Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "mayor"

Ashby selected as new vice mayor

2012-01-06T04:43:32Z

The City Council selected a new vice mayor Thursday: City Councilwoman Angelique Ashby will be running the show this year when the mayor is unavailable.

City Councilman Steve Cohn nominated Ashby for vice mayor, saying it has been the council’s tradition to have the most senior council member who has not already served as vice mayor hold the position.

Ashby was elected to the District 1 council seat in 2010. She has just one week seniority over Councilman Jay Schenirer.

“There are more good reasons to nominate her than just tradition,” Cohn added. “She always smiles, and she’ll do a good job of running the meetings.”

Ashby said she’s honored to hold the vice mayor’s seat, regardless of the reason.

“It’s a real honor to serve Sacramento any way that I can,” Ashby said. “I’ll be honored to hold the vice mayor’s seat for always smiling or having good shoes or seniority or whatever reason you choose. Thank you for this.”

The title of vice mayor does not come with an increase in pay, according to Assistant City Clerk Stephanie Mizuno, but it does bring the responsibility of presiding over council meetings in the mayor’s absence.

City Councilwoman Bonnie Pannell held the vice mayor position in 2011 and – looking back at Mayor Kevin Johnson’s attendance record – out of 48 scheduled council meetings, she sat in for the mayor nine times last year.

Vice Mayor Pannell was also acting mayor when Johnson traveled out of town for city or personal business – once or twice a month on average, according to Joaquin McPeek, the mayor’s press secretary.

Mizuno said the selection of a vice mayor happens like anything else at a city council meeting – a motion, a second and a majority vote – however, the Council Rules and Procedures prohibit the mayor from participating.

The vice mayor serves for a one-year term, and there have been 30 vice mayors on the City Council in the past 40 years. Eight times in that span a single person held the spot multiple times.

Mizuno said there are no restrictions against consecutive terms. Since 1970, however, it has only happened once: Michael Sands held the post for five years running, 1971 to 1975.

In addition to Pannell, current council members who have served as vice mayor include Cohn (1998, 2008), Sandy Sheedy (2004), Rob Fong (2006) and Kevin McCarty (2007).

Read the Council Rules and Procedures (adopted September 2010) HERE.

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

Johnson's personal scorecard for 2011 resolutions

2012-01-04T01:46:27Z

Mayor Kevin Johnson’s 2011 New Year’s resolutions included bringing labor and business together, keeping the Sacramento Kings in Sacramento and – as Johnson sees it – his final scorecard tallies seven successes, one fail and two goals “still in progress.”

In a blog post from Dec. 31, Johnson listed 10 resolutions for 2011. At a press conference Tuesday, Johnson tallied up his successes and his not-quites:

1. Bring business and labor together to create jobs and grow the economy – Johnson said his commitment to “work with business and labor to improve the economy” was realized in 2011 in the way that representatives from both sides were “front and center” in teams working on developing a new entertainment and sports complex, and in efforts to “green” the city.

“I think if you asked labor (representatives), they would say ‘home run,’ ” Johnson said. “We did a good job creating an environment that welcomes business and labor to work together.”

2. Go green – Pointing to his Greenwise Initiative efforts and a $100 million investment from Ygrene Energy Fund for green retrofit of city buildings, Johnson said he counts this one a success.

3. Stand up for students – Johnson said that his Stand Up initiative has seen much success in 2011, especially with the start of the third-grade reading initiative.

“We’ve shown how important education is,” Johnson said. “We are going to keep that going.”

4. Keep our neighborhoods safe – Despite law enforcement layoffs from budget cuts, Johnson said crime rates have decreased in some areas of the city – but there are still challenges for public safety that need to be addressed.

“Ultimately I don’t feel like we are doing all we can to be proactive, because we have less officers on the street,” Johnson said, “but we did great work with creating a gang summit and coming up with a comprehensive plan to really combat some of our challenges with gangs, and we got a couple of grants that allowed us to restore some officer positions.”

5. Show the Governor around town – With the future of redevelopment in jeopardy in 2011, Johnson said he wanted to be "first in line" to give Governor Jerry Brown a personal tour of some of the larger projects in the downtown core to emphasize the importance of redevelopment to the economic growth of the city.

“(Brown) is a big supporter of K street and the projects we are trying to do,” Johnson said, “but it didn’t quite happen. The effort is still in progress.”

6. Keep the Kings – Johnson said this is a big yes for 2011. Although the Kings did stay in Sacramento in 2011, Johnson acknowledged that the fight is still on to keep them here longer – and a large part of that fight that will be helped by the arena effort.

7. Build strong relations with council colleagues – this resolution remains “in progress,” Johnson said. It takes time to forge new relationships, and Johnson said he is committed to the process from year to year.

8. Spend more time in the community – “Success,” Johnson said. “We did more town halls, more neighborhood associations, more knocking on doors this year.”

9. Run in one race per month – Johnson said he ran nine races in 2011, including the Shamrockin’ 5K in March and the Run to Feed the Hungry on Thanksgiving Day. But nine is not "one per month," so this goal was a not-quite for Johnson.

10. Stay bold – “Absolutely,” Johnson said. “C’mon – it’s in my DNA. I couldn’t do things any other way.”

How do you think the mayor did in meeting his goals for 2011? Let us know in the conversation below this article.

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

A look ahead: Elections in 2012

2011-12-31T03:11:26Z

With four council districts and the mayor’s seat up for grabs in 2012, the upcoming elections may bring new faces to City Council and – potentially – significant changes to the way Sacramento’s government operates.

Although there is still time for new candidates to emerge, here’s a look at the election landscape for Sacramento, so far.

When Mayor Kevin Johnson announced in September that he is running for reelection, he had no opponents and enjoyed the endorsement of both Region Builders – a building industry coalition – and the Sac Metro Chamber political action committee.

In November, local tax preparer and community activist Edgar Hilbert announced his candidacy for mayor and a desire to bring “fresh leadership” to the city.

Garcia has since taken himself out of the mayoral race, saying other business prevents him from focusing on an election.

City Council elections are held every two years, and elections rotate between all even-numbered districts and all odd-numbered districts. In 2012, council district seats 2, 4, 6 and 8 are up for grabs.

For District 2, incumbent Sandy Sheedy – who ran unopposed in the 2008 election – will face four opponents.

Former Obama campaign organizer Kim Mack announced her candidacy for District 2 in October, but the announcement was quickly met with criticism stemming from a political campaign incident from 2008.

Rob Kerth, former executive director of the Midtown Business Association, said he left the MBA to focus on his bid for City Council – a position he held from 1996-2000.

Del Paso Heights businessman and developer Allen Wayne Warren talked abut running for District 2 in September and officially kicked off his campaign Dec. 19 at a fundraising event at a bookstore in North Sacramento.

Mack, Kerth and Warren are joined in the race to take Sheedy’s seat by political newcomer Sondra Betancourt.

Betancourt, a community leader and former human resources manager for the state, said Dec. 20 that she is a good fit for City Council because she “sees the big picture” for the city, and it would serve the city well to “have fresh eyes on issues.”

In a surprise turn of events for District 4, incumbent Rob Fong announced he will not be running for reelection, leaving the race for his seat wide open.

So far, three candidates have announced their intentions to run for District 4: community activist Steve Hansen, attorney Phyllis Newton and current Planning Commission Chairman Joe Yee.

Hansen was a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee on Redistricting during the 2011 redistricting effort and was criticized for anonymously submitting a redistricting map to City Council while active on that committee.

In the District 6 race, incumbent Kevin McCarty appears to be the only name on the ticket – at the moment.

Candidates from ~~District 2~~ District 4 have until March 14 – and candidates from District 2, 6 and 8 have until March 8 – to file a notice of intent to run for office, so there is still time for someone to step up to oppose McCarty.

Incumbent Bonnie Pannell, District 8, has been on the City Council since 1998 and was reelected to the seat three times – twice running unopposed.

In 2012, she will face NAACP chapter President Betty Williams, who filed an intent to run but has not formally launched a campaign. Williams told The Sacramento Press last week that she expects to make a formal campaign announcement in mid-January.

In addition to the mayoral and council seat races, supporters of a strong mayor initiative announced plans to put a charter reform measure on the ballot – called the “Checks and Balances Act of 2012.”

A poll released Tuesday indicates wide support of the charter reform initiative, but the poll has come under fire for not having been released to media for detailed analysis.

A similar initiative to change the city charter from a council-city manager form of government to a mayor-council format – known as “strong mayor” or “executive mayor” – was discussed in 2010 but did not get on the ballot that year.

With the primary election coming in just six months, various associations, union interests and the faith community have started announcing candidate endorsements.

The Sacramento Central Labor Council began its endorsement process early for the 2012 election season – in part because so many incumbents were running that opposition would be easy to gauge, according to labor leader Bill Camp.

There will be many opportunities for change for Sacramento in the upcoming elections. The Sacramento Press will report regularly on the candidates, the campaigns and the issues as the drama unfolds in 2012.

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

Editorial Note: A correction was made to this article after it was published. The incorrect information was struck out and the correct information added.

Preventative measures in gang violence discussed a year after barbershop shooting

2011-12-21T04:53:01Z

Additional efforts will be made by the Sacramento Police Department and Sacramento Sheriff's Department to prevent youth involvement in gangs by promoting interactions between police officers and the youth. The mayor is calling this approach a paradigm shift, and it will be part of Sacramento's first comprehensive plan for gang prevention, Mayor Kevin Johnson announced Tuesday at the Boys & Girls Club on Lemon Hill Avenue.

The emphasis of the program will be heavy on prevention and intervention instead of just enforcement and incarceration, according to the mayor.

Johnson said the program will focus on school literacy enrichment, strengthening the relationship between the Sacramento community and law enforcement, supporting workforce readiness programs and job training, and promoting regional collaboration.

The COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) program provided funding for additional deputies in taking on this task.

Undersheriff Mark Iwasa said that community interaction and youth level intervention is important in solving the gang problem.

Deputy Chief Dan Schiele said that every contact law enforcers have with the public is an opportunity to be a role model and that youth interaction is one of the priorities.

"I grew up in Oak Park, and anytime we saw a police officer, we ran, because we always thought we were in trouble, even though we're not in trouble," Johnson said. "You don't want a community living in fear."

He said that, through the program, he will challenge law enforcers to be proactive in interacting with the youth, and make sure the first interaction with them is not negative, in order to build trust.

A vigil was held outside the venue after the press conference in commemoration of Monique Nelson's death anniversary, a gang-related death that was known as the barbershop shooting.

"There is nothing we can do to bring back her life," Johnson said. "But we made a commitment that her death won't be in vain."

He said that within the four-month period after the shooting, all four shooters were arrested. He added, "Justice was served."

Nelson’s brother, Richard Anthony Nelson was at the press conference Tuesday and said, “Hopefully we can stop this (gang violence) in our area, because it really destroys families.”

In the next couple of months the mayor said that the Gang Prevention Task Force he formed will put an implementation team in place that will be in charge in making sure that the program’s goals are achieved within the next three years.

NBA lockout ends and hundreds return to work

2011-11-30T00:03:59Z

Mayor Kevin Johnson announced Tuesday that with the NBA lockout over – and the Sacramento Kings resuming their season – more than 700 workers at the Power Balance Pavilion will be able to return to their jobs.

“We are excited. With the lockout ended you will see people returning to work,” Johnson said.

Since the lockout began, Power Balance Pavilion employees have lost a significant amount of work, and businesses that rely on the traffic that NBA games bring in have suffered financially.

With the four-plus month lockout and all pre-season games cancelled and a shortened season ahead, employees have missed out on a substantial amount of work.

On Del Paso Boulevard, businesses have reported 20-30 percent losses in revenue due to the NBA lockout, Johnson said. “We need people to be working and we know money needs to be spent,” he added.

The range of employees feeling the impact of the NBA lockout is widespread.

The Hyatt Regency Sacramento, for example, is losing what Johnson speculated to be $50,000 a month due to NBA teams not visiting Sacramento for games and staying at the hotel.

The Kings will start their shortened 66-game season in late December.

Millions of dollars would have been lost if the lockout continued, Johnson said.

“We will be able to say ‘go Kings,’again,” he added.

Plans for the new arena in Sacramento continue to develop as the NBA season kicks off. Johnson said he hopes to get up to speed on all the components of the new entertainment and sports complex this week.

March 1, 2012 marks the date when Sacramento must have its plans finalized for the new arena. If not, the Maloof family, owner of the Sacramento Kings, has permission by the NBA to take the Kings elsewhere.

Dec. 13 is an important deadline in the planning process. According to the City of Sacramento website, the Sacramento Entertainment and Sports Complex must have finalized its “research, evaluations, negotiations on the finance (and) development and operation” plans by the Dec. 13 City Council meeting.

“We are excited the lockout is over and the city will do its best to step up and make a new sports entertainment center,” Johnson said.

Johnson: People are ready to talk about strong mayor initiative

2011-11-23T03:22:06Z

The 2012 election cycle is ramping up in Sacramento, and one topic that is sure to be on the table is a strong mayor initiative.

Mayor Kevin Johnson brought the topic to the fore ~~during his 2008 campaign for mayor~~ shortly after his 2008 election win in his race against then-mayor Heather Fargo, but the idea didn’t fly with members of the City Council, and the initiative never got off the ground.

With another mayoral race coming up in 2012, Johnson said he believes the idea of a strong mayor initiative is ripe for ballot consideration once again.

“This is a topic that people are ready to take on,” Johnson said at a press conference Tuesday. “There are many people involved and interested in changing the way things are happening here in Sacramento.”

Johnson announced in September that he will run for a second term as mayor, and one other opponent – Edgar Hilbert – has already stepped up to run against him.

A strong mayor form of city governance is one where the mayor acts as chief executive and the City Council is the legislative body. In this system, which is modeled after the U.S. Constitution’s structure of government, the city manager’s role is eliminated in favor of a chief administration officer appointed by the mayor.

Currently, the city of Sacramento is governed under a council-manager form of governance: The elected body establishes policy that is carried out by an appointed city manager.

The city manager is accountable to the entire council for implementing council policy and for the day-to-day operations of the city, such as preparing the city budget, hiring and firing employees and acting as a technical advisor on government operations.

According to the California City Management Foundation, council-manager government is the fastest-growing form of government in the United States. In California, 31 of the state’s 50 largest cities have a council-manager system in place.

Johnson said he believes people are “convinced” that a strong mayor initiative is necessary after watching the City Council work for the past three years of his term as mayor.

“I’ve been the mayor for three years, and we’ve had four city managers in that short period of time, which is very strange,” Johnson said. “It’s something that is very dysfunctional.”

Sacramento city managers and interim city managers since 2005 have included Ray Kerridge, Gus Vina, Bill Edgar and current city manager, John Shirey.

The strong mayor initiative was controversial from the outset and, despite more than one draft of the proposal, Johnson could not garner enough support on the council to move the initiative forward.

In June 2010, the City Council voted 7-2 against putting a strong mayor initiative on the ballot for the following November. The two votes in favor came from then-City Councilman Robbie Waters and Johnson.

After the proposal was voted down, Johnson said he wouldn’t continue campaigning for the initiative, but would not stop fighting for it – essentially putting the initiative on the back burner.

With the 2012 election forthcoming, however, the issue will likely come up for discussion again, Johnson said.

“I’ve made no secret that I believe we should modernize and improve our form of government,” Johnson said Tuesday.

Johnson said that citizens want accountability and transparency, and that the checks and balances people want are possible within a strong mayor government.

“I think the best goal would be for council to put it on the ballot and allow the people of Sacramento to vote on it,” Johnson said.

Shirey said Tuesday that he’s uncertain a strong mayor proposal will be on the table for the City Council – but if it is, he wouldn’t be interested in playing a role in it.

“The mayor has had that goal for a long time,” Shirey said, “but I don’t know that anyone (on the council) is willing to talk about it.”

Shirey said he believes the council-manager form of government is the best form, but the key to success for a city manager is a City Council that works well together.

“That doesn’t mean they can’t have disagreements,” Shirey said. “It means that, at the end of the day, they work together for the betterment of the city. They don’t make the manager the issue – they make the issues the issue.”

According to Stephanie Mizuno, assistant city clerk, a charter amendment such as a strong mayor initiative could appear on the June ballot in one of two ways: by certified petition from voters, or as a measure initiated by the City Council.

In either case, all initiatives headed for the June 2012 ballot must be filed with the City Clerk’s office by the end of February.

Mizuno said that a citywide mayoral race will incur the initial cost on the June ballot – an estimated $120,000, paid from the city’s election budget.

If a strong mayor initiative – another citywide issue – is added to that ballot, it would cost an additional $21,000. Further initiatives would also cost $21,000 each.

Mizuno said the current balance of the city’s election budget is sufficient to cover the estimated $400,000 cost of the June election, including any potential strong mayor initiative.

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

Editorial Note: A correction has been made to this story after it was published. The incorrect information has been struck out and the correct information has been added.

New mayoral candidate plans to bring 'fresh leadership' to Sacramento

2011-11-05T00:23:24Z

The 2012 race for Sacramento mayor just gained another candidate: Edgar Hilbert.

Hilbert, a tax preparer in Oak Park, said Wednesday that he was motivated to run for office by a desire to serve the Sacramento community in a meaningful way.

“It will be my duty and goal to not just protect the quality of life in Sacramento, but to improve it,” he said in a press release Tuesday.

Hilbert, 45, is married and has three children. He was born in Mexico City and moved to the United States in 1993. He has lived in Sacramento since 2001.

Hilbert’s wife, Leticia, ran for City Council District 5 in the 2010 election, and Hilbert acted as his wife’s campaign manager.

One of the biggest issues that Hilbert said he sees in local government is the need for “fresh leadership” and leaders who listen to the ideas of the people more than simply doing things their own way.

“It is clear to me that the need for a new leadership focused on people is more important now than ever,” Hilbert said.

The city budget, economic development and infrastructure are the three big-ticket items that Hilbert said he wants to focus on as mayor.

Hilbert said his experience on the Oak Park Redevelopment Advisory Committee has given him a good perspective on housing issues in the area, as well as new ideas about how to enhance the economic development of the city.

One idea that Hilbert expressed is turning some of the downtown corridor into a miniature version of Venice, Italy – water, gondolas and all.

“There are a lot of restaurants along there,” Hilbert said. “Wouldn’t it be nice to draw visitors to something interesting like that?”

Hilbert is also no stranger to volunteerism.

For the past nine years, he has been actively involved in raising money for homeless services in his Oak Park community, and he is the coordinator for a youth group at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.

