Updated Editorial: Redmond PD "Safety Alerts" really help.

Editorial:   UPDATED:  The following Redmond Police Department (PD) "Safety Alert" email (below) was in my inbox this morning and I immediately opened it for Jim Bove's safety tips and events.   If you want to be on his email list for Safety Alert Updates" email Jim at jbove@redmond.gov   The City's Notice of Public Disclosure of emails at the bottom is a refreshing measure of transparency and worthy of your gaze.  I've never gotten spam from giving out my email  address at city function sign-ins - but that's your call.

The Safety Alert email from Jim Bove, Redmond PD is copied here: 

Jim Bove, Outreach Facilitator
Redmond PD

Dear Redmond Community and Friends,Plenty of information to share; as always, feel free to forward…..

"Cheeseburger in Paradise" National Night Out Against Crime  is Tuesday, August 7th this year (always the first Tuesday in August)…and a sunny day is always guaranteed. We ask neighborhoods, businesses, and apartment complexes to participate in the 29th Annual Night Out. The police department, fire department, city council, mayor, and others will attend as many parties as possible between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. We ask citizens of Redmond to turn their porch lights on and come outside to take a stand against crime with your neighbors—some do BBQs, potlucks, ice cream socials….the fun/list is endless. If you’ve never done this, it’s a great event for fun, friends, and community! Note this year's online registration form. For more information, visit: www.redmond.gov/PublicSafety/Police/national_night_out 

Read the PD email public disclosure warning >>

School Board approves interim construction financing for STEM, Redmond and Eastlake High Schools

Aerial update of STEM Project Site (April, 2012)

UPDATED:  The School board meeting this Monday was better attended by bond salesmen than citizens, as the board held a Hearing to approve two capital bond transactions, keeping STEM, Redmond High, and Eastlake High construction at running at full throttle.

One of the transactions, a $34 million LGO Bond sale, raised cash to cover short-term construction needs until the voter-approved "2012-2017 $65 million Capital Levy" dollars can catch up. The second board action raised $25 million from an aging  "2006 Eight-Year $436 million Capital Bond."  According to Barb Posthumus, district Business Services Manager,  a balance of $11 million remains of the original $436 million Bond.  

LGO's are "Limited Government Obligation" bonds and are non-voter approved.  Read More >>

UPDATED: Evergreen Healthcare is now EvergreenHealth

from the desk of Bob Malte, CEO...

BOB MALTE, CEO & Sup










UPDATED:  As we mark the 40th anniversary of Evergreen, we celebrate all this community has done to help Evergreen grow and expand as our community has grown.

Over the past 40 years, Evergreen has come a very long way under the leadership of our Board of Commissioners and with the talent and dedication of our physicians, staff, volunteers and members of this community.

We began as a small, general hospital in 1972, with only two floors. Today, we are still the deepl y caring hospital this community created then; and we are a sophisticated medical center, using technological advances such as 3D digital mammography and minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery to ensure that our people on the Eastside receive the best care possible. Our distinguised care and service have been recently recognized by HealthGrades, ranking us in the Top 5% of hospitals in the country for clinical excellence, and the Top 10% for our patient experience.

To better reflect who we have become for you, we've decided this anniversary year to introduce a refreshed brand, name and look for Evergreen that honors our 40-year tradition of exceptional clinical care and community service while more effectively reflecting what we have become and aspire to be—the hospital and medical center that aligns the technology, quality, expertise and service required to deliver breakthrough care for you.

We have much to celebrate this 40th year. We invite you to join us in the celebration.

Sincerely,

Bob Malte

Chief Executive Officer  

Source: 
Evergreegn Hospital Website:  http://www.evergreenhospital.org/
Links/ BY

City moves forward on plan to re-locate Evans Creek

Evans Creek headwaters are in East King County along the Old Red Brick Road.  The creek continues north and west through SE Redmond industries, past Keller Farm, before it's confluence with Bear Creek.   Bear Creek flows into the Sammamish River which flows into Lake Washington and Puget Sound.

On May 1, the Redmond city council approved land acquisitions to relocate Evans Creek north and east and away from SE Redmond industries. (See map).  If negotiations to purchase the property are unsuccessful the Council approved  use of eminent domain.

