Curated Front Page content on The Sacramento Press

Taxi ordinance to be tweaked

2012-02-22T09:12:09Z

The Sacramento City Council will look to further regulate the city’s taxi fleet, allowing police officers to cite taxis that park in metered spots and require cabs to have the city’s 3-1-1 number on them to moderate complaints against the service.

City Councilman Jay Schenirer said Tuesday before the council meeting that the ordinance amendment – which will likely be passed by the council in the next few weeks – is just to iron out the kinks and clarify the existing taxi ordinance.

“If everybody knows the rules, it makes it easier for everyone to play by them, and the overall service will improve,” Schenirer said.

The issue was on the agenda at Tuesday’s meeting as a routine step to publish the ordinance before it comes to the council for final approval.

According to the staff report for Tuesday’s City Council meeting, the change is in response to residents’ complaints about some aspects of the city’s taxi fleet.

If passed, residents can call the city’s 3-1-1 information line in the future for all complaints about the taxis.

An ordinance passed in October 2010 made it illegal for taxis to park in metered spots, according to the staff report, but there was no mechanism for enforcement. The change that will come to the council for review allows officers to cite taxi drivers parking in metered spots.

Fred Pleines, president of Yellow Cab Company of Sacramento, said Tuesday that there used to be a significant problem with some taxis using metered spots to turn a two-cab taxi queue into as many as 15 cabs in a queue.

“They were parking in the metered spots, and some of those cabs would be two or three blocks away,” he said. “Consequently, you didn’t have parking for those businesses. Also, the drivers wouldn’t pay for parking unless they saw the meter maid coming, so the city was losing revenue.”

Pleines said his concern with having the ordinance prohibiting parking in metered spaces is lack of enforcement, but he isn’t sure if the current change will be enough.

“It’s not quite the way I would address it,” he said. “I would require cab companies to have radio dispatching – actual offices where people are answering phones and taking requests and dispatching cabs – the meter queueing would disappear.”

That requirement has previously been discussed by the City Council Law and Legislation Committee, but it has not been put into effect, and it was met with criticism from cab drivers who say the expense of setting up such a center would cripple their business.

When it comes to the current ordinance amendment’s requirement to include the city’s 3-1-1 informational number on all cabs, Pleines said he isn’t happy about it, but he understands it.

“I like taking complaints, because I handle each complaint. If a driver cheats you and charges you $20 for a $5 fare, that’s taken care of because your call comes to my dispatch center,” he said.

For some companies, he added, the calls would simply go to the driver who cheated the passenger, which doesn’t help resolve the issue.

“That’s why it’s being taken to the extreme,” he said. “It wasn’t always being handled in a businesslike manner.”

Gina Knepp, manager of the city’s 3-1-1 service, said Tuesday that there have sometimes been complaints about taxis coming in to 3-1-1, but she doesn’t expect the call volume to increase markedly.

“In the past, there have been complaints about taxis from business owners about cabs competing for certain corners, and some people have complained that they charge too much,” she said. “I could be wrong, but I don’t think the number of calls will go up very much.

She added that there were some complaints about that on the corner of 10th and J streets, where The Citizen Hotel faces Cesar Chavez Plaza.

Knepp said residents don’t need to call 3-1-1, but can email 311@cityofsacramento.org, and all emails are attended to in 24 hours.

Schenirer said he does not expect any opposition to the ordinance change from City Council members.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

City bid for Olympics: Arena will be factor

2012-02-22T09:12:09Z

As Sacramento prepares to bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympic games, having the right venues on offer – such as a new entertainment and sports complex – will be a key factor to a successful bid.

Representatives from the California Winter Games Committee reported to the City Council Tuesday about progress the committee is making to join the bidding process to become a host city.

The committee is a volunteer group composed of both state and local civic, business and labor leaders and is working in conjunction with a similar committee from the Lake Tahoe area.

Jake Mossawir, chief financial officer for the CWGC, said the group has been polling residents, researching historical data and reviewing similar bid process efforts to raise awareness about the prospect of hosting the Winter Games in this region.

One of the key pieces of information the committee considered, Mossawir said, was an assessment of local venues – including the possibility of a new entertainment and sports complex located at the downtown railyards.

“The benefits of a future Winter Games would be more fully realized with an entertainment and sports complex – one that supports the major ice sports – namely ice hockey and figure skating,” Mossawir said Tuesday.

“It’s a huge undertaking,” City Councilman Rob Fong said Tuesday. “I think everyone on the Nevada side understands that the only way for this to work is to be a California-Nevada joint effort.”

If the Lake Tahoe/Sacramento bid is successful, it will be the first time the Winter Games have been to the Sierras since 1960 in Squaw Valley – and the first time they have been in the United States since 2002 in Salt Lake City.

Jim Rinehart, economic development director, told council members that the employment impact of a future Winter Games in the region would be significant.

Some local industries that would see the greatest benefit from a Winter Games include arts and entertainment, recreation and retail trades, Rinehart said.

But, by far, food and accommodations – comprising a large number of workers in the travel and tourism industry – is expected to benefit the most with more than 106,000 jobs, he added.

Overall, Rinehart said, more than 170,000 full-time jobs could be created between 2017 and 2027 – the time period before, during and after the games.

Rinehart said competing cities vying for the games work many years before a selection is made, and “much work” would be necessary to make this region ready for the games.

“We don’t have many mountains here in Sacramento,” Fong said, “so we aren’t likely going to host downhill (ski) races. But, we could certainly host a number of (ice) rink events if we have the facilities for them.”

Fong said that, as the City Council considers the design of a new entertainment and sports complex, the prospect of making the facility usable for Olympic events should definitely be part of the plan.

“We need to have the associated services around the facility, too,” he added. “(The games) would be something big for the region.”

Mossawir said that projects under way at the railyards and the River District would be boosted by the city serving as a central hub for the games.

The region would still benefit from hosting the Olympics without a major venue in the city, Mossawir said, but it would be much less.

“It (is) a question of whether or not we want to be a stop on the way to the games or if we want to be a destination city that houses major Olympic contests,” he said.

Both the California Winter Games Committee and its sister committee in Nevada are working together with the goal of hosting the games in California with Lake Tahoe as the hub, bringing a region-wide benefit, according to a June 2011 press release.

The group has until the end of the year to make its final pitch to the U.S. Olympic Committee, which will make its selection from among all the American city contenders to send to the International Olympic Committee.

The IOC will select a final bid by 2015 – the same year the proposed entertainment and sports complex would be completed if plans are finalized by the City Council.

Denver and Salt Lake City are the other cities in the western region vying for the United States’ nomination bid.

The U.S. bid for the 2012 Games in New York was lost to London, and the bid for the 2016 Games in Chicago was lost to Rio de Janeiro.

Mossawir said the California Winter Games Committee will release in-depth viability reports in the next few weeks, followed by another update report to the City Council.

Melissa Corker is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @MelissaCorker.

Arena progress

2012-02-22T09:12:09Z

Mayor Kevin Johnson emphasized on the need for a completed term sheet and signs of commitment from interested companies in order to finish the new arena project in 2015.

Johnson gave a progress report on the plans to build this new arena in Sacramento at Tuesday’s weekly press conference. Johnson said that there were many questions still in the air that were being discussed even as he stood in City Hall, mainly questions on what companies will contribute to the arena project, and how.

Johnson said that his hope is that by Feb. 28, all stakeholders involved will be in agreement on a term sheet that outlines all financial areas of the project – a sort of rough draft for the budgeting plans of the arena. The reason this term sheet must be put together so soon is so it can be presented to the NBA for review on March 1.

From there, the remaining 10 companies interested in leasing the city’s parking system should state their intended part in the term sheet and whether they find said terms acceptable.

Johnson said that, at this point, the term sheet and parking companies’ responses are the two most critical components.

In order to complete the arena by 2015, Johnson said design work must begin within 30 days. Johnson said that a downtown venue like this would increase the city’s chances for hosting events like The Winter Olympics, and could also help revitalize the downtown area and bring in additional revenue.

“We need to get the T’s crossed and I’s dotted in the next few weeks,” Johnson said. “If we don’t, we’re not going to make the 2015 deadline.”

