Sacramento Life

City Council Candidates Use Facebook to Connect With Community

2010-05-19T01:22:24Z

On June 8, Sacramento residents will have the opportunity to cast their votes on a number of issues and elective offices, including party primaries for governor and attorney general as well as Sacramento City Council seats in districts 1, 3, 5 and 7.

Many candidates are using online social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook to try to get their messages out and gain an edge over the other candidates. For example, in the race for the Republican primary for governor, candidates Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner have Facebook and Twitter pages with followers in the thousands, and the primary fight is widely seen to be between the two.

However, even in the more local and community-driven campaigns of Sacramento City Council candidates, these social networking sites are being widely utilized to help raise support and knowledge for local candidates.

Angelique Ashby is running for the City Council’s District 1 seat against incumbent Ray Tretheway, and she has tried to use the Internet to her advantage.

Ashby said that when she and her campaign team started to plan her campaign, they thought that a strong online presence would be important.

“We knew that accessing people through the Internet would be critical,” Ashby said. “Social networking and the Internet is central to our campaign.”

Ashby said the online strategy of her campaign consists of a good webpage, Facebook and YouTube. As of Sunday, she has 1,050 friends on Facebook. Ashby said she uses Facebook as a way to connect with voters and as a good way to get out event information. Many people who come to her campaign events tell Ashby that they found out because of Facebook, she said.

She added that she has ads on Facebook as well as local blogs to help draw attention to her campaign.

Ashby said one challenge of being involved in social networking is the level of consistency required, both in effort and in message.

“It’s important to know what you’re like as a candidate because people can find information everywhere on the Internet,” she added. “You have to be clear and consistent.”

Although Ashby enjoys a strong online presence, she said she doesn’t use Twitter because she doesn’t think Twitter adds much to her campaign.

“One of the keys to success in an online campaign is to allow people to be a part of it,” she said. “Twitter is for observers, while Facebook is for participants.”

Tretheway, who has been on the City Council since 2001, uses both Twitter and Facebook in his campaign, although the sites are only updated about once a week.

“For us, it’s not the most crucial component,” said Tretheway’s campaign manager, Rebecca Apostol. “It’s more important to talk to folks one-on-one and to have those face-to-face conversations. That type of interaction is what we tend to gravitate more toward.”

Apostol said Tretheway’s Facebook and Twitter, which have a little over 30 followers as of Sunday, are used mostly to give campaign updates and to publicize community events.

“It’s a helpful component, undoubtedly,” she said. “It has its place, and it definitely adds to the campaign.”

Apostol added that in a smaller race like this, social networking does not make or break a campaign.

District 3 is also home to a competitive race. Councilman Steve Cohn, who has held the seat since 1994, is running for re-election against Realtor Chris Little and contractor Shawn Eldredge. Faviola Ramirez, the ground campaign manager for Cohn, said using Facebook is part of the campaign’s strategy.

“Facebook is really important to keep supporters informed,” she said.

“When you look at the City Council race, community is very important,” Ramirez added. “Facebook helps strengthen those ties.”

Ramirez said Cohn’s campaign Facebook page, which has 215 followers as of Sunday but is only updated once a week or so, is mostly used to give campaign updates and provide information about campaign events, as well as answer the occasional question from a voter.

Although Little and Eldredge have a stronger online presence, Ramirez said that it is not crucial to win a City Council election, and the main component of Cohn’s campaign relies in personal interaction.

“Facebook is just as important as call lists and any other way of getting ahold of people,” she said. “It just doesn’t replace face-to-face voter interaction, which is at the heart of any local campaign.”

Eldredge, however, said that for a candidate who does not have a lot of funds, having a strong online presence is vital.

“Social networking allows those who are interested to know a candidate better,” Eldredge said. “I don’t have money, so the only way I can reach people is through the social networking sites. It is the core of my campaign.”

Eldredge said he uses his Facebook for not only campaign updates but also to state his positions and point out the faults in opponent’s positions.

“I put it all out there,” he said. “I let the shit fly.”

Eldredge, who has raised thousands less than Little and Cohn according to a recent Sacramento Press article, said that while social networking gives him a platform, it does not always translate into votes.

“I’m much more interactive than the other candidates, but I’m probably not going to win,” he said, adding that this election will be a low-turnout election that will probably be decided by voters who are not hooked on social networking. He also said upcoming elections will have to make an online presence a priority.

“This November, this is going to be big,” Eldredge said. “The population and voter base is going to be very engaged through social media.”

Eldredge added that he believes we are one election cycle away from voters being able to donate $5 through their phones like people were able to for the Haiti earthquake relief, and that social networking will become a critical part of any campaign.

“The classic campaign is going to have to change their model,” Eldredge said. “Traditionally, it was all mail and door-to-door, but now social networking will have an equal part.”

For now, Eldredge was honest about his use of social networking in his campaign.

“It’s a lot of work,” he said. “Social media takes a lot of effort to pull it off well, and I haven’t done it as well as I’d like.”

When June 8 comes, Ashby, Tretheway, Cohn, Little and Eldredge will be able to see if their efforts with social networking results in being elected to the City Council.

Photo Captions:

1. Angelique Ashby. Photo by Kathleen Haley

2. Ray Tretheway. Photo by Anthony Bento

3. Chris Little. Photo by Kathleen Haley

4. Steve Cohn. Photo by Anthony Bento

'Celebrate Oak Park' Entertains Families

2010-05-10T01:57:03Z

The fourth annual Celebrate Oak Park community event entertained many families Saturday.

The event, which took place at McClatchy Park during the afternoon, drew hundreds of people with live music, food and a kids area that had inflatable obstacle courses and a rock-climbing wall.

Event organizer Joany Titherington said the event started as a home improvement fair eight years ago before transforming into something that promoted community involvement while shining light on Oak Park's unique legacy.

"This event celebrates the vibrant history we've had here," Titherington said. She added that when Oak Park was established in 1887, it becamse Sacramento's first suburb. Since then, it has become the most diversely integrated community in America, according to Titherington.

Titherington added that while the celebration drew a crowd of hundreds a few years ago, last year's event had more than 3,000 people show up throughout the day.

This year's celebration also gave the community a reason to come, with live music from local bands including Fo Shang, The Nuance and The Solicitors setting the festive mood. Families danced together to the music, and children walked around smiling with balloons floating from their wrists.

It was an enjoyable afternoon for the community of Oak Park, and one that Titherington said she hopes to build on, saying that next year's event will be bigger and better.

For the diverse community of Oak Park, it will be an event to look forward to.

More coverage of the event, including video interviews with the bands, can be found here.

What's Happening at the Capitol: May 6 - 7

2010-05-06T04:23:20Z

Thursday, May 6

6-7:30 p.m.

About 1,000 people will gather on the north steps of the Capitol to pray and observe the National Day of Prayer. The event coincides with thousands of similar events happening nationwide, with millions expected to participate throughout the country.

8:30-9:30 p.m.

The California Peace Officers' Memorial Foundation is holding a candlelight vigil as part of the two-day 34th Annual California Peace Officers' Memorial Ceremony. The CPOMF is a nonprofit foundation that recognizes peace officers who died while on duty. The vigil will take place at the memorial monument at 10th Street and Capitol Mall. The vigil will include remarks from the CPOMF President, a Roll Call of Heroes, music and prayer.

Friday, May 7

10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

The California Peace Officers' Memorial Foundation is holding an enrollment ceremony as part of its two-day 34th Annual California Peace Officers' Memorial Ceremony. The ceremony will start with a walk from the Capitol to the Memorial Monument at 10th Street and Capitol Mall and continue with presentations by state representatives and the CPOMF President. The ceremony will conclude with a 21-gun salute, taps and the retiring of the colors.

What's Happening at the Capitol: May 5

2010-05-04T02:24:38Z

Wednesday, May 5

9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

The Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California is holding its 2010 Capitol Day. The Capitol Day will allow visitors to talk with legislators about reproductive health issues and participate in the Planned Parenthood education fair. There will be food available throughout the event. Around 1,000 people are expected to attend. No other information was available.

