14 responses to “Shovel Ready or Not”

1. 

   Russ Steele

   22 February 2009

   Speaking of shovel ready projects, I could not find a southern border fence in the lot. It this not a shovel ready project? Oh wait, the fence was a conservative shovel ready project. Oh, dear.

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2. 

   Larry Press

   22 February 2009

   I’ve written a short, discouraging note comparing Stimuluswatch.org with the administration’s stimulus site Recovery.gov.
   These and other sites are beginning to ask whether or not the Net can be used for meaningful two-way communication, massively co-authored documents, and harnessing of the “wisdom of the crowds” in government.
   Obama has begun looking for an answer. It is a tough problem, quite probably without solution, and he has not yet caught up with Stimuluswatch and others, but its only been a month.
   Larry

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3. 

   George Rebane

   22 February 2009

   Good info Larry, thanks. The 82K+ jobs for $7.3B in LA comes to about $88.6K per job, which must be divided further by the number of job-years. Hmmm.
   I hope that the transparency and openness you cite as one of Obama’s campaign promises will actually come to pass. the preamble to SP787 was not an auspicious start, and the argument that it had to be rushed through to be effective was a ‘big lie’. No one believed it during the time the sausage was made, and things got worse once it was knows what went into the sausage. Given the overall spending schedule, we could have had all the advertized transparency and openess needed.
   Using the internet, Obama has an unprecedented chance to bring about real change. So far he has hewn to politics as usual. Perhaps someone on the Left will also keep track of this in the future.

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4. 

   Russ Steele

   22 February 2009

   Transparency? We got no stinking transparency. Remember the promise to post bills for 48 hours so citizens could comment on the bills before they went for a vote. I am not sure how those comments would have been heard if they had posted the bill. I tried phoning the three Republican but the voice mail boxes were full and I was disconnected. I sent Boxer and DiFi an email and they have yet to answer. I quit holding my breath after I turned blue and then got red in the face. I am madder than hell and I am not going to take it any more. Oops, I have spoken too soon, I can feel the shaft slowly sliding . . . . .

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5. 

   Mikey McD

   22 February 2009

   The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out
   of other people’s money.
   …Margaret Thatcher

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6. 

   Chuck Neeley

   23 February 2009

   Where are the projects for the cities/towns in Nevada County? It would appear that we have missed the proverbial boat!

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7. 

   George Rebane

   23 February 2009

   Chuck, I guess you and I weren’t out there leaning on our shovels when The Arnold and Princess Pelosi called the roll for shovel-ready projects. We’re probably still in the eternal debate phase on what needs to be done here.

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8. 

   John Spencer

   23 February 2009

   We sent in our list of projects (County and all 3 Cities). We may not have gotten the timing right to have been put on the list. The list may not be the official accepted projects. You still have to go through a process.
   From what I understand now is that the programs (with dollar figures) is being put out as a pot of grant funds, a total amount for each topic, such as Transportation, sewer, ED, water, Fire, etc. Then, in the next few months we have to go through a process to get registered, apply for a grant for each project proposed. They will receive our reguest, judge it, let the general public be involved in qualification of each project, then we see if we win the contest.
   It’s early yet. It may even take 120 days to even find out if our proposed project can qualify for the money.
   You can bet we are on it.

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9. 

   George Rebane

   23 February 2009

   John, so how can the rank and file of the county help to make sure our snouts are firmly in the trough when the stimulation begins?
   [FYI, John Spencer is one of five members of the Nevada County Board of Supervisors.]

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10. 

    Mikey McD

    23 February 2009

    raise your right hand and yell “hail Obama”

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11. 

    John Spencer

    23 February 2009

    I think word is going to have to come from us at the Cities and County to let you know what and when. We will have to spend some time putting in for projects we/they feel fit the requirements and then we will have to publish it when we are awarded the funds, if we qualify.
    It’s not like they are just going to send us some money and say “have at it”. I wish it were that easy.
    Keep in touch with your City or County people for progress statements. I will ask the Board tomorrow about giving regular progress reports at our Board meetings.
    Stay tuned.

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12. 

    Russ Steele

    23 February 2009

    John,
    How about doing some progress reports on a County Blog, it is easier to use than a web page, it can be rapidly updated and you can even turn on the comments and get feedback on the project. Wow, what a concept.

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13. 

    John Spencer

    24 February 2009

    Good idea Russ
    I will look into that.
    A couple of web sites to explore for all of you that are so inclined: Recovery.gov this will list each recipient of funds and project details.
    And where I got the big list of funds available in this program http://www.cacities.org this is the League of California Cities website where I think you can print out the whole ARRA funding book.

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14. 

    Mikey McD

    27 February 2009

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