One piece of the jigsaw puzzle that the term sheet must place is the Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), the current king of sports teams and entertainment venues ownership. According to Johnson, AEG is going to play a critical role in the financial investment of the arena, but what’s uncertain is how much of a role. Even now, Johnson said, it’s still too early to say that they’ve officially signed on to the project.

“We know they’re going to be in as an operator,” Johnson said. “We’re still negotiating what equity investment level they’ll participate in.”

There have been rumors that the Maloof family won’t be able to afford to remain owners of the team and be strong tenants of the arena. Johnson said that the NBA has been negotiating on the behalf of the Maloof family, and no one has given him the impression that they’d be unable to support the team financially.

Johnson said that it has always been “scenario one” for him that the Maloofs remain the owners and that the team remains in Sacramento.

“I think what the public needs to understand is they’ve never missed a loan payment in terms of Sacramento,” Johnson said. “They’ve honored their financial obligation in Sacramento, and I don’t have any knowledge of anything different.”

Another concern is whether the City Council will agree to the term sheet once presented, though Johnson said the majority of the council has remained positive toward the project. Johnson said that he thinks if the council is assured that parking rates and jobs are protected, then the council shouldn’t be an obstacle to the project.

“I think the goal on the 28th is to try to address all of those questions in a way that council would feel good about and satisfied with,” Johnson said.

Finally, there’s the question of whether the NBA will accept the presented term sheet. The term sheet may have to fine-tuned for the NBA to accept it, if not completely rewritten. Johnson said that he believes that leasing the city’s parking has been a big “game-changer” in getting the NBA to side with the city and close the deal at acceptable terms for both sides.

“If we do our part, then it forces the NBA and the Kings to do their part, as long as you create a win-win and a fair situation,” Johnson said. “At the end of the day, all that we can control though is ultimately our part.”

Despite these loose ends, unanswered questions and the approach of the deadline, Johnson said that he remains confident that building will begin on time and that the current level of progress is admirable.

“I’m just proud that even though there’s a lot of moving parts, I think the city is really doing its part to deliver and bring forward a fair deal for everyone involved,” Johnson said.

Johnson added that he will meet with NBA Commissioner David Stern over the weekend.

“That’ll be a chance to build on the positive conversations that we’ve had to date,” Johnson said, “to sit down face to face and hopefully get us across the finish line.”

The biggies of Beer Week

2012-02-22T09:12:09Z

The third annual Sacramento Beer Week (SBW) is nearing, and the week will start off with a bigger bang than ever. Friday marks the official start of SBW and already Saturday, beer enthusiasts from all around will gather for the Sacramento Brewers Showcase and the Capital Beerfest at Cal Expo.

The Brewer’s Showcase, previously held at the Crocker, will be held at the Cal Expo Pavilion this year and will begin at noon on Saturday, Feb. 25. Tickets are $20, or $55 when paired with the Capital Beerfest. The Beerfest, also located at Cal Expo, will begin at 3 p.m. and will feature over 80 breweries. Tickets can be purchased online or at various businesses in Sacramento, at Samuel Horne’s in Folsom or at Perfecto Lounge in Roseville.

The cream of the crop in terms of beer festivals may well be “The Art of Beer: A Celebration of California Craft Beer and Fine Art.” The event will take place this Thursday, Feb. 23 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Sacramento Grand Ballroom and will feature 20 great breweries from around the state. General admission is $40.

Proceeds from the Art of Beer event will go to the University of California, Davis M.I.N.D. Institute. Sponsors include the California Craft Brewers Association, Bokeh Box Media, Eben Weisberg and the Northern California Brewers Guild. For those considered to be VIP, ($100 will make you one), the event begins at 5 p.m.

Not to be forgotten are the mini beerfests hosted by local businesses throughout the week. The Tentfest and Pig Roast, hosted by Dad’s Kitchen, is one such example. This Monday will be like none other. The Davis Beer Shoppe will be holding a beer and cheese pairing event that will feature Berryessa Brewing Co. brews. Shackfest is yet another fabulous event for which you will want to get a ticket.

Come beer week, dozens of local and regional establishments pull out all the stops to bring you the best they’ve got. With more than 300 hundred events and counting, it can be difficult to navigate your way through the week, especially with so many craft brews that now nudge up to 10 percent ABV - and higher!

Should you stay close to home and remain a loyal local at your favorite bar, or should you try something new at River Rock Tap House or even make the trip to Davis to visit The Graduate or the fairly new and always at capacity, Davis Beer Shoppe. (Yes, SBW is for more than just Sacramento). Should you go for broke on the hops or drink a little Belgian goodness at The Shack or Pangaea Two Brews Cafe?

Sacramento Beer Week officially spans from Friday, Feb. 24 through Sunday, March 4. Before SBW really gets started, take a moment to check out all that the celebration has to offer. Use the Beer Week’s stellar tag system to search your favorite places or varieties and styles of beer. Click Cask Ales if you are interested in something rich, dark and aged with the sweet touch of a cab, merlot, brandy or bourbon barrel. Check out IPA’s and DIPA’s for more than a little bit of hoppiness, and still others might investigate Ciders or Sour Beers. You can also search by venue or location. Once the week gets going, you can use the website, clearly organized by day, to find out what happy hours, beer dinners and late night specials they have to offer.

If you’ve done the bar circuit, don’t forget to stop at the many brewpubs and microbreweries that have popped up in and around Sacramento in the last 25 years. Rubicon, who will celebrate their 25th anniversary this year and Sudwerk of Davis, where a stein holding competition will be held on Sunday, are not to be forgotten. Hoppy Brewing and River City Brewing Company will both also have special events for the weeklong celebration of craft beer ingenuity.

New this year is Ruhstaller, under the direction of Brewmaster Peter Hoey, which is so popular they’ve been known to run out before the next batch is done fermenting! Just where exactly is Ruhstaller beer brewed, anyway? Track 7, located in Curtis Park, had over a thousand people at their grand opening on Dec. 31. Berryessa Brewing Co. is another newbie, located in Winters, that is playing a role in more than a dozen events this beer week. Make sure to try their Disorderly Strong Ale. Other new developments include Black Dragon Brewery of Woodland and American River Brewing of Rancho Cordova.

The craft beer industry has been excelling. Some of the pioneering moments of the industry happened in California and still today, brewers young and old are finding new ways to experiment with hops, malt and yeasts of all varieties. Before you even step foot out of your house, take a look at Beer 101 on the Sacramento Beer Week website and learn a little about the art of brewing.

As always, the organizers and participating businesses of Sacramento Beer Week encourage safe and responsible consumption. All beer festivals include ticket options for as little as $5 for designated drivers. In addition, Capital Beerfest attendees can take buses from the R/30 light rail station in Midtown to and from the event at Cal Expo. Buses will utilize 29th and 30th streets. Take it from one who knows, the bus ride home can be one of the very best parts of the day (School bus + beer tasting = new friends). Try it!

To wrap up a week of incredible, beer-based events, take in the Sacramento Beer & Chili Festival on Saturday, March 3 at 12 p.m. at the Southside Park Amphitheater. Buy a ticket for the chili, or buy a ticket for the beer and partake in both for four hours of good food and fun all to benefit the Sacramento Artists Council, Inc. Presale prices are $15.75 for chili only and $35.50 for both chili and beer, $20/$40 at the door. The event is organized with the help of Dad’s Kitchen and the Sacramento Press.

Featured Photo

2012-02-22T09:12:09Z

Beer and chili festival to benefit young artists

2012-02-22T09:12:09Z

Sacramento Beer Week kicks off Friday with more than 300 events to celebrate the region’s diverse beer industry. Events include beer tastings, pub crawls and food pairings over 10 days at breweries, bars and restaurants throughout Sacramento Valley.

The Sacramento Artists Council, in partnership with Dad’s Kitchen and The Sacramento Press, will host Sacramento’s first Beer and Chili Festival on March 3 from noon - 4 p.m. at Southside Park.

Attendees will receive a 5-ounce beer mug for unlimited tastes from 18 breweries from around Sacramento and the state, as well as a cup for chili tastings from several participants in the chili cook-off. Participants are encouraged to make vegetarian and meat varieties of chili.

Contestants can sign up to participate until the day before the event in one of three categories – individual, corporate or industry. One winner will be selected from each category, with a trophy and gift certificates for the winners of the individual and corporate entries. The industry winner will receive a traveling trophy to be displayed in its business for one year.

