The City of Los Angeles plans to kill future success in Hollywood

As originally written for Examiner.com:

It's true. According to a recent ‘action alert’ from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, the City of Los Angeles is planning to lease parking garages throughout Los Angeles – three in Hollywood – to the private sector for 50 years and $53 million dollars, in order to clear a large deficit in the city's overall budget – $44.75 million of which will go to the debt accumulated by construction of the Cinerama Dome garage. It’s called the P3 Parking Garage proposal.

Say NO to P-3!

Particular concern to the Hollywood business community – which affects our residential communities – is the proposal’s non-compete requirement that would prevent the city from constructing new garages within one-eighth mile of the concession garages. In layman’s terms, this means that the city agrees to not develop any garages in Hollywood for the next 50 years. Fifty years. We just started getting more parking and now the city wants to sell it off to private entities who will increase the price to the point of demise.

In this alert, the Chamber points out that Chicago recently leased their parking meters to a private company with much regret and believes that this action will be ill-fated for the city of Hollywood, tourism, businesses and residents, alike. It also reminds us of when Hollywood & Highland first opened back in 2001, the $10 parking rates discouraged visitors and nearly killed the center (remember?). It took years to get local residents to return.

It has taken the hard work of countless people – city officials, business owners and local residents – to get Hollywood to the point it is at today. Why kill future success by selling one of its most valuable commodities?

Desperate needs call for desperate measures, but leasing Hollywood parking garages for 50 years with a non-compete clause is a bit much, don't you think? The last thing Hollywood needs after a decade of success is a 'deal with the devil.'

Please take a moment to click on this link and sign the petition to ‘Save the Hollywood & Highland, the Cineramadome and Cherokee Parking lots.’ We must stand together, as a community, to help our local businesses thrive and stay in business. Not make things more complicated and difficult to succeed.

Say NO to P-3! 

Save the Hollywood & Highland , the Cineramadome and Cherokee Parking Lots – Petition link

Keep Parking in Its Place – Leron Gubler, President of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce

Target Coupon Codes, Anyone?

Coupon codes for Target
and Target.com

If you're a frugal shopper (and who isn't these days?) then you'll be interested in knowing where to find the best online coupons for Target and Target.com.

BestOnlineCoupons.com is the place to go when you need to save money on your store purchases. They have thousands of coupons for hundreds of stores online, so you will always find the best shopping discounts and online deals. Whether you need coupons or promo codes, BestOnlineCoupons.com is the first place you should look. With tons of coupon codes for Target and Target.com, you could end up saving hundreds of dollars on electronics, furniture, apparel, toys, home decor, gifts, appliances, jewelry, baby products, movies, music and much more!

When you click on one of the links below, you will be directed directly to the Target coupons page where you can save as much as 10% on purchases, as well as receive FREE shipping on specified deals. There are ‘End of Season’ sales, clearance items and even a teacher’s page, where teachers can find resources for classroom materials, grants and arts & culture.

Target coupons are not the only coupons you will find when you visit BestOnlineCoupons.com. There are coupons and codes for stores like Best Buy, Office Depot, Macy's and Walmart, to name only a few.

So, the next time you go shopping or are shopping online, remember to get your coupon codes first. The more you spend, the more you save. And, remember to bookmark BestOnlineCoupons.com.

Target coupon code

Target coupons

Target Online Coupons

Goodbye Millenium Decade – Hello Future

As the year and the decade both come to a close, I can't help but think of what a difficult decade it has been. From the time George W. Bush took office, to 9/11, to the war in Iraq and the recession, it would seem as if the last decade was full of bad news for everyone. Will the next decade prove to be any better?

The one thing that did advance in the last decade is technology. Think internet, smart phones and tablets and we have grown by leaps and bounds. But, what about growth in other ways? What about spiritual growth? Personal growth?

In the first decade of the new millenium, many of us were smart enough to downsize, or forced to, and we are learning to live with less spending. But, does spending less have to mean lower quality living? No. Should spending less mean lower expectations? Of course, not.

Spending less means living within your boundaries and taking care of the things you can afford. When I was a kid, my grandparents use to say, 'just because we're poor doesn't mean we have to live like 'the poor.'' They took care and pride of all the things they worked hard to earn and they instilled those values in the rest of us, too.

Which brings me to the point of this post. While it is true that this past decade was indeed full of tragedies and set backs, if I sit and think, there are a list of positives that came out of those negatives. For example, had Bush never taken office, I would not have been forced into the world of entertainment and would never have worked on some of the projects I have had the pleasure of working on. Lemonade!

With a decade behind us and a brand new decade awaiting us (just think, in less than ten years it will be 2020!), there are lots of positive things yet to come. I, for one, can't wait. With new software programs like Adobe CS5 and all the different internet capabilities still to uncover, the world of digital design is in its infancy and it is up to us to carve the path.

