Pueblog USa
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Looking for a Few Good….
....Men....er….People.
The Pueblo Area Council Of Government (PACOG) Environmental Policy Advisory Committee (EPAC) is looking for five people to join the committee.
Here is the advertisement that appeared recently in the Pueblo Chieftain…
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
PUBLIC NOTICE
The Pueblo Area Council of Governments (PACOG) is seeking applications from Pueblo County residents (i.e., City of Pueblo or the unincorporated area of Pueblo County) interested in serving on its Environmental Policy Advisory Committee (EPAC). EPAC is a twelve-member advisory group which may advise PACOG regarding environmental issues, including air quality, water quality, noise abatement, solid waste, and hazardous waste. EPAC meets on the 1st Thursday of each month at 5:15 p.m.
Members are appointed by PACOG to serve three-year terms, and reflect a balance of interests in the Pueblo area. EPAC consists of substantially equivalent proportions from the following four groups:
• Public Interest—Any member of a nonprofit organization which reflects a general, civic, social, recreational, environmental, or public health perspective in the Pueblo region, and which group does not directly reflect the economic interests of its membership. Excluded from membership in this category shall be any member eligible for the economic interest or public official category.
• Organizations with Substantial Economic Interest—Any person and/or company who is likely to incur financial gain or loss greater than that of an average homeowner, taxpayer, or consumer as a result of any action likely to be taken by PACOG. Included in, but not limited to, this group shall be: representatives of companies inspected by the City-County Health Department for possible pollution; farmers and/or representatives of ditch companies; persons involved in supplying for profit recreation programs or equipment; large water consumers; manufacturers; commercial establishments; and nongovernmental professional with substantial economic interest.
• Public Officials—Any office holder who has been selected by a vote of the residents, any commission or agency member who has been appointed by a group of elected officials, and any employee of local, State, or Federal government.
• Private Citizens—Those persons who are not eligible for any other category. In addition, no person may be included in this category that is likely to incur a financial gain or loss greater than that of an average homeowner, taxpayer, or consumer as a result of any action likely to be taken by PACOG.
At this particular time, applications are being requested for persons to serve from the Organizations with Substantial Economic Interest and Public Officials groups. If you are interested in applying for appointment, you may secure an application form from the Pueblo County Department of Planning and Development, 229 West 12th Street, Pueblo, CO 81003 or telephone 583-6100. The deadline for receipt of applications is November 20, 2009 by 5:00 p.m.
If you have a heart for Pueblo and improving the quality of life therein, seriously consider (1) applying yourself or (2) passing this information on to someone you think would serve us all well.
Here is the APPLICATION for you to download, fill out and submit by COB (5 pm) 20 November 2009, to the Pueblo County Department of Planning and Development.
Get in the game!
Monday, November 09, 2009
Why the ‘Y’ Isn’t Serving Pueblo
Or, the chickens ARE coming home to ‘roost’.
Another item in Saturday’s Chieftain. This one about the perception that the YMCA isn’t REALLY serving all of Pueblo as it claimed it would during the run up to the decision by the City Council to subsidize their project.
I have a simple question for the Y….
Where they say….
Terry Lockwood, president and CEO of the Y, notes that the organization provides scholarships for kids who cannot afford Y membership. No requests for scholarships have been rejected, he said, and requests for them have risen by 20 percent since the new complex opened.
....I’d like to know how many such scholarships have been issued, compared to requests and to number of under-privileged children in Pueblo that would benefit from such.
Also, I seem to recall comments that the Y would be providing bus service to facilitate children on the East side getting to their new campus. I’d like to know the status on THAT service, too.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Thoughts on Governance — 080810
An interesting perspective.
Last month there was an article published in the Denver Post. One that has not appeared in our own Pueblo Chieftain. And I have to wonder just why that is. But I won’t go into that…..yet. Here is the link
to the article.
What follows are my comments, i.e., some fisking, of said same….
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Speaking of Initiatives
Going pro-active.
I have to admit that Chris Nicoll’s initiative has been an inspiration. So much so that the Pueblo Neighborhood Partnership (PNP) is going to emulate it as part of its efforts to improve the quality of living in the city and county of Pueblo.
Last Tuesday, I proposed five possible items to put forward as citizens’ initiatives for the city ordinances on the 2009 odd-year City-County election. These were:
[1] Require the city to provide public notices and publish all documentation relating to a proposed action 45 days prior to any hearing on such actions on their web-site.
[2] Establish a sidewalk utility for the regular maintenance of sidewalks in the city limits.