9-10 a.m.

Assemblyman Jared Huffman is holding a press conference about Assembly Bill 7, which places a moratorium on non-wooden bats used in high school baseball. About 100 people are expected to attend.

What's Happening at the Capitol: May 3

2010-05-02T16:19:30Z

Monday, May 3

5:30-7:30 p.m.

The California Latino Legislative Caucus is holding a reception for the winners of the Latino Spirit Awards on the south steps of the Capitol. The awards will be given at 11 a.m. in the Assembly hall. The public is invited and should RSVP by calling 916-442-0696. The reception will include a mariachi trio and refreshments.

What's Happening at the Capitol: May 1 - 2

2010-05-01T06:07:40Z

Saturday, May 1

8 a.m.-noon

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is hosting its annual Great Strides fund-raiser. Registration starts at 8 a.m., and the 3.2 mile walk starts at 9. Preregistration is encouraged, but not required. There also will be live music and a raffle. Proceeds will benefit the foundation, which funds research on the disease. About 400 people are expected to attend.

4-9 p.m.

The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America is hosting the Take Steps for Crohn's and Colitis walk. Registration starts at 4 p.m. and the two or three mile walk starts at 5 p.m on the west steps of the Capitol. Walkers can preregister at the walk's website. There will be a festival following the walk with a DJ, a raffle, food, and a kids band and jumphouse. About 500 people are expected to attend.

Sunday, May 2

1-4:30 p.m.

The Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region is holding its 2010 Jewish Heritage Festival on the west steps of the Capitol. It will feature an eco-friendly fashion show, Israel street market, traditional and cultural exhibits and displays, and performances by the Los Angeles Israeli Dance Team and nationally-known recording artist Matisyahu. The fashion show will start at 1:50 p.m., with the dance team performing at 2:15 and Matisyahu concluding the event at 3:15. Hundreds are expected to attend. More detailed information can be found at this website.

What's Happening At The Capitol: April 29

2010-04-29T03:43:08Z

11 a.m. - 3p.m.

Caltrans is hosting its annual Workers Memorial on the west steps of the Capitol. The memorial will honor workers who died in the line of duty while fixing signs and potholes, working on highways and other transportation-related jobs. Business, Transportation and Housing Secretary Dale E. Bonner will be at the memorial along with people from Caltrans and the Office of Traffic Safety. It is expected to be an emotional and moving event. About 800 people are expected to attend.

2-3 p.m.

The California State PTA (California Congress of Parents, Teachers, and Students, Inc.) is holding a Rally for the Children on the north steps of the Capitol. The rally is part of the PTA's ongoing 9 Million Reasons to Speak Up campaign, which aims to tell legislators to invest in children. The rally is the first event of the PTA's 111th annual convention, which takes place over the weekend at the Sacramento Convention Center. About 300 people are expected to attend the rally.

City Council to Vote on New Taco Bell Drive-Through That Neighbors Strongly Oppose

2010-04-27T07:04:44Z

After many delays and an appeal, the issue of a redesigned Taco Bell with a new drive-through will finally be decided at Tuesday night's City Council meeting.

The Taco Bell, located at 5641 Freeport Blvd. near Fruitridge Road, was built in 1977 without a drive-through and has not seen a major change since. Taco Bell applied for a permit to rebuild the facility and add a drive-through, and the city's Planning Commission voted 6-4 to allow the building during a Feb. 11 meeting. However, the property is adjacent to a residential neighborhood, and many residents in that neighborhood are worried that this new drive-through will lead to increased noise, pollution and trash in their backyards.

Some of the residents have taken an active role in fighting the installation of a drive-through, including Kathleen Barber, a resident whose backyard is separated from the Taco Bell property by a 6-foot masonry wall that runs along the eastern border of the Taco Bell property. Barber paid $300 to appeal the Planning Commission's decision to the City Council. Barber's husband, Joe Verderber, said that the addition of this drive-through will violate certain city guidelines.

"Flat out, the proposed Taco Bell doesn't meet the city's own guidelines and regulations for drive-throughs," he said, citing a regulation in the city's zoning ordinance. The regulation says that, with regard to drive-throughs, "The design and location of the facility will not create a nuisance for adjacent properties." The neighborhood's residents say that having a drive-through so close to their homes will create a nuisance by adding noise and pollution to an area right next to their backyards.

One issue that resident Ted Soria is worried about is an increase in trash being thrown over the masonry wall due to the extra traffic.

"People throw stuff into my yard," he said. "I've found syringes, sexual devices, drug bags and garbage like that in my own backyard."

A major concern residents had was a substantial increase in noise. Even though the current plan for the new Taco Bell includes adding trees to the property, two feet to the height of the masonry wall and a smaller wall around the ordering talk-box, Barber is worried that all the traffic noise will be unbearable.

"They're telling us, through their testing, that we're not going to hear anything from a drive-through," she said. "We can hear the traffic from Freeport Blvd. already."

"That wall does nothing. All it does is make sure no one drives into your backyard," added neighbor Robert Messing.

Verderber said that in addition to creating a nuisance, the proposed Taco Bell does not meet spacing guidelines. According to those guidelines, the property has to be a half-acre or more, but the proposed Taco Bell is 238 square feet short of a half-acre. Verderber added that, in addition to all these violations, the proposed Taco Bell would lower the value of his home by $20,000, according to a real estate agent's estimate.

"The size of the lot doesn't meet their own guidelines, and neither does the parking," he said. "It is a nuisance to the neighborhood, and it devalues the property."

This isn't the first time the neighbors have had to fight against a Taco Bell drive-through. In 2006, the same Taco Bell applied for a similar rebuilding, but was denied a permit by the city's Planning Commission due to the neighbors' concerns.

"We went through this in 2006. Back then, they said that it was bad planning and clearly violated the nuisance to residential neighborhoods guidelines." said Barber, adding that she thinks some of the newer members on the Planning Commission don't get it. Barber said that at the Feb. 11 meeting, despite voicing their concerns and presenting the commission with a 200-name petition, their voice was ignored.

"At that meeting, we felt like our neighborhood didn't matter," she said.

Despite their concerns, the people with Taco Bell claim that that the proposed project meets most city regulations, and the ones that it doesn't meet where granted a special exemption from the Planning Commission. While Taco Bell franchise owner Dave Smith of D.G. Smith Enterprises declined to comment, Planning Facilitator Linda Budge said that Taco Bell management is doing what it could to make sure any impact on the neighborhood will be minimal.

Budge said that the operating hours for Taco Bell will end at 10 p.m. to mitigate late-night noise, and there will be a sign asking customers to turn down their music with a security guard to enforce that policy, in addition to the other modifications.

Budge said that the light posts will have limits on their height and have a shoebox covering that points the light directly down, not out. Also, she said that evergreen trees will be planted to contain the bleeding over of light and sound.

"Our goal is that the neighbors will not be able to see or hear the project," she said, adding that just over the weekend the plans were modified to allow for a greater distance between the eastern masonry wall and the drive-through lane. The extra distance will be full of bushes and shrubs, which are intended to help with the trash problem so patrons won't be able to drive right next to the wall like they can now.

According to Budge, the rebuilding of the Taco Bell is required for the franchise to continue its contract with the Taco Bell Corporation.

"This Taco Bell is under franchise agreement. Without the drive-through lane, the franchise will expire at the end of 2010, and the site could be lost," she said, adding that the building is old and needs to be updated to meet new building codes and regulations anyway.

Budge also said the new Taco Bell will have a positive effect on the local economy with 15 extra jobs being added at that location and extra taxes going to the city.

"We don't want to add to the retail vacancy that everyone is suffering right now," she added.

While both sides will be arguing their positions at the City Council meeting, Councilman Rob Fong, whose district the Taco Bell and neighborhood are in, said he hasn't yet come to a decision on how he will vote. Fong added that he has an open mind and will hold his decision until he hears everything both sides have to say.

"I hope we'll get to a place where we can come to some sort of agreement tomorrow night," he said.

