I am tired of history lessons.

Let's do some investigative reporting...

adampayne:

Yes, we've covered Ladd's contract and the First 5 evaluation problems with CSUB. But we hadn't covered, nor had we known about, the fact that he got a raise even after being fired. Sorry it was tiresome to you.

You might be interested to know that we have covered the 58 dead end as well, several times.

Thanks for reading!

If Ladd is adamant about sticking to the fine print on his employee's contract, he won't ask for the raise.  He either negotiates his own salary and perks or he allows his salary and benefits to be determined by union negotiations.   He can't have it both ways.

How many times are the custodians of the taxpayer purse going to fall tor this old scam (buying out the contract of a terminated employee as part of a contract negotiation) before they wake up?    Do they rubber stamp every salary request that's put before them by an administrator?  Who DO THEY THINK THEY ULTIMATELY REPRESENT?

Good story Ms. Henry!

adampayne:

We've  done extensive stories and projects on Kern County's transporation woes.

Most recently, James Burger did a very detailed look at why we won't be able to pay for the freeways being touted by the city. I don't have access to the archives right now, but I believe that package ran in March or April. And we've done a number of reviews of planning blunders re: Rosedale Highway and Highway 58.

I'm sorry you missed the many, many stories we've done on planning in this county.

Either way, Highway 58 and the other subjects you mention have no bearing on the relevancy of my column. It is the newspaper's most basic job to report to the public when it appears public officials, such as the First 5 Kern commission, aren't adequately watching over public dollars.

Perhaps you'll find another column more pertinent to your definition of news.

AudreyB:

That's exactly right!

Thanks very much for reading.

Upscale stores survive when there's a market for them.  A stroll through Sugardaddys at any time will show you how many people shop there.  My guess is Bellagio is about the same when it comes to being busy.

Upscale (?) pet stores charge about 5-7 bucks more for the same dog food than does Walmart.  (No, not Ole Roy.)  Reynolds Foil, plastic wrap etc. are a dollar apiece at Dollartree.  Is there some reason why people want to just give their money away by not wanting to shop at Walmart, Target, and dollar stores?  When I hit the lotto (if I ever remember to play) maybe I'll look for upscale stores to donate my money to..but in the meantime, I love saving money too much to give it away.

I think the story had enough old news to remind me who Steve Ladd is.  While reading the article, I felt it was a personal attack on Mr. Ladd.  I looked for a blog to state my opinion but there was none to be found at the time.   I have never met Steve Ladd and more than likely never will.  I don't have animosity toward him.  Though some of you obviously think he's a shady guy.  My way of thinking tells me that he must be a very intelligent man.  It's not every man or woman who  gets a job with great perks, then has different ways of making more money written into his/her contract.   And how many people doubles their salary within 6 years?  I certainly don't know anyone.  Even if he didn't take the money which I think is contractually impossible.  Since the story made a point of stating he was fired, he is probably not allowed to go into the work place.  Since he wouldn't be allowed to go into the office, how on earth could he de-negotiate his contract?  From the article I read, it sounded like he pretty much had full control over his contracts.  If for some reason, he didn't take the money, It probably would not be given to a school or one of the other deserving entities.   In a few years we will open the Californian and read how the money that was contractually due to Steve Ladd ended up being spent by a higher up on a cruise for his family, a new boat, a car for his girlfriend, etc.   I guess my point is sure every one is a little irritated, and when we hear of someone getting something for nothing, it's maddening.   Whats the old saying..."Everything that goes around comes around", maybe he did some really great things when he was younger and it's time he gets a pay back or a pay raise.  If I ever get another job, I hope Steve Ladd's available to help me negotiate my contract. 

adampayne:

Ok, so you HAVE read our extensive planning/transportation coverage. That's great. From your earlier posts I thought you were implying we hadn't covered planning issues. So, glad to have that cleared up.

Continual harassment? I strongly disagree that the public demanding to know how public money is spent is "harassment."

I pay taxes, so do you. And not by choice. The deal is, we get to scrutinize how those tax dollars are spent. We get to criticize and we get to complain when we feel they're being spent improperly.

If someone doesn't want to be under that spotlight, they are perfectly free to get a job in the private sector.

Janigirl:

LOL! I'm sure Ladd could negotiate a doozy of a contract for you.

mabelline619:

I would love to hear about it.

Argue all you want about whether is this old news or not, but the moral of the story is taxpayers are still funding Steve Ladd's coffers instead of the programs children should be benefitting from.  The fact he got a raise after he was let go shows the lack of oversight the First 5 Kern Board of Directors had on its CEO. What kind of Board approves such a contract?  Terry Cumberworth should've taken lessons from Steve Ladd on the legal way to fleece the taxpayers.

adampayne:

I'm sure there are plenty of taxable items that you don't purchase. So does that mean you're unconcerned with that percentage of tax money being collected and used by the government?

Don't be silly.

Adam, I've got to side against you on this one.  I'm not a smoker, but I can still decry the misuse of the smoker-derived funds which might have been more valuably spent.  (Haven't looked closely enough to decide if they *WERE* misspent.

.

With you on the budget shenanigans, though.  But you seem to imply the Repubicans in Sacramento would *CARE* about hurting kids and disabled people...

Hi Lois, I must have written something recently that sparked some interest as I have had numerous requests to allow individuals to be my friend. Of course I looked at those profiles and came across yours. At first I thought you had been recently fired as you described your career with the Californian. Curiously, I was interested in your profile written in third person by someone who at first glance, didn't appear to like you much. I am a Californian Sounding Board Member, but that is another story. I have an incredible interest in Kern County and as a former elected City Councilman and School Board Member, I see issues that come up in Kern as new issues but yet something I have dealt with in the past. I have a passion for land use, the law, and the seldom used California Environmental Quality Act designed to be enforced by the State Attorney General but never is. I am an animal lover and long time volunteer at the SPCALA. I read your defense of Moe the Chimpanzee. I have had the incredible opportunity to meet him several times. I met his previous owners at his last birthday party. I have shaken his hand, he let me look at we would call fingerprints, and the patterns of lines on his hands. I looked him in the eyes while touching his fingers and I couldn't believe the emotion I felt. His eyes had an aura of intelligence just as any human's eyes I have ever looked in. If you give Moe a bottle of Ocean Spray, it is interesting that he intuitively knows to unscrew the cap and then pour it into his mouth, I guess we call it drinking. He is definitely not a toy. You can never turn your back on him. He is well cared for and safe, but not free in his native environment. When an animal, any animal with such incredible intelligence is taken from natural habitat to be a pet or a viewing toy for mankind while being restrained and confined, the risk is that they become angry, hostile, aggressive, and the risk of total stircraziness can actually require euthanization for "public safety". Let us not forget that our primate friend is in the position he is in because human primates wanted a toy with a similar likeness to ourselves. There was a reason that Moe was given up by his former owners. Many animals can live a lot longer than humans do. Parrots can live well over a hundred years and many of these kinds of exotic birds will only accept one human as their handler. They will attack spouses and children out of jealousy. Sorry about the long read. I also agreed with on your response to first 5 ridiculous attack upon you. So why are you "bitter"? You can write as many words as necessary to effectively get your point across. Try being on a volunteer panel for a journalistic media, and be asked to respond by an editor of an issue of major public importance and limited to enough words that a logical analysis is impossible or improbable, and if exceeded in length ignored. I was surprised that a few numbers of Californian editors were actually on the site communicating with non-print edition writers. Thanks for that.

hi