Mayor Kevin Johnson said the city’s order to halt construction work at the plant Nestlé plans to use for a water-bottling operation is bad for business in Sacramento. Johnson has praised the jobs that Nestlé will bring to Sacramento, while Councilman Kevin McCarty opposes the plant's plan to bottle and sell water from the American River. Councilwoman Lauren Hammond has also raised concerns about Nestlé's plans. The city’s Community Development Department placed a stop-work order on Friday on... KathleenHaley fifthgensacramentan 2009-10-29T15:29:57Z 2009-10-29T15:29:57Z

I just came across this tid bit Revolving door: One of the Mayor's top advisors goes to work for Nestle SNR 10.28.09 by Cosmo Gavin "Michelle Smira, one of Kevin Johnson’s top volunteer advisors, is leaving city hall, and going to work as a consultant for Nestle." "She told SN&R that she’s giving up her role as an official volunteer advisor to the mayor in order to work on Johnson’s strong mayor initiative. She also said that she was not leaving her City Hall role because of any legal conflict of interest, but because she would not otherwise have time to run her public relations business, MMS Strategies. " Read it all at: http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/snog/blogs

fifthgensacramentan 2009-10-29T15:29:57Z StevieGee 2009-10-28T15:15:46Z 2009-10-28T15:15:46Z

It's a shame that this project wasn't vetted by public discourse BEFORE it was started. Make a backroom deal, push it through under the radar, screw the people. That's the KJ MO. Once again our Mayor has sold the people of this city down the muddy ditch that used to be a river. Stop the power grab.

StevieGee 2009-10-28T15:15:46Z Rhonda Erwin 2009-10-28T04:15:14Z 2009-10-28T04:15:14Z

well said natomasnighthawk "The problem with the business climate in Sacramento is not the rules, it is the unpredictable and oft contradictory Mayor"

Rhonda Erwin 2009-10-28T04:15:14Z natomasnighthawk 2009-10-28T03:26:19Z 2009-10-28T03:26:19Z

July, 2009 Mayor Johnson promotes the Nestle plant as great for Sacramento October, 2009 Mayor Johnson's strong mayor website and blog says the Mayor and his staff did not get to review the proposal or ensure a public, transparent and accountable process because we don't have a strong mayor system. Soooooooo, the Mayor had not seen (nor anlalyzed the costs and benefits of) the proposal but supported it in July? Hmmmm. The problem with the business climate in Sacramento is not the rules, it is the unpredictable and oft contradictory Mayor

natomasnighthawk 2009-10-28T03:26:19Z Marion Millin 2009-10-28T01:05:28Z 2009-10-28T01:05:28Z

William, that's what Johnson means by "a city that’s friendly to business,” and “a business climate that makes sense." A business climate that makes cents and dollars, by sidestepping the public permitting process. Kevin Johnson didn't bring that climate of cronyism and corruption -- he's in office because of, and working to perpetuate it. But Kevin, what part of WE PROTECT OUR RIVERS don't you understand?

Marion Millin 2009-10-28T01:05:28Z Rhonda Erwin 2009-10-27T23:17:07Z 2009-10-27T23:17:07Z

Not surprise the Mayor feels , " the city’s order to halt construction work at the plant Nestlé plans to use for a water-bottling operation is bad for business in Sacramento.". Mayor Johnson does tend to have a way of business by any means necessary including going behind the backs of counsel, the public process, dirty tricks... I can't say I'm surprised the Mayor has no problem with people not following the rules or under-handed tactics... And Mayor Johnson- who builds a moat-- restricting him from the general public-- around his kingdom with special assistants, spokespersons... writes of accountability-- yeah right in the spirit of halloween I'd say our mayor has no problem with --TRICKS FOR TREATS - overlooking the fact some of the treats can contain poison/ not be good for us. And perhaps the mayor would have known of the plans to stop the process IF his special assistants, volunteers, spokesperson's spent more time on looking into city business, permits... verses spreading propaganda on news sites... and if the Mayor spent more time on Sacramento business verses traveling to 13 cities.... learning of a SMP.....

Rhonda Erwin 2009-10-27T23:17:07Z Jim Knapp 2009-10-27T22:49:41Z 2009-10-27T22:49:41Z

The rumor I hear from City staffers is that it was not just Bill Thomas' doing.. from what I heard Tretheway knew about the illegal permits and approved of them. More on this issue coming soon.

Jim Knapp 2009-10-27T22:49:41Z John Schmidt 2009-10-27T21:58:09Z 2009-10-27T21:58:09Z

Thanks, Suzanne!

John Schmidt 2009-10-27T21:58:09Z William Burg 2009-10-27T21:45:58Z 2009-10-27T21:45:58Z

I am wondering how many other permits, work orders and other projects Bill Thomas may have "facilitated" like this one, or the Natomas/K. Hovanian permits. The CDD's motto is "Get the customer to success" and Thomas was always very eager to live up to that motto...by any means necessary.

William Burg 2009-10-27T21:45:58Z Suzanne Hurt 2009-10-27T21:00:31Z 2009-10-27T21:00:31Z

The city has just released a copy of the supplemental agenda item concerning the water-bottling ordinance. The item, which includes a staff report and the council's options regarding the ordinance, can be found here: http://sacramento.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=8&event_id=94&meta_id=186263

Suzanne Hurt 2009-10-27T21:00:31Z