Verderber, however, is hoping the council will understand the concerns of the neighbors and side with them.

"The point is," he said, "would you want a drive-through in your backyard?"

Jonathan Mendick and Kathleen Haley contributed to this story

Photo captions (Photos 1 - 5 taken by Jonathan Mendick; 6 - 7 by Stephen Gillis)

1. Joe Verderber stands in front of the Taco Bell at Fruitridge and Freeport

2. The view of Taco Bell from Kathleen Barber's backyard

3. Ted Soria standing next to the current 6 foot masonry wall separating his property from the Taco Bell parking lot

4. Trash found on the resident's side of the wall

5. More trash

6. The new style of Taco Bell that would be built. This particular restaurant is on Bradshaw Road

7. A side view of the new Taco Bell style

What's Happening at the Capitol: April 26

2010-04-26T03:58:40Z

Monday, April 26

10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Perry Atwood will be hosting COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) screenings on the west steps of the Capitol. COPD is a general name for a group of lung diseases including emphysema, chronic bronchitis, refractory asthma, and bronchiectasis, according to the COPD Foundation. About 200 people are expected to attend. No other information was available.

11 a.m. - noon

The Gay-Straight Alliance Network will be holding a press conference at the Capitol, and 100 people are expected to attend. No other information was available.

3-7 p.m.

The Professional Beauty Federation of California is hosting the 10th annual "Welcome to our World" event on the south steps of the Capitol. The event is part of "California Professional Beauty and Barbering Week," which aims to inform legislators about California's beauty industry. There will be haircuts, manicures and other services available to legislators. The event takes place in a big tent that will emulate a salon experience.

What's Happening At The Capitol: April 24

2010-04-24T06:00:16Z

7 a.m. - 3 p.m.

March of Dimes will be having a March for Babies walk. March of Dimes is an organization that supports research to make sure babies begin healthy lives. Registration starts at 7 a.m., but the walk starts at 9 a.m. at the west steps of the Capitol. Seventy-six cents of every dollar raised supports research. About 7,000 people are expected to attend. No other information was available.

What's Happening at the Capitol: April 22

2010-04-22T04:20:38Z

9-11 a.m.

Caltrans is hosting the Annual Litter Day on the south steps of the Capitol. The event is part of the statewide Don't Trash California campaign, and the main part of the event starts at 10 a.m. There will be speakers from Caltrans and the CHP to raise awareness of the problem of littering. Afterward, officials from Caltrans will be going to Interstate 5 to pick up litter. About 200 people are expected to attend.

Rally for Social Services at Capitol Ends 365-Mile March From Bakersfield

2010-04-22T04:17:53Z

Thousands of people from across California gathered at the Capitol to express their anger over continuing cuts to social services in the state Wednesday afternoon.

The rally came on the last day of a 48-day, 365-mile march that started in Bakersfield in early March. While there were six main marchers, many other people joined them for certain days or sections of the march. The audience hoped that the march and rally would send a message of discontent with declining funds for social programs including schools, universities and homecare providers.

"This isn't the end of a march, this is the beginning of a movement," said Doug Moore, executive director of the United Domestic Workers of American Homecare Providers. "If we join together, we can restore the American Dream."

"We won't let Wall Street or the auto companies fail, but we are letting our schools fail by forcing them to make Draconian cuts in their budgets," said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. "Fixing the problem will take hard work."

Weingarten said there are three steps that can be taken to fix that problem, the first being to increase taxes on the rich.

"It's time that in the richest state of California, the rich pay their fair share of taxes," she said, getting a loud cheer from the audience. She also suggested closing tax loopholes and allowing the budget to be passed with a simple majority instead of the two-thirds majority currently required.

"All of us have to take more responsibility," she said as she finished. "This is only the first step. March on! March on!"

The rally audience included teachers, social workers, students and school employees who hoped their presence would help get their message to legislators.

Casey Borcher is a student at Woodland Community College and said that both his parents are teachers and have been affected by the cuts.

"They're doing more work for less money," said Borcher, who is working on a getting a teacher's credential himself. "It's ridiculous to me." He said that while he hopes the rally spurs action, he's not sure there are many specifics.

"I'm hearing a lot of vague stuff, like education first," he said. "I want to know what we're going to do."

Other people at the rally had some skepticism about the rally, but were generally hopeful.

"These things don't seem to generate much enthusiasm, but the alternative is nothing, so I'm optimistic," said Rudy Pearson, a history professor at American River College, adding that he was encouraged to see people travel from Southern California. He said that his school has seen the impact of budget cuts after courses were dropped, services to students were declining and there were no new hires.

"The problem keeps compounding itself," he said.

Suzy Kelm, a teacher at Pixley Elementary School, said the rally was important to show unity.

"Coming together like this is where it's at. It shows we're together," she said, adding that her school has seen cuts in music, sports and school staff. "This brings awareness that cutting the budget in education cuts the opportunities for future education for everybody."

Susan Oeland, a homecare provider with United Domestic Workers, said her program that takes care of elderly and handicapped people is in jeopardy of losing 90 percent of its budget or being eliminated entirely.

"We're here to fight budget cuts," she said. "We're fighting for the people we work for."

Oeland works for a woman who takes 15 medications per day and has no family. She said that if the program is abolished, her client and many others like her will have to go to a convalescent or nursing home, many of which are full. Oeland added that two of her elderly relatives died from a lack of attention, and she doesn't want that to happen to other people.

"It takes a special, loving person to take care of these people," she said. "They care for them not just as a paycheck, but as a human being. We don't want that to go away."

Scott McTeer, a staff member in the Stockton Unified School District, said he is afraid his job could be cut any day and hopes to be employed long enough to pay for his children to attend college. He said the rally is just a starting point for their cause.

"I hope the Legislature hears us loud and clear," he said. "We've just started this fight, and we're not going to stop until we get our fair share."

Fong Gives State of District Report

2010-04-20T04:56:10Z

City Councilman Rob Fong said there will be continued development on Broadway during his 2010 State of the District Report Monday evening.

Fong, who represents District 4, gave his report at the Area One Neighborhood Advisory Group meeting.

"I'm not up for reelection this year," he said. "So you will have the truth tonight."

Fong said that west Broadway Street will see some development in the next few years, and the focus will be on housing and retail. Fong also said he is trying to get a community center to be built in that neighborhood. Most of the plans for District 4 are centered around the Broadway corridor, according to Fong.

"We're trying to re-imagine what Broadway can be," Fong said, adding that the goal is to add more retail and make Broadway more walkable and consumer-friendly.

Bicycle commuting routes from Land Park and South Land Park are also in the planning stages, he said. Fong noted that many residents in Land Park and South Land Park love to ride their bikes to get downtown.

Fong said that another issue in District 4 this year is the possible expansion of the zoo. Fong said that residents who live near the zoo do not prefer the zoo to expand, but that the future viability of the zoo's current size is challenging.

After Fong finished, he took questions from the audience of about 20, including one regarding the possibility of a new river crossing over the Sacramento River. Fong applauded the current discussion over the needs for a bridge, saying that the initial plan for a four-lane bridge going to Broadway was not the best idea.

"A bridge has to work for both sides," he said. "I'm not for a four-lane auto bridge. Ir doesn't do anything good for us."

Fong finished by answering a question about the city's budget deficit by admitting that services will be cut.

"The whole city is going to have a reduced level of services," he said, before adding that despite the poor economy crime was down in his district.

"It's always sunny in District 4."

What's Happening at the Capitol: April 20 - 21

2010-04-20T02:45:32Z

Tuesday, April 20

Impending rain has postponed both The Green Fair and the Financial Literacy Fair. Neither event has a new date.

Wednesday, April 21

4-6 p.m.

The March for California's Future will be making its final stop on its 45-day march on the west steps of the Capitol. The organization will hold a rally, which will include music and speeches from American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten and California Federation of Teachers President Marty Hittelman. The focus of the rally will be on restoring public services, including public education, public safety and public health. The rally marks the end of a march that started in Bakersfield on March 5. Thousands are expected to attend, and the event will continue as planned, rain or shine.

