020, they awarded step and merit […]
“Stand up to your obstacles and do something about them. You’ll find they haven’t half the strength you think they have.” —Dr. Norman Vincent Peale Ventura’s unfunded pension liabilities continued to grow in 2019 to $218.6 million. The City of Ventura continues to sink deeper into debt to pay for city employees’ present and future […]