Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "jimmie yee"

Mayor Kevin Johnson announces run for re-election

2011-09-15T04:32:22Z

Mayor Kevin Johnson announced Wednesday at the Capitol Heights Academy that he is running for re-election.

“I am thrilled to announce – after much deliberation, prayer, conversation and discussion with many of you out there today – I have decided to run for another term (as) the mayor of Sacramento,” Johnson said before a crowd of more than 200 supporters.

Johnson said he plans to approach his campaign for re-election by working harder and longer than anyone else to earn votes. He emphasized community involvement as the most important means for his success in the election.

Johnson will be holding listening sessions throughout the city, and town hall meetings will be held in October, November and December to foster ideas and feedback from the community.

Johnson said he will introduce his second-term plan in January and February after gathering and evaluating the information from the community over the next three months.

“You can’t do it alone,” Johnson said. “It’s going to take a team. It’s going to take a community. It’s going to take all of us really working together. So this election isn’t about me. It’s about us – it’s about community. It’s about all of us getting together to shape the future of Sacramento.”

Johnson, a third-generation native Sacramentan, said that he loves the community and plans to do everything to ensure Sacramento reaches its potential.

Johnson identified children as the most valuable asset in the community, and he said he is going to continue his efforts to improve education in the city through the third grade reading initiative, Sacramento Reads. By 2020, Johnson said, he hopes to have all third graders reading at grade level.

“Young people have a sense of possibility,” Johnson said. “They have a willingness to act. They personify the spirit of Sacramento. They are the future.”

Johnson said he also plans to move the city forward in the green initiative, making Sacramento the “Emerald City”. Johnson said his goal is to create 14,000 new jobs in the green sector of the city by 2020.

“As I reflect back on my first term, and look toward the future, I realize that there’s still much work to be done,” he said. “Sacramento, we’ve come a long way. But we still have a long way to go.”

Community members cheered and celebrated the news of Johnson running for re-election. The phrase “four more years,” rang throughout the crowd.

“I think it’s right on,” said Empress Nontsikelelo, a “change agent” from Sacramento. “He is the leader that we need – a leader with vision.”

“I feel optimistic,” community member John Anderson said. “I’m optimistic about Kevin’s willingness to invest four more years of his life in helping Sacramento move forward.”

Prominent figures in the Sacramento Community also spoke to support and endorse Johnson’s re-election. Speakers included Bishop Sherwood Carthen, Jimmie Yee, Betty Williams, Patrick Mulvaney, Mark Otereo, Brent Mayer and Melinda Guzman.

Betty Williams, president of the Sacramento chapter of the NAACP, says she regards Johnson as one who listens to the community.

“He hears them when they come to the City Council,” she said. “He hears them when they show up in the hundreds, and he hears them if there is only two.”

“I am impressed with our Mayor Johnson,” said Sacramento County Supervisor Jimmie Yee. “He’s been a great leader, having problems but working hard for the city and getting results. I am proud of what he has accomplished, and I know he can do so much more for the city for the next four years.”

Johnson said he plans to approach the 2012 election just as he did as a challenger in 2008.

“I am going to outwork everybody,” he said. “Let’s remember our future. Let’s not rest on our laurels. Let’s not get complacent. It’s not going to be easy, but if we come together collectively, we can make Sacramento a community that we’re extremely proud of. This can and will be a city that works for everyone. That’s ultimately my vision for Sacramento.”

County approves budget, layoffs expected

2011-06-10T01:22:31Z

Sacramento County elected officials approved a budget Thursday that could result in more than 200 employee layoffs, according to county budget officer Tom Burkart.

These layoffs for the 2011/2012 fiscal year are in addition to the 1,299 layoffs the county has made since the 2008/2009 fiscal year, said county spokeswoman Chris Andis.

She added that 1,299 people were actually laid off as opposed to job positions being cut.

The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors balanced its budget for the 2011/2012 fiscal year on Thursday afternoon, closing out a $90 million shortfall. The county has a general fund of $1.9 billion and a total budget of roughly $3.5 billion.

The approved budget is a first version – the supervisors will pass a final budget in September.

While Burkart provided an estimate for upcoming layoffs, exact figures were unclear Thursday.

“As a board member and member of this community, it weighs heavily on me that over the past several years, we’ve laid off hundreds and hundreds of people,” Supervisor Don Nottoli said at Thursday’s budget meeting.

The people who will be laid off attend local churches, shop in local stores and send their children to local schools, he said.

Interim County Executive Officer Steven Szalay estimated that more than 300 job positions will now be removed. That number does not include lost job positions from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department and the District Attorney’s office, Szalay said.

District Attorney Jan Scully and Sheriff Scott Jones are responsible for calculating their departments’ lost positions and possible layoffs.

