IT IS AN unimaginably incongruous juxtaposition.

Face north and the sorry spectacle of the former Halaco metal recycling facility at Ormond Beach in South Oxnard makes you wince. Crumbling, toxic, graffiti covered and forlorn, it has to be the biggest eyesore in Southern California.

Face south and you find the restful solace of one of the few remaining coastal wetlands in the state. "We have just 4 1/2 percent of our coastal wetlands left, " said Jean Rountree of the Beacon Foundation. "This is out of thousands and thousands of acres lost to industry and development." She'd like to see the area become a haven for birders and environmental tourists one day.

Yet next to this environmentally sensitive site is a man-made blunder. Highly toxic and abandoned in 2004, the Halaco site will cost between $20-50 million to clean up, Allen Sanders of the Ormond Beach Observers told me. As I talked to Sanders and Paul Felix of Oxnard at the site, a charming little bird flew overhead.

"He probably has three eyes," Felix joked.

But Ormond Beach is no laughing matter. I've read plenty about the Halaco site. But until you've seen it for yourself, it doesn't really hit home. Now listed as a Superfund hazardous cleanup area, it could be eligible for federal stimulus funds.

NEXT TO THE DECAYING building sits a mountainous slag heap filled with toxic material. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a poisonous alphabet soup of elevated levels of aluminum, barium, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, magnesium, manganese, nickel, thorium, and zinc is leeching into both underlying groundwater and sediments in the Oxnard Industrial Drain.

Removing it will be an arduous task, Sanders acknowledged. And just where do you move a mountain of toxic sludge to? Sanders shook his head.

In 2007 a warning was issued to residents that elevated levels of radiation were coming from the fenced-off property.

Halaco, which declared bankruptcy in 2002, also lost a civil complaint alleging that it had illegally disposed of used oil by burning it in its smelting furnace or pouring it over scrap metal which made its way into on-site settling ponds.

You have to wonder what the City of Oxnard was thinking about in 1965 when they allowed this to be built.

A little further down the road is the former Edison, now Reliant, facility, which has its own toxic issues. Nearby, a developer has plans to build even more houses.

Despite all this, the National Audubon Society lists Ormond Beach as one of the most important bird areas in California. For a bird lover, it's a treat to look out at the lagoon. The area is home to Least Terns and Snowy Plover. The sand is covered in native vegetation, some in spring flower.

A delight and a disgust, Ormond Beach is testament to the stupidity of mankind and the resiliency of the natural world.

I NEED TO DO a short followup to a blog entry I wrote back in January about my friend Melissa Wantz's contest for high schoolers, The Phoenix.

Wantz, an English teacher at Foothill High School in Ventura, came up with an idea to support and showcase the creative work of high school writers, artists and photographers in Ventura County.

I went to the presentation ceremony for the awards last night and I can now report that the arts are alive and well in our county's high schools. With hundreds of entries to choose from, the judges, who are locally renown in their fields of expertise, were blown away by the quality of the students' work.

Ventura artist Michele Chapin was so enthusiastic about the work she saw she plans to help expand and promote the contest next year.

The contest awarded cash prizes and an opportunity to be published in a book compiled by the journalism class at Foothill High. A Ventura Education Partnership grant helped pay the expenses.

Both the book and contest take their name from a mythical bird which dies in a fiery death and rises to live once again -- the Phoenix. "Our motto, 'Rising from the Ashes of Standardized Testing,' is taken from this idea of life after death," Wantz wrote on her Web site.

As wonderfully talented as these kids are, the contest would not have happened without a dedicated teacher who spent hours of her own time on the project. Thanks, Melissa!

AND SPEAKING OF the Ventura Education Partnership, our biggest event of the year, SummerFest, is being held from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturday (5-30) at the VUSD Education Service Center, 255 W. Stanley Ave., Ventura.

SummerFest brings our children and community together in a day-long event of fun, physical fitness events, music and healthy foods. This event celebrates our healthy community and also raises funds for nutrition and exercise programs through sponsorships. It is a free, family-friendly event. Join us!

I HAVE A NEW HERO and it's California State Assembly Budget Committee Chair Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa). She made this video on the state's budget debacle and it's just spot on.