The identities of the judges will not be revealed until the day of the event, in order to protect the integrity of the competition, said Susan Rabinovitz, founder and executive director of the Sacramento Artists Council.

The criteria for the winning recipes are aesthetics, aroma, texture and taste.

Among the breweries that will be pouring are Ruhstaller, Sudwerk, Sutter Buttes Brewing and New Helvetia Brewing Company.

Julio Peix, event organizer and co-owner of Dad’s Kitchen, said there has never been a chili cook-off in Sacramento, and he anticipates this will become an annual event.

“Sacramento seems like the perfect place to do this,” Peix said. “It’s a great way to showcase Sacramento, and it’s just going to get bigger and bigger.”

In addition to beer and chili, attendees can expect live music from local musicians including As Yet Untitled, assorted food vendors and a kid-friendly environment, Peix said.

The children's area will include a craft area where kids can create paper bag puppets and paint.

The event will raise money for high-risk and homeless youth through programs that provide art therapy and exposure to job skills, Rabinovitz said.

Rabinovitz said she hopes to raise $35,000 at the event, and the funds will also be used to purchase new shoes for kids, and for programs like “Staging a Miracle” that provide art and music education to local children.

Artist Gina Rossi will be at the event to create a metal sculpture with the help of Sacramento youth to showcase one of many programs that will benefit. Rossi also designed the trophies for the winners.

“She is illustrating everything the Sacramento Artists Council does in her work with high-risk teens or homeless kids,” Rabinovitz said. “(Rossi) gives them a sense of accomplishment, a sense of community, of art, in a team environment.”

Peix said the Sacramento Artists Council was selected as the beneficiary because he likes what it is doing with kids.

“Look at the schools – art and sports are the first things they are cutting,” he said.

Peix said culinary offerings will include chicken legs cooked in a smoker, beef brisket and potato salad, all at an affordable price – something that was very important to him.

“Give people a good experience and they’ll come back,” Peix said,

Tickets are available here. Beer and chili tastings are $36.50 pre-sale, or $40 at the door. Chili tastings alone are $15.75 pre-sale, or $20 at the door. Tickets for children age 12 and younger are free.

Featured Comment

2012-02-21T18:06:27Z

...my point is that there is a difference in level of talent, skill and excitement in major league sports compared to professional minor league sports... I didn't see these things as a result of having a lot of disposable income...

Marijuana advocates push for ballot initiative

2012-02-21T13:59:01Z

Signature gathering began this month for a new ballot initiative aimed at allowing medical marijuana dispensaries to operate in Sacramento despite a recent ban on cannabis-related operations in the county.

The “Patient Access to Regulated Medical Cannabis Act of 2012” is the product of the newly established Committee for Safe Patient Access to Regulated Cannabis (CSPARC), organized by local medical marijuana industry advocate Mickey Martin.

“In December when the Board of Supervisors passed the back-door ban on medical marijuana, there were a lot of people (who felt that) what they were passing was just bad policy,” Martin said Monday.

“(The policy) just doesn’t address the issue,” Martin added.

Martin said the problem is that medical marijuana operations are not well-regulated and banning them outright “doesn’t make them disappear,” it just pushes them out of sight and makes it unnecessarily harder for people to get to.

Martin compiled the initiative with local medical cannabis patients and providers, he said. The legal language was written by local attorney James Clark and filed with the County Office of Elections in late January.

“(The measure) went through 15 drafts with a lot of feedback along the way,” Martin said. “I think we’ve come up with a plan that meets state law and will satisfy a lot of the issues that have come up in the past.”

Those issues, Martin said, included the large number of dispensaries that cropped up within the county and the proximity of those operations to schools, playgrounds and residential neighborhoods.

David Spradlin, former director of Magnolia Wellness – a medical marijuana collective – and founder of a community services organization called Orangevale Beautiful, said in a press release Friday that the county has failed to provide “meaningful guidance” on how patients should get their medicine.

Spradlin said one of the purposes of Proposition 215 was to encourage governments to implement a plan to provide for safe and affordable distribution of medical marijuana to patients.

Instead, Spradlin said, the county has “opted out of following state law” by banning dispensary operations.

“When Magnolia Wellness was forced to close, tens of thousands of local patients who depended on us for medicine were displaced,” Spradlin said. “Dispensaries provide a safe place for patients who are unable to, or not interested in, growing cannabis to get a variety of quality medicine in a caring environment.”

The proposed Patient Access Act includes provisions for limiting the number of dispensaries in the unincorporated areas of the county, sets a tax rate of 4 percent on all cannabis sales and restricts the minimum distance between any cannabis operation and “sensitive use” areas, such as schools and residences, to more than 1,000 feet.

“We think that federal interference has been less in areas that have regulated programs in place and more controls,” Martin said.

According to information from the County Office of Elections, the initiative must have a minimum of 57,000 valid registered voter signatures to qualify for the November ballot.

Martin said he and the CSPARC organization are seeking volunteers to help gather signatures with the goal of getting at least 80,000 to 100,000 signatures.

The official title and summary of the Patient Access to Regulated Medical Cannabis Act of 2012 can be found HERE.

Local medical marijuana activist Ryan Landers said he was part of the group that worked to get Proposition 215 passed in 1996, and he doesn’t want to see those efforts wasted.

“Patients need the right to cultivate their medicine like we gave them 15 years ago,” Landers said Monday. “I don’t want to see those rights taken away or stepped on.”

Landers said the Board of Supervisors’ move to ban dispensary operations in December was “inappropriate and unnecessary,” and would do more harm than good for medical marijuana patients.

“It’s not just an alternative, it’s life or death for thousands of people right here in Sacramento,” Landers said. “It not only stopped distribution, but also cultivation.”

If voters approve the proposed ballot initiative, it will bypass the authority of the Board of Supervisors.

The board will still have power to adjust the tax rate on cannabis sales or increase the allowable number of dispensaries from the measure’s minimum of one dispensary per 25,000 residents within the county, Martin said.

“The board cannot thwart the will of the people, though,” Martin said.

Offices of the members of the Board of Supervisors were closed Monday in observance of Presidents Day, and supervisors were unavailable for comment.

The deadline to submit all signatures to the County Office of Elections is June 17, according to the county website. Martin said CSPARC’s goal is to have the required number of signatures submitted by June 1.

Melissa Corker is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @MelissaCorker.

La Raza Galería Posada to move

2012-02-21T13:59:01Z

The 40-year-old La Raza Galería Posada Latino arts and culture center will leave its Midtown location next month, moving to a bigger facility in Miller Park that will allow for larger indoor and outdoor events.

“We hope to have our inaugural event in early or mid June, and that will be a concert in Miller Park,” said Marie Acosta, executive director of La Raza Galería Posada. “It will also be an opportunity for us to introduce the public to the site and talk about building a new building or renovating the current building.”

The building is an approximately 1,800-square-foot warehouse-style structure on Front street just south of Broadway. It is double the size of the center’s Midtown location at 1022-1024 22nd St.

The new building is currently used for storage of maintenance equipment, and La Raza Galería Posada will share the space.

Moving to Miller Park is a partnership with the city that will allow La Raza Galería Posada to use the space without paying rent – just utilities – which will cut costs by 75 percent, Acosta said.

“We love Midtown, and it’s the center of our city, but the high rent in the small space affected our ability to raise money,” she said. “It’s not possible for us to run like a business in a high-rent area.”

A recent funding drive finished earlier this month, preventing the center from going on a hiatus.

The new building needs to be brought up to code, specifically to meet disabled access codes, and Acosta said a fundraising campaign has not yet begun for that.

“We can see the light at the end of the tunnel,” she said. “The legacy of this organization is being preserved, and a renewed presence of Latino art and culture is going to take shape.”

"I am thrilled about the new location for La Raza," Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission Executive Director Rhyena Halpern said in an email Monday. "I think Marie Acosta saw a way to ensure this important cultural institution is sustainable for the future."

Halpern added that the area is largely industrial, and that she is happy she and the city are able to partner with the center.

La Raza Galería Posada Board Member Andres Alvarez visited the site of the new building Monday and said he is excited for the potential of the space.

“We’re really hoping to make this a landmark defining or representing the Latino, Chicano and native community,” he said.

Alvarez added that he would like to see partnerships with other arts and cultural organizations that would enable them to share the space and support each other.

