Posted on Tuesday, 3/17/2009 - 3:12 p.m. PDT — by Paul Burgarino
Hey everyone, last night there were about 50 to 60 impassioned seniors at the Pittsburg City Council asking city leaders not to eliminate services at the Pittsburg Senior Center. This is one of a myriad of options being looked at during this budget cycle, as Pittsburg is looking to trim spending since there is less money coming in.
Here is the story I wrote on it last month, it includes a link to the document given to the council that outlined some potential things to give up. http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_11778438
This is not just a Pittsburg problem, but one all cities are looking at. However, that being said, Mayor Nancy Parent told the audience yesterday it would be helpful to the City Council if residents told them what they're willing to give up.
What do you think will affect residents of Pittsburg the least?
Joined: Mar 2008
Current Posts: 166
Pittsburg, chamber agree to lease at Entrata building
"On Monday, the Pittsburg City Council, acting as the council and the city's Redevelopment Agency, approved an agreement with the chamber to sublease about 2,900 square feet of commercial space in the Entrata building, located at the northeast corner of 10th Street and Railroad Avenue....According to a city staff report, the chamber's annual rent is $18 per square foot plus a portion of common area maintenance costs. That cost — about $69,000 — will be paid through services to the city such as use of conference room space, advertising in chamber newsletters and e-mails to promote Old Town Pittsburg." By Paul Burgarino, East County Times
Joined: Jul 2008
Current Posts: 82
No, the Chamber is a separate entity which promotes the Pittsburg business community. However, the two work in conjunction quite a bit to help bring business to the area.
Joined: Mar 2008
Current Posts: 226
I have to say Pittsburg has turned around and is looking alot nicer these days. Kudo's to the downtown redevelopment!! I also like the fact that they manage there own Section 8 housing.
Joined: Jan 2009
Current Posts: 55
The city is looking better, but we need to slow down on or stop any new projects. First let me say how proud I am of the Senior Citizens, I knew they were coming sorry I could not be there last night to support them. Here you go Madam Mayor.
Just a few iedas. But It time for the citizens and many business to setp up to the plate. Volunteer to help clean up, supervise a event, donate to the youth and seniors, business' remember some of you got some sweetheart of a deals to open up, time to give back.
Joined: Jan 2009
Current Posts: 55
Stop the building of the new substation at the Pittsburg Power Company and any raises that was given to the management( the return on the cities investment wasn't that great)
Joined: Aug 2008
Current Posts: 58
Nancy Parent has a law practice downtown, and she probably belongs to the Chamber of Commerce. What about the other guys?
Joined: Mar 2006
Current Posts: 887
The price per square foot for rent is quoted as $18.00. That can't be right. Maybe $1.80. This is Pittsburg, not Manhatten, fer chrissake!
Roy Gursky .. http://gurskyranch.com
Joined: Aug 2008
Current Posts: 58
According to real estate website loop.net, average office space in San Francisco is $41. See
http://blog.loopnet.com/2009/03/san-francisco-ca-office-lease-market.html
$18 Per Sq ft rent on brand new Pittsburg office seems right.
Joined: Nov 2005
Current Posts: 19
Greetings,
The City Budget, not to be confused with the Redevelopment Agency will be reduced becuse we are not bringing in the revenues we were. This problem is hitting all of us hard, Schools, Cities, States and businesses all have to adjust to this economic depression.
For me moneys can be cut just about anywhere except for public saftey. 76 officers is what the General Plan mandates, that's what we need.
Areas where we can reduce expenditure:
These are all places we can reduce the City budget with as little impact on our citizens as possible.
Cheers!
AJ Fardella
Director
http://ohcg.net
OakHills Community Group
Pittsburg, CA
Joined: Mar 2008
Current Posts: 166
Now, please help Downtown Cafe. If we don't go eat there, they would be yet another business that fail because no floor traffic.
That's what the City of Pittsburg and Chamber of Commerce should be dealing with and not using our tax money to pay themselves and their friends. PLEASE go eat at:
The Downtown Cafe
925 437-9868
337 Railroad Ave (Between 3rd and 4th)
Experience the freshest most mouth watering lunch in a unique and friendly marina in historic downtown Pittsburg!
Joined: Nov 2005
Current Posts: 19
Hi Daniel,
Ate there yesterday after we signed the lease, we will be regulars. The Philly CheeseSteak Sandwich was awesome !
Cheers!