Hilbert has also served as the executive chairman of California for Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) in 2007 and 2008, assisting low-income individuals with tax preparation, and he is the co-founder of the Stop Human Trafficking Today Pronto effort in Sacramento.

Hilbert is building a campaign support team with an international flair. His team will include advisers from San Diego, Mexico City and Madrid.

“These are cities that are similar to us in a lot of ways, and we can learn a lot from them,” Hilbert said.

“I think people want someone to lead the way,” Hilbert said. “The mayor is there to see that the people are represented.”

“I always try to be balanced and honest and just,” Hilbert said. “In the end, it comes down to what the people want. My goal is to listen to them.”

Marichal J. Brown, co-owner of Master Barber and Beauty Shop in Oak Park, said he has known Hilbert for nearly nine years and he has a lot of respect for him.

“Edgar is an excellent person – a trustworthy person,” Brown said. “When you are in need, he would be the person to call.”

Brown said he and Hilbert worked together on a variety of community projects, including writing for a community newspaper that Brown publishes, The Master Report.

“We have done a lot of advocacy together,” Brown said. “If (Hilbert) is mayor, I think he’ll bring community issues to the forefront.”

Calling Hilbert a “fighter for the people” and “a dependable individual,” Brown added that he has “nothing but praise for him.”

Hilbert will be running against incumbent mayor Kevin Johnson. Johnson’s campaign manager, Steven Maviglio, said Friday that the Johnson camp is ready for the competition.

“The mayor will run a campaign at full throttle no matter who the opponent is,” Maviglio said. “We welcome debate about the issues facing Sacramento.”

Maviglio said that Hilbert will not have an easy race, however.

“Every poll shows that the mayor is extremely popular, and (he is) off to a very strong start in this race,” Maviglio said. “Any candidate will have an uphill battle running against (Johnson).”

Hilbert said that he does not support the notion of a “strong mayor” initiative, preferring instead to negotiate and work with others on the City Council.

“Every one of (the council members) represents a different area of the city, and they know what their area needs,” Hilbert said. “I prefer to talk to (them) about the people in their areas and see how we can work together.”

Another opponent that Hilbert will face is longtime Sacramento resident and previous mayoral candidate Leonard Padilla.

Padilla, owner of Lorenzo Patino Law School in Sacramento, said Friday that he is happy to hear that there will be another candidate in the race for mayor.

“The more the merrier,” Padilla said.

The candidacy filing period for the 2012 city elections opens Feb. 1. Edgar said he will have a campaign kickoff in the coming weeks and then will focus his energies on fundraising for the campaign.

Melissa Corker is a Staff Reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @MelissaCorker.

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.”

Mayor spreads word about the benefits of an entertainment/sports complex

2011-07-13T01:57:27Z

Mayor Kevin Johnson is currently in the process of visiting Sacramento’s six major counties to discuss the benefits of a future entertainment and sports complex along the stretch of what used to be the old Southern Pacific railyards downtown.

At the mayor’s weekly press conference Tuesday, Johnson, who had just visited El Dorado County and the city of Folsom the day before, called his visits “authentic outreach.”

Johnson is going on a bus tour Thursday to visit regions of El Dorado County, Davis, Roseville and Rancho Cordova to seek input from the communities there, he said.

This city-to-city outreach is part of the the mayor’s Think Big Coalition. Johnson said the four guiding principles include putting the taxpayers first, making sure it’s about jobs, acknowledging that having an entertainment/sports complex is bigger than just sports and recognizing the need to win as a region.

“It’s really about us taking the show on the road and talking about the economic impact and benefits of having a new entertainment/sports complex,” Johnson said. “It’s much broader than the city of Sacramento. People of the region love that we’re going to them.”

In order to bolster community participation and support for an entertainment/sports complex, Johnson said there will be a design contest in which citizens will compete to design some part of the space outside of the proposed complex. The details are still being worked out through Citizen Architects, a support group for Think Big Sacramento.

“What makes our region different is the grassroots movement. There’s nowhere else in the country that’s getting the kind of input from its citizens the way we do it in Sacramento.

Johnson said that he is on day 44 of 100 days of their Think Big technical review of examining the old Southern Pacific railyards. Next week, the Urban Land Institute (ULI) will be examining the proposed entertainment/sports complex site.

“The other aspect of the 100 days is the financing,” Johnson said. “We’re looking at the menu of options that would fall into public financing, and we hope to have that done in a 100-day period.”

Other topics discussed included the importance of the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Greyhound bus station on Wednesday. The cost for the project was approximately $7 million, Johnson said.

The Community Investment Program (CIP) and share and redevelopment money were used to fund the project, Johnson said.

“We’ve been very frugal and efficient in terms of what we’ve been doing,” Johnson said. The Greyhound station (on L Street) has been something that has been an eyesore for years and we’re excited that we’re finally in a position to relocate the bus station to the new location on Richards Boulevard.”

The new Greyhound bus station was built a year ahead of schedule.

“It will be a state-of-the-art facility and it will be secure. People will feel safe there. Everything we’re doing is green now and we’re going to be a leader in that so it’s a sustainable building,” Johnson said.

Empress Hornblower sails into the past

2011-06-13T04:35:37Z

About 250 formally and historically dressed guests gathered at the L Street Dock on Front Street in support of the preservation and exploration of Sacramento’s historical legacy Friday evening. Under the guidance of the Historic Old Sacramento Foundation, party-goers traveled through the 1850s, 1960s and back to the present on the Empress Hornblower along the Sacramento River for the hour-long cruise Casino Royale on the River: Where Old Sacramento Meets Monte Carlo.

This was the second year HOSF had hosted the event to raise funds for its educational and interpretive programs, including the historical exhibitions in the Sacramento History Museum on I Street.

Last year the event was held on the Delta King, and while “the whole thing was a hoot and wonderful success,” the foundation wanted to spice things up a bit, deputy director Kristina Swanson said. Not only did this year’s vessel allow for about 100 more passengers, it provided people with the wonderful experience of a leisurely ride down the river that started the city of Sacramento.

As guests made their way to the boat, they were encouraged to spin a wheel for prizes before being warmly greeted by the captain and crew. Upon entering the ship, they were immediately transported into an 1850s casino room with the help of the live folksy music of Claudia’s Kitchen.

With feathers, petticoats and top hats abound, several members of the Old Sacramento Living History Program were fully dressed in authentic 1850s garb, manning the floor and at least 14 gaming tables. Set both port and starboard, the volunteer gang was more than ready to help guests gamble away their complimentary bag of playing chips.

Not only did the members look the part, they acted it as well. At the Faro card table, working women Flora “Lily of the West” and Miss Bud, “A Flower-in-Training,” refused to leave character. With Derringer pistols visibly placed in their bosoms, anyone could see this was serious play.

Flora reported having to pull her piece out on a cheating party-goer, and Miss Bud wasn’t too shy either, threatening another guest who dared to question the “period appropriateness” of her husband’s costume.

After a bit of nudging and lots of winning on their part, the two women revealed themselves as Catherine Hanson, Flora, and Mary Aye, Bud, and discussed their passion for history, especially Sacramento’s. Hanson works for the California State Library in the history section, and Aye is a docent, leading local school groups on historical tours.

“History is so important, especially that of Sacramento’s,” Aye said. “You really need to learn about the past to know where you’re headed. Most people don’t realize it, especially these days with the focus on standardized testing topics, but Sacramento was such an important part in the development of the West Coast and America.”

If party-goers needed a break from the excitement downstairs, they went up to the second floor, with specially-made Gold Rush drinks in hand, to where James Bond-themed cuisine awaited them. While guests were served hors d'oeuvres on all levels, here they could feast on “The Man with the Golden Bun” mini-burgers and “Aston Martini Mashed Potatoes,” while bidding on various displayed auction items.

As guests finished emptying their pockets and filling their stomachs, they were able to dance their way up the stairs and back into the present day to more contemporary tunes spun by a live DJ on the third floor. On the rooftop, guests were able to take advantage of the warm weather, slight breeze and gorgeous view of Sacramento as the boat glided along the Sacramento River during sunset.

Executive director Marcia Eymann, explained how the boat ride is both a fun experience and great way to remind and share with people how important the Sacramento River is to the history of the city.

“Location, location, location,” Eymann said. “Outside of Sacramento’s part in the Gold Rush, because of this river, Sacramento was and is such an important part of history. For example, historically speaking, because of the river, Sacramento was once San Francisco’s No. 1 trading partner, as well as the ‘fruit basket’ of America.”

Prior to the ship’s voyage, VIP ticket holders, which included a number of former and current elected officials and local dignitaries, attended a reception at the Sacramento History Museum, where Former Mayor Burnett Miller was honored as the first ‘007 Hero of Historic Old Sacramento’ for his continued contribution to the preservation and development of the area.

After the honoree was roasted and toasted by a few of his friends and colleagues, Miller talked to The Sacramento Press about his investment in the history of Sacramento.

“Myself, my father, my grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather all lived in Sacramento,” Miller said. “So there is obviously a personal interest, but mostly I’m invested because I enjoy it so much.”

“The history of Sacramento is important, and people of Sacramento should be invested, if not because of that, then simply because it is their community and thus their history.”

The Historic Old Sacramento Foundation has been providing historical programming for Sacramento since 1985.

For more information on their mission and various events and programs, check out their site.

Photos by event photographer Tia Gemmell, Riverview Media Photography

Retention of jobs and public safety are priority for Mayor Kevin Johnson

2011-06-08T02:41:36Z

Despite reports of the city’s proposals to lay off more than 350 jobs, including 80 sworn police officers, during Tuesday’s press conference, Mayor Kevin Johnson said that avoiding such layoffs will be a priority.

Throughout the conference, Johnson said he wanted Sacramento to remain a full-service city and that he hopes to alleviate any distrust between police officers and the city by playing a more active role in addressing the interests of both parties.

“We’re trying to preserve as many jobs as we can and keep public safety at the top of our priorities,” he added.

“We’re about to pass and adopt a budget in about three weeks or so, and we do not want to be in a position where our community, our constituents and the greater Sacramento area are impacted because we can’t create an environment where our streets are safe.”

The weekly press conference was supposed to address city business and the future of an entertainment and sports complex in Sacramento via the “Here We Build” arena campaign, but when the floor opened to questions, the discussion quickly became centered on the current budget situation and, consequently, what Tuesday evening’s City Council meeting might entail.

Tuesday’s council meeting agenda was set at the end of May to address all the controversial potential budget cuts to the Parks and Recreation, Police and Fire departments.

When asked about concerns and potential alternatives to the current budget proposals, the Mayor said that it depended on the discussion that would occur during the council meeting.

He provided three possible outcomes of the upcoming meeting: 1: Tentative decisions will be made on whether the current proposals for each department will occur, 2: Time will run out and the vote will carry on to Thursday or 3: Possibly vote on two of the three departments and keep one floating for discussion again later.

During the conference, Johnson also mentioned the city and state of California’s interest in a high-speed rail due to its long-term cost-effectiveness, decreased carbon footprint and its potential to be an “unbelievable job creator.”

Squeezin' into West Sacramento

2011-05-12T02:51:02Z

The original Squeeze Inn on Power Inn Road was made famous by Food Network’s Guy Fieri, who raved about their infamous cheese “skirt,” the restaurant’s twist on the classic cheeseburger. Since then it has opened up restaurants in Roseville and Galt.

Tuesday morning, the Squeeze Inn’s fourth location – at 1350 Harbor Blvd. in West Sacramento – officially opened its doors at 10 a.m.

The newest addition to the Squeeze Inn line is the biggest location so far, seating up to 80 people, according to West Sacramento Squeeze Inn’s publicist, Heather Atherton.

The Squeeze Inn has been a regular on the burger scene in Sacramento for at least 30 years according to co-owner Dave Chambers.

“We’ve always wanted to own our own restaurant, and we love the Squeeze Inn brand. It’s not fast food, and it’s so unique of a brand that it has this crave-ability factor, especially with the cheese skirt. There’s a strong following and we thought it was a great opportunity to start and own something we all loved,” Chambers said.

When Chambers says “we,” he is referring to his longtime friends and partners – Joe Mousley and Eric Ostberg.

The group also has a fourth silent investor who was the one that linked them with the original owner, Travis Hauser, to get the ball rolling on the project. The group were regulars at the Power Inn location, driving in from Roseville to get their Squeezeburgers with cheese skirt fixes.

Atherton mentioned that all three men had previous food industry experience.

“They’re all restaurant industry veterans, some from fast food and some from food services,” Atherton said. “So, there’s a really great depth of understanding of how to deliver great customer service and a really high-quality product.”

Chambers said they had looked at a number of potential locations in Natomas, Vacaville, Davis and Auburn. In the end, West Sacramento proved to be prime location as it was far enough out from the other locations, but close enough in proximity to draw from the original fan base. Chambers also said that it was a truly business-friendly environment.

Atherton seconded Chambers’ comments by saying how welcoming local officials had been.

“We had two soft openings last week to prepare everyone for Tuesday. Friday’s soft opening included a luncheon with the mayor, Christopher Cabaldon, and other officials as a thank-you before their Cap-to-Cap event, which conflicted with the grand opening. We wanted to give them an opportunity to experience the food for all their support,” said Atherton.

Both Atherton and Chambers said the soft openings last weekend had been very busy. Chambers said about 200 people came through on Friday and 500 on Saturday. He expected about 600 to 1,000 at the actual opening.

“There hasn’t been too much real marketing for the event,” Chambers said. “Most of the buzz was created by fans by word-of-mouth. The city and customers have expressed a lot of excitement about it.”

Though the doors wouldn’t open to the public till 10 a.m., the grand opening had an early start as Good Day Sacramento’s Mark S. Allen and Don Geronimo were there at around 6 a.m. helping to further generate noise about the new location with their chatter and antics, including a burger-eating contest with Allen against customers. To watch the contest, check out their website.

By 11 a.m., the restaurant was fully packed and the line was out the door and wrapped around the corner.

Nina Galvan works as a yard supervisor at Stonegate Elementary School and lives near the new location. It was her first time eating at any Squeeze Inn.

“My co-worker was raving about this place for months, and I had been wanting to go, but the other locations are a bit far from here,” said Galvan. “So when I heard about this location opening a few months ago, I was pretty excited to finally be able to try it.”

Galvan brought along her friend, Velina Gonzalez, who works for the city as a site leader for an after-school program.

“I’ve had a burger at the Power Inn location before, but that was years ago,” Gonzalez said. “It was pretty good from what I remember, so I’m glad this place opened up. It’s much closer.”

Both women planned on ordering the classic “Squeeze with Cheese,” with Galvan modifying hers with the addition of some avocado.

Jeff Garrick also came to the opening Tuesday. He’s a forklift driver at Tony’s Fine Foods and a West Sacramento resident.

“I used to work night shifts over at Crystal Milk near the Power Inn location, and my wife, Melissa, would always have me pick up a ‘Squeeze with Cheese’ on the way home ever since we saw them featured on the Food Network show (“Diners Drive-Ins or Dives”).”

The West Sacramento location will feature the same menu and hours as the others. 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with all locations closed on Sundays.

For more information, visit the site or call the West Sacramento location at 371-6779.

Will the Sacramento Kings move to Anaheim?

2011-04-14T17:31:34Z

I attended the last game 41 Lakers/Kings and asked fans - Do you think the Kings are moving to Anaheim?

Check out my video -

http://youtu.be/wWJWqiO3Kgs

Order of appearance:
Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson
Phil Jackson - Lakers Coach
Carmichael Dave - Radio Sports Personality
Julie Neamann
Mike Provost
Christian Barry, Adam McIntyre, Derrick Matheson
Tyrel English
Stacey Petit, Kenneth Williams
George Styles
Doug Johnston
Michael Streeval
Armondo Vialobos

The National Basketball Association (NBA) Board of Governors is the management body that oversees the operations of the National Basketball Association. They meet today in NYC and the Sacramento Mayor, Kevin Johnson is there pleading his case to keep the Kings in Sacramento.

Author to Discuss New Book on Water Fluoridation Dangers

2011-02-21T19:09:52Z

Paul Connett PhD will be in Sacramento Febuary 23~24th to discuss his new book The Case Against Fluoride: How Hazardous Waste Ended Up in Our Drinking Water and the Bad Science and Powerful Politics That Keep It There. Learn how this relates to Sacramento, as new found dangers of water fluoridation continue coming to light.

There will be two events in Sacramento:

ARCADE LIBRARY - Wednesday Feb 23rd 7:00-9:00pm 2443 Marconi Ave Sacramento. It is a free event. For more info go to FluorideFreeSsacramento.org
WHOLE FOODS - Thurs. Feb. 24th 7:00-9:00pm 4315 Arden Way (Eastern and Arden Way) Seating is limited at this event. For reservations at Whole Food call (916) 483-1155 For more info go to FluorideFreeSsacramento.org

Over the past 23 years Dr. Paul Connett's research on waste management has taken him to 49 US states and 50 other countries, where he has given approximately 2000 pro bono public presentations. He has co-authored 6 peer reviewed articles on dioxin and numerous other articles on waste management. He is the main author of the new book The Case Against Fluoride: How Hazardous Waste Ended Up in Our Drinking Water and the Bad Science and Powerful Politics That Keep It There

Ralph Nader said "He is the only person I know who can make waste interesting."

Dr. Connett has researched the literature on fluoride¹s toxicity for 12 years. He helped found the Fluoride Action Network (FAN) http://www.fluoridealert.org for which he is the Executive Director. He has given presentations at the International Society for Fluoride Research conferences in New Zealand, Germany and China; the Japanese Society for Fluoride Research; the American College of Toxicology; the US EPA; the US National Research Council; the CDC in Nanjing, China; the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Health and Children in Ireland, a parliamentary committee in the Knesset, Israel as well as to many citizens¹ groups in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Israel, New Zealand, the UK and the US.

Of particular concern is a growing body of research indicating fluoride's ability to damage the developing brain, including 24 studies associating fluoride exposure with reduced IQ in children, 6 studies linking fluoride to other neurotoxic effects in children, and over 100 animal studies reporting that fluoride directly damages the brain.

Drinking Water Fluoridation - A Roadblock to Greenness?

2011-02-14T22:38:28Z

We keep hearing about our greenness. Here in Sacramento we have a tree program, various recycling programs, and other earth friendly initiatives. But can one policy trump all this? Can a city be truly green when it knowingly adds toxic chemicals imported from China to its drinking water? And to top it all, 99.99% of it is wasted. Lets look at the facts as the Sacramento Department of Utilities has presented them.

