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Archive for the 'Polls' Category

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Vote! Should fired air marshal get his job back?

November 19th, 2009, 5:59 am by Teri Sforza, Register staff writer

maclean(Read the latest here)

Robert MacLean of Ladera Ranch was axed from his cop-in-the-sky job after letting the world know about an ill-conceived plan to remove federal air marshals from long distance flights in 2003 - just days after a terrifying suicide hijacking alert. (This to save money on hotel bills.)

There was a huge outcry; the plan was scrapped; and missions went on as per usual. But MacLean was fired for disclosing “sensitive security information” (even though the message wasn’t marked as such, and went to his non-secure cell phone, rather than his secure PDA). Then he was denied whistleblower status. 

His appeal is now pending before a federal administrative law judge. What do you think?

Should Robert MacLean get back his job as a federal air marshal?
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Posted in: Federal government • Justice • Polls • Public safety | 14 Comments »

Vote! Should Poseidon get $350 million public subsidy for private desal plant?

November 13th, 2009, 4:59 am by Teri Sforza, Register staff writer

poseidon1(Read the main story here)

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California agreed this week to pony up $350 million over the next 25 years to pay for desalinated water in San Diego County.

That money will go to public entities - cities and water districts - to offset the cost of water they’ll buy from a private, yet-to-be-built, desalination plant in Carlsbad. It will be constructed and owned by Poseidon Resources LLC.

Some feel that Met should be funding public efforts to find new water, not private ones. Others worry about the project’s effect on the environment. And still others question Poseidon’s ability to get the job done.

So. Should Met - whose money comes from the 19 million Southern Californians who pay for water through their cities and water districts - cough up the $350 million?
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Posted in: Cities • Consumer stuff • Polls • Public works • Special districts • Water | 7 Comments »

Vote! Should car dealers be exempt from a new consumer protection agency?

October 20th, 2009, 4:59 am by Teri Sforza, Register staff writer

AUTOS-SHARES/U.S. Rep. John Campbell, R-Irvine, is proposing an amendment to the Consumer Financial Protection Agency Act which would exempt car dealers from regulation. (We delve into the pros and cons of that idea in our story here.)

So, what do you think?

Should car dealers be exempt from a proposed new consumer protection agency?
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Posted in: Consumer stuff • Federal government • Financial meltdown • Polls | 26 Comments »

Poll: Should Met water workers get sweetened pensions and pay?

September 14th, 2009, 10:37 am by Teri Sforza, Register staff writer

aqueduct-workers(Update: Met postpones Tuesday’s vote until October)

( Read today’s stories here)

They are the 2,000 or so people whose work allows 19 million of us to live in a desert.

The board of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California will vote Tuesday on new union contracts that would hike pensions 25 percent, and raise pay up to 23 percent over the next five years.

Over its life, the sweetened pensions will cost about $70 million.  The hike comes when Met’s pension investments are already down some $400 million, and when water rates are rising.

glass-o-water

Met says the new contract will leave it in a stronger financial position. Skeptics say that’s nonsense. What do you think?

Should Met board hike employee pensions 25 percent on Tuesday?
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Should Met's board approve employee raises ranging from 2 to 23 percent over five years?
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Posted in: Cities • Employee unions • Polls • Special districts • Water | 23 Comments »

Vote! Should your electric rates be hiked?

February 17th, 2009, 3:00 am by Teri Sforza, Register staff writer

On Friday, the state’s Public Utilities Commission is slated to decide how much your electric rates will go up.

It could be $5 a month; it could be $9 a month; it could be more.

Some say the timing of the rate hike couldn’t be worse, as the economy tanks. Southern California Edison says it’s an investment in the local economy and will be a stimulus.

What do you think? You can let regulators know by sending an email to public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov. And you can let us know by voting here.

Should state regulators allow Southern California Edison to hike electric rates in the midst of a deep recession?
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More Watchdog: 

Posted in: Polls • Utilities | 6 Comments »

Vote! What are your tricks for conserving electricity?

February 11th, 2009, 12:18 pm by Teri Sforza, Register staff writer

Electric rates are going up. What do you do to keep the electric bill down? Replace the light bulbs? Sleep under a dozen blankets? Share your tips!

What are your tricks for saving electricity?
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Posted in: Polls • Utilities | 7 Comments »

Vote! Should county send ’sunshine ambassadors’ to Canada?

December 16th, 2008, 6:29 am by Teri Sforza, Register staff writer

As the jobs of hundreds of county social workers dangle by a thread, five Sheriff’s deputies and one Supervisor’ srep will head to Canada next month to be Sunshine ambassadors.

They plan to meet with officials of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Sunshine Foundation of Canada (the northern version of America’s Make A Wish Foundation, granting goodies to sick and disabled kids).

The charity and its sponsors would pick up the travel tab for the OC contingent; but the county will pay their salaries for four work days (Jan. 26 through 29) as they spread international good will, costing thousands of dollars.

Should the county send five sheriff's deputies and a supervisor (or supervisor's designee) to Canada to be goodwill ambassadors?
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Posted in: Polls | 5 Comments »

Vote! Should cities spend money on holiday displays during tight times?

December 10th, 2008, 12:51 pm by Teri Sforza, Register staff writer

Some beloved curmudgeons have complained to The Watchdog about municipal holiday displays in the midst of what may well be the Next Great Depression. “WASTE!” flash the instant messages on our computer screen.

While we did not contact all 34 of Orange County’s cities, we understand that the cost of such holiday cheer is minimal for many - they’ve owned the decorations for years, they drag them out of storage and put them up with city crews who would be doing something anyway, etc.  Electric bills are higher in December, but, whatever. Most OC cities are in good financial shape.

We thought we’d see what you think.

Should cities spend money on holiday displays in the current economic climate?
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Posted in: Polls | 6 Comments »

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