AJ Fardella
Director
http://ohcg.net
OakHills Community Group
Pittsburg, CA
Joined: Mar 2008
Current Posts: 166
Yes. The BEST! We will be seeing you there often as that's my meeting spot. Keep up the good work.
Danny : )
Joined: Jul 2008
Current Posts: 82
I'm excited the Pittsburg page has shown signs of life the last couple days...tell some friends, and people in the community to get on here.
Joined: Jan 2009
Current Posts: 55
Need to leave the golf course open, but it would be nice to know how many people really work there. I support anyything that give the citizens a safe place to get out of thier houses, plus they have a program 1st tee that helps the young people.
Joined: Mar 2009
Current Posts: 9
No matter what ANY one here says, it all boils down to crime. The rate of crime, are the first "numbers" any investor is looking at. (Any smart one, anyway,) and quite frankly, it would be a waste.
People STILL do not see HOW IMPORTANT it is for the youth of this city, to have more creative outlets. We are known for catering to our "Old Town", and Senior Citizens. I understand , completeley, they have deep roots. Money invested in this town. However there is a generation of youth out there, being ignored, or even worse pushed aside.
With no other alternative educational teaching programs, or activities for the income challenged families, their young suffer. Which in turns causes a break in the communication between ceratain generational gaps. I see this all day everyday, and I wonder why someone does not see it as well.
The CHILDREN ARE our future.
Who am I to say NO!?
Joined: Jan 2009
Current Posts: 55
You are so right! If we shut out the Youth we will have bigger problems then we do now. I been out there trying to get your point across to our city officals. I'm also out trying to encourage our youth that in spite of the situation, with the right mind set they can do anything they would like to do. The seniors we left out, up until the last two years, now that they have something to do , a safe place to go and visit. Why should they be first on the budget chopping block and the youth are next, yet we still have funds for car shows? I will stand next to you in any form to fight for our youth and long time tax paying senior citizens.
I will be speaking to a group tomorrow evenig, i will let them know that there are others like you speaking up for their education and well being!
Thank you!
Joined: Mar 2008
Current Posts: 166
What about this 7.5 Million. Redevelopment is willing to give to E.J. Phair, why not to the City of Pittsburg to deal with 6.2 million dollar shortfall? "Pittsburg money available for the project is separate from that used to address city budget shortfalls. Pittsburg has about $7.5 million available in redevelopment money, Grisham said, adding the City Council could put some of that toward the E.J. Phair building." Pittsburg brewery may cost more for completion By Paul Burgarino East County Times Posted: 03/27/2009 12:46:40 PM PDT
Joined: Apr 2009
Current Posts: 4
its $18 per square foot per year which results in a per month rent of $1.50 per square foot. During these bad economic times all belts have to be tightened, as one would at their own home. cutting administrative staff, high up and office workers. infastructure has to be attended to whether its good economy or bad, so you need all or mostly all of the public works supervisors and outside on the job workers. When the economy improves the above cutbacks can be reversed.
Joined: Nov 2005
Current Posts: 19
Hi Daniel,
The money spent on EJ Phair is redevelopment money. It is illegal to use Redevelopment monies to fund the city budget. If we could do that it would certainly would help us now! But unfortunately it is not possible.
Cheers!
AJ Fardella
Director
http://ohcg.net
OakHills Community Group Pittsburg, CA
Joined: May 2009
Current Posts: 10
Nancy Parent for president;Thank You. Pittsburg looks a lot cleaner thanks to the Pittsburg P. D. and to everything that's been done on 10 th st. and rail road that's going to bring bussiness in.When I came to live in this city 11 years ago It looked more like forgotten city,now I'm really proud to live here.All we need to do it's find a new place where to keep those train wagons out of site.Thanks folks..
Joined: Mar 2008
Current Posts: 166
The City of Pittsburg is continuing to put more and more good money toward bad projects. The Videro project lacks private collateralized investment and in my opinion, I feel the Domus project may have some of the same risks.
I'm amazed at how much money we keep pouring into only one area of the City. City Officials and City Staff need to remember that their are four corners of the City and not just one. I also we should be concerned with where we are directing the limited funds that we have, and I think the money can be better spent in our youth and elder.
On 4/27/09, the city will hold a budget workshop in which the council will discuss possible cuts to programs which will have a major impact on youth services. Some of the key items which are on the cutting block are:
· A 100% cut in funding for the library. The county currently funds 28 hours per week, and the city pays for another 28. With the county also looking at cuts, it’s possible that they may reduce funding as well. If they reduce library funding, and the city cuts all library funding, there will be very limited access to the library for students, for those who need the use of a computer and other services provided at the library.