The benefits of re-locating Evans Creek are many.  Relocation: 1) improves habitat for wild salmon and wildlife, 2)  increases the land values and opportunity for redevelopment of industrial properties, 3) encourages clean-up of hazardous waste and further safeguards the city aquifer 4) improves flood water conveyence, 5) enhances Bear-Evans Creek Trail recreation with restored riparian habitat.

Evans Creek is an important and valuable stream in SE Redmond that's been heavily impacted by industrial development and permiting violations, as has "AWR."  Read More >>

King County Library System is the busiest in nation - Redmond Library thanks community, taxpayers

Bob:  Thank you again for publishing and thank you for voting for the last levy! I think it's really important for everyone to understand that King County Library System (KCLS) is funded through property tax revenues, and when needed, capital improvement bonds.

We can't thank our community enough for passing the levy lift in February 2010, despite the economic conditions. It was a vote of support for the valuable services that the library provides. The KCLS Foundation and each library's Friends groups also provide grants and donations for many programs that the library system offers. So, a special thanks goes to everyone that buys donated books from their local Friends as well.

In 2010, KCLS surpassed the busiest library in the U.S. (Queens NY) with 22.4 million items checked out. Libraries from all over the world visit KCLS to see the Preston Distribution Center and learn about their operations. In 2011, King County Library System was honored as the Library of the Year by the Gale/Library Journal.

We are also very proud of the Redmond branch, it's almost always the second busiest library in terms of circulation month over month. The staff and volunteers are amazing and the programming offered every month is phenomenal. Hopefully you are able to attend events held there on occassion!

Regards,

Jaime Weber
Trustee, Redmond Library
The board meets on the first Wednesday every month at 7:00 pm at the Redmond Library. The public is invited to attend.

Evergreen Hospital wins "Distinguished Hospital Award" fourth year in a row.

Evergreen Community Hospital

2012 Distinguished Hospital Award

HealthGrades, the nation's leading provider of independent hospital ratings, has named Evergreen Hospital a Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence for 2012.

Evergreen is the only hospital in Washington State to be recognized with the Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence for the past four consecutive years - 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.  Read More >>

Local author presents at "Friends of Redmond Library" Annual Meeting

Hello Bob,

Louise Marley, local author

I'm a member of the City of Redmond's Library Board of Trustees. I'm also the liaison between that Board and the "Friends of the Redmond Library."  Plus, I live on Education Hill and peruse your blog to stay on top of local happenings in my area!

The Friends Annual Meeting is coming up on February 16, 7:00 p.m. we would be grateful if you were able to post a notice about it on your blog.  At the meeting, local author, Louise Marley will share her story and evolution from the world of opera to award winning Science Fiction and Fantasy. She has written fifteen books. Her latest, The Brahms Deception, was released in August 2011.

You can find the Board of Trustees blog post with all the details here: http://redmondlibrary.blogspot.com/2012/01/friends-of-redmond-library-annual.html

Please let me know if you have any questions and thank you in advance if you are also able to publish.

Regards,
 
Jaime Weber
City of Redmond's Library Board of Trustees
 
The Redmond Library Board of Trustees meets on the first Wednesday every month at 7:00 pm at the Redmond Library. The public is invited to attend.

UPDATED: Evergreen Hospital District Board of Commissioners to hold Public Hearing on Redistricting Plan

Laurene Burton
Administrative Director
Public Records Officer

"Notice is hereby given that the Board of Commissioners of King County Public Hospital District No. 2 will, on December 6, 2011, at 6:45 p.m., hold a Public Hearing on the Redistricting Plan for Internal Commissioner Districts (“Plan”) based on the 2010 federal decennial census."

If you can't make the Hearing the Board may accept comments for the record by email to Laurene Burton, lhburton@evergreenhealthcare.org. 

According to Evergreen Hospital attorney Mr. Fitzgerald and Administrative Director Laurene Burton, if the "Plan" is approved, the following "votes" will be redistributed based on 2010 federal census: 19,000 votes will be redistributed from Comm. Kempf’s district. 10,000 will be redistributed to Comm. DeYoung’s district and 9,000 will be redistributed to Comm. Hirt’s district.