What's Happening at the Capitol: April 19

2010-04-19T07:06:46Z

9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

The California Correctional Peace Officers Asssociation is having a "Victims March on the Capitol" memorial service on the west steps of the Capitol. Around 600 people are expected to attend. No other information was available.

10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

There will be a second amendment rally at the traffic circle at the Capitol. It is an unarmed rally. About 150 people are expected to attend. No other information was available.

Noon - 1:30 p.m.

The We The People Foundation will do presentation of the Articles of Freedom at the south steps of the Capitol. About 100 people are expected to attend. No other information was available.

What's Happening at the Capitol: April 18

2010-04-17T06:24:19Z

7:30 a.m. - Noon

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is hosting its fundraiser, the MS Walk. Registration starts at 7:30 a.m. and is free, but donations are recommended. The walk -- one mile or 5K -- starts at 9 a.m. The walk will be followed by a lunch, a "Strut your Mutt" dog contest and a performance by Jodette's Belly Dancers. A silent auction will run from 8 to 11 a.m., and there will be a booth to buy tickets to a June 3 River Cats game, with a percentage of sales going to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

No other events are planned until Monday.

What's Happening At The Capitol: April 15

2010-04-15T06:13:35Z

Noon - 4 p.m.

The Tea Party Patriots are holding a rally for limited government on the one year anniversary of last year's tea party protests. The rally will be hosted by radio personalities Armstrong and Getty and will feature speeches and songs. Thousands are expected to attend.

No other events are planned until Saturday.

Meeting Starts Public Discussion on New Sacramento River Crossing

2010-04-14T03:27:27Z

A new avenue of crossing the Sacramento River was the topic of discussion Monday night at the first meeting of the Stakeholder Advisory Committee, which is part of the Sacramento River Crossings Alternatives Study.

The meeting, which was held in Kampala Center at the Sacramento Zoo, is the first of five meetings planned throughout the year.

The Stakeholder Advisory Committee is made up of different community members from Sacramento and West Sacramento, and is meant to provide community involvement in the process of determining the need for another method of crossing the river between Sacramento and West Sacramento. While a bridge is an option for the new river crossing, the members of the group are stressing the need to look at alternatives to a bridge.

Among those attending was Maureen Pascoe, the capital improvement manager of the West Sacramento Public Works Department, who said this process was started to get community input into the idea of a new river crossing. This new community aspect came after a previous attempt to get a river crossing didn't work out.

"I think we made a misstep before, where we zeroed in on one location and one concept," Pascoe said. "We figured that we needed to take a step back from that and really talk about the values we need to consider in this, and what the real purpose and need is."

The committee was diverse, consisting of people from the Sacramento City Unified School District, West Sacramento City Council, Land Park Community Association, Downtown Sacramento Partnership, Regional Transit, biking enthusiasts and real estate workers. Many of the stakeholders were there to represent different river crossing goals, including jobs, air quality, bike and pedestrian friendliness, and health.

In addition to the approximately 25 committee members attending were city officials from West Sacramento and the city of Sacramento, and about five members of the public who were observing.

During the meeting, the members introduced themselves and expressed their desires in what they wanted to create, preserve and avoid during the process. Many members expressed the desire to work together and not cause division, as well as consider alternatives to a bridge. The evening concluded with the stakeholder members marking out areas of concern on large maps of the Sacramento area.

Fran Halbakken, operations manager for the city of Sacramento Department of Transportation, said community involvement is necessary.

"We're trying to figure out what problem we're trying to fix," she said. "We need to start defining that."

Halbakken said there will be more meetings, including one on May 10 and three more in June, July and September, but that the complete process of building another river crossing could take up to 15 years. She said the hope is to get enough input from people on both sides of the river to create something that could appeal to everyone.

Pascoe added that one of the biggest struggles going forward with a new river crossing is the community members' sense of division over the river. It is something she hopes these meetings will help alleviate.

"There is one center to the Sacramento region, and it spans both sides of the river," she said. "That's the perspective that we have."

What's Happening At The Capitol: April 13 - 14

2010-04-13T04:08:08Z

Tuesday, April 13

10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

The National Kidney Foundation will be holding a free kidney health screening on the south steps of the Capitol. About 100 people are expected to attend. No other information was available.

Wednesday, April 14

10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

The California Pharmacists Association is having a public health fair on the north steps of the Capitol to coincide with the association's Legislative Day. Licensed pharmacists, along with students from the Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at the University of the Pacific, will be available to give a variety of health screenings, including screenings for blood pressure and blood glucose.

No other events are planned until Thursday.

What's Happening at the Capitol: April 12

2010-04-12T00:53:27Z

11 a.m. - noon

The California Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers is holding a rally on the north steps of the Capitol to talk about legislative bills AB 2131, AB 2114, and AB 2167. 200 - 300 people are expected.

11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

American Brotherhood Aimed Towards Education (ABATE) of California is holding a Freedom and Motorcycle Awareness Rally on the south steps. About 400 people are expected to attend.

No other events are planned until Wednesday.

McClatchy High Students Experience Dangers of Driving Under Influence

2010-04-09T04:07:18Z

Students at C.K. McClatchy High School experienced the dangers of driving under the influence during a two-day event earlier this week.

The event is part of the "Every 15 Minutes" program, which happens at high schools nationwide and aims to inform high schoolers about the dangers of drunken driving as well as texting while driving. The name is a reference to the fact that every 15 minutes someone in the United States dies from an alcohol-related traffic collision. The two-day program begins with a staged car crash and ends the next day with an assembly that focuses on the events of the previous day.

The program started on Tuesday, when students witnessed a staged car crash on campus. The staged crash involved students from McClatchy, who played different parts including a drunken driver, a dead passenger and an injured person. The juniors and seniors watched as firefighters and officers from the Sacramento Fire Department and California Highway Patrol worked the scene like they would in a real collision, and students who played the parts of the people in the crash were treated as they would be in a real collision.

"The police department came, and they took the drunk driver away in a cop car, and they took the people to the hospital," said student Janna Langhi, a junior. "They even had the coroner come and take away the dead person."

Throughout the day, a different student was pulled from class every 15 minutes, representing one person who will die from an alcohol-related collision. The students are led to a private retreat where all communication to friends and family is cut off for the rest of the day. Parents of those students also receive death notifications from officers at their work.

Aaron Dean, who coordinates the "Every 15 Minutes" program for the Sacramento Fire Department, said that even though the parents know what is happening beforehand, it is a very powerful moment.

"Those notifications are pretty heart-wrenching," he said. "Many parents have quite a significant emotional event."

The next day's school assembly allows everyone to share in those emotional events when the students and parents are reunited. While separated, both the students and the parents write letters to each other as if the student had actually died. During the assembly, those letters are read out loud, which many students in attendance said was very impacting.

"When they read the letters and stuff, it made you see how the parents would feel and how you would be affecting everyone in your whole life if you did something like that," said junior Roshena, who declined to give a last name. "It was very emotional. It had a huge impact on me."

The assembly also featured a segment by motivational speaker Dee Sova, who lost a 13-year-old daughter when she was hit by a drunken driver more than six years ago. Sova said that she takes the students through the events of the weekend before her daughter was killed and shares the details of her daughter's death. Sova said that she knew students were impacted by her story.

"When I tell the details, it gets pretty silent," she said. "You can hear a pin drop."

Senior Andrew Chao said that Sova was moving with her story.

"She was, like, wow. Her story about her daughter was crazy," he said. "I understood what she was going through, and it's really sad."

The students said that the assembly made a difference.

"The assembly really influenced people," said Langhi, adding that the student's letters made an impact. "That, I think, got a lot of people."

"There were tears rolling out of my eyes," Chao said. "Some other guys were crying too, even if they were ashamed to say it."

Dean said that the program, which happens three to eight times a year throughout the area, changes many lives.

"The kids that are involved in the planning especially take a big impact with them," he said. "It's definitely working, and our message is getting out there."

