Interesting. Clearly Palo Alto needs to get a handle on salaries and benefits for employees, but it doesn't exactly sound like they are doing that bad.

The mere fact that they are spending money on projects and thinking of spending lots more money on projects means they have their house in order.

Can't say thast in most cities.

I wish that Palo Alto were a city that had a crappy City Hall but well-maintained roads and infrastructure. That's what it *would* have looked like today if the bureaucrats in City Hall cared about us residents. Unfortunately, they're too busy seeking their own comfort and padding their retirement packages. So instead they spend our dollars on their office while the roads go to hell. *#&%bags!

I think the report is excellent. It's extensive, thorough and very understandable. I think we're lucky to have such capable people at City Hall AND in the various commissions, etc., that volunteers serve on. These are complicated problems with few easy answers.

I find it hard to believe there are people like David P., above, who really believe the "bureaucrats at City Hall" don't care about us residents. I think they not only care a great deal, but they also act on that caring in their jobs and interaction with the public.

Thank you to all city employees and council members for all your efforts.

I second the comment of well-maintained roads. I'm jarred to pieces every time I get caught in the far right, southbound lane in front of Stanford Shopping Center - horrid piece of road in front of a community feature that draws people from far away.

I'd rather hear (and I confess I didn't read the entire article, perhaps it's happening) that they are converting every city-owned building to solar power. That would be a wise use of our tax-payer money and would live up to the "Green" image they keep promoting.

Elizabeth, El Camino Real is CA State Highway 82 and its maintenance is the responsibiity of Caltrans. And I agree with you. That stretch of road all the way to Galvez-Embaradero is a nightmare. Sen. Simitian....do you read this blog?

People should attend the finance budget hearing on June 9 and the City Council meetings of June 13 and 20. The budget will be adopted by the end of June. There are several ways to access budget information. One is at www.cityofpaloalto.org/budget

The only way to present your ideas is to come to a meeting and speak out. City Management is working very hard to cut the budget gap - lower revenues and higher costs in the coming years. Learn what the problems are and what steps are being taken. At this time "everything" is on the table.

Time to privatize the fire department. Too many years of caving to the union has left us overpaying for inefficiency. The money is better used elsewhere.

"Time to privatize the fire department."

That's funny.

You really want to depend on someone in a life-or-death situation that won the gig by being lowest bidder?

Or count on a corporation, who's first motive is profit, when your kids need help?

Yup. That's funny.

Look up Wackinhut and vodka shots.

Animal House in Afghanistan.

Funny.

Not.

So there is one good thing that came of the George W. Bush presidency?

"People should attend the finance budget hearing on June 9 and the City Council meetings of June 13 and 20. The budget will be adopted by the end of June. There are several ways to access budget information. One is at www.cityofpaloalto.org/budget

The only way to present your ideas is to come to a meeting and speak out. City Management is working very hard to cut the budget gap - lower revenues and higher costs in the coming years. Learn what the problems are and what steps are being taken. At this time "everything" is on the table."

Go see the waste in your local PD www.paulzumot.com and bring the overtime waste by detectives to your local govt. No police officer with no university degree should be making 130k a year, for framing people and crappy investigations.