[3] City recognition and work with organized neighborhood associations, requiring that changes in statutes or zoning or other activities that impacted on neighborhoods would have to have said neighborhoods input.
[4] Oaths at Meetings would require Staff as well as citizens to swear to the honesty of their report under pain of perjury at meetings where witnesses are required to swear or affirm such.
[5] That the city’s legal department should be employees of the city government and not a private firm contracted to do such work for the city.
This list is not locked in concrete. I invite any other possible ideas to modify the City Ordinances or City Charter that would improve our governance by making it more open to the citizens and/or provide better service to them. If you think you have a good idea, let’s hear it. Just click on the word Comments in the box immediately below and say your piece.
Over the course of the next few months we’ll discuss each of the options provided to thrash out their advantages and disadvantages.
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Pueblo Neighborhood Partnership Bylaws — 080708
For your consideration…..
Click on THIS LINK to download the PDF formated copy of the draft bylaws for the Pueblo Neighborhood Partnership.
Monday, July 07, 2008
Eastside Graffiti Removal — 19 July 2008
Taking another whack at the lunacy.
Eva Montoya’s band of merry (and some not so….they’re kids doing public service due to misconduct) folk will be hitting the ugly ‘art’ again this year.
The next installment is as follows:
Date: Saturday, 19 July 2008
Time: 8 am to 11 am
Place: Pueblo Human Services, 2631 E 4th Street
Attire: Grubbies, i.e., things you don’t mind getting paint on.
Have at compadres!
Friday, June 20, 2008
Of Floods and Levees — 2
Others are taking notice.
With the increasing number of levees that are failing along the Mississippi, it is become more and more apparent that someone has grossly underestimated the potential for disaster. Even our own Pueblo Chieftain has noticed.
What’s caught our notice is that some levees built along the Mississippi River and its tributaries have been breached, letting floodwaters pour into areas that otherwise might have been considered safe. And we’ve heard an echo of this right here in Pueblo.
Considering what we’ve witnessed of late vis-a-vis the disasters in Peppersauce Bottoms, we look at the Fountain and have to wonder just how safe our system is.
This is especially true when we look at the I-25 overpass at 13th Street, as the Fountain flows by a few yards to the east. There is NO levee there. Just as there was no levee on the road running beside a river as it flowed past Cedar Rapids. I captured a photo from the Fox News article. I wish I could provide it here, but I’m concerned about copyright violations. Suffice it to say that someone piled up heaps of dirt and some sandbags at a low point in the highway, in an act of desperation, to keep the river within it’s banks. The photograph shows the river having breached the makeshift levee and flowing across the road.
It’s pathetic. It’s the quintessential example of the Six Ps; Army Staff puke axiom about Piss Poor Planning.
This brings me to my forthcoming query to the Pueblo County Emergency Management Department. As a member of the Pueblo Area Council Of Governments (PACOG) Environmental Policy Advisory Committee (EPAC), at their next regular meeting I will call for the County emergency management people to explain the following:
[1] What are the levees along the Arkansas and Fountain rated to withstand?
[2] What data and/or parameters were used in the formulation of the 100-year and 500-year flood estimates?
[3] How do those parameters match up against the event in Iowa and Illinois of the last few weeks?
[4] What were the levees that failed in Iowa and Illinois rated to withstand?
[5] What are the written plans to deal with flooding in the Arkansas and Fountain?
I think we need to see how our County government is prepared to deal with this sort of crisis. After all….we’re getting into the range of another 100-year event. The flood of 1921’s 100-year anniversary is not that far off.
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Saturday, June 14, 2008
Of Floods and Levees
How safe are our levees?
Over the last few years, we’ve heard some reports of serious problems with our system of levees. We have the disaster in New Orleans where the levees—which had not been properly upgraded—were demolished by Hurricane Katrina. Now we see Cedar Rapids and Des Moines experiencing similar disasters because the levees were not up to the task.
In the former, it was a major storm lashing the works. In this iteration, it’s just an awful lot of water that is higher than the Corps of Engineers seem to have anticipated. And this is supposedly the proverbial 500-year flood.
It makes me wonder whether or not our levees, along the Fountain are up to this sort of flood. Or are they, as appears in Iowa, only built for the 100-year sort of flood.
There’s a picture up on Fox News showing where one of the two ‘breaks’ in levees occurred in Des Moines. And guess what….there WAS no levee there. Except for the few piles of pathetic dirt someone tried to shove on the edge of the road. Personally, I’m seeing what local Emergency Management might attempt at the I25 overpass at 13th Street, vis-a-vis the Fountain. Some dirt piled up to face a 100-year flood and it not holding up to the challenge of the moment. Let alone a 500-year deluge. And it makes me wonder….what would happen to the Northside neighborhoods and businesses. Or downtown business for that matter.