The loss of about 300 positions – which does not include the D.A’s office and the Sheriff’s Department – may translate to about 200 actual layoffs, Burkart said.

Positions are different from layoffs because they can include vacancies. The county also uses a complicated system of demotions as part of the layoff process, which can affect the number of actual layoffs.

The Sheriff’s Department had faced a $26.7 million shortfall, but Jones recently pared down that number to $9.5 million. Thursday, the Board of Supervisors brought down Jones’ budget shortfall to $4.3 million.

Jones was scheduled to hold a press conference late Thursday afternoon. The Sacramento Press will follow up on any information about possible layoffs at the Sheriff’s Department on Friday.

The District Attorney’s office is facing a $6.2 million shortfall in response to the Board of Supervisors’ budget approval. Scully’s office had a $13.3 million gap in February. She brought it down to $8.6 million. The supervisors restored about $2 million to the D.A.’s budget, leaving it with a $6.2 million gap.

In a press advisory released after the budget approval, Scully said the upcoming cuts to her office would hurt residents.

“Arrests take criminals off the street – only prosecutors keep them off the streets,” she said. “It is the responsibility of the Board of Supervisors to fund prosecutions for the entire county – the unincorporated areas and all of the cities.

“Most of the cases my office prosecutes come from the cities. By failing to take that into account, the board shortchanged more than 60 percent of our residents.”

Scully will speak publicly next week about how the cuts will affect her office, according to the news advisory.

While exact layoff figures are unclear, Andis provided statistics showing that the the departments of Human Assistance and Transportation are among other departments with filled positions slated to be cut.

The county’s drop in revenues since the 2007/2008 fiscal year has been a central reason for the county’s poor financial state, Szalay said in May. Since then, the county’s revenues from property, sales and motor vehicle taxes have dropped by more than $100 million, he added.

State budget cuts have also hurt the county, according to Szalay.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Fans, leaders roll out purple carpet for NBA

2011-04-21T01:20:32Z

A day before National Basketball Association representatives arrive in Sacramento, regional leaders gathered in the state capital Wednesday to show their support for what has until now been the city's effort to keep the Kings and build a new arena.

Kings fans and business leaders have launched a campaign called "Here We Purple" in anticipation of the NBA's arrival. The movement grew on Facebook and Twitter, where organizers are encouraging everyone in the city to paint the town purple and wear purple clothes Thursday and/or Friday.

Elected officials from as far away as Loomis, Yuba City and Yolo County joined Mayor Kevin Johnson for an hour-long meeting and press conference he held to drum up support for the team.

Johnson will meet with Oklahoma City Thunder owner Clay Bennett, who chairs the NBA Board of Governor's Relocation Committee, and NBA Executive Counsel Harvey Benjamin on their two-day fact-finding mission here Thursday and Friday.

The Kings and the arena where they play have been regional assets that have brought jobs, business, marketing opportunities and a national identity to the six-county region – which includes Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, El Dorado, Yuba and Sutter counties, several leaders said.

"The NBA and the Kings span the entire region. They are not simply part of the city of Sacramento. They are one of the region's most important assets," West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon said during the press conference.

"We want to make it clear to the NBA that the entire region is standing behind Mayor Johnson, the city of Sacramento and the Kings to assure that the NBA remains a critical part of this community and this region," he said.

Late Wednesday afternoon, Kings fans and businesses used social media to get the word out on efforts to swathe Sacramento and its residents in purple.

Grange Restaurant and Bar will put the "Kings Preservation" cocktail on the menu Thursday. The Midtown bar Alley Katz is offering $1 purple beers Thursday. Restaurants, bars and a movie theater are offering freebies and special deals for customers dressed in purple. The Esquire IMAX Theatre will give away free popcorn to anyone wearing that color.

On Wednesday morning, about 36 people representing all six counties, six to eight cities and four chambers of commerce met with Johnson at the headquarters for the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, across from the Capitol. City Councilmen Steve Cohn and Jay Schenirer took part. Representatives were also sent by state Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, state Sen. Ted Gaines and U.S. Rep. Doris Matsui.

Yolo County Supervisor Jimmie Yee said he wants to work with leaders from throughout the region to figure out how to build a new arena to replace Power Balance Pavilion and keep the Kings in Sacramento.

"An entertainment center, not just for NBA basketball, but for all entertainment, is a regional asset," Yee said.

On Wednesday, Johnson did not mention another option he raised before the NBA team owners last week: that a group led by billionaire Pittsburgh Penguins co-owner Ron Burkle buy the Kings to keep them here or bring in another team.

Neither Burkle nor his investment partner, San Francisco political strategist Darius Anderson, have been available for more comment on their plan since the NBA meeting.

