Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "politics"

MUTEMATH at Ace of Spades

2012-02-10T02:22:23Z

"We've got quite a set here," announced MUTEMATH vocalist and keyboardist Paul Meany. "We've been around for eight years. That's a lot of songs to choose from!"

Quite a set it was.

Making an unconventional entrance from the back of the venue with instruments and Christmas lights in tow, the New Orleans electro-alt rock band went on to do a little face-melting for the packed house at Ace of Spades Wednesday night.

The Grammy-nominated four-piece put on a sonic and visual spectacle, covering a massive setlist over more than two hours and sampling a bit from all their studio albums and EPs, including all 13 songs from their latest release, 2011's "Odd Soul."

Aided by tons of frantic, colorful lights and visuals projected on a backdrop, Meany channeled Sting and Coldplay's Chris Martin as he banged on his upright pianos, while new guitarist Todd Gummerman and bassist Roy Mitchell-Cárdenas got nasty on their guitars. Drummer Darren King is one-man show, well known for his relentless energy (and ear protection taped to his head) and pounding skins so hard he broke a snare mid-song.

The band took the energy created on stage and brought into the crowd, too. During the second half of the show, Meany and King played their instruments in the middle of the audience on a small "stage," and Meany went for a ride on a black inflatable raft with lights that was passed from one end of the room to the other on a sea of outstretched hands.

The show's uplifting vibe even inspired one fan to jump on stage, do a backflip and dive back into the crowd as quickly as he had appeared.

Heard outside as I was walking back to my car: "That was the most amazing show I've ever been to!"

U.S. Transportation Secretary checks out intermodal facility

2012-02-10T01:44:17Z

Mayor Kevin Johnson toured the downtown railyards with U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Thursday, showing off the site of the future intermodal facility and – if all goes well for Johnson and the Think Big Committee – the site of a new entertainment and sports complex.

LaHood stopped in Sacramento on a tour of California to discuss investments being made in job-creating infrastructure projects in Sacramento and around the country, according to a press release Tuesday.

LaHood spoke to a crowd of more than 50, discussing the importance of high-speed rail in California, as well as job potential from the future intermodal facility.

“This facility is what I believe is a national model for a transit-oriented development opportunity,” LaHood said. “(It will) not only create jobs for people in Sacramento, but create an opportunity to be a magnet – to draw people to a part of the city that many people never thought would be usable.”

Johnson said Thursday that the 245-acre downtown railyards will be home to “two crucial hubs” in one location: the intermodal facility and the entertainment and sports complex.

“We believe this will be one of the busiest intermodal hubs in the country,” Johnson said. “It gets at two things at once: transportation and economic development.”

The intermodal facility will be a transit center that will provide connections between nearly all modes of transportation: bicycle, pedestrian, bus, light rail, taxi and train, according to the city website.

Work on the first phase of the transit project began in May and is expected to be complete by the end of 2013.

The entertainment and sports complex is expected to generate more than $7 billion in economic activity over 30 years and nearly 4,000 jobs to the region, according to the Think Big Sacramento website.

“We believe the entertainment and sports complex is a game-changer for this community,” Johnson said.

“We’re talking about a project that will bring 3 million people to downtown. (We’re talking about) a project that will double the size of downtown and will bring $154 million in additional revenue to our region,” he added.

If a financing plan is worked out before the March 1 relocation deadline and the project comes to fruition, it will be a 700,000-square-foot complex in the southern section of the railyards.

Representatives from the Think Big Committee planned to unveil the newest artist renderings of the entertainment and sports complex at Thursday’s event, but the plan changed at the last minute.

“(The renderings) just weren’t as perfect as we’d wanted them to be,” said Kunal Merchant, Johnson’s chief of staff.

“Really, though, people aren’t as interested in what it will look like right now,” Merchant added, “they just want to know how we’re going to pay for it. That’s the priority.”

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

Council: Parking lease issue won't reach June ballot

2012-02-08T22:01:48Z

The push to put a city parking lease to a vote fell flat Tuesday as the City Council rejected a motion to put the question on the June ballot.

It was City Councilwoman Sandy Sheedy who first suggested in November that the voters should have a say in whether the city leases its parking inventory to an outside company.

She conducted a city-wide poll on her website in October, which indicated that
70 percent of respondents favored a public vote on a potential 50-year lease, according to Sheedy.

“The (arena) plan hinges on leasing the city’s parking for 50 years,” Sheedy said Tuesday. “I think such a massive public investment warrants a public vote.”

Still, after almost an hour of public discussion, the council voted 5-4 Tuesday not to place the issue on the ballot.

Sheedy and Council members Kevin McCarty, Darrell Fong and Bonnie Pannell voted in favor of the measure.

Council members Angelique Ashby, Steve Cohn, Rob Fong and Jay Schenirer and Mayor Kevin Johnson voted against it.

The City Council is pursuing the possibility of leasing the city’s parking assets as part of a financing plan for a new entertainment and sports complex.

Opponents of a public vote on the issue said a ballot measure would occur after the March 1 deadline for the city to have a solid arena plan – without one, Sacramento Kings’ owners have threatened to relocate the team.

“We owe the NBA an answer by March. The election is in June. In the effort of being timely, I don’t think we should send it to ballot,” Ashby said.

Another point of opposition was the message a possible vote would send to the 13 companies that have expressed interest in leasing the city’s parking inventory.

“If the leasing of parking assets is put on the ballot it would send a signal to the NBA, AEG, and to the business community across the country that this council is indecisive and it would sabotage efforts to this point,” said Sacramento resident James Battle during public comment.

“It’s impossible to separate this issue from the impact of the vote,” City Councilman Steve Cohn said. “Let’s be clear: it would kill the arena deal in its tracks. If that’s what you want to do, then vote for it.”

Johnson said the list of 13 interested lessees would be reviewed and narrowed down to three or four before a financing agreement would be created.

“The goal is to have that term sheet in place before the March 1 deadline,” Johnson said at his weekly press conference Tuesday.

“We are doing all we can to make that happen,” he said.

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

Police union halts labor talks with City Hall

2012-02-08T15:27:42Z

In the the wake of the City Council’s 5-4 vote Tuesday blocking the strong mayor initiative from going to the November ballot, police union leaders halted labor contract discussions with City Hall.

Mark Tyndale, president of the Sacramento Police Officers Association told City Manager John Shirey in an email just hours after the final council vote that he was “suspending all discussions between the city and the SPOA negotiations team.”

After voting down the strong mayor initiative, council members approved a ballot measure to create an elected 15-member charter reform commission.

Calling the cost of a charter commission “fiscally irresponsible,” Tyndale said in the email that he “can’t help but feel this was nothing but a tactic by some of them to once again publically (sic) display their contempt for the Mayor.”

Although the SPOA had engaged with city labor representatives in a series of “off the record” discussions, Tyndale said in the email, the council’s decision to create a charter commission caused him to reevaluate his position.

“I refuse to consider further concessions that will only be used to fund the Commission,” Tyndale said.

The cost of a charter commission is largely unknown, according to the City Clerk’s office. In a staff report to council Tuesday, a portion of the cost – the cost of putting the question to the voters of rather to create a commission – was estimated at more than $127,000.

Assistant City Attorney Matt Ruyak said Tuesday that the additional costs of staffing and maintaining a commission – beyond the cost of the election alone – were unknown at this early stage.

Tyndale asked Shirey and City Finance Director Leyne Milstein for a written estimate of the costs to the city for an elected charter review commission.

Neither Tyndale nor Shirey were available for comment at press time for this story. The Sacramento Press will give updates on the situation as they become available.

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

Charter reform goes to November ballot – but not as 'strong mayor'

2012-02-08T07:03:40Z

Charter reform will be an item on the November ballot, but not in the form of a strong mayor initiative. Instead, voters will be asked if they want to elect a 15-member commission to review the city charter.

After more than 20 people spoke on the topic during public comment, the City Council voted 5-4 Tuesday to reject putting the Checks and Balances Act of 2012 – the strong mayor initiative – to a public vote in November.

Council members Sandy Sheedy, Rob Fong, Kevin McCarty, Darrell Fong and Bonnie Pannell were the majority votes.

Council members Angelique Ashby, Steve Cohn, Jay Schenirer and Mayor Kevin Johnson each voted in favor of the measure no .

Two governance-related considerations were on the agenda Tuesday night: a charter reform commission and the Checks and Balances Act, which had been revised from the last council discussion.

After the motion to put the strong mayor initiative on the ballot failed, the council voted in favor of a ballot measure to elect a 15-member charter commission.

McCarty suggested the charter reform commission as an option to the strong mayor initiative at the Jan. 17. council meeting.

The measure would be twofold: first asking voters if they want an elected charter commission, and second, asking voters to select whom they want to serve on that commission.

“I don’t like a charter commission because I don’t like how much it will cost,” Ashby said. “Between staffing and meetings and the elections – It’s too expensive.”

According to the City Clerk’s office, the county is currently unable to give a cost estimate for the “candidate” portion of the issue – the cost would depend largely on how many candidates were on the ballot.

The “question” portion of the issue, however, is estimated at $127,100 according to the City Clerk’s office.

Supporters of an elected charter commission told council members that it would be worth the time and expense.

“Democracy is messy, and a commission can be time-consuming,” Sacramento resident and former City Council candidate Henry Harry said, “but it will allow us to get it right.”

Many who opposed an elected commission, however, expressed concern that opening the city charter for review is akin to opening Pandora’s Box.

“(A charter commission) opens up doors to other issues that we’d rather not see open up,” said Mark Tyndale, president of the Sacramento Police Officers Association.

Roger Niello, current CEO of the Sacramento Metro Chamber and former State Assemblyman, said he believes an elected charter commission would pit competing city interests against each if the city charter is reviewed in its entirety.

“You would be creating the political equivalent of a food fight,” Niello said.

After the final vote, Johnson voiced his disappointment, saying simply, “I think a charter commission is a bad idea.”

Ashby said of the charter commission, “This seems like déjà vu. It looks like redistricting, and we all know how that turned out. I promise you that a year from now we will get hammered on this.”

If a charter commission is elected in November, the members will have two years to submit any proposal for charter reform to voters.

The City Council also considered creating a ballot measure Tuesday asking voters to weigh in on a potential lease of the city's parking assets to help finance a new sports and entertainment complex. The Sacramento Press will have the update on that story Wednesday.

Melissa Corker is a staff reporter for The Sacramento 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 correction information added.

Family Circus workshops

2012-02-08T05:09:00Z

On Sunday morning at the University of California, Davis Mondavi Center, Kevin O’Connor, Slater Penney, Christine Germain and Emily Leap led two free workshops on rope climbing, juggling, building human pyramids and using the trapeze. Each 90-minute workshop accommodated 60 very lucky participants ranging from age 4 to adult. More than 300 people could not be accommodated.

Kevin O’Connor, an MFA choreography candidate and graduate of the National Circus School of Montreal, was the event’s organizer. O’Connor invited three other trained professionals to lead the four simultaneous workshops sponsored by the new UC Davis Institute for Exploration in Theatre, Dance and Performance.

The morning workshop buzzed with energy from participants, and a passion for teaching was exhibited by Slater Penney, an educator in physical theater and Emmy winner who opened the event and led the group through a series of warm-ups that included stretches for legs, torso and hands.

Other exercises included spatial awareness activities that required each participant to find a person to follow and to keep that person on their right. The catch here was not to tell the other person. Penney then directed the participants to locate another person and keep that person on the left. The key was to keep the original person to the right and add the second person.

After warming up and learning more about spatial awareness, Penney broke the group into three smaller groups of about 20 participants each for the first of three rotations of juggling, human pyramid building and aerialist work. Each group spent time in each of the three areas. The aerialist work was divided between rope climbing and trapeze work.

Penney led the group in juggling colored scarves and tennis balls. Scarves were wadded and dropped and participants were asked to perform while the scarf was floating to the ground. A waving of arms, dance moves and jumping took place before the pink, blue, orange, green and yellow scarves landed. Scarves were tossed high and caught on heads and juggled before participants were given tennis balls – first one, then two.

Penney refers to himself as a “Jack of all trades” and said that he loves teaching. His passion for teaching and for the circus arts shone as bright as his orange shirt. He leads programs for children from 5-10 years old at the International House in Davis.

The group next to Penney, led by Christine Germain, a dancer and an MFA student, worked on partnering skills and trust as they held hands and leaned back or placed themselves back to back and moved from standing to a squatting position and back. Germain told the group as she led them through the building of a small human pyramid that the lizard becomes the rock. Weight distribution was discussed, and no one fell over during the morning workshop.

Along the back wall, O’Connor led the third group through rope climbing. Perhaps the only disappointed participant was Katrina Hernes, an avid tree climber and gymnast, who was told that she would not be permitted to climb to the top of the ropes for safety reasons.

Rope climbers also worked with aerialist and dancer, Emily Leap, on the trapeze where she first demonstrated a spin and then guided participants, holding firmly to the small children.

Each group worked for approximately 20 minutes with each leader, and the time seemed too short for most when the 60 participants were reassembled for cool-down exercises led by O’Connor.

“As part of my upcoming MFA thesis presentation,” said O’Connor as he explained the reason for the workshops, “I wanted to activate the Mondavi space with a whole cross range of the surrounding Davis community. I wanted to bring people into the space to play, learn, meet each other and share ideas. I think more of these types of workshops could happen here so that the Mondavi center has a felt sense of being a creative space and force in the community.”

O’Connor, with collaborator Leap, will present dis/connect, a show that explores the idea of place, at the Mondavi Center for two weekends beginning February 16. The show will feature four additional dancer/circus artists and three vocalists and will be, according to O’Connor, “an interactive event that will move between a performance and audience participation,” with a soundscape featuring live vocalists.

Many attendees and several workshop leaders expressed a desire for more workshops like those presented Sunday where children and adults, and friends and family came together to learn more about themselves, about circus acts, and to enjoy themselves.

Mayor Discusses the Human Rights of the Homeless

2012-02-08T04:10:30Z

The possible human rights violations of the local homeless was a main topic of Mayor Kevin Johnson’s press conference Tuesday.

The conference was held to announce the expansion of Bank on Sacramento, a collaboration between local nonprofit organizations, banks and credit unions, to help people receive low-cost accounts and financial advice. Despite the announcement, the topic of homeless rights were heavily discussed.

Catarina De Albuquerque, a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council, recently sent a four-page memo to warn Johnson about the possible violation. The current policy of removing the homeless from tent cities denies the homeless safe drinking water and sanitation, which Albuquerque interprets to be a protected freedom pursuant to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Johnson said he is disappointed with what little the city’s done so far to help Safe Ground Sacramento, an allegiance of many different homeless organizations, on their efforts to solve the issue.

“No one has been more upset and disturbed (than me) by the lack of progress that we’ve had with this particular group,” Johnson said. “I think what these folks want is not too much.”

“We’ve made a lot of great strides with homelessness in general,” Johnson said. “We had a goal of 2,400 permanent housing units, we’ve accomplished that goal within a two-year span versus three year, so we’re ahead of schedule on that.”

Despite this achievement, Johnson still believes there’s more that the city and the county can do collectively to find a cite to be used to benefit the homeless.

“I understand their frustration,” Johnson said. “I certainly share it. It’s been one of the areas that keeps me up at night.”

Johnson was also asked about whether he was concerned about the current plan to lease the city’s parking for the next 50 years to one of 13 interested companies, in order to raise $240 million to finance an arena. Johnson replied that there were “no red or yellow flags” and that there is no reason to be concerned.

“We’re exceeding our own expectations to date,” Johnson said. “We didn’t think we’d get 13 people bidding on parking.”

Intro to Photojournalism Workshop Feb. 21

2012-02-07T01:08:27Z

Photographs are an important part of storytelling and can often tell a story on their own. After a brief workshop hiatus, our first Sacramento Press workshop for 2012 will be on photojournalism. (The Journalism Open workshop wasn't a typical workshop for us.)

John Hernandez will teach an introductory photojournalism workshop from 6:30 - 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21 at the Sacramento Press office called "Introduction to Photojournalism."

Hernandez is a Sacramento-based photographer. He has professional experience in wedding, portrait and social documentary photography as well as various multimedia platforms, including audio slideshows. He has freelanced for ABS-CBN, a Filipino American news channel, and interned at The Sacramento Press. He has a journalism degree and Asian American studies minor from San Francisco State University.

He will discuss photojournalism – what it is and what it isn’t. Hernandez will also talk about equipment, tips for shooting and demonstrate how to make an audio slideshow.

Our office is located at 431 I St., Suite 107, in the Sacramento Valley Station station. We are in the same building complex as Starbucks.

We recommend you find parking on the street, bike or take light rail, as the Amtrak parking lot charges, and we cannot cover the cost of parking.

To RSVP, email workshops@sacramentopress.com. If you RSVP and decide later not to attend, please send us an email to notify us that you will not be coming so we can have an accurate head count.

Thanks, and we hope to see you here!

Ask the County Law Librarian -- Law Library Closing for Move; Re-opening March 1

2012-02-04T18:04:01Z

Q. What’s going on at the Law Library? There is yellow caution tape across the stairs to the second floor, which is closed to the public, and there’s a whole lot of banging and clanging going on up there!

Ted D.

A. Sorry about the noise and disruption, Ted! We’re doing our best to keep it quiet, but the sound you hear coming from the second floor is the result of having workers dismantle our rather large shelving units--we’re preparing for our move to a new facility about two blocks on the other side of the courthouse.

The Law Library and Civil Self-Help Center will be closed starting at noon on Friday February 10. We expect to open in our new location at 609 9th Street (corner of 9th & “F”) on or about March 1, 2012. Until February 10, if you need any material on our second floor, please don’t hesitate to ask a reference librarian—we’d be happy to run upstairs and get it for you!

While we’re closed, you can still visit our website at www.saclaw.org for a wealth of information, including sample forms and instructions for navigating a variety of common legal procedures. Our website may be down for a couple of days while we move our computers, but you can “like” us on Facebook or “follow” us on Twitter for the latest details on when that might happen, and exactly when we will re-open.

You may also visit the Witkin State Law Library of California or the Yolo County Law Library, which are the two nearest law libraries open to the public in the Sacramento area. The Yolo County Law Library has graciously volunteered to remain open an extra hour, until 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday for the month of February to accommodate our patrons.

Again, we apologize for any disruption in service, but we sincerely hope you will visit us in our new location and that the many amenities of 609 9th Street (including abundant street parking!) will make you think it was worth the wait!

Do you have a question for the County Law Librarian? Just email sacpress@saclaw.org. If your question is selected your answer will appear in next Thursday's column. Even if your question isn't selected, though, I will still respond within two weeks.

Coral Henning, Director
@coralh & @saclawlibrarian
www.saclaw.org

Del Paso Boulevard to get a makeover this summer

2012-02-04T02:52:45Z

The Del Paso Boulevard corridor between Globe and Baxter avenues will be getting a makeover this summer in a $1.5 million dollar streetscape project set to begin in May.

The project will include safety improvements at intersections and new on-street parking to the 1000-block of Del Paso Boulevard, according to city Department of Transportation Assistant Engineer Matthew Johns.

The city received federal community development grant funds in 2009 to construct streetscape improvements between Arden Way and State Route 160.

Before construction could begin, the project had to go through various stages of planning, design and environmental review. The project got the final go-ahead from the City Council Tuesday.

Johns said the project includes removing and replacing sections of curb and sidewalk, enlarging the wells surrounding trees along the boulevard and adding an irrigation system to promote growth of the trees.

“One day it’ll have something of a shade canopy from those trees, similar to what you see in Midtown,” Johns said Friday.

The street improvements will also address safety needs along that corridor, Johns said.

There will be a new traffic signal system at the intersection of Southgate Road, Colfax Street and Del Paso Boulevard, on the corner in front of the Sacramento News & Review building at 1124 Del Paso Boulevard.

Currently, there are stop signs at the side streets (Southgate and Colfax) and a marked crosswalk, but Johns said the improvements will include a traffic light and pedestrian controls at the crosswalk.

“Pedestrians will be able to cross when traffic is completely stopped instead of trying to judge when it’s clear,” Johns said. “It will make the intersection safer and hopefully will prevent accidents.”

Fran Barker, a member of the Del Paso Heights Improvement Association and a longtime community advocate, said that the planned improvement project will be a benefit to the area.

“We definitely appreciate whatever improvements can be made to our environment,” Barker said Friday. “Especially safety improvements.”

Barker said that, over her more than 50 years of advocating for her Del Paso Heights neighbors, she has watched many improvement projects go in – but not the ones she feels are most important.

“Beautification seems to come before safety,” Barker said.

One concern for Barker is the lack of lights on the smaller residential streets that tend to get very dark, making it difficult for people to navigate the streets at night.

“With the crime rate where it is, safety is so important,” Barker said. “We should have streetlights. That’s elementary, Dr. Watson.”

Additional streetlights are part of the upcoming project, Johns said, although they will not be installed on the smaller residential streets. They will be put in along the southern end of the corridor, nearing State Route 160.

The project is expected to take nearly four months to complete, Johns said.

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

Film Review: Big Miracle

2012-02-03T07:41:41Z

Big Miracle
Directed by Ken Kwapis

One film this week has noteworthy political content and the most surprising thing is which film it is. From a casual distance, “Big Miracle” looks like a very generic animal rescue story, essentially “Free Willy” x2.5, as assorted people try to help two adults and one juvenile whale escape from behind an ice barrier in the Beaufort Sea. It’s based on a true story of an event that captured national attention in 1988, and the film makes use of news footage from that period, with every major network anchor commenting on the situation as it unfolds.

It also embellishes the story with various formulaic characters and circumstances, including a love story, a somewhat precocious local boy, and an evil “big oil” tycoon. The basic storytelling is no less unsubtle than the recent “The Muppets,” for example. However, what’s surprising, and where the movie manages to shine on some level, are the moments during which several of the major players’ motivations are explored.

It would have been very easy to show involvement from the White House as being a matter of national pride or jingoism, especially in a movie aimed mostly at kids, but it’s described as much more of a compromise of conflicting interests. This was the end of the Reagan administration and we’re given staff who want to send Reagan out with an episode that might help cover for a bad environmental record, while also boosting (the senior) Bush’s election chances, but only if it won’t go bad and cause an even larger stain on the legacy. Similarly, we’re shown conflicts involving the use of a Russian icebreaker ship (in reality there were two) and standoffs between the political interests and Greenpeace (as embodied by an activist played by Drew Barrymore).

Another episode depicts the oil company boss (Ted Danson) being manipulated by his wife into realizing that he can appear friendly to the environment in a way that will probably make it easier to rape it later. It’s a retrospective, narrative example of ‘greenwashing’ a company’s image at a point in time that’s almost as early as the phrase was coined.

This might actually be a good movie for kids, not just as predictable entertainment, but as a way of educating them about how the media and various political interests operate. We see rival television outlets and personalities more interested in ratings than the story, and clear conflicts between local and wider cultural perspectives, along with the other interests already outlined. The film also delivers little after-the-fact nuggets, like the quadrupling of Greenpeace's membership following the incident.

As a story, it offers relatively little that hasn’t been done multiple times before, although this time there might be a little nostalgia for those parents who remember the story. But as a surprisingly nuanced examination of questionable motives, especially for a children’s movie, it exceeds expectations.

Bagatelos may take on McCarty for District 6 council seat

2012-02-03T05:20:22Z

When it comes to talking about how to run a city, local developer and City Council District 6 candidate Jon Bagatelos is all business.

Bagatelos, co-owner of Bagatelos Architectural Glass Systems and Bagatelos Development, LLC, was recruited to join the City Council race by business, community and public safety groups who are “tired of the way things are going with the city,” Bagatelos, 44, said Wednesday.

Bagatelos has not officially filed notice of his candidacy, but said he expects to select a campaign manager within the next couple of weeks. He will be running against incumbent Kevin McCarty for the City Council District 6 seat.

One of the main reasons he decided to consider the council seat, he said, is McCarty’s position on charter reform – more commonly referred to as “strong mayor.”

“I’m disappointed that he won’t vote to put it on the ballot,” Bagatelos said. “I would say he’s wrong on some of his positions, especially the strong mayor issue.”

Bagatelos said he supports a strong mayor system of government – not because of any loyalty to Mayor Kevin Johnson – but because he wants an accountable city council.

“I’m for (strong mayor) because the executive should have his authority, and the council – the legislative body – should have its authority,” Bagatelos said. “The city should not be run by an unelected city manager. That’s not accountability.”

Bagatelos has a self-described “one-track mind” about Sacramento that hinges on creating a business-friendly environment to create jobs and boost the local economy.

“We’ve dug a hole, and we have a lot of city services that we take for granted but we can’t afford,” Bagatelos said. “It’s going to take time to build the revenue to pay for those things. That’s just the truth of it.”

That’s not to say he’s against social services, Bagatelos was quick to point out – but he believes spending decisions need to be made carefully.

“The people on (the City) Council think money grows on trees and – they’re the government – they think they can spend what they don’t have,” Bagatelos said. “I don’t believe in that. If that makes me a radical, well, OK.”

The key to providing services such as transportation and utilities and homeless programs, Bagatelos said, is fostering an environment where companies want to come to Sacramento – and bring employment opportunities with them.

“That creates jobs for people who pay taxes, and taxes provide revenue for those needed services,” he said.

If the key to providing city services is tax-producing businesses, then the key to drawing them to the city, Bagatelos said, is the proposed entertainment and sports complex.

“The arena is a major opportunity. It will create jobs for the city,” Bagatelos said. “To have (the arena) happen would be instrumental to the growth of this city.”

Bagatelos has been criticized in the media and by some in McCarty’s camp for not living in the district – questioning both his eligibility for the race and his commitment to the district.

He and his family currently live in East Sacramento, but they also own a home in Campus Commons which was drawn into council District 6 through the recent redisticting process.

