We Made It! NatGeo's Traveller, "50 Places of a Lifetime"

We made it!
Check out the list: 50 Places of a Lifetime - "WILD PLACES": Coast Redwoods, California

Our special neighbors are featured in October's National Geographic Magazine too. It's a fascinating article - "Redwoods - The Super Trees".
NGM Blog: Redwood Stories

"Long before The Bucket List and 1,000 Places to See Before You Die, we sought to showcase those treasured destinations that every curious traveler should visit in a lifetime.

Now, in Traveler's 25th-anniversary year, we recognize the first 50 places and offer another 50 that speak to the transformation of travel since 1999--how we travel, where we travel, why we travel. Ten years ago, we could see the emerging signs of a new kind of journeying--one that puts a premium on sense of place, authenticity, culture, sustainability, and experience rather than mere sightseeing."

Social Networking Butterflies

Social Networking Butterflies: Cities Enhance Government 2.0 Efforts

Written by Lance Howland
July 7, 2009

Some excerpts:

"This spring, Newsom got together with Twitter co-founder Biz Stone to announce the new capability for residents to tweet to the city’s 3-1-1 city service line about, for example, potholes, overflowing garbage or an abandoned truck in a back alleyway."

...

“He’s a huge proponent of using new media,” said Julie Wong, a senior adviser to Garcetti. “City government should be more efficient about both getting the word out about services that are available and actually delivering the service.”

...

"The Los Angeles Fire Department is on Twitter, posting quick items telling the public about calls they’re rolling on, for example this entry on July 1: “*Cliff Rescue* 4100 S. Gaffey St.; MAP 854-B2; FS 48; one person over the side near point fermin; unknown condition;nfd; Ch:7,13 @7:57 PM”


PublicCEO.com Article [link]

Let It Ring!

Independence Forever! - John Adams
Adams' final toast to the Fourth of July was "Independence Forever!" He died on July 4, 1826.

Not Forgotten ... Memorial Day

Thank you for your service ... you are honored and remembered.

"Let no neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic."

LATimes give Humboldt Beaches an A - 100% score

"With the summer coming, the state has made assurances that it will start restoring funding to beach monitoring programs, but there is no firm date," said Mark Gold, president of Heal the Bay. "Until then, swimmers in many locations in greater Southern California are truly swimming at their own risk."

Marin, Mendocino and Humboldt counties went to the head of the class, with their beaches scoring perfect 100% summer grades.
To see the complete report, visit Heal the Bay's website.

Santa Monica Pier, Surfrider, Doheny earn 'Beach Bummer' status from Heal the Bay
10:30 AM | May 20, 2009

Health Care Talk Participants - Thanks Again

Thanks for particiapting, you 7 people know who you are. Your stories were inspirational, and this new venue is still a part of the administration. Stay involved. People do care. Here's an email I received today ...

Congratulations! Today, www.HealthReform.gov was recognized as an Innovation in Government, as part of the White House’s new Open Government Initiative.
...
As part of the materials we submitted to the White House in order to be considered for the Gallery, we put together a short video about the site and about health reform, which you can watch by clicking here.
...
Thank you again for your commitment to health reform and we hope you will continue to visit www.HealthReform.gov for the latest news and updates on health reform.

Best,
Jenny Backus
U.S. Department of Heath and Human Services

San Francisco Butt Tax

partial repost PublicCEO.com
Andrew Carico
May 21, 2009
at Public CEO.com

... Recently, Newsom indicated proposing a new tax on cigarette purchases throughout San Francisco to the city’s Board of Supervisors. This move is not just an attempt to make San Francisco a healthier city but a more lucrative one as well.

This tax stands out as the first municipal fee of its kind in the country—making San Francisco a national guinea pig for such a tax.

The purpose of the tax exists to offset the ever-growing cost of cleanup that it takes to keep the streets clean of cigarette butts. It would add 33 cents to every pack of cigarettes sold.

Complete Post: NEWSOM'S PROPOSED CIGARETTE TAX A PAIN IN THE BUTT FOR SMOKERS (link)

"High" Time For CA ( and Trinidad ) Taxes?

partial repost PublicCEO.com
James Spencer
May 21, 2009
at Public CEO.com

Weeks ago, when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger mentioned it may be time for California to “open the debate” on allowing the recreational use of marijuana, he lit up the eyes of legalization advocates everywhere.

He also peaked the interest of those who keep a watchful eye on the state’s budget issues.

The Office of Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, a Democrat from San Francisco, claims an initial estimate of $1.3 billion in new revenue to the state if his AB390 legalization bill passed. A share of that would go to local governments, said Quintin Mecke, communications director for Ammiano.

“All sales tax would still be applicable, that’s not including local fees,” Mecke said. “Municipalities could certainly take advantage of that.”

Complete Post: BUDGET DEFICIT HITS HIGH TIMES (link)