And socks and get down to the PCPA for their new show, "West Side Story." (http://www.pcpa.org/) Terriffic cast, great staging. For some reason I'd never seen that piece on stage. Saw the movie and certainly played the record until it wore out, but never saw in staged. The small PCPA theatre in the semi-round worked very well, the smaller space confining the concentrating the energy of the dances. And it was interesting to listen to one of the songs, a multi-voiced "opera-like" piece that was a forerunner to Steven Sondheim's complicted, multi-voiced pieces that he used much later to such powerful effect in "Sweeny Todd." The program notes said Sondheim was 25 when he wrote the lyrics. Surely he learned a lot from working with Bernstein.
Then put on your roller skates and head on over to the the Great American Melodrama Theatre (http://www.americanmelodrama.com/) in Ocean for a performance of "The Tavern," by George M. Cohan. Yeah, that "Yankee Doodle Dandy" George M. Cohan. Didn't know he was a playwright, did you? Me neither. "The Tavern" is playing July 15 - Sept 19 and alternates with "The Crock of Gold," so if you go, be sure you get the right play /date.
What made "The Tavern" so astonishing was how utterly modernist it was -- very funny, yes, but so much of it had fascinating echoes of Tom Stoppard's skewed-view works ("Rosenkrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead"), the deadpan, mordant wit of Beckett's "Waiting for Godot," the absurdist tomfoolery of Kurt Vonnegut, with modernist theatre techniques (breaking the fourth wall), Marx Brothers silliness, 1940s "screwball comedies," and lots of comic Daily Show self-referential deconstruction tossed in to boot. Most of which are post war sensibilities and had no business being in a play by a guy I associated with WWI, not WWII. So when I got home and googled it, sure enough, thing was written in the early 1920s. ????? Amazing.
Then, quite by accident, while outside the PPCA theatre during intermission of West Side Story the next afternoon, I spied the star of "The Tavern," Chuck McLane, and went to ask him about it. According to Mr. McLane, Cohan wrote the piece as a savage indictment of "theatre" and actors and the whole art form because he was furious over the Actor's Equity Guild having been recently formed -- he HATED unions. The original actor hired to play the part of the "mysterious stranger" hated the play and quit after a few performances, so Cohan took over the role himself, and -- O irony -- the play was a huge success and made a bundle. So much for satire. Audiences obviously missed Cohan's point about actors and unions and the whole "theatre" art form.
At any rate, it's a wonderful performance. The cast, as they do on all Melodrama pieces, has a great time as does the audience.
So, do yourself a favor. Put on those shoes and socks and get down to Santa Maria and Oceano ASAP.
Monday, July 19, 2010
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25 comments:
Thanks Richard, I hope that you will keep us posted. This blog is only one that is paid any attention to these days and this is the only way to get info out in a timely fashion.
Thank you Ann for allowing the news to surface here first! You are performing a service to the community.
Gee, I wonder where all that TW recovered funds will end up?
It ends up as less debt for the District to pay. That is a good thing, that's for sure, as the District has enough on it's plate.
And now for the really intersting question: What does CSD attorney John Seitz say behind closed doors? Does he say, as he did in the public ACL hearing that the CSD's only assets are, basically, untouchable, because they represent public health and safety (water & fire) so the RWQCB can't shut down and seize those assets since they're needed for public health and safety, so go fish? Since Tri-W is still in the mix, can that asset be broken off and split (keep small section for a transfer station, sell rest to settle debt.)but wouldn't that trigger Coastal Commission to get involved to ensure proper mitigation for the new plan? I always presumed the SRF loan would simply be folded into the new SRF loan and added to the sewer costs, as per the Blakeslee compromise (unless somebody sues to block that part of the resolution as illegal). So, for now, will have to wait to see what Seitz sez. Will be interesting to see if it's different from what he told the RWQCB.
And now for the other interesting question: Why did the Tribune and various TPWers etc. constantly float various ginormous "debt" numbers --why does $40 million stick in my head? -- as if it were real? Interesting spin, no? Especially since the original construction contract was no-pay, no play, except for reasonable start up/stand down costs & etc, not the whole contract. It think the Tribune kept missing that little fact.
Toons, If I were in bankruptcy proceedings a big bump in my wealth would not necessarily be a good thing. Bankruptcy settles debts with what you have left, seems TW money will only fatten the coffers of the creditors, not lessen any settlement of the bankruptcy.
