Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "heather fargo"

Residents celebrate Tretheway's community service

2010-10-19T05:45:48Z

Supporters of outgoing Sacramento Councilman Ray Tretheway gathered in North Natomas on Monday night to celebrate Tretheway’s nine consecutive years on the City Council.

Tretheway, who was first elected in 2001, lost the District 1 re-election race in June to his opponent Angelique Ashby. He will leave his City Council seat in late November, but will keep his position as executive director of the Sacramento Tree Foundation.

More than 100 people turned out for Monday night’s event held at the North Natomas Library. District 1 includes North and South Natomas and downtown’s Alkali Flat.

“We are knitted as a community,” Tretheway told his supporters and constituents Monday night. “There’s no doubt about it. There’s something special in Natomas ... It has been an honor to serve you and to stand side-by-side with you in so many different endeavors.”

Tretheway sat with former Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo, a Natomas resident herself, as several of his constituents praised him for his community work.

Nick Avdis, a District 1 resident who is active in the Valley View Acres Community Association, said Tretheway urged him to get involved with his community. Avdis said Tretheway is a neighbor. “You stand with us because you are one of us,” he said.

Jerry Way, the city’s transportation director, described Tretheway as “a man of great integrity.”

Fargo said she’s worked with Tretheway on local issues since 1980. Their shared work included planting trees, cleaning up graffiti and building parks, she said.

“He’ll be missed, but he’s not going too far away,” Fargo told the crowd. “He’s still going to be living out here and working on things, and planting trees. And he’ll still be your friend.”

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Editorial: Mayor Johnson's star-spangled double standard reaches fever pitch in his latest blog

2010-07-03T23:28:44Z

I'm not a political analyst by trade [shocker, I know], but given the orotund "we shall overcome" flavor of Mayor Johnson's latest blog on his collaboratively-named TEAMKJ.ORG web site, his opposition will be glad to know he has officially abandoned his fiery "Pot Roast of Public Anger" and retreated to the less flammable (and more familiar) "Passive Aggressive Soup." Only now, papa Johnson got a brand new bag : defender of voter rights.

Hypocritically titled "your voice still matters," Mayor J's latest blog (which has attracted a whopping 66 views to date) attempts to paint the city council as a change-resistant band of oppressors, the voters as victims of some great miscarriage of justice, and Johnson as their fearless liberator leading the oppressed in "Oh Freedom." It makes for fodder worthy of the Comedy Channel, but doesn't offer much in the way of leadership integrity.

From Johnson's blog: "All of you, from all walks of life, have asked the same question: 'Why won’t they let us vote?' I understand and share your disappointment. Last week’s council meeting could have made history. Instead, politics won the day.'

Dear Mayor,

Your sudden opposition to voter disenfranchisement, let alone "politics-as-usual" obstructionism, is laughable considering your shameless disrespect of the people's "voice" when YOU voted to level ECONOMIC SANCTIONS against the diverse people and businesses of the state of Arizona--despite the boisterous and plentiful number of "voices" that begged you not to.

Sorry Mayor Johnson, but I can't bring myself to download your new protest song "They Don't Want You To Be Heard" when your actions have proven you don't respect the process any more than the political hacks you claim are "obstructing" it.

Granted, there was a time when I thought you represented a true threat to "status quo" thinking at city hall. When you were stumping you talked a really good game about how your lack of political experience was an asset because yours represented a "fresh" new perspective, and you had no political loyalties to appease. But it turns you were all hot air. With your AZ Boycott vote you proved you are cut from the same cloth as council deadwood Rob "I-support-any-cause-that-gets-me-applause" Fong and Kevin "I-brake-for-special-interest" McCarty.

Sorry Mayor, but your AZ vote proved--at least to me--that you're just another lemming who doesn't have the spine to stand up to political pressure. So despite your incessant special pleading to the contrary, your actions have proven you would not bring any badly needed leadership skills to city council chambers if you were promoted to CEO. You have been interviewing for the job for almost two years now and you have proven (with your actions and statements) that making you strong mayor would not signal an end to status quo; it would only signal its formal ratification.

