In the newly erupted controversy of a local skate park that has drawn criticism from one U.S. senator as being among the worst misuses of federal stimulus funding, 1st District City Councilman Robert Garcia continues to fire back.
He announced today the creation of a new page on his Web site to muster support for the 14th Street Skate Park project and where the public can find information about the plans. You can see two Press-Telegram stories about the project and the controversy here and here.
Earlier this week, Garcia released the following statement in response to the criticism of Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla.:
The Long Beach 14th Street Skatepark is an essential recreational facility for young people in one of the most vulnerable and densely populated areas in the country. Residents have strongly advocated for the park for many years. The park will bring jobs and an improved quality of life to Long Beach, and offer positive activities to youth who might otherwise be left to fend for themselves on the streets. I'd like to personally invite Senator Coburn to visit our community and to tell the kids who want and need this park why he wants to take it away from them.
Despite Senator Coburn's very visible opposition to federal spending on everything from bridges and wilderness protection to medical research and alternative energy, his state receives about $1.36 for every dollar it pays in Federal taxes, while California gets back just 78 cents on its tax dollar. In fact, Oklahoma receives from the Federal government approximately 1,000 dollars more per person on average than does California. This is just more evidence that Tom Coburn is out of touch and that his grandstanding about the stimulus bill is worse than irrelevant - it's patently hypocritical.
This is a park we can all be proud of, and I'm proud to let Senator Coburn know that it's going to get built whether he likes it or not.
Paul Eakins reports on Long Beach City Hall, and local and regional
politics. A newcomer to the Press-
Kris Hanson reports on the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles,
covering environmental issues, economic triumphs and
pitfalls and trade trends of America’s largest port.
He also writes a weekly column “On The Waterfront”,
appearing Tuesdays, and also produces an occassional video
and column titled “On The Job,” which follows the hard-working
men and women who keep Southern California’s economy humming.
Karen Robes Meeks came to work for the Press-
Skate parks are the most used facility in parks throughout Southern California.
There are a number of ways to fund this worthy project one of which is to have any individual that
is receiving any form of stimulus money from City,
County,State or Federal Government and has cable TV
with anything but the basic:
That individual will pay to the City,the difference
between the basic and what they have been paying for
the year,prior to getting the stimulus money.
If they have high end automobiles they will trade
down and give the difference to the City for the
park.
There is not a community on the planet that would not benefit from a skate park. Skating is great exercise and an opportunity to build confidence. Skate parks keep kids off the street, decreasing opportunities for vandalism and mischief, which directly impacts tax dollars. How many skate parks are there in Oklahoma? Good Luck 14th Street Skate Park!
A Skate pak is definitely needed to take these teenagers from skating at the "City Hall" grounds, as well business at 402 Atlantic Avenue, which is creating disturbance to the resident in the area.