“I own a house in the district, my business is in the district, and over the years we’ve employed hundreds – if not thousands – of people,” Bagatelos said.

“If the biggest complaint against me is where I live, that’s not much of a complaint,” he added.

Mark Friedman, president of Fulcrum Group development company, worked alongside Bagatelos as co-chair of Johnson’s finance committee when Johnson ran for his mayoral seat in 2008.

“(Bagatelos) is deeply engaged in local politics and has been (politically) active for many years,” Friedman said Thursday.

“He’s focused on building the economy and creating jobs,” Friedman said. “If the economy doesn’t improve, then his district doesn’t improve – no district will.”

Friedman said he will be an “enthusiastic” supporter of Bagatelos’ campaign because he feels Bagatelos will bring a “fresh, business-friendly perspective” to the City Council.

The upcoming City Council election will not be Bagatelos’ first foray into the political arena: In 2002, he unsuccessfully ran for the 8th Assembly District seat shortly after starting Bagatelos Development, LLC, with his brothers, Chris and Nick Bagatelos.

When McCarty spoke with The Sacramento Press Sept. 26 about his intention to run for re-election, he said that he welcomes a challenge in the upcoming race.

“Elections are supposed to be about democracy,” McCarty said in the interview, “that means choosing the best candidate in a competitive race.”

McCarty’s campaign consultant, Andrew Acosta, said Wednesday that McCarty has been fighting for his district since he was first elected in 2004 and will continue his work for the people he represents – despite any challengers for his seat.

“If the mayor’s (political) machine intends to run someone against (McCarty),” Acosta said, “then we’ll have a campaign and we’ll discuss the issues.”

Bagatelos said his campaign will be based on asking people, “Do you think things are getting done right in the city? If not, vote for me.”

“It’s really that simple,” he said.

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

United Nations warns Kevin Johnson of possible human rights violations

2012-02-03T02:51:13Z

An appointee to the United Nations Human Rights Council has issued a four-page memo warning Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson that local officials could be violating the human rights of the homeless people living within the city. In the January 23rd dated letter, Catarina De Albuquerque, the Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation for the United Nations human right council, says that the current policy of evicting the homeless from their “tent cities” and denying the homeless with safe access to clean water is, in effect, prohibited discrimination based on their economic and social status.

Albuquerque reminded Johnson in her letter that the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation is a protected freedom pursuant to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, an agreement which the US Government signed on October 5th, 1977. The United States also publicly declared that it was “proud to take the significant step of joining consensus” towards endorsing water and sanitation as a human right in September of 2010.

Albuquerque visited with the homeless in Sacramento back in 2011, and witnessed firsthand the difficulties they face within their community as they grapple to evacuate their bowels and bladders in a manner which does not rob them of their human dignity. Albuquerque met a homeless man named “Tim” who was responsible in his camp to collect bags full of human waste, some as heavy as 230 pounds, and haul them on his bicycle to a public restroom for disposal. Tim said he did this for his community, especially for the women, so that they did not foul the area in which they called home.

Albuquerque also lamented Johnson slogan of “a city that works for everyone”, and stressed that if that dream is to become a reality one day, the promotion of the human rights of homeless people should become an integral part of the city’s policies.

In September of 2011, Mayor Johnson missed a council meeting as he attended a sustainable energy forum at the United Nations in New York City. He sat with several business leaders, prime ministers, former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, and others during the conference.

Rumors have been flying that the Huffington Post has been working on a scathing report on the homeless situation in Sacramento.

You can read the entire Human Rights memo by clicking here.

A Step in the Right Direction- El Dorado County reaffirms its commitment to Trails and Trains

2012-02-02T17:29:07Z

El Dorado County Supervisors held firm to a 2011 decision to support the Shingle Plan Compromise at a County Board meeting on January 24, 2012. The plan divides use of the Sacramento Placerville Transportation Corridor (SPTC) into two distinct segments. The area from Shingle Springs up to Diamond Springs has been allotted for the development of a heritage railroad. From Shingle Springs down to the Western El Dorado County line, development will focus on establishing a community trail that will serve local residents and connect to Folsom, thereby expanding our regional trail system.

Trail and train supporters have been at odds for years over use of the SPTC, but the Supervisor's recent decision will bring a rapid reality to the dreams of both trail and train enthusiasts. "Friends of El Dorado Trail are excited that County Supervisors have supported the Shingle Plan with a second majority vote. We look forward to the new joint use section of the SPTC, and are very pleased that the Train Groups will finally have a home and track to call their own," says President Mike Kenison.

El Dorado County and Folsom train volunteers will be working together to bring the historic "big trains" to the more than eight miles of track from Shingle Springs to Missouri Flat Road, and trail volunteers will continue to open the "Trail Priority Section" from Shingle Springs down to Folsom for all users. "Community members are eager to make the important connection to Folsom and on to the American River Parkway, and volunteers are planning workdays and events to get out and build something great for El Dorado County and the Greater Sacramento Region," adds Kenison.

About Friends of El Dorado Trail: Friends of El Dorado Trail is a group of local trail supporters who work cooperatively with the city and county to advocate, publicize and strategize on behalf of the trail.

About the El Dorado Trail: The El Dorado Trail is a multimodal transportation corridor planned to extend the entire length of El Dorado County from the western county line to the Lake Tahoe Basin. Some segments are already completed with Class I Bike Paths; other segments are currently in development, open for use as a natural trail, or are proposed for improvement.

Disclosure: Jessica Bean is a member of Friends of the El Dorado Trail.

Juvenile Seeks to Rein in CPS Abuses through Legislation

2012-02-01T20:13:24Z

Now that Eric Smith, (not real name) a 17-year-old foster child, has been declared a dependent of the court, he is on a mission to change the laws that regulate CPS. “No one should have to go through what I did,” he said, citing his nine months in CPS custody last year. “They treated me like I was a villain, instead of a victim. Why? Because they can.” Eric wants to see that stop.

Just shy of 18, Eric is not yet able to fully tell his story. But that is not stopping him from writing letters to political officials and child welfare groups, recounting his experiences and proposing legislative changes. And what he can tell of his story, he does.

On April 1 2011, an emergency CPS social worker was dispatched to Eric’s high school to meet with him. CPS had received a phone call citing concern of emotional abuse in his home.

It was not the first call to CPS as court records would later show. But it was the first call to claim concern that Eric, who had attempted suicide before, might again attempt to take his life. A little-known provision in Welfare and Institution Code 300(c) allows the court to take jurisdiction if a child is suffering serious emotional damage.

The social worker who interviewed Eric that Friday afternoon promised him he would not need to return home. “She said she had a safety plan for me. But first she wanted to meet me at my house to talk with my mom.”

The social worker got to the house first. Eric arrived minutes later but retreated into a hallway at the sound of laughter. The social worker had discovered what Eric knew she would. It was what had kept him from confiding in others for 16 years. Eric’s mother was herself a former CPS social worker. Eric knew he wouldn’t stand a chance of getting the help he needed.

The two women gossiped like school chums, about coworkers, about supervisors, but mostly about Eric. “I knew he was lying,” he heard the social worker say to his mother.

Not less than an hour after arriving at the house, the social worker packed up her bags and closed the case. Before leaving, she placed a phone call. “Is Eric Smith at your house?” she said after identifying herself. “If he is, you need to return him immediately. There is no abuse in this home.”

Eric, crouching in the hallway, bolted.

It would be nine months before Eric would hear the words he’d doubted ever hearing, delivered at the final court hearing: “There is clear and convincing evidence of severe emotional abuse in this home.”

Eric’s story takes twists and turns to outrage even the most cynical. It’s a story he plans to tell in full one day. What he can reveal now is that the initial emergency social worker was removed from his case, a second was assigned and removed, and then a third and a fourth.

“All four social workers assigned to me over the past eight months put me through hours of crude and offensive questioning, consistently siding with my mother,” Eric said.

The second social worker was assigned after Eric bolted from his house. He had sought shelter with a friend until CPS could be notified. Unwilling to relinquish control to CPS, Eric’s mother allowed the second social worker to “voluntarily” place Eric in the Sacramento Children’s Receiving Home. On his second day in the home, his mother cut off all contact with his friends, his therapist, and his adult brother, claiming they had “brainwashed” her son. It was nine months before CPS would allow him contact with them again.

“CPS did not listen to me or believe me. They tried to put words in my mouth. They twisted facts. They tried to convince me of things that were not true and persuade me out of things that were true.”

Mike Johnson (not real name) was one of those social workers. Johnson reviewed the case and questioned Eric repeatedly. “He sat me down and said, ‘I am telling you, you never heard the words “there is no abuse in this home’ that afternoon. Do you understand?’”

“He wanted to cover for the social worker. He tried to tell me that I did not witness what I had seen with my own eyes and heard with my own ears.”

Johnson further told Eric that no court had ever taken jurisdiction under Welfare and Institution Code 300(c) and to expect to be sent back home. Emotional abuse could not be proved. It was his word against his mother’s. He was a teenage boy. She was a former CPS social worker and foster mother.

Thus began weeks of relentless interrogation. Johnson, as well as each new social worker, continued to side with his mother, accusing him of fabricating his story. When Eric asked them to interview his friends and other family members to corroborate his story, the social workers refused, saying juvenile cases are confidential to protect the privacy of the minor. Anyway, CPS added, they are not parties to the case.

“They told me I was lying,” Eric said. “They told me I was having a sexual affair with my friend’s mother. That she was having an affair with my therapist. They told me that my therapist was a quack. That I was not suicidal. If I was being abused, where were the scars? They believed everything my mother said. And they refused to talk to anyone else.”

Eric was put on 24/7 suicide watch for six months and told that “if I tried to run away or contact my therapist or friends, I would be placed in another city in a group home.” Johnson threatened the friend’s family with restraining orders if they so much as tried to contact Eric.

Meanwhile, the boy’s mother was being investigated on a separate matter. Her two-year-old foster child was removed, and she was charged with felony abuse of an adult dependent—her severely disabled adoptive daughter. Still, CPS hammered Eric with accusations. They recommended to the juvenile court that the case be closed and Eric be sent home.

Eric considered appealing to the State Foster Care Ombudsman until he learned that the ombudsman would go directly to the offending social worker to disclose the nature of the complaint as well as the identity of the child. It was a case of the fox guarding the hen house.

After six months in temporary placement—chosen by his mother—Eric finally received court permission to his petition to be placed in a foster home. Eric had been through dozens of hearings and still his case hung in the balance. Still CPS insisted there was no abuse in his home.

In early October, Eric’s foster father received a panicked phone call from the high school principal, followed by several calls from CPS. The police were looking for him. Eric’s French teacher had assigned a ten-minute free writing exercise and become alarmed at what she’d read:

The system has failed me. I have been denied the love, influence, and support from those who mean the most to me. Why? The simple answer is because they can. I am being punished by the very institutions put in place to help me....They say I am in ‘Protective Custody’ (that’s a laugh). I am the only one fighting for me.... No doubt in anyone’s minds why CPS will go to every length to protect one of their own.... I am going to escape. Come and watch the fireworks.

In November, the Juvenile Court declared Eric’s home unsafe to return to, bringing the CPS ordeal to an end.

“I felt trapped in a system meant to help me. Not only was I harassed, disbelieved, and mistreated by CPS, but I was denied access to the people I loved and needed the most. The laws meant to protect me, protected CPS.”

According to the attorney who worked on Eric’s case, “CPS works within a cloak of governmental immunity. Without a change in legislation, what’s hidden in the dark will stay in the dark.”

“Social workers need special training to recognize emotional abuse under WIC 300(c),” Eric said. “CPS put me through hell, and there was nothing I could do.”

With a rueful smile, he added, “I am nameless and faceless now. But in nine months, I will be 18. I will have a face. And I will be able to tell the whole story.”

The American Dream?

2012-02-01T07:12:14Z

Free enterprise is the basis of the American Dream but what happens when there isn’t a large enough demand?

Sukhwinder Aujla owns KMM Cab Company, the second largest taxi company in Sacramento, and has been driving for ten years.

“Sacramento isn’t that busy. There’s not very many local customers. Our business depends very much on cab fare from the Convention Center.”

Fredrick Pleines Jr. owns Yellow Cab Co. of Sacramento, the oldest taxi company in Sacramento, and has a different view.

“Our bread and butter is shorter runs,” Pleines continues, “We try to operate leaner and meaner.” Typical fares might include someone who needs to get home from a dental appointment or has a daily commute to work from home.

A cab driver in West Sacramento who wishes to remain anonymous has been working in Sacramento for 22 years. “I don’t waste my time downtown… It’s too crazy. That’s why I do the airport.”

In 2010 the US Census put the city population of Sacramento at 466,488 while last year 452 taxi vehicle permits were issued from the city. This means there is currently about one taxi for every 950 people.

Last May the Law and Legislation Committee recommended limiting taxi permits by issuing a moratorium on new vehicle permits to the City Council.

“You see five taxis on one side of the street waiting and ten on the other,” This from the West Sacramento driver again.

A large part of the issue surrounds where a customer needs to go. Here’s an example: a person stays downtown at the Citizen Hotel and needs to get to the Capitol Building in the morning. The driver, however, may have been waiting in queue for two hours for their turn.

The ensuing exchange ends up leaving both parties unhappy with the service and the exorbitant price of the fare.

Yellow Cab has had a central dispatch system in one form or another since 1917.

“Well over half of the companies don’t have a central dispatch system,” Pleines again. “The rest rely on taxi stands.” Yellow Cab replaced the check stand model with two-way radio technology in 1946.

So what’s the best solution for the city? Is it legislating even higher regulation or is there a better solution?

Whatever the solution, the mantra "innovate or die" comes to mind.

Disclosure: After only a few years as a cab driver in Chicago, Illinois, my grandfather changed careers.

Mid-year city budget update

2012-02-01T06:12:16Z

The city is spending more than it is bringing in, and even though that’s normal for this time of the year, officials need to make changes to keep spending under control and keep the budget on target.

According to the mid-year budget report presented to the City Council Tuesday, expenditures are at 50 percent of projections, and revenues are at 36 percent – about 14 percent less than anticipated.

This is typical for this point in the fiscal year, Finance Director Leyne Milstein told council members Tuesday – but adjustment is still necessary.

“Without these recommendations, we will not be able to balance our budget,” Milstein said.

It’s not all bad news, though.

The 2010-11 fiscal year ended with an unexpected $5.1 million surplus – largely due to savings from cutting back on expenses in a variety of city departments during the year, according to a city staff report.

That $5.1 million will be used to address a variety of budget needs including:

* $1.2 million to backfill General Fund revenue shortfalls;
* $1 million to the Police Department to cover a holiday pay budget shortfall
* $715,000 for unbudgeted utilities in the Department of Parks & Recreation
* $285,000 for payouts related to contracting out golf maintenance operations
* $750,000 for deferred maintenance projects at city-owned facilities

Another $3 million – left over from capital improvement projects that have been funded and completed ahead of schedule – will go into the General Fund Economic Uncertainty Reserve, bringing that “rainy day fund” balance to $20.7 million.

“Putting money into the reserve is wise, I think,” City Councilman Jay Schenirer said.

Staff also recommended adjustments – both up and down – to citywide revenues to keep the city budget balanced through the end of the fiscal year, including:

* $3.6 million reduction in property tax revenues, due to a greater-than-expected decline in property tax values
* $2.8 million increase in sales and use tax budget, due to a fourth consecutive quarter of sales tax growth

One adjustment to projected revenues comes from the closure of medical marijuana dispensaries in the city.

With eight of 33 dispensaries in the city now closed, business operating tax revenue from the dispensaries – initially estimated in the city budget as $1 million – will be reduced by $250,000 to $750,000.

The actual reduction amount will depend on how many more dispensaries close before the end of the fiscal year, June 30.

The City Council began the budget process for the 2012/13 fiscal year with a workshop Jan. 24. The city manager will present his proposed budget for the coming fiscal year on May 1.

The Sacramento Press discussed the first quarter budget report HERE.

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

Editorial Note: A spelling correction was made to this story after it was published.

Meet the Candidates for District 4

2012-02-01T06:04:46Z

City Council representative for District 4, Rob Fong, will not be running for re-election. With no incumbent running, the race has attracted four candidates who may be unfamiliar to Sacramentans.

In the interest of learning about these candidates, a questionnaire was sent to them asking for a brief (less than 100 words) response to a list of topics. The list of topics included items which have been frequently discussed by the District 4 communities or at council meetings. Topics included river crossings, city budget, marijuana dispensaries, strong mayor, leaf piles, arena funding and other city policies.

The goal is to give readers a brief introduction to candidate positions at this early stage in the campaign. Thanks to the candidates for their time and responses, and to Casey Kirk at Sacramento Press for assistance in reaching them. Three of the candidates (Joe Yee, Terry Schanz and Steve Hansen) responded. Phyllis Newton declined to respond, stating she had time constraints preventing her from doing so.

RIVER CROSSINGS AND BRIDGES

Steve Hansen : The people of Sacramento and West Sacramento will need additional options for crossing the river, but these should be done in a way that respect neighborhoods and offer the opportunity to restore areas in need.
Terry Schanz : Determining the location and capacity of a bridge or bridges over the Sacramento or American Rivers should be part of a larger citywide and regional transportation and development plan. Bridge locations should be neighborhood friendly and offer multiple transportation options. As a region, we should encourage interconnectivity using various modes of transportation including vehicles, buses, rail, light rail, bicycles and pedestrian modes of transportation.
Joe Yee : The “Sacramento River Crossing Alternatives Study Report (2011)” finds a need for two new crossings on the Sacramento River north and south of the I Street Bridge. The recent action by the City Council recognizing that any bridge must be “Neighborhood Friendly” provides a loose criterion that defines the size and scope of a future bridge. Though the need for two bridges may be justified, much work remains to determine the location of the bridges and the vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian needs that will be served by a bridge. Subsequent to the 2011 Report, the City Council authorized a Feasibility Study which would include preliminary engineering studies, a more detailed alternative locations analysis and environmental reviews for compliance with CEQA and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The preliminary engineering studies would identify footprint locations, right-of-way issues, the connectivity of a new bridge to existing streets and bicycle and pedestrian paths, movable or fixed bridge alternatives and anticipated traffic demand. Because a new bridge will materially impact neighborhoods such as Southside Park, City and Regional Staff must continue to utilize placement and design criteria that considers existing neighborhoods. Funding for the Feasibility Study has not been identified. Funding for a bridge has not been identified.

CITY BUDGET (i.e. deficits, revenues, expenses)

Steve Hansen : Our city doesn't compete well in the region, which has led to the shrinking of our sales tax base and property tax base. We need to attract and retain good jobs to grow our economy, which is my primary goal. Further, recent City Auditor reports suggest that we can find savings by enforcing existing policies and procedures and improving revenue collection.
Terry Schanz : The City’s ability to provide basic services (police, fire, water, utilities, parks, transportation infrastructure) is under extreme pressure due to projected deficits, the continued housing crisis and a struggling overall economy. During these difficult times it is important that we prioritize core public safety services and work creatively to find ways to maintain basic services that our community deserves. Sustainable in-fill development and other economic development goals that will create jobs for Sacramentans and revenue for the City are important. But we will not be able to reach those goals if we fail to provide core services that residents of Sacramento pay for and rely upon now.
Joe Yee : The City budget is expected to have a short-fall of approximately $25,000,000 over the next two years. Public safety is a high priority. However, the City must still strive to be a full service city providing services and amenities that are critical to the quality of life in Sacramento. Quality of life is directly influences the recruitment, retention and expansion of businesses and job creation. The City must balance its income and expenses and make prudent investments for its future just like any family and business.

MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES

Steve Hansen : State law allows for the use of marijuana for medical purposes. The city has worked to strike a thoughtful balance between these businesses and neighborhoods. I support the Council's efforts to mitigate the impact of the businesses while allowing for safe access to medically necessary treatments.
Terry Schanz : I respect a person’s right to privacy and their right to seek and obtain safe, legal access to any medicine determined necessary by their healthcare provider. Ultimately, the U.S. Supreme Court will need to determine if the federal prohibition of marijuana violates the U.S. Constitution and a state’s ability to regulate medical marijuana.
Joe Yee : The activities of marijuana dispensaries are the subject of court reviews. Therefore, status of current City regulations governing the operation of marijuana dispensaries cannot be determined until the legal process is concluded.

STRONG MAYOR AND CITY CHARTER

Steve Hansen : Changing the city charter is no small undertaking. As a community, we have a duty to be thoughtful and deliberate in making changes to our system of governance. I don’t think our current system of city government is causing the City Hall to be dysfunctional. I believe it’s our inability to work with each other. If there is one thing I seek achieve while serving on the council, it is to be known as someone who worked with everybody and stayed focused on addressing the needs of the city and the district.
Terry Schanz : Given the immediate fiscal challenges facing the City, a strong mayor governance system with an increased executive bureaucracy will not solve the Sacramento’s current fiscal challenges. The Mayor and Council should work collaboratively to address the immediate needs of our City, not be distracted by a proposal that will have no impact helping to balance the City’s budget. I would encourage a more transparent public participation process so that citizens can make an informed decision on such a critical issue as changing the City’s charter.
Joe Yee : As presented to the City Council on January 17, 2012, I do not support the Checks and Balance Act of 2012. I have a number of significant concerns that would need to be addressed before I can begin to consider supporting the proposal. As directed by the Mayor and City Council on January 17, the City Attorney is to present a revised Checks and Balance Act addressing the Council concerns. I look forward to reviewing that version so that I can make an informed decision to support or not. When the Checks and Balance Act is revised to include important specificity, I would support a public vote on the Act. The other action taken by the Mayor and City Council on January 17 was to direct the City Attorney to identify a process and schedule for the review of the City Charter. It is my understanding that the process would include a public vote to authorize a Charter review. If authorized, a companion ballot measure would ask voters to select members of the City Charter Commission. The Commission would act independently of the Mayor and City Council in making recommendations to revise the City Charter. I believe that the Charter Commission revisions would then be approved (or not) by a public vote. Because the City Charter has remained relatively unchanged for 90 years, I would support ballot measures to authorize a Charter review and to establish a Charter Commission.

GREEN WASTE (i.e. street pile pick-up vs. containerized pick-up)

Steve Hansen : I am talking to residents to see how we can best reconcile various needs – disposing of green waste, keeping our storm drains unclogged, preserving the quality of our roads, and providing safe passage for cyclists. I believe that we can find cost-effective and efficient ways to manage green waste while accommodating the needs of residents who do battle with lots of leaves during the winter months.
Terry Schanz : Containerized pick-up has been a transition for residents, but the City has done a good job of educating and informing residents of their options for disposing of green waste and ensuring that street pick up continues during peak periods of the year. Especially in neighborhoods with limited on-street parking, containerized green waste has allowed residents to dispose of green waste efficiently and increased on-street parking capacity.
Joe Yee : The current system allowing two options (containerized pick-up with seasonal street pick-up or year-round street pick-up) is difficult to manage and not an efficient use of City funds particularly in this current economic condition. In order to prioritize the expend City funds for critical public safety and public services/amenities, I would support a change to containerized pick-up with seasonal street pick-up provided the seasonal pick-up provides for frequent and reliable pick-up during in the fall and spring.

ARENA AND PUBLIC FUNDING

Steve Hansen : A downtown arena would be a great asset to our community and has the potential to be a catalyst for reviving Downtown Plaza and creating in-fill development in the railyards. While the current arena is antiquated, we must ensure that any deal is responsible to the needs of the community during these difficult budget times.
Terry Schanz : I support the development of an entertainment and sports complex in the rail yards as part of a larger development plan for downtown. The plan should encourage the use of transit, interconnectivity to the riverfront and Old Sacramento, respect historic neighborhoods and prioritize in-fill, mixed use sustainable development models. The complex should also be a catalyst not just to create good paying jobs for Sacramentans, but to continue Sacramento’s efforts to prioritize a sustainable growth plan for the future. Private investment should be the primary financing method for an entertainment complex. At a time of dire fiscal challenges facing the City, I am concerned that monetizing public assets for a private business venture may harm, not help the City’s ability to provide core services that resident pay for and rely upon.
Joe Yee : I support the construction of a new entertainment and sports complex in the Rail Yards without public funds. Our City funds must be used to support public safety (police officers, firefighters), libraries, community centers, parks, water, sewer and storm drain systems and other services and amenities that are critical to the quality of life in Sacramento as well as business growth and job creation.

REDEVELOPMENT STRATEGY (areas, funding)

Steve Hansen : Now that redevelopment as we know it has been eliminated, we must be creative in finding ways to address blight and spur economic development in Sacramento. Fortunately, the city as a whole is not reliant on redevelopment funds. In the downtown redevelopment area, we will still have limited resources to address blight in the J/K/L corridor. We should target our efforts on infrastructure improvements and on mitigating high impact fees for small businesses. Finally, the city needs to be more innovative about how attract and grow investment capital in the Central City.
Terry Schanz : I have participated in early discussions at the state level to look at an infill, transit-oriented sustainable development model as a possible new path for a more targeted redevelopment system. The integration of affordable housing should remain a component of any new redevelopment plan. Any new redevelopment financing model will need to not harm the state’s General Fund or divert public resources to local schools. While the fiscal structure will ultimately be negotiated at a state level, incentivizing infill, transit-oriented, sustainable development will be an excellent tool to help create jobs and encourage smart growth principles in the 4th District.
Joe Yee : I believe that redevelop funds can help restore blighted areas, encourage transit oriented businesses and residential development and facilitate infill development. Redevelop funding is an important tool to achieving the goals of the City 2030 General Plan. According to recent court rulings, the State has the authority to dissolve redevelopment agencies and has done so. I support pending State legislation that would restore redevelopment agencies.