Questions came up at a June 22, 2010 Sacramento City Council budget hearing. This resulted in a request for additional information regarding the city's water fluoridation program. On July 1st Marty Hanneman, Director of Utilities sent the Mayor & City Council members a memorandum. It detailed the costs, chemicals used in, and ongoing maintenance related costs among other things, of the Sacramento Water Fluoridation program. This memorandum also highlighted the vast waste inherent in the delivery of the fluoride drug. Members of Fluoride Free Sacramento obtained a copy of this memo.< 1 >

The memorandum detailed the approximately $1 million annual cost to the department. Part of this cost is purchasing is the chemicals use, namely Sodium Fluoride & Fluorosilicic Acid. Another aspect is how the corrosive nature of the fluoridation chemicals are literally dissolving away very expensive equipment. This necessitates ongoing costly equipment repairs and replacement of the drug dosing equipment. For example, the E.A Fairbairn Water Treatment Plant currently required a $450 million infrastructure upgrade, and the Sacramento River Water Treatment Plant's fluoridation system will be due for replacement as well in 2014.

Now about those chemicals. The California Code of Regulations, title 22 < 2 > lists 791 chemicals as "Hazardous Waste," 39 of these are fluoride compounds. The memo lists two of these chemicals that are used for drinking water fluoridation in Sacramento; Hydrofluosilicic Acid and Sodium Fluoride. These are also not to be confused with the pharmaceutical quality fluoride in products, such as toothpaste, and mouthwash. Fluorosilicic Acid is a byproduct of the phosphate fertilizer industry. It contains levels of lead, arsenic and other heavy metals.< 3 > This is very toxic stuff by any standard.< 4 > Recent studies of fluoride use indicate a link to bone cancer, bone fractures, thyroid disorder, lowered IQ and more.< 5 >

With regards to the waste factors involved, consider where the drug ends up. The sole intended target group is defined as children under five years of age. Parents please see note below. According to city calculations, less than 0.009% of fluoridated water produced is potentially consumed by this target group. In other words, over 99.99% of the fluoride is not even used by those that are supposed to need it, but is wasted by watering the lawn, dish washing, flushed down the drain, etc. In the memo, the Mr. Hanneman makes the analogy of taking one gallon of milk, using six drops of it and pouring the rest of the gallon in the sink. This waste process has also been shown to negatively effect life downstream.< 6 >

The sourcing of the chemicals is also not green at all, as in they are routinely shipped in from China and Japan.

To recap the whole process: Ship in toxic chemicals from outside the country, then dump down the drain. This is water fluoridation in a nutshell. Is there a green option? You tell me.

Note to parents; For health reasons, babies one year and under are to avoid all fluoride as recommended by the the American Dental Association and the Center for Disease Control.< 7 > This would mean avoiding all processed food and juices, as these are commonly made with fluoridated water.

<1> http://fluoridefreesacramento.org/JULY_1_MEMO.pdf
<2> http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/LawsRegsPolicies/Title22/upload/Appendix-X_Ch11_ready-to-post.pdf - & - http://www.keepers-of-the-well.org/product_pdfs/Fluorides_Classified.pdf
<3> http://www.fluoridealert.org/phosphate/overview.htm
<4> http://www.fluoridation.com/poison.htm
<5>http://www.fluoridealert.org/health/
<6> http://www.earthislandprojects.org/eijournal/fluoride/fluoride_salmon.html
<7> http://www.fluoridealert.org/health/infant/
< * > http://FluorideFreeSacramento.org

Feb. 8th declared "Let's Move" Day

2011-02-09T04:25:40Z

Plans were announced at the Mayor's press conference Tuesday to construct a running track and community garden at Will C. Woods Middle School where U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius spoke to mark the one year anniversary of the “Let's Move” campaign.

Initiated by First Lady Michelle Obama on Feb. 8, 2010, “Let’s Move” is a healthy lifestyle campaign to address childhood obesity.

Sacramento City Unified School District was chosen as one of the 14 community sites in California, to receive a grant from the California Endowment with help through local partners The Sacramento Kings and UC Davis Health Services.

California Endowment spokeswoman Marley Klaus said SCUSD was chosen to be a part of “Let’s Move” based on a number of factors.

“It is typically an under-served community,” she said. “But there is also community involvement.”

In addition, Sacramento was considered not solely based on its “significant issues” but because it also has a lot of energy, Klaus added.

Before the press conference started, a group of about 40 students was led through a series of exercises by the Sacramento Kings mascot Slamson, cheerleaders and, Strength and Conditioning Coach Daniel Shapiro. Shapiro called out the drills, which included push-ups, jumping jacks and running in place, while Slamson and the cheerleaders demonstrated.

The press conference opened with words by Will C. Woods Middle School’s principal, Mary Desplinter. She said the reason for the school's participation is that obesity is an issue not just for Sacramento, but for the nation.

“We want to make sure to educate the whole child,” Desplinter said, adding that resources are limited for advocating healthy eating and lifestyles. Through the partnership, the school will be able to provide the facilities to promote “Let’s Move” and healthy lifestyle choices.

Robert K. Ross, CEO of the California Endowment, also spoke Tuesday to an audience of middle school students, teachers and Kings guard Pooh Jeter.

“We are here because we care about the students at this particular school,” he said. “We are happy to invest in 14 community sites, over $1 billion over the next 10 years.”

Mayor Kevin Johnson then spoke about the program, noting his support and its importance for local youth.

“You have to have a healthy lifestyle,” he said before asking the students in the gym to raise their hands in a pledge to eat healthy, help in the community garden and be physically active.

Johnson concluded his speech with, “We want to declare Feb. 8 as ‘Let’s Move’ Day in Sacramento.”

Sebelius added that with grants and funding, such as those from the endowment, the Sacramento Kings and UC Davis, students can help build healthy communities.

“I want to see that you’re going to be great leaders in the community,” she said, “Happy Birthday ‘Let’s Move.’ ”

Video by Kathleen Haley

Sidebar

2011-01-31T20:07:52Z

With his security detail watching the surroundings, Mayor Kevin Johnson answers a question about an earlier incident that involved a reported threat to his safety. To accommodate the media, the Mayor took a momentary break in a day-long series of meetings with the mayors of eight other California cities and several State officials, including Governor Jerry Brown. The "Big 10 Mayors" were in Sacramento in an attempt to keep redevelopment funds from being completely absorbed back into the State budget.

Mayors, governor to negotiate redevelopment

2011-01-27T06:27:37Z

Nine mayors representing California’s largest cities met with Gov. Jerry Brown in a closed session Wednesday to urge him not to eliminate redevelopment agency funding.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting on the West Steps of the Capitol, mayors from Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Anaheim, Oakland, San Jose, Santa Ana, Fresno and San Diego explained their reasons for wanting to keep redevelopment agency dollars in the city budgets.

“Every one of us understand the magnitude of the budget challenges we face in the state,” said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

He added that all mayors understand the need to shoulder their share of the budget cuts necessitated by the recession, but argued that eliminating redevelopment agencies is unfair, saying they create jobs and work as an investment to stimulate economic development.

Brown briefly addressed reporters outside his office right after the meeting.

“We’re working. We’re not in agreement yet,” he said. “We’re going to meet further. We’re going to keep talking.”

Brown has advocated for eliminating city redevelopment agencies, which are responsible for developing infill projects, such as recent work on K Street in Sacramento, in addition to other responsibilities.

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson said the mayors told Brown in the meeting that “it’s a terrible idea to abolish redevelopment in cities up and down the state.”

He said Brown was open to the idea of working with city governments, adding that the governor understands the value of redevelopment.

“He said we will have to bring solutions, and that’s incumbent on us,” Johnson said.

He then mentioned successful redevelopment projects just blocks from the Capitol, including the Sheraton Hotel, in which he said an $8 million investment of redevelopment funds was able to leverage $100 million.

“(Brown) is a tenant here in a project that is only here because of redevelopment dollars,” Johnson said. “We reminded him of it, he was in good spirit ... he said, ‘You guys can be part of a working group going forward.’ ”

Johnson emphasized that California’s mayors and city governments will stand firm on the issue.

“The problem with eliminating redevelopment ... is that all of us have historical high unemployment rates,” Villaraigosa said. “This is the wrong time to move away from job creation.”

The nine mayors who spoke Wednesday on the West Steps of the Capitol agreed that spending redevelopment dollars – which come from property taxes – brings further economic growth and translates to more revenue.

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders said redevelopment in downtown San Diego has resulted in each dollar spent bringing back $8.50 to the city.

The argument for eliminating redevelopment and enterprise zone funding is that it will allow more state funds to be spent in areas such as public safety and education.

With that, several public safety advocacy organizations have come out in support of Brown.

California Professional Firefighters, an advocacy group for approximately 30,000 firefighters, argued that cities overstate the impact of redevelopment agencies in job creation.

According to a press release from the CPF, the number of documented jobs created across the state in the past decade was approximately 241,000.

The release also cites a Jan. 18 report by the California Legislative Analyst that contends there is “no reliable evidence that redevelopment agencies improve overall economic development in California.”

The mayors did not answer questions about the report during the press conference.

The next step in the process, according to the mayors, will be to sit down with Brown and negotiate a workable solution.

“It was a good meeting, a good start, an important opportunity for us to be at the table to engage in these discussions,” Villaraigosa said.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Johnson presents agenda at State of the City

2011-01-21T02:24:41Z

In addition to breaking the news that former Washington, D.C., Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee would base her education group in Sacramento at Thursday’s State of the City address, Mayor Kevin Johnson also laid out his agenda for the environment, education and downtown development.

Johnson’s speech was the key draw of the Sacramento Metro Chamber’s 19th annual event, held at the Sacramento Convention Center. The chamber’s communications director, Hal Silliman, said this year’s turnout of about 950 people set a record.

In remarks before Johnson’s speech, Metro Chamber Board Chair Gregory Eldridge commented on the poor economic environment in Sacramento, saying “many of our members continue to struggle.”

The economy was also central to Johnson’s comments on “Greenwise,” the regional environmental initiative he started last year. The initiative will focus on five objectives.

The first is a goal of bringing twice as many green jobs to the region by the year 2020, doubling the current 14,000 green jobs.

“Our signature projects, in my opinion, when it comes to the green sector, are game changers for our community,” Johnson said.

The mayor’s second goal is to remodel school buildings in an environmentally friendly manner in the next 10 years. Greenwise aims to refurbish 15 million square feet of existing school buildings in the region.

A third element of the plan is to encourage people to buy local food. The fourth priority is to advance energy innovations.

Johnson’s fifth environmental goal is for the region to launch a biofuels manufacturing sector.

“With all of the waste that we produce in our region, particularly around agriculture, we have a tremendous amount of raw material in which we can create biofuels,” he said.

“Everything we need is right here. So on the flip side of it, if every garbage truck, if every bus, if every vehicle, if every city, county and state fleet, runs on biofuel, we can create a market and satisfy it with just our purchasing power by us becoming consumers here in our community.”

On the education front, Johnson set a goal to bring all Sacramento third graders in the city up to grade level in reading.

“We are announcing an initiative today that we want to be the first city in the country that ensures that every child is reading on grade level by the third grade,” Johnson said.

The mayor also discussed his development agenda. He mentioned his desire to revitalize downtown and bring a new sports and entertainment arena there.

A task force studying four current proposals is likely to make an analysis public on Friday.

“I don’t want us to just limp through this (economic) crisis,” Johnson said. “I think if we look back to the history of our community, we know that we have a strong core in this community and we can do a lot of things to get our mojo back.”

Read the complete text of the Greenwise plan here.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

City leaders back redevelopment agency

2011-01-19T06:28:47Z

Mayor Kevin Johnson and Sacramento City Council members on Tuesday discussed their opposition to Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposal to de-fund local redevelopment agencies.

Johnson said at his weekly press conference on Tuesday morning that Brown’s proposal could interfere with $108 million in local redevelopment funds that have not yet been spent on projects. He said he wanted to examine the option of fast-tracking redevelopment projects in light of Brown’s proposal.

“At the end of the day, we’re going to fight like crazy to try to prevent redevelopment agencies from being cut,” Johnson said. “We’ve got to salvage and preserve the dollars that we do have by almost any means necessary.”

Council members and Johnson discussed the issue at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.

“I think we should do all that we can from a City Council perspective to protect the redevelopment dollars,” Ashby said.

The council members discussed the issue after hearing a presentation on state issues from the city’s lobbyist, David Jones.

“We don’t have any details on the (redevelopment) proposal,” Jones said outside the City Council meeting. “But we know ... that to entirely eliminate redevelopment would be devastating to this community and others.”

Meanwhile, Brown spokeswoman Elizabeth Ashford said redevelopment funds could be used for other purposes. “We hope that the redevelopment agencies rushing through billions in taxpayer dollars are going to use these funds to create jobs now,” according to an e-mailed statement from Ashford. “These scarce dollars, which could be used to protect police, firefighters and teachers, should not be banked away for special projects.”

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Bonnie Pannell named vice mayor

2011-01-05T04:19:01Z

The City Council on Tuesday selected Councilwoman Bonnie Pannell to be its second-in-command after the mayor.

Pannell will serve as the city’s vice mayor for 2011. She replaces former City Councilman Robbie Waters, who held the vice mayor position in 2010. The vice mayor fills in for the mayor in certain circumstances.

Assistant City Clerk Stephanie Mizuno said the duties of the vice mayor are spelled out in the city’s charter.

“During any absence of the mayor from the city or a meeting of the city council, the vice-mayor shall be the acting mayor until the mayor returns,” the charter states. “In addition, if the mayor becomes incapable of acting as mayor and incapable of delegating duties, or if a vacancy exists in the office of mayor, the vice-mayor shall become the acting mayor.”

Photo by Brandon Darnell.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Police union revives strong mayor debate

2011-01-04T02:40:55Z

The local police union is reviving an effort to create a “strong mayor” form of government in the city, according to Det. Mark Tyndale, vice president of the Sacramento Police Officers Association.

Tyndale said in an interview on Monday that SPOA is “actively talking” to other groups on how to move an effort forward. SPOA is in discussions with the Sacramento Metro Chamber, Sacramento Area Fire Fighters Local 522 and the Sacramento 60, a group of powerful business leaders, Tyndale said.

Sacramento 60 and the Sacramento Metro Chamber backed last summer’s strong mayor proposal.

The City Council and interest groups for and against a strong mayor government fought bitterly over previous campaigns for a strong mayor system last year and in 2009. The city currently uses a city manager/city council form of government. A strong mayor system would move many of the city manager’s responsibilities to the mayor.

SPOA backs the July 2010 strong mayor plan, which is the most recent in a series of proposals.

Tyndale said he hopes the City Council will agree to place the strong mayor issue on the November 2011 ballot, if special elections for other issues are also taking place then. He explained that it is more cost-effective for the city to put it on the ballot with other election issues.

“What we want is real accountability,” Tyndale said, adding that a strong mayor system would make one person – the mayor – more responsible for his or her actions.

He also emphasized that the proposed government system would affect future mayors.

“This is way beyond Kevin Johnson,” he said.

If a new system is put into effect, it would probably affect Johnson in 2012, the final year of his current term, Tyndale said.

Tyndale pointed out that the strong mayor system proposed in July 2010 would have included a City Council president. If a strong mayor government were put into effect, Tyndale said he would want the City Council president to be new City Councilwoman Angelique Ashby.

Tyndale said the police union will try to persuade the City Council to put the July 2010 proposal on the November 2011 ballot. The July draft of the strong mayor proposal was written by third-party attorneys after the City Council blocked City Attorney Eileen Teichert from writing a draft in June 2010.

SPOA and other supporters will aim to advance the proposal through the City Council, Tyndale said, rather than through an initiative without the council’s support. However, he said SPOA and other strong mayor supporters would discuss the option of advancing the initiative without the City Council if that is the only option and if it can be accomplished legally.

Johnson and his supporters failed with the initiative approach last year. Bill Camp, executive secretary of the Sacramento Central Labor Council, sued over the issue in December 2009 and stopped the proposal from advancing. Sacramento Superior Court Judge Loren McMaster decided in January 2010 that the initiative did not follow state law.

Johnson, who had led the strong mayor campaign in 2009 and 2010, abandoned it in July.

“There’s not enough appetite for council to put this on the ballot,” Johnson told reporters in July 2010. “I got that. But that doesn’t mean that I’m going to quit fighting for reform.”

This time around, Johnson said he will not take a leading role in a campaign. “What I realize is, I don’t want this to be a distraction for all 2011,” he said at his weekly press conference on Dec. 28.

Meanwhile, Camp said Monday that voters need to decide if they want a council in which the mayor does not have a seat, he said. “People need to think it through,” he said.

Camp said that a new discussion of a strong mayor system needs to account for the need to change the number of City Council seats. The city would have to carve out nine new council districts under the strong mayor proposal. But the city already has to go through a redistricting process for its eight council districts this year, he said. This means there would be a second redistricting process if the strong mayor proposal goes into effect.

A second redistricting process would cost money, he said.

Tyndale acknowledged that the redistricting issue “does complicate things a little bit.”

However, Tyndale said that perhaps there could be a system set up for a couple years that consists of a strong mayor and eight council seats, instead of nine.

Councilwoman Sandy Sheedy was unavailable for comment on SPOA’s plans Monday afternoon.

Read a timeline of strong mayor events in 2009 and 2010.

Read the July 2010 proposal of the strong mayor plan here.

Photo of Det. Mark Tyndale by Brandon Darnell.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Greenwise outcome expected in January

2010-12-29T01:57:16Z

A policy report on Mayor Kevin Johnson’s 2010 environmental initiative, known as “Greenwise,” is scheduled to be released on Jan. 20 at the annual State of the City address.

The Greenwise report will consist of an action plan and goals, according to a Dec. 15 e-mail from the Greenwise project coordinator Lauren Altdoerffer. Johnson will speak at the State of the City address, which will be held at the Sacramento Convention Center.

The report will be the product of months of meetings and brainstorming sessions on environmental sustainability in the Sacramento region.

Johnson has repeatedly stressed that the focus on environmental progress should be regional.

“If we look at just one policy for one city, we will not have a competitive advantage,” Johnson said in June. “It has to be a region.”

Presentations from several leading figures in the fields of politics, environmentalism and journalism have been a major part of the “Greenwise” program.

Since the program started in June, it has featured speeches from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, environmental activist Van Jones, incoming California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, New York Times journalist Thomas Friedman, attorney Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and chef Alice Waters.

In addition to the celebrity appearances, the program has gathered community members to address areas including energy, waste and recycling, water and nature, green building and green technology.

Photo by Brandon Darnell.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Moving Public Session is Unfair to those Elected Officials Use to Build their Careers

2010-08-21T18:29:25Z

Initially I wasn't moved by the fact the City Council moved the public comment section of council meetings. I wasn't moved because selfishly I welcomed the change since it will allow me to again have the opportunity to speak when I am overwhelmed and need to voice my concerns.