DON'T GET ME WRONG. I disagree with AZ's law. In fact I abhor any legislation that give "authorities" more power than they already have (including all Bush's privacy-bashing legislation). But there were other ways to go about protesting the AZ law. Enacting boycott legislation was the least creative, and least honorable of all the options, yet you offered ZERO alternatives and just caved to political pressure. Where was all that great leadership you have been promising? Where were all those creative solutions? Where was all that "public discussion" you have been waxing about ad nauseam? Where was your spine? I'm not attacking you here. Far from it. I'm just saying maybe you should get a spine before you accuse others of not having one? Just a thought.

From Johnson's blog: "Yes, the issues are challenging, particularly for those who see our fight for reform in simplistic terms. A “power grab” by an “ego-driven” Mayor. A “classic battle” between business and labor. But while those catch phrases make good headlines, they ignore the truth.."

I'll give you this: you're efficient. That's a very convenient way to spin the story to achieve your desired outcome. Reminds me of a movie my family and I watched last night called "Dear John." A beleaguered soldier comes back from Afghanistan to find the love of his life has married someone else. Much to his surprise though, she is still in love with him (the soldier). This presents a hefty challenge for the writer... how to deal with that quandary so the soldier can still get the girl and the audience can still have their happy ending.

Hmmm.......... oh I know---give the new husband cancer! With the new husband out of the way, the soldier gets the girl and they live happily ever after. Problem solved. That's an efficient solution, but it cheapens the story and makes it a little less believable.. just like you have done by summarily dismissing all your critics (and all of their many legit beefs with your SMI) as mere gadfly labelmaking.

I won't mince my words mayor; your careless dismissal of legit criticism doesn't inspire confidence that you can be an objective, well-rounded executive who LISTENS more than he talks. You used to say you don't take anything personally. I think you do. Your blogs and public tantrum certainly tend to indicate you do. Again, actions speak louder than words. Were you ever taught that? Do you think all that old wisdom is mythical? Doesn't apply to you? What? Do tell.

OK listen [I know it's hard, but try, ok?], forget about all the politicial posturing, inappropriate profane attacks on you, and grandstanding for a moment. What about the big, neon, Vegas-like sign in the room blinking: "Johnson is not qualified to be the executive mayor of Sacramento" ? Myself and many others have stated we don't approve of you in an executive mayor capacity because we simply don't think you are qualified for that job. No labels. No vendettas. No union influence. No politics. What is your response to that criticism? I'd love to know because you have never addressed this criticism to my knowledge.

[On a side note Mayor, I have to say again: It's actually quite remarkable that you continue to shoot yourself in the foot with every errant statement you make. Do you not have PR advisers? Perhaps you do but you simply don't listen to them--which would be yet another reason to vote against promoting you to CEO].

Despite all your dismisiveness, I do agree with you on a few points, Mayor.

1. I agree it should NOT be about politics.

2. I also agree that the city council should not be obstructing the people's right to vote---albeit for a COMPLETELY different reason than you maintain (and let's not forget you are on shaky ground with that one, considering you went above your pay grade and supported economic sanctions against Arizona, thus doing the same exact thing you accuse the council of doing: Supressing the people's "voice").

Thanks for listening Mayor Johnson.

Regardless of the court's position that SMI need pass muster with the council first, I believe the council should do the right thing and pass SMI on to their constituents to decide. But not because I want to see Johnson promoted to CEO of Sacramento. I happen to agree with those who also believe in the democratic process and think the people should be allowed to decide this issue for themselves.

Some Johnson detractors opine voters are "too stupid" or "uninformed" to vote on SMI so therefore it should not go to the ballot (which begs the question: do the city council members--save for Waters--feel the same way??). They say people don't read. Don't understand. Gosh. Shall we disqualify the gubernatorial vote for the same reason? How about the presidency? Yikes. How is that way of thinking any different than the old south Jim Crow culture that disenfranchised voters simply because of their skin color?

One could apply that same logic to ANY lousy politician whom ever charmed or manipulated his or her way into office only to be despised (or recalled) by the masses later. God knows we have a long and storied history of electing terrible politicians in this country.. yet the vote goes on... thankfully. Protecting status quo by denying the democratic process in the name of "patriotism" is so nonsensical it's hard to process.

Anyway, even if it is true that people are not informed enough about SMI, that's hardly good enough reason to skirt the voting process, matter of fact it's an even better reason to put it up for vote! If people need to be informed, then SMI opponents can use the process to inform them (and how about doing it with a little more class this time? It's safe to say the character assasination approach has been a dismal failure twice now. Don't make it a 3-PEAT!).