PUBLIC UNIONS

Steve Hansen : Our city's employees have done more with less while keeping us safe and tending to our aging infrastructure. I support the rights of workers to organize for adequate pay and working conditions. We live in a time of diminishing resources, and I believe in shared sacrifice to close the budget deficit responsibly. We need to remain focused on the core mission of protecting the public's health, safety and welfare.
Terry Schanz : Public unions provide workers with an important voice and are partners in helping the City provide efficient and effective services to residents. I fully respect the collective bargaining process and believe it is an effective and appropriate way to negotiate wage and benefit agreements between the City and its eligible employees.
Joe Yee : Do I support public unions? I support the rights of public and private sector worker to organize into unions.

FIREARMS

Steve Hansen : Gun ownership is a constitutionally protected right, but gun violence is a persistent challenge to our urban tranquility. I support efforts to keep illegal guns off our streets and out of the hands of criminals.
Terry Schanz : I respect an individual’s ability to legally possess firearms consistent with state and federal law.
Joe Yee : Do I support gun control? I support the right of individual to own firearms and the government’s ability to prohibit the sale of firearms to criminals and to exercise reasonable controls on the sales of ammunition.

CITY CODES / PERMIITS

Steve Hansen : A full analysis needs to be conducted of the requirements placed on small business to see if these requirements impose more of a burden than a benefit. In any instance where the burden is greater than the benefit, the City should reasonably consider eliminating or changing these requirements. In addition, we need to find ways to track code violations through the use of a 311 smart phone application so that we can use our limited resources to target significant nuisances to protect and preserve quality of life for the city’s residents.
Terry Schanz : The City has and can continue to be more efficient in processing permits. The increased use of technology should be explored as a way to improve the efficient processing and review of permit requests.
Joe Yee : Often, neither businesses nor home owners have not worked with City Codes and are not familiar with the City Permit process. With that in mind, the City should provide guidance for the permit application, approval and issuance process. As a Councilmember, my staff and I would also be available to provide assistance.

No turning back: Redevelopment transition begins

2012-02-01T05:45:11Z

The City Council unanimously agreed Tuesday to take over responsibilities for the non-housing functions of the city’s former redevelopment agency – but chose not to take over its housing assets and project management functions.

The city – as “successor agency” to the now-defunct Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency – will be responsible for winding down more than $787 million of outstanding obligations over the remaining life of prior redevelopment projects, which varies by project from a few years to nearly three decades.

The city Housing Authority will take over the housing assets and functions – including $81.7 million in assets and managing $80.6 million in outstanding loans receivable.

The Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency will provide administrative and staffing services for projects currently managed by SHRA during a transition period that extends to June 30.

“This is very complicated, and it’s not going to be an easy process,” SHRA Executive Director La Shelle Dozier, told council members Tuesday.

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

Mayor: Responses to parking lessee search ‘promising’

2012-01-31T22:58:21Z

Mayor Kevin Johnson said 13 companies have expressed interest in leasing the city’s parking system for the next 50 years – a move he described as “promising” as the city looks to bring in $240 million to finance an arena through the process.

“(The responses) show a lot of interest. That is consistent with what we expected,” Mayor Kevin Johnson said Tuesday at his weekly press conference. “It is really encouraging.”

The 13 “letters of intent” arrived after the city sent more than 100 letters to parking operators across the nation in early January. The deadline for interested parties to respond was Monday.

The names of the interested companies will be released Thursday, Johnson said.

Although there is yet to be a completed term sheet outlining the conditions of a potential lease, Johnson said suggestions of parking rate increases could be a deal-breaker for the city.

“Some other cities (that leased their parking) have seen their parking rates go sky high, and that is just not acceptable for us,” he said.

Johnson wouldn’t speculate about how much a final contract might bring the city, but he said he believes the responses create a competitive environment where bidding will be pushed to the higher end of the estimated $180 million - $240 million range.

City staff and parking representatives will review the responses to verify qualifications and shorten the list of potential bidders, Johnson said. That “short list” should be ready for the City Council to consider by Feb. 14, he added.

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

Arena, green tech, education: State of the City highlights

2012-01-31T02:20:44Z

A new program to raise $10 million for arena financing and turning Sacramento into an “Emerald Valley” were two key points in Mayor Kevin Johnson’s State of the City address Monday.

Johnson’s speech focused on boosting the local economy in three areas: building an entertainment and sports complex, green-sector jobs and reforming public schools to create a more competitive workforce.

“The economy is bad everywhere, but it’s worse here,” Johnson told the nearly 1,000 people in the audience.

“We have to take bold actions,” Johnson said. “We have to make the impossible possible.”

The mayor delivered the 20th annual speech at the Sacramento Convention Center in an event hosted by the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce.

Johnson introduced a new program aimed at raising $10 million toward the cost of building the entertainment and sports complex.

The “Brick-by-Brick” program will allow individual supporters to buy bricks with their names engraved on them to be placed in the entryway of the new complex.

Johnson said after the event that the program is in the early stages and costs for the bricks have not yet been determined.

The first three honorary bricks were given to City Councilman Steve Cohn and two young Kings fans, Jack O’Brien, 11 and Gil Vechner, 12. The two boys caught Johnson’s attention when they started a lemonade stand last year to raise money for the arena.

“It’s time to finish what we started. It’s crunch time,” Johnson said, referring to the March 1 financing plan deadline to prevent the Kings from relocating.

Johnson turned the discussion to employment concerns, saying he believes one of the biggest problems Sacramento faces is a dependence on state government and real estate for jobs and revenue.

“This sets us up to be the hardest hit in a financial crisis,” Johnson said.

Bringing green technology and green industry jobs to the region is one solution to that problem, Johnson said.

Among the goals Johnson outlined for 2012 are plans to raise $100 million to retrofit schools to make them more energy-efficient and “green,” and joining the Edible Schoolyard Program to bring school gardens, cooking classes and healthy eating to local schools.

“Becoming the Emerald Valley is within our grasp,” Johnson said.

Although he doesn’t have a direct relationship to local schools as the mayor, Johnson said improving education has long been a focus for him – and it should be a focus for the city, he said.

As a way to keep schools accountable to parents – and to make it easier for parents to decide which schools are best for their kids based on performance – Johnson said he is working to establish “report cards” for local schools.

The new rating system will assign a letter grade to every school in the county based on a range of performance criteria including student test scores and whether the schools are meeting academic standards.

Johnson said his office will not be responsible for consequences to a school for getting a low grade – the consequences will come from parents who withdraw their students or choose not to enroll them in low-grade schools.

Some business and civic leaders at the event had a positive reaction to the mayor’s address – former State Assemblyman and current president of the Sacramento Metro Chamber Roger Niello said it was “completely on point,” and County Supervisor Don Nottoli said it was “very well-delivered.”

“I think (Johnson) was absolutely right about the region needing to diversify its economic base,” County Supervisor Roberta MacGlashan said after the event.

“I think that’s the most important point he made,” she added.

Michael Ault, Executive Director of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, said the mayor did a good job of breaking down what needs to be done for the city into smaller, achievable goals.

“You just can’t have 30 priorities for the coming year. We have to narrow it to a few legitimately reachable goals,” Ault said.

“The sports and entertainment complex is clearly something we think needs to be accomplished in the short term and I think the mayor really highlighted that,” he added.

The current city charter does not require the mayor to give a state of the city address. Johnson has delivered the speech each year he’s been in office – four times.

If the mayor’s charter reform proposal gets on the ballot and is passed by voters, an annual state of the city address would become a requirement for future Sacramento mayors.

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

Converting Freeport Blvd into a 'complete street'

2012-01-30T23:45:35Z

The City of Sacramento Transportation Department is considering a redesign of traffic lanes along Freeport Blvd between Sutterville Road and 4th Avenue. This part of the roadway is scheduled for resurfacing in 2013 and last August the city approved a Bike Lanes Project to study options for redesigning Freeport Blvd into a "complete street" as part of the resurfacing effort.

From the National Complete Streets Coalition website: "...a complete streets policy ensures that transportation planners and engineers consistently design and operate the entire roadway with all users in mind - including bicyclists, public transportation vehicles and riders, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities."

This section of Freeport Blvd currently has two traffic lanes in each direction, some on-street parking and no bicycle lanes. The designated speed limit is 30 MPH and an estimated 21,000 vehicles travel this street each day. Sacramento City College and C.K. McClatchy High School are located along the section, along with residences, small businesses, restaurants and a senior residential facility.

The city planners are considering these redesign options for Freeport Blvd:

3 Segment Design Concepts (Sutterville to Vallejo)
- Bike lanes, parking on both sides, no middle turn lane, one lane north and one lane south
- Bike lanes, middle turn lane, parking on east side 13th to Bidwell, one lane north and one lane south
- No bike lanes, no parking on either side, two lanes north and two lanes south with lane widths increased

4 Options (Vallejo to 4th)
- Signed southbound bike route
- Southbound bike lane/bike route with push button
- Southbound bike lane with signal control
- T intersection

Students, residents, business owners, cyclists, pedestrians and commuters are showing interest in the project. Tom Buford, Senior Planner with the City of Sacramento, says community interest is healthy. In a telephone conversation, Buford said, "It's an important street in the community and we've seen the kind of interest that we would expect from discussions of changing the way a roadway is working."

Anyone interested in this project is invited to provide comments and suggestions to the draft Environmental Impact Report that is being developed by the city transportation department. Comments and suggestions may be submitted in writing until 5:00 PM, February 13, 2012 to:

Dana Allen, Associate Planner
City of Sacramento, Community Development Department
Environmental Planning Services
300 Richards Blvd., 3rd Floor
Sacramento, CA 95811
Phone: (916) 808-2762
Email: dallen@cityofsacramento.org

Questions may be directed to Linda Tucker, City of Sacramento Transportation Department Director at (916) 808-7523 or email her at ltucker@cityofsacramento.org.

Disclosure: Ron Nabity is an avid cyclist, Sacramento City College student and resident near Freeport Blvd. Ron is also a regular contributor to the Sacramento Press.

When things fall apart

2012-01-30T09:40:37Z

Every morning 1,800 employees enter the California State Board of Equalization Building. Past the sliding glass doors, security, then up the elevators to get to work. Most never notice the 2 by 5 signs taped to the glass doorways upfront.

Warning: Chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm, may be found in the facility. California Health and Safety Code Section 25249.6

Though it's not only harmful chemicals, that has plagued the safety of the buiding in the past. Two weeks ago, on January 11, pieces of broken glass fell eight stories to the sidewalk on 5th and N Street.

The sidewalk is still blocked with caution tape and orange cones although the gaping hole between the 8th and 9th floors has been secured with plywood according to the Department of General Services.

Sooner or later the cones and yellow tape will also go away and the employees won't remember a thing. They will go on with their lives, remaining apathetic because, they're just too busy to think about it.

After all, a day without work means no revenue for the State of California. The staff is there to complete the work, not to complain about their environment.

"It's dangerous, really dangerous," exclaimed Phillip Robinson, an IT professional who has worked in the building for more than 8 years. "In the past, they had scaffolding on all four sides. I'm surprised they only blocked off the side where the window fell off."

He glances up at the high rise pointing to where the piece fell off. There were more random pieces that fell down in the afternoon. This prompted the guards not only to close the sidewalk but also the traffic lane adjacent to the building on 5th Street to close.

"We don't know if other debris will fall. There's no guarantee. Watch your head, " a security guard warned.

Tax professionals slaving away at their desk received an email from the union in the afternoon to encourage letters of concern to media.

"No one wants to say anything. Most are afraid to be fired if they did," states Luz Susa who works in the returns support unit. Silence is golden for the golden state.

While it is true. Management does have every intention to move the employees out of the place, they just do not have the funds to do so. The money for relocation would come from the general fund because the owners of the building is the Department of General Services.

With California holding the bag for a $17.5 Bilion deficit, and already cutting jobs and social service programs, there is just no room to renovate the building to code.

Even if civil servants end up with tumors after serving their time, it looks like management will still be at this gridlock.

Historically, the building has had it's string of flaws. People have reported getting trapped in elevators, plumbing breaks leading to floods on the 9th floor, and front glass sliding doors coming loose almost falling on innocent bystanders. Other red flags wave at poor air quality, freezing temperatures that force employees to work with their winter coats on, mold scares, and strange odors that forced entire floors to close.

Still, the managers, tax representatives, and support staff continue to work in hazardous health and safety conditions like it's not any more dangerous working in the BOE building than Fukushima.

Why do they do it? They do so because they have hungry families to feed, because they have no other place to go, and the State of California urgently needs this money. This money that they can't even touch.

The irony is that state workers file in to work with more pressure to collect needed tax dollars so California can be restored to a fully functional budget, not factoring in their own risk in the equation.

After all, is it worth losing a job when your family, sanity, and long term health is really what is at stake?

Maybe we should take the action of the vendor who used to run the cafeteria's example. One day , they just up and left without notice to the Department of General Services.

If it looks dangerous, it probably is.

Run away, really fast. DGS obviously does not care about the people who work in the building. In fact, they're careful to make them stand under more danger while they wait for their lunch to cook.

Disclosure: Author is a civil servant. She also worked in commercial and residential real estate for 7 years prior to joining the state.

A look back at the remnants following infamous UC Davis pepper-spray incident

2012-01-30T08:56:33Z

DAVIS, Calif. — It has now been two months since the infamous pepper-spraying incident that made UC Davis an international house-hold name occurred. Even after Thanksgiving weekend, only the remnants of the incident remained. Although a bounty of tents could still be found on the quad, a mere handful of protestors could be found in them. Then the Monday morning after Thanksgiving break arrived. Once again, one by one, news vans crept back onto campus as if waiting for blood to be shed. The vans have now let the campus in peace.

Almost all protestors and non-protestors alike felt strongly that the pepper spraying incident was nothing but unacceptable. “The extraordinary reaction of the pepper spraying is entirely sensible, given how horrific it was,” asserted Professor Joshua Clover of the UC Davis English Department. Now that time has passed, the reaction has appeared to settled down.

Similar to many non-protestors, some protestors admitted that the UC Davis movement would have flatlined much sooner, had it not been for the infamous pepper spray scene. “This movement wouldn’t have happened without the pepper spray incident” one protestor admitted.
Although the pepper-spray incident did bring attention to the protestor’s cause, many soon claimed that they were tired of the attention diverting from what really needed to be changed. Others, still, stated the pepper spray to be the reason they were protesting. The non-protestors appeared to be tired of the attention altogether.

Now, as the winter quarter has begun, the various artistic expressions of frustrations that once took over the quad in solidarity for the strike and ongoing protests have dispersed and almost disappeared. Signs such as “The Chancellor was appointed, so was Hitler,” “California RNs support Occupy UC Davis,” and “I’m queer; I’m for justice” could have once been found throughout the conglomeration of protestors, but are no longer abundant.

In the aftermath of the incident, some feared that the school would suffer financially. “I don’t think the protestors realize the long term negative effects the protesting is having on both the students and the university as a whole,” one UC Davis alum stated. In current light, however, it appears that these worries too can be calmed. According to a Sacramento Bee review of university records, not only did the Campaign for UC Davis experience an increase in donations during the this past December, but the $1 billion goal is currently 75 percent achieved.

Once written in chalk on the walkway of the quad was what appeared to be an unofficial documentation of a revised Preamble stating:

1. Reform higher education
2. Reform our justice system
3. Reform health care
4. End the Fed
5. End money in politics
6. Make lobbying illegal
7. Hold the banks and Wall Street accountable
8. End the war! Bring home our troops
9. Rebuild America’s infrastructure
10. Reduce dependency of fossil fuels

The chalk has now faded, and a mere handful of tents remain. Students are once again studying and spending time with friends on the grass outside of Memorial Union. It appears, at least for the present time, that the presence of Occupy UC Davis has run its course.

Disclosure: UC Davis student

"The Grey" - Part 2: Interview

2012-01-27T09:23:33Z

INTERVIEW: DIRECTOR JOE CARNAHAN AND ACTOR FRANK GRILLO

[NOTE: THE INTERVIEW CONTAINS SOME MILD PLOT SPOILERS FOR “THE GREY”.]

Recently, in San Francisco, I had a chance to chat with co-writer and director Joe Carnahan and actor Frank Grillo about their new release “The Grey” which opens this week. The film, which is reviewed in a separate article, tells the story of a group of oil workers whose plane crashes in the Alaskan wilderness, where they find themselves stalked by a pack of almost mythically large wolves. Joe is a Sacramento native and we’ve known each other for several years through the local film community and the Sacramento Film and Music Festival.

As we were setting up for the interview, Joe happened to make a self-deprecatory joke about his own intelligence, which led to an interesting opening:

Tony: You see I would counter that right away. I watched “The Grey” a few weeks ago - I don’t like to read production notes before seeing a film and I knew virtually nothing going in – but I knew it wasn’t going to be “Alive” meets “Cujo”… [they both agree] … because I don’t think you’re capable of writing a script that’s that one dimensional.

Joe: Right. You may hate it for its other dimensions but it won’t be mono-dimensional.

Frank: [laughs]

Tony: The other things you’ve written – even a film like “Smokin’ Aces” which is a ‘shoot-em-up’ has a very intricate story.

Joe: “Smokin’ Aces” to me, the construct, was Iraq. I based the movie on Iraq. It starts with misinformation, it leads to this kind of heedless violence, a bunch of people who shouldn’t die do, they make a better deal at the end, and it’s over – that’s it.

Tony: Let’s come back to the war topic later. As I said, I watched “The Grey” knowing nothing about it and had to write my comment for the studio, and I said this isn’t a film about men and wolves, this is a film about life and death, and going out on your own terms.

Joe: Yes. 100%.

Tony: So, I was intrigued as to whether when you read the short story if it came out of nowhere and grabbed you or if you were already thinking of this as a subject you wanted to tackle.

Joe: No, you know what Tony, I responded to the short story because I was on “Mission Impossible 3” and I was going to quit before I was fired. I had run my course on that and here I was presented with this very simple, spare, kind of bare bones survival story - versus where I was at that moment which was a big star, big franchise, big studio, with a big budget at 33 years old and feeling I didn’t deserve any of that….

Frank: No, by the way you do.

Joe: …at the same time “The A-Team” represents me finishing that business on “MI3” – doing a big popcorn movie. So it [“The Grey”] appealed to me in every way that it could, because its simplicity was beautiful to me. But then Ian [Ian Mackenzie Jeffers who co-wrote the screenplay and wrote the short story “The Ghost Walker” on which it is based] did a draft of his own short story and I took that, and over the next 4-5 years rewrote it, fashioned it, and fine-tuned it.

[Joe continued by describing how, with the passage of time, topics which might not have developed quite so readily in a more rushed circumstance, including religion and spirituality, evolved as the story became more polished.]

Tony: So, you guys met on “Pride and Glory” [for which Joe co-wrote the screenplay]?

Frank: A little before that.

Tony: [To Frank] When this first came to you, did you see the script first or was it still an idea? How close was it to the final script?

Frank: I think it was fairly close to what we actually shot by the time I saw it.

Joe: Yes, I gave it to you in September and we were shooting in January.

Frank: Yeah. He had seen some of “Warrior” and I had said to him “I want to work with you, just whatever it is, find me something, I’ll do anything – I’m a huge fan” and he sent me this script. He said to me “January we’re shooting this movie and that’s the role!” And he could have had anybody he wanted for the role, obviously, and he said “It might take me some time but you’re doing the movie – January – don’t take a job!” And I said “Joe, I can’t…” He said “January, don’t take a job! Go gain some weight, beef up, this is what we have to do.” And there we were in January.

Tony: Although underneath something like three parkas…

Joe: Yeah – I had three parkas on but Frank didn’t!

Frank: [laughs]

Joe: You said you wanted the role pal!

Tony: It’s such a neat story and neat characters. I was interested in what drew you to it. The Ottway part [Liam Neeson’s character] is interesting – he’s watched somebody who didn’t have the opportunity to go out on her own terms and he respects that opportunity when it arises. There’s a scene in the wreckage where a guy is dying and the others are saying “You’ve got to do something” and he goes over and says [paraphrased] “You’re going to die – but that’s OK” You don’t see that often.

Joe: No. You see a lot of people killed but you don’t see a lot of people die.

Frank: In the original script – and at first I was kind of upset that we took it out – but when he says that to him, my character says “What are you doing?” But there was such a rhythm, there was such a gorgeous poetic rhythm to the connection that these two guys had that if I had interjected, interrupted, and taken it away from that, it would have destroyed the scene. And that’s my favorite scene in the movie.

Tony: It reminds me - and I don’t think this is a comparison you’ll dislike [to Joe] given that you say you don’t see people die very often - it reminds me of Giovanni Ribisi in “Saving Private Ryan.”

Joe: Which is a brilliant death scene.

Tony: It’s the best scene of the movie.

Joe: And he says “Tell me, tell me what’s wrong” and the blood is almost black and he’s asking for his mother.

Tony: And he basically instructs them to overdose him on morphine. He’s a medic….

Joe: Right, he’s a medic, he knows he going to die. But that’s … anytime there’s a Spielberg comparison, I am firmly in your camp.

Frank: I got a chance to work with him and he said when he saw that scene he actually went back and wrote more for Giovanni earlier in the movie, so there would be more of him in the movie.

Joe: Oh, wow!

[The three of us then went off on a tangent for a minute or two about Giovanni Ribisi’s career starting as a child actor in the sitcom “My Two Dads.”]

Tony: In “the Grey” it seems to me that there were at least quadruple threats: There’s the location that they’re in, there’s the lack of any kind of supplies they would need to survive in that location, the climate obviously, and the wolves. But this isn’t about the wolves, the wolves are just part of that.

Joe: Tony, you see that – but you’re literally one of the only people that has ever said that, right there.

Tony: It’s an obstacle, of which part just happens to be the wolves. They could have just been eyes in the distance and mysteriously, every now and then somebody dies and you never know how they die. It’s almost a MacGuffin.

Joe: Right – they’re as close to a MacGuffin as a traditional film like this would have. Because essentially it’s a plotless movie.

Tony: In fact, to some extent, the whole bundle of obstacles: location, supplies, climate, wolves altogether are a MacGuffin.

Joe: Absolutely

Tony: It’s just there to cause these people to think about the meaning of life.

Frank: Exactly. That’s an accurate reading of the script. You asked what attracted me to the film. As a middle-aged man – this is what I think about all day.

Joe: And also that the wolves are just a force of nature – like the cliff, like the blizzard, like the river.

Tony: Have you been following the news – the timing is really interesting.

Joe: Oh – OR7 – the wolf that’s crossed into California. Yeah, I invited him to the premiere. It’s a very elaborate joke, a very elaborate stunt when he shows up and around his neck he’s got a little pass, a VIP pass.

Frank: It’s a great story

Tony: You clearly wanted something more profound than an action film and you succeeded. But do you worry about the apparent dichotomy between what films are and how films are marketed?

Joe: You know what, Tony, I don’t because what I would like, in fairness to an audience, this is something where I’d like them to cast as wide a net as possible – to get people who are even casual genre fans, who are casual Liam Neeson fans into the theater. Because I swear to God it will become the water cooler talk for days to come. I really believe that. What I’ve said about this film, my ultimate goal, is that it plays for you for longer than the two hours it took to watch. That’s what I want – because I think so much of movies today are just disposable experiences.

Tony: I guess my question is that we’re sitting here saying this is a profound movie about life and death and the human experience….

Joe: Right.

Tony: …so do you worry that the people who do in fact want to see a profound movie about life and death and the human experience are not going to come and watch “The Grey” based on the trailer somebody’s cut of the film that makes it look like “Alive” meets “Cujo”?

Joe: No. Unfortunately, if those people you just described were in the majority, we wouldn’t all be about to speak Mandarin in the next ten years. You know what I mean? If we had that level of engagement or that level of high mindedness, without trying to sound snobbish or arrogant about it, if those kinds of people were in the majority then I think it would be a radically different marketing angle.

Tony: If you think of film classics like 1936’s “Modern Times” or 1957’s “12 Angry Men” – those were mainstream films because you didn’t have studios, indies, direct to cable, and all those kinds of things, so those were films people were going to watch. They were deep films – but they were either social satires or social commentaries. We’ve had this conversation before – now you see things like “Lions for Lambs” [written by Joe’s brother Matthew Michael Carnahan] which is a brilliant piece of writing and “In the Valley of Elah,” and films like “The Company Men” about unemployment and layoffs. I’ve heard it said that folks on the left don’t want to go and see these stories and be reminded of what they already know and folks on the right don’t want to go and get lectured by Hollywood.

Joe: Yes.

Tony: So, do you think there’s a political divide – is it that we’re telling the wrong stories or are we telling the right stories but telling them too soon?

Joe: Well listen, you mentioned “Lions for Lambs” and “In the Valley of Elah” – those are movie about hot button issues. My brother had written “The Kingdom” which in a lot of ways to me was a knock on the Saudis and the Saudi royal family. It was meant to be, not a condemnation but he was certainly taking a shot – it wasn’t just this kind of prosaic look at a different culture – he was going after them. But if you don’t mix in gunfights it becomes this almost geopolitical…whatever. I found, and I got this from my benefactor Ridley [Scott] – I loved the filmmaking in “Black Hawk Down” but it became very jingoistic. And the part about the Somalis and what they were dealing with … and I understand why that was jettisoned. I get it, but it was also a case of looking at how much more money that made than a film like “Lions for Lambs” which was more about talking points.

Tony: If you get me on “Black Hawk Down” we’ll be here all day. But “The Kingdom” and “Lions for Lambs” are an interesting comparison because they’re both good scripts and they both have a lot to say politically….

Joe: Yes.

Tony: ...and I don’t remember the box office….

Joe: “The Kingdom” made a lot more money.

Tony: “The Kingdom” has a lot of shooting and action and “Lions for Lambs” is more like a play

Joe: Yeah, it’s a three act play. It’s a play.

Tony: So if you want to have political content and you want to get something out there and you want to hit a mainstream audience….

Joe: Good luck

Tony: …do you have to disguise it as something else?

