WastelandMusic

Recently I answered an email from Big Bear local councilman Michael Karp. He responded. I am publishing the conversation because, is it just me??? Or does this sound like the same crap we have been handed all my life?? We are still stuck on trickle down economics??? He didn't even answer me, Will - he answered MR Cayote (not Coyote) Thunder??? The rich get richer, the poor stay poor, and the little business goes under.


Hello Mr. Cayote Thunder,

I fully agree that higher paid workers have more money that they will then spend, stimulating more business. Also, better-paid workers are better workers and loyal workers. This then also benefits business. I call this the "grass roots" approach.

However, the political climate in the US, and particularly Big Bear, favors the business point of view: "trickle-down" approach. This means lower wages mean less business expense, means more business expansion, means more jobs, means more wages spent.

I don't know of any other person in elected office in Big Bear that would favor the "grass roots" approach. In order to get some traction on this matter, I'd need the active support of people like you and workers who are affected by the low wages.

Perhaps we can meet sometime so that we can talk further.

Very Sincerely,
Michael

--- On Sun, 2/28/10, will@wastelandmusic.com wrote:

From: will@wastelandmusic.com
Subject: Re: Big Bear Lake Helps Children & Families
To: "Michael Karp"
Date: Sunday, February 28, 2010, 8:43 AM

I would like to know when anyone is going to stand up and make the mountain (and everyone else) pay appropriate wages for skilled jobs. I know times are tough, but it really isn't fair that the mountain makes tons and it does not pour back to the local community correctly. Locals should have priority on hiring each season, wages should be over $20 per hour for trade skills (welding, mechanics, etc.) Next, minimum wage of 8 for the cafe, snack, rentals, should be looked at. A comprehensive overhaul with clarity to the public would be great. This way, if the locals in the basic jobs made more, they would spend more, stimulating the LOCAL economy and business. The reporting in the paper doesn't help. The article about Sol Foods reads as if she is closing. She is closing the RETAIL store, but is still keeping her loyal customers from her house. We should focus on the positive and address the lower economy people up here. You cant even get off this mountain if you wanted to sometimes.
Thank you
-Will
Coyote Thunder
Wastelandmusic.com

--- On Fri, 2/26/10, Michael Karp wrote:

From: Michael Karp
Subject: Big Bear Lake Helps Children & Families
To: "Michael Karp"
Date: Friday, February 26, 2010, 12:47 PM

As a City Councilman for Big Bear Lake, I strive to find effective ways to represent the citizens I’ve been elected to serve. For this reason, I send out periodic e-mails to convey what the City has been doing and ask for your feedback and comments.

Below is my most recent letter. I hope that it is of value to you. If it’s not, please let me know and I’ll remove you from this list. MK

The City helps children in profound ways
This year, the City kicked-in money from its general fund

Hello Citizens,

Early each year, the City Council makes grant awards to social service agencies operating in the Big Bear Valley. Most of these agencies provide services for children and families in some way. On February 8th, the Council allocated funds to:
· the MOM's Project (parenting)
· Healthy Start (counseling in schools)
· DOVES (domestic violence services)
· Humming Bird Project (school supplies, recreation tuition)
· Rainbow Kids' Club (after-school care)
· Lighthouse Project (youth gardening program)
· Parks & Rec.
The funds come directly from the County. This year, the City kicked in some money from its general fund.

And the City of Big Bear Lake helps children and families in other profound ways. These include:
· Affordable Workforce Housing
· Keeping fees and taxes low
· Parks, trails and recreational facilities
· General Planning & Village-Specific Planning
Whether it’s contributing to needed social services, a healthy and convenient living environment or ensuring affordability, Big Bear Lake is becoming ever-more child and family friendly.

Over the next few weeks, I will focus-in on the above topics one at a time, beginning with Affordable Workforce Housing. I will provide more detail about what the City has already done, might be doing in the future, and what more we could be doing. Along the way, I’ll try to include what other cities have done for comparison and inspiration.

As always, your questions, comments and suggestions are welcome. This is meant to be a 2-way dialogue, as representative government is meant to be.

Sincerely,
Michael