Here you go. A new beginning. A chance to start a ten-year plan from the start. What will you do with this opportunity? Are you taking care of your body, health and mind as well as your career? What about family? Spirituality?

Let's raise our glass together and toast to the new decade that awaits. May the simple things bring us joy, hope and wealth as we venture out into the unknown. The future of digital design and online marketing is growing faster than you or I can imagine. What do you want to do with the next ten years?

First, Apple. Then, Adobe.

BIG COMPANIES WITH LOUSY CUSTOMER SERVICE

What is going on with designer's favorite companies like Apple and Adobe? They seem to be abandoning the people who made them successful in the first place: the designers who buy and use their products.

Recently, I blogged about Apple, Inc. and how they could care less about their customers and how they refused to stand behind their own products. Including, the founder of Apple, Steve Jobs. In the end, it was one of their customer service reps who could tell I was given the short end of the stick who eventually helped me and (sort of) restored my faith in Apple products. After 3 months of phone calls and time wasted trying to fix my bogus machine, Apple finally did the right thing and replaced it with a brand new iMac (which I LOVE!). Thank you, Apple.

Now, the problem I am having is with Adobe – the worldwide standard of software designers use to create on computers. Actually, I am currently having several issues with Adobe. You see, now that I have my new computer, I can't authorize my old software to work on my new computer. And, if you have ever tried calling Adobe (and, up to this point, I never had), it's almost impossible to get someone on the line. Not only did I have to hold for almost half-an-hour each time I tried calling, to make matters worse, I never spoke with anyone who did not have a thick accent. There was definitely a language barrier.

So, I Googled Adobe and called San Jose, where they are located. What happened? I got put on hold and waited for thirty minutes before I finally hung up.

Eventually, after hours of searching for telephone numbers on the internet, I finally spoke with a manager of a customer service department unrelated to Adobe or this issue, who stepped in, found the right person for me to talk to, and not long after, I received a call from the manager of the department that approves the serial numbers. And, she took care of everything for me. (BTW, Adobe contracts out to Douglas Stewart who operates Identit-E – the online serial number providers for Adobe software. FYI.)

In both cases – with Apple and Adobe – I spent countless hours looking for numbers and talking on the phone with various people before my issues were finally resolved. What does this say about customer service for large companies, overall? They have no problem charging fees for every little detail, yet there is no compensation for the customer, other than personal satisfaction, who spends the time on the phone to deal with a problem(s).

Follow my lead. Search for numbers online and keep calling until you get someone on the phone who will help you. These companies depend on the people who DON'T pick up the phone to make money so pick up the phone and get your money's worth. If you buy a faulty product or if you feel like you are getting the run around from a customer service representative, think up. Google the public relations or customer relations department of whatever company you are dealing with, ask to speak with a supervisor, and get the help you deserve. After all, these same companies need to redeem some of their costs and they are passing it on to you.

IMPORTANT: While I was stern and obviously disappointed with my product customer service, I did my best to stay professional and calm, and did not use any profanity during a conversation.

Apple Inc. – Too big to care
One bad Apple can spoil the whole bunch

'The Santaland Diaries' at The Stella Adler Theatre

'The Santaland Diaries' by David Sedaris, now playing
at The Stella Adler Theater in Hollywood. 

Thanks to one of my terrific neighbors (I am fortunate to have a few), I was invited to see Nicholas Brendon (originally of Buffy fame) star in a one-man show – an autobiographical monologue by David Sadaris – about a hilarious occurrence of working as an elf during Christmas in New York's Macy's store.

If you don't know much about David Sedaris, he is a writer/humorist/comedian who is famous for his incredibly funny, yet painfully truthful, essays that are mostly autobiographical and self-deprecating. Born on December 26, 1956, in New York, Mr. Sedaris now resides in London, England. Most of his humor is derived from his family life, his middle class upbringing in the suburbs of Raleigh, North Carolina, education, drug use and homosexuality.

This essay was first aired on NPR radio in 1992 and thrust Sedaris into the public light. With good reason. Sedaris shares, not only the intimidating details of his feelings about having to apply for the elf job at 33, but he shares the oh-too-real personalities of the other elves and Santa's who work together at Macy's during this particular shopping season.

Mr. Brendon's interpretation of Sedaris enacting this story is right on! Sedaris is sort of an odd fellow with an interesting look, voice and personality and Brendon's portrayal was sincere, warm, and very funny. I laughed out loud throughout the entire show!

According to Kathleen Foley's review on LATimes.com/Culture Monster, this is the second season that The Blank Theatre Company has presented 'The Santaland Diaries.' Last year, the show was sold out. If you want something fun and different to do during the holidays that will bring you some cheer, go and see 'The Santaland Diaries.'