Since February I have been trying to explain to various bloggers via the comments section how we got into this mess. I now have a standard three-paragraph explanation that I have resorted to cutting and pasting over and over and over and over. It's getting a little tedious. (And no, it's not "fraud, waste and abuse" repeated 50 times.)

So you can probably imagine how delighted I was when I saw Evans' video. From those pesky propositions, two-thirds vote impasse and ballooning prison budgets to Grover Norquist and his bathtub, it's all here. Be sure to note section on bags of campaign cash and candidates and refer to my entry below.

Please, just take a few minutes from your day and watch this. Tony? Audra? You, too.



AS I WRITE THIS, all the ballot propositions used to precariously piece together our state budget back in February are going down in flames. And none of us are surprised.

Too complicated for the average voter to understand, two undid the good work of previous propositions and one tinkered with the formula of another. Another enraged partisans on both sides of the aisle, which also doomed its companion measure.

It looks like only Prop.1F has passed, a token measure which keeps electeds from getting pay raises in budget deficit years. This would result in "minor savings," according to the Legislative Analyst's Office.

So it's back to the drawing board with a meeting of the "Big Five" legislative leaders again, which last time produced this ill-fated group of propositions and $10 billion in cuts to public schools. Since that time, though, the Republicans have nearly purged their leadership ranks of anyone reasonable. 

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's 2009-10 May Revision General Fund Proposals contain many ideas to plug the now $21.3 billion gap, including another $2.3 billion cut to schools, which will be partially offset by one-time federal stimulus money in certain categories.

While few will likely miss the Bureau of Naturopathic Medicine if it shuts down, many other proposals have already drawn fire, including one to override the normal regulatory processes and allow the first new offshore oil lease in 40 years off state waters near Santa Barbara and another to sell the Ventura County Fairgrounds.

IS CALIFORNIA REALLY ungovernable? The Economist magazine spells out a perfect storm of a two-thirds budget vote requirement and extreme partisanship nurtured by gerrymanded districts, all complicated by term limits and contrary voter-approved ballot initiatives which lock in funding. But it's nothing those of us who are paying attention didn't already know.

What is mentioned less often is that people whose jobs, livelihoods and power depend on special-interest cash are making the decisions for us. And while innate ideology would account for some of the decisions made in Sacramento, the real fear of being unable to raise enough money and support to be elected often drives politicians nationwide to make decisions they would not normally make if campaigns were publicly financed.

One only has to look at the very reasoned budget alternatives coming from the Legislative Analyst's Office to see that good sense and intellect can prevail in a non-partisan, non-threatening, non-special interest atmosphere.

Redistricting and open primaries, already in the pipeline, could help elect reasonable moderate candidates. There is talk of a constitutional convention. But until we have solid campaign finance reform, California's governing dysfunction will continue to be exacerbated by special-interest pressures.

There are two measures out there right now to address this issue and both deserve our support. The California Fair Elections Act will appear on the June 2010 ballot and another measure making its way through Congress, the Fair Elections Now Act, is already enjoying bipartisan support.

They can't come soon enough for California.

IT HAD ALL THE MAKINGS of one of the Rubicon's best productions: drama, laughter, poignancy and a great song-and-dance number. But the non-profit Ventura theater company's rally and town hall meeting Wednesday night was a real-life drama highlighting the need to raise $1 million in 90 days.

"Major gifts are down from $900,000 last year to $150,000 this year," explained Ken Wesler, Rubicon managing director.

The 200-seat theater, which provides an intimate setting for original productions as well as the tried and true, such as the recent well-received "Fiddler on the Roof," relies on earned income for only about 40 percent of its budget.

So, while the theater brought in $1.4 million in revenue in 2008, $2.2 million came in from contributed income. Of that, $900,000 came in from a few major donors. "These usually come from just a handful of very generous philanthropists," explained Wesler.

Increasing the number of productions or seats would only boost income by about 10 percent, Wesler said. "The intimacy of the theater is part of our strongest selling points."

TO PILE ON EVEN MORE troubles, the City of Ventura usually contributes an average of $25,000 a year to the Rubicon through its competitive cultural grants program, but that money is dwindling with the city's budget cuts. And the theater's youth programs have also taken a hit because of the economy. Families are cutting back, too.

