"Competitive Shopping"

As I was enjoying my pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving Day at a family friends house in Porter Ranch, little did I know that less than a mile away a “competitive shopper” had crossed the line. The incident took place at the Walmart in Porter Ranch and by the time I reached home, watching the news I learned that some twenty people had to be treated for minor skin and eye irritations.

The next day several YouTube clips and news reports were released about the incident. The clips looked pretty ridiculous and I was shocked to see people behaving so uncivilized. It made me wonder how and why a shopper would resort to such measures.

Apparently a Latina woman, described to be in her mid 30’s, had used pepper spray in order to beat other shoppers to reach Xbox consoles and Wii Games. Really? She was not arrested or identified at the time of the incident. She was able to get away with her much coveted purchases. Is this what we all have to watch out for if we intend on shopping on black Friday?

This trend is not something new. Last year a Walmart employee was trampled to death by black Friday shoppers. Honestly I find this type of behavior pretty disgusting and customers should be mortified of their behavior. No matter what the deal or discounts are, a person’s wellbeing or life should not be in danger or subject to violence. Even the downturn of the economy could not justify this type of behavior.

I hope that these incidents do not repeat in the following years. Walmart and other companies should create a system similar to the Apple stores when the new iPhone  came out, where consumers were given a numbered ticket for a specific product. Although there are no guarantees, this system would hopefully decrease the chance of violence and bring some order to the chaotic black Friday experience.

The Comeback Car...?

Famous Hollywood glamour, San Fernando Valley orchards, and historic streetcars have long disappeared. Although I can only relate to these long gone elements of Los Angeles through photos, articles, and older films, one of them is making a comeback.

Metro, along with its massive rail improvements, is bringing back the historic streetcar back to Downtown, Los Angeles. They have hopes of starting services “around 2015.” Daily ridership for the streetcar is estimated to be around “7,000 to 11,000,” with seven possible routes. It will “probably head roughly from LA Live to Bunker Hill and back south via Broadway.”

However, some are not too thrilled about this comeback. Transport Politic blog's Yonah Freemark finds the “$100 million project” pointless. He argues that “there are already many buses and trains along the streetcar's planned route” He is also against the fact that the “train moves in a one-way loop, which he writes is a failed transit concept.”

Freemark and opponents of this project ignore some of the major benefits of the streetcar. Not only will they enhance “property values and development to fill some of the hundreds of vacant lots that litter the area,” but also be a model for other urban centers in Los Angeles.

Streetcars will alleviate traffic and provide an efficient mode of transportation. It would be an excellent investment in diversifying and expanding mass transit systems. Once a driver reaches an urban center such as Downtown or Hollywood, a streetcar can be a great option for local mobility. 

Public + Private = Success

Where is Superman when you really need him? Looking at statistics and watching parts of Davis Guggenheim’s film, ”Waiting for Superman,” we can’t help but be alarmed about America’s students’ education and future. How can our nation and our golden state keep its “scientific and technological excellence” when students lack the fundamentals and proper resources for science and mathematical education?

Francine Orr, Los Angeles Times

Statistics done by the National Assessment of Education Progress and the Broad Residency indicate, “43% of American eight graders do not have a basic understanding of science…and only 10% of elementary students regularly receive hands-on science lessons.” According to the Broad Residency’s K-12 public education statistic, “American students rank 25th in math and 21st in science compared to students in 30 industrialized countries.” The facts are loud, clear and very alarming. 

Although statistics paint a grim picture, improving the public private partnership, along with government reforms, might build up our students’ science and math statistics. This will also secure California as well our nation to remain competitive in world markets.

The concept of “public and private partnership in education” plays a major role in the solution of our particular dilemma. Critics might argue that involving for-profit private sector firms in our education system might bring on unwanted changes such as: loss of control, loss of uniformity, loss of democratic values, and segregation of students. However, statistics and research show that recent developments indicate several benefits of this partnership. According to John E. Chubb, founder and chief executive officer of Leeds Global Partner, an international education consulting and services firm, privatization of public schools will bring the element of “economies of scale” to the education sector.

The current bureaucratic system has built an education sector that is failing and inflexible. Privatization will streamline this process and bring in the principle of “scale” where the most effective, cost-efficient, and result producing system would be applied. A for-profit organization can easily adapt this scale to different size school districts, from the very small to the very large. Currently, small districts are unable “to afford the kind of administrative support they need,” and large districts are not “easily governable and accountable.”

Another benefit of privatization would be that, for-profit companies will give the schools the “capability to make financial investments in research and development and comprehensive school reform that public schools can only dream of.” Also since private businesses have far greater freedom to shape their management and customize their work practices and employee contracts, they will clearly focus on the success of our education system without the heavy cost of bureaucracy.

California’s K-12 public school students face many challenges and will certainly benefit from President Obama’s recent efforts. According to a statement made by the White House Office of the Press Secretary, “Public-private investments of more than $250 million will help prepare over 10,000 new math and science teachers and train over 100,000 existing teachers.” President Obama is determined to build “new and innovative partnerships involving major companies, universities, foundations, non-profit organizations and government agencies designed to attract, develop, reward and retain outstanding educators in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).” The expansion of his “Educate to Innovate” campaign will compensate the growing teacher shortage in STEM fields over the next decade.

Currently teachers in California are still challenged in teaching “science” due to lack of time, resources and proper training. According to a survey of 1100 elementary school teachers “85% said they have not received any training during the last three years.” Due to limited funding, teachers are paying for their own science supplies and are unable to attend training classes. It is not acceptable that the “California Science Project’s funding to train teachers has shrunk to $1.2 million from $9 million in 2002-03.”