As it is now, due to my schedule, I no longer can attend the first half of the council session and will miss the public speaking on matters not on the agenda. But with the change, if I miss speaking regarding an item on the agenda I can now attend and speak at the end of the session. If I am overwhelmed with a concern not on the agenda I can now make it in time to have a voice.

But to not be selfish and since I don't view the concerns I have as more pressing than the concerns of others who attend; I am moved to write this opinion piece.

I think moving the public comment section to the end of the agenda is quite unfair and disrespects the people elected officials often use to build their own political careers.

The decision should be based on what's good for the people and not on what's convenient for the council. A council who by the way is paid to sit through the sessions while those who come out and speak are often not paid to do so.

I realize we can't please all the people all the time. But the decision to move the public comment section should be based on what's good for a majority of the people that the eight council members and the Mayor of the City are elected to represent. If it's best for the majority of the people to attend at the beginning then public comment should be first.

Lots of us can't watch the session on cable. Some of us can't afford cable. Lots of us can't watch the session or email from the Internet. Many of us don't have computers or Internet.

Some of us rely on the news media to inform us on what occurs at council sessions. Some of us, plain ordinary common folks, aren't always seen by the news media when special interest and some folks with titles appear as some in the media, just like some elected into office, are more impressed with special interest and titles. We have to come out and let the elected officials see us.

Many of us have to actually attend the sessions to actually see and learn how the city is reacting or not reacting to the needs of the people; especially the needy or those in the city in pain, suffering and overlooked by some of our elected officials.

Some don't have to attend to be seen and heard. And then their are some of us who really want to know what is occurring in the city or make a difference whether slight or major we have to actually be in attendance at council sessions. In this city closed mouths may not get fed.

Some of us can't rely on reporters in the streets narrowing down their stories on all of our concerns, some of our worries, suggestions or giving all of us a voice.

Honestly, it appears in Sacramento many city leaders aren't showing concern for the people of the city but appear to show concern for the media. It appears some elected officials don't want the media to portray them in a negative light. They don't appear afraid or us- the little folks- they appear afraid of the media and how it can ruin or promote their political career.

My guess is if the media were to only attend at the end of the city session then the public comment would still be first on the city council session agenda.

Heck, if we want the sessions to not last so long it's not the public who should be given less time to speak but the Mayor and Council should be given less time on matters where the media shows up in full force regarding a specific agenda.

It often appears the Mayor and Council aren't watching us- the little guy- they appear to be watching the media.

It appears just as we- the people- want to be seen by the elected officials sworn into office to represent us, let's keep it real, many of those elected officials aren't looking at us, they look and want to be looked at by the media.

If we have concerns, pain, frustration, suggestions we should do our best to attend council sessions no matter when the public comment is put on the agenda. Some of our pain will probably never be put on a city agenda. But out of sight is out of mind.

If at first we don't succeed in letting our voices, struggles, pain be heard then we should by all means try and try again- and attend until we are seen and heard and solutions are in play.

Personally I don't feel enough has been done on issues I attend the council to speak of. But in attending I have found a peace and sometimes a sense of satisfaction looking in the eyes of those I question, disagree with or that I am impressed with. Most of all in attending I've found a sense of hope that change will come. Whether that change is in the council or in we the people I see hope.

Many of us need to see hope when we see so little change and surrounded by so much paiin.

If I were not able to have a voice I would drown in the sorrow and pain that I am surrounded by as many of us will live and prematurely die in a city neglectful of all of our needs.

Whether I am given time at the beginning or the end of the session whether or not I am given three minutes or two minutes the fact is for a moment I stood, straight and firm as tremendous pain exits from my gut and out of my mouth to fill out into a room. And in that moment I don't see the council. I don't see the media. I see by the Grace of God,--HOPE.

But sadly, let's keep it real, we in Sacramento who have concerns shouldn't feel concerned of when we are allowed to bring public comment to our elected officials who are put into office to represent us. We should feel concern of the fact that many of our elected officials in attempts to promote their political careers appear more concerned with how the media will promote them.

We should be concerned of elected officials who appear to not work for us but work to impress the media.

Heck, it appears often in Sacramento some of us shouldn't even attend council sessions to get the attention of the council but attend to get the attention of the media. Perhaps we need to meet with reporters verses meeting with elected officials.

Sadly, if we get the attention of the media we'll find we'll have the attention of the Mayor and Council.

My suggestion and I am being sarcastic and keeping it real, if you have a great concern and can't seem to find the ear of your council member or our mayor then my suggestion would be write about it, get the attention of the media and let your voice be heard.

We are in a city with elected officials not fearful of the City residents but fearful of the media. Sadly, whether we speak at the beginning or the end of council session it probably makes little difference to some elected officials.

The difference to the Mayor and some within the council is where the voice is coming from and if it comes from the media then your voice appears to be heard. Heck, the media can write of events occurring in other cities and other states and our Mayor and council will address it.

Folks, living in this city can attend our city council sessions and their voices, cries, frustration, suggestions will be overlooked if the media won't see them first .

But the priority of the city should always be the everyday common folks electing representatives into office. Our voices are not always on the agenda, due to special interest, therefore public comments should always come first.

After all it is many of us who will be overshadowed by the special interest politically motivated matters on the agenda of a Mayor and some within the council attempting to build their careers off the backs of the people suffering and in pain in our city.

I love the public comment of the Council Session. I love seeing real people with real concerns take a stand. In fact it is the most valued aspect of the Council session and whether or not I can personally attend, it should definitely be first on the agenda.

If elected officials are going to build their careers off our pain and struggles then we certainly should be given the opportunity to feel valued, welcomed, to voice our concerns first at city council sessions.

Central Labor Council backs Potnick for West Sac mayor

2010-08-19T00:56:08Z

A prominent labor group in the Sacramento region has endorsed Mayor Christopher Cabaldon’s opponent, Greg Potnick, in the West Sacramento mayoral race.

The Sacramento Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, this week endorsed Potnick to become the city’s mayor. Potnick, a former City Council member of 12 years, said he will advocate for working families as part of his campaign.

“I’ve been a union member and supporter my entire life,” Potnick said.

Cabaldon said Wednesday that he had not yet heard from the labor council on its decision. He said he did not want to comment until he talked to the labor council and learned why it endorsed Potnick.

Bill Camp, the executive secretary of the labor council, said the council wants to be better connected to Cabaldon, but feels it does not have a relationship with him. Camp indicated that the council feels it’s not connected with Cabaldon, saying that the SCLC wants to know more details about upcoming construction projects in the city.

The city is developing its Bridge District on the riverfront. Cabaldon is promoting development for that area.

Cabaldon, an education policy consultant, has served on the West Sacramento City Council since 1996. He has been the city's elected mayor since 2004.

West Sacramento residents started electing their mayor in 2004, according to Janet Chapan, a deputy city clerk. Before the city held mayoral elections, council members named one of their council colleagues to hold the position.

Both Cabaldon and Potnick were chosen by their City Council colleagues to serve terms as mayor before 2004.

Potnick is a retired deputy regional administrator for the state Department of Corrections. He held a City Council seat from 1988 to 2000.

He said he is a former member of unions including the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, the California State Employees Association and the Teamsters.

Photo of Cabaldon by Kathleen Haley. Photo of Potnick used with permission.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Mayor's office releases old strong mayor draft

2010-07-08T05:15:34Z

Mayor Kevin Johnson’s office released an older draft of the strong mayor proposal one month after The Sacramento Press requested a copy of it.

Kunal Merchant, Johnson’s chief of staff, wrote in a note accompanying the old draft that the strong mayor campaign is no longer using it. Johnson used the old draft months ago when he tried to convince the City Council to put a strong mayor measure on the June ballot, Merchant said.

The mayor gave up on the idea of the June ballot in February, saying at the time that council members were not backing a June timeline.

Read the old draft and Merchant’s note here.

Johnson’s campaign referred to the old draft as the “Collaborative Reform Package,” and calls the new version the “Accountability Plan of 2010.”

The old draft is “inaccurate, incomplete, and outdated,” Merchant said.

The campaign is now using a draft written by Liane Randolph of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP in Sacramento, and J. Clark Kelso, a law professor at McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento. The attorneys volunteered to write the draft, according to Merchant.

Read the current draft of Johnson’s proposal here.

Before Kelso and Randolph wrote their June 30 draft of Johnson’s proposal, Johnson had said he wanted City Attorney Eileen Teichert to write the plan’s official language.

But at a June 22 meeting, the City Council voted 7-2 to prevent Teichert from writing a formal draft.

The Sacramento Press requested a copy of the old draft on June 2 after Johnson spokesman Joaquin McPeek mentioned it in a June 1 interview.

Johnson’s office did not e-mail the old draft to The Sacramento Press until July 2.

Kelso and Randolph’s version proposes that elected officials and appointed members of city boards should adhere to an ethics code.

The old draft does not provide any information about an ethics code.

Both the old and new drafts call for the mayor to take over the chief executive role of the city manager. The mayor would be responsible for drafting the city’s budget under both versions.

The old draft proposed a two-term limit on City Council members and the mayor. By contrast, the new draft would prevent council members and the mayor from serving more than three terms. Both drafts would define each term as a four-year period.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

City budget, strong mayor debate at Tuesday meetings

2010-06-22T04:50:09Z

With the city budget and Mayor Kevin Johnson’s updated strong mayor proposal on the City Council’s agenda, the public is likely to see political fireworks at two meetings Tuesday.

During the first meeting, at 915 I St. at 2 p.m. the City Council will discuss key issues related to the city’s budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal year. The city must settle a $43 million budget gap.

Council members will consider whether to scale back proposed cuts to the city’s fire, parks and police departments. Read the report on some of the planned budget cuts here.

Another issue on the council’s afternoon agenda is the Utilities Department budget. Find information on that budget here.

The City Council will also decide whether to extend city management’s negotiations with three unions for 30 days. The unions are Stationary Engineers, Local 39; Auto, Marine & Specialty Painters, Local 1176; and Plumbers & Pipefitters, Local 447. A document from the interim city manager’s office on the issue can be readhere.

In addition, council members will discuss their views on a possible ballot measure which would tax local medical marijuana dispensaries. Learn more about that discussion here.

At the evening meeting, to be held at 915 I St. at 6 p.m., the City Council will make a final decision on the budget and then discuss Johnson’s new strong mayor plan.

The City Council is discussing, but not voting on, Johnson’s plan. Johnson aims to ask council members to vote in mid-July to put the plan on the November ballot. Read a report on the issue from Johnson’s office here.

City Council meetings are open to the public.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Lax Oversight Creating A Boomtown For Illegal Medical Marijuana Shops

2010-05-24T22:01:16Z

Written by L.C. Linden, PublicCEO.com

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Sacramento has become a boomtown over the past year for medical marijuana dispensaries, but the influx of businesses may not be a boon to medical marijuana patients or the city in general.

"We don't want Sacramento to become like Los Angeles," which has been overwhelmed by a rampant proliferation of medical marijuana operations, said Don Johnson, director of Unity Non-Profit Collective, a dispensary with 3,100 members that opened in March 2009.

The collective, located in an industrial park off Tribute Road, sells only marijuana that is cultivated by its members and, unlike many other businesses of its ilk, scrupulously follows the state Attorney General guidelines regulating the industry, Johnson said.

Johnson eagerly welcomes regulation. He would like the city to enforce the moratorium that it passed last summer, which prohibits the establishment of new dispensaries and outlaws the expansion and relocation of existing ones. The City Council should renew the moratorium when it expires in June, he said. Enforcing the moratorium would aid law enforcement, stamp out derelict operations and curtail illegal drug dealing, he argued.

What's more, Johnson is calling on the City Council to approve an ordinance in draft form that would regulate the location and operation of the clubs. The proposed ordinance currently includes zoning limitations, keeping the businesses away from schools, parks, drug rehabilitation centers and other areas, and would impose a cap on the number of clubs at 12.

Currently, there are 39 dispensaries registered with the city of Sacramento, and the draft ordinance proposes a lottery to determine which 12 get to remain in business.

Johnson and others say Sacramento should be proactive about regulating the local dispensaries, lest the city become a hotbed of rogue clubs on par with Los Angeles.

In an effort to belatedly quell the chaos, in April the Los Angeles City Council ordered the closure of hundreds of pot clubs as of June. Only 137 will be allowed to remain in business. Consequently, Los Angeles faces an expensive backlash in the form of lawsuits from perhaps dozens of dispensaries forced to shutter.

Approximately 35 California cities, including Redding, Placerville, Citrus Heights, and Oakland, have approved ordinances regulating medical marijuana dispensaries, according to Americans for Safe Access, a nationwide medical marijuana advocacy group. Ninety-six cities in the state have passed moratoriums to date and 129 have banned the dispensaries outright, the group said.

In recent months, Johnson said, dispensaries have swarmed into Sacramento and have hung up their proverbial shingle while flaunting state and local laws and guidelines. The prospect of the cap has spurred a race among dispensaries to set up shop and make as much money as possible before being shut down.

Following state law, Johnson charges sales taxes at his dispensary, but patients have told him that other dispensaries in town do not. He has also heard that other clubs are not requiring recommendations from doctors.

As a result of shoddy practices, standards are lowered and medical marijuana patients suffer, Johnson said. He added that Unity tests all of its marijuana for active ingredients, pathogenic molds and other toxins to ensure it is safe for patients. Patients are recommended marijuana for a wide range of ailments, from insomnia to chronic pain to cancer.

Beyond his concern for the integrity of medical treatment with cannabis, Johnson admits that his competitors who don't play by the rules have affected his bottom line.

"We simply can't compete with operations that cut corners," Johnson said.

Johnson said that, partly due to the political influence of many dispensaries, the City Council is not motivated to regulate the industry-especially not until after the June 8 primary election, if not the Nov. 2 general election.

"Nobody wants to take the bull by the horns," he said. "The issue needs to be addressed and not passed off for another year. City leadership is needed now."

The Sacramento chapter of the ACLU expressed concern about limitations on the number of dispensaries, arguing the draft ordinance, as written, would "frustrate" the needs of medical marijuana patients and their caregivers.

Councilmember Steve Cohn, who represents District 3, said he is not concerned about a prevalence of dispensaries in areas like Central City, which encompasses Midtown and Downtown.

"Medical marijuana patients rely on (public) transit," he said, making it difficult for those people to visit far-flung strip malls and other outlying locations. If a cap on the number of dispensaries is eventually approved by the City Council, Cohn said, the council should devise a special use permit that would provide an exception to the 500-foot zoning rule and allow more of the businesses to locate in Central City.

With this kind of waiver, Cohn envisions the total number of dispensaries in the city exceeding 12. However, Cohn said he would not want the dispensaries in Central City to be located right next to one another. "There are limits," he said.

He said the earliest the City Council would take up the ordinance would be this summer.

Law enforcement groups such as the California Police Chiefs Association have cited increased crime near marijuana dispensaries.

Anita Gore, spokeswoman for the state Board of Equalization, said the agency collects annually between $58 million and $105 million in taxes on the sale of medical marijuana statewide. Gore explained the agency can't proffer an exact figure because many dispensaries don't register as dispensaries as such - they call themselves pharmaceutical sellers or health food stores, for example.

The recession has reinvigorated the cause of legalizing marijuana altogether, with proponents arguing that cash-starved state and local governments deserve to reap the riches of the industry through taxes. There is a marijuana legalization initiative on the November statewide ballot, and San Francisco Assemblyman Tom Ammiano has proposed complementary legislation, set to be heard in an assembly committee this fall.

L.C. Linden can be reached by contacting the editor at jspencer@publicceo.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

Johnson to lead two national education panels

2010-04-27T04:18:52Z

Mayor Kevin Johnson will have the attention of U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on a regular basis.

Johnson told reporters at a Monday press conference that Duncan selected him to co-chair a mayoral advisory council that will focus on federal education issues. The Duncan panel is one of two education panels to which Johnson was recently appointed: He will also lead a U.S. Conference of Mayors task force on K-12 public schools.

Johnson described education as a key “civil rights issue” and said the majority of Sacramento schools are not keeping up with state standards.

“The simplest thing I can do is make sure we do a better job of aligning our city programs and services with the school district,” he said, adding that the services would include public safety, facilities, and out-of-school programs.

He noted that he wants to pursue education advocacy efforts more aggressively.

Johnson said he will discuss with Duncan education developments at the local level. He noted that his input on local education could affect national policies.

A KFBK journalist asked Johnson if he wanted to gain more jurisdiction over the school system.

Johnson responded that he did not think the state would allow mayors to assume power over the schools.

Photo by Anthony Bento.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

West Sac mayor champions major development projects

2010-04-01T03:03:21Z

Christopher Cabaldon is at the helm of an evolving city. The West Sacramento mayor said the city should be a place where families can raise children, but also a spot where young people want to be.

City leaders are taking a positive view of developing West Sacramento, he said.

“We’re not one of those cities that has a no-growth faction on the City Council and a growth faction,” Cabaldon said. “Everyone believes that there’s a lot of potential. The shape and pace of growth is always a question everywhere, and that’s true in West Sacramento as well.”

In one major example of West Sacramento’s growth, the City Council in February approved a 386-unit housing project that will be located in the city’s Bridge District at the riverfront.

The housing project is part of West Sacramento's plan to eventually bring housing and commercial development to 188 acres that make up the Bridge District. The development project could span 12 million square feet, a city staff report said.

Cabaldon, 44, is a single and openly gay leader who said he enjoys urban nightlife. As someone who is not married with children, his perspective is useful because the city and region are trying to attract creative people and young people, he said in a March 24 interview.

He credits recent Sacramento growth for paving the way in West Sacramento.

“Sacramento has changed dramatically, particularly in Midtown, and to some extent in downtown, over the last decade," Cabaldon said.

The Sacramento growth in the central city means that West Sacramento's Waterfront and West Capitol Avenue have potential, he said. "Because it's already been proven that this region can support and make successful that kind of development," he said.

Cabaldon said West Sacramento wants to make major upgrades to its downtown.

The city’s downtown is ripe for development, according to Cabaldon, because it “never really existed.”

Cabaldon said he wants the city’s future downtown to be walkable — a place where people can buy flowers and bump into people they know.

“We want to grow and create a real urban, but small-town downtown,” he said.

At the same time, the city is focusing on practical development projects, such as levee upgrades , said West Sacramento City Councilman Oscar Villegas.