The Rubicon has already trimmed expenses by $114,000. "An overworked staff is working harder and longer," Wesler said.

Rubicon's board ideally wants to keep ticket prices low and offer reduced prices to students, and scholarships to children in the summer programs, board member Doug Halter said. The award-winning theater also brings 40,000-50,000 people a year Downtown, he added. And these folks go out to dinner here and often spend the night in local hotels.

The company has applied for National Endowment for the Arts grants and has raised more than $63,000 so far in its "It Takes a Village" campaign. The goal is to come up with 2,400 gifts of $365. "Almost everybody on the staff gave the $365 right away," said Rubicon Marketing Director Cindy Frankey.

This dynamic theater company and its supporters have been known to pull off fund-raising miracles in the past. Let's hope they can do it again.

Another rally is scheduled for Saturday at 3 p.m. and the theater is opening a new show, "Spit Like a Big Girl." For more information go to http://rubicontheatre.org/

WHILE THE STATE ELECTORATE may be in no mood to pass Prop. 1A and thus extend the taxes used to balance this year's budget, Downtown Ventura's property owners just voted to assess themselves a little more to pay for a cleaner, safer business district with better marketing efforts for merchants and other special programs designed to draw visitors to the area.

The Property-Based Business Improvement District (PBID) will add a small percentage to the property tax bills of landowners in the Downtown core. Those in the central areas who will receive the most benefits from the PBID will be assessed more than those in outlying areas.

The plan had the full backing of the Downtown Ventura Organization and the Chamber of Commerce.

While the plan was conceived, executed and drawn up by a citizen's committee, the City Council had final approval on the deal and officially gave it its blessing last night on a 5-1 vote, with only Councilmember Jim Monahan voting against it.

"Despite a year of city-imposed fees, declining investments, and weak consumer confidence, it was very reassuring to see that a majority of property and business owners Downtown have confidence in the work of the DVO," said Executive Director Rob Edwards.

I'VE REALLY BEEN ROOTING for this plan to pass. Our unique Downtown is a thriving entertainment center which sets us apart from the cookie-cutter retail in nearby cities. Most of the businesses are locally owned and operated. The city gave the DVO some seed money from its redevelopment agency to hire a director and jumpstart activities, but those funds are nearly gone.

Since its inception over three years ago, the DVO has become a dynamic, nationally-recognized organization. In the past year it has won multiple advertising awards and was named Non-Profit of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce. The passage of the PBID will keep this momentum going.

The assessments will be collected by the county and turned over to the non-profit PBID board of directors for use. This group, made up of both property owners and Downtown business owners, will decide how to spend the money per the management plan that was approved by the council in March. In five years, the PBID will sunset and it is up to the property owners to determine if it is working and whether or not to renew it.

"Those that have been paying attention to the incremental, but positive changes Downtown realize that our work needs to continue to stabilize property values. And that would not happen without a funded operation with one full-time director," Edwards said.

"This is a very modest budget in a very small district but we will certainly deliver even more upgrades to the neighborhood than we have in our start-up phase these past two years."

Congratulations to the DVO on their hard work in laying the groundwork for this plan and helping to nurture an economic center for our city

ANYONE WHO HAS SPENT any time at all around this blog knows I am not shy about my unwavering support for our public safety personnel. These men and women are the best among us.

Tonight I want to say a particular thank you to Capt. Brian Bulger of the Ventura County Fire Department. Bulger, a Ventura resident, risked his life and suffered serious smoke inhalation rescuing two colleagues fighting the roaring Jesusita fire in Santa Barbara Wednesday night. Wearing no breathing apparatus, Bulger fought back dangerous smoke to pull Robert Lopez of Port Hueneme and Capt. Ron Topolinski of Camarillo to safety. Lopez and Topolinski suffered severe burns and are being treated at the Grossman Burn Center in Sherman Oaks. Bulger was released from the hospital this morning.

As I write this, a dear family friend, firefighter Mike Lee of Ventura, who works out of the Montecito station, is out there somewhere, too. "He's doing what he loves," his wife, Kathy, told me tonight. Mike and colleagues: stay safe.