As we celebrate another Independence Day, let's not forget what being independent is all about. Isn't it about thinking for yourself? Forming your own opinions? Taking a stand for what you believe in? Punching a ballot to be a part of the decision making process? Politicial loyalties are great, and I love the debate as much as anyone, but I don't think we should ever get so passionate and obssesed with them that we feel compelled to deny each other the very right that has made our country so great.. and independent.

Happy INDEPENDENCE day, everyone.

Stay INDEPENDENT! :)

Mark Johnston
Www.JoeSacramento.Com

Four former mayors speak in public forum

2010-05-18T04:04:55Z

A Sunday night panel with four former Sacramento mayors took a lighthearted tone at the Time Tested Books/Midtown Monthly Living Library series. Topics included Burnett Miller's alleged pornographic doodlings during council meetings ("You claimed they were pornographic," he said to Anne Rudin who kept several of them); Heather Fargo's love of animals; the expectation that Rudin look like Gloria Steinem ("aviator glasses, long hair and militant," she said); and Phil Isenberg's ability to politely interrupt people ("he knew how gently to cut everybody else off, so nobody hated him," said Miller).

Nearly 100 people, most appearing to be over 40, showed up at Time Tested Books to listen to the former mayors talk about their experiences and answer questions. Tim Foster, editor of "Midtown Monthly," moderated the hour-long public forum, which included both laughs and serious conversation.

The all-Democratic panel discussed recurring issues from past and present City Council meetings including the strong mayor system, containerized waste, city-county consolidation and the tax/spending conundrum. A camaraderie seemed to be evident between the mayors, who were all consecutive mayors from 1975-2008, not counting former mayors Joe Serna, who passed away in 1999, and Jimmie Yee, who was not present.

The former mayors joked with each other, even when they disagreed, but they all agreed that they didn't like calling Sacramento a "world class city," which elicited cheers from the crowd.

"When you can't raise taxes and you can't cut spending, games are all that are left," said Isenberg, who was mayor from 1975-82 before serving in the California State Assembly. He was known as a budget expert when he served in the Assembly.

Isenberg said some of the toughest City Council meetings he ever attended were about racial tensions. After the forum, he recalled a meeting in the early '70s when he was a councilman where hundreds of African Americans showed up.

They were there to support a young black youth shot by police officers who were looking for a gang of armed robbers in the Del Paso Heights area. The kid was innocent and unarmed, and the people demanded that the city fund his defense attorney.

After being asked by audience members, others spoke of their favorite accomplishments.

Isenberg said one of the things he is proud of was a number of City Council measures supporting the arts.

"The grandfather of the (Sacramento Metropolitan) Arts Commission is Burnett Miller," he said. "I got interested in the (SMAC) Art in Public Places ordinance."

Rudin, the first woman to be directly elected by voters, initially found the socio-political climate difficult.

"I had a lot to prove," Rudin said. "I had to prove first of all that I didn't have to be a militant woman - the term 'feminist' was a bad word - and that (I) could do the job, had enough of a background to hold (my) own there and understand public policy issues."

She said her favorite accomplishment was helping to establish the Regional Transit's light rail system.

"One of the things I did work a lot on were animal issues," said Fargo, who served from 2000-'08. "I still believe that if the animals could vote, I'd still be mayor."

Before leaving office, one of the last things Fargo accomplished was to help fund a giraffe barn at the zoo, she said. She's currently writing a book on animal issues. She also mentioned helping the community with water issues, the general plan for the Sacramento River, parks, libraries and community centers.

Responding to a questions by Foster on the current strong mayor initiative, Fargo said that while some things could be changed to make it better, she thinks it's "important for the mayor to sit with the City Council."

"My last year on the council, I was head of developing the river plan," said Miller, the last World War II veteran on the City Council. "About three years later, when I became the mayor, we got a barge on the river. The barge was the greatest thing. That and to develop a monkey cage out at the zoo."

Photographs:
1. Left to right: Rudin, Miller, Fargo, Isenberg
2. The audience
3. Time Tested Books
4. Isenberg
5. Rudin
6. Miller
7. Fargo

Sacramento architect David Mogavero speaks at Time Tested Books

2010-04-19T19:26:55Z

It was a packed crowd Sunday night, as about 50 people gathered to listen to the fourth installment of Time Tested Books' Living Library series, co-sponsored by Midtown Monthly. Sacramento architect David Mogavero was on hand to share a special presentation of his career designing structures and developments all over Northern California.