Two Evergreen Hospital commissioners terms will end in 2013.  Ms. Jeanette Greenfield (member at large) Seat #5 and Ms. Rebecca Hirt (Kirkland/Kenmore) Seat #2.  If you are planning to run for one of these offices contact lhburton@evergreenhealthcare.org for information.  To challenge Ms. Hirt you must reside in the Kenmore/Kirkland District #2.  There are no residency requirements for Seat #5.   Read More >>

Evergreen Hospital Commissioner incumbent August Kempf copes with State audits during 2011 election

R. August Kempf, Commission Pos 3
Represents Redmond / Sammamish

Editor's Note:  In the October 2, 2011 election Mr. Kempf won 98% of the vote.  

Commissioner August Kempf's financial expertise hasn't appeared to help Evergreen resolve problematic annual state audits.  Should Commissioner Kempf oversee Evergreen Healthcare for another six years? 

Evergreen Hospital is a property-tax supported county hospital.   $24,153,945 in levy monies were collected last year from Redmond, Sammamish, Kirkland, Woodinville, Bothel, Duvall and other district property owners.  Most tax dollars fund debt service for growth; a modicum goes to "community healthline services."

"Five publicly elected hospital commissioners have the ultimate responsibility and accountability for the Evergreen district.  Citizens entrust their elected commissioners to approve major financial decisions and provide legal oversight of Evergreen."   But, do they?

R. August "Auggie" Kempf is an incumbent, running unopposed this year.  He's an 11 year commissioner for Evergreen  Hospital and he's asking the electorate for another 6 years on November 8.  If you live in Redmond or Sammamish, "Auggie" is your designated representative.  He runs an insurance, investment and financial planning firm in Redmond with probably the most financial skill sets of the five commissioners.  Mr. Kempf attended seven "Audit and Finance Committee Meetings" last year - more than four commissioners.

Mr. Kempf's financial expertise hasn't appeared to help the hospital pass annual state audits.  The State Auditor's Office (SAO) charged Evergreen in recent years with twice the serious audit "Findings," of Lake Washington School District and City of Redmond combined.   2009 was not a good year either.  The SAO reported 3 findings:

• the hospital was paying contracted staff hourly rates almost double their employed nurses.  SAO recommendations to reduce contracted nurses resulted in an estimated $7.5 million in savings.
• Evergreen collected $1.8 million in cash (deli, pharmacy, gift shop) in 2008.   SAO findings:  internal control weakness increase risk of misappropriation.  Status to be reviewed in 2010 audit.
• "Evergreen Healthcare did not comply with competitive bid laws on two projects totalling $1,223,856 in 2008.  In 2009 the SAO determined corrective actions were taken.

The more distant Audit History during Mr. Kempf's tenure is equally poor:  Read More >>

2002 State audit of Evergreen Hospital finds flaws in accounting procedures

State audit of Evergreen Healthcare finds flaws in accounting procedures

September 23, 2002 -A state audit has found that Evergreen Healthcare, a public hospital district on the Eastside, lost $55,000 worth of registration checks that should have been deposited as part of the 2001 Body, Mind and Spirit Symposium.

The annual audit uncovered numerous deficiencies in Evergreen's accounting procedures for the symposium:

• Before the audit, the district did not know it was short on payments. During the audit, Evergreen managed to recover $15,642 — money not included in the $55,000 loss.
• Deposits for the symposium were not made in a timely manner. More than $87,000 in checks issued from June through September 2001 were not deposited until the three-day symposium started on Sept. 7, 2001.
• The district did not adequately review why revenues dropped from $313,000 at the 2000 symposium to $105,000 in 2001.
• Evergreen did not have adequate controls over on-site registration-fee collections.

The audit found there was nothing to indicate any money was stolen. In a written response, Evergreen acknowledged inadequate internal controls. But it would not follow the auditor's recommendation to seek reimbursement from symposium participants.

"We do not believe that we have adequately detailed records and documentation to determine whom to contact for replacement checks," Evergreen wrote.

The district has an annual budget of about $280 million, about $12 million [$15 million] of which comes from property taxes.

The 4-year-old holistic and alternative-medicine symposium, which featured speakers and vendors, has been abandoned this year as a result of declining interest, said Evergreen spokeswoman Kendra Weil.  As a result, the department that handled the checks no longer exists. All future registrations for other events or classes will be handled by Evergreen's Healthline department, which has better accounting procedures, Weil said.