On Friday, NBA Commissioner David Stern indicated Johnson's "businesslike" approach and presentation to team owners were critical in getting the league to postpone the team's relocation request deadline to May 2.

No details were available on the NBA's visit or meeting with the mayor.

Several at the press conference outside Meridian Plaza, 1415 L St., credited Johnson with turning the conversation around in the last two weeks to refocus on a desire to keep the Kings and continuing the efforts to stop the team from moving to Anaheim.

In that time, Johnson has led a drive that's raised at least $8 million in pledges of financial support for the team in the form of corporate sponsorships, luxury suite sales or next season tickets. He made a pitch to stop the Kings from leaving the city or at least protect Sacramento's reputation as a viable NBA market when he appeared before NBA Board of Governors committees last week.

"It's really critical and I think it's phenomenal that we have been able to turn around that sentiment that, two weeks ago, felt like it was a done deal," Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President Steve Gándola said. "Today, I really feel we have a strong shot at keeping them here."

The Sacramento Press will turn its website purple Thursday. Kings supporters can post photos of people dressed in purple and other creative ways people show support for this effort at www.sacramentopress.com.

South Stockton Business Walk

2011-04-15T07:38:15Z

The City of Sacramento along with the Greater Sacramento Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce and Stockton Boulevard Partnership hosted a business walk Thursday.

The walk focused on businesses located in the “Little Saigon” area of South Stockton, which runs from Florin Road to Fruitridge Road.

The city’s Economic Development Business Visit Program serves to check on the needs of businesses and to connect them with the proper resources so they can flourish.

Terrence Johnson, the executive director of the Stockton Boulevard Partnership said the focus is to address the issues affecting businesses.

The Little Saigon district is home to many small businesses, particularly Southeast Asian businesses, Mai Nguyen, president of the Greater Sacramento Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce (GSVACC), said.

Organizations such as SMUD, BERC, Stockton Boulevard Partnership, Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce, city and county employees all helped in canvassing the various business in the area.

There are two barriers that the Asian business owners are dealing with: language and culture, these two make it challenging to network, Nguyen said.

“We want to reach out to them and listen to their concerns and needs,” Nguyen said. “We want to break barriers. We don’t want them to feel afraid or to feel like they did something wrong. They are used to inspectors, and/or audits coming in, but this is a refreshing visit. We want to put them at ease and inform them of the resources available.”

The new Pho Saigon Bay restaurant at 6458 Stockton Blvd. was the starting and finishing place for the walk, which went from 10 a.m. - noon.

It is symbolic to have a new business host the event because it is all about promoting business economic growth and retention of businesses, Nguyen said.

Participants dispersed into teams of two with one member being a Vietnamese speaker and another being an English speaker. In total, there were 20 teams, according to Lorrie Lowry, project manager for the city’s Economic Development Department.

Many times the assigned businesses were congregated, it made it simple to walk to the surrounding businesses but at times people drove.

The City sent a letter informing them of the visit in advance.

As each team visited the various businesses, they asked them three questions: How is business? What do you like about doing business in this area? What can city, partner and the Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce do to improve business?

They also left each business with a bag filled with various resources. These resources ranged from SMUD rebate programs to California capital (small business loans) information and Sacramento Works, which is an organization that assists with hiring.

About 230 businesses were visited in total, and each team was assigned an average of 14 businesses in the two hours , Lowry said.

Tim Nguyen, owner of Xtreme Tint, Alarm and Sound, said he started his business in 2000.

“I didn’t know of the Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce, but I think this is very informative, and it is nice of them to come out and reach out to local business.”

He told the city visitors that business is tough, the roads in front of the store needs to be fixed and more lights are needed in the streets.

Norm Gentry, owns Norm’s Electric and said he was excited to speak with the representatives.

“It is neat that they got out here,” he said.

“As long as they care and it is not just for show,” Don Gentry, Norm’s son, added.

Stephanie Brians, manager at Security Public Storage was equally pleased.

“It is nice to see someone come in and ask and want to hear from us. Usually, if I have a problem, I have to find a way to contact them or write to them,” Brians said.

She expressed concern for safety, crime reduction, gangs and drugs.

Next month, there will be a seminar coordinated by the Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce.

The date, time and location is yet to be discussed, Lowry said.

The information collected after such walks are used to create specific plans that can further aid in enhancing the success of these businesses.

Overall, it is important to get an idea of what is going on so there is direct response, Lowry said.

“The long-term vision is we establish relationships and the businesses now have direct contacts,” Mai Nguyen said.

Last year, the economic development department of the city organized various business walks in the northern and central City.

This is the first business walk of the year and there will be three more. They are scheduled to take place in Florin, Natomas and the third location is still being decided.

For more information, visit www.CityofSacramento.Org website.

