It is an understatement to say these are tough times for most of us. Everyone I know has cut back dramatically. People are clipping coupons, staying home and digging in couches and chairs for any change that may have fallen under the cushions. Others are scavenging bottles & cans...

Governor Schwarzenegger could not have been blunter in yesterday's address to the legislature: "California's day of reckoning is here. Our wallet is empty. Our bank is closed. Our credit is dried up."

No matter how the fiscal crisis is resolved in Sacramento, its resolution will have dire consequences for all local budgets, already under pressure due to declining revenues. A casual reading of the headlines in the Press Democrat over the last few weeks and months tells the story--all cities and counties are severely cutting budgets and services.

Only the most obtuse and obdurate will continue to believe that Petaluma could have avoided the financial collapse if it had only allowed more retail.

In the midst of all this, Petaluma 360 created a new feature on its web page...

see.click.fix....

Create a public record of potholes, graffiti, and broken streetlights

Oh, if it were only so simple--Repair and maintenance of our public infrastructure reduced to the equivalent of a video game.

In recognition of financial reality the feature should be...

see.click.DONATE.fix...

UPDATE JUNE 4, 2009

There are established City e-mail links to report problems to the responsible departments. Keep in mind, however, that budget cuts will impair response times.

1. PUBLIC WORKS: publicworks@ci.petaluma.ca.us (streets, street lights, street signs, appliances dumped on the streets or sidewalks etc)

2. PARKS: parksnrec@ci.petaluma.ca.us (park maintenance)

3. WATER: water@ci.petaluma.ca.us (Water leaks, etc.)

In addition, there is the Petaluma Graffiti Hotline - 776-3606