Frank: I think you do.

Joe: Oh, absolutely.

Frank: You have to, not sneak it in, but you have to….

Joe: It’s everything short of sneaking it in. It’s very difficult to come straight at somebody with that kind of argument being that political, spiritual, whatever it may be that you’re trying to tackle. In this country more so than any other in the world – we love to slap labels on as quickly possible. And if you’re doing that it’s a “specialized” kind of film.

Tony: [To Frank] In the film, you’re the tough guy’s tough guy. It reminded me of this kid I knew at summer camp who was tough and would never let his guard down – and then I saw him break down completely riding a roller coaster.

Frank: That’s a great analogy.

Tony: Did you know those guys growing up or were you that guy?

Frank: I wasn’t that guy – I was on the other end of it. But I did know those guys and I also spent some time visiting some jails around New York because I wanted to talk to some guys on the other side of that reality. And they all seemed to be the same – you’re right – it’s the big bully who goes on the roller coaster and that was my jump off point. It’s such a cool journey that this guy makes and we all know those people. And how did I get to the point where my hands are always up and I’m threatened all the time. When you’re afraid you get angry and Diaz [his character in the film] is angry all the time. Why? Because he’s afraid all the time. And it was a gift to me as an actor to get to explore this character.

Tony: The amazing thing about “The Grey” is that I don’t think there’s a weak link in the film. The problem with an ensemble movie is that there’s often a character that you want to get eaten by a wolf early on in the movie just so that you don’t get to see him for the next hour. And this movie doesn’t have that.

Joe: I think you really do come to fall for those guys and you appreciate those guys and you pull for them. And that’s as it should be.

[At this point we discussed several characters and their unusual paths in the movie, including specific outcomes for some of them.]

Joe: But there’s bravery and heroism that isn’t always obvious and that you don’t see coming from a mile away

Frank: But we can talk about this all day – this guy [his character] finally got a chance to be part of something. That’s the beauty of it.

Joe: Yeah – absolutely man

Tony: What’s next for you Joe?

Joe: If I get any real run off the Grey, if it allows me to do something else, I’d like to put all those chips toward “Killing Pablo.” For me that particular project is like this vastly undernourished orphan and I need to get this kid a meal.

Tony: That’s Pablo Escobar?

Joe: Yes. I’ve been to Colombia three times, I’ve been to Medellin three times and I love it – as attrition goes it getting pretty close. Somebody asked me why do you want to make that project so badly and I was interviewing this 78 year old man who was there at the time it happened, and I asked him if he remembered anything that day, when they got Pablo. And he said “I was sitting in my house and I thought it was an early winter thunder storm” because the level of gunfire was such that the guy couldn’t discern individual shots and I thought “I’m ****ing making this movie!”

Tony: And anything back in Sacramento – are we going to see you back in town?

Joe: Tony if I could just get, and I’ve said this before – what you need is a full time film commissioner and we need to quit dicking around. And in that City which is one of the great untapped shooting locations – in two hours you can be in the snow, you can be on the river….

Tony: And the neighborhoods can be anywhere.

Joe: Dude, the Fabulous 40’s – all you have to do is switch the cars out and you could be in the 1950’s. I would love to do it. I think the City has to get a lot more aggressive about what it wants to do. You know Kevin Johnson kept the Kings – and that would not have happened with Heather Fargo, they would have been gone. So if he can apply that kind of determination to getting movies shot there….

Tony: You know the “For Arts Sake” manager just left, this week.

Joe: Really? Well you know I’m looking for a job!

Disclosure: The author is co-director of the Sacramento Film & Music Festival and Joe Carnahan is a former special guest of that event.

Oak Park to get new middle school

2012-01-27T01:38:34Z

A new middle school will open in Oak Park in the fall – the neighborhood’s first stand-alone middle school since 1963.

Oak Park Preparatory Academy (Oak Park Prep) is a St. Hope Public School and will open to seventh graders in August.

Oak Park’s previous middle school – Stanford Junior High – was burned down by two teenagers in 1963.

There are three middle schools in the district that serve Oak Park students – California, Will C. Wood and Kit Carson – but none are located within Oak Park.

The Sacramento City Unified School District Board of Education trustees voted to approve Oak Park Prep’s charter Oct. 6, and the new school will serve 60 students the first year.

The school’s attendance will increase to 180 students over the next four years, according to Paul Schwinn, Oak Park Prep founding principal, allowing time for the new school to “fine tune” its programs as it grows.

Michael Boyd, president of Oak Park Neighborhood Association, said there has been a positive response from the neighborhood about the new middle school.

“People get excited anytime a quality school comes to the community,” Boyd said Thursday. “There are some controversies around charter schools, but overall we want to see kids get the best education.”

The St. Hope Public Schools organization runs three schools in the Oak Park area: PS7, a K-8 program, Sacramento Charter High School and Triumph Center for Early Childhood Education, a public preschool. There are about 1,500 students attending the three schools.

Faye Lawrence, a parent of two Sacramento Charter High graduates and two students who currently attend PS7, said Thursday that the new middle school will provide more educational opportunities to Oak Park families.

“(The new middle school) will be modeled after PS7,” Lawrence said, “and the PS7 kids generally enter high school ahead of other students coming from other schools.

“Being able to get kids on a good learning track earlier will really make a difference in their education,” she added.

At the moment, the new middle school doesn’t have a set location. Schwinn said the school applied in November to SCUSD for space in a wing of the Sacramento High School campus that, until December, housed The Met High School.

Schwinn said he expects to have final approval for the location by spring.

City Councilman Jay Schenirer, who represents Oak Park and District 5 on the City Council, said he’s glad to see Oak Park get another school.

“It’s being operated by an organization with a great track record of providing an excellent education, and of sending kids on to be successful in college,” Schenirer said. “They are filling a need in the community.”

Schwinn attributed the success of the schools to their focus on the core subjects of literacy and math.

“We spend 3.5 hours each day on literacy and two hours on math,” Schwinn said. “We’re trying to get our students to a place where they are ready to take calculus in their senior year of high school and take honors classes throughout high school.”

Oak Park Prep students will largely come from the neighborhood's seven elementary schools – Ethel Phillips, Oak Ridge, David Lubin, Father Keith B. Kenny, Fruitridge, Tahoe and Bret Harte.

As a charter school, however, enrollment is open to any student in any district, Schwinn said.

The school is accepting applications until March 15 for 60 openings for the 2012-13 school year. If the school receives more than 60 applications, Schwinn said, there will be a random-drawing enrollment lottery to fill the openings.

Remaining applicants will be placed on a waiting list.

St. Hope Public Schools will host an information session for interested families Feb. 9 at the PS7 site on the Sacramento High campus.

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

Two Actor Oscar Nominations for "Nobbs"

2012-01-27T01:01:52Z

Surely destined for cable on Lifetime or Oxygen, “Albert Nobbs” is now playing downtown at the Crest Theater on K Street in Sacramento. The movie is a longtime project of the renowned film actor Glenn Close. She just took an Oscar nomination for her lead performance in the film. Ms. Close is one of its producer and also co-wrote the screenplay with John Banville. “Albert Nobbs” was adapted from a 1927 novella by the Irish Realist George Moore, a male* literary figure who influenced the work of James Joyce.

It was a friend of mine who jokingly mentioned once that cable TV channels marketing entertainment for women should be lumped into a single category, and also offered up a name for such a niche. It would have a 5-letter identification like MSNBC, but instead, would be called MANDG. “It stands for 'Men Are No Damned Good,”she told me with a grin.

Any female reading this should not push my words aside just yet, for “Albert Nobbs” serves a very good purpose to identify the lay of today's land---and why---as the sexual orientation fracas and its ramifications hopefully edge forward.

Albert (Close) is a woman in waiter's garb. The phlegmatic Mr. Nobbs is by all exterior appearances

a small, retiring man who works in a mid-19th century Dublin hotel that today would rate five stars. Certainly it was a man's world then. Had there been buses to take, working class females would have been riding the vehicles' back bumpers...or walking...or hustling.

Albert recounts to Hubert (also a cross-dressing woman) that she, Albert, had been gang raped at 14. The horrific event (not shown) traumatized Albert into asexuality and threw her into a life of servile isolation attending to needs of the upper-middle class. No one else knows Albert's true gender, except maybe a little boy who occasionally stays with relatives at the hotel.

Hubert---played by Janet McTeer, who's just taken an Oscar Nomination for Best Supporting Actress doing the role--- learns of Albert's actual sex only because Hubert accidentally sees Albert's bare breasts while in the room they're sharing. Nobbs has been ordered by the domineering hotel manager, Mrs. Baker (Pauline Collins), to let Hubert stay the night with Nobbs in the modest waiter's quarters. After all, the pseudo-religious and obsequious-to-guests Mrs. Baker apprehends both Albert and Hubert as male. The Baker role is the juiciest of the cast, by the way.

It's especially apparent in several scenes that show Close and other actors playing their subservient parts with expressionless, downcast eyes. The waitpersons seem to be hoping they “aren't present” right there on the premises among the convivial guests---until a task needs to be performed. Mrs. Baker is most strict about her help being overly deferential to patrons.

Hubert, in her closeted identity as a tall, well-grounded handyman, is married, so to speak, to another woman who lives her life as a female. On a per chance visit to the couple's Dublin home, Nobbs sees the pair together. Thus is born in Albert's head that she, too, might make an effort to enrich her life but maintain her secret.

Albert is responsible, hard-working, obedient and keeps a nice stash of saved-up cash under the floorboards in her quarters. She dreams of owning, one day, a tobacco shop. She longs to live above

the shop with a wife, like “regular” people in Dublin did then. Mr. Nobbs is a withdrawn and reticent entreprenurial lesbian who only wants to settle down to a quiet, independent life in the sexually-repressed Victorian culture.

Another worker at the hotel suffering the slings and arrows trickling down from haughty guests, seemingly inundated in their own sense of entitlement is Helen, a young, randy maid, played by Mia Wasikowska. She is the very model of the Victorian lustful female---who goes for guys. The joe she goes for is called Joe and played by Aaron Johnson. The out-of-a-job Joe happens on to employment with Mrs. Baker by repairing her non-functioning boiler in the hotel basement just as more important people are about to arrive at the establishment.

It's not long before Helen and the handsome Joe are lovers, and Helen becomes pregnant. All the while, Albert has been setting “his” derby---in a very proper way---for Helen, what with the waiter's domestic-inspiring visit to Hubert's comfy home with wife.

That's when the “Men Are No Damned Good” cable channel concept goes full-throttle: Joe gets cold feet about being a husband and father. Helen is smashed by his turn. It also stimulates Albert to pursue Helen even more (in a proper suitor-like manner) to become her spouse and the “father” of Joe's child. What happens thereon: my lips are sealed.

Another interesting supporting character in the picture is the hotel physician, played by the very excellent Brendan Gleeson. Dr. Halloran, along with some of the male help, is usually in his cups; a good man yes, but still with a Victorian perspective about the intimacies on which “Albert Nobbs” focuses.

The non-explicit love scenes are primarily heterosexual, except for some transient kissing between Ms. Close and Ms. Wasikowska. That afternoon moment, a on park bench, seems more educational on the part of Helen showing Albert how kissing done rather than anything related to foreplay.

Rodrigo Garcia, son of the famed Colombian author Gabriel Garcia Márquez, draws fine performances from his mostly Irish cast, and helps bring to our time---and probably not a minute too soon---George Moore's very un-Victorian message: what's best for a person is being him or herself, whatever Queen Victoria might otherwise think or decree.

*Amantine Lucile Dupin (aka George Sand) made me write this line into the text.

Redevelopment winds down, city must decide next step

2012-01-26T01:49:24Z

Mere days before the Feb. 1 deadline to end redevelopment, the City Council is faced with two important decisions: what role the city will take in the aftermath, and what will happen to agency staff when redevelopment ends.

Although the City Council did not take any action at the meeting Tuesday, City Manager John Shirey outlined the next steps for council members as the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency winds down.

Shirey is the former executive director ~~president~~ of the California Redevelopment Association.

SHRA is the agency responsible for redevelopment in Sacramento County and the city.

An important factor in the process is figuring out what responsibilities the city will take on, and which ones will be taken over by other agencies, Shirey said.

In August, the City Council agreed to take over the non-housing functions of SHRA.

The city is responsible for managing current construction projects and making required payments on bond debt and other financial obligations.

With redevelopment being disbanded altogether, though, the housing assets and activities of SHRA have to be disposed of as well.

The city could assume that responsibility – or it could allow the city’s Housing Authority to take it over, which is what Shirey encouraged the City Council to have the city do.

If the city Housing Authority assumes those responsibilities and they continue to be managed by the SHRA, Shirey said, Housing Authority staff would have the benefit of the expertise of SHRA staff to administer the ongoing housing activities and assets.

Another problem the city is faced with is how it will handle staffing.

Currently, SHRA provides staff for all redevelopment programs in the city and the county.

Once the redevelopment agency is disbanded Feb. 1, staffing duties will have to be transitioned from SHRA to whatever entity takes over.

There are nearly 100 employees working on various projects at this point, Shirey said, and not all of those people will be needed in the transition.

That means layoffs for a majority of those employees.

Councilwoman Sandy Sheedy said Tuesday that she is concerned about potential layoffs.

“I hope that if any layoffs occur, that management is included and it’s not just the workers who take the hit,” she said. “I’ve seen that happen too many times.”

Bernadette Austin, a housing finance analyst with SHRA, spoke to the council on behalf of staff members who have worked behind the scenes on redevelopment projects such as the La Valentina housing project.

“I couldn’t do my job without (those staff members),” Austin said. “They helped create projects that really mean something to the community.”

Austin urged the council to keep as many current staff members in place as possible throughout the transition.

Shirey said attempts are being made in the Capitol to extend the dissolution deadline from Feb. 1 to April 15, but it’s not certain that legislation will make it to the governor’s desk in time to make a difference.

Redevelopment dissolution will be on the agenda at the Jan. 31 meeting, and the City Council is expected to take action then.

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

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

City Council begins 2012-13 budget process with workshop

2012-01-25T05:13:57Z

As Sacramento gears up to face a $16.5 million budget gap in the next fiscal year, consultants from Colorado met with City Council members to outline a new approach to budgeting that focuses less on dollar amounts and more on top city priorities.

The council budget workshop held Tuesday at the main branch of the Sacramento Public Library was designed to help council members refine fiscal priorities for the city and discuss ways to reshape the budget process.

Significant cuts to resolve a $39 million budget gap last year resulted in layoffs from the police force and rolling brownouts at city fire stations – actions that brought weeks of public outcry at City Council meetings.

The city charter requires the city manager to present a proposed budget to the City Council by May 1 for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1. The deadline for a finalized budget is June 30.

Budget consultants Jon Johnson and Chris Fabian were brought in by the city’s Finance Department to introduce details of “priority-based budgeting” – a method that focuses on matching funding decisions to predetermined city priorities, instead of on prior years’ spending patterns.

City Manager John Shirey said Sacramento, like many local governments throughout the nation, typically rely on such “spending-based budgeting” – that is, making spending and cutting decisions based on how much was spent last year with last year’s revenue levels.

The result, Shirey said, is recurring budget gaps and employee layoffs.

Fabian said the key to priority-based budgeting is having clearly defined priorities.

“Across the board reductions is egalitarian – there is a sense of fairness about it,” Fabian told council members, “but it doesn’t reflect priorities.”

In one budget exercise at the workshop, council members ranked providing a safe community, economic vitality and youth and education as top priorities.

In a detailed staff report presented to council members, 16 city departments – including Community Development, Parks and Recreation, Transportation, Utilities and others – were reviewed to sort programs and services into “mandated,” “essential” and “existing” categories.

As council moves through the budget process, Shirey said, the reviews will be part of the criteria to determine how city resources should be distributed across city programs.

“We have a lot of work to do,” Shirey told council members. “You’ve given us some direction on the focus areas that are important to you. Now we need to go back and apply it.”

The workshop was designed as a starting point for discussion for City Council members as they approach the 2012/13 budget year.

“We definitely need more time to dig into this information,” City Councilman Darrell Fong said Tuesday. “I get it – now I want to look at it closer.”

City spokeswoman Amy Williams said the City Council generally holds one workshop prior to developing the budget, but more could be scheduled if the council feels it’s needed.

Although the council does not make final budget decisions at workshops, the meetings are an opportunity for council members to work with and give direction to staff and the city manager as he begins to prepare the annual budget.

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

NAG meeting tackles big issues

2012-01-24T21:44:11Z

Area 1 Neighborhood Advisory Group members cautiously welcomed the new leader of the Midtown Business Association Monday evening at their monthly meeting and took the opportunity to express their frustrations with the organization.

About 40 residents, business leaders and presenters attended the meeting – a high turnout, according to Bill Burgua, attendee.

Elizabeth Studebaker, the new executive director of the Midtown Business Association, said her first focus is on trash removal, and that aggressive changes will be made. She also addressed concerns about the growing number of bars and restaurants in Midtown.

“There’s a very strong perception that the neighborhood has been taken over by the hospitality industry,” said Burgua. “You are up against a really dim view from the people in the neighborhood.”

Studebaker said she’ll work hard to repair the relationship between residents and the MBA, but she asked for time and assistance from the community.

She also announced the search for a maintenance manager to oversee the removal of trash, graffiti and the overall appearance of the business district.

In regard to the proliferation of liquor providers in the area, Studebaker said she’s in search of a healthy balance of businesses, with a focus on small businesses.

“MBA can’t decide who opens a business here, but we can be a communication tool,” Studebaker said.

David Brent, interim director of the city’s Department of Utilities, presented proposed increases to water and waste water rates. The increases would fund a program to replace or rehabilitate the aging infrastructure.

The water treatment plant on the Sacramento river is operating with the original pumps from 1920. Many miles of pipeline are more than 100 years old and are in danger of failure, Brent said. He added that it’s a necessary investment to avoid the risk of flooded houses, closed businesses and sewage backups.

“All our lives, we’ve turned on the water or flushed the toilet without any thought as to how it gets there or where it goes,” Brent said.

The proposal included a 10 percent increase for each of the next three years to unmetered water rates, and an average 15 percent increase to waste water rates. The total increase would add approximately $20 to the average customer’s bill each month by the final increase in 2014, according to Brent’s proposal.

The proposal goes to the City Council on Feb. 21.

Sacramento Police Department Lt. Bill Champion and Norm Colby with the Department of Transportation addressed the growing incidences of copper theft around Sacramento. Some of the hardest-hit targets have been street lights, traffic signals and parks.

“For every foot we put in, they pull out three,” Colby said.

Champion and Colby asked residents to be vigilant and to contact police if people are seen in electrical boxes that don’t seem like they belong. Also, the public should note any missing access covers, as they likely indicate a theft has occurred.

Colby said he’s working to replace the current electrical access covers with locking lids. So far, 400-500 have been purchased, but with 80,000 lids in Sacramento, it is a long, expensive project.

The cost to replace the missing copper is in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Champion said cameras have been set up to catch thieves, but a better way to tackle the problem is with recyclers and scrap metal dealers.

“If they have nowhere to take it to sell, it becomes worthless,” Champion said, adding that dealers should be required to check identifications and take thumbprints from sellers.

Central city parking was addressed by Greg Sandlund, associate planner with the city of Sacramento. Sandlund said efforts are being made to modernize parking requirements for new businesses and housing developments. He said his office is looking to provide alternative, smarter ways to provide more parking in the neighborhood, such as scooter or bike parking.

Residents voiced frustrations about the current parking situation and said the city needs to incentivize business owners to share private parking, particularly at night when many lots sit empty.

“Old neighborhoods are dense, and this creates an issue where residents at night can’t get anywhere near our houses,” said Karen Jacques, member of NAG. “It’s a convenience issue and a safety issue.”

Teresa Jackson, with the Department of Parks and Recreation, presented proposed changes to the ordinances that govern special events. Jackson said current codes haven’t been updated since 1995, and the Special Event Ordinance Committee was formed to streamline the process.

The committee is a collection of business owners, event planners and neighborhood representatives.

The proposed updates will make it easier for event planners to understand the “do’s and don’ts” in Sacramento.

Among the changes is a proposal to increase the time needed to file an application from 20 days before the event to 60 days, a process that will allow for better community notification, Jackson said.

The decibel level of special events was also addressed. The acceptable levels would be increased, but the Special Event Ordinance Committee wants to require event planners to pay for an event attendant to monitor sound, Jackson said. She added that police officers now carry decibel meters, and planners will be fined if city resources are used to close down an event.

The next agenda committee meeting will take place on Feb. 6, and the next general NAG meeting will be Feb. 21. Meetings are usually held at the Hart Senior Center, located at 915 27th St.

Financial literacy program expands with United Way

2012-01-24T02:01:59Z

The City Council approved an agreement Tuesday merging a local financial literacy program with the United Way in an effort to expand the program and offer the services region-wide.

Bank on Sacramento is a collaboration between local nonprofit organizations, banks and credit unions to help residents who don’t have bank accounts – or historically have not used mainstream banking services – to get access to low-cost accounts and financial advice so they can begin saving money and building credit history.

According to a city staff report, the merge allows the United Way California Capital Region to administer the program and expand the services to residents of Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties.

“It makes sense to have one organization (administering the program) for the whole region,” Steve Heath, president of United Way California Capital Region said Monday. “It’s been a success in the city (of Sacramento), and we want to build on that.”

Heath said there are an estimated 30,000 households in the region that do not use mainstream banking – basic savings or checking accounts – and instead rely on check-cashing businesses for “payday loans,” or use cash for every transaction.

But cash transactions and those types of loans don’t help a consumer build credit or assets or save money, Heath said – or learn to wisely manage finances, a necessary skill in today’s complex financial world.

Payday loans – also called cash advance loans or check advance loans – are common, and the average annual percentage rate on a typical short-term loan can be steep, Heath said.

According to the Center for Responsible Lending, payday loans are usually made to people who need money right away and plan to pay it back with their next paycheck. Lenders offer amounts up to $500 for short periods of time – one to four weeks – and loan fees range between $15 and $70, depending on the loan amount.

“Some people spend in excess of $1,000 a year on fees at check-cashing places,” Heath said, “versus about $15 per month at a bank. That’s money wasted.”

Heath said the Bank on Sacramento program is designed not only to offer financial literacy education and access to low-cost banking services, but also to find people who need more intensive financial services and refer them into other, more detailed programs.

“The goals of Bank on Sacramento are well-matched with our goal of teaching financial stability here at United Way,” Heath said.

Sacramento has a significant number of check cashing and payday lending businesses strategically placed in economically challenged areas that provide a significantly more expensive alternative to traditional financial institutions, according to the staff report.

Fees from payday lenders total more than $16 million per year. Without a bank account, the average person will spend 5 percent of his or her income on money orders and in payday lender fees each year.

“Right now, where we are in recovery from financial troubles in the nation,” said Jim Allen, a representative of Safe Credit Union in Sacramento, “there are a lot of people out there who need to improve their financial literacy.”

Safe Credit Union is one of nearly 20 organizations involved locally in the Bank on Sacramento program.

Allen said the program is intended to help people who might otherwise not be able to get a bank account, are skeptical of banks or traditionally don’t use banking systems.

“We want to help set aside preconceptions and help people learn how to use a bank and how to manage their finances to actually build something for themselves,” Allen said.

The Bank on Sacramento program operates on grant funds transferred from the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research to the City of Sacramento, according to the staff report.

Through the program merge, all remaining grant funds will be administered by the United Way. There is no commitment to spend city funds other than staff time, the report states, and city staff will not engage in fund raising for Bank on Sacramento.

According to the report, the Bank on Sacramento program assisted more than 45,000 residents to establish bank accounts – substantially surpassing the one-year program goal of 10,001 residents.

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

Sheedy won't run for re-election in council district 2

2012-01-24T01:29:29Z

On the eve of discussion about her goal of putting arena financing to a public vote, City Councilwoman Sandy Sheedy announced that she will not be running for re-election to her District 2 council seat in June.

“After careful consideration, I have decided not to seek another term on the Sacramento City Council,” Sheedy said in a prepared statement Monday.

Sheedy cited 28 years of public service between herself and her husband, Ted, a former county supervisor, adding, “We feel it’s time to call it a day so we can spend more time with our family.”

Sheedy would have faced at least four other candidates for her council seat in the upcoming election, including former Obama campaign organizer Kim Mack, former human resources manager Sondra Betancourt, developer Allen Wayne Warren and former Midtown Business Association Executive Director Rob Kerth.

“I think anyone who serves the public deserves a thumbs up,” Mack said Monday after hearing the announcement, “but it doesn’t change my campaign at all.”

Betancourt said she understands Sheedy’s desire to spend time with her family, and that it is time for a change in the way District 2 is being managed.

“I see a serious need for the type of leadership that I will bring (to the district),” Betancourt said Monday.

"It’s 'full steam ahead' to the election," she added.

Sheedy thanked city staff and the community in her statement, saying they have made her job easier and more rewarding.

“Now it’s time for someone else to take a turn at the wheel,” Sheedy said.

At the Jan. 3 council meeting, Sheedy asked staff to prepare information about a potential public vote on arena financing. The City Council will take up the item Tuesday.

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

10 Reasons Why a 50-Year Parking Agreement is Bad for Sacramento

2012-01-22T00:54:57Z

As our City leaders continue to debate how to finance an NBA-size arena in the downtown, climaxing with a final City Council vote in the next few weeks, here are ten reasons why I believe financing a new area with a 50-year "parking lot fee" agreement is not good for the financial and emotional well-being of our great City of Sacramento.

(1) Fifty-year agreements encourage abuse and escalation of fees. If the capitalist system depends upon free enterprise and competition, 50-year agreements are an invitation for corruption and exploitation. Immediately or gradually, we will all curse the day this deal was done, every time we park downtown.