Mogavero began about 30 years ago, joking that it was while working with hippies that he was able to create fresh ideas.

"I was working all over Northern California in different scales and contexts," he said. He described the excitement of putting developmental resources into new projects, especially the suburbs.

"I really believe the greatest opportunity in America is retrofitting the suburbs," Mogavero said. He went on to explain to the audience that location is key to green building and spoke of ending urban sprawl.

The spotlight was on underutilized areas in Sacramento, filled with parking lots, abandoned land, and other missed opportunities. Mogavero said in some places, it is enough space to create hundreds of thousands of new housing units. The architect specializes in infill development, new development (ie: housing units) in pre-existing subdivisions.

He noted that in the suburbs especially, there are many benefits.

"(Infill development in the suburbs) reduces the cost of living, the cost of doing business," he said, "[It] reduces operation costs and makes the U.S. more competitive internationally." The idea is to get people closer to goods and services, cut down travel expense and oil dependency, and create a stronger sense of community.

Mogavero cited statics showing that people in places of higher foot traffic such as New York weigh on average 8 to 9 pounds less than suburban residents. Another study stated that compared to the Arden area, there are 87 percent less travel accidents in the central city, thus this type of development provides the benefit of better health and safety.

The presentation, ran in dialogue format, fielded lots of questions from the audience ranging from what role parks play in building subdivisions to the challenges of where to invest resources and increase investment. Former Sacramento mayor Heather Fargo, attending as a spectator, was on hand to contribute her own answers and opinions.

Afterwards Fargo said, "It's really encouraging that we're spending time thinking about how to fix the suburbs." When asked if she could see this change occurring in Sacramento soon if at all, she replied, "There is lots of opportunity here. I think people are getting it, the cost of sprawl is too expensive and there are better ways to build."

Fargo believes there has been success in this area of development, noting the areas of 9th and J streets and the Railyards. Time Tested Books will be hosting a roundtable of four former mayors next month, featuring Fargo, Burnett Miller, Phil Isenberg, and Anne Rudin.

"I anticipate a turn away crowd," said owner Peter Keat. Keat suggested seating for the event, set for 7p.m. on Sunday May 16th, might be filled by 6:30 if not earlier.

The Living Library series will run through June, and return for another season, likely beginning in August.

"This has really exceeded our expectations," said Tim Foster of Midtown Monthly and host of the series, "The seats are full, participants are engaged and asking questions. Added Keat, "It is reassuring that people come not for superstars but for local experts."

For a full list of events visit www.timetestedbooks.net.

Facilities Permit Program raises controversy

2009-12-16T06:09:39Z

Questions and concerns — as well as support — have been raised over a city of Sacramento planning and building department program suspended after it was illegally used to fast-track the Nestlé water-bottling plant.

The little-known Facilities Permit Program came to light in late October when Nestlé's renovation of a South Sacramento warehouse was temporarily halted and a city investigation revealed work had started without legally required building permits.

Many people, including those criticizing some aspects of the current building approval process, said city staff have worked hard in the last few years to become more developer-friendly by improving the building approval process and resolving issues with developers earlier in their projects, which is especially needed for urban infill projects.

The FPP is intended to speed up approval for tenant improvements or renovation of existing buildings by businesses already established with the city.

Developers view the program as an "entrepreneurial" effort between development professionals and city Community Development Department staff to accelerate the building approval process, said Michael Heller, who transformed a former state agency building into the MARRS Building on 20th Street.

"It's overall a very worthy, innovative program. If there are some modifications to make it better, we would all support that," Heller said. "But we certainly would not like to see it disbanded."

While builders praised the FPP for streamlining and hastening the building approval process, others expressed confusion over the program, how it works and who benefits.

Chief among those expressing concerns was former Mayor Heather Fargo, who said she knew nothing about the program, which was adopted while she was mayor, until the city suspended it Oct. 27. During her administration, she was not aware of city staff giving the kind of verbal approval that was used to expedite the water-bottling plant without a formal building permit, which is illegal.

