Lately, many people who signed up to be on the "Sacramentans for Obama" email lists have received emails inviting them to come to events and sign petitions in favor of Sacramento's "Strong Mayor" petition. Kim Mack, one of the principal organizers of the "Strong Mayor" petition, is also involved with "Sacramentans for Obama." The directors of "Sacramentans for Obama" were apparently unaware of this misuse of their mailing list, and are investigating the matter. If Mack made unauthorized use of... William William Burg comment-2714 2009-01-26T00:55:59Z 2009-01-26T00:55:59Z "It would have be nice for the author of this article to reach out to all involved before coming to conclusions. Sacramento for Obama has not ever, nor will it ever, release their database to anyone without the persons permission." Nor has anyone accused "Sacramento for Obama" of releasing their mailing list. You're answering a question that hasn't been asked, Kim. The question is this: Where did "Sacramentans for Accountable Government" get its email list? Why did people who had signed up for the "Sacramentans for Obama" email list start receiving unsolicited email from SAG? If "Sacramentans for Obama" didn't willingly give out their email list, who stole the email list from them? For a group calling for more accountability, there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of accountability among the persons pushing the initiative. Who is bankrolling this initiative? How can they afford to pay so many signature gatherers so well? And why was there no public discussion of charter change before this initiative was rolled out, ready-packaged? William Burg 2009-01-26T00:55:59Z Anna Ludwig comment-2670 2009-01-24T01:45:21Z 2009-01-24T01:45:21Z I guess that's true. Technically. But KM didn't have to release it to anyone. SHE is Sacramento for Obama AND Sacramentans for Accountable Government. What is Sacramento for Obama's policy about using the database for non-obama issues??? Anna Ludwig 2009-01-24T01:45:21Z Ben Ilfeld comment-2700 2009-01-24T01:37:00Z 2009-01-24T01:37:00Z I do not mean to offend, but I have heard this story a few times now. How did you compile your email list? Why would people who never signed up for your email be getting the emails? Ben Ilfeld 2009-01-24T01:37:00Z Joel Rosenberg comment-2639 2009-01-24T01:35:28Z 2009-01-24T01:35:28Z How *did* Sacramentans for Accountable Government receive this info? Joel Rosenberg 2009-01-24T01:35:28Z Anna Ludwig comment-2669 2009-01-24T01:29:15Z 2009-01-24T01:29:15Z I just wanted to mention that it's been almost three weeks since I unsubscribed to the Sacramentans for Accountable Government email list, and I haven't received any further messages (I still receive my Obama mail). Full text of the original email: Dear ---, In November, you voted for change -- in our city and in our nation. Now the work begins -- right here in Sacramento -- to change our community into the world-class city it can be. Mark your calendar and join us on Monday, January 5th at 6:00 p.m. at the Grand (1215 J Street, downtown Sacramento, across from the Sheraton), when our new grassroots organization, Sacramentans for Accountable Government, will hold its first meeting. Mayor Kevin Johnson will be there. So please join us and be a part of our effort to bring a more responsive and accountable government to Sacramento. See you on Monday! Sincerely, Kim Mack & your friends at Sacramentans for Accountable Government P.S. -- Check out our new website, www.reformsacramento.com Click here to RSVP Click here to invite a friend This message was intended for: --- You were added to the system January 2, 2009. For more information click here. Update your preferences | Unsubscribe Anna Ludwig 2009-01-24T01:29:15Z Kim comment-2668 2009-01-23T21:27:53Z 2009-01-23T21:27:53Z It would have be nice for the author of this article to reach out to all involved before coming to conclusions. Sacramento for Obama has not ever, nor will it ever, release their database to anyone without the persons permission. Kim 2009-01-23T21:27:53Z William Burg comment-2248 2009-01-14T20:54:55Z 2009-01-14T20:54:55Z Mark: Yes, there are corrupt politicians, and political campaigners who use unethical tactics. But I see no reason to tolerate corruption and unethical behavior on the shaky assumption that "everyone else does it." William Burg 2009-01-14T20:54:55Z Mark Forsyth comment-2238 2009-01-14T09:13:59Z 2009-01-14T09:13:59Z A similar problem popped up with the YES on 8 campaign. I received several mailing with a large picture of Obama on the front of a mailer, but I never heard of Obama directly supporting this campaign. It's shady politics. Actually, couldn't I just say, "it's politics."? Seems to me most politics are pretty shady. Mark Forsyth 2009-01-14T09:13:59Z cheeselady comment-2237 2009-01-14T07:36:46Z 2009-01-14T07:36:46Z Last year before the Feb 5th primary I got an email from Marc Friedman endorsing KJ. I was pretty angry because I figured the only way they got my email address was through the national Obama website where I donated money. I sent a stern response and never got any KJ related emails again. As a big Obama supporter I am disturbed that this sharing of information is happening and saddened if the Obama HQ allowed it to happen. cheeselady 2009-01-14T07:36:46Z Hecka S. comment-2243 2009-01-13T22:20:45Z 2009-01-13T22:20:45Z The city clerk is Shirley Concolino. Address: 915 I st. 95814 Hecka S. 2009-01-13T22:20:45Z Hecka S. comment-2241 2009-01-13T22:18:17Z 2009-01-13T22:18:17Z I was tricked into signing the strong mayor petition, by someone who told me