Chao said that he knew students who drink and drive, and that the event definitely impacted them.

"It was deep," he said. "This stuff happens, you know. It's real life."

All Photos by Kati Garner

What's Happening at the Capitol: April 3

2010-04-03T02:03:23Z

What's Happening At The Capitol: April 3

8 - 11 a.m.

A 3K rally to the Tower Bridge and back will be held, according to the Capitol Permits officer. The rally is titled the Temple of Faith Run For Your Life, and about 250 people are expected to attend. No other information was available.

No other events are planned for the weekend.

What's Happening At The Capitol: April 2

2010-04-01T04:27:59Z

9:30-11:30 a.m.

There will be a Bible reading and procession to cross the new rose garden in silence, according to a report sent by the Capitol Permit Officer. About 70 people are expected. No other information was available.

There are no other events scheduled until Saturday.

Improvements Coming to Historic Chinatown

2010-03-31T04:11:26Z

A gift of $30,000 will be given to Historic Chinatown, located on J Street between 3rd and 5th streets, for improvements to safety and lighting.

The funds are coming from the Community Development Block Grant, which is made up of funding by the federal government but is given out at the discretion of the Sacramento City Council. The $30,000 was approved at the March 9 City Council meeting.

Jennifer Lee-Lewis, community manager of the Ping Yuen Apartments, said the funds are needed because the area is home to a significant senior population that encounters tripping hazards. These tripping hazards, such as cracked tiles and big tree roots, are harder to spot during the night due to the poor lighting.

She said that because Historic Chinatown is hard to see from the streets outside, it oftentimes goes unnoticed.

"Things don't get taken care of like they should," she said. Lee-Lewis said that many of the seniors living in the Ping Yuen Apartments or the nearby Wong Center, both part of Historic Chinatown, walk around the area to get exercise, but the tripping hazards can be dangerous because many seniors shuffle their feet as they walk. During autumn, falling leaves and plentiful rain can make the issue even worse.

Meitra Bozorgzadegan, an event promoter for the pagoda building, said the poor lighting contributes not only to the tripping hazards, but also to crime in the area, including robberies and beatings.

"It is kinda scary," she said, noting that the courtyard can become very dark after hours. "I don't feel comfortable being down here at night."

"We definitely need light for seniors when they come home at night," Lee-Lewis said. "Everyone here is 55 years old or over, and many have disabilities."

Another priority is improved signage for the area.

"I would really like to see signage saying that this is Chinatown," Lee-Lewis said. "It would be nice to have more of a focus on culture. No one knows about it because we're hidden."

Once it gets the publicity it needs and once some of these problems get fixed, it will definitely be a cute area," added Bozorgzadegan.

Dan Roth, director of Sacramento's District 1, said that the funds will be administered soon and are currently going through a bidding process. However, Roth also said that the money is meant to help spruce up the area with lighting and signage. The tripping hazards, he said, can be fixed with compliance money for the Americans with Disabilities Act and shouldn't be taken out of the Block Grant money. Either way, Historic Chinatown will see many improvements soon.

Conference Shines Light on Local Human Trafficking

2010-03-27T05:35:49Z

Human trafficking in Sacramento was the subject of a conference Friday at Sacramento State.

"Hidden in Plain Sight: Human Trafficking in the Central Valley" was hosted by My Sister's House, a local nonprofit organization that, according to board President Darrel Woo, helps victims of domestic violence, with a focus on the Asian/Pacific Islander community.

"My Sister's House is about saving lives," said Woo, adding that victims of human trafficking and domestic violence are often one and the same.

"They are interconnected," he said. "Many victims suffer in silence." Woo said that this conference, the second hosted by My Sister's House, is important because Sacramento is home to many trafficking victims.

"We are at the crossroads of Interstate highways 50, 80, 5 and 99," said Woo. "It's not inconceivable that this is a ripe area for trafficking, especially with the Asian community, because San Francisco and California is the gateway for that community."

The event started with a welcome from Lt. Gov. Mona Pasquil, who told the audience of about 150 that her brother was an investigator who helped victims of human trafficking.

"He told me it happens everywhere," she said. "The faces of human trafficking are not limited to one color, economic class or part of the world. It happens in Sacramento and in the Central Valley."

Speakers included Dr. Elizabeth Miller, assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of California at Davis Children's Hospital. She called human trafficking the second-largest crime in the world, and the fastest growing. Up to 800,000 people are enslaved every year, she said, adding that 27 million people are in slavery every day.

Miller said that traffickers lie to people, telling them there is work and an income waiting in a foreign country. The victims agree to go with the traffickers, but are told upon arrival that they have to repay their captors. They are forced to work for incredibly low wages in agriculture, sweat shops, construction, car washes and often as prostitutes. The captors constantly raise the level of debt for the most trivial things, such as a penalty for speaking in a native language, forcing victims into a cycle of debt that never ends.

Miller said that this practice is prevalent in the United States, with 14,500 to 17,500 people being brought here every year. She added that half of those are children. According to Miller, victims often speak no English and are told by their captors not to trust police, doctors or the government. Victims comply out of fear of deportation, she said. Victims frequently are unaware that trafficking is even a crime. Because they do not see themselves as victims, they blame themselves for their situation, Miller continued.

Lt. John Vanek of the San Jose Police Department has managed the San Jose Human Trafficking Task Force for four years. He told the audience that trafficking is modern-day slavery.

"Human trafficking is the largest human-rights violation in the history of mankind," he said, adding that there are many types of trafficking, including bride selling, bonded labor, sex tourism and child soldiers. Vanek discussed the role of governments in human trafficking, saying that awareness of the crime has increased in the last decade, leading to legislation and convictions in the United States. There is much more that can be done, according to Vanek. More education is needed, he said, adding that many police officers don't know what trafficking is or how to stop it.

Victims of trafficking in the United States can be found everywhere, Vanek said. "People who say there is no trafficking are not looking for it."

Also speaking at the event were FBI Special Agent Rebekah Bills and attorney Lehoa Nguyen. Kay Buck, the founding executive director of the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking, ended the event with a workshop that provided information on identifying trafficking victims and situations.

The conference brought attention to a social issue that, according to Vanek, is not discussed enough. He said that people can fight trafficking by educating themselves and others about the crime.

"People need to take responsibility to raise their own awareness," he said. "So much of increased awareness is a grass-roots response. People need to be reaching out to other people and organizations to let people know about this issue.

"We all need to work together to rescue these victims."

Photo Captions

1. Survivor's quilt

2. A section of Sacramento State's University Ballroom

3. Part of the survivor's art exhibit

4. Part of the survivor's art exhibit

What's Happening at the Capitol: March 27

2010-03-27T05:17:48Z

What's Happening at the Capitol: March 27

10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

The 10th annual Cesar Chavez March will start at Arteaga's Supermarket in West Sacramento and go to the Capitol. The sponsoring Labor Council for Latin American Advancement said the march represents a call for justice, jobs, education and immigration reform. Families are encouraged to attend and bring signs or banners.

SMUD Smart Meters: An Incomplete Story

2010-03-22T03:04:37Z

One of the first stories I was assigned as a new intern in late January was SMUD's installation of energy smart meters.

SMUD customers were told the smart meters would provide them with more information about their energy usage, which could lead to better energy management for them and SMUD. The utility had just about finished testing the technology, and was ready to install more than 600,000 meters throughout the Sacramento area.

SMUD contracted with South Carolina-based Utility Partners of America for the majority of the installation work, and my assignment was to find out why SMUD had contracted with an out-of-state company rather than a local one. Installation of the smart meters meant that dozens of SMUD meter readers would be laid off.

Erik Krause, SMUD smart meter project manager, explained that when SMUD hired its meter readers years ago, they knew their jobs were temporary because of the impending installation of smart meters. Krause said that the utility was trying to retain those employees by retraining them.

"We're going to continue aggressively finding new positions within SMUD," he said. "We won't be making new jobs in order to support them, but we hope that the vast majority of them will find something inside SMUD." Krause said that of 73 meter readers, 26 have found other positions within the company in the last year.