"Not with my knowledge and not with my support. I find it outrageous," said Fargo, who said she would have required the FPP be put on the city council agenda and discussed publicly if she'd known anything about it.

"It's a very public process — development is. It should be," she said.

Several people, including architects and developers who have worked on infill projects, said they didn't know or understand the FPP.

"I don't think anybody is familiar enough with that program — including the city itself," said one person.

Under the FPP and a similar program known as the Matrix, one team or building inspector is put in charge of a project from the beginning of a builder's effort to win a building permit. The Community Development Department's building division reviews construction plans, provides feedback and approves building permits.

"This program is designed to expedite the plan review and permitting process to facilitate a timely process," according to the department. "The most significant differences between the FPP and the normal building permit process is the ability to begin a project at the time of plan submittal and perform inspections with concurrent plan review, by using a team doing both the plan review and the inspections."

Those eligible to participate in the FPP have included building owners or management companies, tenants and contractors, according to the department. Participants must register each year. The size and cost of a project or building has no impact on participation, according to the department.

While mayor, Fargo had supported creating "permit-free" zones in areas that desperately needed to be redeveloped, but not without public knowledge, she said. She also worked to get the "pain" taken out of the building approval process for small business owners after her own experience in the 1990s. She and her husband, a general contractor at that time, had to go through more than 100 people who gave conflicting directions to get a permit to build a small shop and driveway on commercial property in North Sacramento.

Some business owners have given up on business projects in the middle of building approval processes that were going nowhere, she said.

Others who have opened businesses in rehabbed buildings within the last two to three years said their businesses were in danger of failing because of the costly delays and other problems involved in getting permits from the city. Some would not talk on the record for fear of retribution by city staff, they said.

"You put some people through hell and other people don't even have to get a permit? It's ridiculous," Fargo said. "It sounds out of control to me."

Some criticized the city for not issuing permits in a "rational" way.

"We have been concerned with what we've seen for years as a real disparity — a grossly unlevel playing field in terms of how the city handles different kinds of applications. People who are well-connected and have lots of money behind them get lots of favors, and have for years, even before the FPP," said one source. "On the other side, folks who aren't well-connected, who don't have a lot of money behind them... cannot get the city to issue them a permit for the simplest things.

"The FPP seems like a way of formalizing this verbal-agreement approach that has been going on for awhile," according to the source."You don't want it to be a free-for-all where the guys who have the juice get whatever they want and the other people get screwed."

Working through the FPP, the Swiss company Nestlé and its local contractors began construction work on an existing warehouse at 8670 Younger Creek Drive with only verbal approval from a building inspector who coordinates the program. The contractor, Panattoni Construction, is a participant in the FPP, rather than Nestlé, said David Kwong, acting head of the Community Development Department.

"Plans were submitted and verbal approval was granted on this project because of the plan's limited scope (i.e., work only included demising walls and pluming in an existing building)," according to information provided by the department.

Building permit applicants must pay fees to support the FPP and inspectors' time. Nestlé has paid $175,494 in fees for all three phases of the warehouse renovation, according to the Community Development Department.

Nestlé's water-bottling operations are expected to begin in January. The company had protested the stop-work order by saying the city's established process had been followed. The stop-work order was lifted in three business days.

Before the program was suspended, all FPP participants were given start-work authorizations or verbal approval as soon as plans were submitted to the city, as long as the work would not impact buildings' structural integrity, according to the department. The work was later inspected for compliance with city and state building codes.

While state law may not prohibit verbal approvals from replacing building permits, California Building Standards Commission Executive Director Dave Walls said he's not aware of any cities that allow building inspectors to issue permits verbally or in the field.

"I don't know of any local administrative procedures that would permit such a thing," he said. "Most will say you don't start work until you get a permit."

Various state agencies have oversight and can cite for violations of state code regarding the building of homes, schools and hospitals. The state legislature hasn't given any agency, including the Building Standards Commission, the power to enforce codes for commercial construction, Walls said.

Under state law known as the California Building Standards Code, the use of a phase permit program to fast-track a project is done so at the applicant's risk. Permits may be issued for phases of a project before another phase is designed or approved. But the applicant — not the approval-granting agency — takes all the risk for any work done before full approval is given for the entire project, Walls said.

