What do we know about the city's various contracts for services?

First, I want to clarify yesterday's post. Olga Diaz has been trying to have the city contracts for towing looked at for awhile, and by having it on the agenda we can now hope to have a full discussion of the issue. I must admit I was shocked by the Van Doorn column I wrote about yesterday. If the city gets paid $400,000 while the towing companies make millions I wonder what other services are being provided by others for a big profit to themselves. It's tough to figure it out, but I will do my best online and let you know what I see. Any thoughts? Any ideas? Any information?

ARE WE SUBSIDIZING THE TOWING COMPANIES?

Cars getting towed, that's universal. But is the city about to renew a contract for impounding cars when it could make $2.4 million a year by creating its own impound lot? The agenda item next Wednesday reads like this: "Request Council authorize the Mayor and City Clerk execute 18 month contracts with automatic 18 month renewal upon Council approval with Al's Towing, HMR Incorporated, El Norte Towing, A-Z Enterprises, Inc., and Allied Gardens Towing, Inc. tow companies to provide police tow services." The supporting document, which you can read here
(You will need to click on 6/03 agenda on left side, scroll down to item 16, and then click on Staff Report on the right) gives you no analysis, no justification, nothing but who will get paid how much for what services. Glad to see it is now an agenda item. Based upon various newspaper articles, it appears that Olga Diaz has been pressing to get this subject on the agenda for awhile....John Van Doorn of the NC Times covers the subject very well here.
If in fact the city could make millions a year by handling the impounding, why would we farm it out? Let's be conservative and say it's a $1 million a year. That could mean more library hours, more city services, a cleaner Escondido.....there's many ways to use a million. I'll be going to the City Council meeting on Wednesday, will you?

I ADMIT IT, I LOVE SWEEPING.

Whenever I've been worried, upset or anxious, I've found that sweeping has calmed me down. Whether that means cleaning up the kitchen floor, taking the broom to the patio or even, when I had no vacuum, sweeping down rugs. I few years ago, when my parents were having difficult mental and physical health issues, I found a book on meditation at the Escondido Public Library [title to come...oops won't be today because the library is closed on Fridays now]. It talked about the many everyday tasks that can be meditative--weeding, washing dishes and sweeping were a few of them. That certainly makes sense to me. It's also something that creates a soft, pleasant sound. Rather than noise-making, pollution-creating leaf blowers clearing our sidewalks and driveways, imagine if we actually went out there with our own brooms and swept away the dust, dirt and detritus.. We might actually get a little physical activity, might get to know our neighbors, and might just have a few moments of contemplative peace. Sounds like a nice idea. See you tomorrow. (By the way, if you want to see a photograph larger, just click on it. At least that works for me.)

IS STREET SWEEPING A WASTE OF CITY MONEY?

The street sweeper was by a few days ago (it did not look just like this one) and once again it was an exercise in futility. It was during the day so most every parking space was taken on the whole block, so all the sweeper did was go up and down the middle of my street three times, madly scrubbing the asphalt. In other towns I've lived in, sweeping was done when the street was empty so all the trash and garbage at the curb could be cleaned up. Does street sweeping work in your neighborhood? Could we schedule no parking times so the area will be clear and the job can be done well? Are we wasting money--I will see if I can find the cost listed in the budget? All for now and hope you have a nice day in Escondido, I hear the weather will be beautiful, again.

EXOTIC. BEAUTIFUL. TASTY. THREE ADDITIONS TO THE FARMER'S MARKET

My market shopping yesterday was very mundane. Zucchini for pasta, green beans for a nice salad. But I did come upon 3 vendors I hadn't noticed before. The first was selling furniture, rugs, lamps and crystals. I coveted the little green and blue table in my photo but I had only a few dollars with me and the booth was busy...maybe next week. At the other end of the block, I found what I think is a new flower seller with a wonderful selection of hanging baskets and some nice pots of succulents. Prices seemed at least a third less than Home Depot, so I think I'll be back for some color. I'd missed the third vendor a number of times, but this time I got to smell and taste his products--organic meats. His name is Dave and he was grilling meats from the www.Da-Le-Ranch.com . The bacon was great and I have been looking for sources for organic, grass fed beef and lamb. I hear it's better for you and maybe it's a little kinder for the animal during its life--though if I was really, really kind I obviously would give up meat completely...that is for another discussion. Anyway, those were my new finds this week, you might want to check them out. And on a playful note, I noticed that the center of Grand is basically empty during the Market. Wouldn't that be a great spot for some hopscotch tournaments. A little chalk would be all it would take, and that would disappear under car tires within hours. I always used an old necklace chain as my token, how about you?

I LOVE PLUMBAGO

Years ago, I was lucky enough to go to Italy. We were touring these incredible gardens and on the stone terrace there were huge terra cotta urns brimming with blue-flowered vines. That was when I fell for plumbago. I tried growing it as an annual in New England and got only a pathetic little plant. But then I moved to Escondido, right when the plumbago began to bloom. We had it in our first house and now we have it in the one downtown. And here's what is spectacular about it now. It is cascading right over and into the four poster daybed my husband built in the backyard for year round lounging...you can see a corner of it in the picture. I napped there yesterday while hummngbirds were flying nearby. If that isn't a reason to Love Escondido, well, you have a harder heart than I. (I was delighted to open North County Times this morning to find Jeff Frank had written about my blog in his column. We had talked on the phone about a week ago and I wondered if I'd sound half way sensible in print. I think I do, but you can decide for yourself here.) See you tomorrow and don't forget Farmer's Market today on Grand.

IT'S MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

It promises to be a nice day, though I will be curious to see where the temperature tops out. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday and that tomorrow we will all take at least a moment to think about those who were injured or died in all our wars. They and their families have taken on a huge burden and that is something we can all respect. I think this is also a time this country should follow words with action by providing the benefits soldiers need both while they are at war and after they return. Tomorrow is an official holiday and I will be taking it, so see you all on Tuesday.