And to our three injured heroes: heal quickly.

UPDATE: All my evacuated Santa Barbara friends are back in their homes this evening, including one who lives off Highway 154. The fire burned within five feet of his residence. When they returned home they found a note from the firefighter who had saved their house!

I'LL ADMIT I put up this blog entry partially because I wanted to write that headline.

But if you ask almost anyone that question right now the answer would be yes, in more ways than one. Freshman Assembly member Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) thinks he has a partial solution to the state's fiscal woes: legalize recreational marijuana and tax it heavily.

Today Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger decided the idea merited further study. "I think all of those ideas of creating extra revenues, I'm always for an open debate on it," he told the Sacramento Bee.

Assembly Bill 390 would charge marijuana "wholesalers" $5,000 initially and another $2,500 a year for the right to grow and distribute cannabis. Retailers would pay $50 an ounce which would pay for drug education programs, likely needed big time if this passes. Then buyers would pay sales tax, too.

Aside from raising billions for state coffers, it would bring an entire underground industry out into the light and generate new retail possibilities. As a side bonus, marijuana has known appetite stimulating properties. Just think of the boon for grocery stores and restaurants.

I know we keep talking about growing our green economy, but somehow I don't think this is what everyone had in mind.

It's a double whammy for Republicans who hate both taxes and recreational drugs. But taxes ON drugs will really bug them. Law enforcement groups hate the idea, too. As a parent, I'm not crazy about it, either. All we need is one more legal mind-numbing addiction for young adults. Halo is bad enough.

Of course this won't happen if the federal government doesn't sign off on it, too.

SCHWARZENEGGER'S WILLINGNESS to now at least debate the issue signals he is working through his next move if the ballot measures that helped close the $42 billion state budget deficit are defeated on May 19. Talk also came today of suspending 2004's Prop. 1A which keeps the state from raiding the coffers of cities and counties. He's also threatened to cut back the ranks of state firefighters. As I write this, another fire is raging in the hills of Santa Barbara.

In short, it's desperation time and the Republicans already ran through most of their extortion demands in the last budget battle, so deeper cuts are in our future.

When 56 percent of respondents in a recent Field Poll say they'd like to see marijuana legalized and taxed, politicians are sitting up to take notice.

Balancing the budget with smoke and mirrors has been done before, but this takes it to a whole new level.

I THINK WE'VE HIT on a new form of representative government here in Ventura and I'm kind of amazed about it. The city's Economic Summit today, co-sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, brought out a wide cross section of the community armed with great ideas and passion.

Oh yeah, lots of passion.

After introductions by facilitator and Council member Ed Summers, who is chair of the city's Economic Development Committee, and a rather sobering look at the state's economy from Bill Watkins, executive director of the UC Santa Barbara Economic Forecast Project, I found myself mixed in with an eclectic group ranging from Chamber of Commerce folks to Wal-Mart boosters and busters to our very colorful arts crowd. Our task was to come up with 90-day, 1-year and 5-year plans to improve the city's bottom line and fiscal health.

We agreed, we disagreed and we reached consensus. In the end we came up with some decent suggestions about how to move forward in these difficult times and generate revenue for the city to fund the services we all enjoy. This process was being repeated throughout City Hall with four other groups and their respective program areas.

With lightning speed, city staff compiled the ideas, presented them to Council and after the usual pontificating from the dais, they voted to implement quite a few of them and directed staff to make it happen.

We did all this in less time than it takes them to go through a council meeting most nights.

THE BEST IDEA of the day came from my group and none other than perpetual City Hall critic Brian Lee Rencher, who proposed a Economic Development Commission of citizen volunteers, much like the Cultural Affairs Commission that I sit on. Also proposed was an ombudsman position to help guide businesses and developers through the planning maze, and a workforce education task force, among other ideas.

City Manager Rick Cole promised to move the ball ahead quickly with these ideas, and even quoted Yoda: "There is no try. There is only do."

Afterward I spent some time talking to people I don't normally converse with but have seen in action at City Council meetings. It was a great way to share ideas. I hope the city does more of these sorts of events and FOR ONCE I was very pleased with the turnout: nearly 130 eager citizens.

Sometimes Democracy works.