As for contracting with Utility Partners of America, Krause said that SMUD did not presently have the resources to do the job efficiently, which made it necessary to bring in an outside company. UPA was chosen after a bidding process, he continued.

"When we were looking at this, we realized that we pretty much had our whole meter shop, and all the people who were experienced in this work, busy. We realized that there was no way that we would be able to install all the meters we needed to on our own," said Krause. "That's when we made the decision to go out for a contractor." He said that UPA was going to return 20 percent of its $7.5 million contract to Sacramento's economy, including hiring 60 workers.

UPA, with its trained workers, would save SMUD years of work, time and money, according to Krause.

I attempted to write a balanced story with the voices of the different groups affected. I contacted UPA twice by e-mail and once by phone, but received no reply. Fellow intern Sierra Barroza also tried to contact UPA, but received the same lack of response. I contacted the Office of Labor Relations for the city of Sacramento to ask if there were companies that SMUD could have hired in the Sacramento area, but the department said they were not involved with private contract bids.

After a tip from Editor-In-Chief David Watts Barton, I contacted Sam Glero, who represents SMUD workers in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Glero told me by e-mail that he did not represent meter readers. Other attempts to contact SMUD meter readers also led to deadends.

After attempting to contact SMUD, UPA, the IBEW, the Department of Labor, a number of personal contacts and some SMUD meter readers, the only response was from SMUD. While I was appreciative of the two interviews with Erik Krause, we at The Sacramento Press value balanced journalism. Because we were dealing with a potentially sensitive story, Barton, Managing Editor Colleen Belcher and I decided to postpone the story until we could gather information from all the relevant parties rather than publish something that represented only one side.

In the interest of journalistic transparency, we are publishing this to show my attempts to write this now two-month-old story. Readers who are aware of this story and may have wondered why we haven't covered it should know it is not for lack of effort. That being said, The Sacramento Press is built on community contribution. If you are a SMUD meter reader or know one, feel free to contact me, Colleen or David.

Until then, we leave you with this record of our efforts to cover an important story.

What's Happening at the Capitol: March 22 - 23

2010-03-22T02:05:02Z

Monday, March 22

10 a.m. - Noon
The California State Students Association will hold a rally to bring the issues of higher education to the forefront of public awareness. Students will begin to gather at 7 a.m. at Raley Field. At 10, students will march down the Capitol mall to the north steps for a rally that will start at 11 a.m. The rally will include 30 speakers, mostly students. Five thousand people are expected to attend, representing California State universities and community colleges statewide.

1:30 p.m. - 2 p.m.
California Youth Advocacy Network is holding its Youth Quest 2010 rally event on the west steps of the Capitol. The event will follow a morning session at the Masonic Temple. The theme is "Roll Up the Red Carpet on Tobacco Use in Movies." After the morning session's overview of tobacco in movies and lunch, attendees will march to the Capitol's west steps to participate in a rally/press conference. Afterward, attendees can meet with a legislator or tour the Capitol.

Tuesday, March 23

10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture will hold its annual Agriculture Day. This year's theme is "Healthy Choices for a Healthy California." The event will feature California's agricultural products and celebrate the abundant healthy food choices the state offers. The event opens to legislators and staff at 10:30 a.m., to the public at 11:30. Agriculture Day will be held at the Capitol's west steps. One thousand people are expected.

There are no other events scheduled until Thursday.

What's Happening at the Capitol: March 20

2010-03-20T06:13:18Z

Saturday, March 20

10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

California Complete Count is hosting a rally/march to raise awareness of the U.S. Census. Entertainment starts at 10:00 a.m. and a 1/2 mile march around the Capitol starts at 10:45. At 11:45, there will be brief speeches from Mayor Kevin Johnson and Lt. Gov. Mona Pasquil. Entertainment from community groups will continue until 2:30 p.m.

The rally/march is intended to raise awareness and support for the census. Workers from the Census Bureau will man questionnaire assistance centers to answer questions and help fill out census forms.

The event is part of the March 20 "Be Californian, Be Counted" day. Five hundred people are expected.

No other events are planned until Monday.

Green Summit Shows New Green Tech

2010-03-18T04:18:00Z

The fourth annual Green California Summit and Exhibition wrapped up today at the Sacramento Convention Center, giving attendees a look at new green technology that provided a glimpse into what the world could look like in the near future.

The summit featured keynote presentations from four speakers: 15-year-old Alec Loorz, founder of Kids vs. Global Warming; Noel Perry, Next 10 founder; David Roland-Holst, director of the University of California at Berkeley's Center for Energy, Resources and Economic Sustainability; and Fran Pavley, the state senator who authored Assembly Bill 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. The summit also offered classes on green building codes, new media and green legislation.

Between classes, people could walk through the expansive and busy exhibition hall, which was filled with about 300 booths and showed everything from commercial toiletry management to fuel-cell-powered vehicles.

Japanese company Noritz showed off a gas-powered, tank-less water heater that promised endless hot water and used less energy than current water heaters, while BionX had a device that provided electronic assistance to bicycles, resulting in a faster and more efficient bike ride.

Groasis featured its Waterboxx invention, a little box that allows for planting trees in places that they would not normally grow. The device, which will be fairly cheap when it is released, gives enough water to a young tree to live until its roots can begin to sustain its life. Ellie Hoff, project director at Groasis, said that a test in the Sahara desert showed that more than 80 percent of trees planted with the Waterboxx technology survived, while more than 90 percent of those planted without the device died. Hoff said this can lead to more planting of trees.

"At this moment, when you plant something, you have to irrigate it," she said. "But if there is a drought or scarce water resources, this product reduces the amount of water needed to plant trees."

Mount Professional Services showcased its Dewpointe water filter, which uses a complex system to make water out of the moisture in the air, producing up to 3,000 gallons per day of clean water without the need for a pure water source. Scott Mount of Mount Professional Services said that this technology could be used to provide water to people who do not normally have access to it.

"In America, we take for granted the water resources we have," he said. "We're looking at going to places that need water. This device could be used in places like Haiti or Chile."

Not all of the booths promoting a green lifestyle needed high-tech products. 7th Generation Recycling showed its textile recycling bins, which would help eliminate landfill waste and provide a use for used clothing that places like the Salvation Army can not take.

"We're trying to put these bins in convenient public places," said owner Kennedy Nijmeh. "It provides an outlet for people to get rid of their unwanted textiles." Nijmeh said that the unusable textiles are processed and made into things like mop heads and insulation, while some clothing that can still be used is sent to other countries.

The exhibit hall featured other products including solar-powered trash compactors, a machine that makes biodiesel fuel out of vegetable oil for less than $1 per gallon, electric motorcycles and a specialized fan that decreases the amount of grease a restaurant oven produces. Many different industries, from clothing to computers and lighting, were represented, each with its own take on how to make the planet greener and more efficient.

The fourth annual Green California Summit and Exhibition turned the Sacramento Convention Center exhibition hall into a window to tomorrow's world.

Fourth Annual Green Summit Next Week

2010-03-13T06:24:34Z

The fourth annual Green California Summit and Exposition is coming to the Sacramento Convention Center next week.

The expo is one of the biggest green forums with a public-sector focus in the nation. It's also where government and businesses interested in green technology can get educated, according to Racquel Palmese, managing editor of Green Magazine. The expo's theme is "Committed to Sustainability."

"In this time of economic hardship, it's important for everyone to keep their eye on the ball, as well as be good for the environment," she said.

In addition to an exhibit hall that will feature new developments in green technology, there will be four keynote speakers: 15-year-old Alec Loorz, founder of Kids vs. Global Warming; Noel Perry, Next 10 founder; David Roland-Holst, director of the University of California at Berkeley's Center for Energy, Resources and Economic Sustainability; and Fran Pavley, state senator who authored Assembly Bill 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006.

"AB 32 is being challenged now," Palmese said. "This summit will be a good reality check on what AB 32 is and the importance of keeping it moving forward."