David Avila, a 32-year-old Sacramentan in the insurance business, was in Miller Park riding bicycles with family members Monday and said he thinks the center’s relocation is a good way to draw in more families.

“It’s good because we have different events and reasons to come here,” he said, adding that he has gone to outdoor concerts across the river in West Sacramento in the past, and would be happy to have events closer to home.

Acosta said an event is being planned to mark the closing of the Midtown facility before the move is made to Miller Park.

“We hope to have a closing Sunday open house to thank our current artists who are exhibiting there and to say, ‘Hasta entonces’ – see you soon,” she said.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Editorial Note: This article was updated after it was published.

Real Relationships: Fear of starting school

2012-02-21T13:59:01Z

Q: My daughter is supposed to start kindergarten this upcoming fall. Because of that, we wanted to enroll her in a part-time pre-school this spring so that she can get used to playing with other kids and taking direction from other adults. The first week of class was a nightmare.

The teacher told me after the first day that my daughter screamed the entire half day. She also said it was normal, and it would get better. Well, it didn't. She has been an emotional wreck every day that we have taken her to class.

I am not sure what to do. She needs to learn to make this work, but she is a little young to be so emotionally traumatized. Where can I get help?

A: Wow, I am so sorry that you and your daughter are having to go through such an emotional roller coaster. Socialization is natural and healthy for children, but not at the expense of their emotional stability, particularly at such a young age. You will likely need to pull her out of pre-school until you can pinpoint what she is afraid of.

However, before you do, I would suggest trying something. Coordinate with her teacher to sit in class one day. Your daughter may be experiencing separation anxiety. Right now, she only associates pre-school with you leaving her, not with the fun activities and friends she can make.

Commit to staying in class with her one day but not participating in the activities with her. Simply knowing you are there may allow her to relax enough to engage with the other kids. You may need to sit in for a few days depending on how she reacts. However, I caution you not to allow her to stand by your side for the entire day. She needs to get in and interact with the other children and her teacher.

Another tactic you might try is introducing your daughter to more children, but in a controlled environment, such as your home. You also may try having another adult babysit her one evening. I suggest these various options to help you pinpoint the core of her fears. Is she scared of other children or other adults? Is she scared because she isn't with you or because she is in a new environment? It may even be a combination of these things.

If these strategies yields no positive results, she may need to see a counselor who can draw out her fears.

The Psychology Today website has a great resource for reading about local counselors and finding a match for your family based on location, specialty, beliefs and practices.

I encourage you to have extreme patience with your daughter and anyone else involved with this process as you look for the root of the problem. This is going to be a long, painstaking process but worth it in the end if you can give her freedom from her fears. Meanwhile, look for ways that you can ease her fears while exposing her to new things.

Good luck!

Have a relationship question? Email sacpress@live.com. Questions will be featured on Mondays in "Real Relationships."

Sacramento Fashion Week

2012-02-21T13:59:01Z

The sixth annual Sacramento Fashion Week begins Tuesday night at Mix Downtown, featuring 15 regionally and internationally recognized fashion designers. It is produced by Magnum Opus Enterprises.

Dolene Simmalavong, designer and founder of DOLZENROK, will show on Saturday night.

“Although it is quite difficult to juggle the process of creating a full line, launching and creating websites, attending promotional events and photo shoots while preparing for a baby simultaneously, it is definitely possible,” she said. “I am eight months (pregnant) and couldn't be more ready to showcase for Sac Fashion Week!”

After the launch party at MIX Downtown, free workshops will expose the public to the runway experience leading up to two sold out showcases at the Elks Lodge Ballroom on Friday and Saturday night.

This year some of Northern California’s most cutting-edge fashion designers will show off their latest collections. Janelle Cardenas, who showed at last year's event, talked about the direction of this season.

“This year, I believe, a lot of my inspiration came from both my mother as well as the ’60s era — again women icons like Twiggy and Edie Sedgwick,” she said. “My 2012 spring/summer collection, I believe, embodies the ’60s mod era with a modern twist and my personal style.”

The Sacramento Fashion Week also gives local models a way to gain valuable runway experience.

Controversy surrounds Maria Luna, the first undocumented model to walk the Sacramento runway. In December 2011, she was interviewed on National Public Radio about immigration reform and the Dream Act.

Modeling, for Luna is another chance to voice her views to a wider audience.

“At first, it was kind of a joke for me,” she said. “Then I thought, why not let it be an opportunity to inspire not just dreamers, but also women and even American citizens that they are capable of doing so much and that they are blessed to even have a head start to be born here.”

Luna will wear Gina Kim’s collection, Foreign Made, on Friday and Julian Gutierrez on Saturday.

Though the showcases are sold out, attend the Launch Party Tuesday night or any of the free workshops on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Disclosure: Promotional images graciously provided by Tim at Engle Photography.

Eat to Feed the Hungry debuts this week

2012-02-21T13:59:01Z

Starting Feb. 20 and running through Sunday, community members can turn their dinners out on the town into a battle against hunger in the Sacramento region.

The Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services and the Sacramento Press joined forces to host the inaugural Eat to Feed the Hungry, which features 15 Sacramento restaurants, cafes and bars.

Using social media, community members can “check in” at one of the sponsoring businesses using Facebook of Foursquare, and then order food and drinks.

For every participant who checks in, the business will donate $1 to the SFBFS. If people check in with a photo, the businesses will double their donation, with a cap of $500 per business.

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services Communications Director Kelly Siefkin said the donations from Eat to Feed The Hungry will help SFBFS purchase healthy snacks for children, learning materials for adults, education resources for parents, and fresh produce for seniors. She added that she hopes to raise at least $7,500.

Siefkin said she was drawn to the idea because participants simply need to enjoy a delicious meal to help provide food for someone less fortunate.

Siefkin acknowledged that Sacramentans, who turn out in full force on Thanksgiving Day to support Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services’ Run to Feed the Hungry, often look for other ways to show that support year-round.

“This is a great opportunity for community members to give back outside of the holiday season, recognizing hunger is an issue all year,” she said.

The participating businesses include popular Sacramento spots such as Zócalo, Ella Dining Room and Bar, The Golden Bear, Ink Eats & Drinks, Thai Basil, Level Up Lounge, River City Brewing Co., Sandra Dee’s Bar-B-Que & Seafood, Dive Bar, Pizza Rock, Cafeteria 15L, MIX, and The Red Rabbit Kitchen and Bar.

Jocelyn McGregor, marketing and promotions director of Ink Eats and Drinks encouraged Sacramento residents to spread the word about the event.

“There are a lot of people in this area in need of sustenance, so we need a lot of people to help out and put a dent in the mission to end hunger,” she said.

Those who are not able visit one of the businesses during the event but still want to be a supporter can send in a $10 donation by texting SACFOOD to 20222.

Golden Bear owner Kimio Bazett encouraged community members to be aware of what is happening in the community.

“We always hear about world hunger on a large scale, but the fact is that people are going hungry right here in our city,” Bazett said.

“SFBFS has such a positive effect on the community, and we are happy to be part of a great cause,” he added. “We hope that our involvement will help support their overall goal.”

During Eat to Feed The Hungry, The Golden Bear will offer participants new food specials that change daily during the event. The restaurant will also host a canned food drive for those who are not able to participate in the event.

Matt Nurge, co-owner of The Red Rabbit, which opened Feb. 9, said that the new restaurant demonstrates its commitment to sharing with the community through its employee profit-sharing program. Nurge said that participating in Eat to Feed the Hungry is a great way to live up to the Red Rabbit’s dedication to helping the community.

“This is such a simple way that we can help,” Nurge said.

Chef Ryan Rose, of Zócalo agreed, saying, “It’s almost too easy.”

Mike Levasseur, manager at Pizza Rock, said that the family restaurant decided to participate in an effort to stay connected to the community.

“Restaurants are part of the community and should act as such,” Levasseur said.

Featured Comment

2012-02-21T13:59:01Z

Ruhstaller launches new brew

2012-02-20T18:15:00Z

Ruhstaller, a local brewery in operation for about eight months, launched its newest beer this week, called Captain California Black IPA, and owner J-E Paino said Friday that the company is working on another brew, which should be available by summer.

Bottles went on sale in local stores by early December, after a launch party for the brewery in November, Paino said. To read more about the launch party and the story behind the beer – which recalls Sacramento’s pre-Prohibition-era history, click here.