Developers and other business people — including those who recruited Ray Kerridge as an assistant city manager — have met in recent weeks to strategize how to support the FPP and Kerridge, who brought the program from Portland and is now the city manager.

Developers once ranked the city of Sacramento as the worst place to do business in this region. Projects were stymied by the involvement of numerous departments with different agendas, which made developers feel like "a mouse on a treadmill," said Sotiris Kolokotronis, who developed the L Street Lofts.

"By 2005, it (Sacramento) was one of the best places to do business," Kolokotronis said. "I saw in the city some really good things happen."

Developers who seek a speedier process to renovate buildings or make tenant improvements under the FPP know they still must build to code and be in line with the building permit, and that they are assuming all financial risk, Heller said.

"I think that's fair," Heller said. "If a developer is going to benefit from an expedited process, they have to be willing to take that risk."

Suzanne Hurt is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Fargo: Will she run again?

2009-11-24T06:10:46Z

Former Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo said she has been considering running for re-election.

In news that would be welcome to many who still call her by her honorary title, Fargo said Friday she has thought about running for the seat she lost a year ago to former NBA star Kevin Johnson.

"I have," she said. "Mainly because I'm asked all the time.

"It was clearly a great honor to be elected mayor. It was very painful, very challenging and incredibly rewarding at the same time," she said during one of her first media interviews since leaving office.

It's far too soon to say whether she will run in the 2012 mayoral election, Fargo said. However, she may want more challenge than the behind-the-scenes consulting and volunteer work she's been doing for the last year. She's never been good at taking time off, she said with a smile.

"Yes, I'd rather be mayor than what I'm doing," Fargo said in an interview on current city issues. "And obviously, I still care about the city."

A year away from elected office has left her feeling more rested than she has since being elected to the Sacramento City Council in 1989, said Fargo, 56. Multiple sclerosis has made it difficult for her to walk. But during a two-hour conversation in Midtown, Fargo laughed easily and made light-hearted comments - including some about not being mayor.

For instance, some people still aren't sure how to address Fargo after she served as mayor for eight years.

"Most people still call me mayor. And I like that. But a lot of people call me Heather. I'm okay with that, too," Fargo said. "I used to say, 'You can call me anything as long as I'm sitting in the chair.' I can't say that anymore."

People have asked her to run for state and county offices. But Fargo has not been willing to re-enter politics.

"I just wanted to spend some time not being in elected office and see," she said. "I don't want to say never, but I don't have a plan right now."

Fargo has been working as a consultant for California Forward, a political and governmental reform group. She has been working on an initiative to improve the state budget process and another that would guard local government revenue from being taken by the state.

"There are some things we can do now that can make a difference," she said. "We think what we're offering is a modest but meaningful package that will make a difference as to how California is run."

Fargo also volunteers for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and helped start a National Women's Political Caucus chapter in Sacramento.

The impact of multiple sclerosis is noticeable when she walks. Fargo, who must use a cane, moves more slowly now. She also wears an electronic medical device under her right knee to help stimulate her foot to move. The device hasn't been approved for MS patients and Fargo's insurance company refuses to cover it.

She stretches and strengthens her core regularly and does physical therapy. Fargo called the disease "frustrating," but not completely debilitating.

"The body parts you need to be mayor are a brain, a heart and a backbone," she said. "Legs are optional."

But Fargo isn't ready to say definitively whether she'll make a bid to serve in city politics again.

"I don't want to discount it out of hand," she said. "But in two years, I may want to support someone else who comes forward."

On Saturday, Fargo spoke at a memorial gathering that celebrated the life of community activist Mary Brill. Fargo has kept a watchful eye on city government. Elected officials consult her on important matters.

"I weigh in when I think it's appropriate," she said.

Fargo said she believes Johnson, her successor, is getting far less media scrutiny than she did during her tenure as mayor. She said this is partly because of the loss of experience and institutional memory that has accompanied the layoffs and departure of so many journalists from The Sacramento Bee.

Much institutional memory also has disappeared from City Hall, she said.

Fargo wouldn't comment on a congressional report, released Friday, that includes detailed information about a federal investigation of the St. Hope organization's alleged misuse of $800,000 in federal AmeriCorps grants and claims of sexual misconduct that arose against Johnson, its executive director at that time. No charges were ever filed against Johnson. The organization agreed in a civil settlement to pay back half the money.

