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Hopefully they will find a better location for both City Hall & the Main Library, and will put them in the same location to cut down on land expenses (as well as building, security, etc). Maybe then they can return Lincoln Park to its official function - as a park. Put a few levels of parking underneath it and return the park to street level and its former glory. Voila.
Could you please tell me what you know about the "layoffs and cutbacks to employee benefits" at the Queen Mary? I had been offered a job there, however, they never ended up informing me of the benefits and wouldn't let me talk to H.R. about them. I found that rather odd and became suspicious if benefits were even going to be offered. Do you work there? Do you know what the benefits are? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
CC
To your readers that inquired as to status of Queen Mary employee situation - No cutbacks to employee benefits at all. Human Resources has open door policy all the time and is more than happy to answer questions regarding benefits to a potential or existing employee. Minimal layoffs were early on in the process of the transition - not current. We continue to receive nothing but compliments in terms of the current operation of the ship/hotel. We were sold out for July 4th and as you may have noted have hired noted historic expert, John Thomas to help oversee the historic renovation of the ship. We look forward to working with the community and local officials towards a successful development that everyone can be proud of.
I have been informed that there has been cutbacks to employee benefits at The Queen Mary by both existing and non existing employees, etc. Also, some of the managers there are NOT ALLOWING people to contact Human Resources regarding benefits. I think Hostmark Hospitality should be made aware of this inappropriate, unprofessional behavior. Also, when talking with people regarding The Queen Mary, I've been asked, "Oh, your not working in Food & Beverage are you?" Hmmm, I wonder what they mean by that? I've heard only very negative things about The Queen Mary lately.
The Queen Mary is a dirty, smelly, rotting bucket and the only good thing about is its staff. I made some amazing friendships here and learned multiple life lessons.
If the Hotel Staff refuses to spend the night at it's own property, please take this as a sign. The beds are in bad shape (they feel like hammacs) and the walls are paper thin. How thin, you ask? I remember walking down one of the hotel hallways one day and hearing people fornicating like rabbits two doors down. I remember assisting a lady guest who couldn't work their AC and could totally hear their neighbor's TV inside her room.
Their tour is waaaay too short, too restricted and too expensive. I remember getting more complaints about this than anything else. How retarded is that? You're spending $200 to sleep in a broom closet and you're complaining about a $10 tour! Whatever.
There are soooo many things that need to be repaired there. It's hard to find anything in working order...God, how depressing! I'm gonna stop typing because I'm starting to get pissed off.
1. The suite we had reserved was unavailable.
2. the toothless meth-head behind the counter asked if we were "talking sh!t" to him. (eww.)
3. Rocky Horror Picture Show kids wandering the hall all hours of the night.
4. Woke up to "DROP THE WEAPON!!!" at 4 am. There was a knife fight outside our bedroom door.
Unsafe. Unclean. Uncool.
The Queen Mary is an old boat. It's kinda a sad old boat. It's got some great stories. But I don't honestly think the MANAGEMENT has done a very good job of respecting this Queen. Some of the furniture, carpeting, and other dressings aren't very respectful of the period. In fact, they're downright cheap and at the very least unpleasant to the eye. And most of the staff we encountered were UNPROFESSIONAL, grumpy, or just as sad as the boat.
Would you care to comment on the ongoing litigation regarding Save the Queen? Also, is there any particular reason why, after nearly one year of owning the lease, Save the Queen has yet to propose any sort of project that may be developed on the property? Furthremore, has Hostmark begain any financial allocations for the alleged $6 million in repairs for the ship? I assume STQ will be taking rent credits for whatever repairs are done on the Queen Mary. Will the organization submit to a city audit, and provide legitimate financial proof of such repairs?
It's still wonderful to sit in the Observation Lounge and imagine what well heeled souls once cavorted there, but one must have a STRONG imagnination. The bar menu now consists of "potato skins" and "nachos". What an insult to such a grand lady. No longer do they serve high tea anywhere on the ship and several of the historic spaces have been converted to more modern uses. The new "grille" looked like a 70's reject Denny's in barfy teal green and pinks (not at all appropriate to the ship nor appetizing), and there is now a tacky Vegas-style wedding chapel for trashy unions.
I'm glad she has been saved for posterity. It's just a crying shame that she's been dumbed down and turned into a sad relic through neglect and mismanagement. I think I'll save my childhood memories of her close to my heart and not return again. Sometimes it's best to remember than to experience the gross reality.
In the case of the Queen Mary, he'd probably say, "you are what you float on" --which is a dank, dark pool of human refuse blockaded by a circular breakwater. It speaks volumes really for how the place is run.
Dan Gross, the founder of Dive Corr Inc. and the man responsible for doing most of the Port of Long Beach's underwater structural inventory, has been brave enough to scuba dive under the Queen.
He told me in an interview last year that, even though the Queen isn't supposed to dump its human waste in the water, the moat that's surrounding her wide sides is "the most polluted water in Long Beach." And by polluted, he means 'full of shit!'
You are what you stand on...
And how much have they lost in the process?
How much has it cost the taxpayers?
That city has learned the hard way, the the best days for a boat owner are, they day they buy it.
And the day they sell it.
Hey, it's not their money. it's the taxpayers dough their spending. Same with the current scheme, The Aquarium.