The city is working on strengthening its levees to meet federal 200-year flood protection standards, Villegas said. The levee work is useful in the city’s efforts to bring in businesses, homebuilders and commerce, he said.

West Sacramento will have a competitive advantage when it can tell companies that may move to the city that the levees are secured, Villegas said.

Meanwhile, the city also wants to make subtle upgrades in its historic Bryte and Broderick neighborhoods, Cabaldon said.

“In the Bridge District, I’m trying to get ... $100 million for infrastructure,” Cabaldon said. “In Broderick, it’s just as important to find somebody to open up a cool, independent coffee house with some couches that local neighbors can sit around and gossip with each other at. There aren’t that many places like that.”

Image of developer Mark Friedman's planned 386-unit West Sacramento housing development courtesy of Friedman and the Fulcrum Property Group.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Mayor Johnson learns from trip to New York City

2010-03-31T07:00:03Z

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg gave Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson advice on what makes other cities successful at a meeting in New York City.

Johnson also met with NBA Commissioner David Stern and Macy’s CEO Terry Lundgren.

"You have to be responsive to the needs of your city," Johnson said that Bloomberg told him. "You have to not only prioritize, but you have to be able to implement, execute and actualize whatever those happen to be."

Johnson listed public safety, education, job creation and economic development as the city's top priorities. There are other issues that Johnson will be looking at.

"Then he said that (there are) things that aren't your priorities that you should be thinking about," Johnson said. "In Sacramento, we've been hit pretty hard by the foreclosure crisis. So, how are we as a city responding to the needs of people in Sacramento, who are losing their homes?"

When Johnson met with Lundgren, the Macy's CEO assured that he supports his store in the Westfield Downtown Plaza mall.

"We had a frank and very straightforward conversation," he said. "He's very committed on the vision we have for the Downtown Plaza. I let him know that we value Macy's and we're committed to making sure his stores are successful."

Johnson called the downtown mall "an embarrassment and an eyesore." The mall recently lost an iconic landmark, the Hard Rock Café. He said that changing the mall's format from inward-facing to outward-facing is an idea that is floating around.

When he said that he visited Stern, he had nothing new to report.

"It was really an update on the arena and the entertainment and sports complex in the railyards," Johnson said.

He did bring some good news home about what Stern said about the city and its team the Sacramento Kings.

"He said this time and time again: that Sacramento is an attractive market to the NBA, and that is why they're committed to being here. He is committed to the Kings being here, (and) he's committed to doing everything that he can to make sure that we're successful."

Click here to watch Mayor Johnson's press conference.

Photo by Rob Small

Mayor Johnson talks about Evans, RekeROY rally

2010-03-10T08:00:04Z

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson – a three-time NBA all-star point guard for the Phoenix Suns – shared his thoughts on Sacramento Kings Rookie of the Year candidate Tyreke Evans Tuesday morning at a press conference.

Johnson officially endorsed Evans last week, and came before tonight’s rally to support Evans.

"He's doing some amazing things," Johnson said about Evans' performance this season. "He's on pace to do something only three other (rookies) in the history of the NBA have done in the past – averaging 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists (per game)."

The three players who Johnson talked about are LeBron James and hall-of-famers Oscar Robertson and Michael Jordan. Currently, Evans is averaging 20.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game.

The RekeROY Rally to support Tyreke Evans for rookie of the year will take place tonight during the game against the Toronto Raptors at 7 p.m. During the rally, the introduction of the R-O-Y (rookie of the year) chant will be introduced to the fans to be used the rest of the season.

“A lot of people thought that we should have drafted other players," Johnson said about the controversy of drafting Evans with the fourth pick in last year's draft. "If you look at what he's doing, the team has won more games than last year. That's a very important indicator."

The Kings won only 17 games last season compared to 21 wins going into the final quarter of this season.

Evans isn't the only rookie turning heads. In Oakland, Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry has performed well as of late. Although Curry has had a recent outburst along with New Orleans Hornets point guard Darren Collison, Evans has performed well all season.

"Curry is doing a great job down in Golden State," Johnson said. "But I think we have the top rookie here in Sacramento."

Photos by Rob Small

Old Soul Co. Opens New Location in Oak Park

2010-02-05T01:35:05Z

Old Soul Co opened their third Sacramento location Thursday morning in Oak Park.

An old familiar spot has a new face in Oak Park and the community is well pleased. Starbucks shut down its 35th and Broadway location last year, much to the disapointment of many. The location was a community hub where many gathered daily to socialize, conduct business or just relax with a good book and a cup of coffee. Despite many letters from patrons voicing their conerns to Starbucks corporate office of the closure, the doors were finally closed in September of 2009.

Knowing the community cenergy the coffee house brought regular goers better known there as "The Usual Suspects" were confident something good would come of it…the prime location couldn't sit quiet for long.

Thursday morning, with no fanfare, advertisement or forewarning, Old Soul Co opened their doors for business. Location manager Tim Jordan stated they were suprsingly very busy this morning, "you would have thought it was our official grand opening".

While all the furniture is not moved in yet, what furniture and décor that is there shows the location is going to be a wonderful and comfortable spot for "The Usual Suspects" and those who patron the new friend in Oak Park. College students were already enjoying the coffee and space as they cracked their books open to study. One stated, "I've been walking by here every day waiting for them to open".

Owner of "Underground Books", Mayor Kevin Johnson's Mother (known to locals as Mother Rose), said "Thank God this coffee house is open. It's what this community needs."

Not only does Old Soul roast and brew their own smooth coffee, they have a breakfast and sandwich menu as well.

The official open house will be the evening of this month's 2nd Saturday, February 13th from 6 to 9:30 P.M. The management is planning a wonderful event, and even obtaining a special event permit for the evening.

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Johnson reviews his first year as mayor

2009-12-03T06:03:01Z

Mayor Kevin Johnson has been at the helm of the city for one full year.

Johnson made remarks to reporters Tuesday about his past year in office, saying that his volunteer program and a drop in crime are among his accomplishments, and that the city’s business climate and City Council disagreements are some of his shortfalls. His one-year anniversary as mayor was Dec. 2.

“I’ve been in office 365 days,” Johnson said at his Tuesday meeting with reporters. “And I’m just as excited today as when I got elected.”

Johnson cited the city’s falling homicide rate and federal stimulus funding for police as achievements. The city was awarded more than $12 million in federal stimulus funds for police, Johnson noted. “That’s going to allow us to put even more police officers on the street in the next three years,” he said.

Of the roughly $12 million for the police department, $9.5 million is for hiring and $2.5 million is for equipment.

Johnson also said Tuesday that the city’s homicide rate has dropped significantly.

Sacramento Police Department spokesman Norm Leong said Wednesday that homicides have declined this year during the period of Jan. 1 to Dec. 2.

In that timeline last year, the city reported 45 homicides, according to Leong. By comparison, there have been 26 homicides during that period this year, Leong said. Sacramento police have solved 21 homicides this year, he pointed out.

Johnson said his work on community service and volunteerism is another one of his accomplishments. His program Volunteer Sacramento had an original goal to clock 500,000 service hours, he said. Volunteers surpassed the goal and gave 800,000 hours of their time, Johnson added.

“Again, when you have a down economy, you have to call on the regular citizens to step up and they were able to do that in a very significant manner,” he said.

Johnson also identified shortfalls in his first year. The city “took a step backwards” when it came to fostering a positive climate for businesses, he said.

Michael Faust, senior vice president of public policy and economic development at the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce, said “divisive politics” - not Johnson - are to blame for the city being less friendly to business than it could be.

Under City Manager Ray Kerridge’s leadership and programs like the Facilities Permit Program (FPP), the city “became known as a great place to do business,” Faust said.

But recent battles over Nestlé’s move to Sacramento and the national press attention to the issue sends a negative message to companies that may be interested in relocating to Sacramento, he added.

“It’s been very disappointing,” Faust said.

Johnson also said working relationships at the City Council have been a problem. The council has not functioned as well as he would have liked, Johnson said.

“It’s been frustrating, to say the least,” he said. “I think we’ve allowed differences and petty issues to get in the way. I campaigned with a commitment to try to make an environment where it’s not business-as-usual. And that’s an area certainly I have to improve.”

Johnson further said he wanted to improve relationships among councilmembers.

“I’ve got to do a better job and see if I can get us more collaborative and having more of a collegial relationship when we don’t agree on issues,” he said.

Councilman Ray Tretheway responded to Johnson’s comments Wednesday.

“I think I’ve witnessed both petty issues as well as large philosophical issues,” Tretheway said. “It’s a combination.”

Tretheway said that more communication is needed. If Johnson wants to work toward better communication with councilmembers, that effort would be welcomed, he said.

“I think all of us would want to take advantage of that offer,” Tretheway said.

Tretheway acknowledged that the debate over Johnson’s strong mayor initiative, which councilmembers do not support, has played a role in terms of the council’s communications with Johnson. The strong mayor debate “has been a factor in the inability to have full communications,” Tretheway said.

As Johnson moves into his second year, he said jobs will be his key focus. “Everything I do next year will have a lens of job creation in mind,” he said. “Jobs, jobs, jobs.”

Photos by Anthony Bento.

Kathleen Haley 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.

Top Johnson Advisor Resigns To Work For Nestle

2009-11-02T08:34:16Z

Michelle Smira, a Republican strategist and consultant to mayor Kevin Johnson, resigned from her position on October 22. Below is her letter of resignation:

Dear Mayor Johnson,
It has been a pleasure and an honor to serve as a volunteer in your office, the Office of the
Mayor. The opportunity to serve as your liaison to various organizations and to meet with constituents on your behalf has been very rewarding. Thank you for this opportunity.
I believe strongly that the people of Sacramento voted overwhelmingly for you to represent us as Mayor because we wanted change. What has become apparent is that we desperately need change. I will be stepping away as a volunteer in your official office to further help promote these goals in the community. I believe that the only way to ensure that Sacramento is truly “a City that Works for Everyone” is if you are in fact leading our City. We need to change our antiquated structure and I will be there to help educate our community on the issue.

It has been a wonderful experience working with you at City Hall and I look forward to again helping in this capacity at a later date.

Thank you,
Michelle Smira

In a recent interview to the Sacramento News & Review, Smira said that she was leaving her post as a volunteer advisor to focus her energy and attention to supporting Johnson's Strong Mayor Initiative. However, Smira's political affairs firm, MMS Strategies, was hired by Nestle Waters to assist in obtaining city support for it's planned water bottling plant in Sacramento less than 2 days after submitting her letter of resignation.

Had Smira been a paid city employee, she likely would have been prevented to accept a position such as the one with Nestle due to conflict of interest and revolving door policies that attempt to create clear divisions between government, business, and personal gain.

When asked by the Sacramento News & Review about this situation, Jessica Levinson, from the Center for Governmental Studies, said, "“There are all kinds of red flags. When volunteers are used in high level positions, it’s important to make sure they pass conflict of interest provisions."

Although Smira refers to herself as a volunteer, according to a city ordnance, she would be classified as a consultant. In March 2009, Sacramento City Council approved legislation that states, "An individual may be a consultant whether he or she is compensated or is an unpaid volunteer." A consultant is defined as someone who "serves in a staff capacity" and "participates in making a governmental decision."

Attempts to reach Smira and Johnson, as well as representatives from groups opposing the Nestle Water Bottling plant, were unsuccessful. This article will be updated as new information is made available.

Mayor Kevin Johnson introduces "Rules of the Game" for new arena

2009-10-30T03:14:16Z

At a news conference Thursday, Mayor Kevin Johnson introduced his "Rules of the Game" plan to build an arena and entertainment complex in Sacramento. It was held on the 25th floor of the US Bank building downtown, featuring panoramic views of the skyline with Cal Expo and the Sacramento Railyards in the background.

Johnson's "rules" include coming up with a plan that doesn't depend on taxes, making sure the city is not a "stalking horse" for a deal elsewhere and utilizing experienced community members. He also announced that a task force will be established and that there will be an open call for proposals, with guidelines coming in the next few days.

"I think it's time to reinvigorate an arena discussion," Johnson said. "If you look out over Sacramento, it's clear that rebuilding Cal Expo cannot be the only option. We need a new sports and entertainment center."

Two weeks ago, after the NCAA deemed ARCO Arena outdated for an NCAA tournament, Johnson declared finding a new arena a "front-burner issue." He also has called a new arena part of a larger plan to revitalize Sacramento's economy.

Johnson said Thursday that the arena, host to more than 190 events last year, was not about the Maloofs or even the Kings.

"We've got to prove that we can build major projects here in Sacramento," he said. "I'm talking about an entertainment complex that lights up the next six blocks right outside of its boundaries, something that works hand in hand with transit, smart growth and green ambitions."

When asked about the Railyards as a potential site, Johnson said, "I have said all along that I would have loved to see an arena downtown and my favorite site was the Railyards. At the end of the day, it all boils down to 'How are you going to pay for it?' "

Johnson said he wants public input, adding that there will be a monthly events to discuss the complex.

"I challenge everyone to think big, and think about what great cities have done over the last 3,000 years," the mayor said. "Think about how we can join that list of great cities."

Please view a transcript of the speech here.

Sacramento to be part of 2010 Amgen Tour of California

2009-10-23T05:17:30Z

At about 9 a.m. Thursday, three-time Amgen Tour of California winner Levi Leipheimer announced via a "tweet" that he was going to defend his title in 2010. It was part of a high-profile Twitter conversation started by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that went something like this:

"@schwarzenegger: Great news for American cycling fans and CA. The 2010 Amgen Tour of California will be better than ever. @lancearmstrong will you join us?

@lancearmstrong: Absolutely! @schwarzenegger, I've decided to ride the #Amgen Tour of California in 2010. Can't wait. What about you @levileipheimer?

@levileipheimer: I'll definitely be racing the 2010 Amgen Tour of California, defending my title."

Then at 4:30 p.m., the defending champion spoke at a press conference for the 2010 race at The Firehouse Restaurant in Old Sacramento.

"It was a lot of fun being in the announcement today on Twitter, so I feel like I'm really a part of the race," Leipheimer said to a crowd of about 50, which included the mayors of Sacramento, Nevada City and Davis, and local legislators.

"Right from the fall of 2005, when we first announced the Tour of California was going to happen, I felt like this was something that I needed to be involved with, and I think that's been the secret to my success the last three years," he added. Leipheimer has won the last three Tours of California.

Mayor Kevin Johnson also expressed excitement that Sacramento be will be involved in the tour again. In addition to hosting the pre-race team presentation and gala on May 14, downtown Sacramento is where the first stage of the tour will conclude May 16, after a start in Nevada City.

"That allows us to have four or five days of activities and make it a really special weekend event," Johnson said. "We're going to have about 70,000 spectators that will participate over the weekend. This event brings in $8 million dollars, and that is very significant."

He also addressed last year's "hiccup": During the race, Lance Armstrong's time trial bike was stolen in Sacramento. The mayor joked that although the chief of police had promised tighter security, riders should bring their own locks, just in case.

Davis's Mayor Dr. Ruth Uy Asmundson and Nevada City's Mayor Reinette Senum said they were honored that their cities were part of the race as well.

A big change in the 2010 tour is that it will be held in May instead of February.

"We did it to showcase the state of California in a better way," said Andrew Messick, president of Anschutz Entertainment Group and tour director. "There's a lot of terrain you can't get to on a bicycle in the wintertime."

Moving the tour dates also means that it will overlap with the peak of the European cycling season. As a result, it is unclear whether Europe's top racers will choose the Tour of California over the Giro d'Italia (Tour of Italy).

"There are probably some Italians who will end up going to the Giro, but I don't think that we're going to see any impact because of the two races conflicting," Leipheimer said. "(The Tour of California) is better preparation for the Tour de France in July."

Leipheimer, Armstrong, and most of last year's Astana team will ride together, but have moved to the newly-formed Team Radioshack. A 2007 Tour de France doping scandal, near financial collapse and a talent overload (three of the top four 2009 Tour de France riders) sent many former Astana riders elsewhere for 2010.

Mayor Kevin Johnson: New arena is a "front-burner" issue

2009-09-30T04:53:15Z

Mayor Kevin Johnson brought up the possibility of a new sports arena in Sacramento at a press conference Tuesday.

Johnson announced his top-three priorities are public safety, education and economic development, the latter of which a new sports arena could positively impact.

Johnson reiterated that a new arena would be crucial not only in keeping the Kings in Sacramento, but also in terms of creating a "world-class" downtown. Currently, Arco Arena holds more than 200 spectator events each year.

"We got a wake up call with the NCAA when they said we are no longer going to hold big-time college basketball in Sacramento because [we] have an outdated arena," Johnson said.

Last week, after learning about the NCAA's decision, Johnson said he became worried that Sacramento might lose the Kings and wanted to see a new proposal for an arena at Cal Expo.

The National Basketball Association is now leading the effort to build a new arena at Cal Expo, according to a recent Sacramento Bee article. However, it has been difficult in the current economic climate to find a developer for the plan, said a Bee editorial.

Johnson, however, seems willing to change turn the conversation away from Cal Expo, still not ruling out downtown as a location for a possible arena.

"Before I was the mayor, I would have always liked to see an arena downtown; and now that I am mayor, I would still like to see an arena downtown," he said.

One possible location would be the Sacramento Railyards, one of the largest infill projects in the country, Johnson said. Though technically not downtown, the city is buying about 33 acres of the 244-acre site, enough room to fit both a planned transportation corridor as well as a new arena.

Johnson said it fits into a larger plan to revitalize Sacramento.

"Part of our overall strategy, [which includes] Westfield Plaza and the J, K and L corridors, is how we revitalize the mall, retail, offices and housing," he said.

Johnson also pointed to his time as an NBA player, which he said he doesn't talk about a whole lot.

"I lived in Phoenix when there was no arena downtown, and I was also part of a team that helped bring an arena downtown," Johnson said. "Phoenix was a ghost town, much worse than Sacramento. If you go to downtown Phoenix now, it's a whole new town because of the catalytic impact that the arena had [on] downtown. I think the year was 1993; if you look at what has transpired over the last 16 years, [it proves] that [an arena] can galvanize a downtown community."

Downtown arenas have a "multiplier effect" in boosting local economies, he added. However, Johnson said a downtown arena could just be "wishful thinking," and still has not mentioned how the project might be financed.

Maloof Sports and Entertainment was contacted for this article but declined to comment.

Wynton Marsalis speaks to the arts community

2009-09-24T02:26:21Z

Wednesday's For Art's Sake meeting at the Sacramento Ballet studios feautured a surprise visit from musician Wynton Marsalis. The nearly 100 audience members were treated with a speech from Marsalis, who Mayor Kevin Johnson had previously mentioned in June's For Art's Sake meeting.