The brewery, which produces its flagship 1881 Red Ale and seasonal Hop Sac, originally offered its beers on tap at local restaurants such as Mulvaney’s B&L and Selland’s Market-Cafe. The expansion to bottles allows them to be purchased at local markets including Whole Foods, Nugget Markets, Taylor’s Market and Corti Brothers.

“That’s gotten us into Roseville, Folsom, El Dorado Hills and Elk Grove, even Vacaville and Woodland,” Paino said.

Captain California Black IPA is a cross between a dark beer and a traditional India pale ale, Paino said, but the beer isn’t heavy, as some would expect traditionally dark beers such as porters and stouts to be, and unlike most IPAs, it doesn’t rely on bitter hops, but mixes bitter and aromatic hops.

Paino said India pale ales get their name from the times when India was a colony of Great Britain. The beer was brewed in England and loaded up with hops to preserve it on the long voyage to India, after which the hops had become bitter.

“The history of the beer is really that they made it to keep the (British) soldiers happy,” he said.

One quirk in bottling the beers that Paino said was unexpected was that sales went up when a piece of burlap was added around the necks of the bottles for character.

“I think it’s because the burlap calls out to (beer buyers), and they take it off the shelf because they want to touch it, and it ends up in their cart,” he said.

Paino and a friend initially glued the burlap to the bottles themselves, but realizing that they needed a larger workforce, they turned to Pride Industries, which employs people with developmental disabilities.

“They’re great to work with,” he said. “They come by once or twice a week and put the burlap on the bottles for us.”

Paino declined to give details about the next beer in the works, saying only that it will be good for drinking in the summer and will round out the brewery’s portfolio.

Ruhstaller is also looking for a home in the city, and whether it will be solely a production facility or a tap room and brewing facility is yet to be seen.

With Sacramento Beer Week starting Feb. 24, Ruhstaller will be taking part, and Paino said events will include a three-course dinner at Grange with a Q-and-A session, an event at Kupros Bistro and others. For a full list, click here.

One of the events will be a brunch Feb. 26 at Bows & Arrows in Midtown, which is one of the places Ruhstaller is served.

“The response (to Ruhstaller) has been really positive,” said Bows & Arrows co-owner Olivia Coelho. “They have their flagship 1881 red ale, and it’s really good. People love it. I think they have a really captivating story behind the beer, which is really exciting for people.”

The brunch event on Feb. 26 will run from 11 a.m. - 1 or 2 p.m., with the Fat Face Cafe mobile food vendor on the back patio at Bows & Arrows, along with the 1950s truck from Ruhstaller with beer taps on the side.

Coelho said that, with limited space of six taps and 12 bottles at the cafe in the back of the business, the on-tap beers are rotated, but Ruhstaller will remain for sale.

“We want to keep them around,” she said. “If we did take it off draft, we would definitely get the bottles. It’s nice to be able to support the local breweries, especially the ones that are just starting out.”

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Campaign signs may violate election rules

2012-02-20T18:15:00Z

The June election is more than three months away, but one City Council candidate is already being accused of breaking election rules.

According to the city elections code, campaign signs cannot be put up until 90 days before the election – which for the upcoming June election would be March 9.

City Council District 2 candidate Allen Wayne Warren’s signs were on display in the windows of a building on the 2300 block of Del Paso Boulevard Friday afternoon.

Sources say the campaign signs have been in the windows of the building since at least Jan. 20 – shortly after he officially announced his candidacy.

The building is home to his campaign headquarters office.

According to city spokesman Maurice Chaney, Code Enforcement officers were notified on Thursday that the city 3-1-1 service received at least one complaint about the signs.

A Code Enforcement officer went to the site on Del Paso Boulevard Friday to alert Warren to the possible elections code violation, Chaney said, and confirmed the signs were on display. The officer will follow up Tuesday to see if the situation has been resolved or if further action is necessary.

Phil Giarrizzo, Warren’s campaign manager, called the accusations “bully politics,” adding that there are more important issues in the district to focus on.

“This is pure harassment by the Sheedy camp and the powers that be at City Hall that are misusing both the law and city resources,” Giarrizzo said Friday.

“This district doesn’t even have a supermarket, and kids get shot on street corners in the neighborhood, and the city has time to send out an investigator to see signs in a window?” he said.

Giarrizzo said the signs were put up to identify Warren’s campaign headquarters and that he does not believe that purpose is a violation of the intent of the elections code.

“This is political harassment – sheer and uncompromised,” Giarrizzo said, without denying that the signs were displayed.

City representatives from 3-1-1 did not identify the person or people who made the initial complaint, but said that the service regularly accepts and follows up on complaints from anonymous sources if the complaints are determined to be valid.

In addition to sign size restrictions, the campaign elections code (§ 15.148.600(k)) states that political or campaign signs “on behalf of candidates for public office or measures on election ballots ... may be erected not earlier than ninety (90) days prior to the election and shall be removed within fifteen (15) days following such election.”

There is no exclusion written in the city elections code for campaign sign displays for headquarters offices.

The Warren camp intends to appeal any citation for putting up the signs, Giarrizzo said.

Warren faces three candidates in the District 2 race so far – Kim Mack, Rob Kerth and Sondra Betancourt – however, additional challengers have until March 14 to file candidacy.

Incumbent Sandy Sheedy announced Jan. 23 that she will not seek re-election to the seat, leaving the field open to newcomers in the June election.

Melissa Corker is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @MelissaCorker.

Kevin King: The idea man behind 'The Idea Man'

2012-02-20T08:01:00Z

photographs by Barry Wisdom

Playwright Kevin King's career has had more moving parts than the Orwellian tool factory in which his award-winning dramedy "The Idea Man" is set.

After earning a philosophy degree from the University of Michigan, King aborted plans for a master's degree ("I decided academia wasn't for me.") in favor of ricochet romances with journalism (he founded a pair of Detroit-based entertainment magazines, wrote film reviews, and freelanced features for a variety of publications, including The Sacramento Bee), documentary filmmaking ("Baker's and The Bird"), software engineering and tool-and-die mold-making.

And all of this before penning "The Idea Man," which plays Feb. 18-March 17, 2012, at Sacramento's California Stage. Originally produced at Hollywood's Elephant Theatre Company, "The Idea Man' was King's first full-length play (which just happened to earn him a 2008-09 Ovation Award for playwriting).

"I was the most surprised person in the room," said King, who admits not even his entourage of family and friends had much confidence he'd beat out his experienced and well-known competition and bring home the trophy, "If you watch me during the awards clip on YouTube, you'll see what I mean."

Though he pooh-poohs the notion that he's a genius ("I've worked with people who are way smarter."), King would be hard-pressed to successfully argue against being tagged anything less than a "Renaissance man."

Blessed with a "can-do" attitude, and a frighteningly disciplined work ethic he credits to his parents and wife, Sally, the Los Angeles-based King currently has more irons in the fire than a cavalry blacksmith. In addition to pursuing an MFA in dramatic writing at the University of Southern California (on scholarship no less!), King is preparing to open a new show in March at Chicago's American Theatre Company as part of its short play festival, and is in the process of developing a television pilot. He recently sold a screenplay to Northern Lights Films – a "psychological horror movie" – that's scheduled to start shooting this summer.

King, who will be participating in an audience talk-back session following California Stage's Feb. 18 opening of "The Idea Man," said his career history has garnered him substantial and varied "capital" from which to draw from.

Like most of his scripts, "The Idea Man" has roots planted in King's real life. On the surface, "The Idea Man" is about how monolithic corporations are prone to take advantage of their workers in order to keep costs down, bolster stock prices and keep shareholders happy.

But it's also about choices and how one balances financial needs (and wants) against morality.

Al Carson (Loren Taylor) is a tool room worker and union rep whose moral choices have lately lost out to his more base "needs." A jokester and womanizer, Al is also bit of a machine shop savant who has devised refinements for an essential piece of factory equipment – refinements that will not only make his job easier, but save his company millions.

But since engineering isn't part of Al's job description, the company's plant manager, Jim Simmons (Charlie Holliday), needs him to sign a release before they can put his designs to work. After an insulting initial "thank you" of a $100 check and engraved plaque fails to impress the crude but canny Al, Simmons recruits mid-level engineer Frank Thompson (Eric Baldwin) to alternately bully and cajole Al to hand over his rights.