County leaders pass budget with at least 725 layoffs

2010-06-18T03:20:44Z

At least 725 county employees will be laid off as a result of the county budget approved by the Board of Supervisors Thursday in a 3-2 vote.

The board has now balanced its the county's budget, which had a $181 million gap. The total budget for the 2010/2011 fiscal year is $3.5 billion. Of that amount, $1.9 billion makes up the county’s general fund.

Supervisors held lengthy meetings on the budget over the course of four days this week.

Supervisors Roberta MacGlashan and Roger Dickinson voted against the budget’s general fund allocations, offering different reasons for why they disagreed with the budget. Supervisors Don Nottoli, Susan Peters and Jimmie Yee voted in support of passing the budget, which led to its approval just after 3 p.m.

MacGlashan said she could not vote in favor of the budget because it did not put enough money toward public safety.

“This budget tells the residents of the unincorporated area they’re on their own,” she said.

Dickinson objected to the budget because he said he thought it did not make social services a higher priority. While public safety is the board’s top priority, he said, it’s not the board’s only priority.

“We have an obligation, a duty, particularly as a county, to address those who are the least among us,” he said.

Supervisor Don Nottoli said he felt he had a responsibility to pass a budget for the county, even though the budget includes compromises.

“The bottom line is that there’s not sufficient funding,” Nottoli said. “Yes, we prioritize and we make decisions.”

Major cuts to public safety and social services programs and departments are included in the budget.

Before the board passed its budget, it lessened the damage to some departments. Sacramento County Sheriff John McGinness said earlier this week that the department faced a $37.6 million budget gap.

Because the board moved additional dollars to McGinness’s department Thursday, the sheriff’s deficit was lowered to $19.8 million.

McGinness declined to estimate how many layoffs his department would need to make to balance out his budget.

“Everything’s on the table at this point,” McGinness said after the hearing. “We need to find a way to live within our new budgetary constraint, which just got constricted by another $20 million dollars.”

The layoff figures are not final at this point, according to Nav Gill, the county’s chief operations officer. However, there could be more than 725, he said.

The county refers to the budget that was passed Thursday as the “recommended budget.” That’s because it will look at its figures again in September, after hearing how the state’s budget will affect the county.

Ann Edwards-Buckley, director of the county’s Health and Human Services Department, said her department was cut in several areas, including public health services, public health nursing, Child Protective Services and in-home support.

“We’ll have significant reductions in health care services for the poor,” she said.

The public can watch Monday's meeting here. View Tuesday's hearings here. Watch the video of Wednesday's meeting here.

Photo of Supervisors Roberta MacGlashan and Don Nottoli by Anthony Bento.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Sheriff: Layoffs could wipe out patrol efforts

2010-06-15T05:21:54Z

Expressing outrage during Monday's county budget hearings, Sacramento County Sheriff John McGinness told the Board of Supervisors he did not believe public safety is its top priority.

“We're dealing with this challenge that we cannot take ... (and) the public can’t take it,” McGinness said.

Board members plan to wrap up work this week on a budget with a $181 million deficit. County administrators say they have found ways to restore $59 million to the budget, but that would still leave a $122 million gap.

McGinness told the board that county officials are asking him to cut $37.6 million. To make those cuts, he said he would need to lay off as many as 255 deputies, including all the deputies currently working on patrol. The county currently has 226 deputies on patrol, according to McGinness’ presentation. Another idea would be to shutter the Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center, he said. With the "wholesale release of inmates" from prison, the department could scale back its staffing, according to the presentation.

“We would have to do more than close and eliminate the River Cosumnes Correctional Center or eliminate virtually all of patrol,” McGinness said.

The board may approve the budget for the 2010/2011 fiscal year later this week, according to the county’s schedule of budget hearings. To address the deficit, county staffers are planning to lay off 725 employees in July.

That figure for layoffs does not include those that McGinness may make at the sheriff’s department.

Supervisor Jimmie Yee told McGinness that public safety was the board’s first priority. McGinness responded that he has “heard those words,” but he disagrees with Yee’s comment.

McGinness’s challenge to Yee’s comment received applause from law enforcement supporters in the audience.

Roger Berkenpas of the West Fair Oaks Neighborhood Watch Association was among others who spoke against further cuts to the sheriff’s department. The department lost many essential services that affected neighbors last year, he said. A new park is being vandalized nightly, he said. “We can’t get patrol out there."

Meanwhile, Sacramento County Chief Deputy District Attorney Cindy Besemer told the board the District Attorney’s office would need to lay off 50 employees, including 11 attorneys, to meet the requirements in the draft budget.

Budget cuts would also hurt the county’s Correctional Health Services Department, said AnnMarie Boylan, the department’s director. She said cuts to the department would cause a continual waiting list of 400 patients.