The summit also will offer classes and seminars on various topics such as water management, green building codes, and legislative mandates. Palmese said that the first-time class on building codes reflects the fact that California is the first state to have green building codes.

More than 300 companies will be represented in the three-day event.

"This is unlike any other green summit," said Palmese.

The Green California Summit and Exposition will be at the Sacramento Convention Center, 1400 J St., March 16-17. Monday will haveall-day workshops, but no exhibit events. Registration is available online and is free only for exhibits and to hear keynote speakers.

Grants Help Sacramento Businesses

2010-03-12T06:35:16Z

Sacramentans love their local businesses.

A handful of local businesses recently won $500 grants from Intuit Inc. as part of its "Love a Local Business" competition, in which customers nominate businesses for grants. Three businesses are awarded weekly, and nine local businesses have already won the grant from the software company known for its TurboTax and QuickBook programs.

"Sacramento overwhelmingly wants to support their local businesses," said Heather McLellan, a director at Intuit Inc. "There's a real wish for them to thrive here."

In addition to the weekly winners, Intuit is hosting a "Love a Local Business Event" Saturday and Sunday at 1801 L St., where local business owners can win one of five $1,000 grants and receive professional advice on running small businesses.

Eric Heffel, owner of Midtown frozen yogurt shop Yogurtagogo, said the grants are a great way to help out local businesses.

"The character of Midtown is based on independent businesses like these," he said. "In times like these when independents fail, corporations come in and take over, and you start to lose a lot of character in the area. I don't want to see Midtown become full of corporations."

Heffel was one of the first winners of the $500 grant, and he said he will use it to buy some materials he was holding off on until he had more money, adding that it was a local purchase.

"It's nice to have some money we can put back right into the local economy," he said.

Corey DeRoo, co-owner of French Cuff Consignment, also won a grant through the competition. DeRoo's shop, which she defined as a "chic secondhand boutique," hosts community events and helps sponsor nonprofit companies. DeRoo said this grant will help them continue that tradition.

"With this economy, a lot of businesses have had to cut out charity, but this helps us to continue to support the community," she said. "We believe in being a part of the community."

DeRoo said she thinks the grant competition is a great idea to help small businesses, adding that thousands of Sacramento businesses have closed in the past few years.

"I was really happy they are doing this event," she said. "It's such a perfect time to do such a thing."

Andy Smith, owner of The Bread Store, said winning a grant was fantastic.

Photo Captions

1. L Wine Lounge, photo by Rachel Valley

2. Yogurtagogo, photo by Jonathan Mendick

"Anytime you can be recommended by your peers and customers, it's very rewarding," he said. "It's going to help and will be nice to have."

The L Wine Lounge was another winner of the grant.

"We're excited that we won," said owner Marcus Marquez. "It's surprising, because there's so many great local small businesses in Sacramento."

While nine Sacramento businesses have won the grants so far, McLellan said that more than 500 local businesses have been nominated in a similar competition that will reward businesses across the nation, with a grand prize of a $35,000 grant. Competition for that grant will be fierce, as more than 90,000 businesses have been nominated nationwide.

Even with the chance of winning the $35,000 grand prize in the national competition, local business owners said they are very happy with their $500 rewards.

"We're excited to win anything," Marquez said. "Every little bit helps for small businesses."

United Football League Bringing Professional Football to Sacramento

2010-03-04T05:51:47Z

Professional football is coming to Sacramento.

The United Football League is moving the California Redwoods from the Bay Area to Sacramento for the fall 2010 season, UFL Commissioner Michael Huyghue announced at a press conference today.

"It's an exciting day for the UFL," he said.

The California Redwoods, which played in San Francisco and San Jose last year, will be relocating to Sacramento for the UFL's second season. The new season marks the UFL's expansion, with two more teams being added and the season length extending from six games to 10. The Sacramento team will be renamed, and fans can submit a team name at the UFL's website.

Mayor Kevin Johnson was at the press conference welcoming the league to the city.

"Can Sacramento support this league? Absolutely," he said, adding that the team should bring more than $10 million to the area as well as provide jobs and entertainment.

Team owner Paul Pelosi said that the UFL has tremendous talent and is full of NFL-ready players, adding that 30 UFL players signed with NFL teams following last year's season. Pelosi was confident that Sacramento was a great city for the new team.

"We know Sacramento is a great sports town," he said. "I'm a great believer in Sacramento and the area."

The team will play all of its games at California State University, Sacramento's Hornet Stadium, a 22,000-capacity stadium that normally hosts Sac State football. Huyghue said that the UFL will pay for a $500,000 turf field to be installed at the stadium, saying that the all-purpose field will be used by the university as well.

"When the UFL comes to a market, we make contributions," he said.

The expanded season will start in September and end the day after Thanksgiving, according to Huyghue. Sacramento defensive lineman Chris Cooper played for the Redwoods last year and said he is excited about the new team.

"Sacramento has the fan base that you want. You come to a town like this, and you bring people who enjoy football," said Cooper, who has also played for the San Francisco '49ers and Oakland Raiders. "People do want to see pro football in Sacramento."

Cooper said he expects the team to improve from last year's 2-4 record.

The team will continue to be coached by Dennis Green, who also will serve as the general manager. Green was the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings throughout the 1990s and coached the Arizona Cardinals for three years. He was also an assistant coach under Bill Walsh during the '49ers' Super Bowl-winning 1988 season.

The team will be assembled from previous Redwoods players, but players will also come from a draft and open tryouts. They will play the other five teams in the UFL, which has teams in Las Vegas; Orlando; Hartford, Conn., and two other cities that will be announced at the end of the month.

Green said he was excited to bring professional football to Sacramento.

"The uniqueness of coming to Sacramento means a lot to me," he said. "Sacramento is an incredible sports city."

Photo Captions

1. UFL helmet

2. UFL Commissioner Michael Huyghue

3. Paul Pelosi, Michael Huyghue, Kevin Johnson, Dennis Green

4. White UFL helmet

Successful Fundraiser Raises Awareness for VIBE Lounge

2010-03-03T07:22:13Z

The VIBE Foundation raised more than $22,000 for its upcoming VIBE teen lounge Monday at a fundraiser in The Verge art gallery. The lounge, which is planned to open in June, will be run by, and for, teens.

It will be the first of its kind in the world, said VIBE Foundation President David Schenirer. Schenirer said the inspiration came two years ago when he realized that there is nothing for teenagers to do in Sacramento.

"We decided to open a teen lounge - a place where teens can go have fun and get resources," said the 18-year-old.

VIBE co-founder Julian Nagler, also 18, said the two of them visited many teen clubs in Sacramento and found a recurring problem.

"Teens don't want to go there," he said. "After those places opened, they lost touch. They didn't evolve like teens do." Nagler said that's why it is so important that VIBE is run by teenagers.

Schenirer said the lounge will not be a place where teens are babysat, but rather a place where they can experience new things. He said that VIBE will provide games, smoothies and coffee along with free tutoring and SAT preparations. VIBE will be a safe place for teens to hang out in Sacramento, Schenirer said.

"VIBE is whatever teens in Sacramento need," he said.

The buzz for VIBE has been growing, and many city leaders have jumped on board to help with the effort, including Dan Schiele, who works with the Sacramento Police Department and also is on the board for VIBE.

"It's an organization that strives to be run by its participants," Schiele said. "It could be a nice model for other agencies and cities. It's exciting."

VIBE also has the support of California State Senator Darrell Steinberg and Sacramento City Councilman Steve Cohn, who serves as the chairman of the VIBE board.

"It's a real milestone for Sacramento that high school kids are putting this together," Cohn said. "This is really being driven by the high schoolers."

While the plan for VIBE is unique and ambitious, a critical component for its success is funding. Schenirer and Naglar said they have already raised more than $300,000 in in-kind donations from people and businesses and need to raise an additional $78,000 in cash to help get the lounge started after Monday's event.

The event was hosted by Steinberg and featured five segments that focused on what teens did during each decade from the 1950s to the 2000s. Each segment featured a different celebrity host, which included Cohn, who hosted the 1960s portion, to Schenerir, who hosted the 2000s portion.