Frank is close enough to the top of the pyramid to have seen the view from on high, but low enough to still be somewhat grounded. The decisions both Al and Frank have to make are at the heart of "The Idea Man."

King said he knew men like Al during his 15 years in software engineering and manufacturing, and that what stuck with him was how locked into their roles they seemed to be – so far removed from the "open to anything" outlook he has enjoyed for most of his life.

But King stressed that while there's much food for thought to chew on (its Hollywood staging was reviewed by the World Socialist Web Site), his play has plenty of humor.

"I want it to be funny," said King. "I don't want to hector the audience or lecture anybody – I want to deliver a great experience and share it with people."

Watch California Stage Producer Ray Tatar's interview with "The Idea Man" stars Loren Taylor and Michele Koehler on Access Sacramento's "Live Wire."

JUST THE FACTS

WHAT: The California Stage production of Kevin King's "The Idea Man"
WHEN: Feb. 18 through March 17, 2012; Fridays and Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m.
WHERE: California Stage, 2509 R St., Sacramento, Calif.
WHO: Directed by Penny Kline, and featuring Loren Taylor (Al Carson), Michele Koehler (Francine Carson), Eric Baldwin (Frank Thompson), Christina Clem (Maureen Thompson), Charlie Holliday (Jim Simmons), West Ramsey (Gino), Jawara Duncan (Doyle) ad Nicholas Koehler (Bobby)
HOW MUCH: $12-$20
RESERVATIONS/INFO: (916) 451-5822; www.calstage.org

Presidents Day weekend West Coast swing

2012-02-20T08:01:00Z

More than 300 dancers let their walking do the talking at Capital Swing's west coast swing convention on President's Day weekend.

On it's 20th anniversary, the annual west coast swing convention in Sacramento attracts everyone from novices to champions dancers worldwide. Last year, the convention drew enthusiasts from as far as Brazil and France.

For those who are local, long distance travel isn't necessary to catch a piece of the action. All you have to do is drive through Exposition Boulevard to the Woodlake Hotel (formerly known as the Radisson)

"It's great exercise. The people here are all nice. Everyone dances with everyone else. It's just a great community to be a part of," said Christine Anderson, a professional development consultant for teachers from Fair Oaks.

Anderson won what is called the West Coast Swing 101 competition late Thursday night. It was tournament for beginners in which your dance partner is a fellow beginner picked at random. Later this weekend there will be similar dance tournaments for intermediate, advanced, and champion level dancers.

Before getting into west coast swing, Anderson have not tried other forms of partner dancing but the music of contemporary, rock, and country appealed to her while line dancing with her friends at Stoney Inn. West coast swing allowed her the freedom of solo line dancing to syncopate with a partner.

In contrast, her partner in the West Coast Swing 101 competition, Richie Selby, came from International Latin roots, which he said held very strict ballroom standards. To counter the regimen, he took up hip hop with a crew called Press P.L.A.Y. Press P.L.A.Y. stands for passion, love, art, dance, and youth.

A friend from Press P.L.A.Y invited him to a west coast swing social soon after at The Station in Roseville. The Station has been in and out of controversy last year, on a city ordinance ordering the owners to stop the dancing. Still, most people who start, know that they end up liking the west coast swing movement so much, they never could stop. There's just no looking back according to Selby.

"West coast swing has people who really love it. This is what's good about the community. We have people who really love it," Selby said.

Come, try it ! Free Beginner Lesson at Capital Swing with Theresa Mcgarry of Ballroom of Sacramento !

Friday, Feb 17 - 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb 18 - 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

at Woodlake Hotel & Convention Center, 500 Leisure Lane, Sacramento, CA 95815 (formerly the Radisson)

Also, Sunday Night Dance is $10 from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Disclosure: Author is a west coast swing dancer.

Ask Officer Michelle: How to get money back

2012-02-20T08:01:00Z

Posted by Shari

Zen Spa on H Street has closed. We still have an open account there and would like to get this money back. How can we do that. I phoned and message line is full. I have no telephone numbers of persons who worked there and on the web there is no place to contact this closed business. Please give me some direction in obtaining a refund of the money that hasn’t been used.

Dear Shari,

What you have is a civil issue. If you can’t get a hold of anyone affiliated with the spa, or they refuse to refund you, you could contact the Better Business Bureau and the Department of Consumer Affairs. The Department of Consumer Affairs sometimes has the name of the business owner who requested the license. You can start a search through public records for an address to send a letter. I also found another number you may want to try. Call 475-1224. It was an automated voice telling me to leave a message after the beep. Just a side note, the Zen Spa in Roseville said that they weren’t affiliated with the one downtown. Good luck.

Officer Michelle

Ambassadors of Comedy coming to Sac State

2012-02-20T08:01:00Z

Sacramento State’s University Union UNIQUE Programs, in collaboration with Associated Students, Inc., is pleased to announce a free comedy show by the Ambassadors of Comedy at the University Union Ballroom on Thursday, February 23, 2012.

The AMBASSADORS OF COMEDY is a Los Angeles-based, collective of multicultural stand up comedians. The hilarious theme show consists routines about life in the United States from a foreigner’s perspective from four veteran stand up comics, each from different cultural backgrounds. The Ambassador’s of Comedy motto is: “If you can’t go on vacation, we’ll bring the vacation to you.”

Jeff Hodge, from The Virgin Islands, has credits that include “Crocodile Dundee in LA” and “Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo” and has written for “The Keenan Ivory Wayans Show”. Rene Garcia, “Mr. Mexico”, has starred in Miller Lite commercials and has shared the stage with comedians Katt Williams, Dave Attell, Damon Wayans, and Lisa Lampanelli- to name a few. Rosie Tran, “Ms. Vietnam”, is a comedic writer who has been featuring in a half a dozen comedy books, and as an actress/ hosting personality been featured on the Style Network, Lifetime, SiTV, and TLC. Sardia Marley, “Miss Jamaica”, is the creator, producer and host of That’s Just My Point of View and is also the creator/ writer of Golden Touch web series. Georgia Van Cuylenburg, “Ms. Australia”, was the host of the kids TV show My Magical World and is also the host of the children’s game show That’s Funny, She is also one of the lead voices for the Final Fantasy video games. The show will be hosted by Angel Diaz, a local comedian (Yuba City) who is the current president of the North Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

The Ambassadors of Comedy will be performing at Sacramento State’s University Union Ballroom at 7:30 pm on Thursday, February 23, 2012. Admission is free for Sac State students and the general public. For more information, call (916) 278-6997 or visit www.SacStateUNIQUE.com.

Disclosure: Zenia LaPorte is the Programs Advisor for UNIQUE Programs

Featured Photo

2012-02-20T08:01:00Z

MidLife GridLife

2012-02-20T08:01:00Z

My experience with matchmaking is pretty limited.

The shriveled old women in movies like Crossing Delancey --I have always been a sucker for a Pickle Man, but, alas and oy vey, the world is not as simple as Pickle Men v. Arrogant Poets!—and Patti Stanger, Queen Bitch of Bravo, whose television matches, despite her reputed success rate, never seem to work.

Patti’s millionaires seem to be just as inept and undesirable as the men cycling through their second year on Match.com, just on a grander scale; a chance to have more exclusive failed first dates.

The yentas of film always make their match.

I have yet to meet mine.

But that could all change, now that I’ve met Amar.

The Mistress of MetroSpark turned out to be more than I bargained for, in terms of business proprietors.

Starting an online dating service is tricky, in fact, potentially a very aggravating Catch 22, when you think about it: Single Person logs on to site, runs a search, but receives only a few hits. Single Person realizes that because the site is new, there aren’t really very many matches to choose from yet, so Single Person doesn’t join.

The number of people on the site, therefore, does not increase, like an exotic animal that has the potential to eliminate global warming, but eats its own young.

Registration is still free. Amar says she doesn’t feel comfortable charging clients yet for a site with so few members. But that leads to another confound: the commonly held belief, for those with experience, is that you get what you pay for in the world of online dating.

See the double dilemma?

These are things that never would have occurred to me before I met Amar.

She is an interesting woman with stories to tell.

We met, after our initial exchange of emails, at Lucca, to talk about online dating, and dating in general.