The budget hearings cover many departments. The Sacramento Press will link to the video of Monday's budget hearings as soon as the county makes it available online.

Tuesday, June 15:
The meeting will start at 2 p.m. and cover cuts to the county’s Medically Indigent Services Program, Health and Human Services and Human Assistance.

Wednesday, June 16:
The meeting will start at 2 p.m. and include discussions on the In-Home Support Services Public Authority, Retiree Health and the Transient Occupancy Tax.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Mayor backs candidates Ashby, Cohn, Schenirer and Waters

2010-05-19T03:43:09Z

In a statement Tuesday on his blog, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson made his endorsements for candidates competing in the June 8 primary election.

A KCRA reporter asked Johnson at a Monday press conference if Johnson would endorse candidates who oppose a “strong mayor” form of government. Johnson is leading an effort to bring more authority to the mayor’s office.

In response to the reporter’s question, Johnson said: “I think that’s not really the issue before people. I don’t think that people have had to make a decision on that. So, there’s not a litmus, in general, for that right now.”

Johnson said the candidates he is supporting are not content with the status quo. He explained that he backed candidates with energy, problem-solving skills, “a sense of urgency to get things done,” and a vision for the “new Sacramento.”

However, the Sacramento Bee reported Tuesday that Councilman Ray Tretheway claimed he was pressured by unnamed Johnson supporters to back a strong mayor plan. Johnson is endorsing the following candidates:

Sacramento City Council

City Council District 1: Angelique Ashby

City Council District 3: Steve Cohn

City Council District 5: Jay Schenirer

City Council District 7: Robbie Waters

Sacramento County Board of Supervisors:

Board of Supervisors 1: Phil Serna

Board of Supervisors 2: Jimmie Yee

Board of Supervisors 5: Don Nottoli

Other County Races

Sacramento County Sheriff: Jim Cooper

Sacramento District Attorney: Jan Scully

Assessor: Kathleen Kelleher

State Legislature

Assembly District 9: Lauren Hammond

Assembly District 5: Richard Pan

State Senate District 6: Darrell Steinberg

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

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

County of Sacramento Turning a Blind Eye and Deaf Ear to Youth violence

2010-04-14T11:47:02Z

On April 12, 2010, at 2:40 p.m., Sacramento County Sheriff’s deputies responded to Double Homicide at Howe Avenue and Bluebird Lane. The deputies found 27yr-old Stefon Mayers Jr, lying next to the car’s driver’s-side door. Mayers suffered multiple gunshot wounds. He was able to step out of the car but collapsed next to the car.

Deputies also located 18yr-old Jazzmye Sharnae Bruner sitting in the front passenger seat of the car, dead at the scene, with a single gunshot wound.

Will County Supervisor Sue Peters address the violence or the families suffering as a result of the violence in her district?

With the exception of Cortez Quinn, chief of staff for Supervisor Dickinson, who has continuously attended Youth Violence meetings and with the exception of County Supervisor Roger Dickinson who has held several Gang Task Force meetings

County Supervisors Jimmie Yee, Don Nottoli, Roberta MacGlashan and Sue Peters appear to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear towards the violence surrounding the County of Sacramento.

How can our County Supervisors truly be blind to the violence within the County of Sacramento? A 16yr-old is on trial for shooting and killing a Sacramento County Sheriff's Deputy. A 14yr old girl was arrested and sentenced to life in prison for her role in the murder of 17yr old Avid Chand. Youth are dying and youth are being sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Where are the County Supervisors during this crisis?

The violence, a crisis, which has existed for decades in both the City and County of Sacramento has never significantly or effectively been addressed. Below is just a portion of the deaths, arrests / sentences for MURDER over the last 16 months only since January 2009.
Families, friends and residents are mourning as our children are dying on Sacramento streets and becoming the walking dead in California State Prisons.

-April 12, 2010- Double Homicide 18yr old Jazzmyne Sharnae Bruner and 27yr old Stefon Maye rs Jr shot and killed on a County of Sacramento Street

-April 2010- Victor Ortega convicted of killing 18yr old Marcus Mayes whose body laid dead on a County of Sacramento Street

-March 2010- 26yr old Salvador Heredia-Arriaga shot and killed 2600 block of River Plaza Drive in South Natomas

-March 2010 - 19yr old shot and killed at Bowling Alley Country Lane

-March 2010- 17yr old Marque Alexander Johnson shot and killed on a city of Sacramento street

-March 2010- 20yr old Lan Anh Le arrested for the violent struggle and death of 26yr old Monica Anne Anderson- Greenback Lane

-February 2010- Trial begins for 16yr old Jimmy Siackasorn for shooting death of SSD Detective VI Nguyen

-February 2010- 17yr old Rebecca Layson murdered. 18yr old Anton Johnson arrested, 17yr old Tyler Espinoza arrested. - Citrus Heights