After the normally scheduled meeting, Marsalis entered the room to a standing ovation. He gave a 30-minute speech followed by a 15-minute question-and-answer session.

Marsalis, a jazz educator as well as nine-time Grammy winner and Pulitzer Prize recipient, spoke of the importance of music education.

"How can we get kids to our shows?" Marsalis asked the audience early in his speech. "We need to get kids to go to events whether they like it or not!"

California Arts Council director Muriel Johnson noted that California ranks 50th in providing state money to the arts and that music programs in schools have lost 50 percent of their funding in the last decade. She asked if Marsalis could back her up in speaking to state legislators.

"I talk to legislators all the time, and they smile, but they're not going to do anything," Marsalis said. "Our system is based on money, and we have to change [legislators'] consciousness [of the arts].

Marsalis also answered questions about jazz and its importance. "All music is becoming less important because we're not teaching it," he said.

"The root of the arts is humanity," Marsalis said. "I did a better job when I understood all the other jobs connected to my job, understanding the perspective of everyone else."

Marsalis described the arts as a "nourishing soup." It can be "soul food" in that it helps shape a community's intelligence, as well as preserve culture, but its ultimate goal is to create a "healthier populus."

Johnson retold a story of how he first learned about Marsalis in the early '90s when he was in the NBA and Marsalis and was on the ESPN show "Up Close" with Roy Firestone. Firestone called Johnson a hypocrite for speaking of the benefits of education while not finishing his degree at UC Berkeley before entering the NBA.

Marsalis, a devoted Johnson fan, stood up for Johnson back then, arguing that he might be planning to finish his degree after his NBA career (which Johnson did in 1998, earning a bachelor's degree in political science from UC Berkeley.

Ever since then, Johnson has respected Marsalis, and even spoke to him after a concert in Arizona back in the 1990s. Backstage at the concert, Marsalis promised the young Johnson that he would do whatever he could do to help Johnson's career.

Tuesday, Johnson finally took him up on the offer. Marsalis also happened to be in between shows in Monterey and Davis, where he will play this Friday at the Mondavi Center.

The first half of the meeting described the arts initiative's progress: creating a logo, creating a website and developing an "action plan." The action plan will be carried out over the next 12 to 18 months to help the arts in Sacramento secure continuous funds.

After the meeting, Michael Collett, an employee at La Raza Galeria Posada, described his feelings about the arts initiative. More "press and awareness" is always helpful, he said, "but I'd like to see a serious effort from the city to push the envelope."

"It's in the formative stage, but it's gaining a broad base," Donald Sronce, a past chairman of the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission, said of the initiative. "Each meeting has grown, and it's indicative of the community's support."

The next meeting will be at Hot Italian, 1627 16th St., Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. Pizza will be served following the meeting. Those who wish to participate should email Sharon Gerber at sharongerber@sixdegreez.net.

For Art's Sake initiative receives funding and community support

2009-08-27T01:56:18Z

The third monthly "For Art's Sake" meeting held Wednesday morning at Capitol Public Radio had a big announcement. Over 100 people stuffed into CPR's conference room to hear the news that $100,000 had been raised for the For Art's Sake initiative.

In addition to the financial support, Mayor Kevin Johnson announced a more active web presence. The initiative has a live Facebook page, and a website is in the works to be launched in the next month, Johnson said.

Familiar faces filled the audience which included the likes of Sacramento Ballet artistic director Ron Cunningham and Sacramento's poet laureate Bob Stanley, as well as new faces such as Keith Ochwat of the Documentary Foundation and Kevin Santos-Coy of Bridge to Art.

Also announced in the meeting were the committee leaders for five subgroups. Dennis Mangers was named funding leader, Steve Winlock facilities chair, Garry Maisel marketing chair, Don Roth film chair (this committee will market Sacramento as a film location) and Ruth Rosenberg education chair.

With 10 months of meetings left, the goal of the initiative is to "craft a city and regional vision for the arts," Johnson said. "There are people dying to support the arts."

He drew this conclusion after each of the first four groups he asked for funds all agreed to donate $25,000, putting an end to the group's fundraising efforts in a mere seven days. In doing so, Johnson fulfilled his promise to raise $100,000 to hire interns, graphic designers and consultants to help with the group's logistics.

Those four donors — Western Health Advantage, AT&T, Wells Fargo and Sacramento Regional Community Foundation — all brought representatives. Each said they were honored to support the group.

"It's no surprise that these four stepped forward, because they've been supporting the arts in Sacramento for a long time," Mangers said. He also introduced the four donors to the audience.

"It's your initiative," Johnson said to the audience. "But they're helping us weather the storm."

Several other guests spoke including Michael Fahn of Fahn & Co., who presented Johnson with a piano key signed by jazz legend Dave Brubeck. Brubeck will be playing a concert in Sacramento next month at the Radisson Hotel.

Darrell Ayers, vice president of the Kennedy Center for Education, a national group, was also on hand to speak to the audience. He said that the Kennedy Center's Any Given Child program will help look at Sacramento's resources to develop a long-range education plan if the group wants to work with the center.

Before closing the meeting, Johnson recognized the courage of the "Lion of the Senate," Ted Kennedy, who passed away Aug. 25. He recalled that Kennedy had a great sense of humor and that it was a joy to have met him.

Each of the 10 remaining For Art's Sake meetings has a different location in an arts-related facility; the next will be Sept. 23 at 10 a.m. at The Sacramento Ballet's studio. Those who want to join the group should contact Arts Liaison Sharon Gerber at sharongerber@sixdegreez.net.

Mayor Johnson Camps With The Homeless People Of Safe Ground

2009-08-14T19:44:32Z

Fox 40's Natalie Bomke, and Mayor Kevin Johnson camped out with Sacramento’s homeless community, August 11, 2009. This is a huge step in making homelessness a priority and bringing forth change.

Safe Ground’s mission is to help the homeless community to have a safe and legal place to stay until the housing issues are resolved. Mayor Johnson and Bomke showed up at Safe Ground’s recent camp-out spot to learn first hand what it is like to be homeless.

Johnson and Bomke signed Safe Ground’s participant agreement; which is required in order to camp: no drugs, no alcohol, no violence. This agreement is set to keep the homeless community safe.

John Kraintz, a homeless leader and a member of Safe Ground, has great hope that the homeless community won’t appear “invisible” anymore. Change occurs when people take notice. The time has come for just that. How could you not take notice when Sacramento’s very own Mayor decides to take heed and put himself in a homeless man’s shoes?

In visiting, Sacramento Loaves & Fishes website, you can find some very touching and informative videos by Fox 40 and Costa Mantis, in regards to Sacramento’s homeless community, and what Safe Ground is doing to help make this movement work for the best.

Today, Safe Ground continues to move on a daily basis preventing the homeless from being arrested for camping. I’m very pleased to say there weren’t any camping tickets for Mayor Johnson or Bomke.

Mayor Johnson has created a task force to work out a more permanent place for the homeless community to call “home.”

In Praise of the Sacramento Film Community - An Open Letter to Mayor Kevin Johnson

2009-07-31T20:01:13Z

Dear Mayor: Thanks again for calling the Film Community meeting at City Hall Thursday July 30, 2009. As I surveyed the room, I realized the 50 attendees represented many independent films and small festivals who came to life in the past 2-10 years..... each created independent of the others, designed to reach out to specific audiences and needs, each operating beneath the radar in our larger community.

The many festivals (Place Called Sacramento, Music and Film, French, Jewish, Gay & Lesbian, Black, and International) have attempted cooperative meetings in the past. These meetings were successful in coordinating schedules and taking the edge off of "competing interests" but gathered little or no traction with local media, Convention and Visitors Bureau, nor the City Council. Your leadership is much needed and appreciated. Please permit me to share several insights that may help in going forward with the work of the committee - FYI.

(1) Incentives - Big films will require a financial incentive to work in Sacramento. And if they do come to town (the Travolta film "Lucky" comes to mind several years ago), the crew will come exclusively from Hollywood. This is a boon to local hotels and restaurants but not to the local film community. The only local hires will be for security duty. Hollywood is looking for "deals" to pack up and come to Sacramento. Very difficult for our City in tough financial times. Before offering the "financial incentives" offered by other Cities and States discussed in the meeting, examine if those states and communities were in fact too generous and actually lost money to gain cache.

(2) Small budget independent films - This is the "sweet spot" for Sacramento. We are a very inexpensive town to work in and we are very cooperative. LA is very jaded and the business communities and residents are tired of 3 AM "Law and Order" shoots that light up the streets of LA and disrupt sleep and traffic. The small independent films are budgeted at $500K to $5 million with small crews and open to finding local talent on both sides of the camera. Our cooperative environment and many varied locations keep costs low and achieve bigger bang for the buck. In these films, there is no budget for "special effects" so the right location and affordable "talent" is everything. Our local community theater groups will work at scale or free to serve as extras. Our local, experienced production crews will leap at the chance to earn $200 per day (as compared to $1,000 per day for grip positions in LA). We should continue and support Film Commissioner Lucy Steffens and reach out to the major film industry but we should also concentrate on the "Independent Spirit Awards" and the small film production groups and agents. This can be achieved by "outreach"rather than giving money away. We will save the small independent films much money, while charging Sacramento full rates in our notoriously "cost effective" community.

(3) Grow our own - The meeting was filled with "homegrown" film production leaders. As a group we have groomed local talent for the past 10+ years with great success. "Butts in Beds" is not the only measure of film success in Sacramento. Direct your clout with "star power" by inviting key LA stars to participate in the many existing film festivals. This awakens the Bee and other regional news outlets to the existence of these festivals and validates our community resources and assets without negative comparisons to other cities.

(4) Avoid comparisons to other Cities - We read it in our papers and hear it every day. Pick a topic. Pick the "best" City in the World in that topic area. Compare that City to Sacramento. Result: Sacramento is inferior. Here are some obvious examples. "Best Basketball Team" = How do the Kings match up to the Lakers? "Best City with Rivers and Bridges? = How does Sacramento compare to Portland or Pittsburg or New York?"Best Coffee?" = How does Java City compare to Starbucks? etc. etc. etc. In mental health terms, this is the path to an inferiority complex not a motivational tool. If a coach did this every game, his team would not be motivated.... they would give up. Comparisons like this don't motivate - they just reinforce "Sacramento is a cow town" AND WE DO IT TO OURSELVES without even thinking. We are already a "World Class City" if we declare ourselves to be so and highlight our "assets". Thank you Mayor Johnson for your high visibility and constant praise of our hometown. But digging ourselves out of the slippery slope of "self-deprecating mental attitude" will take more time and more leadership. This is not to say we cannot aspire to greatness.... but it must be "on our own terms and standards" not in comparison to other cities. Each city is different with different assets to build upon. Let's "build and reinforce Sacramento positives" not "compare and give other cities props at our expense".

(5) Praise our local Festivals as the symbol of our love of independent films - This is easy.... just keep doing what you did at the Music and Film Festival last Friday night... show up and support. For example, in the ten years of the "Place Called Sacramento" film festival - a unique event featuring all Sacramento stories, talent, and resources produced by hundreds of volunteers - Not a single County Supervisor or City Council member or Mayor has ever attended any of the nine previous events. They were invited. The Crest has been filled with 700-900 Sacramentans each year. Each film is 100% a Sacramento product. Why no visible support?

My guess is two reasons and neither one is "My schedule is too full".

(a) "If I did it for this event I would have to be active in all of them." YES.... this is supporting the independent film community and Mayors routinely attend events with 50-100 people.... what about 500-1,000? Films about and starring Sacramentans? A film celebration of our best and brightest aspirations and concerns. An elected leader (if not several) should be at each of these "opening night" events and viewing our community through a "local lens".

(b) "A successful films initiative can be judged by 'butts in beds' alone." YES and NO. The easiest benchmark is reports back from local hotels and restaurants that an event pulled in non-Sacramento residents to stay overnight and bring "new money" to the business community. This is "reaping the corn but not planting the seeds".

Our local festivals "plant the seeds", creating creative capital for our community and bolstering our collective self confidence. This meeting room was filled with the "local filmmaking farmers" who have been toiling away for years planting the seeds of filmmaking, film appreciation and film involvement in Sacramento. They are not profiting from these efforts but they persist with success an intangible but real byproduct. Hotel revenue must not be the only standard of success in this endeavor.

We are building community through local filmmaking. Emphasize the positive of what is happening now as we build an even greater future. Thank you for your leadership and this opportunity. If Access Sacramento can be of help, just call. Ron Cooper - Access Sacramento and "A Place Called Sacramento" Film Festival

Medicinal cannabis clubs face scrutiny

2009-07-15T05:28:39Z

Although the medicinal use of cannabis has been legal in California since 1996, in Sacramento there's a growing concern over the uncertainty that surrounds local cannabis clubs — nonprofit clinics that sell cannabis in various forms to qualifying patients.

On Tuesday night, the Sacramento City Council voted unanimously to adopt a 45-day moratorium on the development of medical cannabis dispensaries in the city. No new dispensaries can be created and existing dispensaries will be unable to physically expand their operation, though they can still take on new clients.

The moratorium is intended to investigate the current status and number of medical cannabis clubs in the city to better inform future regulations, because even city officials acknowledge that they don't know.

Estimates vary on how many clubs operate within the city. Assistant City Manager Gus Vina estimated between 20 and 24, whereas at least 34 can be found online at sites such as Sacramento Cannabis Clubs.

These dispensaries bear various titles that may cause confusion over their actual services and legal standing. Some are wellness collectives, others are healing centers, some offer holistic or alternative medicines and others are labeled as delivery companies. Labeling in this way, many clubs avoid registering themselves as cannabis dispensaries with the city government and exist completely under the legal radar. The city council is uncertain as to how many exist within city limits and how many of those are working within legal statutes.

"That's one of the biggest problems," said Sacramento Special Projects Manager Michelle Heppner. "It's hard to say whether the city should regulate, prohibit or leave the dispensaries alone if we may have a zillion of them out there."

The city council heard testimony from a long list of interested parties before the vote, including medicinal cannabis activists, dispensary owners and patients benefiting from prescriptions. Among the speakers was Rich Guitron, CEO and general manager of R&R Coffee Wellness Collective, who vocally defended medicinal usage of THC.

"It's not just pot anymore," Guitron said. "There are thousands of strains that treat different ailments. It's a cutting-edge industry." He also highlighted discrepancies between drug legality and safety. "Over-the-counter medications kill 20,000 people a year and medical marijuana has never done that."

Currently, medical cannabis dispensaries are in legal limbo, caught between state and federal law.

Medical cannabis has been legal in California since 1996's Compassionate Use Act and further defined by the 2003 Medical Marijuana Act (a.k.a. Senate Bill 420), which allows for non-profit provision of THC herbal medicines. Sufferers of THC-treatable ailments, ranging from AIDS and cancer to depression and anxiety, are protected from arrest for the possession and cultivation of cannabis so long as they possess a doctor's recommendation or a medicinal cannabis ID card.

Yet, federal law still lists cannabis as a Schedule 1 controlled substance. This means that although dispensaries are protected in state law, federal drug enforcers could raid stores, seize assets and prosecute distributors at any time.

In fulfilling an Obama campaign promise, Attorney General Eric Holder said that the Justice Department has ceased federal raids on state-legalized dispensaries. However, Drug Enforcement Administration agents, although overseen by the DoJ, have raided and dismantled at least six California cannabis clinics this year, according to media reports.

Cannabis dispensaries are also illegal according to Sacramento city code, which complicates proceedings. During the moratorium, all cannabis dispensaries are asked to register themselves with city government. Once the dispensaries are registered, city government will not pursue enforcement and will allow them to continue operation, provided they remain within legal limitations on permits, sale volumes and clientele.

West Sacramento passed a similar moratorium on July 8 and other city governments have made similar moves to reexamine the weed community that has sprung up under their feet.

Local artist Rena Davonne provided the last piece of testimony, running to the City Hall after seeing the discussion on TV. "Marijuana saved my sister's life," she said, and detailed how her sister recovered from life-threatening illness with the help of THC. Cannabis didn't work for Rena's chronic pains, but seeing the relief the plant brought her sister made a believer out of her. "I would like to see medicinal marijuana expand, or grow, if you will."

Photos by Cheya Cary / courtesy James Leynse of Corbis

Strong mayor progresses, questions remain

2009-07-09T04:49:29Z

Two weeks after taking office in December, Mayor Kevin Johnson launched a ballot reform initiative to expand the executive powers of the Sacramento mayor, suggesting that enhanced executive powers would make city government more efficient and accountable. It would also make him one of the more powerful executives in any California city.

Throughout its short, tumultuous life, the so-called "strong mayor initiative" has been praised or criticized by citizen groups as either a democratizing modern reform or a gateway to tyrannical government.

Last Friday, the primary group promoting the change, Sacramentans for Accountable Government, presented City Hall with a petition to put the initiative onto the 2010 ballot; by the group's figures, it was signed by more than 50,000 city residents. Others have come out in strong opposition, including Stop the Power Grab, a citizen group started this January. The Sacramento City Council formed an 11-member Charter Review Committee in February to consider the issue, and it has been holding hearings for the last few months.

Sacramento's current council-manager system has been in place since the city charter was drafted in 1920. Sacramento’s position of mayor is essentially just a modestly embellished city council seat. As laid out by the charter, the chief executive officer of Sacramento is actually the city manager, which is an unelected position.

This means that Ray Kerridge, the present city manager, wields most of the powers you would expect of an executive arm of government, including enforcing laws, appointing department directors and proposing the budget.

Under the council-manager system, the city manager is appointed by the city council and serves "at their pleasure," with no term limit until he or she retires or a majority of councilmembers decides to fire him.

In the strong mayor plan, the council-manager system would be replaced by a mayor-council system. That plan installs the mayor as executive of city government, removes him from the city council and gives him a wide degree of political independence. If approved, this measure would give the mayor all the executive powers of the city manager and more.

The mayor could hire and fire department directors, including the city manager, treasurer and attorney. He could also run without term limits and could propose a budget that could only be blocked with council override. The strong mayor initiative also grants the mayor a powerful tool that the city manager doesn't have: veto power over any city council ordinance.

City Attorney Eileen Teichert voiced concern over the initiative's provisions in an analysis presented to the April 20 hearing of the Charter Review Committee.

"Essentially, this proposed strong mayor initiative creates an imbalance of powers," she wrote. "It lacks important checks and balances and blurs the lines of authority and accountability contained in other strong mayor cities' charters."

Over-expanded budget control was a primary concern Teichert listed, as was the strong mayor's comprehensive appointment power that would eliminate intra-governmental checks.