I’d like to see the Pueblo County Emergency Management Department plans to deal with such an emergency.
Hopefully, they’re a bit more comprehensive than sending the police through the neighborhood telling people to get out over a bullhorn pointed out the window of their cruiser…..
UPDATE Another One Busted [141616 Jun 08]: Fox News reports another levee, this one on the Mississippi River as it passes Illinois, has busted.
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Tuesday, May 06, 2008
City-Wide Leadership Development Conference
Getting involved once more. This time with feeling!
This Friday evening and Saturday, the Colorado State University—Pueblo Center for Leadership and Community Development will be hosting a city-wide conference on the issues confronting the neighborhoods of Pueblo. The purpose of which is to develop neighborhood leaders to the point that they can become active players in the community politics; engaging the City, and where applicable the County, government in efforts to deal with the issues facing each of them in a more effective manner.
Friday evening’s activities begin at 7 pm in the Life Science Building Auditorium on the CSU-P campus. It will focus on the studies of the Pueblo Poverty Study Group. Members of that group will explain their evaluation of the situations faced by people living in Pueblo, based on their series of articles published in the Pueblo Chieftain. To read their consolidated efforts, you can download their monograph. It’s PDF formated.
Saturday, all day, will begin at 9 am and run til 5 pm. It will be held in the Occhiato Center. This days activities will be to provide useful information on how the city government is organized and how neighborhoods can work within the system to get things done. Or, that having failed, work AROUND the system, to get where they feel they need to be.
If you have already registered, great.
If you have not already registered, please contact Dr. Gayle Berardi (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)) or Dr. Colette Carter (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)) to make a reservation. TODAY!!!!! Especially if you’re going to be there all-day Saturday.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Parks & Rec Public Forum
Have YOUR say about how they’re doing and what they’re doing in the future.
There’s going to be a city-wide Open House/Public Forum on the future of the Pueblo City Parks & Recreation Department.
It is to be held tomorrow at the Convention Center, starting at 6:30 PM.
If you are concerned with our parks and other recreational facilities in the city, you should go.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Part 1: So What Was Going with that Historic District and Council?
I apologize for any errors in the following narration. I have been patiently waiting for the minutes of the January 14, 2008, Pueblo City Council meeting to be posted on the City’s web site, but they are still not there.
Monday, January 14, 2008, Pueblo City Council was presented with a proposed historic district to be called the North Side Historic District. It has approximately 35 properties. The district boundaries had already been redrawn to accommodate people who protested being included.
After “testimony” was heard, Council then discussed the issue and decided that before the District could be finalized, every property owner had to agree to be included with an affidavit. This is not in Pueblo’s Historic Preservation Ordinance. This goes way beyond the noticing that the City was required to do and did do. This is called “changing the rules so your opponent can’t score.”
Personally, I think the whole thing was quite likely manipulated by parties with other agendas. I won’t say it was exactly pre-planned or orchestrated, but under the circumstances, it would be very easy to manipulate.
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Monday, December 03, 2007
PNP Meeting December 2007
Discussions with City Officials.
Tomorrow, Tuesday, 4 December, will see the Pueblo Neighborhood Partnership meeting.
We’ll be meeting and eating at 11:30 am, in the District Attorney’s Conference Room in their building at 701 Court St.
The agenda is as follows:
• Brief Introductions
• Announcements by Officials (who have to get back to work quickly)
- TBD
• Official Business
- Committee Reports
- Proposed Bylaws & Articles of Incorporation [Note: Bylaws (Draft) are available for download from Pueblog.us.]
- January 2008 Retreat
• Primary Topic
- Pueblo Planning & Development Department Plans for the Future Development of Pueblo; Mr. Jerry Pacheco, Assistant City Manager for Community Development presenting.
• Adjournment
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Thanksgiving Casa Pelto Pueblo 2007
Miscellaneous thoughts on the holiday as I’m preparing the feast.
Sitting here at the kitchen counter, listening to great music [I Will Be There], while the guest of ‘honor’ has been thrust into the oven and all the sides are prepared for cooking, diddling on the laptop….I’m reviewing what’s in the Pueblo Chieftain and I was struck by a juxtaposition of todays editorial and other thinks that had come to mind over the last few days. [Ed. Note: Thank God for the internet and the [current] ability to see so much in so little time….without the filtering of the so-called ‘Major Media’.]