Published in the Seattle Times, Sept. 23, 2002
By Times reporter:  Nick Perry: 206-515-5639

Reports on the Evergreen Hospital 2010 state audit - going back to 8/5/11 -  are found in my blog here.  B.Y.

Op-Ed: "Next Steps on Traffic and School Safety Cameras," By Cole and Marchione

Next Steps on Traffic & School Safety Cameras

Redmond Council President Richard Cole & Mayor John Marchione

September 2011 

Pres. Richard Cole

 Op-Ed:  As many residents are aware, Redmond established a pilot traffic and school zone safety program earlier this year. The goals of this program are simple: (1) modify dangerous driver behavior and (2) prevent car-pedestrian accidents in school zones. 

Traffic safety has long been one of our community’s top concerns, and this program promised to be an effective use of technology to affect behavior, reduce the cost of enforcement and improve traffic safety. Much like the shoplifting cameras we see in so many grocery and retail stores, the cameras collect evidence of possible violations. This evidence is then reviewed by an officer to determine if an actual violation occurred. Then and only then is a ticket issued.



Mayor John Marchione

The violation does not go on one’s driving record, and the City Council has mandated that any funds remaining after court costs be dedicated to capital projects that improve traffic and pedestrian safety. By using technology in this way, the City could otherwise put its limited number of police officers to work in schools, in neighborhoods, and around town to address other public safety issues that are important to Redmond’s citizens. From the beginning, the Council and the Mayor committed to review this pilot program after a year.

We have appreciated the many residents we have heard from on both sides of the issue over two years of public process, from emails to conversations at National Night Out events in August to public testimony at Council meetings. Consistent with what we have told residents all along, next month we will review all the data and community input gathered to date to determine the future of the program.

The recent initiative petition will be another important consideration in this discussion, and represents the wishes of some who would like to vote on traffic/school safety cameras in February 2012.

It is worthwhile to note that the petition circulated in Redmond is virtually identical to one in the City of Bellingham that was recently invalidated by the Washington Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals noted in the Bellingham case that a petition to require a vote on traffic and school safety cameras “exceeds the lawful scope of the initiative power; it is not a valid ballot measure.”

Despite the court’s ruling on the petition’s validity, the Council and Mayor have heard the perspective of our residents who signed it, and will consider this along with all the data and other feedback we have received as part of our ongoing assessment.

Our evaluation will be completed by December, well before any referendum can be held. To discontinue this review at this time would be a disservice to our community, and an abdication of the City Council’s duty on an issue which the Court of Appeals has clearly affirmed is its responsibility. As we prepare for these discussions next month, we continue to welcome your thoughts at mayorcouncil@redmond.gov.

Op-Ed By Council President Richard Cole and Mayor John Marchione

September, 2011

UPDATED: Singapore American School website lauds Dr. Chip Kimball as their 12th Superintendent, effective July, 2012



Singapore American School

 Dr. Chip Kimball appointed Superintendent of Singapore American School (SAS) 

Twelfth Superintendent of Singapore American School -  "largest single-campus international school in the world, with 3,878 students, 353 faculty members, and 222 support staff"

SINGAPORE, September 15, 2011 - Dr. Chip Kimball, Superintendent of Lake Washington School District in Redmond, Washington, has been appointed the twelfth Superintendent of Singapore American School by the school's Board of Governors. Rudy Muller, Chair of the SAS Board of Governors, announced the appointment today in a letter to the SAS community.

Dr. Kimball, 47, will take office on July 1, 2012 and succeeds Dr. Brent Mutsch who previously announced that he is stepping down in June 2012 after five years as Superintendent of SAS.

"Dr. Kimball is a respected and proven educational leader with the depth and breadth of knowledge to enhance student learning through 21st century best practices," Mr. Muller said. "Dr Kimball will bring innovative leadership to Singapore American School and he embodies the ideals of academic rigor, professional excellence, extraordinary care of students, creativity, and community building that lie at the heart of our mission."  Read More >>

Parents expect a voice in LW School District growth issues

Board in "Work Session" Meeting
Though not advertised, the public may observe.

Second in series on 'open government' issues at LWSD.

OPINION:  Updated, 6/21/11  The 2010-2011 school year has been extremely challenging for Lake Washington School District and the community. State budget cuts are hurting. But, probably the biggest loss was failure by 3% of the Capital Bond measure.  Could the School Board have done more than Levy Committee volunteerism to help the district pass this critical measure?  Who can say?