-February 2010- 22yr old David Blanks killed 3600 block of No Freeway Blvd. 21yr old Sean Joyner arrested, 20yr old Nicholas Newsome arrested

-February 2010- Dominick West convicted of killing 21yr old Mary Ourk on 12th & W street in the city of Sacramento

-January 2010- 18yr old Richard Hall in custody for shooting death of Mathew Maurizzio- County of Sacramento, Dixieanne Ave

-January 2010- 22yr old shot multiple times in Sacramento County restaurant in the County of Sacramento

-January 2010- 26yr old Shawn West lying in pool of blood shot and killed in the County of Sacramento at Jack in the Box. 21yr old Cort Milgrim, 19yr old Joel Satchell, 21yr old Andre Powe arrested charged with murder facing life without parole.

-January 2010- 27yr old Amber Manoa shot and killed in the County of Sacramento. 27yr old Albert Dennis arrested for murder

-January 2010- Two dead, one injured in Arden Arcade shooting 18yr old Marcus Thompson, 29yr old Eleea Langley shot and killed. 18yr old shot/ injured

-January 2010- Navarro sentenced to life without parole in the city of Sacramento shooting death of 21yr old Adrian Hutchins

-January 2010- James Winters sentenced to 40yrs to Life for the murder of Alfredo Perez in the County of Sacramento

-January 2010- 19yr old Perell Marquise Waters shot and killed. Three arrested, 20yr old Marcus Scott, 19yr old Ronald Grant, 20yr old Jumal Gray

-December 2009- 21yr old Emmanuel Pickens killed outside nightclub on Del Paso Blvd

-December 2009- 21yr old Michael Wiesz charged with homicide of security guard/ bouncer at city of Sacramento midtown night club.

-December 2009- Arrested at 17yrs old Anh-Tuan Dao Pham is sentenced at 19yrs old to 39yrs to life accused of shooting/ killing 17yr old Dominique Hickman and wounding 2 others less than an hour before killing Hickman.

-December 2009- Bobby Chiu at 22yrs old is sentenced to 26yrs to Life for killing 15yr old Roberto Treadway. Chiu was 16yrs old when arrested for the shooting.

-December 2009- 17yr old arrested for killing 23yr old Carlos Cervantes Jr. Cervantes died from a single gun shot wound in the county of Sacramento Fruitridge Neighborhood.

-December 2009 Two arrested, 26yr old Dominique Givens and 21yr old London Shaw for the County of Sacramento shooting of Sevon Boles near Florin Road and Sunnyslope

-December 2009- 19yr old Perell Marquise Waters an expectant father is shot and killed on the 1900 block of San Juan Road in the County of Sacramento.

-December 2009- 20yr old Jonah Simms shot and killed. 23yr old Arthur McCall arrested for city of Sacramento homicide on Bowles Street.

-December 2009- 23yr old Carlos Cervantes shot and killed gunshot wound to upper body in the County of Sacramento, Fruitridge area.

-December 2009- 21yr old Francisco Medina-Tomas gun downed in County of Sacramento street. 21yr old Jose Gutierrez, 20yr old Juan Gonzalez arrested and charged with murder

-December 2009- 22yr old Vardan Abramyan and three other youth in early 20's Arthur Battle, Jason Dillingham, Isaiah Barron sentenced to life without parole in pay for hire murder in the County of Sacramento

-November 2009- 21yr old Juan Carlos Sanchez shot and killed behind Ross on Zinfandel Dr and Folsom Blvd in County of Sacramento 19yr old Deandre Brooks arrested and charged with murder

-November 2009- 21yr old shot and killed in county of Sacramento, North Highlands, three 24yr olds arrested and charged with murder

-November 2009- 21yr old Curtis Chapman sentenced to Life without Parole plus 25yrs, 20yr old Richard Hundley sentenced to Life without parole both charged with shooting/ killing 33yr old in County of Sacramento.

-November 2009- Four youth in 20's wanted for city of Sacramento shooting/ killing on 3300 block of V Street

-November 2009- Arrested at 18 and 19yrs of age, 22yr old Dontae Stirgus and 23 yr old Tommie Hall face 21yrs to Life for the County of Sacramento shooting of Domikos Kantrell Jones

-October 2009- 24yr old Michael Thames shot and killed in his home. Several teens are sought for the city of Sacramento shooting

-October 2009- 19yr old Anh-Tuan Dao Pham arrested at 16yrs old, for shooting/ killing Dominique Hickman and wounding two others after he gun down Hickman in the city of Sacramento

-October 2009- 19yr old Doshmen Johnson arrested at 18yrs of age sentenced to Life without parole plus 25yrs plus 10yrs for the murder of a 27yr in the County of Sacramento

-October 2009- 20yr old Nicholas Newsome arrested for the shooting death of 22yr old David Blanks in the City of Sacramento

-October 2009- 24yr old arrested for double homicide in the County of Sacramento of 23yr old Tamil Robbins, 24yr old Shawn Cope.