MG,
TW settlement funds were used as follows:
$348,150 CASH, directly paid to the SWRCB; and used to pay DOWN the $6,500,000 SRF loan debt due to $6,151,850.
BW&S agreed to DROP ITS DEBT DEMANDS OF $828,000 entirely from the bankruptcy.
Both these settlement conditions ELIMINATE OVER $1,160,000 THAT THE LOCSD (you) OWE; with the settlement funds dispersement completely outside the control of the US bankruptcy court, the creditors and the debtors.
Thanks Richard. Without that info I hope you can see what my concern was about, also you can drop the "you"
I moved.
So the money went to the state? Too bad the state blew it on deciding which rock should be the state rock, I weep for serpentine.
I wonder how much they would have got by having to beg the bankruptcy judge?
richard sez:"In the event of transfer of the LOCSD water department asset, water service would not be threatened or cease.....all that would change ownership is the ownership of the asset (from the public to private hands...in this case probably Cal Cities Water.)"
I'm still missing something. Homeowners pay for water and costs associated with delivering water. (Repairs, upgrades & etc.) They'll be paying for sewer and costs up to $25,000 for sewer.(with tacked on "service fees, no doubt) By what mechanism would various creditors get 'mo money? Does the law allow various CSD "debt fees" be stuck on water bills that aren't related to water delivery costs? Ditto the sewer (clearly, the $6.5 SRF payback will be factored into the new loan) but by what mechanism can one attach "other stuff" onto both water and sewer without some kind of assessment vote? (see below)
richard sez up top:"The County has the funding vehicle by which to resolve the bankruptcy, but resists cooperating with both the Court and the LOCSD"
What funding vehicle would allow "other CSD debts" be placed on homeowners assessment tax /water bills without some kind of vote or something??
And anybody know if there's a possibility that the CSD will bite the bullet and dissolve and disappear, thereby sticking the county with a mess? I presume the county will fight THAT move tooth and nail, though it would bring real joy into the Gordon/Richard/Stan household. Or will the Judge conclude you can't get blood from a stone and the creditors will have to just write it all off as a bad debt/loan? Or, wait, I know, the RWQCB and the contractors could sue every invidiual homeowner in "real" court? So, instead of the Los Osos 45, we'd have the Bankruptcy 4,500? Well, we may know August 6? So stay tuned.
Meantime, go to PCPA and Melodrama Theatre. Support the arts while you can!
LOL at Richard!!
You have talked more trash about Los Osos and the TW/BK lawsuit defendants on this blog than anyone here!
Get a life, Richard!
Hard to imagine anybody having any animosity towards you Richard.
Sincerely, M
The July 27 Board of Supes agenda is now posted.
http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/bos/BOSagenda.htm
Richard sez:"There are serious arguments that the current County Project IS ONLY A CONTINUATION OF THE WWTP PROCESS FOR LOS OSOS;:
Serious argument? Which means there's serious argument that the new project actually is a new project, needing a new Coastal Commission permit & etc. The Ripley report was paid for so if any parts of that are used, it's been bought. How much of the Design by WMH was actually paid for? We're already paying for the original assessment for "design" so that's being paid for by our previous assessment. All of which is why I really want the Breach of Contract lawsuit to go forward so everybody can figure out in a court of law,just who did what and when, which would indicate just who owes what to whom.
Richard sez:"Lastly, you are spitefully wrong to think that I or anyone else takes pleasure in what is happening in the BK; or to Los Osos either"
Richard, that's genuinely funny! Please go back and read your many, many, many comments.Or as GRLO says,"You have talked more trash about Los Osos and the TW/BK lawsuit defendants on this blog than anyone here!"
You are welcome Richard - and yes, construction cannot come soon enough!
I just look at those dates and wring my hands over our water supply - the overfilling of the upper aquifer leaking out into the bay, the salt water intrusion into the lower aquifer, our inability to clean up the upper and use it until a sewer is in (OK Alon, minor blending going on, but it isn't much) - and to FINALLY start construction in 2011 or 2012 (either is such a long wait)- and then however many years it takes to construct… not to mention the bankrupt CSD… such insanity. And to think we have to wait until September to see if some lawsuit will stall the start, well, it just is very stressful.
I hope everyone just LOVES out of town - with the new price tag.
Do you know what the new price tag is? Why is it that if somebody is willing to pay $50 more a month for gravity is OK, but $50 more a month for the plant to be out of town is so bad?