From a creative point-of-view, the direction, sets, costumes and the acting, were all well thought out, fun, warm and the best-of-the-best. In an intimate setting, this is a chance to see up close and personal, Hollywood magic at its finest.

I highly recommend that you buy a ticket and see Nicholas Brendon in 'The Santaland Diaries.' You won't be disappointed.
______________

The Stella Adler Theatre is located at 6773 Hollywood Blvd. (323) 465-4446

If I Only Had A Brain: The Art of Customer Service

I try and deal with a supervisor whenever possible.

Why do big companies like Apple, Inc. hire brainless customer service reps to deal with their customers?


Let me start by saying this is not about all customer service reps. Eventually, I can find the one or two that have a brain and they help me with my issue(s).  But, in general, one thing I am tired of is having to deal with a brainless customer service rep when I call a big company with a serious problem regarding a product. Never mind that I had to wait fifteen minutes to get that rep on the phone in the first place, then I am forced to endure an attitude from a phone rep who acts like they own the darn company! Say, what?!

Recently, I did a story about Apple, Inc., their products and the response I received from Apple Co-founder, Steve Jobs, titled, 'Apple, Inc. – Too Big To Care.'  It was about major issues I was having with my iMac G5 and everyone I had talked with at Apple up to that point were brainless and narrow-minded. They didn't get it and yet there it was right in front of them. Proof that my computer was a lemon and, as the consumer, I deserved a replacement product.

Apple put me through five years of hell with the same problem with my computer every year, to the month, until Apple could fix it no more before someone at Apple finally realized what was going on and got other senior people involved. It was crazy. But in the end, I got my new iMac. (It arrived this week.)

Which brings me to another example with my credit union, Wescom Credit Union. I have been a member with this credit union for over a decade, have paid off two car loans without hardly ever being late on a payment, and currently paying off a third, and now that I need them most is when they decide to charge me for every little tiny thing. And, these charges are not small charges. You know how banks are – they'll take your home if you don't make your payment. Don't mess with them if you only have a few accounts open. To them, you are nobody.

Which brings me to my point for this posting. What ever happened to the art of customer service? What ever happened to the idea of customer satisfaction?

The new business mantra these days is about staying in the black. Gone are the days of customer satisfaction or delivering an amazing product that both company and consumer can stand behind. And, here-to-stay are the days of strictly counting the profits and losses – to a fault. Apple almost lost me as an advocate for their products, after thirty years of loving them, over nickels and dimes.

Heed this warning big companies: customer service and quality will make a come back. Especially, when people are spending less and expecting more. It's your jobs – as big companies – to provide quality and customer satisfaction. No more crap!

Customer satisfaction means that the company is holding themselves up the standards for which they have built their reputations. What is so wrong with that? It isn't going to change until you start demanding it.

Featured Artist: KIRK DEMARAIS

Kirk Demarais (top L), SecretFunSpot.com (bottom L) and one of his
cult family portraits 'The Torrances,' inspired by The Shining.

This month’s featured artist is a dude from Arkansas that I found online while searching for images for the story ‘Old Friends and Family: To call or not to call during the holidays.’ The art director in me said to search for a quirky family photo and some of Kirk Demarais illustrations popped up – really great color pencil images of cult movie families. I immediately took a liking to his vision and his style. So, I sent Kirk an email, asked if I could use his artwork in my story and if I could feature him and his work on L.A. Link – and he said yes.

As already mentioned, Kirk is from Arkansas and he grew up there. He is happliy married with a wife and daughter and loves the rural living Arkansas has to offer. Kirk is a freelance creative and the author of Life of the Party, a visual history of the S.S. Adams Prank and Magic company. He has spent most of his career producing animated greeting cards for Hallmark's inspirational subsidiary, DaySpring, but has also ventured to create artwork in several mediums.

He's developed a series of colored pencil portraits based on film families which has become a staple in the annual Crazy 4 Cult art show at L.A.'s Gallery 1988. He wrote and directed Flip, a short film which won the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award, and he co-directed Foot, an animated film distributed by FunKo, makers of Wacky Wobbler bobble heads.

In addition to writing for Monkey Goggles and neglecting SecretFunSpot.com, his retro culture web site, Kirk is currently creating more art and working on his second book which will be published by Insight Editions in 2011.

From January 7-9, 2011, Kirk will be particpating in an art show that pays tribute to comedians at Gallery 1988 on Melrose so be sure you mark your calendars and stop by to say hello. I’ll be there.

All in all, Kirk is an extremely creative and is a triple-threat when it comes to creating artwork – he can direct for video, print and web. I really dig Kirk’s artwork and his style. Please take a minute to visit Kirk’s website and check out his work at KirkDemarais.com.

Thank you Kirk for allowing us to feature you on L.A. Link!