Each segment started with the host describing what it was like being a teenager during that time period and ended with a performance by local teenagers. The performances ranged from dancing to popular songs of the era, such as the 1970s hit "Last Dance," to musical performances of songs from the era, such as Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind," performed by Rio Americano High School senior Nathan Swedlow.

The fundraiser -- attended by about 200 people -- was both fun and helped increase awareness about the VIBE lounge opening. Many teens in attendance are anticipating the opening of VIBE.

"We need somewhere to hang out," said Rio Americano freshman Courtney Bigelow. "I'm really excited."

"It'll be a nice place to kick back and meet new people," added McClatchy senior Brett Chance.

Cohn said he was excited about the opening of the lounge and was very encouraged by the outcome of the fundraiser.

"When I see things like this, it makes me very optimistic about where our city is going," he said.

Photos by Tia Gemmell
Riverfront Media Photography
www.phototia.com

Photo Captions

1. The Next Generation Dancers perform to that 70's hit, "Last Dance"

2. VIBE President David Schenirer shares with the audience how challenging it is for teens today and how much they need a safe place to hang out - thus the creation of the midtown VIBE Youth Lounge.

3. The VIBE teens pose before performing in Good VIBErations, an event that raised over $23,000 for the VIBE Youth Lounge.

4. Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg hosted Good VIBErations

5. Lyn Corbett of the Youth Development Department was the celebrity host for the 1980s segment

Urban Design Alliance Hosts Parking Dialogue

2010-02-26T04:58:04Z

Parking was the subject Wednesday at the Urban Design Alliance's Design Dialogue, an event that occurs every fourth Wednesday and features a different topic each time.

Howard Chan, parking services manager for the Sacramento Department of Transportation, led a discussion about downtown parking, which also included an update about the Central City Parking Master Plan that the City Council adopted in 2006.

"We don't really have a parking problem," he said. Chan noted that there are usually enough parking spaces throughout downtown, although not all of the spaces are used efficiently. While the congestion usually lies near the Capitol at the peak time between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., he said, spaces only a few blocks away are not being utilized.

Chan also discussed how technology has not only helped the city find parking violators, but also helped drivers avoid citations, using the new pay and display stations that accept credit cards as examples. There has been a 400 percent increase in catching multiple-citation drivers, he said, while there has also been a decline in general citations due to these machines.

Chan also promised that changes would still be coming to Sacramento's parking situation, including pay-by-text technology that allows drivers to pay for more parking when away from the meter, and variable payment structures depending on demand in certain areas.

"Our overarching goal is not revenue," Chan said. "It's to make parking available to the public."

After Chan's discussion, questions were allowed from the audience of about 25. The questions allowed for more dialogue about the city's parking issues. One such issue was the abuse of handicap placards, which allows anyone who has a placard to park anywhere for free.

Other questions concerned parking plans for the railyards, parking situations at large buildings without parking lots and even a possible smartphone application that would help people find a good parking spot downtown.

The event allowed for intelligent discussion about a topic that is usually in the back of citizens' minds and provided a glimpse into the future of parking in Sacramento.

The Design Dialogue was hosted by the Urban Design Alliance and was held at the central valley office of the American Institute of Architects.

Hard Rock Cafe To Close Next Month

2010-02-20T07:50:07Z

The Hard Rock Cafe in downtown Sacramento is closing its doors after 12 years.

The restaurant was an anchor of the troubled Westfield Downtown Plaza, and is the latest casualty of the poor economy, said Mayor Kevin Johnson.

"The Hard Rock closing certainly reflects what is going on with this country and state. It's hitting us very hard," Johnson said at a press conference Friday. "We haven't hit bottom and we haven't come out of it yet, and that's very difficult for all of us."

Michael Ault, executive director of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, said he just heard about the closing Thursday.

"We are disappointed," he said. "Hard Rock is an iconic property. The destination it represents in Sacramento is definitely something we will miss."

Ault also said that despite the closing of the restaurant, he is encouraged by increasing development in the 700 and 800 blocks of K Street, something that Johnson said is important, along with development of J and L streets.

"We are committed to having a vibrant K Street," Johnson said. "It is very important for the core of our city."

Ault said that Hard Rock Cafe will close next month. The worldwide chain opened a restaurant in Seattle last week, and will open one in Los Angeles next month.

"What Hard Rock is saying to all of us is that in tier-two cities or midsize markets, we're closing," Johnson said. "If you're a top-tier major market, we're opening and expanding."

Johnson said that one of his goals this year is to attract more businesses to the downtown area.

"We're going to be very aggressive to try to attract retail to the downtown plaza as well as J, K and L," he said. "Just sitting on the sidelines and doing nothing is unacceptable. We have to give people a reason to come downtown."

Sacramento Celebrates Little Saigon at Tet Festival

2010-02-15T05:36:10Z

The annual Tet Festival was packed with more meaning than usual this year.

This year's festival, which celebrates the Vietnamese new year with food, dance and carnival rides, among other festivities, also featured the official designation of Little Saigon. The two-mile stretch of Stockton Boulevard between Fruitridge and Florin roads is home to a large Vietnamese community.

The official designation of the area came Saturday morning with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Stockton Boulevard and Fowler Avenue. The title is the result of a recently passed City Council resolution.

More than 200 people attended the ceremony, including the Little Saigon Committee, City Councilman Kevin McCarty, and state Sen. Darrell Steinberg, who represents the area.

"Eighteen years ago, I started on the City Council in this area," Steinberg said. "I know I represent a rich community, a community rich in tradition, rich in culture and rich in pride."

A parade with dancers in costume, dragons and drums moved toward the Tet Festival on Florin Road.

The festival included a traditional Vietnamese New Year's ceremony, which featured dancers in dragon costumes moving to the rhythm of the drummers while firecrackers exploded all around them. There also was a carnival adjacent to the festival area, and even Mexican dancing horses.

There were many booths selling food, drink, gifts, toys and karaoke machines. Others represented businesses and community organizations, including the Sacramento Chinese Community Center and the Vietnamese Hope Baptist Church of Sacramento.

Thamh Nguyen, who helped plan the festival and emceed from the main stage, deemed the festival a success.

"We do the festival every year to remind our community to celebrate the freedom in this country," he said. "This year is special. The approval of Little Saigon adds a lot to it."

The Vietnamese Hope Baptist Church, which has participated in the festival for 10 years, sold food and drinks to help pay for the construction of a new church building. Pastor Tuan Phan, a native of Vietnam who has lived in Sacramento for 17 years, said he was excited about Little Saigon.

"I hear the words 'Little Saigon' and it reminds me of my country," he said.

Some of the younger generation wasn't as enthusiastic. Ousio Saeteurn and Alex Lee said it didn't mean much to them.

"They need to open up more stores and fill it out," said Lee, indicating a field nearby. "It's a little empty."

"It's okay," said Saeteurn. "It gives us kids something to do and a place to interact with people."

To those who came from Vietnam to the United States, however, Little Saigon has far more meaning.

Son Nguyen, a member of the Association of Former Vietnamese Political Prisoners, has lived in Sacramento 19 years. He is excited about Little Saigon, he said, because it represents what Vietnam was before 1975, when the country became a communist government. Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City at that time.

"I'm very proud to be Vietnamese and to have this here in Sacramento," he said, through a translator.

Little Saigon is meaningful because many in the Sacramento Vietnamese community escaped from the communist government to freedom in America, said Thamh Nguyen.

"Saigon has a connection to this community, and that connection is freedom. It means a lot to a lot of people," he said. "Using the name 'Little Saigon' reminds them why we're here."

This year's Tet Festival coinciding with the designation of Little Saigon not only lent extra meaning to the festival, it increased awareness of this vibrant and diverse community.

"Having Little Saigon now brings a lot of understanding to the people outside of the Vietnamese community," Nguyen said. "It's great to have the community of Sacramento celebrate with us."

All photos taken by Jonathan Mendick