I guess you all are OK with a bunch of strangers coming into our town for an extended visit making a bunch of money off of us, years of staging areas, roads torn up, delays, flooding during the rain season, roads returning to as is conditions, paying PIO's obscene amounts of money, probably plaques honoring Paavo, Roger, Bruce, Blakesly, and of course a statue for Pandora who brought us to this. And all of this can't come soon enough for all of you. Well, enjoy. Bitter? You betcha.
Sincerely, M
M,
That's a good point about the $50 more for gravity versus the $50 more for out of town.
Here, the problem is the focus on the "out of town" aspect. Why there's such an intense focus on that is unclear since location is not driving up the costs for the project. It's the facility itself along with O&M, various construction costs (i.e. materials priced for inflation), change orders etc. Also, as evident by looking at June 30, 2010 Budget Status Report that there are plenty of consultants and County costs to account for, and that has nothing to do with location -- of course, with the exception to the costs it took to move the project from Tonini to Giacomazzi. Even then, that wasn't an "out of town" expense.
Hey M, if you are OK with a $181 million project over a $154 million project - great! No complaints from you then then -- as it WILL BE OUT-OF-TOWN.
Razor, the "out-of-town aspect" was the entire campaign of "Move The Sewer." There is no "problem" with focusing on that -- the "move-the-sewers" have achieved their goals. They should be crowing about it! Did you really think that moving it out of town would be cheaper? Did you believe the lie?The County tried cheaper-out-of-town with Tonini and secondary treatment. That was how it could have been cheaper. It's the "putting it off" that has driven up the costs - for more reasons than you list. The "moving it out of town" has had the result of upping the costs due to "putting it off."
M, how did you think a sewer would get built (no matter what the type)--by neighbors? Or do you think that we don't need a sewer, hence the remark about "strangers?" And making money off of us? How does a house get built - someone makes money off of doing it! People usually get paid for work don't they?
Once again Sewertoons, do you already know what it is going to cost before it even goes out to bid?
My reference to strangers is a fact that hundreds of individuals will be roaming our streets and then will be gone. Are you anxious for this? Was anybody from our town hired to work on the previous project? Was there any offers of jobs to people that live here? No, this is going to be a nightmare and for you to be anxious and can't wait for it to begin is hard for me to understand.
Please quit asking did we believe the lie. You would have to ascertain which lie did we believe. There has been so many. Remember, this didn't start when you got here. We had a project that was at least on the edge of town and then suddenly we had a project in the center of town for over double the cost. Now you tell me which was cheaper. We will certainly pay. Remember it is your friend Richard and his cohorts that took away the cheaper project. You want me to forgive and forget that? Not likely.
Sincerely, M
M, I am only going by what the County reports the costs to be. As I have said in the past, I hope it is less, but unless we hit the good bidding environment and the grant money we might be in trouble.
I guess as I come from LA, strangers roaming around doesn't mean as much to me. But that is how major projects get built. I doubt that there are many sewer construction workers in this town. Perhaps the contractors who win the bids will hire locally for some of the jobs. I hope so. I also like to think of the nice economic boost the businesses in town will get from the extra people around here. I'm sure they could use some extra customers. Also, the sooner it starts, the sooner it is over. I hope that you will lose some anxiety and look at the positives in this picture.
You are right, I was not here. But the center of town didn't sound absurd to me as this is done many places. I posed the question to the Razor about the lie thing.
And also, I have said in the past, that there is plenty of blame to go around. I don't think that the process was "sudden" as to changing the location. The CSD was formed to change the location. Were you here to vote on having a CSD?
And later, I suspect if one went to CSD meetings or watched them if they were televised then, one would have seen the progress and heard the reasonings to changing it from ponds to MBR.
Richard was not a member of the CSD when this all happened. He was not responsible for "taking anything away" regarding that pond project. That was the Water Board's doing. And Oswald for misrepresenting what the ponds could do nitrate-wise.
Forgiveness is up to you. Does "not forgiving" make your life better or does it make you more stressed?
M,
One person's "forgiveness" is another person's nightmare. "Forgiveness" has been used by Taxpayers Watch as a euphemism for submitting to the will of the County government with no questions asked.
"Forgiveness" may sound sweet at first glance, but the intense, totalitarian push for it is not.
Toonces sez:" such insanity."
Yes, and none of it had to happen. That's the tragedy.
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