(2) If you can afford $200-$500 for a family to see an arena-sized rock show or an NBA basketball game, an additional $15-$25 for parking doesn't seem like much. But if you have a "movie-theater-ticket-and-a-drink" budget, you go to the suburbs where the parking is free or at least affordable. Vouchers help big time for these thousands of consumers. Read between the lines of the contemplated parking fees - The City negotiators are desperate to "do the deal" and if free parking vouchers stand in the way, say good-bye to vouchers.

(3) Does anyone foresee a time in our great-grandchildren's lives (or fifty years?) when Sacramento becomes a center for corporate headquarters and major commerce? Not me. Given the current rules for NBA and major league sports arena financing, corporate underwriting is critical to the ongoing success of major league franchises. We don't have money for corporate "luxury boxes" now and we won't have enough in the future. Our biggest publicly owned company (a waste disposal firm) recently announced they are moving to Texas. I can't decide what part of this sentence bothers me the most. (a) As a City, are we not good enough for a company that hauls garbage? or (b) Why does a garbage truck company choosing to move to Texas makes such a big deal to our economy? Could this be an omen?

(4) The best "naming rights" deal the Maloof Family could come up with was a company that sells rubber bands for $30 and is currently sliding into bankruptcy. 50-year contracts for jacked-up parking fees sound more "cow-town" than 10,000 cowbells at a Lakers game.

(5) In the past decade, "silly money" mortgages were sold to good people with dreams bigger than their ability to pay. Selling the parking rights, for all of downtown, for the next fifty years, smacks of the same "Don't you want to aspire to enjoy a better life?" crap used by "vacation time share" salespeople. Once we do this deal, they will never stop calling. What will be the next proposal? Charging an admission to Old Sacramento?

(6) We are great as a "farm team" City. We love our AAA minor league River Cats with ticket prices we can afford. We love Friday night high school football. Our list of "home-grown" great ball players rivals any city in the nation. In Sacramento, we GROW great athletes –men and women - with tolerance, a solid work ethic, and excellent coaching. Let other cities bankrupt themselves chasing "parking lot dreams". We are smarter than that.

(7) Yes, a big league area would be good for local professional sports commentators. To move up to ESPN stature, you must have at least one major league sports team in your town. Do you now understand the motivation behind Grant Napear and others in "talk sports" radio, TV, and print? For the handful of big league sports commentators, this is a “jobs-bill” helping them each further their careers. Without the Kings, they would have to move too much more expensive cities to pursue their profession. How many of you are pro sports commentators wanting to work in New York or Los Angeles? I rest my case.

(8) Let’s organize ourselves and build a smaller downtown arena – one we can afford. Instead of 150 nights per year, let’s fill it up 300 nights with 12,000 music fans, families who love the circus, monster truck smash-ups, ice-skating clowns, high school volleyball championships, evangelical Christians, political conventions, and - your favorite affordable event. Why is building an arena big enough to keep the Kings in Sacramento - at any cost - the sole criteria for downtown improvement? Yes, this is a priority for Kings fans, our Mayor, the sports broadcasters, the Maloof family – maybe 20,000 local people, tops. Let’s do the math, re-prioritize, and adjust our planning.

(9) Wouldn't you rather have 300 nights of hustle and bustle downtown? Imagine, piling the family into the car, buying affordable event tickets, parking inexpensively within walking distance, eating out at great restaurants, dancing at diverse music clubs, and having more fun with fewer overpaid seven-foot millionaires to block the view? Now that's a town that pays its bills, raises great kids, and lives within its own skin.

(10) Financing an arena by collecting parking fees for fifty years just sounds cheap. Talk about a "nickel and dime" approach to big time sports. How about if we required City leaders and the Maloof family to stand on street-corners with a cardboard sign pleading with motorists "Spare Change for the Kings?" No, why would we ask them to do that - for the next 50 years - when we can install parking meters to achieve the same goal.

In conclusion, I really don't care what Charles Barkley and Phil Jackson think of us and neither should our community leaders. Grow up, Sacramento. Be bold and enjoy living within your means.... Isn't that the lesson of the Wall Street financial collapse? Make a budget and live within that budget. Be yourself, not what others think you should be. Live life in the moment and don't mortgage your future. These are the hard lessons we should have learned since 2008. Have we been paying attention?

City Council members, I ask you - 50 years - really? You are creating financial obligations for your great-grandchildren. In the year 2062, when they curse you for paying to park by the minute and for an arena that was demolished 25 years earlier - is this how you want to be remembered? Now that, my Sacramento friends, is a legacy I would rather avoid.

Disclosure: born in Sacramento at Mercy Hospital

CA State Managers Failed to Shut-Down Unlicensed Care Home

2012-01-21T17:18:25Z

Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD) is responsible for regulating care homes for people who are unable to care for themselves. This story revolves around a care facility for the elderly, that was not licensed. All care homes in CA must be licensed with the CA Dept of Social Services (CDSS). If a care home is operating without a license, the owner is fined and put out of business. Well, that is the so-called state mandate, anyway.

In summary, here are the chain of events which occurred from 2007 to 2010, in the small farm town of Fall River Mills, CA.

Owner of the elderly care home "Riverview Residential" was cited in July 2008 for running a facility without a license. The owner was given two chances to complete the required state application, return it and get a license. She failed both times. The state inspector (known as a Licensing Program Analyst {LPA}) in charge of the Fall River Mills jurisdiction, attempted to shut down the facility. The care of the people living at Riverview was extremely negligent, several residents died and there were numerous complaints about the health and safety of the clients living there.

The LPA continued to report the horrid conditions of Riverview to the CDSS management in Sacramento. The LPA met with Adult Protective Services, The Ombudsman and the Shasta County Sheriff on numerous occasions to attempt to shut down Riverview, The CDSS managers ignored the requests for assistance in shutting down Riverview. On November 9, 2009 the LPA went to Riverview and was accompanied by a sheriff's deputy. The LPA delivered a fine to the owner of Riverview in the amount of $20,000.00 for operating without a license. In order for a fine (known as a Civil Penalty) to be validated, it must be signed by a regional manager. The LPA sent the document to the regional manager for signing. The manager never acknowledged the document and it was never signed.

On November 17, 2009 the LPA was notified that a resident was found deceased and wedged between a wall and a mattress. The LPA notified the CDSS managers immediately. The LPA also requested permission to contact CA Department of Justice Elder Care Division (DOJ). On November 18, 2009 the LPA received an E-mail from the CDSS managers which ordered the LPA to not contact DOJ. It is common practice to notify DOJ in this type situation. The LPA called the director of APS, provided a direct line to an agent of DOJ. DOJ then got involved in the case. The LPA was interviewed by a supervisor from DOJ. The DOJ supervisor asked why the CDSS managers ordered the LPA to not contact DOJ. It was unknown why the order was given.

The LPA continued to press the CDSS managers for assistance and request that a manager sign the document for the $20k fine. All requests were ignored. On February 10, 2010, the LPA was pulled off the case, revoked from working in the field, reprimanded to work solely in the office and denied the scheduled step pay- raise. The LPA resigned in April 2010 as a result of the situation.

This story was published in the Mt. Echo Newspaper on January 17, 2012, by editor, Walt Caldwell. I provided a link to the article. The article gives names, dates and places. Very well written and based on factual, documented evidence.

http://rcfereform.org/news/Mountain_Echo_Reports_CCLD_Misconduct

Disclosure: Yes. I was the Licensing Program Analyst mentioned in the story.

MidLife GridLife - When Crazy Became Cool

2012-01-21T03:53:34Z

For most people, being told they were officially crazy might be a little frightening, a little offensive, or just plain fighting words!

I was tremendously relieved.

Since right around sixth grade, I had felt as though I was, to borrow from Kurt Vonnegut, becoming “unstuck.”

It was, in the grand scheme of things, a subtle process.

It became difficult to fall asleep (hence the late night calls to radio stations).

It became equally difficult to stay asleep.

I became fixated on unfathomable concepts like mortality, and the idea that we are all floating on a planet in space.

I could no longer stand to watch Star Trek.

I could no longer stand to watch anything that reminded me that we were all going to grow older and die—which was just about everything.

I learned to block a lot of the feelings out, to consciously avoid thinking about them.

I also began to drink heavily, ‘round about 13 or 14, which seemed to help.

Unless you count the hit and run at 16 and the DUI at 20.

Self-medication, in my experience, is seldom successful; that’s why they give the doctors the prescription pads, and they hardly ever prescribe an ongoing course of bourbon.

My break came as an adult, living on my own, unable to manage any longer. I went to County Mental Health and was interviewed by a psychiatrist who diagnosed me with Manic Depression, now called Bipolar Disorder.

He never actually used the word “crazy,” but that was how I felt. Having someone acknowledge that there was a medical reason for all of those years of emotional mayhem was the greatest gift anyone had ever given me.

If you could name it, you could fix it, right?

Not so fast.

Not so simple.

The side effects of the drugs available in the 80s were worse than my milder of the two forms of the disorder. Mood swings or tweaking? Swell.

Anyone with mental health challenges knows that finding the right medication in the right dosage is sometimes a very frustrating and lengthy process. Fortunately pharmaceuticals evolved and continue to improve.

Medication isn’t magic, but for someone whose brain is firing the right chemicals, it can be the foundation necessary for being able to focus enough to do the other things that need to happen.

Over the past twenty five years, I have been fortunate to have found the right cocktail of legal pharmaceuticals to maintain a healthy balance of fun and functionality in my life. Days of work missed due to my diagnosis have been extremely rare.

As my supervisor recently put it at a staff meeting,
“Elaine, I hope you don’t mind my just putting you out there, but, people, that is an example of a well-medicated person!”

Yes, I have become a poster child for mental health. I’m good with it.

In my line of work—human services, and currently, working with formerly homeless men and women as a sort of “guidance counselor” to help them set and achieve goals toward self-sustainability—I find being bipolar to be an asset.

It has given me an ability to empathize beyond what any education could have, and Appropriately sharing my own experience as a mental health consumer and the friend, daughter and family member of other who are bipolar allows me to build trust with clients that I might not otherwise achieve.

I am fortunate to have found work that I love in a field that allows me to be open about my challenges.

I am grateful for that.

But not everyone is as fortunate.

Mental health services are increasingly more difficult to access.

At Kaiser you can get a psychiatrist, but counseling has gone by the wayside. Group therapy is often your only option, unless you pose a threat to yourself or someone else.

I learned to fight for my mental health when I was with Kaiser. I often wondered how the really unstable people managed!
Private insurance will take your copayment for counseling, say twenty bucks, but a counselor isn’t always a good counselor. And sometimes a counselor isn’t even a real counselor, but an intern, a counselor-in-training.

Psychiatrists will dispense medication, but they don’t always feel obligated to explain why, how the medication works, or what happens when it isn’t working.

I’ve often thought I could give workshops on “Symptoms and Side Effects Your Doctor Didn’t Bother to Explain” and make a mint—if only the potential patrons weren’t so tough to market to and get to keep an appointment!

As previously mentioned, even when you get the meds going, there’s no guarantee that you get the right mix the first time. It can take some time to achieve the appropriate blend.

Frustrating as hell when you’re feeling crazy, but there it is.

All of that assumes you’re a member of mainstream society.

If you’re poor, on a subsidy, forget about counseling altogether.

You can get medication, but it’ll likely be from a primary care doctor who knows less about mental health than I do, and will be just as happy to give a little Vicodin chaser to round things out.

Even if you manage to beg, plead or scream your way into a relationship with a psychiatrist, those visits are few and far between, which is not the way it should work when you’re trying to find that magic medicinal mood cocktail.

It sucks to be poor.

I write about all of this because I’m determined to turn the elephant in the room into a pussycat.

It is true that people with bipolar disorder can become psychotic and require hospitalization. It is true that we can exhibit bizarre behavior, including a little OCD.

It is equally true that someone with BPD could have been sharing a cubicle with you for the past year, and you’d never have known they were affected. I know this, not only because people have said it about me, but because it happened to me recently.

Could have knocked me over with a feather when I found out the person I’d been sharing an office with has BPD! Three of us do, actually (the other one I’d known about), so that’s a force to be reckoned with—a temperamental triangle.

All parents.
All still working, even through a nightmare economy.

All popping prescriptions with psychiatric blessings, praying chemicals kick right in our heads another day.

Crazy, huh?

City planning bike lanes on Freeport Boulevard

2012-01-21T00:50:26Z

The city is in the planning stages of bringing bicycle lanes to Freeport Boulevard between Vallejo Way and Sutterville Road – something neighbors and school officials say will make the busy thoroughfare much safer.

“We’ve had several accidents and many kids getting hit on bikes,” said McClatchy High School Principal Peter Lambert on Friday. “As traffic becomes more and more congested, we want to continue to look at ways to ensure the safety of our students as well as those who work and live in the area.”

Students at McClatchy High made a video highlighting the dangers of the street about three years ago, and they and Lambert said the area isn’t safe for cyclists.

The city issued a notice of preparation Jan. 13, which is the beginning of the process to get the bicycle lanes on the pavement – a process that will have to go through an environmental impact report and get City Council approval before work can begin, said Andrea Rosen, chair of the ad-hoc committee for the Freeport bicycle lanes through the Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association.

“The SCNA has not taken any position on the Freeport bike lane project because it is at the beginning of the environmental review process,” Rosen said Friday, adding that once the city decides on a plan, the board will then vote to determine whether it supports the plan.

Rosen said that now is the time for those who want to voice their opinions on the project to take action.

The public will have the chance to weigh in on the process at a meeting from 6 - 8 p.m. Wednesday at the McClatchy High School Cafeteria, 3066 Freeport Blvd., said Linda Tucker Department of Transportation spokeswoman.

City Councilman Jay Schenirer, whose district partially covers the area, said he supports bringing bicycle lanes to that section of Freeport Boulevard.

“I’m very much a supporter, and beyond Freeport, I’d like to see us become more bike-friendly in the city,” he said. “We have young people riding to school and in the neighborhood, and what we have around Freeport is currently not a great situation.”

Schenirer said that, since the project requires an environmental impact report and approval from City Council, it won’t be a quick process, but he hopes to see work complete in the next couple of years.

Rosen said the SCNA expects the environmental impact report to be done in October, and that she hopes the issue makes it before the City Council by the end of the year.

“The neighborhood views this as a gap in the bike lanes,” she said. “We’ve been told that the city has long wanted to fill this gap because of the schools (both McClatchy High and Sacramento City College) and the general bicycle safety.”

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

Will leasing city garages ruin parking validation?

2012-01-20T18:50:13Z

As the city pursues a potential lessee for the city’s parking inventory, there is an important question to ask: Could the city parking validation program end? If it does, is there a risk of damaging existing businesses – some of which have struggled in the downtown area for years?

According to city parking services manager Howard Chan, Sacramento currently validates parking at city-owned garages for many local businesses and venues, providing an incentive to business owners: They buy the parking at a discount, and they have something to offer patrons as a courtesy.

Merchants buy discounted parking tickets worth $5 of parking for 50 cents each, and the validation is good in any of nine city-owned downtown and Old Sacramento parking garages.

Depending on which garage a shopper uses, that comes out to about two hours of free parking.

In the downtown area, 116 businesses took part in the parking validation program in 2011, according to Chan, bringing in roughly $100,000 in revenue to the city.

Tony Sheppard, co-director of the annual Sacramento Film and Music Festival, said several arts and cultural events that are hosted at venues like the Crest Theatre might be threatened if patrons were not offered validated parking.

“It’s difficult with some arts and cultural events to get people to come from long distances,” Sheppard said Thursday.

“Depending on the time of day, or day of the week, the cost of parking changes,” Sheppard said. “If parking rates go up, validation becomes even more important.”

In an economy where businesses struggle and many come and go, parking validation can be an important incentive for shoppers to go downtown.

If downtown loses the benefit of parking validation, are we championing the cause of one business – an arena for the Kings – at the expense of others downtown?

Assistant City Manager John Dangberg said it’s premature to ask that question.

“In a parking monetization, you go through a lengthy discussion period on the concession agreement,” Dangberg said. “It deals with everything from rates to special events to non-competition – all those get wrapped up in the agreement.”

Once the city gets into those discussions, Dangberg said, then details such as parking validation programs are considered.

Dangberg said, however, that it’s important to remember that any concession agreement is subject to existing agreements – such as parking validation contracts some businesses have with the city already.

“Those are legally binding contracts,” Dangberg said. “They don’t just go away.”

Lisa Martinez, spokeswoman for the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, said Thursday that the DSP is concerned with maintaining strong customer service for the businesses in the downtown core.

“Parking validation is something that supports the businesses and provides a perk for customers,” Martinez said.

Martinez agreed with Dangberg that it’s too early in the process to know what impact – if any – a parking lessee might have on parking validation programs in the city, but it’s a good idea for business owners to stay aware of the situation.

“There will be opportunity for businesses to weigh in on the process,” Martinez said, “and we encourage them to do that. We’ve also been advocating for (city officials) to consider all the impacts on a private business owner.”

Raelene Trumm, general manager for Westfield Downtown Plaza, said that if the city leases its parking inventory – which would include the parking garage at Downtown Plaza – it would have no real impact on the mall.

“It doesn’t affect us at all,” Trumm said. “We’re covered under contract with the city (for parking validation) until about 2055.”

Trumm said that any change in parking operations at the city level would need to incorporate the plaza’s legally binding contract.

Not all plaza businesses have parking validation as part of their lease, Trumm said, but most permanent tenants in the mall do participate in the validation program.

Other local business owners who take advantage of the city’s validation program say losing it might make a difference in their business.

Nathan Sorgenfrie, a staff member at Chef's Mercantile in Old Sacramento, said that roughly half of the people who come into the store want parking validation – although not all customers knows it is available until it’s offered to them.

“We ask everyone,” Sorgenfrie said Thursday, “and some are surprised by it. But only the first time. When they come back, they usually ask right away.”

Sorgenfrie said that he doesn’t think parking validation is really what drives people to visit Old Sacramento – but it could be the reason they return for a future visit.

Connie Carlson, manager at G. Willikers Toy Emporium in Old Sacramento said her store gives out at least 100 validations a month during busy months – but not every month is that busy, and not every customer needs parking validation.

“I think losing (validation) would make some difference,” Carlson said, “but over time it would be forgotten. It’s a small percentage of our customers.”

While the city is going through the “request for qualifications” process, Dangberg said his office is compiling questions received from interested parties about the city’s parking inventory.

Interestingly, none of the questions received to date address parking validation programs.

It may be too soon to tell what the city’s parking validation program will look like if the city finds a lessee parking operator.

“The question should still be asked,” Sheppard said. “It should at least be on the radar.”

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

City celebrates R Street project completion

2012-01-20T05:30:18Z

The first phase of the R Street beautification process was dedicated Thursday with a reception and lighting of the new arch at 10th and R streets in front of the Fox and Goose Public House.

“It’s a renaissance of renaissances,” said Jerry Way, director of the city’s Transportation Department.

“It means 150-plus years ago, this place got started, and today we’re celebrating the brand-new R Street in a way that everyone can celebrate, with artwork and features,” he added.

Completion of the more than $6 million project from 10th to 13th streets on Thursday was celebrated with a lighting of the streetlights and the iconic arch at 10th and R streets.

Way added that the draw to the new R Street is that it’s attractive, and be it artwork, more street lighting or a revamped, pedestrian-friendly streetscape – “everyone can find something to come down here for,” he said.

The next phases of construction down the corridor – beyond 13th Street and continuing to 19th Street, are being lined up for community design grants. The next phases include the R Street Market Plaza, which will open up an area for businesses. To read more details on the plaza, click here.

It’s unclear, however, how the loss of redevelopment funding will affect the upcoming projects, Way said.

“The redevelopment scab, if you will, hasn’t formed over yet, and we’re waiting to see how that will pan out,” he said.

In the meantime, Sacramento designers celebrated the installation of the art, which was designed by a local business.

“We wanted to make sure it matched the historical nature of the buildings already on R Street and kind of reinvigorate the area,” said Brent Rector of Fuel Creative Group, the Midtown design studio that designed the arch.

Fuel Creative Group was also responsible for the signage and menus at Hot Italian and the signage at the McGeorge School of Law.

Rector said it was a team of three that worked on the arch, and it was collaboration with the Capitol Area Development Authority (CADA) to use older steel power poles as inspiration, which recalls the R Street corridor’s industrial past.

“With redevelopment funds getting eaten up, it’s probably one of the last projects like this that you’ll see in Sacramento, which is a shame,” he added.

Way said that the city expects to see the revamped R Street as a more attractive place for the mixed residential, industrial and commercial growth planners expect to come to the area.

Betty Williams: Newest candidate for Council District 8

2012-01-20T01:33:48Z

The upcoming City Council elections will see a new candidate in the June primary – the first challenger in the race to unseat incumbent Bonnie Pannell from the District 8 council seat she has held for 14 years.

Betty Williams, a recruitment executive at a local staffing firm and the current president of the local NAACP chapter, filed intent to run papers without any fanfare last month and has been quietly building support for her campaign.

Williams, 55, does not come from a political background, rather from a small business and community activism background – something her campaign consultant, Sam Walton, said he believes will be a strength for Williams in the upcoming race.

“Betty already reaches out to the community, asks for input and brings in other leaders to answer (residents’) questions,” Walton said Wednesday. “If you want to solve problems, you have to take the time to get out in the community and be active.”

Walton is acting as a volunteer assistant in Williams’ campaign, just as he did for former City Councilman Sam Pannell in the 1990s – and Pannell’s wife, Bonnie, who stepped into the District 8 council seat after Sam died in 1998.

This time, however, he decided to get behind Williams in the upcoming race.

“I think 14 years (in a council seat) is a lot,” Walton said. “I didn’t anticipate Bonnie would want to hold the office that long.”

Walton said Williams, whose community involvement spans almost 30 years as a south area resident, is not part of “the establishment,” – that is, the political world – and she doesn’t “rub shoulders with big money.”

“I’d been planning to run for a while,” Williams said Wednesday. “I ended up being drafted by a band of community members who were ready to hit the ground running.”

Unemployment, high crime rates and underperforming schools are a few of the problems in the district that Williams said she wants to face head-on.

“There are 15 schools in my district, and only five are operating at the minimum state level,” Williams said. “I hope to work with corporations, the schools and the school district to somehow make the schools more viable.”

Williams said she is also preparing to host a series of job fairs in the district starting in February.

“I want to partner with businesses and churches to open doors for people to find work,” Williams said. “There are so many people who want a chance to get an interview.”

Williams has been the president of the local NAACP chapter for the last eight years. She is also a member of the California High Speed Rail Authority Business Advisory Committee, and she’s on Mayor Kevin Johnson’s Business Advisory Council as well as the mayor’s Crime Prevention Task Force.

Williams’ campaign is a grassroots effort, Walton said, and more than 200 people have emailed asking to be added to Williams’ “walk list” to walk the district and knock on doors with Williams in support of her effort to win the council seat.

According to Walton, Williams’ fundraising has already started, and she has raised roughly $15,000 so far – a relatively small amount for a candidate facing a longtime incumbent.

Walton said he expects Pannell will out-fundraise Williams by 4-1.

But for Williams’ campaign, Walton said, it’s not as important how much money the candidate raises – it’s much more important how the candidates reaches the community.

“If you have a weak message, or you are not really in touch with the people then you rely on a slick marketing campaign,” Walton said. “That costs money.”

In Williams’ case, Walton said, she is all about the community, and she has a very strong message. Walton said this will make it easier for Williams to connect with the community without having to raise lots of money.

“I’ve watched how she’s led in the NAACP,” local pastor Darrell Heath said Wednesday. “She has a way of speaking to people so they know she’s listening. I admire that.”

Heath has been a close associate of Williams for four years, he said.

“She’s been an advocate for the African-American community, an advocate for underprivileged people and the young people in our community,” he said. “She’s been a real blessing in reaching out to our young people.”

Heath said that, when he looks at the district, he appreciates all of the building that has been going on but feels the district needs someone with a better understanding of core issues.

“In our area, we have the highest crime rate and the highest poverty rate,” he said, “and Williams understands that. She has a heart for the people.”

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

City changes course on parking advisory plan

2012-01-19T02:54:53Z

City Manager John Shirey withdrew a contract Tuesday with two firms that the City Council planned to consider as financial and technical advisers in the search for a potential parking operator lessee, assistant city manager John Dangberg said Wednesday.

“We decided it just wasn’t the right direction to go for the process at this time,” Dangberg said.

The city hired the firms – Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Walker Parking Consultants – in September to take an inventory of the city’s parking and come up with an evaluation of potential profit from leasing out the assets.

Leasing out the city’s parking system is one of a handful of options under consideration for financing a new sports and entertainment center downtown.

The agreement would have allowed the firms to play an advisory role for the city, giving financial advice and technical assistance as the city searches for potential interest in leasing the parking system, according to a city staff report.

The City Council discussed a parking system report Dec. 13, and voted to move forward with a search for interested parties – called “request for qualifications,” or the RFQ process.

The no-fee agreement between the city and the firms would have been contingent on the city keeping the firms as advisers if the council moved on to the request for proposal stage of the game – that is, gathering actual offers.

At that time, the two firms would negotiate a fee agreement with the city for continued services, according to the contract.

Now, Dangberg said, the city is continuing with the RFQ process but will not seek advisers until the RFP stage.

If the firms were hired as exclusive advisers to the city, it would be a conflict of interest for them to respond to the RFQ or to bid on any proposal to lease city parking assets, Jeremiah Jackson, Think Big Sacramento project manager, said Thursday.

The RFQ process is expected to last until the end of January, and – if potential operators are discovered – the city could move on to the request for proposal stage.

Dangberg said that the city will have advisers through the RFP stage, and it’s possible that Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Walker Parking Consultants will be part of the larger advisory team, but final decisions have not been made yet about the number or makeup of a future advisory group.