However, Fargo did weigh in on Johnson's strong-mayor initiative. Such a change would strip City Council members of much power and control, she said.

"I think it very much devalues the City Council," Fargo said. "I think it's a very dangerous proposal. It would change how we do business in Sacramento so drastically."

Fargo said she doesn't like the veto power the mayor would have over council decisions. The mayor could veto decisions without listening to the public, she said, adding that she worked for 10 years to make city government and the council process more open to residents.

"This just seems to go 180 degrees in the other direction," she said. "It doesn't sound like Sacramento to me."

Suzanne Hurt is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

"100 Years of Hosteling" celebration at The Sacramento Hostel

2009-08-27T02:21:32Z

Tuesday night over 150 people showed up at The Sacramento Hostel for Hosteling International's "100 Years of Hosteling" celebration. Along with free Leatherby's Creamery ice cream, the gatherers also enjoyed a hostel tour, silent auction and live jazz.

Special guest appearances were made by City Councilmember Ray Tretheway and former mayor Heather Fargo. Fargo was honored for her work saving the mansion with a plaque, a dedication ceremony and special "thank you."

Housed in a beautiful feat of architecture, the hostel resides in the semi-Victorian (with more geometric shapes than is customary in a Victorian) Llewelyn Williams Mansion built in 1885. After Williams' death, the mansion was bought in 1906, and made the first of three moves, from the corner of H and 10th streets, to the middle of the block of H Street between 10th and 11th streets.

There it was used as a funeral home until 1979, when the mansion was sold to developers who wanted to demolish the building to make way for a high-rise.

Years of lobbying to save the mansion paid off when in 1990, with the help of then-mayor Fargo and numerous others, a deal was made to move the building instead of destroying it. So in 1994, hundreds watched as the building was lifted off the ground and rolled across the street.

The mansion was restored, and in 1995 became a hostel. But in the years that followed, it was decided that the new City Hall needed to be built on the lot where the hostel resided.

So in 2002, large trucks once again moved the mansion back to its original location on the corner of H and 10th streets, where it resides now, only six feet from where it started.

Decked out in Victorian-style vest, coat, trousers and even top hat, hostel manager Steve Haynes explained the mansion's history on a tour Tuesday night. He also gave a description of the building's internal structure.

"The wood is all redwood, finished to look like mahogany, chandeliers are gas and electric and the wallpaper is painted over," he said. "Carvings of classical figures Saturn and Ops can be found in the dining room, and the atrium has a painted glass ceiling."

He also described the layout of the hostel. It has 80 beds in 21 rooms, "depending on what you call a room," he said.

Most of the rooms are "dorms" and have four to 10 bunks all priced at less than $50 per night, while seven private rooms, which range from $50 to $100 per night have only one bed. The most expensive room even has its own bathroom.

For those who would like to view the mansion, the hostel holds Second Saturday events, Haynes said. Besides housing international travelers, it also holds education programs, environmental programs and cooking programs for youth.

The hostel is located at 925 H St. Photographs of the mansion's latest move can be viewed here.

A mayor's farewell

2008-11-22T19:52:37Z

It was 5:00 p.m. They walked through the north entrance, they streamed in the south entrance and all six elevators whizzed up and down carrying employees to the elevator lobby. Within minutes the spacious south lobby was full of people. The crowd then spilled over into the center security reception area and the north lobby.

The friends and supporters of Heather Fargo, the Honorable Mayor of California's capital city, Sacramento, had come to City Hall to celebrate and and give respect to her achievements while lamenting their loss very of very popular and effective leader. After 19 years of often thankless public service to our city she had been voted out of office!

The gathering was a tribute to her personally and professionally as one speaker after another recited her years of service and accomplishments. As one listened to her long list of impressive achievements, one could not help but ask why had she lost? How could the people of this city have turned their backs on such an effective and devoted public servant? A leader, who in spite of our city manager form of government which gives no management power to a mayor and the city's periodic troubled fiscal times, advanced through collaborative efforts the city to where it is today?

The answer to these questions will forever be speculated but never understood by those who worked with her and knew her best. However, the reality is that in today's media sound bite culture, the majority of the voters favored an inexperienced but famous photogenic sports celebrity.

I wish him well. He must do well for the sake our city. I, for one stand ready, if invited, to join in on making his "together we can" campaign pledge a reality.