Everyone in Lemon Grove is proud of our boys and their performance in Maine. They represented us there, as well as all of San Diego and the “West” as their uniforms reflected. The community and city organized a well-deserved hero’s welcome with a parade when they got home.
The problem for our City Council is we were asked to pay for the transportation of the parents to the games. The league explained to us that they spent the money meant for expenses on airline tickets and hotels for the parents. Had that been for direct support to the kids, that would be different.
As it stands, the request presented to us is very close to the legal definition of “a gift of public funds.” That is illegal and not what tax dollars are meant for.
Yes, this was a once-in-a-lifetime deal for these boys. There are kids all over our town that have their own once-in-a-lifetime things come up, but we just can’t buy airline tickets for the parents of every Olympic hopeful, music virtuoso, championship drill team and the like. My own kids had their once-in-a-lifetime trip to Europe when they were kids. We sent the kids and we stayed at home.
Does the community have a responsibility to help? Absolutely, and that responsibility is not limited to Lemon Grove and should include the entire county.
So stop waiting for the other guy. Get out your checkbook and send a check to Lemon Grove Little League Seniors, P.O. 755, Lemon Grove, CA 91945. Any amount will help, and I know there are enough current and former Little Leaguers out there to take care of this. This is the proper way for this to be funded and not with tax dollars.
Jerry Jones, Lemon Grove City Councilman
I think the energy and passion just needs to be redirected through more appropriate channels such as Patch. But you are also doing a service by helping LGLL find a solution rather than just saying 'no' without explanation. We are all neighbors here and what those kids did was incredible. If you can, please donate whatever you can.
http://lemongrove.patch.com/articles/city-council-hears-request-for-funds-from-lemon-grove-little-league jj
The Little League held many fundraisers and when the kids came home the fundraisers stopped...but they shouldn't have! As a parent of a kid who has played in the Lemon Grove Little League for 3 years, I spend A LOT of money funding the little league. The least the little league board could have done was supplied the council with a financial statement and the reason they needed $4,000. Oh and if you research staff on the City’s website, you would know Gary isn’t an Engineer, he is an Engineering Inspector which might be why he was at Veterans Park…which means a lot to me and my family since my husband is a veteran! What is your contribution to this country, cimmunity and Little League besides complaning?
As it stands, the request presented to us is very close to the legal definition of “a gift of public funds.” I'm very close to Spring Valley. Does that mean I'm in Spring Valley? They can give a whole goddamn street to a ((((church)))) but screw the kids?
that's a headline lol
Back to the story about the the little league - the fact is they obviously mismanaged their funds and it is NOT the City's responsibility to bail them out. This year the uniforms were donated by the Padres; therefore, the league didn't need to pay for them, so where did that money go? What about my $100 registration fee? My mandatory fundraiser buy out of $40? Or the mandatory $250/team sponsorship? You shouldn't be so quick to want to give away tax payer money before researching the back story of who you are giving it to. I wish you peace in life David!