that it was to hold elections for the city budget administration. I don't like to sign petitions but this guy twisted my arm. I believe that the man then pretended I needed to sign two separate things just for that (no mention of the mayor was made), and in reality had me sign the strong mayor petition. If this has happened to you and you want your name taken off the petition, put it in writing and send it to the city clerk ASAP. Hecka S. 2009-01-13T22:18:17Z JoeThePublicServant comment-2227 2009-01-13T21:11:03Z 2009-01-13T21:11:03Z I have spoken with several persons who in recent weeks have been approached by people in front of the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op, the K Street Mall, and other locations who seem to be using Obama campaign materials, or even petitions for a women's shelter, to lure people to sign a petition. Once they sign the petition or "sign up", they are asked to sign ANOTHER petition for backing Johnson's strong mayor campaign. While it's not technically illegal to bundle petitions together like this, it just seems really backhanded and shady. Too bad that people have to use "tactics" like this to get petition signatures. JoeThePublicServant 2009-01-13T21:11:03Z Mark Forsyth comment-2192 2009-01-13T18:31:17Z 2009-01-13T18:31:17Z or at least speak out against these actions and take measures to reverse them. Mark Forsyth 2009-01-13T18:31:17Z William Burg comment-2224 2009-01-13T18:12:57Z 2009-01-13T18:12:57Z Sarah, that's an excellent question. I don't know if Johnson himself is aware of this, but perhaps he can provide us with an answer since he has an account on these forums. Certainly, if he is unaware of the tactics being used by his campaign and does not approve of them, he should certainly take steps to clean house. William Burg 2009-01-13T18:12:57Z Sarah Payne comment-2223 2009-01-13T17:37:22Z 2009-01-13T17:37:22Z I'm aware of that, and the point I was trying to make is that perhaps Kevin Johnson is not behind these campaign tactics. Has it been verified that he is? Perhaps certain advocates - like Kim Mack - are the ones coming up with and utilizing these strategies independently. Does Kevin Johnson himself endorse these strategies? Sarah Payne 2009-01-13T17:37:22Z William Burg comment-2187 2009-01-13T05:51:39Z 2009-01-13T05:51:39Z Sarah Payne: The "certain groups" you are referring to is the primary spokesperson for the initiative. William Burg 2009-01-13T05:51:39Z Sarah Payne comment-2186 2009-01-13T02:07:16Z 2009-01-13T02:07:16Z I'm asking this mostly out of curiosity - has it been verified that Kevin Johnson is directly behind these campaigning strategies? While I definitely don't agree with Kim Mack's tactics, I'm still hesitant to judge Kevin Johnson and his initiative based on the way certain groups are campaigning for it. Sarah Payne 2009-01-13T02:07:16Z bldrbuz comment-2182 2009-01-13T00:24:29Z 2009-01-13T00:24:29Z I completely agree with klenox. I have also received emails from people who have been told that when they sign the petition they are signing for more accountable government and/or an independent audit of the city finances. They are not told that it is the "strong Mayor" petition. I would advise people to call their city council member and complain that they have not heard enough debate on the merits of this change to the city charter, before being asked to sign petitions. I also believe that people are not aware of the cost to the city for this special election. And, I think that Sacramentans should be suspicious as to who exactly is paying the cost for collecting the signatures to put this on the ballot. How will they benefit from the changes in the city charter? It may well be that special interest groups will benefit immensely, while the average citizen will not, and may in fact, be harmed by the changes. bldrbuz 2009-01-13T00:24:29Z Anna Ludwig comment-2176 2009-01-13T00:01:44Z 2009-01-13T00:01:44Z Hey, I got that email from Kim Mack - Sacramentans for Accountable Government and I was not happy. A link on the email (I think it was "edit preferences") showed they had my name, phone number, and email address, and that they got it from "Friends of Obama." I attempted to complain about it on the Obama website, but their contact page now pushes to change.gov. I went so far as to try to change my privacy settings on that website, but couldn't find the option. The privacy policy itself only mentions third parties in reference to pixel tags (for tracking use/receipt of web pages and emails). "These files enable us or these third parties to recognize a unique cookie on your Web browser, which in turn enables us to learn which advertisements bring users to our website and to deliver advertising targeted to your interests. The information that is collected and shared using these pixel tags and similar technology is anonymous and not personally identifiable." "We configure our list server software to refuse to divulge the email addresses of our list subscribers to anyone other than those whom we authorize." Evidently they authorized Kim Mack to use my email address... Questionable. Anna Ludwig 2009-01-13T00:01:44Z klenox comment-2181 2009-01-12T23:52:20Z 2009-01-12T23:52:20Z This reminds me of when SCUSD gave St. HOPE contact info for all the students at Sacramento High. They tried to justify it saying the district was allowed to release private info to selected non-profits. Many parents who were against the takeover were deeply angry at the violation of their privacy and the unwanted PR missives from St. HOPE. Kevin Johnson is the common denominator. klenox 2009-01-12T23:52:20Z