"The information of the people at large can alone make them the safe as they are the sole depositary of our political and religious freedom." --Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 1810. ME 12:417

"There is no pain you are receding, A distant ship's smoke on the horizon, You are only coming through in waves, Your lips move, But I can't hear what you're saying" -- Pink Floyd

When I moved back to Sacramento -- which so many hometowners do, as we are acclimated to the diversity, the sense of place and continuity, the perfect climate, the confluence of rivers, highways, dreams and history -- I took my childhood friend to an epic concert at Hughes Stadium on the Sacramento City College campus.

She was always the bigger Floyd fan. It was easy to be ambivalent -- in our youth, their music was everywhere, any way, any time.

It ranks among the best concerts I've ever been to, for artistry and showmanship; made more amazing by how perfectly balanced and clean the sound system was, in that vintage, modern day amphitheater.

I'm reminded of that show by one of their songs today, because we, have become, comfortably numb.

It may be unfair to point a finger at Sacramento Press. We have other venues for journalistic investigation. The Bee -- still there, propped on its laurels of getting Kevin Johnson anointed Mayor; Sacramento News & Review, primarily an entertainment weekly with dedicated community service aspects; Midtown Monthly, still finding its sea legs and consistently improving and SacPress with another take on the meeting ground between traditional journalism and social networking. (Don't know what to say about televised local media: choose your favorite weather guru and least annoying anchors ...)

Where though, is our investigative journalism? Who -- if anyone -- is connecting the dots? Sacramento has major changes happening, major scandals, minimized yet significant investigations of public officials and a remarkable near dead silence when it comes to press coverage.

Sacramento's former City Manager is under investigation. His soul mate from Portland was also under investigation and on administrative leave. When the just-barely-vested-so-taxpayers-will-be-paying-his-retirement Ray Kerridge retired, an Assistant City Manager was selected to serve in the interim, while seeking a replacement. The interim City Manager's first act in office was to tell the lounging-at-home-on-the-public-dime Development Services Director to quit or be fired.

Kerridge retired to Spend More Time With The Public Sector. Next thing ya know, he's hired as the City Manager of Roseville.
Development Services Department has a new name and new restructuring. Has the question yet been answered, about whether the upcoming city audit will include the previous management and directorial (retired/fired, under investigation) history of Ray Kerridge and Bill Thomas?

Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to develop land that has an overabundance of water and -- when that is discontinued -- then flip flop development to land that has no water at all.

Rumors of fresh breezes blowing in the City of Sacramento blossom in the spring sunshine. Businesses, neighborhood associations and city officials are meeting to sort out years of city management lawlessness and poor planning that have turned the residential central city into a spring break theme park.

Is it the times we're in or the unrepentant influence of developers, that prevents our media from connecting the dots for us? How does this reality affect our upcoming election?

Oh, by the way: which one's Pink?

Comfortably Numb
Songwriters: Waters, Roger; Gilmour, David Jon

Hello,
Is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can hear me
Is there anyone home?

Come on
Now
I hear you're feeling down
I can ease your pain
Get you on your feet again

Relax
I'll need some information first
Just the basic facts
Can you show me where it hurts?

There is no pain you are receding
A distant ship's smoke on the horizon
You are only coming through in waves
Your lips move
But I can't hear what you're saying

When I was a child I had a fever
My hands felt just like
Two balloons
Now I've got that feeling once again
I can't explain
You would not understand
This is not how I am

I... Have become comfortably numb

O.K.
Just a little pin prick
There'll be no more aaaaaaaah!
But you may feel a little sick

Can you stand up?
I do believe it's working
Good
That'll keep you going through the show
Come on
It's time to go

There is no pain you are receding
A distant ship's smoke on the horizon
You are only coming through in waves
Your lips move
But I can't hear what you're saying

When I was a child
I caught a fleeting glimpse
Out of the corner of my eye

I turned to look but it was gone
I cannot put my finger on it now
The child is grown
The dream is gone
I... Have become comfortably numb