And 1 million cut from fire/ public safety with another 900k on the docket this summer.

Booya!

>> City Manager Ed Shikada announced at a May 20 City Council meeting that the city has entered into a purchase agreement with the Pacific Bell Telephone Company to buy a parcel next to Boulware Park for $2.75 million.

Excellent! !!

>> Once purchased, the city would move ahead with various improvements to the property, including the planting of grass and the potential removal of the segment of Ash Street that currently divides the existing park and the new parcel.

I'm not sure if this idea would work, but, I would like to see the right-of-way still accessible. Fire/emergency/etc. as well as convenience of park visitors. It is already sharply curved-- can we make it drivable at 5 MPH? The new urbanists keep pushing the idea that instead of closing off streets completely, just make them slow. Barcelona is experimenting with superblocks that vehicles can traverse slowly. How about narrowing and raising the street slightly and repaving with brick pavers?

Doesn't come close to making up for all of the problems over-development has caused in the Ventura neighborhood.