It was there—where it seemed she knew everyone except the governor, who strolled behind us on his way in to dinner (without the sort of entourage I’ve become used to seeing fronting the mayor, I noted)—that I made my pitch.

“I write about a lot of things in my column,” I began, “But the only thing that consistently gets any response from readers, the thing that gets the most positive feedback, is when I write about dating.”

Amar looked not the least bit surprised.

“Given what you’ve told me about your predilection for matchmaking, I have a proposition: You find me the man of my dreams, and I will chronicle the process in my column—the good, the goofy, the bad, the beastly! All of it. Honestly.”

“I love it!”

I could tell she did.

I did, too. I was running out of dating material—in every sense.

“However,” she turned serious, “I know you can be very open and honest in your column; I can be very blunt as well. If we’re going to work together, I may ask you to do things you don’t like. Will that work for you?”

I loved it slightly less.

But I was definitely intrigued.

“It will,” I agreed.

And so it began.

Will my matchmaker make me over?

Will Mr. Right be a MetroSpark Man?

Stay tuned…

Find your own match online at www.metrospark.net. Matchmaking services are also available. You can also find MetroSpark on Facebook.

Parking lease still on table

2012-02-19T08:44:31Z

The City Council unanimously voted to keep conversations going with bidders interested in taking over the city’s parking operations – and set the stage for a Feb. 28 vote finalizing plans for a new entertainment and sports complex.

“Today is about narrowing 13 (bidders) down to 10, and it’s an intermediary step to a more significant vote,” Mayor Kevin Johnson said.

Council chambers were full Tuesday night, and members of the public who signed up to speak included eight opposed to the prospect of a long-term lease of the city’s parking and 30 people in favor of it.

Project Manager Fran Halbakken described the bidding for control of city parking operations as a competitive process, where the City Council whittles down the number of potential parking operators, eventually finalizing a term sheet agreement with a single operator.

The plan to turn over the city’s public parking assets to a private party – in return for an upfront payment of an estimated $185 million to $240 million – has come under fire since the idea was first floated by the Think Big Committee in November.

“The people who want the arena should pay for it,” Sacramento resident John Bloomer said during public comment. “Let them do it. We think people will be further inhibited from coming (to downtown) because the parking rates are going to go up.”

The proposed 50-year lease of the city’s parking operations is expected to be the cornerstone of a complex financing plan to build a new arena at the downtown railyards – and prevent the Sacramento Kings from relocating.

Thirteen bidding teams responded when the city began the search for parking lessees, according to the city staff report. The list of potential bidders was narrowed to 10 by staff and outside consultants before being presented to council members Tuesday.

Some of the criteria used to evaluate potential bidders included financial strength of the bidding team, sources of capital, ability to make an upfront payment and each bidding team’s strength and experience as a parking operator.

Tuesday’s vote doesn’t commit the city to continue the process – but it does indicate council members’ willingness to take the next step.

“This isn’t a vote for the arena or against the arena. There is no money exchanging hands yet,” Sheedy said after the vote.

According to the staff report, before the City Council can proceed to actual lease proposals, it will first need a financing plan in place for the entertainment and sports complex, and it will need to identify enough revenue to make up for initial parking revenue losses from the city’s general fund.

There will also need to be a budget for the consultant costs for the process of finding a parking operator, according to the report.

Sheedy called for a “much more in-depth” process for public outreach as the council starts to take a closer look at the bidders list.

“People really need to see what we’re doing,” Sheedy said.

Tuesday’s vote comes on the heels of a 5-4 vote Feb. 7 against putting the parking lease plan on the June ballot.

“Today (we took) a significant step,” Johnson said. “We voted unanimously to do something mostly ceremonial today, but it puts us in a position for Feb. 28 to be all in.”

Halbakken said the next step in the process will be for city staff to further evaluate bidders to reduce the list, and to begin to establish the parameters of financing terms for a potential lease.

Melissa Corker is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @MelissaCorker.

Mayor asked to support same-sex marriage

2012-02-19T08:44:31Z

Marriage rights activists will deliver a petition asking Mayor Kevin Johnson to join other mayors in support of same-sex marriage Tuesday morning at City Hall in a move they said they hope will cause him to consider endorsing Mayors for the Freedom to Marry.

“We’re not trying to force anybody’s hand or be aggressive in any way,” said Neil Pople, communications director for the Stonewall Democratic Club of Greater Sacramento and author of the petition. It has more than 300 signatures and is posted here. “We want to positively encourage the mayor and let him know that there are people who want this to happen.”

Last week’s ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals against Proposition 8 – an amendment to the California Constitution that defines marriage as being between a man and a woman – was not the main thrust behind the petition drive, according to Pople, who said he started it several weeks ago.

“It started picking up progress around that time, but that wasn’t when it started,” he said.

The original goal was to get 200 signatures, and Pople said that seeing more than 300 on the petition Monday was “fantastic.”

While anybody – gay or straight, Sacramentan or not – can sign the petition, Pople said he thinks signatures from locals will be the ones that have the most impact on the mayor, as they are his constituents.

“I’m hopeful that people will listen to what’s right and wrong and treat each other with dignity,” he said. “I was born in Sacramento, and I want to eventually get married, and I want to be able to do that in my hometown."

Coordinating the delivery of the petition will be Roy Westfall, who said he, local Democrats and others will deliver the petition at 10 a.m. Tuesday.

“I have a partner of three years, and this is important to me,” Westfall said. “I want my mayor to support my rights, and there’s a big difference between personal beliefs and the government’s actions. This is about separation of church and state.”

Johnson’s representatives did not return messages left Monday by press time.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Contest winners

2012-02-19T08:44:31Z

It was a very tough decision to choose the winners of The Sacramento Press 2012 Journalism Open.

Fifty-three community contributors shared 93 stories about the greater Sacramento area and the quality of submissions this year really impressed the judges.

Thank you to all of you who made this year’s Journalism Open a success.

The Sacramento Press judges were Casey Kirk, Director of Community Outreach, Brandon Darnell, Copy Editor and Reporter, and Colleen Belcher, Editor-in-Chief.

Each story was judged on newsworthiness, research and sources, spelling and grammar and how interesting they were. Each winner could only win one prize. Click here to read the complete judging criteria.

First place and $600 went to Ron Cooper for his story, “10 Reasons Why a 50-Year Parking Agreement is Bad for Sacramento.” Ron’s article was a thoughtful and thorough analysis of Sacramento and why its residents don’t need a 50-year parking agreement. His story was very timely and showed a genuine knowledge of and concern for the city of Sacramento.

Second place and $400 was awarded to Eileen Wilson for her story, “Women fight breast cancer - and win. Dr. Ernie Bodai shares his thoughts.” Eileen’s story brought to life the toll that breast cancer has on women. She also highlighted how it is becoming more common for younger women – in their 20s and 30s – to develop breast cancer. The real-life story of her mother Rita’s triumph was very powerful.

Jillena Hernandez won third place and $200 for her story titled “Corti Keeps Tradition of Balsamic Vinegar Alive.” Jillena opened our eyes to the world of traditional balsamic vinegar and Darrell Corti’s involvement in making it more accessible. We all learned quite a bit about the food industry – and we even learned that Corti has the equivalent of knighthood in Italy.

The three $100 honorable mentions went to Sherrie Cramer, Aaron Davis and Heather Ireland.

Sherrie shared the two-part story of her daughter’s brave battle with leukemia and the importance of blood marrow transplant donors titled “A Journey of Hope Part I” and “A Journey of Hope Part II.” Sherrie openly shared the painful story of losing her daughter to help bring awareness to the need for donors and how vital they are in saving lives.

Aaron’s article, "The indelible soul of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band," illustrates how powerful the force of music is, especially in New Orleans. Despite the devastating impact of Hurricane Katrina, music survived and kept people going as they picked up the pieces of their lives and tried to move forward. Aaron’s interview with The Preservation Hall Jazz Band showed how this band takes the jazz and history of New Orleans music with it wherever it performs.

Heather Ireland’s story “Local Man Fired for Feeding Cats” broke the record for most views on The Sacramento Press with nearly 15,000 views. Her in-depth look at 7Up employee Larry Ottoviani who lost his job for helping stray cats caught the attention of readers nationwide and even internationally. Because of her story, emails and phone calls have been pouring in to support Larry and a website is being set up for donations.