The city has until March 1 to come up with a solid plan for building a new sports and entertainment complex before the Maloof family – owners of the Sacramento Kings – will have another opportunity to relocate the team.

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

'Alley house' to open for neighbors Friday

2012-01-19T02:05:51Z

The architect and owners of a new house on Blues Alley between 22nd and 23rd streets are looking to bring the controversy surrounding its construction full circle, inviting neighbors to an open house Friday.

Originally proposed as a three-story, 2,400-square-foot building, the house, went through a series of design reviews, eventually getting to the City Council.

The house features a contemporary style and materials including corten steel – an alloy that gives a rusted look without damaging its structural integrity –

Sacramento Press Community Contributor Deb Belt wrote about the controversy surrounding the project, which sparked a flurry of comments on both sides of the issue. Read that article and the conversation by clicking here.

Neighbors who were unhappy with the project in their neighborhood of historical buildings brought the issue to the City Council despite the fact that it met all building codes and had been previously approved, said Architect Stephen Henry.

According to a city report, 10 neighbors spoke at the Sept. 16, 2010, Design Commission meeting, with seven opposed and three in favor of the project.

The report states that residents were concerned that the three-story building was out of scale with the one- and two-story buildings nearby, it didn’t fit the aesthetic context of the area and it was “detrimental to the privacy of the adjacent neighbors.”

Neighbors in favor of the project said that it brought welcome security to the area, which was previously vacant and had security issues.

Last February, the City Council directed the homebuilders to redesign the project, a process Belt – who is married to Henry – discussed in a subsequent article.

“They basically said that the building could be three stories tall if it was redesigned, or it could be two stories tall if it’s in the contemporary style,” Henry said. “That really speaks volumes to what the real issue is.”

The builders opted for a two-story home, bringing the square footage down about 600-650 to a total of 1,750-1,800 square feet.

Much of what can be seen of the home from nearby streets is the blue-painted siding, but driving by it on the alley shows the modern rusted steel alloy facade. Opposite the house is a concrete block wall that houses a plumbing company, Henry said.

“It’s kind of a transitional zone of the neighborhood,” Henry added.

With the house nearing completion, Henry said the open house is to invite nearby residents to see the end result. It will be held from 4 - 7 p.m. Friday.

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

Why we are against SOPA

2012-01-19T01:32:15Z

As an owner of Macer Media, publisher of The Sacramento Press, I have never made a political statement on this site. Today I will, out of self-preservation, and a concern for what is just and good for this site, and the people of this community in general.

Wikipedia went black Wednesday due to its strong opposition to the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). Google also voiced its opposition with a link on its homepage. Many other Interenet companies took similar steps.

So the first question is: What is SOPA?

SOPA is a piece of proposed legislation in the House of Representatives aimed at, you guessed it, stopping piracy. The main proponent of the bill is the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and is sponsored by Congressman Lamar Smith (R-Texas). The bill has both strong bipartisan support and strong bipartisan opposition. In other words, this is not at all an issue divided down party lines. Last weekend, the White House came out in opposition to the bill due to concerns about national cyber-security. A very similar bill is to be voted on in the Senate on Jan. 24, called the Protect IP Act (PIPA).

The bill’s proponents claim that the bill is aimed at stopping the piracy of American intellectual property by foreign agents. The Wall Street Journal has an excellent FAQ covering most of the basics of the bill.

So what’s the harm?

Free speech, due process and commercial viability of Internet sites who accept user-generated content are all at risk due to this legislation.

The trouble is in the wording of the bill, which gives the government and copyright holders enormous new powers to stop sites they believe are violating their intellectual property. And while the bill is targeted at foreign agents, nebulous wording would allow for significant compliance and liability costs to be passed along to organizations such as ours. This burden could easily put an organization such as The Sacramento Press out of business.

Even the well-known constitutional lawyer Floyd Abrams, who was paid by the MPAA to write a letter touting the bill, admits that, “When injunctive relief includes blocking domain names, the blockage of non-infringing or protected content may result.” Censoring a little free speech can’t hurt that much, right?

Why SOPA?

That’s a good question and one of my biggest problems with the bill. The bill is premised on the idea the piracy is rampant AND that it causes material harm to the United States in the form of lost jobs and lost revenue. The question is, where’s the proof? Tim O’Reilly, owner of O’Reilly Books and a successful digital and print publisher (owner of lots of intellectual property) says it best:

“There's no question in my mind that piracy exists, that people around the world are enjoying creative content without paying for it, and even that some criminals are profiting by redistributing it. But is there actual economic harm?”

I believe that it should be the burden of the proponents of the bill to prove economic harm before seeking a legislative solution.

There has only been one significant independent study done on international piracy concerns, and one of the conclusions it makes is, “…we see little reason to think that changes in IP protection or enforcement will significantly affect (international piracy).”

This is bad legislation that restricts our rights, is aimed a problem that possibly doesn’t exist and will likely do little to prevent what piracy does.

For these reasons, our company strongly opposes SOPA and PIPA.

I’m happy to answer any question and concerns you might have in the conversation below. Here is a link to the full text of the bill.

Disclosure: I contribute $10 a month to a lobbying effort known as Demand Progress. It currently lobbies against SOPA/PIPA. For more info, visit demandprogress.org.

Sometimes All It Takes Is One

2012-01-18T18:21:18Z

The first question presented to the panel was "What does Sacramento have that other cities don't have, and what don't we have?", and with that, the passionate discussion about 'The State of Live Music in Sacramento' was off and running. It was one question that fueled one-and-a-half hours of enthusiastic discussion.

On Sunday evening The Sacramento Living Library (curated by Time Tested Books' Peter Keat and hosted by Midtown Monthly Editor Tim Foster) brought together five notable Sacramento music industry insiders to talk about music, politics, venues, history, and demographics. Jerry Perry (legendary Sacramento promoter), Brian McKenna (Abstract Entertainment), Rick Ele (KDVS), Mindy Giles (Swell Productions), and Olivia Coelho (Bows & Arrows), comprised the panel of promoters with Dennis Yudt (contributing writer for Midtown Monthly), acting as moderator. Among the audience members were other promoters, musicians and many, many fans.

Addressing the packed house, the one and only Jerry Perry picked up his mic and responded to the query knowledgeably and passionately, "First of all, Sacramento has the bands, bands that other cities don't have." Certainly Sacramento's music scene has had its ups and downs, but one thing that hasn't changed over time is the fact that there are an impressive array of really, really talented people in this city. Everyone on the panel nodded in agreement with Jerry's succinct and simple answer.

From that point on the conversation tried to answer other portion of the question - "What doesn't Sacramento have?" And over the course of the next eighty-nine minutes it became clear that mainly due to policies and politics that make live music venues the "red-headed stepchild" in a city that has a golden opportunity to become another Austin or Portland (cities that embrace their musical culture), there simply aren't enough venues showcasing live music in Sacramento.

Listening to Olivia Coelho recount her recent trying experiences with the permit process in bringing live music to Bows & Arrows, it's no wonder we don't have more venues. As Olivia put it, "minors have been criminalized"; crackdowns in the downtown area on minors who violate Sacramento’s 10pm curfew make it hard to fill seats at all-ages gigs. Those curfew crackdowns were spawned by Second Saturday incidences which had nothing to do with live music. Additionally, venues with a capacity over 49 persons must provide (i.e. compensate) two security guards on show nights; whether or not there are 5 or 100 people in attendance. (The higher the occupancy the higher the number of security guards is required; however, Olivia was able to work with city and received a modification of this requirement for her 105 person occupancy business.) Still the issue seems to be a lack of respect for businesses that offer live entertainment. Regardless of a venue's record of incidences, any place wanting to bring the art of "amplified music" to the community is instantly subjected to far more regulation and scrutiny than say, a gallery, or a diner.

As fans it is our duty to show support for the venues by showing up, paying the cover, and acting responsibly. But is there more we can do? Mindy Giles cited an article from Irvine.org titled "Getting Into The Act", which promotes an entrepreneurial shift towards 'arts participation': Traditional media outlets are laying off arts & culture reporters so if you want to help your favorite band or artist get noticed you must take matters into your own hands and help spread the word; share invites to shows on Facebook, Twitter a link to a favorite artist’s latest release, write a review, join a street team, start a fan club, start a record label, and if you have the ways and means, by all means open a live music venue.

One audience member pointed to a lack of diversity in Sacramento's live music scene. Mindy’s response made a lot of sense, "There are many diverse and talented bands from Sacramento and coming through Sacramento, but they need "a home." In other words, as Rick Ele reiterated, hip-hop doesn't really have a "home" in Sacramento, nor does traditional Dixieland or a multitude of other genres, so music lovers seeking a place to consistently be able to listen to their favorite type of music face a challenge locating where reggae, or grind-core, or bossa nova, might be happening on any given night. Adding multiple smaller venues to the current mix would greatly benefit the promoters, the bands, the fans, and this city.

Getting those venues approved (let alone encouraged) is another matter entirely. Sadly, it appears that rather than supporting live music in Sacramento, the city is currently planning to charge an even larger "entertainment permit" fee, raising the rate from $1400.00 to a whopping $4000.00. This is a permit that must be renewed every two years! Every promoter, every musician, and every fan in attendance decried this as unfair, unjust, and unnecessary. An unidentified gentleman suggested that a petition be circulated and presented to the city council renouncing the fee increase. All in attendance applauded in agreement. Another participant suggested creating an association which would act as a lobbying group when it came time to publicize and challenge city policies, and champion city politicians whose cultural agenda echoes those of live music proponents in Sacramento.

The State of Live Music in Sacramento boiled down to four major points that are in need of support from the city government and from music lovers across the region are:
1) A larger, scalable all-ages venue; seating 300 - 1500.
2) Many smaller venues to give local and touring musicians a place to call "home" in our fair city.
3) Policy changes to enable business owners to provide "amplified music" without going broke.
4) A way to reach people and get them excited about live music in the city. As Jerry Perry pointed out, the city seemed more "alive" when postering and flyering were acceptable forms of communication. The connection between the band, venue, and fan was made right there on every street corner via those flyers - we need to breathe that colorful life back into the Sacramento music scene!

One question was asked tonight, and after ninety minutes of impassioned, intelligent, inspiring responses, the unified answer I heard from promoters and audience members alike was, ‘The possibility is there, it’s time for everyone and anyone who appreciates live music to participate.’

Disclosure: I am a live music fan. I am not a critic, nor a musician. Just a fan that would love to see Sacramento embrace is wonderfully talented pool of bands and musicians and become a nurturing "home" for more of them.

Council delays strong mayor decision, possibly until November

2012-01-18T08:05:02Z

The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday against putting a strong mayor initiative on the June ballot – but they opened the door for some form of charter reform to appear on the November ballot.

Council members directed the city attorney to return to council in three weeks with a “matrix layout” detailing two options for the council to consider.

One, the creation of an elected charter commission initiative, and, two, a revision of the Checks and Balances Act based on comments heard at Tuesday’s council meeting.

The City Council will have the opportunity to vote for either action at the Feb. 7 council meeting – “or to do nothing at all,” said City Councilman Kevin McCarty when the meeting concluded.

After more than four hours of public comment and discussion among council members, the City Council still hadn’t arrived at a decision by 11:30 p.m. Tuesday about whether to put a strong mayor initiative on the June ballot.

Council members heard lengthy and detailed reports on the proposed Checks and Balances Act of 2012 from both Kunal Merchant, the mayor’s chief of staff, and Matt Ruyak, assistant city attorney.

“We have an obligation to hold a vigorous debate,” Merchant said, “and you can’t have a vigorous debate until it is actually on the ballot and is a real issue, not just a concept or a draft of an idea.”

Merchant went on to outline the Checks and Balances Act, including new powers that would be granted to the mayor, powers that the mayor would be giving up, and items built into the charter reform measure not found in earlier versions.

“Tonight is a historic night,” Merchant said. “The time is right for fundamental change in our city.”

Council chambers were full for the entire meeting, with more than 300 people in attendance. Ten speakers took the podium during public comment, and another 55 spoke on the strong mayor item specifically.

Faith leaders, business leaders and union representatives told council members that the expectation was not to decide the issue, rather to put the issue on the ballot for the voters to decide.

“We will respect you to the level you respect us,” said pastor Rick Cole. “Respect the people by allowing them to vote on this important issue.”

The majority of the speakers were in support of the strong mayor initiative, and called on council members to allow for a vote on the June ballot regardless of any personal opposition to the initiative.

Opponents of the measure expressed disappointment, saying charter reform is not what the City Council should be spending its time on.

Shawn Donohoe, a representative of the Democratic Party of Sacramento County, questioned the “vagueness” of the proposal, saying, “This isn’t the time to spend our resources on a window dressing like charter reform.”

Ruyak discussed some potential shortcomings of the proposal, including ambiguous sections regarding sunshine ordinances, a proposed redistricting commission and a potential ninth council district.

“We have some concerns about the ability to create (a ninth council district),” Ruyak said. “The drafters feels there is not a problem, but this is a novel legal issue, and we don’t have a definitive answer right now.”

City Councilman Jay McCarty opened the debate on the initiative for council members, saying he would like to see the council explore an elected charter reform commission to consider – and ultimately, decide – the strong mayor issue.

“This (Checks and Balances Act) version is cleaner than the previous versions,” McCarty said, “but we can’t go about this willy-nilly. This is something we have to get right.”

City Councilwoman Angelique Ashby said she would like to see the issue resolved – one way or another – so the city can move on to other business.

“I don’t think we should just keep rehashing this,” Ashby said.

“I say, don’t make it about the person of the mayor,” Ashby said. “Make it about the issue. Let’s settle on some language and get it to a vote and put all this behind us.”

City Councilman Jay Schenirer said he agreed with Ashby and wanted to move the issue along.

“Lets take the personalities out of this,” Schenirer said, “Let’s look at the policy and decide if it works, no matter who the mayor may or may not be in the future.”

“Whats the rush?” asked City Councilman Darrell Fong. “I don’t think this should go to the ballot in June. The public needs more time to vet this out.”

City Councilwoman Bonnie Pannell agreed with Fong.

“This is not ready for prime time – yet,” Pannell said. “We need to tweak this for November, not June. Let the people vote on it, but let’s make sure they know what they are voting on.”

The city attorney will present a report on a possible elected charter commission and a further analysis of a revised Checks and Balances Act for consideration on the November ballot at the Feb. 7 City Council meeting.

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

The Sacramento Press on 'Insight': Strong mayor initiative

2012-01-18T01:07:27Z

Tuesday on Capitol Public Radio’s “Insight” program, I sat down with host David Watts Barton and Sacramento Bee editorial board member Foon Rhee to discuss the Checks and Balances Act of 2012 – more commonly known as the “executive mayor” or “strong mayor” initiative.

The mayor’s office rolled out the latest version of the strong mayor initiative Dec. 21 by a coalition of supporters led by Mayor Kevin Johnson’s chief of staff, Kunal Merchant.

The issue was scheduled to be on the agenda for City Council discussion Tuesday, and Johnson said he is hopeful that council members will put the initiative on the June ballot.

Rhee pointed out that Tuesday’s meeting was the 16th time the issue has been discussed at City Council – the most recent time being June 2010 when the City Council voted 7-2 against allowing City Attorney Eileen Teichert to prepare a strong mayor ballot initiative.

Although the initiative has been rebranded as the Checks and Balances Act of 2012, Rhee suggested it is more like “strong mayor initiative version 3.0,” because of some similarities with the previous version.

After so much discussion over the last couple of years, it is fair to ask if finally putting the proposal on the ballot will put the issue to rest.

Before the proposal gets put on the ballot, however, council members may want to see some tweaks to language in the draft as suggested by the city attorney’s analysis – such as clarifying ambiguities about a sunshine ordinance and the potential for creating a ninth council district.

The city attorney’s analysis of the proposed Checks and Balances Act can be read HERE.

City Manager John Shirey indicated in November that he wants no part of a strong mayor form of government. If the strong mayor initiative passes at the June ballot, the city may lose yet another city manager – the fourth one in the last three years.

The good news for Shirey is his severance package – guaranteed by contract – that gives him six months’ salary if he leaves office before his three-year contract expires.

In the last couple of weeks, the Checks and Balances Act received some big-name endorsements including former Sacramento mayors Jimmy Yee, Phil Isenberg and Anne Rudin. Monday, Senate President Pro-Tem Darrell Steinberg added his name to the list of endorsements of the initiative, calling it “a solid and responsible proposal.”

Johnson has been something of a polarizing figure with the strong mayor initiative: Some people love the idea because of their affinity for the mayor, but others are opposed to it because of a fundamental opposition to Johnson himself.

Because of this, voters may welcome the chance to both vote for a new mayor and charter reform at the same time – an opportunity that wasn’t possible when the previous strong mayor initiative was floated for the 2010 city election cycle.

Read the entire Checks and Balances Act of 2012 proposal HERE.

Check The Sacramento Press Wednesday for a recap of the council meeting and strong mayor discussion.

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

Many Sacramento 2020 “supporters” don’t live in Sacramento, or don't exist at all

2012-01-18T00:53:16Z

For the past few weeks, visitors to the website Sacramento2020.org have be encouraged to sign an online petition, urging the city council to place the latest of Mayor Johnson’s “Strong Mayor” plans on the June 2012 ballot. ranSACkedmedia obtained the complete list of “supporters” who submitted their petitions to the city clerk, and after review has discovered that many of them don’t live in Sacramento. Even more appear to either work for Kevin Johnson, either as a member of his staff or in some other fashion, and many petitions have been submitted to the public record without any name at all. At least one person notified the city clerk that their name was submitted without their permission.

For example,

Mr. Anderson does not live in Sacramento.

Keith Hart was hired by Johnson in 2010 as the city’s first “Chief Service Officer”.

Joaquin McPeek is the mayor’s press secretary. Who is John?

Another McPeek. Is this a more common name than I thought?

So nice of the citizens of San Francisco to chime in to this debate.

That was the order that those four were submitted in.

This one has no name and is from Roseville.

Ahmed Hamdy submitted the same petition five times.

I wonder if this concerned New York citizen is named David Stern?

This was the last note in the public report. Kathi Windheim told me over the phone that she never signed any petition and couldn’t explain how her name got on the Sacramento 2020 form. The possibility that other names were placed on the petition without the party's permission remains unclear.

Remember this when the Sacramento 2020 group touts the "hundreds of concerned citizens" that urged the concil via email to put Strong Mayor 3.0 on the Jund ballot.

You can check out the entire list for yourself here.

Clunie Center saved by donations from community

2012-01-17T23:56:10Z

East Sacramento residents and businesses succeeded in preventing the closure of the Clunie Center at McKinley Park, which was scheduled for later this year, Mayor Kevin Johnson announced Tuesday.

The center was slated for closure in June because of budget shortfalls, with the McKinley library likely to follow.The Friends of East Sacramento, a nonprofit organization, set forth a plan to take over management of the facility three years ago, Johnson said. He added that under nonprofit management, the facility will save $20,000 in operating costs each year.

“Sometimes you have to draw a line in the sand and not let something you truly value disappear,” said Cecily Hastings, publisher of Inside Publications, and co-founder of the Friends of East Sacramento.

The organization needed to raise $45,000 to cover the transition and operating costs for this year. Sizable donations came from Wells Fargo Bank, Soroptimists of Sacramento, Haven Lending, Freeport Bakery and Mercy General Hospital, Hastings said. City Councilman Steve Cohn said he committed $5,000 from city funds and made an additional, personal donation of $1,000.

Community members, neighbors and small businesses also contributed to the cause.

Marissa Cruz lives in the neighborhood and said she helped raise money to keep the Clunie Center open. She said she uses the park five days per week and visits the library an average of three times per week.

“I’m really happy it’s staying open,” Cruz said, adding that it is a cause she’s been following closely.

An additional anonymous donation of $15,000 will go to a fund dedicated to pay for renovations to the building. Hastings said a total of $60,000 is needed to pay for renovations, above the $200,000 in labor she said will be donated.

Hastings said she expects the center to be self-sufficient and does not anticipate the need for a fundraising drive of this scale in years to come. Plans include marketing of the facility and a full-time manager – a position that has been vacant for five years.

“This serves as a great example as to what other parts of Sacramento can do,” Johnson said, adding that facilities like the Hagginwood Community Center can stay open under similar management.

After the press conference, Johnson briefly answered questions about the strong mayor initiative, the struggle to have a new sports facility built in Sacramento and his upcoming trip to Washington, D.C., for the U.S. Conference of Mayors. He will leave immediately following Tuesday’s scheduled City Council meeting.

Johnson said Tuesday that he expected a decision about the strong mayor initiative that evening. He said the city manager runs the city right now, and reports to nine bosses, a system that is ineffective.

“What we are asking tonight is for the people to have the ability to vote on this in June,” Johnson said.

Arena headlines State of Downtown discussion

2012-01-17T22:43:22Z

San Francisco Giants President and CEO Larry Baer compared Sacramento’s efforts to build a new arena to the campaign to build Pac Bell Park in San Francisco, telling a collection of businesspeople and government officials that there is “tremendous opportunity” for Sacramento going forward.

Baer’s remarks were part of the 2012 State of Downtown address at Memorial Auditorium Tuesday morning, in which Mayor Kevin Johnson, State Senate President Pro-Tem Darrell Steinberg and other officials stressed the “why” of building a downtown entertainment and sports complex.

Baer said efforts to build the downtown ballpark in San Francisco were under way as early as the 1960s, with four attempts at using public funds defeated by voters. When ground broke on the project in 1997, it was for a privately funded stadium.

If Sacramento uses the resources of private enterprises such as the Sacramento Kings and other corporations along with some public funds that do not impact the city’s general fund, Baer said, it can get support.

The March 1 deadline to have a workable arena plan to present to the National Basketball Association is less than two months away, and Johnson said he is confident.

“We’re going to figure out a way to pull it off,” he said. “I think we’re closer than we’ve ever been.”

Key to any plan that will have both political will and the will of the people, he added, is making a plan that protects taxpayers, the city’s general fund – which has recently been plagued by shortfalls, necessitating layoffs for the past several years – and ensuring job growth.

“If we want to accept and live up to the identity of Sacramento, you’ve gotta have a strong downtown core,” he said.

Baer noted that the area around Pac Bell Park was markedly different just eight years after the ballpark opened.

The area around the park previously held disused land, warehouses and some residential neighborhoods. Today, he said, it is a hive of mixed-use activity including more residential, ground-floor retail and corporate offices.

Some of the notable corporate offices within 10 blocks of the park include the headquarters of Twitter and Zynga as well as the San Francisco offices of Google.

Another aspect of the arena that has worked well in San Francisco and can work in Sacramento, Baer said, is making use of the planned intermodal transit hub that is slated for the downtown railyards, next to the proposed arena site.

Half of the visitors to Pac Bell Park drive, but the other half take public transit, walk, bicycle or come by boat, he said.

Sacramento City Councilman Kevin McCarty spoke to The Sacramento Press after the event, saying that while the two projects have some parallels, there is still much to consider.

“It really has transformed that area of San Francisco, so if we can get that kind of energy here, of course the devil is in the details, but it certainly shows that a venue like that can make a major difference as far as being a catalyst,” McCarty said.

He pointed out that the San Francisco ballpark was privately financed, whereas the Sacramento plan relies on an expected 50/50 public/private partnership.

“We are still trying to figure that out as far as if it is a good decision for the city of Sacramento,” McCarty said.

One of the major decisions for the City Council will be whether it should lease control of the city’s parking for the next 50 years.

The event was hosted by the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, and Executive Director Michael Ault commented on a variety of successes in the downtown core over the past year.

Long-term projects such as bringing cars back to K Street and beginning redeveloping the 700 block of K Street happened in 2011. Additionally, 40 new businesses opened downtown, and the ice rink at St. Rose of Lima Park drew an all-time record of more than 30,000 skaters.

Another example of success in the downtown core was the recipient of the annual Visionary Innovators in Building Excellence (VIBE) award: California Musical Theatre Executive Producer and CEO Richard Lewis.

Ault said in a press release that Lewis and CMT are instrumental in attracting hundreds of thousands of people downtown each year, which provides economic activity.

During his acceptance speech, Lewis pointed out that 2012 will be another strong year, with “Wicked” almost sold-out already – only 5,000 tickets remain to be sold of the 75,000 originally available, and he said they will sell quickly.

Photos by Ron Nabity.

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

Editorial Note: A correction was made to this story after it was published.

Johnson campaigns gave over $35,000 to create “Strong Mayor” friendly conversation

2012-01-17T16:21:57Z

Tonight, inside the Sacramento City Hall, supporters of Kevin Johnson’s latest “Strong Mayor” plan, this time called “Checks and Balances”, will ask council members to place their measure on the June 2012 ballot. If enacted, the proposal would drastically change the way local government functions in Sacramento, and it vaguely lays out a path towards a citizens ethical advisory committee and separate redistricting committee. Johnson has argued that it is the people of Sacramento need this change to foster a new era of accountability and transparency at city hall, so with that in mind let’s take a look at some of the groups who are promoting the plan in the local media-sphere, and who is funding them.

In June of this year, “Open Sacramento, The Coalition for Accountable, Efficient and Transparent Government” received over $35,000 from Johnson and his reelection campaign. You can read the entire public filling here.

Before they were “Open Sacramento”, the same group was known as “Sacramentans for Accountable Government.” While “Open” hasn’t updated their website in quite some time, “Sacramento2020.org” has borrowed their rhetoric nearly verbatim.

“Sacramento2020.org” is run by Chris Tapio, the president of a company called “Legislative Strategies”. Tapio’s company has the same address and phone number as “The Sacramento Public Policy Foundation”, a non-profit that has worked on five of the mayor’s largest projects; Think BIG Sacramento, Greenwise Sacramento, Sacramento Steps Forward, For Arts’ Sake Sacramento, and Sacramento First. Tapio even lists himself as SPPF’s Executive Director.