In any event, failure of the Capital Bond measure created a sense of panic within the District and the community.  Where do we find the money we need to re-build the schools?  The District and Board scrambled to patch together a system of high school wing additions, portables and a modular Stem School with a levy measure. (The much smaller capital levy passed easily with simple majority.) But there is still no money to re-build Juanita High and now other school "modernizations" are delayed or trimmed back.

All these growth pains caused a festering within the community with many citizens wanting to be heard, but not knowing how to speak up.  For example, during the feeder program "input session" at A.G. Bell, parents made yellow buttons protesting, "Parents Expect A Voice"!

Despite some productive organizational changes within the Administration, the public still faces road-blocks to communication and engagement with the District.  As compared to the open governments of neighboring school districts, LWSD's shaky process of governance is a house of cards.  (below). Unfortunately, parent and community participation with district government continues to deteriorate as our leaders cloak themselves with new policies and procedures, as follows: 
READ MORE >>

LETTER: Stop enabling virtual school scam

"The Public is fleeced at both the state and local level"

Stop enabling virtual school scam

By Paul Hall
April 18, 2011

LETTER
Dear Bob:  "The state school superintendent (SPI) is asking for hundreds of millions of dollars for new construction in the Capital Budget. It may pass without much scrutiny because (as Larry Springer aptly states in his recent Kirkland Views video) the legislature has had only one topic on its mind, the Operating Budget. For the last several years, SPI has been using a major portion of its capital funds to enable what I call the "Virtual School" scam. It's been successfully plied for several years by affluent school districts to pilfer state matching money for otherwise ineligible new construction.

The scam is simple. A district starts a "modernization" project. It then requires the Architect to include the cost to provide temporary housing (a "Virtual School"), during the entire time of remodeling, as a part of the cost of modernization. This contrived major cost, when combined with major remodeling costs, runs the total estimated project cost above the state matching limit for a modernization project. SPI rejects the modernization project based on this bogus estimate, but approves a request for state matching funds for new construction in lieu of modernization. This costs the state (as well as the local school district) 50-60% more in construction costs than if the building were remodeled. A substantially sound public building with scores of remaining useful years becomes landfill. The district gets a new school and calls it "modernized". The state has 50-60% less money to spend on legitimately needed projects. The public is fleeced at both the state and local level. This practice is clearly neither fiscally responsible nor sustainable in any sense.

To "Read More" click the blue link >>

A Look at Transparency and "Open Government" issues in Lake Washington School District

"What is the definition of government transparency?
When we talk about transparency in government, we mean that citizens must be able to 'see through' its workings, to know exactly what goes on when public officials transact public business. Government that is not transparent is more prone to corruption and undue influence because there is no public oversight of decision making."

--By Judy Nadler and Mirham Schulman
  Center for Applied Ethics
  Santa Clara University, CA. 3/06

###

"A popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: And a people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives."

-- James Madison, letter to W.T. Barry, August 4, 1822

Madison is often referred to as the “Father of the United States Constitution.” His priceless contributions to the founding of the nation include co-authoring along with John Jay and Alexander Hamilton the Federalist Papers which apart from the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution itself, provided the philosophical framework and intellectual justification for the Bill of Rights and government we know today.

It is therefore fitting that one of the state’s top government watchdog groups. Washington Coalition for Open Government, presents it’s highest honor each year in Madison’s name to an individual or organization that exemplifies a deep commitment to open government,

-- Bob Yoder
Resident, Parent, Volunteer at LWSD
redmondblog@gmail.com

Sunshine Week - Celebrating the Public's Right to Know.

This Sunshine Week, (March 13-19) we urge you to press our public officials to do more, seeking not just broad statements of support for greater transparency but specific pledges and plans of action to enhance the public’s right to know.

Sunshine Week 2011 can be a time when you as a citizen or civic organization make a difference by identifying local or state open governments and then asking your public officials to pledge and initiate specific improvements in local or state law and practice.

Please forward a sample Proclamation to the leaders of our local governments and ask them to sign a Proclamation for "Open Government". 