Tom Torlakson, CA Superintendent of Public Instruction, claims, “that students well-trained in science, technology, engineering and math — the disciplines known as STEM — are critical to the state's economic prosperity. Fifteen of every 20 new jobs in the state require such skills.”

Clearly California, as well our nation, is in dire need of a reform that will revitalize our education system. Public private partnership is an essential component of this reform. President Obama’s campaign, “Educate to Innovate,” is also a major step towards the right direction. The future of our students depends on the joint efforts of public and private partnerships, which recognize the essential need to reform and revamp our struggling education system.  

Open House or Circus?

The downturn of the economy impacted the housing market, causing decreased sales. However, California Realtors have new tricks in their bag and they will do anything to attract potential qualified buyers. If you are in the market for a home that is $1.5 million and up, your realtor might greet you on a “red carpet” or even “in a helicopter to view properties for sale.” Recently the “competition for qualified buyers is fierce.”

Agents are going to extreme lengths to attract guests to open houses. One agent promoted a new condominium project near the Beverly Center, by placing young male and female models in “velour robes and flip-flops” serving up free drinks.

Another agent, highly concerned with the guest turnout, hired “a stilt walker, shirtless male jugglers and a contortionist who floated in the pool, encased in a clear plastic bubble.”

One can’t help but wonder, “Are we at the circus or at an open house?”

The line seems to blur when desperate real estate agents are willing to spend their own money to stage these lavish, exotic, luring sales tactics. Ben Salem, an agent who works for Sherman Oaks Rodeo Reality, claims “We want to treat them like royalty.” Like many agents today, Salem is quite aware of the shrinking pool of buyers that are qualified.

There is no end for the creativity of Realtors considering the fact that Michael Gardner, a Malibu-based agent, “hired young women to give guests Thai foot massage out by the pool. He also raffled off Botox treatments.”

It seems that certain Realtors have adopted the mindset of outdoing each other to corner potential high-end buyers. Clearly desperate times call for desperate measures and Realtors are willing to “go all out to market luxury homes.”

Occupation: A True Solution?

The "Arab Spring" inspired movement "Occupy Wall Street", spread to cities like Boston, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles, as well as making global appearances. Despite its worldwide followers, the movement, although very grass root oriented, seems to lack a clear focus, leadership and can be viewed as pointless, destructive and imbued with extreme socialist values. The protesters have quickly become the darlings of the media, however their peace-loving, hippie-like attitude remains insufficient when locals' complaints are piling up, cities' parks are battered and the protesters' unlikely demands abound. 

Who are the faces behind "Occupy Wall Street" and exactly what are they fighting for? The answer seems not clear and this loosely organized movement harbors a huge variety of people from different backgrounds, religion and ethnicity. However there is one uniting factor that seems to bring these protesters together; their boiling anger towards the country's current economic situation, corporate greed, high unemployment and the growing gap between rich and poor. The disparities and problems galvanizing the protesters certainly merit consideration. However their methods, goals, and longevity are questionable.

The demands of the protesters target banks, corporations, and lobbyists. They ask for reforms such as the “Return to Prudent Banking Act,” investigation and prosecution of the Wall Street criminals, regulation of lobbyists and corporations, while revamping the Securities and Exchange Commission and end the “personhood” legal status for corporations. The average American is quite aware of the disparities existing in their political, social, and economical systems. However the protestors’ attack can be a threatening and even unhelpful approach to the existing problems. The protesters should realize that fear, threats, and uncertainties will further destabilize and deteriorate our current economic state. There is a need for reform, yet the methods should be balanced, strategized, and carefully approached by all entities, including the government, corporations, and public as well.

The protesters consciously avoid having a leader and operate under general assemblies. Their website claims they are the “99% that will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1%.” How do Americans really feel about this statement? “A Time magazine poll released last week found that 54% of Americans had a favorable impression of the Occupy Wall Street protests.” The group’s popularity number is even lower, at “33%”, according to the recent “Rasmussen” poll.

(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times / October 18, 2011) 

Within Los Angeles, the protesters have occupied “the grassy area around City Hall downtown.” As of Tuesday, “There were 366 tents outside City Hall” and the movement is further expanding to “Fletcher Brown Square.”  The occupation has already cost the city “$45,000.” With the increased need for monitoring the protesters, the city has encountered “overtime pay for General Services police” and has deployed “Eight (full-time) Los Angeles Police Department officers.” Commander Andrew Smith, LAPD, also expressed deep concern over the fact the protest is "taking police services away from the rest of the city where they should be out answering 911 calls."

Additionally there is concern for the grass and sprinkler system of the park. The general manager of the city’s Department of Recreation and Parks, Jon Kirk Mukri, estimates the repairs to revive the grass and fix more than 350 sprinklers “could cost the city as much as $400,000.” Although an extreme estimate, expenses occurred by the occupiers are unacceptable when the city’s budget is severely limited.

Ultimately how long will this movement last? The protesters are faced with many challenges, such as deteriorating living conditions, security issues, and complaints from neighboring residents. There are limited restrooms in the park, and no facilities to take showers. Although the weather in Los Angeles is favorable, protesters in New York, Chicago, Boston, and other cities with colder climates, will soon face winter conditions. In Oakland, California, city officials announced that they might “have to shut down the Occupy Oakland tent city in coming days because it is attracting rats, alcohol and illegal drug use.”

The viability of “Occupy L.A.” is also uncertain. According to Kate Linthicum, "There are a lot of big ideas floating around Occupy L.A., but not a whole lot of consensus." L.A. protesters don’t have a “list of demands” and conflicts within the group have escalated due to “drug use and growing numbers of homeless who have joined the camp.” Rachel Goldie, 20, expressed her discontent by leaving the movement. She claimed that it had been “corrupted by people who didn’t care about economic justice” and added the fact that “Everybody is pretty much just partying it up.”