If you think that I’m stretching to make the connection between Tapio, the mayor, and Sacramento2020.org, consider this; Tapio was the mayor’s appointee to the Sacramento Charter Review Committee the first time the Strong Mayor plan was presented back in 2009. Plus every single press release that I’ve received from Sacramento2020.org came for Chris Tapio himself.

Tapio was even a featured contributor to the Sacramento Bee’s “Issue of the Week” that covered the Strong Mayor proposal. The Bee, for whatever reason, didn’t feel that it needed to disclose that Tapio works for the mayor.

-----------------------------------------------

Perhaps if this new proposal wasn't so heavily promising to rein in a new era of accountability and transparency WHILE AT THE SAME TIME using all the worst tricks that have caused voters to distrust nearly everything that comes from politicians, observers such as myself would have so much distrust in the motives behind its supporters.

If you would like to see more information visit ranSACkedmedia.com where we have larger pictures and more links to the websites mentioned in this article.

Disclosure: Gonzalez owns ranSACkedmedia.com

Dream Stays Alive - Martin Luther King

2012-01-17T04:27:50Z

The fire Dr. Martin Luther King stoked still burns. Today over 20,000 people in Sacramento marched to honor him. Across the nation, perhaps millions.

Honoring King with the 31st annual March for the Dream, a diverse group of US citizens, from points near and far, joined each other in Sacramento as they marched simultaneously from Grant High School in north Sacramento and from Oak Park's Community Center to Sacramento Convention Center for a community celebration. People jumped into the march from Land Park and Del Paso Blvd. as the march moved forward.

Bands played, marchers sported banners, signs and balloons. Two young girls rode a horse.

Here are some images from today:

Candidate statements must meet strict guidelines

2012-01-17T01:36:35Z

As one of the first steps of preparing for the June primary elections, the City Council will adopt requirements for candidate statements Tuesday that spell out what candidates can say – in 200 words or less – what they must avoid and how much it will cost them.

Candidates vying for the offices of mayor and City Council Districts 2, 4, 6 and 8 in the June 5 primary will have the option of preparing a candidate statement to be included with the sample ballots voters receive prior to an election.

There is a fee for including the statements in the voter pamphlet. According to the staff report, the cost is an estimated prorated “share” of the total amount to cover the costs of translation, printing, handling and mailing the pamphlets.

Mayoral candidates’ cost for the statement will be $2,650. Each of the district candidates will pay between $350 and $500, depending largely on how many registered voters are in the district, according to the report.

The fees are deposited into the general fund and used to offset the overall costs incurred.

According to the requirements set by the City Council, here’s what the statements can include:
– candidate's name
– age
– occupation
– a brief description of the candidate's education and qualifications, expressed in his or her own words
– must be printed in type that is of uniform size and darkness, and with uniform spacing

And, the entire statement must be less than 200 words.

Any more than that and the statement will automatically be shortened by the registrar, the report stated, by removing words starting at the end of the statement until the word limit is reached. (For reference, the first six paragraphs of this article come to about 200 words.)

The City Council also outlines what cannot be in a candidate statement:
– party affiliation, or mention of membership or activity in partisan political organizations.
– no underlining
– no using ALL CAPITAL letters
– no italics
– no bold print
– no dashes (–); bullets, stars or other forms of emphasis
– no single-sentence paragraphs
– no multiple punctuation such as “....” or “------”, etc.

Those 200 words can mean a lot to a candidate, especially since no other materials can be included in the sample ballot package.

Once the statement is filed, it can be withdrawn – but not changed – any time during the nomination filing period up to one business day after the filing period closes.

Each candidate who chooses to file a statement must pay in advance his or her estimated prorated share cost as a condition of having his or her statement included in the voter pamphlet.

If the actual cost of translating, printing and mailing exceeds the estimated amount, the registrar of voters will bill the candidates who underpaid. If the estimate was too high, the registrar will reimburse candidates the difference.

The Federal Voting Rights Act requires the county to translate candidates’ statements into Spanish and Chinese as well as English, and voter pamphlets will include all three languages.

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

Lewis Black In Sac

2012-01-15T20:48:12Z

Lewis Black had high expectations for the 21st Century. They have not come anywhere close to being met, and he is not amused.

He is, however, quite amusing.

Although he claims to be disappointed by the direction the world is taking, he also admits to being swept up in the inevitable pull of progress. He started a web site; every performer needs a web site. But then he found out he needed a Facebook page to promote his web site!

It all came to a head when one morning he woke up after a drunk and discovered he was now on Twitter!

All this, he laments, and not a single flying car.

Not what he had hoped for at all.

The Community Center Theater was respectably full on Saturday night when first John Bowman and then headliner Lewis Black took the stage.

Bowman did about 45 minutes, focused mainly on the travails of touring: lesbians in New Hampshire, being bored in Biloxi, and perils of pooping on the tour bus.

Black took the stage at nine, revved up and ready to rant.

His signature finger shaking singled out the shame of the 21st Century, the onset of adult ADD due to a surplus of electronic technology, and his confusion over why anyone would want to “keep up with the Kardashians.”

The last 30 minutes of the 80-minute set were devoted to politics.

Black scolded audience members for being members of the Republican Party—or the Democratic Party. He blamed them for supporting anything that was happening in Washington. He assured all of the Republicans that President Obama is not a Socialist, because, he, Lewis Black, is a Socialist, and he would know. He said there are too few of them to take over the country and most of their leaders are in cemeteries, so not to worry.

There were times he looked as if he was having a seizure.

Clearly, he was in his element.

At the opening of the show, Black cautioned the audience that, “Humor is not the best medicine; medicine is the best medicine,” and advised not to howl through an illness, but to see a real doctor!

I certainly wouldn’t argue with that that.

On the other hand, I think everyone in the audience felt a lot better after the show than they did before the show.

There’s something to be said for humor done well.

A Visual Discussion on Poverty and Social Identity

2012-01-15T01:17:08Z

The Sacramento Art History Consortium (SAHC) opened in December the exhibition “Latin American Photography: The Realities of Poverty and Social Identity.” After a two-year effort SAHC has brought together the work of 13 international photographers who have demonstrated a true commitment to Latin America. Showing now in Sacramento State University Library Gallery, the work of renowned photojournalists such as Joaquin Sarmiento, Jeronimo Arteaga, and Jan Sochor are being exhibited to engage audiences in the visual discussion about poverty and social identity.

The exhibition features photographs that convey the situation of a region that has been subjected to years of political and economic struggle by showing how the perpetuation of poverty across decades has created a unique way of life, where poverty is not a transitory state, but a defining element in the life of a person. The intention behind this particular topic is not to promote pity or patronize the peoples of Latin America by framing them under a series of stereotypes and prejudices, but to reveal the spirit, attitude, and courage with which people characteristically deal with everyday life. The curatorial group has chosen the topic of poverty with the intention to explore the impact of art in helping repair social fractures by creating awareness of the situation of others.

Moreover, the exhibition brings into discussion the role of social photojournalism in conveying truth while exposing both the ethical and ethnographic responsibilities of photographic representation. To address the challenges of photojournalism, including the visual saturation that we all face when it comes to seeing poverty and crisis in the world today, SAHC's curatorial group carefully chose 37 works to give us an idea of the environment and situation of those who are distant and different from us. Most of the photographers are from different countries in Latin American with the exception of a few, who being "outsiders" provide a balance to the stories that this touching and educational show provides by convening different points of view in this fascinating conversation about the realities of poverty and social identity. The exhibition is not only a good photography show but also an interactive experience in the sense that it invites visitors to not be passive consumers of social photography but to actively engage with the stories here conveyed and the people that are being represented.

The exhibit will be open until March 10th at the Sacramento State University Library Gallery and an exhibition catalogue has also been published, which is available for purchase at the website. For more information contact SAHC at info@sacramentoarthistory.org or visit them at www.sacramentoarthistory.org

Disclosure: Sara Garzon is the Executive Director of SAHC and curator of the exhibition.

"Question One" West Coast Premiere at the Crest

2012-01-14T07:51:11Z

Thousands of same-sex couples in Sacramento and throughout California are eagerly waiting on a decision by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco that will ether uphold, or not, the California Supreme Court’s decision that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional.

This issue has already been dealt with in several other states with some accepting marriage equality but for California it has proven to be a highly emotional and complicated one for same-sex couples that are hoping to soon have the same rights as other legally married couples. The decision is expected any day now.

“Question One,” a newly released documentary on Maine’s 2009 referendum battle over same-sex marriage, will be shown for a special one night engagement, on February 1 at Sacramento’s Crest Theater, marking the film’s West Coast premiere.

The film chronicles in “War Room” fashion the behind the scenes workings on both sides of the campaign (which very closely mirrored California’s Prop 8 battle) and includes emotional and revealing interviews with key proponent and opponent campaign operatives. As was the case in California, the ballot measure was narrowly approved by Maine voters, thus overturning legislation to legalize same-sex marriage in that state.

Of special interest to Sacramento is the fact that the film also documents the controversial leading role of Sacramento-based campaign consultants Frank Schubert and Jeff Flint as referendum proponents. Schubert-Flint Public Affairs headed the 2008 campaign for Prop 8 here in California as they did in Maine and have since taken the lead in a national effort to outlaw same-sex marriage in other states.

In a recent article in the Sacramento Bee concerning the Sacramento screening of the documentary Schubert said, "I have no plans to see the movie, I already know how it ends."

The film illustrates how the same tactics, strategies and issues (in particular the claim “that same-sex marriage would be taught to children in public schools) that were used by Schubert and Flint in California were also used by them in Maine.

Produced by Fly on the Wall Productions and directed by award-winning journalists Joe Fox and James Nubile; “Question One” chronicles the campaigns and the issues raised but also tells the very human stories of various individuals who were connected on both sides of the divide, caught up in a cycle of events that would change their lives forever.

Fox and Nubile’s last documentary, Passing Poston, about a Japanese internment camp during WWII, aired nationwide in 2010 on PBS and screened in theaters across the nation to critical acclaim. The film was featured at the Crest Theater for the Sacramento International Film Festival in March of 2008.

Fox said of “Question One”, “To be honest, I was shocked at how I was able to gain the amount of access to both sides of the campaign to repeal marriage equality in Maine and the degree that Frank Schubert and his company here in Sacramento was involved in that process. I think this film will open a lot of eyes to those who attend this viewing February 1st as to what goes on behind the scenes in campaigns like this both in Maine, California, and throughout the nation.”

The screening on February 1st is free to the public. After the screening there will be a Q & A session with the director and a panel discussion about the film and marriage equality here in California. Additional panel guests may be announced in the coming weeks.

Co-sponsors of the screening here in Sacramento are Equality Action NOW, Outword Magazine, Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center, Sacramento Stonewall Democrats and the Sacramento Rainbow Chamber of Commerce.

Admission to this special screening “Question One” is complimentary but reservations are essential. To attend sign up online HERE (http://bit.ly/wzOaDT). Include your name and how many tickets you would like (limit of 4 per person). More information and preview can be found at the web site: Q1 The Movie - Vimeo Question One, or on their Facebook Movie Page: Question One: Sacramento

Disclosure: Ken Pierce is the Public Relations Director and President of the Board of Directors for Equality Action NOW, a local Sacramento grassroots civil rights organization. Equality Action NOW is co-sponsoring this screening at the Crest Theater.

Condoleezza Rice Speaks

2012-01-14T04:50:00Z

As part of the Sacramento Speaker Series, Condoleezza Rice spoke at the Community Center Theater to members of both political parties Wednesday night.

She started off with her experiences in office jokingly. “I enjoy getting up, getting my coffee, then reading the newspaper and not being in the newspaper.”

Though her talk ranged from 9/11 experiences to international economic prowess, Rice took time to say that, “good education shouldn’t be based on which zip code you live in,” and “even if you come from humble circumstances, you can achieve great things.”

Before the talk started attendees wrote in questions to ask Condi during the question and answer session. Nearly 70 questions were ready when the session began. The moderator for the evening was Kelly Brothers from KCRA.

Ten of the highest questions on people’s minds: Will Rice have a bid for the GOP vice presidency?

“I’m a policy person, not a politician,” Rice said.

“So that’s a maybe, then,” Brothers responded. The audience erupted in laughter.

At least ten questions repetitiously asked if she supported one GOP incumbent or another.

“I think the GOP primaries are a good proving ground to test a candidate’s mettle, how a candidate handles stress or anger, because there will be a lot of that once they get to the Oval Office.” Later she said, “I will vote for whomever the GOP candidate ends up being.”

Questions varied from childhood experiences in segregation while living in Alabama to her current workout regime. She took each question in stride and with a sense of humor.

After sharing a childhood experience involving a racist Santa Claus, she told us her current workout involves strength training and P90X starting at 5:30 in the morning.

What was one of Rice’s fondest memories while at the White House? ~~as the 66th secretary of state?~~ Playing Brahms with Yo-Yo Ma at Constitution Hall.

“It was a great honor to play with Yo-Yo Ma, but I think the reason why he chose me was because I was a secretary of state who happened to play piano,” she said.

Gary Thomas attended the event with his wife.

“The old saying is, you always think you’re the smartest person in the room," he said. “Tonight we met the smartest person in the room.”

Film critic and columnist Richard Roeper is the next guest in the Sacramento Speaker Series on Feb. 1.

Editorial Note: Corrections have been made to this article after publication.

Traffic signals: Long waiting list for city intersections

2012-01-14T02:30:01Z

On a sunny afternoon in August, a group of kids made their way to Valley Hi Park to play. As they crossed the intersection of Arroyo Vista and Center Parkway, a vehicle driving through the intersection clipped the leg of a 4-year-old walking in the group.

The little girl was left with a fractured leg, and neighbors were left wondering if the accident could have been prevented if there had been a traffic signal in place.

What does it take to get traffic signals installed in Sacramento – especially if residents are seeing safety issues in neighborhood intersections?

Sacramento currently has approximately 800 signals in intersections, including nearly 50 flashing beacons, according to Shad Bennett, a technician in the signal operations division of the city Department of Transportation.

The cost of installing a traffic signal – including equipment, labor and materials – varies depending on the complexity of the project, Bennett said.

“They can be anywhere from $500,000 to a couple million dollars,” Bennett said. “Even the smallest signal is in the range of $200,000 to $400,000.”

Linda Tucker, spokeswoman for the city Department of Transportation, said traffic signals are prioritized according to several criteria, and the city can afford to install typically only one per year.

“If a citizen believes a traffic signal is warranted,” Tucker said in an email Friday, “they can contact 311 and request an investigation, and a traffic investigator will look into it and then determine if it does or doesn’t make the list.”

Some of the criteria needed to install a traffic signal include the impact of school crossings on the intersection, the amount of pedestrian activity and the number of vehicle crashes – fatal and injury-only – at the location.

City transportation engineers evaluate approximately 10-15 new intersections each year for traffic signals. Potential signal locations are suggested through a variety of ways, including traffic investigations, resident requests and council member requests.

Bennett said that, once an intersection is determined to qualify for a traffic signal the location is added to a waiting list.

There are more than 100 potential locations on the list of city intersections currently waiting for some form of traffic-calming measure – and it’s growing.

“Things change, circumstances change,” Bennett said, “so the list changes a bit, too. They try to narrow the list to the top 10 most qualified when it’s time to put in a new signal somewhere.”

The waiting list doesn’t apply to new developments, however, Bennett said.

New development projects that drastically change traffic patterns may require a signal installation, but each new development project typically has funding for the signals included, so those signals are not competing with the signals on the city waiting list.

In 2010, according to the program guide, only one new project was added to the city’s traffic signal list: 29th Street at R Street. Ten other intersections were evaluated, but not included in the list.

According to the Transportation Programming Guide – the document prioritizing the city’s transportation projects, the city first looks at an intersection to determine whether there might be ways, other than a traffic signal, which would improve safety at the intersection.

There are three lead traffic investigators in Sacramento who respond to requests for traffic-calming measures, and each investigator is assigned a territory covering roughly one-third of the city.

Investigation may take two to four weeks to complete, depending on complexity.

What can residents do to speed up the process of getting a traffic signal in a neighborhood intersection where they feel there are safety issues?

Tucker said that, for residential streets, the city offers a neighborhood traffic management program that allows neighbors to collect petitions and start the process of adding any number of traffic-calming measures to their neighborhood.

Speed bumps, new traffic markings or adjusting speed limits may be other ways to make an intersection safer, Tucker said.

Once an intersection is selected for a new signal and funding for the signal is in place, the installation – from groundbreaking to up-and-running, Bennett said – takes about six to eight months.

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

Editorial Note: A correction was made to this article after it was published.

California's new wine country: Sacramento

2012-01-13T06:33:55Z

Sacramento’s wine industry received a boost last month with the approval of an ordinance that promotes agricultural tourism, a move local wineries said they are excited to see.

The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously in December to adopt new zoning code amendments that will potentially foster growth of Sacramento’s wine industry. The changes will take effect in just a few days.

Among other things, the ordinance provides the grape growers of a certain size the right to produce and bottle their own wine; gives wineries the ability to open small tasting rooms in agricultural zones; and eliminates the requirement for conditional use permits for private events, with restrictions based on the size of the property.

“It promotes people growing local and buying local,” said Don Nottoli, supervisor for district 5.

The presence of wineries in Amador, El Dorado and Yolo counties increased dramatically in recent years, but Sacramento county’s growth has been minimal, a fact the Board of Supervisors addressed with the ordinance.

According to the Sacramento Bee’s SacWineRegion.com, there are 43 wineries in Amador County, 54 in El Dorado County and 16 in Yolo County, including industry giant Bogle Vineyards. Sacramento County has just 13.

“We feel this is an important step to encourage economic growth, job creation and keep tourism dollars in our county,” said Nottoli in a press release on Dec. 14. “By reducing regulatory obstacles, we can help Sacramento County become an important part of the wine tourism industry.”

According to the Sacramento County 2010 Crop and Livestock Report, more than $92 million in wine grapes were produced in the region that year, the most valuable agricultural commodity in the county.

These amendments allow for a more streamlined process and will save businesses thousands of dollars and as much as two years in permitting time, Nottoli said. The money, previously spent on permits, can be invested into growing the businesses.

“One of the things we’ve seen is that Sacramento’s culinary tourism has increased dramatically,” said Mike Testa, senior vice president at the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau. “If we put the same attention into our wine industry, the tourism package is something we can certainly sell.”

Testa added that groups attending conferences in Sacramento often make day trips to wine country, and Sacramento should be making every effort to keep them here.

Revolution Wines, at S and 29th streets in Midtown, is an urban winery, said owner Gina Genshlea. In addition to the tasting room and bistro that serves snacks and small plates, the grapes are crushed, pressed and fermented on-site.

Genshlea said she thinks it would be great to have more wineries in Sacramento because it would give visitors to the area a reason to stay in Sacramento rather than travel to Napa or Sonoma counties to taste wine.

“One of the reasons we expanded is there isn’t a wine trail in Sacramento,” said Craig Haarmeyer, winemaker and co-owner of Revolution Wines.

The winery will mark its second year on S Street this spring. Several varietals are produced at the facility, including an award-winning port and a zinfandel, with grapes sourced from Amador County.

“It’s part of our model to highlight local fruit,” said Genshlea, adding that they produce approximately 2,500 cases of wine annually, along with another 2,500 that they bottle for clients.

Frasinetti Winery in south Sacramento, established in 1897, once had its own vineyards, but grapes are now sourced from the Central Valley, Monterey, Napa and Sonoma counties, said Gary Frasinetti, winemaker.

Frasinetti said he would welcome the increase of local wineries because it would make Sacramento more of a destination.

In the mid 1980s, the family converted the old winemaking facility into a restaurant and banquet venue, a process that took several years.

Today, Frasinetti Restaurant has the capacity to host events for up to 200 guests, and many of the restaurant’s dining tables are located in some of the 12 converted square, concrete fermentation tanks of the original winery.

“The restaurant is a vehicle to get people out here,” Frasinetti said. “If they come out here to eat, they can taste our wines.”

The tasting room offers free wine tasting and a large gift shop. The winery produces 10,000 cases annually, and Frasinetti said the chianti, cabernet sauvignon and merlot are the winery’s most popular varietals. Wines are only available for sale at the winery.

Scribner Bend Vineyards, located in the Sacramento Delta, has been open for eight years.

Owner Mark Scribner said the ordinance will give the region’s wine producers the opportunity to sell their appellation to the public.

Scribner Bend’s best-selling varietal is the tempranillo.

Scribner added that the ordinance will help to create a coalition of vintners and growers who can better represent the industry.

“If you look at all the other wine-growing regions, they have multiple wineries,” Scribner said. “That’s what creates the magic.”

Dr. King's dream and march, our nightmare and pain

2012-01-13T04:56:13Z

Dr. King’s dream and march, our nightmare and pain

“I feel so broken hearted, I cried so many tears
There was so much you gave me, to my heart, to my soul
So much of your dreams that were never told
There was hope for a brighter day
Why were you, my flower, plucked away
Oh, oh, I’m missing you
Tell me why the road turns
I’m missing you”
—Diana Ross

I miss my son. I miss hugging him. I miss looking in his eyes when he is excited. I miss us discussing his plans for his future. I miss sharing in his everyday experiences. I miss his smile. I miss his joy.

All I ever wanted was for him to be in an environment where he can grow.

My son was arrested at 19 years of age. He was sentenced to 22 years in prison, more years in prison than he was alive. http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/mothers-prayer/content?oid=309130

My son was sentenced under California's 10-20-life law. For two years he continuously rejected a plea and maintained his innocence. After being denied a fair trial and fair legal representation, he felt forced into taking two years for allegedly robbing someone for marijuana and 20 years for allegedly discharging a firearm.

Due to the time he received, not the crime itself, he is housed as a level-four prisoner with prisoners who have life- and life-without-parole sentences. With the 10-20-life law, you do not have to commit a murder or cause great bodily injury to receive life in prison.

Sentencing a youth under California's 10-20-life law can be a death sentence when youth are housed not due to the crime but due to the prison sentencing time.

The youth incarcerated are not just losing freedom; many will lose their parents, siblings, spouse, girlfriend, children and their hope of a future outside of prison walls. For an inmate to live in a prison where many are sentenced to spend their entire life behind those walls is a great challenge in itself.

Sacramento courts have sentenced teens, as young as 14 years of age, to prison terms of life without the possibility of parole.

The outrageous misconduct within the investigation leading to my son’s arrest, as well as the outrageous misconduct through the court process, is all documented on appeal. It is only due to the pending appeal in the Ninth Circuit Court that I will not, at this time, discuss the particulars of the case and the circumstances leading to the misconduct.

For two years we fought in Sacramento Superior Court for a fair trial. When it became obvious he was not receiving a fair trial nor fair legal representation, we wrote letters to the trial court and the Sacramento Superior Court presiding judge.

Within the letters we continuously pleaded for his constitutional rights of a fair trial with fair legal representation.

We wrote letters to the California Bar Association, American Bar Association and to various local and statewide civil rights organizations.

At my son’s request, I went to our state capitol and cried, pleading for assistance from our senator and our assemblyman’s office. I left and painfully cried all the way to my councilmember’s office. None could assist us in our quest for a fair trial and fair legal representation.

I went to the NAACP. While they tried to assist by attending court, we were still not given a fair trial and the court denied our motion to have the attorney removed from the case. I went to anyone who would listen and begged, cried, pleaded for assistance in obtaining a fair trial.

I wrote letters throughout the state of California and wrote letters to organizations in other states. I went to so many, pleading for assistance to help my son get a fair trial, heck reward or penalty, with fair legal representation.

Our pleas were denied. The court would not acknowledge our concerns and failed to hold an evidentiary hearing. When I was brought into the courtroom and told to tell my son to take the plea deal or he would do life in prison, my son, under great duress, involuntarily and without understanding the consequences of the plea felt forced into taking the plea.

My son was coerced into pleading, denied fair legal representation and a fair trial and tried to protect his mother from further pain.

We were not alleging after the fact, once sentenced, that he was being denied his constitutional right to a fair trial and fair legal representation. We made those founded truthful accusations prior to the trial that ended in mistrial, and we continued begging for his constitutional rights during the start of the second trial.

We sent letters certified mail to the court to ensure they were being received. We have response letters showing the presiding judge, American Bar Association and California Bar Association all received the letters, and each responded they could not assist us.

The response letters are dated prior to my son taking the coerced, involuntary plea made under duress.

Four years later, we are still fighting in appeal courts. Our appeals have been denied, each without an evidentiary hearing, and we continue up the writ of habeas corpus ladder put into existence by our freedom-minded forefathers who valued the criminal justice system and the rights of the accused exposed to it.

It is extremely painful with each appeal court process. We have no money to afford an attorney. We have no legal skills to argue against skillful attorneys. We fight with the truth and a $50 book explaining the Great Writ and U.S. constitutional rights which should not be violated.

While it appears some of our Sacramento courts may have been hijacked by pirates posing as prosecutors, and some within the judicial process are more concerned with personal vendettas or winning cases, by any means necessary I still have faith in the Constitution of the United States of America because In God We Trust.

It is painful. It is time consuming. It is difficult. It is exhausting, but it is what it is, a fight we must endure to have an opportunity of life and freedom outside of our overcrowded, dangerous prison walls.

Sadly, once my son is released from prison it will be painful, difficult, time consuming and exhausting to ensure life within our neglectful, lack-of-opportunity, lack-of-employment, lack-of-resources-for-our-youth city since our politically ego-driven elected officials value endorsements from unions to advance their careers.

Sadly, some politically ego-driven elected officials would rather ensure that police union departments are enhanced rather than ensure that the residents of the city are provided with resources.

On June 30, 2005, during an NAACP Police Brutality town hall meeting, former Police Chief Albert Nájera defensively and accurately stated, "A black young man between the age of 16 and 25 has a 50 percent chance to die in the city of Sacramento, and he is dying at the hands of another black young man."