• City of Redmond, Mayor John Marchione, mayor@redmond.gov
• Lake Washington School District, President of School Board, jpendergrass@lwsd.org
• Evergreen Hospital, President of Board of Commissioners, Al DeYoung, c/o lburton@evergreenhealthcare.org  

Read this sample Proclamation to send to your local government representative. 
Read More >>

Kay Taylor Named Evergreen's Vice President of Marketing and Communications

Evergreen V.P. Kay Taylor

Kay Taylor Named Evergreen's Vice President of Marketing and Communications

Kirkland, WA – Kay Taylor of Kirkland has joined Evergreen Hospital Medical Center as Vice President of Marketing and Communications. She will be responsible for marketing, communications, public relations, community relations, *community health education and the hospital’s 24-hour Healthline.

Taylor has been a senior marketing executive for 25 years. Most recently she was the Vice President of Communications and Marketing at Exempla Healthcare in Denver. There she directed the marketing for the three Exempla hospitals and its physician network. Highlights of Taylor’s six-year tenure at Exempla include the design, development and implementation of a branding program, introduction of a new corporate identity and revision of existing communications programs. She served as the leader for the group’s Service Excellence task force. She also was Vice President of Marketing and Communications at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center in Maryland, Clarian Health in Indianapolis, the Battle Creek Health System and Oaklawn Hospital in Michigan.

“We are delighted that Kay has joined Evergreen. Her experience and creativity will be an incredible asset to the organization as we serve the health needs of our community,” said Bob Malte, CEO of Evergreen Healthcare.

Taylor received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Alma College in Michigan and is a member of several national health care organizations. She has volunteered for numerous community organizations throughout her career. In her spare time, the mother of four enjoys biking, hiking and windsurfing.

Press Release, 12/22

####

RNB Editor's Note:   According to Evergreen Administrative Director, Laurene H. Burton,"Vice President of Marketing and Communications" is a new position.  RNB will publish the Administration's new Organizational Chart after CEO Bob Malte hires a new Chief Operating Officer.  Kay's responsibility over "Community Health Education" may involve interfacing with Evergreen Community Advisers, LWSD, and indirectly with District taxpayers.   B.Y.

ALERT UPDATE: The New City Website Will Launch On December 8 With Some Twists

Attention Users of City of Redmond Website    After emailing Ms. Gronlund, City Communications Manager last night, I learned the city will launch their new site this Wednesday morning, 12/8.  Be advised, old redmond.gov Bookmarks will be lost .   Though Marta addressed Redmond Neighborhood Blog specifically, it appears Media will lose links to the new city website.  No city press release on the launch date was issued.

From: Marta Gronlund mgronlund@redmond.gov

Date: Sun, Dec 5, 2010 at 10:59 PM
Subject: RE: Focus website index page feedback
Bob:
Yes the (Winter Lights)  festival was wonderful.

Yes, the new site, while still redmond.gov to the outside world is completely different on the back end (database driven). So all links will be different - no old bookmarks will work and content is now organized functionally rather than by department. So for those who use it frequently, it will be a little frustrating for awhile.

If you have links to content on your blog now, please send them to me and I will get you the new links to the same content as soon as I have them. We launch the new site Wed. AM. (12/8)

Thanks, Marta Gronlund
City Communications Program Manager

Sent from my Windows Mobile phone   

When, and if, I receive the new website links from City Communications, I'll update RNB links. 
It's my understanding the new city website link is redmond.gov.

Redmond Neighborhood Blog (RNB) reports on Open Government and links extensively to the city website to provide proof sources for my research; and important city information RNB provides could be compromised. 

RNB is the oldest, ongoing hyper-local media site in Redmond.  A plethora of city website links going back over four years are momentarily disabled.  However, the majority of RNB readers rarely click on  links, so little will be truly lost to your reading enjoyment!  And, Redmond's repairing their end. 

OPINION and Report By Bob Yoder.

Why Every City Needs A Beat Reporter

This article starts out with an extreme example of  prolonged public apathy....

They are worth more than you think.  Just ask the residents of Bell, CA.

There’s a municipality in Southern California called Bell. Thirty-eight thousand people live there. It’s largely inhabited by Latino immigrants, and the per capita income is just $25,000 per year. It may be hard to believe, but had its residents banded together five years ago to hire a top-notch beat reporter, even paying him the handsome salary of $200,000 per year, the return on their value would’ve been immense. 
Read More.

By Conor Friedersdorf, 07/29
Forbes.com

Public Records & Open Meetings Laws Forum, 8/11