Steven Maviglio, Johnson's volunteer spokesman and a key figure in Sacramentans for Accountable Government, conceded that the plan is a stiff prescription that would give the mayor many powers.

"It depends in how you look at it," he said. "But it's definitely one of the strongest ones out there."

Maviglio also voiced strong disapproval of the charter review committee and dismissed them as being "politically appointed." Each of the 11 members was appointed by a city councilmember, including the mayor, with two other committee members nominated by a subcommittee. "They were put in place by councilmembers who had their views already set in stone," Maviglio said.

Committee Chairman Bill Edgar replied to this claim, "It's simply not true.... Everybody on the committee has an open mind on the matter and everyone is invited to testify." Ultimately, the charter review committee can review proposed changes and make recommendations, but cannot and will not make the definitive choice. That's the job of Sacramento voters.

Strong mayor systems are common to major California cities including San Francisco and Los Angeles. Fresno introduced the system in 1997, while San Diego started its strong mayor system in 2004.

Fresno Bee columnist Jim Bowen wrote this January that the strong mayor system was "one of the smartest things that Fresno voters did," and the initiative's wide passage suggests that Fresnans agreed. Strong mayorship, Bowen writes, "put an end to the confusion of who would control Fresno" and allowed the economic development expertise of Mayor Ashley Swearengin to reign with less resistance.

However, the Sacramento plan would allow for greater mayoral impunity than any of these other cities and should be taken with corresponding gravity.

For many, the question remains: What is Johnson restrained from accomplishing under the current council-manager system? The central benefit of a strong mayor, according to the initiative's author, Tom Hiltachk, is increased accountability.

"A more representative form of city government will lead to a more effective and accountable government," he wrote in the initiative. "If city services are inadequate, citizens should be able to hold their elected representative responsible for such failures.

This still leaves unanswered what issues a stronger [strong?] mayor would be able to address, or for that matter, in what ways the current system is ineffective. Opponents to the measure make almost precisely the same argument for the reverse outcome: A stronger mayor, to skeptics, would be less accountable due to greater political license.

Maviglio has much to say on the strong mayor initiative, but not a lot on what Johnson would actually plan to do with that unleashed power. Under a strong mayor system, Johnson "would be able to get things done," Maviglio said, but those precise "things" weren't quite clear. "He'd put more cops on the street, work for economic development, and support our schools," he said.

Those changes are political bread and butter. A councilmember would risk their public image by opposing any of those reforms. Again, what would a strong mayor do?

The clearest answer may be tighter control over Sacramento's budget, but many argue that enough can be done in the present budget system.

"I have a vision for what I think the city can become," Johnson told The Sacramento Bee last week. "But if I can't allocate some resources toward making that vision happen, then it never will."

Whether a strong mayor in Sacramento is a means to accomplish otherwise impossible goals or merely an end in itself is a contentious point in the ongoing debate. City Hall is presently counting petition signatures and the charter review committee met July 2 to continue discussion in a forum open to the public. According to Edgar, no decisions will be reached until August.

What's happening at the Capitol: July 9

2009-07-07T22:52:10Z

Thursday, July 9

11:45 a.m.- 4 p.m. California Association for Micro-enterprise Opportunity (CAMEO) will be holding a legislative day near the north steps of the Capitol. It will include lunch with legislators under a tent and a presentation by Senator Leland Yee. About 40 people are expected.

5:30- 9 p.m. A gathering in support for Laura Ling and Euna Lee will be held on the west steps of the Capitol. About 100 participants are expected including Lisa Ling and her family, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Senate President pro Tem Darrel Steinberg and Mayor Kevin Johnson.

"Strong Mayor" campaign brings signatures to City Hall

2009-06-27T01:45:26Z

Friday, the group organizing the campaign to provide Sacramento’s mayor with more power delivered to City Hall signatures of residents who favor a “strong mayor” city government. The paperwork that contained the signatures filled 13 boxes, said acting city spokeswoman Wendy Klock-Johnson.

The idea of changing Sacramento’s current “council-manager” system to a “strong mayor” format continues to be controversial. The group, Sacramentans for Accountable Government, brought signatures to City Hall to meet requirements to put the “strong mayor” proposal on an upcoming ballot. Mayor Kevin Johnson supports the "strong mayor" campaign.

At the same time, the city’s Charter Review Committee is examining the “strong mayor” idea.

The total number of signatures must be 15 percent of the city’s registered voters. Staffers at the City Clerk’s office will now count the signatures. After that, the signatures will be verified by the Sacramento County Registrar of Voters. The City Council will then decide when the proposal will go before voters.

Thomas Hiltachk, an attorney with the group, was not immediately available to return phone calls Friday afternoon.

The campaign said it had gathered more than over 45,000 signatures, according to The Sacramento Bee.

City Attorney Eileen Teichert explored the issues raised by the "strong mayor" campaign in February reports to the City Council.

Teichert noted that the proposal would give Johnson numerous powers. “A true strong mayor system grants its mayor budgetary powers, appointment and removal powers, management of day-to-day city affairs, power to propose legislation and veto power,” Teichert wrote. “The Strong Mayor Initiative includes each of these powers and more.”

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Mayor holds meeting "For Art's Sake"

2009-06-13T04:50:13Z

It was a veritable who's who of Sacramento artists, arts organizations and art supporters inside KVIE Public Television's offices Friday morning.

Nearly 100 invitees gathered to listen to Mayor Kevin Johnson's remarks in a meeting entitled "For Art's Sake."

"Performing arts, visual arts and literary arts -- we need all three to reach the potential of what Sacramento can be," Johnson said in his speech. "Our commitment: We are going to promote the arts in a real way."

The mayor stressed that the arts community doesn't just use city money, it creates revenue for the city. Therefore, the relationship is a reciprocal one.

He then introduced Sharon Gerber, founder of arts and event planning company Six Degreez, as his liaison to the arts community. Gerber introduced herself to the audience and gave a short speech. She then asked each person in the audience to stand and identify themselves.

Members of the B Street Theater, Crocker Art Museum and the Sacramento Ballet introduced themselves. Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission members and Councilman Rob Fong attended.

This was followed by a town-hall style forum addressing the question: What do art organizations need from the mayor and City Council?

What followed was a smorgasbord of ideas.

Some wanted federal money to support artists, who are by the nature of their profession unemployed for extended periods of time. Other groups wanted money to go into new arts facilities.

Some even noted how Second Saturday artists get relatively nothing in return for Second Saturday, and some of the money that the city generates from the event should be given to the artists as an honorarium.

"I interviewed a lot of gallery owners and the community, and the thing that I found was that the galleries and the artists are not really benefiting from that event. As this economy continues to tank, those galleries are going to continue to suffer," said Liv Moe, senior editor of Midtown Monthly and an artist herself.

Several people addressed youth programs. It was brought up that Sacramento needs to recognize young artists in the media, and the youth need money for new art resources and technology in the classrooms.

Others wanted to create a new process for how money is delivered from the city to artists so that when money does become available, nonprofits don't end up with the short end of the stick.

After the comments were made, Johnson announced that this meeting would be the beginning of an ongoing process. This group will reconvene every month for 12 months, build an action plan to focus on key issues and build a leadership team of six to 10 volunteers who can meet more regularly.

"On one hand, there are tremendous challenges, but we're not just going to ask [businesses] for a handout." Johnson said. "We've got to say a little bit more, we've got to get people out to see the project."

Should We Close Sac's Parks? Open Up K St. to Cars?

2009-05-29T23:57:36Z

Should we close Sacramento's parks or slash services to them? How about opening up K Street to cars?

Those are the two latest questions I'm asking for your input in my online forums, being run in cooperation with Peak Democracy.

These forums are designed to foster civil discussion about issues facing me and the Council. But instead of attending a city council meeting, you can share your perspectives from your home or office without heading down to City Hall. And unlike newspaper (and this site's) comment sections, I'll read every comment and keep you updated on the issue as it progresses.

This week I'm asking two questions, one on parks and another on K Street. I'd welcome your views.

Question one: Sacramento is facing a record budget deficit. As part of the city manager's plan, the city's parks will be severely effected. Under the plan, weekly mowing will be cut back to once every two to three weeks; park trash cans will be emptied once or twice a week instead of daily; and all park restrooms will be closed except for special events. Rescue Sacramento Parks is a grassroots organization that has formed to fight these cuts. Should the I vote to support the City Manager's position on park cutbacks? If not, what other services do you suggest reducing that will result in similar budget savings? Share your views at: www.peakdemocracy.com/339

Question two: K Street Mall has been a pedestrian walkway and light rail route for many years. There are now calls to re-open it to traffic. What do you think? Should cars be allowed on the street in an effort to revitalize the area? Share your views at: http://www.capradio.org/news/specials/?opentownhall

Thank you for participating!

Sacramento Celebrates "Bike to Work Day," Offers Bike Racks to Businesses

2009-05-21T06:40:08Z

This Thursday morning, I'll be hopping on my bike and heading to work at City Hall to kick off "Bike to Work Day." And the City of Sacramento will be out in force at the Capitol BikeFest at the West Steps of the Capitol from 11 to 1 p.m. too.

To promote bike commuting, the city is offering bike racks to local businesses. The bike racks will be installed in the City right-of-way and become City property, owned and maintained by the Department of Transportation.

Funds for the racks ares coming from the Measure A (half-cent sales tax) Bikeway Fund and from downtown Transportation System Management funds that are earmarked for projects that decrease automotive trips.

Later in the year, the city will launch the second phase of its program to promote bike commuting. The Transportation department will be investing $10,000 from Measure A to leverage $40,000 in grants from the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District bike parking rebate program, which will mean $50,000 for the program. Other business organizations are being approached to participate in cost-sharing as well.

Businesses interested in seeing if they qualify for a free bike rack can call my office, or visit the City’s webpage at www.sacpark.org.

Note: Along with other City participants, DOT’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Coordinator Ed Cox will ride his high wheel bicycle in a bicycle ride Thursday morning from the Delta to the Capitol. The ride has been organized by Assemblymember Tom Torlakson’s office. Bicyclists expect to be riding over the Tower Bridge around 8:30 a.m.. Joining the riders is Martin Krieg, who recently set off on a cross-country trip pedaling a rare backwards HiWheel bicycle. Read more about Martin at http://2009hibustour.blogspot.com/.

NBC's "Dateline" to Feature Mayor Johnson on Sunday

2009-05-08T19:33:18Z

NBC's prime time news show, "Dateline," http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032600/, will feature a profile on Mayor Kevin Johnson on Sunday. It will air locally on KCRA, Channel 3, beginning at 7 p.m.

The show's crew was here two weeks ago, filming Johnson during his daily routine at City Hall and in community meetings. They also interviewed him at the Forty Acres Gallery in Oak Park. His mother, known as "Mother Rose" was interviewed, and film crews also spent some time with neighbors in the area.

"Dateline" is the latest television crew to film the Mayor. He says the national exposure will help boost the city's visibility on the national scene and hopefully attract additional economic development.

City Council to Throw Out Fair Election Ordinance

2009-03-31T19:04:00Z

Today's (Tuesday, March 31st) Sacramento city council meeting includes an item on the "consent calendar" (meaning a group of items expected to be non-controversial) that would eliminate portions of Sacramento's campaign finance law. This change would remove any fundraising limits for organizations called "independent expenditure committees" and also raise campaign contribution limits for political candidates.

What is an "independent expenditure committee," you might ask? Wikipedia defines them as: "In elections in the United States, an independent expenditure is a political activity intended to assist or oppose a specific candidate for office which is made without their cooperation, approval, or direct knowledge. Most commonly, this takes the form of advertising. In some cases, independent expenditures may far exceed direct spending by the candidates' campaigns. Groups which frequently make use of independent expenditures include political party committees, political action committees, and 527 groups."

Some examples of "independent expenditure committees" include groups like MoveOn.org or the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth (527 groups) or the Democratic National Committee or Republican National Committee (political party committees.)

The full report can be found here:

http://sacramento.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=8&event_id=80&meta_id=174038

The reason given for this change is the risk of a court challenge. During the last election cycle, attorneys representing independent expenditure committees, one supporting former Mayor Fargo and one supporting current Mayor Johnson approached the city. They wanted to spend money beyond the current spending limits to support their respective candidates, and threatened to sue the city over their campaign-finance laws based on the following precedents:

N.C. Right to Life, Inc. v. Leake, 525 F.3d 274 (4th Cir 2008) and Arkansas Right to Life State PAC v. Butler, 29 F.Supp.2d 540 (W.D. Ark. 1998)

The city, faced with the threat of lawsuit, declared that the city would not enforce its spending-limit laws during the last weeks of the election. Now, the city government plans to eliminate these laws entirely. It is not being discussed as a city council issue, but passed with a series of purportedly non-controversial regulations. Its result will probably be an even greater level of influence for developers and other moneyed interests, while restricting the ability of members of the public who are not wealthy or backed by the wealthy to run for public office.

If you are interested in providing feedback to the City Council, or asking them to take this item off of today's consent calendar, please call the City Council members at the numbers below. The item in question is Item 5 on the consent calendar: Ordinance Amendment: Ordinance Amending and Repealing Various Sections of Title 2 of the Sacramento City Code Relating to the City's Campaign Chapters (Contributions and Spending)

Kevin Johnson
Mayor
Mayor's Office
916-808-5300

Ray Tretheway

Ray Tretheway
District 1
916-808-7001

Sandy Sheedy
District 2
916-808-7002

Steve Cohn
District 3
916-808-7003

Robert King Fong
District 4
916-808-7004

Lauren Hammond
District 5
916-808-7005

Kevin McCarty
District 6
916-808-7006

Robbie Waters
District 7
916-808-7007

Bonnie Pannell
District 8
916-808-7008

March Madness: The Mayor's Brackets

2009-03-23T23:56:34Z

It was big news last week when -- in the midst of the economic crisis -- President Barack Obama released his brackets for the NCAA's "March Madness" basketball tournament to ESPN. It's no secret that he's a huge basketball fan, and he's not too shabby on the court either (I'm secretly still waiting for a call from the White House asking if I'd like to take him on!).

Still, I was caught off-guard when I was on KFBK radio last Wednesday, doing my normal weekly show, when the hosts asked me if I'd share my brackets. But now that the tournament is underway, I thought it was time to give them up -- even if I didn't have my favorite, Cal, only making it one round.

Here's the link: http://www.kfbk.com/cc-common/mlib/613/03/613_1237595016.pdf

So far, so good: All four of my Final Four picks are still in it.

I'd be interesting in hearing from SacramentoPress readers on how you think I'll do.

City Council meeting draws hundreds

2009-03-11T07:32:36Z

Approximately 300 people showed up at City Hall Tuesday evening, many wielding homemade signs, wearing yellow shirts, and sporting stickers to show opposition to $8.6 million in funds being distributed by the City of Sacramento for proposed construction on K Street.

Dozens began gathering at 5 p.m., but by the time the arguments had been heard from both sides and Mayor Johnson and the City Council voted unanimously in favor of the proposal, which had been altered in an accord reached earlier today, it was nearly 10 p.m.

For nearly four-and-a-half hours, people filled all 240 seats in the Council Chamber, and earlier in the night, around 100 more waited outside. Almost all were there to speak about or listen to arguments on item 18, the K Street construction project, which was addressed at 7:45 p.m.

First, David Taylor of David Taylor Interests, Inc. gave a few details of his company's involvement in other downtown projects such as the Sheraton Hotel and City Hall. Taylor said, "For every $1 the city has given us, we spend $15 of our own. We want you [the City] to be creative and risk-taking in a time when it's difficult to take risks."

Councilmember Ray Tretheway then explained that the city was trying to promote hospitality businesses, and that the developers and the City had already agreed on a private accord which amended the proposal.

Even so, nearly an hour of public comment followed, with business owners and concerned citizens giving their own insight into the situation. Speakers against the proposed construction included Dave Virga of Paesano's, Rob Kerth of the Midtown Business Association, and Jim Seyman of the Tower Cafe among others.

Virga said, "I've opened 10 Sacramento area restaurants in Sacramento all without the help of city funds. What we need is more housing and hotels."

Kerth asked, "The city decides who is the winner and the loser? For a pizza joint, mermaid bar, and a cougar den?"

Jim Seyman added, "You [the city] really discourage that great enterprising spirit. If the restaurants that exist now are going to survive, we need more people living downtown."

After business owner and the de-facto spokesperson for the opposition, Mason Wong, concluded with a statement. Mayor Johnson asked those opposing the project to stand, causing most people to stand and cheer.

Sid Heberger of the Crest Theatre, Michael Ault of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, and Randy Paragary of Paragary Restaurant Group as well as others, gave statements of support for the construction.

Heberger said, "We need to reach a critical mass, it's the next step to filling the 10th and K area."

Ault congratulated the mayor on his enthusiasm, adding, "We cannot wait to continue work with you, and downtown has a very good future."

Taylor closed the public comment section of the meeting by saying, "We're not ecstatic about [the accord], but we will accept it."

Further details of the accord were not available at the time the article went to press.

Rev. Jesse Jackson to Kick Off Volunteer Effort

2009-03-01T19:48:31Z

On Monday at the Boys and Girls Club downtown, I will be joined by the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Founder/President of PUSH/Rainbow Coalition, to kick off "Volunteer Sacramento."

This new effort is designed to encourage greater volunteer participation in our community. Led by Honorary Chair Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento), this will be a "full-court press" with local nonprofits to strategize on how to harness the energy of more Sacramento citizens to held local nonprofits during this challenging economic time. More than 50 nonprofit leaders and agency heads will join us, as we discuss efforts to attract more citizens to participate in making our community a city that works for all of us.

Rev. Jackson is well-known for his grassroots organizing efforts -- a "community organizer" long before it was popular. I am honored to have him to join us here in Sacramento.

Since my swearing-in back in November, I've been working with community agencies to boost volunteerism. Hands On Sacramento www.handsonsacto.org has been partnering with us to engage more and more citizens to help fill critical community heads. We had a burst of success in November and December, and need to keep that going. That's why I am committed to making Sacramento the #1 city in California in volunteerism with this new initiative

You'll be hearing more about this effort in the days ahead. In the meantime, if you have a spare hour or two, contact handsonsacto.org to learn how you can help make our city a better place.

The State of the City

2009-02-26T04:17:40Z

Last night, President Barack Obama gave a powerful speech to our nation. He told the Joint Session of Congress that we're not a nation of quitters, and implored us to maintain our confidence during these troubled economic times. As I noted on the Larry King Live Show last night, President Obama's themes of acting boldly to confront the serious challenges our nation faces with a new era of responsibility, accountability, and cooperation is exactly what we're trying to do in Sacramento, albeit on a smaller scale.