We chose four winners in the photography category: Steven Chea, Kati Garner, Marcos Hernandez and Ron Nabity. The $500 for this category was divided up evenly meaning each won $125.

Steven captured a great action shot of the crowd at a Wallpaper concert. The perspective makes the viewer feel like she is there in the crowd. Click here to see the article.

Kati covered the Crocker Art Museum’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration and her unique framing of the two singers around the grand piano caught our attention. Click here to see the article.

Marcos shot a photo to accompany his wife Jillena’s article about traditional balsamic vinegar. The photo is of a bottle of balsamic vinegar being drizzled over an Asian pear topped with goat cheese. The lighting and focus of the photo make it a true work of art. Click here to see the article.

Ron wrote a story about the Bike Lane Project on Freeport Boulevard and his accompanying photos really illustrate the need for bike lanes on the busy street. He attached his camera to his bike to get the winning photo, which shows a creative angle of a bike riding side by side with a car. Click here to see the article.

Again, we want to extend a huge thank you to everyone who entered the Journalism Open. We enjoyed seeing and meeting many of you at the Community All-Star Party Monday night.

Until next year!

Opinion: Consider charter commission costs

2012-02-19T08:44:31Z

At the Feb. 7 City Council meeting, council members scrapped Mayor Kevin Johnson’s strong mayor initiative – dubbed the Checks and Balances Act of 2012 – in favor of an elected charter review commission.

The move, initiated by Councilman Kevin McCarty and supported by six other council votes, paves the way for a costly November election and a tangled web of political intrigue and shenanigans.

The cost for electing a charter review commission is still undetermined – it will depend largely on how many candidates line up seeking a spot, according to the city clerk’s office.

Just placing the question of “Do you want an elected charter review commission?” on the ballot will cost an estimated $190,000, according to the city clerk’s office.

The full cost of a charter review commission extends well beyond the election, though.

Once the measure goes to the ballot, the election of a charter review commission is out of council members’ hands. Unlike the redistricting committee last year, they do not get to appoint members to the commission.

The City Council will instead prepare for a 15-member elected commission to crack open all 19 articles in the city charter for review – and they will have two years to complete the task.

Every meeting of the commission will have to be given public notice, held in a public forum and staffed by city employees. As City Councilwoman Angelique Ashby said before the Feb. 7 vote to pursue the commission, “If you think this is going to be cost-neutral, you’re wrong.”

The financial costs of electing 15 commissioners out of a candidate pool of who knows how many is a minor consideration, however, when compared to the prospects for some very messy campaigning.

Candidate qualifications are twofold: Candidates must be registered voters in Sacramento, and they must submit a nomination petition with a minimum of 20 voter signatures.

This opens the door for any politico with an agenda to get his or her name on the ballot.

With local unions and special interests edgy about the possibility of a charter overhaul, it’s likely the competition for a seat at the reviewer’s table will be fierce.

Tensions will be particularly high among public safety unions that rallied in the ’90s for binding arbitration clauses in the charter and among city employees with pension benefit rules that may well come under scrutiny.

And unless the City Council expands current campaign finance restrictions, campaigns could get expensive, effectively knocking most “Regular Joes” – citizens with good intentions but empty pockets – out of the race before it even begins.

That could leave Sacramento with a charter review commission stacked in favor of well-heeled special interests wanting to play the system in their favor – which is what charter reform is supposed to prevent.

The rallying cry for change in the city charter has been a lack of accountability in the current form of government, but there is no guarantee that a charter review commission will come up with anything better.

In any event, recommendations from the commission will have to go to the voters for final approval – but not before the city has spent untold amounts of general fund dollars on an unpleasant election and two years of charter review.

Perhaps before we get that far, Sacramentans need to ask, “What really is the problem we want to solve?”

Depending on the answer, we may not need an elected charter review commission after all.

If the problem is with the system, it should be changed. But, if the problem is with the people running the system, an elected charter review commission won’t provide the answer, no matter how much it costs or how long it takes.

Melissa Corker is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @MelissaCorker.

Featured Photo

2012-02-19T08:44:31Z

Creativity to keep community center open

2012-02-19T08:44:31Z

College internships are the Oak Park Neighborhood Association’s new tactic to keeping the Oak Park Community Center open in the face of continued budget cuts.

A year ago the Oak Park Community Center, which offers the community space for classes, recreation, conferences, meetings, weddings, banquets, and performances became one of many community centers in Sacramento facing closure. Its governing body, the Department of Parks and Recreation, blamed budget cuts and lack of funding. Hours were reduced and programming was cut by almost half. The center now only operates Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

That’s when the Oak Park Neighborhood Association (OPNA) stepped in and offered to take over.

Michael Boyd, president of the OPNA,said that losing the community center would mean losing the heart of the community.

“We had to step in,” Boyd said. “It was our civic responsibility to step in. This place gives youth a place to be safe and positive, adults a place to exercise and learn, and the community a place to come together as one. ”

Boyd and the rest of the association have been working hard to keep the community center’s doors open despite huge fiscal problems.

“Failure is not an option,” Boyd said. “We will succeed.”

He said there are many steps in the effort to save the community center. The first one is to identify and lower overhead costs.

“Our biggest cost is labor,” Boyd said. “We are trying to figure out a way around that.”

In an effort to maintain creativity throughout the process, OPNA members came up with an alternative to hired labor: college internships.

They are looking into establishing a relationship with Sacramento State University and University of California, Davis to develop an intern program that gives students credits for their work. Students with special skills could teach classes, while students wishing to gain management experience could practice it at the center.

“College students need internships, and we need help running the center,” Boyd said. “It would be a win-win situation, and one that brings the community together on an even larger scale.”

The OPNA is also looking into tapping the senior community for volunteers. Boyd said he recognizes that there are many pools of potential volunteers, and he seeks to pave a simple and fun path for them to become involved with the center.

The second step is to create a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to present to the Department of Parks and recreation. This is essentially a contract that will outline what OPNA plans to do, how the members plan to do it and the timeline they expect it to happen within.

To do that, OPNA members are surveying the community to find out where the needs lie.

“We need to find out what our new hours should be and what the community expects from a revitalized center,” Boyd said. “Do people want yoga or karate or both?”

Deedee Cornelius, an employee at the Oak Park Community Center, said that it offers many great classes from fencing to zumba, but would benefit from an even wider range of activities.

“I would love to see more family related activities and more days open to provide much needed after school life skill programs and recreation for youth and teens,” Cornelius said. “We have noticed more kids hanging out causing problems when they are not involved in organized activities. We would love to provide snacks to our after school programs but have no access to snacks for youth any longer.”

A future step will be fundraising. Once the MOU is decided upon, the OPNA would like to host fundraisers to build some security for the center. It also wants the entire neighborhood to feel like it took part in saving the center.

“There is no exact amount that we are working toward yet,” Boyd said. “We will determine our goal later in the game. Right now we are just focused on pooling volunteers and supporters.”

Users of the center said they are very happy that OPNA stepped in to salvage the situation. Many volunteer groups such as the UC Davis student-run Imani Clinic, the Volunteer Income Tax Association and Senior Connect all use the Oak Park Community Center on a regular basis for events and meetings. Many see it as vital to their group’s functioning.

Taylour Munro, a student volunteer for Imani Clinic, said that the center is where they host two of their important community outreach events, Hoops 4 Health, which runs bi-monthly, and Family Night, which happens every month.

Hoops 4 Health is a basketball-based program that aims to teach youth about the importance of health, and Family Night brings people of all ages together to engage in healthy living habits.

“I don’t know what we would do without the Oak Park Community Center’s basketball courts or meeting rooms,” Munro said. “It is a lovely center and connects the community in a very healthy and fun way. Kids, teens and adults have a safe haven here.”

Due to an almost 50 percent cut in funds, the Department of Parks and Recreation is struggling to maintain all of its facets. Many centers in the Sacramento area have been the first to receive cuts in operation hours and programming.

Community centers do not benefit from federal laws that demand protection, unlike national parks and reservations that the parks department also funds. Boyd said he does not want the community to assume that this means that community centers are not important. He added that he and the members of the OPNA feel that community centers have the potential to create a great community through organization, positive activities and learning.

Candidate's signs may violate election rules

2012-02-18T15:58:03Z