HomeMy WebLinkAbout1/15/2003 - STAFF REPORTS (21) - ISM
I'm Lisa West and I was told my problem is one I need to take to the city
council. I would like to talk about Toucans, and the music which emanates
from this establishment. I live approximately 100 yards from Toucans.
Almost every night the music is baring until 2 am without fail, also the
patrons do a lot of yelling. I have to get up at 4 a.m. to be to work by 5 a.m.
The music keeps me awake sometimes until 2am. I am not, nor have been
able to get more than 3-4 hours of sleep a night.
I have called and complained to the police department to no avail, the music
goes down for a short while only to be blaring once again keeping me up. I
have complained approximately 12 tunes last month. I have talked to officers
and I was told I would have to take to the city. I posed a question to the
officer. "If I was driving in my car and you could hear my stereo from this
distance, would you give me a ticket? And the officer answered "yes" I said
"it's not like I can get away from it." They did turn the music down that
night. Another occasion a sergeant came to my home and while in my room
listening to the music, He offered some solutions. Like wear ear plugs ( he
works nights and sleeps days and he wears them). Can't you rearrange the
furniture. (This wouldn't help since most of the time I can hear the music any
where in my room.) Talk to the h.o.a. and have them move you to another
unit. Or can't you ask your landlord to install a better window. I am quite
disappointed in the condescending way in which I have been treated since I
have been having this problem. I have also tried talking with one of the
owners and he told me that he is friends with all the police and that a lot of
them come to Toucans, and that he will turn it down a little. We also
discussed keeping the doors closed which he agreed on. This was a short
lived solution apparently, it only lasted a couple of days, and the music was
right back up there. I have called 3 times in the past week to Toucans to ask
them to turn it down, twice the music went down along with the patrons
yelling.
I ask each of you to try an put yourself in my position. Would you want to
have, to call ahnost every night just so you could go to sleep? Or call the
police, only to have some officer treat you like your making a big deal out of
nothing, or tell you to rearrange your life because of a bar? I think not.
When I moved in, there was no bar and no noise. I am merely asking this
business to keep its business and it's workings, contained within the confines
of the establishment. As I am expected to do so as a resident of Pahn
Springs.
Thank you
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Van Eaten Robert R. Van Etten Phone: (760) 323-4755
1379 Bararrymore Place e-mail:
Palm Springs, CA 92262-4974 robert.r.vanetten@vcrizon.net
Wednesday,January 15, 2003
City Council, City Attorney, et. al.
I love people that are passionate about their beliefs, and Ron Oden certainly was
passionate last Wednesday! I find it ironic,however,that the individual who was most
vocal in expressing their supposed convictions, appears to me to be the biggest violator of
those beliefs.A council member, in my opinion,has a responsibility to decide issues
which come before it without prejudice.To me,that entails three considerations:conflict
of interest,advocacy, and informed decision making.
Conflict of Interest Since Mr. Oden was a member of the Task Force which created and
is currently promoting the Vista Sunrise project,understandably he has an emotional
attachment to the project.This is perceived by many as a conflict of interest at an ethical
level, even if it is not a moral or legal concern.I find this especially incongruous in light
of Mr. Oden's comments about ethics during the Council meeting.
Advocacy In order to avoid the appearance of prejudice, it is my understanding that a
council member cannot legally discuss an issue they know will be coming before them for
a vote.On Tuesday,December 10,2002, I received an e-mail from Edward J.Dietrich,
President of the Sagewood Homeowners Association, in which he said"I just had a
conversation with Ron Oden.He appears to be very supportive of the project in all of it's
components."Earlier,on November 1,2002,Mr. Oden made an unsolicited comment to
me in support of the Vista Sunrise project at the Pride VIP Reception.
If Mr.Oden was sincere last Wednesday,he will, of course,recuse himself when the issue
comes before the City Council for a vote.If he does not,I suggest(by copy of this letter)
that the city attorney be prepared for a legal challenge of his participation in that vote.
Informed Decision Makin¢ For a representative democrary to work, both the elected
representatives and their constituancy have to have at least a minimum understanding of
the issues to be decided.Ron Oden's comment that this issue seems minor is to me a clear
indication that he is out of touch with the voters.I find his oposition to the Mayor's
attempts to allow the citizens of Palm Springs to vent their concerns and become better
educated on this multi-faceted topic incomprehensible.
Robert R.Van Etten