I am struck by the idea that the Chieftain thinks it is important to remark on the words of US Supreme Court Associate Justice Joseph Story. Especially his words to the young of this country….
Let the American youth never forget that they possess a noble inheritance bought by the toils, and sufferings, and blood of their ancestors; and capacity, if wisely improved, and faithfully guarded, of transmitting to ... posterity all the substantial blessings of life, and the peaceful enjoyment of liberty, property, religion, and independence.
What’s going on?
Is the vaunted American Public Education system failing to teach this message?
I wonder…..if I were to ask some high school student, in a man-on-the-street approach, something about Justice Story’s remark….what would I hear in reply?
Get this. I am a judge of Colorado high school debate. I specialize in Cross-Examination, Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum and One-on-One Value debates.
Admittedly, I’m very much impressed with the skills, thought processes and command of the English language of many of the contestants I judge in a round at an event. However, I have this niggling concern that these few that participate in high school forensics are a few ‘rare birds’, indeed. A problematic ‘minority’....in more ways than one.
The BIG problem, as my concerns point, is not that we are not raising up successors with the mental discernment that I and my contemporaries and peers enjoy today. I am certain that many I’ve heard over the last few years will surpass me. Seriously. I’ve heard some stunners just a couple of weeks ago. And I’m gladdened with the thought.
However, I have serious concerns that not ENOUGH young, future-voting citizens are as well instructed. [Note: The process has been referred to, over the last two decades, as the dumbing-down of America.]
Half of the time I sit in on the Pueblo 2010 Commission, I hear ‘concerns’ about how Colorado State University-Pueblo (CSU-P) has problems retaining students. They seem to drop out rather early and never complete higher education.
Ever time I’ve heard that, I’ve looked at the respresentative from Pueblo School District 60….if they are in attendance.
I get the distinct impression that most people think it is the fault of CSU-P that these aspiring young adults fail. I see it as a totally different problem…..something in the realm of K-12, i.e,. District 60.
And this Chieftain article makes me want to ask the D60 rep, “What is taught in civics, these days?” With follow-on questions about Math, English, Life Sciences, Hard Sciences, Art, Theater, etc., etc., etc…..?
TO: Kitty Kennedy
RE: Next Time….
....I hear comments at 2010 Commission about CSU-P and drop-outs….‘Be Prepared’. [Note: Yeah….I know….It’s a Boy Scout, i.e., guy, think. But still and all…..]
Friday, October 12, 2007
The Ballot Issues of 2007
Observations on the ballot issues by the League of Women Voters.
As usual, the League of Women Voters has come out with a brochure to help people better understand the issues that will be on the November 2007 ballot in Pueblo. And it is much appreciated. Especially when your eyes get ‘crossed’ and your brain scrambled like eggs in a frying-pan trying to read item 2C. [Ed. Note: Sheesh! It is (1) worse than trying to read Dickens in high school, (2) one long sentence, the longest I’ve ever seen in all my life, and (3) ALL CAPS, WHICH GIVES ONE THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY ARE SCREAMING AT YOU.
On that last item, the SCREAMING, one might get the impression they didn’t WANT you to ‘understand’.]
Click on ‘More….’ to see the text of their brochure.
I will point out that, contrary to their statements in the brochure, there IS ‘opposition’ to Questions 2C and 2D. See the items here and here.
There is ALSO opposition to Question 2A. It’s from the Pueblo Chieftain and you can read that organ’s opinion here.
Also, if you wish to visit the League of Women Voters web-site, go HERE.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Pueblo Neighborhood Partnership Meeting — October 2007
And now for something completely different….a group of people running for City Council.
The October 2007 meeting of the Pueblo Neighborhood Partnership will be a public forum debate of candidates running for the Pueblo City Council.
Here are the details:
Date: Tuesday, 16 October 2007
Time: 7-9 pm
Place: SRDA cafeteria at 230 North Union
Agenda: Questions relating to neighborhood issues put to candidates running for City Council.
Refreshments: Coffee from SRDA. Cookies or brownies or other finger desserts from YOU. Bring about a dozen of such to share.
What we need from YOU are the following:
[1] Questions to be put to the candidates.
These questions should relate to neighborhood issues.
Send the questions via e-mail by clicking on my name, below.
[2] Cookies or other finger food desserts.
About a dozen.
[3] Communication of this event within your neighborhoods.
Tell your friends, neighbors and associates about this event.
[4] Don’t fill-in and send your mail-in ballot until AFTER you’ve heard all you need from the candidates.
That includes THIS event.
Looking forward to seeing all of you and your neighbors there.