-October 2009- 19yr old Frank Abella sentenced to Life without Parole for the death of disabled man in the County of Sacramento

-October 2009- 19yr old Daniel Russell and 20yr old Calvin Pearson sentenced to life without Parole. They were arrested at 16yrs of age for the killing of a 90yr old woman

-October 2009- 21yr old Dominic Campos body found dead in Florin Road parking lot in the City of Sacramento

-October 2009- 18yr old William Virdee fatally shot in his car in the County of Sacramento

-October 2009- 16yr old boy shot and killed walking down street in County of Sacramento

-September 2009- 21yr old Darryl Jackson acquitted. His co defendant, Jim Cage, arrested at 27yrs old and sentenced to 50yrs to life for the City of Sacramento murder of 27yr old Michael Barron

-August 2009- Youth sought in Arden Arcade Apt homicide

-July 2009- 22yr old Freddie Rimpson, Jay Pierce sentenced to Life without Parole for County of Sacramento homicide/ robbery attempting to raise bail money for their friend.

-July 2009- 20yr old Anthony Race arrested for murder of 19yr old Issac Bartkovsky in the County of Sacramento

-July 2009-26yr old Tersha Brown fatally shot in the head in the city of Sacramento

-June 2009- 26yr old Sevon Boles shot and killed in city of Sacramento

-June 2009- 14yr old Ronald Kenoly killed. 13yr old suspect turns himself in. 14yr old arrested 8000 Block of Heritage Hill Drive

-June 2009- 23yr old Roy Houston arrested for city of Sacramento murder of 21yr old Donald Mc Call. Houston was 19yrs old when suspected of the shooting.

-June 2009-Andre Pulido arrested at 24yrs of age sentenced to Life without Parole for city of Sacramento death of 21yr old Rodrigo Rodriguez

-June 2009- 23yr old shot and killed in city of Sacramento - downtown

-May 2009- Eight in custody 22yr old Corey Carmicle, 21yr old Charles Ferrell, 19yr old Willie Harris, 22yr old Willie Toliver, two 17yr olds,15yr old and 23yr old Leighni Hall for County of Sacramento homicide of 24yr old Patrick Razaghzadeh

-May 2009- 20yr old Christopher Montejano shot and killed in City of Sacramento - Oak Park

-May 2009- 19yr old Frederick Howard body found behind a County of Sacramento garbage bin

-May 2009- 21yr old Phillip Cousins shot to death in Valley Hi, 19yr old also shot gunshot in torso in city of Sacramento

-May 2009- 22yr old Michael Scott sentenced to Life without Parole, 21yr old Ian Clark Johnson sentenced to 15yrs to Life both charged with murder of 18yr old Shanneel Singh in the city of Sacramento (arrested at 18 and 19yrs of age)

-April 2009- 22yr old Lavelle Chapman convicted of shooting death of 18 yr old Pasha Voskoboinik in County of Sacramento

-April 2009- 22yr old Cristo Lopez, 23yr old Andrew Lynch, 31yr old Rebecca Brousseau arrested in homicide of Khet Saelee in Fruitridge area alley

-April 2009- 19yr old John Faavesi (arrested at 16yrs old) convicted of manslaughter sentenced to 36 years 8 months for death of 26yr old Sylvia Guerrero

-April 2009- 18yr old Emanuel Michel shot and killed on 57th Avenue in the city of Sacramento

-April 2009- 21yr old Hung Tround arrested for homicide

-April 2009- 22yr old Oscar Ceballos arrested charged with shooting death on MLK Blvd in the city of Sacramento

-April 2009- 20yr old Curtis Anderson shot and killed gunshot wound to the head. 25yr old Jamaral Smith arrested

-April 2009-23yr old Leopoldo Velasco III shot and killed on the 3900 block of 17th Avenue

-April 2009- 17yr old Jarrell Tyes arrested at 15yrs old sentenced to life in prison for the county of Sacramento shooting/ death of 16yr old Jelisa Office

-April 2009- 23yr old Ceron Hill convicted to 52yrs to Life for the shooting death of 18yr old Jack Lawrence

-April 2009- Arrested at 20yrs of age 22yr old Rashad Mack, arrested at 19yrs old 21yr old Ulysses Walker sentenced to life without parole plus 25years for city of Sacramento robbery/ shooting.

