First Meeting of the South Palm Springs Improvement Group

That’s not the official name of the group.

As a matter of fact, the group doesn’t officially have
a name, yet.
Maybe that should be the first order of business for
the next meeting?

These “thoughts” are not minutes of the meeting, just

a reconstruction from what my memory provides.

This first meeting took place at the Downtown Starbucks

at 101 S. Palm Canyon Dr.  The consensus was that the
next one should be in South Palm Springs area.
Ristretto in the 500 building on E. Ramon was suggested.
My wife and I went through the 500 Building parking lot
after the meeting, about 4:30, and the Ristretto patio was
empty.
Looks like a good choice.  I’m sure the other patrons at
Starbucks wouldn’t mind.

There were 17 people, representing several neighborhoods

in South Palm Springs; Parkview, Tahquitz River Estates,
Canyon Corridor, Warm Sands, and more.

Thank you David Feltman for chairing the meeting.  I was

prepared to take on that responsibility, if necessary,
but I’m glad you “took up the flag”.

We discussed the Magruder building, the Rock Garden, and

the empty lots that create campgrounds for the homeless.
Thomas Evanson talked about finding used syringes, torn
clothing, and other debris in his back yard, which faces
W. Mesquite.  It was suggested he take pictures as evidence
before cleaning it up.

Chris Luhr and Dr. Jonathan Freeman have contacted Palm

Springs City Manager Dr. David Ready about the current status
of the old Magruder building.  Apparently Dr. Ready
responded that a letter has been sent to the Bureau of Indian
Affairs offering to raze the building and dispose of the debris
at the city’s expense.  As of this date, there has not been a
response from B.I.A.
It was recommended that more people write letters and call
the City Managers office to express concern about the issues
we discussed.  It was further agreed that we need to, if
possible, put pressure on the property owners.

Palm Springs City Council candidate Geoff Kors attended to

get a feel for our concerns and to offer support from within the
government.  To learn more about Geoff, go to:
http://www.geoffkors.com/
He’s supporting us in our early stages of development . . .
we need to support him in his bid for City Council.

Thoughts for the next meeting:

     1.   Bring 2 or 3 friends, if possible.
     2.   Name the group.
     3.   Get an e-mail box for the group to use?
     4.   Set up a web presence?
     5.   Invite local businesses to attend and participate.

Once again I would like to thank the following people

who attended the meeting:

Bill Post
Bonnie Findley
Brigett & Tony Z
Chris Luhrs
Danuta Ballinger
David Feltman
Dawn Bern
Gary Johns
Geoff Kors
Jim Forneris
Jon A. Pierson
Dr. Jonathan Freeman
Lyn Tessler
Thomas Evanson

If I miss-spelled your name, please let me know

so I can correct it.

Thanks to Dr. Freeman for compiling the sign-in list

and sending it to me.

BICYCLE TRAFFIC SAFELY

Why is traffic safety ONLY the responsibility of the driver of the car?

It is not my intention to pick on bicycle riders.

I’m just sick-and-tired of being picked on BY them.

As usual our government goes off half-cocked in their attempts to convince us that they have our best interests at heart.

Don’t just encourage people to ride bicycles for their health . . . Encourage them to do it safely by obeying traffic laws and using common sense.

How about riding at night without lights or reflectors and wearing dark clothes.

Maybe common sense isn’t so common any more.

My dad taught me that “horse sense” is just “stable thinking”.

Numerous times, while driving, I have narrowly avoided a collision with a person riding a bicycle on the street.  Usually it’s because that person is doing something patently unsafe and illegal, like running through a yield sign, stop sign, or red signal light.  On each of these occasions the cyclist:  1. Glared at me;  2. Yelled at me;  3. Gave me the one-finger salute;  4. Occasionally all three.

I have no doubt that, had a collision occurred, the cyclist would have sued ME even though it was his/her fault.

I assume they expect drivers to grant riders ownership of the road and declare them above the law.  “Share the road” means just that - SHARE.  Using the public streets safely is the responsibility of EVERY participant.

When are we going to require adult bicycle riders to attend traffic safety classes, take a test, be issued a license, and procure liability insurance before riding a bicycle on a public thoroughfare?

Motorcycles only have 2 wheels and THEIR riders have to meet strict requirements.

To be fair, bicycle riders should have to meet the same requirements as operators of motorcycles, cars, and trucks; including maintaining liability insurance.

Don’t even get me started on pedestrians who cross the street in the middle of the block without looking.  Or cross against the red light or the “Don’t Walk” sign.

How about the ones who force cars into oncoming traffic by walking two or three abreast in the street when there is a perfectly good sidewalk not 2 feet away???

Maybe they just don’t understand: SIDEWALK.  As in WALK on the SIDE of the road . . . where it’s safer . . . DUH.

 

My rant for the day.


Coming up:  A review of Spencer's Restaurant in Palm Springs.

CONTROL YOUR LIFE

Other people are only able to control your life WITH YOUR CONSENT.

I DON'T CONSENT!

Without pointing any fingers or playing the "blame game", I have unilaterally decided that I WILL control my life.

I am a member of several "lists".  I post and comment on other posts on each.  If you're my age, you probably remember them being called "bulletin boards".

They are a "place" online where people with something in common can "gather" to exchange pleasantries and information, ask and answer questions and generally have an "over the back fence" or "over the front hedge" conversation.

The "something in common" could be personal background, neighborhood, crime watch, bucket list, etc.  Almost anything.

No one, other than the list owner, should try to LIMIT these conversations to what THEY think is appropriate.  Like:

"Who do you know that can repair my barn door?"  or
"How do you fix a leaky faucet?"  or
"Have you seen my little lost dog/cat?"  or
"Be aware there some strange (looking) people in the area."
While these ARE legitimate subjects for conversation, they are certainly NOT the ONLY things to be talked about.  Putting arbitrary limits on a list is a sure way to kill it.

Religious and political discussions should be kept to a minimum because they are strictly a matter of personal opinion and it's guaranteed someone else will have the opposite opinion.  These conversations can and will result in someone's feelings getting hurt.  GET OVER IT.  The trick is to not prolong the p***ing contest.

Take your best shot and then walk away from the thread.

When you talk to your neighbor over the back fence most people will joke around a bit.  There is nothing wrong with this.

 

 

 

NO THIRD PARTY, except the list owner or the list owners duly appointed representative, has the right to remove someone's post or tell someone;  "Don't post that", "Don't comment that way".

A short while back I made the mistake of allowing someone on a list to push one of my buttons.  I left a list because a third party was offended by a comment I, jokingly, made to someone else and told me it was "inappropriate" to joke with anyone.

That button has been disabled.

I'm going back on the list.  I will make every effort to be neighborly.

If I say something on that list, another list, or this blog that offends you,

you may take your best return shot.

After that:  TALK TO THE HAND