This afternoon, I built on the President's remarks when I delivered the "State of the City" address to the Sacramento Chamber of Commerce at California State University, Sacramento.

After 86 days in office, my speech was a candid assessment of where our city is -- and how much more we can be if we face our challenges in new ways.

It is indeed a time for change from business-as-usual for our community, and I am committed as I was when I took the oath of office to making change happen. Listen to the entire speech here, thanks to a link by KXJZ, Capital Public Radio, http://www.capradio.org/articles/articledetail.aspx?articleid=6253

To make Sacramento the world-class city it deserves to be, I'm going to continue to rely on you -- your energy, your commitment, and your skills. As I noted back in November during my inauguration ceremony, it's going to take all of us to make Sacramento "A City That Works for Everyone."

SacPress readers: keep your comments coming. I appreciate hearing your ideas on making our city work.

City to Eliminate Design Commission

2009-02-12T17:55:35Z

This article was forwarded to me by Panama Bartholomy, a neighborhood activist. If you have a chance, come to City Hall tonight (915 I Street, New City Hall council chambers, 5:30 PM) and tell the Planning Commission that you don't want the city to shut its citizens out of the planning and design process.

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On Thursday the Sacramento Planning Commission will have a public hearing on a proposal (http://www.cityofsacramento.org/dsd/meetings/commissions/planning/2008/documents/DOC_letter.PDF) by the Development Oversight Commission (DOC), a City-appointed group comprised almost entirely of real estate developers, architects, and business consultants, to eliminate the City's Design Review Commission and change the development approval process in the City so that City staff will make most planning and design decisions administratively, leaving no opportunity for public input.

The reasons you and members of your association should come to the hearing at City Hall on Thursday February 12th at 5:30pm to testify against this proposal:

1. This attempt to reduce citizen and citizen-commission input and oversight of development in our community has undergone no public vetting from community groups that will be affected by such a fundamental shift in our City's development.

The proposal was developed and sent directly to the Mayor with no input from the Planning or Design Review Commissions. More importantly, the proposed ordinance was not brought to any neighborhood association or other community-based organization that normally comments on development in their communities.

This is not the kind of transparency and open government practices that should be an essential part of such a fundamental change in our community's development approval process.

2. The proposal will greatly reduce opportunities for Community input

The proposal will eliminate the City's Design Review Commission and fold its responsibilities into the Planning Commission and shift “…the majority of decisions to the staff level..”. The movement of “…the majority of decisions to staff level…” will likely reduce community involvement from the development review process. Communities have a right to be able to comment on projects that will be built in their neighborhood.

Even after moving most decisions to the staff level, by eliminating the Design Review Commission the public loses one of the two opportunities they have left to comment on development projects proposed in their neighborhood. The recommendation would squeeze all public input on a project into one meeting where every issue with design or planning will have to be settled. This will almost certainly create the types of extremely long meetings that discourage public involvement and will force complex decisions that have long-term impacts on communities into unreasonably short decision-making time frames.

Reducing opportunities for citizens to be involved in projects in their neighborhoods decreases transparency, will cause more projects to be appealed to the City Council and will increase the likelihood of lawsuits to block projects. This will decrease the effectiveness of the development review process.

Please come to the Planning Commission hearing and comment on this item and let the City know that you think the public should have a role in development decisions in our City. Please distribute this email to other residents who would come to testify in support of preserving the role of the citizen in our city's development.

The recommendation can be found here: (http://www.cityofsacramento.org/dsd/meetings/commissions/planning/2008/documents/DOC_letter.PDF) and the meeting is at the New City Hall, 915 I Street, 1st Floor- Council Chambers, February 12, 2009 at 5:30 P.M.

Sacramento City Council Meeting

2009-02-04T22:14:36Z

Concerned citizens, city council members and Mayor Kevin Johnson all gathered in Sacramento City Hall to discuss the "Strong Mayor" initiative. Though only one out of every 5-10 seats were filled, a sense of urgency permeated the crowd that was present. Nearly a dozen citizens spoke, some with a tone of disdain and fury, in front of the mayor and council.

Before the public could comment, City Attorney Eileen Teichert gave an in-depth presentation (view powerpoint here, and video here) comparing and contrasting versions of governance of the top 10 California cities. It also compared and analyzed how Sacramento's proposed Strong Mayor initiative stacked up to cities in California and other west coast cities.

Afterwards speakers such as Sacramento resident Chester Newland, a USC professor with a Ph.D in public administration, voiced their opinions on the current Strong Mayor initiative. Newland said, "We want a team of stars, not one star acting as a 'boss mayor'. [Having a team of experienced council members inputing their own wisdom] will help distinguish the mayor as a worldwide success, and make the city a great city, like, for example, Phoenix and San Antonio."

Former Mayor Anne Rudin, the first woman to be elected Sacramento Mayor added, "I am still not convinced that currently cities with 'Strong Mayors' have a better government than Sacramento." Others called the proposed initiative a "huge distraction", while praising Mayor Johnson for postponing the initiative amidst the state's budget crisis.

Council member Steve Cohn spoke for many other council members when he said, "it is exciting to rethink," the current governance system in Sacramento. Council member Rob Fong added that we should be asking of our system "is there something that needs to be corrected?", before jumping the gun to change something.

Visit this website for upcoming city council meetings and events.

Any advice for Mayor Johnson?

2009-01-31T03:30:08Z

On Thursday, the Sacramento Bee reported that Mayor Kevin Johnson has decided to postpone the strong-mayor initiative to focus on more pressing issues like the budget.

The strong-mayor initiative has been a pretty hot topic on Sacramento Press in the past few weeks, with readers voicing their opinions for and against the initiative and discussing the actual campaign tactics.

Now that the initiative has been pushed back, what is your opinion? Did Kevin Johnson make the right move by postponing it? What are your suggestions for the next round of campaigning? What would you like to see from Mayor Johnson before you are willing to sign the initiative?

Here are some previous SacPress articles about the strong-mayor initiative: "A stronger Mayor for a stronger Sacramento?, "Strong Mayor initiative and petition" and "Strong Mayor, Weak Ethics?".

Citizens Rally to "Stop the Power Grab"

2009-01-23T07:07:34Z

Sacramento citizens gathered, at the South Natomas Community Center, to oppose the proposed costly mayoral power grab. Joan Bryant, co-chair of the grass roots coalition "Stop the Power Grab", was joined by former Sacramento Mayor Anne Rudin, to speak to the crowd. "We are here today as a group of ordinary citizens who want to keep the doors of city hall open and accessible", said Rudin. "I applaud this group of citizens for coming together to do the right thing to stand against this." Bryant announced that the formation of this coalition, "Stop the Power Grab", is intended to make sure that the voice of the people is not shut out of city hall.

"This measure is an unnecessary power grab", said Bryant. "If passed, Sacramento will be a city with one mayor who will have two votes. Instead of appointing five political positions, the mayor will have over five hundred political appointments". The proposal would amend the city charter so that the mayor would vote on issues as a city council member and then have the ability to sign or veto them as mayor. In addition, the proposal would allow the mayor to appoint all department heads and city supervisors and single handedly fire the city attorney, city treasurer, city clerk and city manager. This proposal also gives the mayor the authority to spend taxpayer money without the approval from the people or their duly elected local representatives. "This measure is unnecessary and costly," Bryant continued. "In this time of economic hardship and budget deficits, when we are discussing laying off people, we will spend over one million dollars on a dangerous ballot initiative."

Over the past several weeks, paid signature gatherers have been collecting signatures to put the "strong mayor" measure on the ballot. Grassroots opponents have begun circulating a petition to oppose this measure.

Who Fills Your Potholes?

2009-01-07T17:28:18Z

If your street has a pothole, who fixes it? Recently, Mayor Kevin Johnson's initiative campaign mentioned potholes as an example of how proposed changes to the city charter would work. A document on the initiative's website reads:

"Here's an example: if you want a pothole on your street and you call the Mayor's office to get it fixed, the Mayor's office would not take action. It would have to ask the City Manager's office to take action. Then the City Manager would decide whether to fix it. Under the new system, your call to the Mayor's office would result in the Mayor ordering the pothole fixed."

Are decisions as mundane as pothole repair actually made by the mayor or the city manager? A little searching on the City of Sacramento website turned up the answers. As it turns out, neither statement is true.

The city of Sacramento has a Street Services division. Like other city departments, they can be reached directly by dialing 311 anywhere in the city of Sacramento. Information on Street Services, including many frequently asked questions, can be found here:

http://www.cityofsacramento.org/transportation/street/questions.html

Street Services handles pothole issues directly. In a city the size and complexity of Sacramento, many functions are handled at the ministerial level, by city staff, rather than by the mayor or city manager. Potholes are a simple problem, with a simple solution that our city employees are equipped to solve. The mayor has bigger issues to address. If you call the Mayor's office (or the City Manager's office) to fix a pothole, they will refer you to Street Services.

So, the question is: do the proposed changes to the city charter mean that the Mayor will have to sign off on pothole repair, instead of the current system where it is done by city staff without involvement of either the mayor or the city manager? If not, then what do the changes to the charter really mean? Are there more realistic examples of what these changes will mean, other than rhetoric about "more responsive government"?

And who watches the potholes?

A Downtown New Year... A Time for New "Thinks".

2009-01-01T22:18:04Z

This New Year is undoubtedly the most important New Year of my life, on account of growth in areas including politics, relationships and spirituality.

The ball drop was amazing. It proved to this town, this country, EVEN THIS WORLD, that Sacramento can be happy and show solidarity if only given an outlet. More importantly, we proved it to ourselves.

We have a new President, may God help him keep his promises.

We have a new Mayor, and as with Mr. Obama, may youth and charisma be proven tools for changes that are greatly needed.

I have a reinvigorated love and respect for my family. May fortune continue to shine upon them, for they are truly brave.

May you and yours be as lucky and prepared for new beginnings.

A CITY THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE

2008-12-24T06:05:34Z

Greetings from City Hall.

I've been on the job for about two weeks now. Fortunately I was able to hit the ground running with the help of a 100+ community members that were part of my transition team. They included the director of the 40 Acres Art Gallery, the director of Regional Transit, faith leaders, and bicycle advocates. As you may know, my campaign slogan was "A City That Works for Everyone," and we've started out exactly that way.

One of the first products of the transition team's work is a policy paper on transportation, which you can view on my website, www.kevinjohnsonformayor.com. Its focus is to reduce traffic congestion and promote mass transit. I'd welcome your feedback. (More policy discussions will be forthcoming in future columns.)

In the interim, I'm also moving forward with several other initiatives designed to make city government more accountable and transparent. I've begun publishing my daily calendar on the city website (the first Mayor to do so) and am holding media availabilities every week. I'm writing here on sacramentopress.com, but also in several monthly community newspapers (such as "Inside the City" and the "Pocket News"). Watch for me every Monday morning on Fox40's "Mondays with the Mayor," and on News10 "talkback live" every Wednesday at 5 p.m., where you can ask questions live online. You can also hear me on KFBK every Wednesday at 3:30 with R.E. Graswich.

On top of that, I will have open office hours for any city resident at least one Saturday each month, and a "town hall" style meeting in each city council district every month. My goal is to be accessible, and to listen (and respond) to your ideas about how to make Sacramento a world class city.

When it comes to policy, we're also moving fast. I was able to line up the nation's premier municipal budget firm to begin an independent assessment of how our city can can deliver services better. And they're doing it for free!

I'm also pleased to report that we'll be adding 11 more police officers to Sacramento streets beginning in January. I worked closely with the Police Chief and City Manager to hire these new graduates of Sacramento's police academy to help reduce the city's rising crime rate.

I'll be writing more here about policy on a regular basis -- as well as expanding the city's website to include video and interactive features (such as an online town hall meeting). In the meantime, you can get the latest news on my website, www.kevinjohnsonformayor.com and http://cityofsacramento.org/council/Mayor/press-releases.html. I welcome your feedback and insight.

In the meantime, happy holidays!

Sutter's Fort Christmas tree lighting ceremony

2008-12-07T08:41:55Z

It took about thirteen extra seconds, but at the end of a rousing countdown Midtown got its own Christmas Tree.

Here is the video of the countdown.

Tonight the Midtown Business Association, The City of Sacramento, and California State Parks all helped light up the beautiful Christmas tree at Sutter's Fort on the corner of 26th and K streets.

Vice Mayor Steve Cohn, California state assemblymember Dave Jones, and Mayor Kevin Johnson all had kind words for the crowd.

There was plenty of cheer in the crowd. Sometimes living in Midtown it feels like there are no families or kids in the nighborhood, but at this event families and children were front and center. The kids running around playing and festive atmosphere warmed my heart and the tree was beautiful.

J street will also be lit up for the holiday season. To read more visit the Midtown Business Association myspace page.

Photo update

2008-11-27T00:42:01Z

Photo credit-

Riverview Media Photography
Tia Gemmell

www.phototia.com

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.

Kevin Johnson celebrates, thanks voters

2008-11-06T02:20:16Z

How do most people say 'thank you?' Postcards? Flowers? Expensive gifts? Not Kevin Johnson.

Today, hours after winning the election for Mayor of Sacramento, he stood on the corner of 5th and I Street waving to fans and supporters to thank them for their votes. A chorus of "Thank you Sacramento, for electing Kevin Johnson as your mayor!" bellowed forth from a dozen supporters, giddy with the recent success. As John Parilo says, "This is the change we need...with [Johnson] as our spokesperson, it's going to bring a lot of exposure."

Luckily, for the Sacramento Press, four of its interns were right there to witness it.

"We came to this corner because it is a very busy intersection, we wanted to go to an intersection where the most amount of cars were going to go. So we just wanted to thank people for supporting and voting me for mayor. So we feel pretty good about that." Kevin Johnson told one of our interns, Pyerse Dandridge.

As dusk gathered over the overcast day, more people joined the supporters to hail their chant of "Change is in the air." Aziz Rehman said, "This is a very good step for the people of Sacramento." Rehman stated that Johnson is "young, energetic and bright."

Ron E. Yokley was very vocal with his megaphone. When asked why he came out this Wednesday evening, he replied, "I'm excited about the new leadership in Sacramento and I believe this man in my heart of hearts will be a better mayor for Sacramento moving in a positive direction. I've lived in Sacramento since 1972."

Even non-natives were in gear to support Kevin Johnson's election.

"Can you smell that change in the air, Sacramento?" Kenny James, wearing an Obama '08 shirt, holding a megaphone in one hand and a Kevin Johnson sign in his other, led the crowd in its jubilation. Although he is originally from Washington D.C., James wholeheartedly and unconditionally supports Kevin Johnson. "I know that the State of California is one of the most significant in the entire United States, Sacramento being its capital," he says. "It's important to have a strong capital, to have good partnership and a strong Sacramento."

Although James isn't quite native, he is still a Sacramentan, and supports what he thinks is the right policy. "I believe in good education, better schools, safe streets, and economic development for all - what [Johnson]'s trying to promote," says James. "He's a new style type of leader: strong, bold, innovative."

John Parilo, campaign field supporter for Kevin Johnson thinks that as mayor, Kevin Johnson will put Sacramento on the map:

"It's a little bit of a stagnant city right now. All my friends who went away to college have not come back. And I think with this change people will go away to college and be able to come back and make the city a better place after they graduate... because it's not really a young city right now. I think he can combine the family life with the younger life. With him on the map and with him as our spokesperson and our face of the city it's going to bring a lot of exposure like Magic Johnson, a lot of big names into Sacramento and make it a bigger and better place than it ever was before."

Amidst the honking horns and cheers, Kevin Johnson hugged and chatted with people who approached him, reached into cars who stopped and shook hands with drivers. He commented on his approach to this election:

"I think we had a grassroots effort and we wanted to take our campaign to the people - the everyday people - by being accessible, and making personal contact makes a big deal. If you want to win a local election you got to do it from the ground and I think we did a very good job of having a massive ground operation."

Johnson said he planned to remain accessible to the community. "We'll hold town hall meetings, I'll go to neighborhood associations, and build coalition liaisons with each of the constituents of Sacramento, so that's part of my commitment."

Another cause for celebration: the nation elected its first African-American president and Sacramento elected its first African-American mayor.

This story was written in collaboration by Catherine Foss, Colleen Belcher, Pyerse Dandridge, and Sarah Payne.

Heather Fargo visits the Farmers Market

2008-11-04T02:11:22Z

Mayor Fargo was scheduled to drop by the park last week, but due to the rainstorm plans were cancelled. She was going to be at the Farmer's Market at 6th & X under highway 50 this last Sunday before election, Nov. 2nd. We announced it to the neighborhood association group, but due to the crowds at the Farmers Market there wasn't much opportunity for a lengthy discussion about neighborhood issues.

The Mayor was being interviewed by News 10, and greeting locals who happened to be at the Farmers Market. Several of the Mayor's supporters were behind her holding up Fargo signs. It was interesting (if not awkward) that 5 feet to her right, an equally large entourage of Kevin Johnson supporters were there holding up signs. Nearby, there was a chicken supporting Prop 2 (as well as a beautiful array of bell peppers I had to take a photo of).

Based on the polls, it seems fairly certain that Kevin Johnson will be Sacramento's next Mayor. A recent Sac Bee article pointed out that the central city tends to support Fargo, while the outlying areas tend to support Johnson. Kevin Johnson's focus on the outlying areas probably helped him win this election, because those areas are more populated with voters. Still, many Johnson supporters are likely looking for "change". Fargo has had a good run, and we owe a lot to her for the years of service and dedication she's given our city. As a Southside Park resident and a native Sacramentan, I truly hope we don't neglect the core of our city. What kind of reputation and image will Sacramento have if we neglect downtown - the most visible face to our city? The next mayor will have to face tough choices prioritizing Sacramento's goals with a tight budget.

Anyways - Thanks to both mayoral candidates for dropping by our neighborhood!

Kevin Johnson visits Southside Park

2008-10-29T07:03:11Z

On a whim, I emailed both mayor campaigns & asked if they'd stop by our neighborhood to talk about some local issues. It was a pleasant surprise that both candidates were able to (especially so close to Election Day).

Kevin Johnson was scheduled to stop by the Southside Park bandstand area today at 5:45pm.
It was short notice, but I announced it on the neighborhood association newsgroup and there was a sign up at the park. Unfortunately not a lot of people showed up, but Kevin was still gracious enough to talk with us & ask about our concerns.

Here is a video of the visit today. Apologies that the sound is hard to hear... but it should be audible if you turn your volume way up.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1362077477006388920

Mayor Fargo is scheduled to drop by this Thursday 10/30, at 6pm.