-February 2009- 25yr old shot and killed in City of Sacramento Altos/ Eleanor Avenue

-February 2009- Arrested at 21yrs old Sirtice Melonson is sentenced to life without parole for shooting death of Navid Chand. Arrested at 14yrs of age 17yr old Sarah Weeden sentenced to 27yrs to life for murder of Navid Chand in the County of Sacramento

-February 2009- Jury convicts 20yr old Jonathan Hampton who was arrested at 18yrs old for the death of 19yr old Jonathan Giurbino in city of Sacramento - South Land Park

-January 2009- 21yr old found multiple gunshot wounds, 27yr old shot and killed in the County of Sacramento

-January 2009- 20yr old Kyle Ray Smith killed in the city of Sacramento - Pocket area. 18yr old Nicholas Moreno arrested

*** This is not a complete list of youth death/ arrest/ sentences within the last 16 months. This list does not include youth shot who survived nor does it include youth facing life in prison for crimes which do not involve murder. Hundreds have been buried in Sacramento and hundreds more will live and die in California prisons.

How can the County of Sacramento turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to a crisis? Is it possible our elected officials value money more than they do the lives, freedom, quality of life, peace of mind,... of some Sacramento residents?

Slamson comes to City Hall to promote Tyreke Evans

2010-03-03T06:05:36Z

A popular furry beast made a rare appearance Tuesday morning at City Hall.

Slamson, the mascot for the Sacramento Kings, joined with local officials to promote Tyreke Evans as the choice for NBA Rookie of the Year.

Mayor Kevin Johnson, Assemblyman Roger Niello and County Supervisor Jimmie Yee all turned out for the press conference to cheer for Evans.

“Rally for RekeROY Night” will take place March 10 during the game between the Kings and the Toronto Raptors at Arco Arena.

Deputy Sheriff's Association: Budget cuts hurt response times

2009-10-09T01:37:27Z

Emergency call response times will suffer as a result of the nearly $1 million in budget cuts facing the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, according to the Sacramento County Deputy Sheriff’s Association.

When the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors approved the county's budget on Friday, it resolved a shortfall of $76 million. The county made major budget cuts to its programs and departments — including the Sheriff’s Department — and has laid off more than 700 employees since July.

The Sheriff’s Department will not face layoffs. However, the cuts will result in more vacancies for deputy positions at the department, said Kevin Mickelson, president of the Sacramento County Deputy Sheriff’s Association.

To pare down its budget to make the $987,000 in cuts, the department will need to create four more deputy vacancies, Mickelson said. The vacancies will be achieved through attrition. This means that when four deputies retire, resign or are terminated, the department will keep four open deputy positions, he explained.

Right now, the department has six deputy vacancies and one sheriff’s security officer vacancy, he said, noting that he additional four vacancies would create a total of 10 vacant deputy positions. The vacancies would bring down the number of deputies to 231 from 241, Mickelson said.

The department’s response time to critical calls will become longer as a result of the vacancies, Mickelson said. “There’s no way two ways about it,” he added.

Mickelson blamed the Board of Supervisors for making cuts to the Sheriff’s Department while providing funding to programs that cover the arts and the American River Parkway. “At some point in time, the Board of Supervisors needs to make public safety their No. 1 obligation,” Mickelson told The Sacramento Press.

The Board of Supervisors uses a list of priorities when it makes budget decisions. Law enforcement is the board’s first priority after it addresses mandated services and its debts, according to county documents.

Mickelson questions whether the board is truly making public safety its first priority.

But county officials view the issue differently.

Responding to Mickelson’s criticism, county spokesman Zeke Holst noted that the Board of Supervisors restored funding to the Sheriff’s Department in June. “At [the] proposed budget in June, the Board of Supervisors approved the restoration of $12.5 million to the Sheriff’s Department budget. Also, at this time, the board approved the concessions from the Deputy Sheriff’s Association of $10.6 million.”

Holst also pointed out that the supervisors made another restoration, of nearly $2 million, to the Sheriff’s Department on Oct. 2.

Betsy Braziel, a county communications officer, wrote in an Oct. 2 press release: “Board members reinforced their commitment to making public safety and protection of children their highest spending priorities.”

While the board restored funding to Child Protective Services, it also approved 186 layoffs to that agency.

Sacramento County needed to make its most recent $987,000 cut to the Sheriff’s Department because the county lost revenues from sales taxes that are collected statewide and then doled out to local governments for public safety purposes, County Executive Terry Schutten said last month.

During recent budget hearings Supervisor Jimmie Yee expressed concern for cuts to county social services while saying that the board has been supporting law enforcement with funding.

Yee addressed Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Mark Iwasa on the issue of funding during a Sept. 16 hearing. “I just want you to be aware that, hey, we’re struggling to find funds to keep you whole. But at the same, we have to look at the broad picture of the county, too.”

Yee added that the Sheriff’s Department is “not the only thing here.”

Photo by Anthony Bento.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.