· A 100% cut in funding for youth services. The current proposal is to have a private company or non-profit service take over the same programs that the city currently runs. While this would also mean that the city staff who work in these areas would loose their job, potentially being hired by what ever group takes over the program. It also means that the city would have no control over any youth programs, and would not have a say in any fee that may be charged.
I am very concerned that if all youth services are cut from the city budget, then the kids will find things to do on their own, which may not be the most productive activities or use of their time. Add to that limited library services, and I believe it is a prescription for trouble.
Budget meeting is Monday, April 27th, at 3:00pm City Hall, 3rd floor
Joined: Mar 2008
Current Posts: 166
Who does this benefit?
During the 2008/09 fiscal year the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce expended a total of $58,000 of BID funds on projects and programs to assist the business community.
Following is a list of those projects:
• Business Retention Program, $22,000
• Economic Development assistance, $12,500
• State of the City Luncheon, $2,000
• State of the Schools Luncheon, $2,000
• Highway 4 & City road construction meetings, $7,000
• Downtown Business Team, $7,000
• Business Watch Meetings, $7,000
• Business Today Newsletter, $11,000
The 2009/10 proposed Scope of Work totals $58,000, and reflects the partnership between the Chamber Of Commerce and the City of Pittsburg.
The proposed Scope of Work includes the following:
• Business Retention Program, $22,000
• Pittsburg Business Today Newsletter, $11,000
• State of the City Luncheon, $5,000
• State of the Schools Luncheon, $5,000
• Business Watch Program, $15,000
So this year we get less for the same amount of money? Business Watch Program? Double this year?
Ok. So $58,000 from community, plus $165.500 from community, a total of $223.500, almost Half of a Million Dollars. Where does this money get spent?
By now with this MONEY help any entity should be able to stand in their own two feet.
Joined: Mar 2008
Current Posts: 166
http://pittsburg.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2
CITY OF PITTSBURG
AGENDA
July 20, 2009
13. Adoption of a City Council Resolution for Approval of Business Improvement District Contract for Fiscal Year 2009/2010
In 1972 the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce was designated as the Advisory Board for the Business Improvement District. Since the inception of the Business Improvement District the majority of the funds collected have been designated to the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce, and the Chamber has used these funds to promote business in the City and develop programs to help our local businesses succeed. Attached to this staff report is the annual Scope of Services being proposed by the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce for specific services to be performed by the Chamber during the fiscal year 2009/2010.
No one there able to justify proposed spending based in strategy and tactics. Ask yourself a question WHY? City Leadership (2) had good questions, only one took action against it...
http://pittsburg.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2
Joined: Jan 2009
Current Posts: 55
I watched the council meeting live on the streamline video. I felt sorry for Mary, because the Mayor chastised her about the cost of the two lunching events and the Chambers request for addition funds. If everyone is taking cuts across the board, why fund two lunching events, why not just have a 10:00 to noon informational meeting then if someone wanted to have lunch they could go out and eat at the meeting on their own dollar. Also to get the information out use the electronic bulletin boards or e-mail, cut back on paper use, It’s a real slap in the face to the citizens to watch the council vote 4 to 1 approving the increase in the budget for the chamber, after all the cuts to the youth and senior citizen’s programs. The one no vote coming from our Mayor, because she did not like some of the wording in the request.
Joined: Mar 2008
Current Posts: 166
...Social service advocates worry the Republican governor has little choice but to go after money counties receive to administer welfare and social service benefits. Likely targets include welfare-to-work assistance, in-home support, foster care and health insurance for poor families.
...California's economy has been hit by the housing market slump and high unemployment, and the latest efforts to close a $26 billion shortfall, just five months after lawmakers and the governor ended months of negotiations to close a previous $42 billion deficit.
Under the budget the governor will sign Tuesday, the state will impose tougher sanctions on CalWORKS recipients who don't meet work requirements. And in-home support workers will have to undergo background checks and have their fingerprints taken.
Joined: Mar 2008
Current Posts: 166
...Pittsburg stands to lose about $21.74 million to the state — the most of any city in Contra Costa County. In addition to redevelopment funds, Pittsburg could lose $742,000 in property tax money...
Full Story:
http://www.contracostatimes.com/pittsburg/ci_12979075