I was at the meeting to discuss our city youth violence and deaths. I wondered the same thing the police chief did: Why were we gathering for a police brutality case and failed to gather for the hundreds of youth who have died in this city at an alarming rate at the hands of another?

I wondered why we were not meeting with the city and county of Sacramento insisting on jobs, resources and opportunities for our youth?

Our black youth were losing life and freedom, and our civil rights leaders solely focused on prejudice- or police-related issues. The police chief’s aforementioned statistic about black youth nor their 92 percent arrest rate was not mentioned by the media, nor the organizations holding the meeting.There was no focus on the loss of life, nor the loss of freedom.

Some of our children are faced with the plight of two options either dying on Sacramento streets or dying in a California state prison.

The mounting deaths and arrests due to youth violence were dismissed. The loss of life and loss of freedom of Sacramento's low income youth was dismissed; until grant-funding became available.

Civil Rights Groups, concerned over police interaction within the low income community, held townhall meetings to discuss Sacramento Police Racial Profiling and Sacramento Police Brutality cases.

Grant dollars, for youth and gang violence prevention, suddenly becomes available and Sacramento law enforcement jumps on the youth and gang violence prevention funding bandwagon. The same Civil Rights Groups concerned with Police Racial Profiling and Police Brutality decide to apply for grants to work with law enforcement for youth and gang violence prevention.

The low-income community affected and exposed to the violence living in communities divided into victims and suspects were not seen until grant-funding became available. Were they looking at the low income community affected and exposed to the violence? Or were they looking at money?

This past week, my son was beaten, physically assaulted on the prison yard. He could have fallen asleep and not woken up due to head injuries. By the Grace of God, my son’s life has yet again been spared. He was placed in the hole. His life is in danger if he steps foot back on that particular prison yard.

His prison counselor stated, “It is the safest place for him.”

Can you believe it? Can you imagine the pain of knowing the safest place for your child is in the hole in a prison? No windows, no TV, no outside contact, no contact, visits from his mother, sibling or girlfriend?

Can you imagine living in America, the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave, my country ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty of thee I sing, where I pledge allegiance to our flag, in so much pain fighting for life and freedom and the Pursuit of Happiness?

When I march in the annual Martin Luther King Parade, I don’t march to sing and dance of the triumphs of yesterday. I have genuine, deep-rooted horrible never-ending pain.

Can you imagine fighting for your child to live in this city and immediately thereafter fighting for him to know freedom? Then have to fight the appeal courts for the truth to be seen? Then with all your heart, have to find a way to keep him alive in prison?

Imagine being a mother having to cry and beg for a prison in the state of California to do what the city of Sacramento failed to do: protect my son

That suffering is the plight of many of us who live in communities divided into victims and suspects, where our children have become commodities to enhance departments and advance political careers.

In God we trust, since the money the motto is written on appears to be valued more than many of low-income, disadvantaged citizens. And many are looking at money, grants, enhancing departments through crime and not looking at those of us affected and exposed to the violence.

I march out of pain for the plight many of us are experiencing today. I also march out of my own personal pain. I don’t think I am disrespecting Dr. King by writing this, since Dr. King did not march singing and dancing for the triumph of the end of slavery.

Dr. King did not march for the past. He marched for his present-day crisis and to provide a better future for many of us. Dr. King did not look backward. He looked to the present and hoped for a better future.

Those of us with current-day suffering from the death or arrest of our youth are expected to march in the annual parade walking on a treadmill of the past.

I realize the definition of insanity is to continuously do the same thing over and over and expect different results. But what else do we have? I do plan on attending the MLK march.

But with all due respect, for some of us to sing and dance once a year is not what I believe Dr. King would have wanted us to honor. I am a mother in pain 365 days a year.

I will walk surrounded and suffocating with pain. In fact, it will be pain moving my feet. I have nothing left to carry me. While addressing youth violence, I gave this city everything I have. http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/death-be-not-shrouded/content?oid=47273 Unwillingly, I even gave my first born son.

There are days when my pain is so deep I don’t have a will to live. There are days I don’t want to wake up. There are days when I am afraid of living in this world gone mad and afraid of dying wondering who will protect my children that I brought into this world.

There are nights when I am afraid of falling asleep due to the nightmares I have still hearing the sounds of gunshots outside my home, leaving shell casings that would have blown tremendous holes throughout my son’s body.

There are nights I am afraid of going to sleep because I am afraid of waking up to this nightmare I am living.

But I have to awake. Who else will fight the writ of habeas corpus ladder of a low-income mother for her son to know what was rightfully his: freedom?

To march with a hollow lack of substance in tribute to a man of great substance, to me, is disrespectful.

I will be in the crowd, but instead of carrying a poster of Dr. King I will carry one of me and my son. Our pain is real, it is today, it is now, and it appears it will be forever if some are just going to live in the past and dismiss the present-day plight that has left so many of us broken, suffering to live and die in pain.

I appreciate honor and respect Dr. King for having a dream, but while many are reminiscing on his dream, many of us are living a nightmare.

Instead of gathering at the end of the event to speak of history, why can’t we gather to find solutions and make history and change the current state of affairs where too many are losing their lives and losing freedom?

I tried to protect my son when youths armed with guns were shooting at him in my front yard. We wrestled trying to protect one another. I was praying the next bullet would take my life and not that of my son.

I tried to protect my son when he was suffocating in an unjust court.

This city has left both my son and I nearly breathless on more than one occasion. We, and so many others, are suffocating in the city of Sacramento. I don’t believe Dr. King was ego-driven.

I believe Dr. King would have wanted us to acknowledge the current plight where thousands of youth bodies lay prematurely dead on American streets and thousands more are living and dying in California prisons.

I think Dr. King would have been more concerned with our plight than concerned with us paying tribute to him.

I knew when civil rights organizations addressed Jenna Six, the plight of many of us would be overlooked due to the fact our plight is not prejudice-related.

I knew some leaders in America would focus on prejudice versus freedom. But should prejudice overshadow life and freedom in America, a country dedicated to looking into the life and freedom of citizens of other countries?

While it appears this low-income mother’s plight, the plight of my son, is dismissed by today’s civil rights organizations, I do feel Dr. King would have embraced us, supported us and acknowledged us.

I do not believe Dr. King would have expected us to pay homage to him when we are in fact suffering from the great pain of losing our children to death on our streets or to be the walking dead in one of California's many prisons.

With and through pain I will march on Jan. 16, but I will be the one carrying a poster of my son and not one of Dr. King. And, to be honest, I think Dr King would have wanted it that way.

I hope many others join in carrying a poster of their loved ones, whether they have been murdered in the city of Sacramento or sentenced to be the walking dead in one of California’s many for-profit prisons housing the low-income youth of America.

After all, Dr. King was not singing and dancing of yesterday’s struggles and triumphs. Dr. King was justice-driven, equality-driven, looking and laboring for the end result of change. Dr. King acknowledged, saw and labored for the low-income, the voiceless, the powerless.

Dr. King understood America’s motto of Life , Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness for all.

I am not walking for the civil rights of yesterday. I walk for the human rights of today.

I did not bring a child into this money-, political ego-driven world for his body to lay dead on a Sacramento street, gutter, sidewalk or home, nor did I bring him into this world to live or die in a California state prison

We, America's low income citizens living in communities divided into victims and suspects, can not raise our children from the dead. Nor can many of us afford to visit or receive telephone calls from our children being raised in a California State Prison.

We, the low income community divided into victims and suspects, are missing our children.

Disclosure: Mother of three. I've taken my younger son to two funerals of murdered friends. I am fighting for him to have life. I have attended many funerals of my older sons friends and I am fighting for him to know freedom. (Photo 4) I love my children

Groundbreaking for new mixed-use development in Midtown

2012-01-13T01:49:29Z

Ground broke on a new mixed-use retail and residential development in Midtown Thursday, and work is set to be complete on two vacant former state lots at 16th and O streets by mid-2013.

“We’re going to get 84 market-rate apartments, 13,000 square feet of retail, and we’re going to have another chunk of Sacramento with a nice infill, pedestrian-friendly development,” said City Councilman Rob Fong, whose district contains most of downtown and Midtown. “It’s the kind of live-work space that really is a nice fit for the city.”

The project – with one four-story and one five-story, mission-style building – is a partnership between the Capitol Area Development Authority – a joint powers group between the state and city formed in 1978 – Ravel Rasmussen Properties and Separovich/Domich Real Estate Development.

The approximately $24 million project includes $1.5 million in funding from CADA, which also provided the two lots. The developers brought in $5 million and financed another $17 million, said Scott Rasmussen of Ravel Rasmussen Properties.

“We’re hoping to get some small public improvement grant money from SMUD as well,” he said.

Across the street from the Fremont Building and a few blocks away from Fremont Park and the popular restaurant Hot Italian, Rasmussen said the location is a prime spot.

“It’s a dynamic location, and it may be kind of the new center for downtown and Midtown,” he said.

The 84 apartments are expected to rent for between $1,200 and $1,500 and will be one- or two-bedroom units. The 13,000 square feet of retail space will likely house between five or six tenants, Rasmussen added.

Rasmussen declined to comment on the nature of the tenants, saying that while some outreach to businesses has been made, it is too early to speculate on which ones will eventually be a part of the project.

“I hear one of the retail users is going to be some sort of restaurant with patio dining,” Fong said, adding that it’s too early in the process for specifics.

Congresswoman Doris Matsui was in attendance at the groundbreaking, saying the project shows progress for the city.

“It shows that we’re doing things in Sacramento, and we know that we’ve had a hard time, but things are getting better slowly,” Matsui said. “It’s going to provide a livability and a sense of community.”

She added that the new plan in urban development – reverting to plans from a century ago – is to make living and working space that is walkable and easily accessible to bicycles.

“I think that by next year, we’ll find real progress,” Matsui said. “People (will be) walking around and enjoying themselves here. That’s the goal.”

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

'Strong mayor,' 'executive mayor': Taking a closer look

2012-01-12T05:26:20Z

The City Council will be discussing the latest version of an executive mayor initiative Tuesday, opening the door to putting charter reform on the June ballot.

A strong mayor initiative has been an on-and-off topic of discussion in Sacramento political circles since it was first brought up by Mayor Kevin Johnson shortly after his election in 2008. The executive mayor version was introduced at a press conference Dec. 21 by the mayor’s chief of staff and a group of supporters ranging from faith community leaders to the head of the local police union.

How is an “executive mayor” different from a “strong mayor”?

Strong Mayor

Initially – in a 2008/09 version of the strong mayor initiative – the city charter would give the mayor greater responsibility in some areas: He would create the budget, hire and fire the city manager and charter officers, and he would have some veto authority.

It also reduced the mayor’s responsibility in other areas: He would no longer be a member of the council, he would have no vote in council matters, and he would need council approval for appointments such as city manager and charter officers.

The 2008 strong mayor plan ultimately failed because the courts ruled that the changes it proposed were too broad to simply be amendments to the city charter, and therefore could not be put on the ballot by petition signatures.

In 2010, another attempt was made to get a strong mayor initiative on the ballot, but that attempt also failed. Proponents of the initiative wanted the city attorney to draft the formal language, but the City Council voted 7-2 to deny the request.

Aside from slight variations between the two, key aspects of the proposed strong mayor system include:
* Concentrates responsibility: one man, one plan – the mayor runs the city with the help of a city manager/administrator
* Concentrates authority: strengthens the influence of the mayor’s office
* Splits efficiency: council sets policy, but mayor takes all the heat if policy is not implemented efficiently
* Concentrates power: mayor is chief executive, city manager serves lesser role under the mayor

The 2008/10 versions would also have required a ninth council district to be added – which would most likely have thrown a wrench into the redistricting process.

Executive Mayor (a.k.a. the Checks and Balances Act of 2012)

The newest iteration of charter reform hangs on to some key provisions of the first versions and lets go of some others – an attempt, proponents say, to satisfy naysayers and create a broader appeal.

The Checks and Balances Act still proposes the mayor as chief executive – who would propose the budget, nominate a city manager and step down from the current voting position on the council.

The mayor would also get the limited veto power established in the first versions as well as being required to deliver an annual state of the city report.

Gone from the executive mayor proposal, however, is the power to hire and fire charter officers, such as the city attorney and city clerk, as well as hiring and firing assistant city managers and department heads – those powers would remain with the city manager as they do in the current manager-council system.

What’s new with the Checks and Balances Act? The creation of an ethics and transparency portion and the creation of an independent redistricting commission.

The ethics and transparency portion of the proposal still needs a little work – as in, specifics of how a new ethics review committee would be selected and what shape any “sunshine ordinances” would eventually take.

Still, the ideals are included in the proposal and proponents say the details would be hammered out with public input, which is more than the current charter specifies.

An independent redistricting commission – modeled after the state’s commission – would have another 10 years to take shape since the next redistricting process won’t take place until 2021.

But, proponents of the plan say it’s important to include the commission in charter reform measures now, while memories of the 2011 redistricting debacle are still fresh in voters’ minds.

Key aspects of the Executive Mayor/Checks and Balances Act:
* Streamlines responsibility: more direction comes from the mayor, more direct accountability for successes and shortfalls
* Realigns authority: mayor’s role becomes more administrative, but council has authority of approval
* Concentrates efficiency: mayor is executive branch, council is legislative branch, each with ways to “check” and “balance” the other
* Separates power: mayor and council have separate and different roles, each is accountable to voters

One thing the Checks and Balances Act offers that previous versions did not is a sunset date – voters would have to actively reaffirm their choice of a strong mayor government in the 2020 election. Otherwise, the system would automatically revert to the current manager-council system at the end of that calendar year.

Although prior versions of the strong mayor initiative failed, it could be said that they failed primarily to have an opportunity to face the voters. Had either of those proposals made it to a ballot, what would the outcome have been?

That is the question proponents of the executive mayor plan want to have answered in June.

The city attorney and the mayor’s chief of staff, Kunal Merchant, are each slated to give an analysis of the Checks and Balances Act to the City Council Tuesday.

The council may vote to put the proposal on the June ballot, or they could ask for adjustments to the proposal and ask for staff to report back at a future date. In either case, Tuesday’s meeting will be a chance to see if – and how – government responds to a call for change.

Read the Checks and Balances Act proposal – including the draft language submitted to the city attorney for review – HERE.

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

Window falls off downtown high rise

2012-01-11T19:18:05Z

A window fell off the 8th floor of the State Board of Equalization Building on N and 4th Street. The cause is still under investigation. A section of the street was closed off at 10:30am.

Funding 'swap' jumpstarts long-awaited south area project

2012-01-11T06:31:05Z

The plan to construct a new I-5 interchange at Cosumnes River Boulevard – a key component to the 75,000-acre Delta Shores development project – got a financial jumpstart Tuesday.

The City Council voted unanimously to swap funds between two long-term construction programs to get the new interchange started – a project that the city has had in the works for more than a decade.

“I’ve been bugging people about getting this project started for 13 years,” City Councilwoman Bonnie Pannell said Tuesday. “I’m just so happy it’s going to happen.”

The Cosumnes River Boulevard project will extend Cosumnes River Boulevard from Franklin Boulevard to an intersection with Freeport Boulevard – essentially creating a “punch-through,” according to Pannell – and will add a new interchange for I-5.

The project is located within District 7, but the nearest neighborhood that would benefit is Meadowview, which is in Pannell’s District 8.

The interchange will be a gateway to the long-awaited Delta Shores project, a development project with a combination of retail, commercial and housing, planned for the Meadowview area in South Sacramento.

The punch-through project, including the I-5 interchange, is estimated to cost $95 million. According to the Delta Shores financing plan approved by the city in 2009, the developer is committed to $52 million of that cost, and the city’s portion is about $43 million.

The city has a combination of state, federal and local transportation funds allocated to the project, according to a city staff report, but the funds are not immediately available – and the current economy prevents the city from getting the usual bond financing for up-front cash needed to begin construction.

The solution? Swap funds between two construction projects – one that has more funding than it needs right now, for the promise of future funding that is slated for the other.

The Richards Boulevard/I-5 project currently has a set-aside budget of $13,363,000 – but only $4,265,000 is needed between now and 2015 to complete the environmental, planning, design and approval processes for that project.

“We recommend moving the remaining $9,098,000 to the Cosumnes River Boulevard project to allow the project to advance to construction,” Sheri Smith, project manager for the Economic Development Department, told council members Tuesday.

The move would allow the Cosumnes River Boulevard project to move forward, Smith said, and a construction contract could be awarded as early as summer.

The other side of the funding swap includes moving the remaining amount currently allocated for the Cosumnes River Boulevard project – an estimated $20 million in future State Transportation Authority funds – to the Richards Boulevard/I-5 project.

That move will reduce the construction funding gap for the Richards Boulevard/I-5 project from a $50 million gap to a $30 million gap, Smith said.

“I want to make sure people know this is a two-win situation,” City Councilwoman Angelique Ashby said Tuesday. “It’s good for the Cosumnes River project area, but it is also good for the River District project. They both win here.”

Ashby was the council representative for the River District – formerly in District 1, where the Richards Boulevard/I-5 project is located – until redistricting moved the project boundaries into District 5.

According to the city staff report, the funding swap “jump-starts” the Delta Shores project, which is estimated to generate $3.8 million in sales tax and $5.3 million in property tax annually when completed.

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

Journalism Open Workshop Jan. 17

2012-01-11T01:13:59Z

Need a push getting started on your article for The Sacramento Press Journalism Open 2012? We've got a workshop for that.

Bring your story ideas and questions about the writing contest to our Journalism Open workshop Tuesday, Jan. 17.

We will go over how to enter photos: standalone or accompanying, judging criteria, past winners and how to develop your stories by including sources and doing research.

The workshop will be from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. at The Sacramento Press office.

Our office is located at 431 I St., Suite 107, in the Sacramento Valley Station station. We are in the same building complex as Starbucks.

We recommend you find parking on the street, bike or take light rail, as the Amtrak parking lot charges, and we cannot cover the cost of parking.

To RSVP, email workshops@sacramentopress.com. If you RSVP and decide later not to attend, please send us an email to notify us that you will not be coming so we can have an accurate head count.

Thanks, and we hope to see you here!

Communication issues addressed at town hall meeting

2012-01-11T01:05:52Z

Mayor Kevin Johnson opened Monday night’s town hall meeting with a speech on his upbringing in Oak Park. The attendants quickly shifted the mood of the meeting with a flood of questions on issues in Sacramento, and many ethnic communities showed concern for lack of support and communication in the past.

Johnson said that early on in his term he made the mistake of thinking that there was only one Asian/Pacific Islanders community (API) in Sacramento, when there are in fact more than 40 communities. Because of this, he said he didn’t attend many of the API meetings held last year. He told attendees that this is something he wants to change.

“When I was talking to the API community, I said that I’m willing to go to any event that you want me to go to… I thought I would have to go to two or three events a year to fulfill my obligation,” Johnson said. “After the first year, I did not realize I was not fulfilling my obligation.”

So far, Johnson said he believes his biggest accomplishment within the API community was “marrying into the family” when he married Michelle Rhee, a public figure in American education.

He encouraged the API community to be open with him.

“Anytime I can be helpful,” Johnson said, “you gotta let me know. I’m willing to fight and stand with you if it’s important to the community.”

The majority of those attending the meeting were different members from different groups of the many API communities. Most seats were filled and many hands filled the air when the time came to ask questions.

Sukh C. Singh, general secretary of Indus Valley American Chamber of Commerce, brought up how two deaths in his community were handled by Johnson.

He said that the Sikh community turned to Johnson for support when two of their own were randomly shot and killed last year, but that they received no support whatsoever.

“We did not see any active part made by the mayor of Sacramento,” Singh said. “In this kind of situation, (our community) really needs a word of confirmation that we have a representative who cares for us.”

Singh ended his statement with an apology, saying he didn’t intend to criticize.

“Don’t apologize,” Johnson said. “I want to be held accountable.”

Johnson said he did show support on this issue, and apologized for the fact that “his people” did not get back to Singh. However, this was not the only show of disappointment from present communities on his support in such cases, and Johnson said he would do better to show it this year and defend the rights of people in Sacramento.

“If we get all of our ethnic groups participating,” Johnson said, “we’ll have a stronger Sacramento.”

Another important issue brought up by many was education. According to Johnson, only 37 percent of third graders in Sacramento can read at grade level. Through the new organization Stand Up, he said he and Rhee hope to learn what changes the community wants and find a way to get better teachers and make school relevant to students.

“Nothing is more important to me than educating our children,” Johnson said. “You can’t have a great city without great schools.”

More and more hands rose with questions for Johnson, but the meeting started to run past the allotted time. The meeting ended with hands still in the air and Johnson asked those in attendance to “be relentless” in emailing him and thanked them for coming.

No date has been set for the next town hall.

Wag the dog: Sacramento style

2012-01-09T22:12:42Z

Have you heard about the new group called “Sacramento 2020”? They’re a “diverse coalition of Sacramentans (who are) putting voters first in the political process (!)” What an exciting concept, right? If only there were a way to find out the names of the people which make up that “diverse coalition”, but alias, there is none. Trust me, I’ve tried.

I attended a poorly advertised “public workshop” on Saturday morning that was reportedly designed to gain “community input” about Mayor Kevin Johnson latest attempt to enact a “strong mayor”-type of government in Sacramento. I say poorly advertised because there were only about 20 people in attendance, and about a fifth of those 20 were only informed at the last minute by another community advocate who thought the timing and method of outreach for the meeting was a bit odd, to say the least. Think about that for a second; there are over 450,000 people in Sacramento, but the members of the mayor’s staff who are charged with engaging with the community are only able to get 20 people to come out for a meeting? Anyways…

At the entrance to the meeting room was a sign-in sheet that had a logo on its header for the group “Sacramento 2020”. Besides the folks attending the “workshop”, there were only two other people in the room; Kunal Merchant, the Chief of Staff to the mayor, and Raihane Dalvi, his assistant. So it’s safe to say that one of these two people provided the sign-in sheet. Both of these people, by the way, are on the city’s payroll.

So, fast-forwards to today. I get the following press release announcing that two former mayors are endorsing the “Checks and Balances Act” which would give the mayor more control of the city council and the authority to hire and fire the city manager. The logo at the top of the page? Oh yeah, that’s “Sacramento 2020”. As I read this note, one paragraph really caught my eye:

“The plan enjoys broad support from Sacramento 2020, a diverse coalition of Sacramentans dedicated to creating more accountability, ethics and transparency in local government. The coalition recently released survey results showing strong levels of public support for the plan.”

So again, I’m left wondering, who is “Sacramento 2020”? Who are the people who make up its "diverse coalition?” And why can’t I find a list of its members anywhere online? No matter how hard I look?

For example:

Their own webpage, sacramento2020.org, makes no mention whatsoever as to who runs the site. It does, however, contain links to their Twitter and Facebook pages.

Their Facebook page, facebook.com/sacramento2020, has no listed administrator and no contact information, but several members of the mayor’s staff have “liked” the page, and three out of the four pages that this Facebook page promotes are groups founded by the mayor; For Art’s Sake, Greenwise Sacramento, and Think Big Sacramento.

The first account that their Twitter (@sacramento2020) followed was @TinyTortuga, the twitter of Raihane Dalvi, the same mayoral assistant mentioned above.

The sacramento2020.org website itself is owned by Danny Rentschlcer, who in turn runs RR Advertising, a firm that does web design work for some of Kevin Johnson’s other groups, including For Art’s Sake.

And despite my repeated requests to Kevin Johnson’s staff for a comment on this matter, I could not get so much as a one-word reply out of both Joaquin McPeek, the mayor’s press secretary, or Kunal Merchant. I also sent an email to Chis Tapio, the person who sent me the press release, to no avail.

So who is “Sacramento 2020”? We’re only left to assume since no one will admit what appears to be evident; they’re members of the mayor’s staff who are attempting to drum up bogus buzz in support of K.J.’s latest power grab, and they obviously don’t think you’re smart enough to figure it out.

Prove them wrong, Sacramento.

Sacramento velodrome project: Pedal fast, turn left

2012-01-08T22:40:58Z

For anyone who ever wanted to take cycling to a new level in Sacramento – or see some exciting bicycle track races – a local group has the answer: build a velodrome.

A velodrome, for those not yet immersed in the world of bicycle racing, is a stadium with a 250-meter oval race track – banked at 25 to 45 degrees – where cyclists race at speeds up to 50 miles per hour in front of nearly 1,000 spectators in the stands.

Most velodromes have track lengths between 150 and 500 meters, according to local cycling coach and bicycle mechanic Dean Alleger.

And, since there are only four velodromes in California (Carson, Encino, San Jose and Los Angeles) – and 22 in the nation – Alleger and a group of cycling enthusiasts want to build one for the Sacramento region.

“I would like to see a place for kids to learn and train,” Alleger said Friday, “and where people can go to see some great races and to ride in some great races.”

Alleger started the Sacramento Valley Velodrome Association in 2010 as a nonprofit organization with the goal of raising $4 million to construct and operate a velodrome for local cyclists of all ages and abilities.

A location has already been found – Granite Park near Power Inn Road – and Alleger has raised more than $20,000 for the project. He has even started collecting race bikes to use as rentals for racing in the future velodrome.

Alleger said he sees the project as the start of something big in Sacramento, and a way to get young people into a sport that could – one day – take them to the Olympics.

“We’d host racers from beginners all the way to world class,” Alleger said. “It would be a chance to get kids who really don’t have much to do to learn something exciting and develop skills in a great sport.”

Alleger said, in cycling, the peak age for a professional cycling racer is between 25 to 35 years old, but anyone can learn to ride – and race.

“There would be beginner sessions (at the velodrome) for people to get oriented with the track,” Alleger said, “and there would be sessions for racing. Anyone can do it that wants to give it a try.”

The Sacramento Valley Velodrome Association wants to capitalize on enthusiasm for cycling by hosting national cycling competitions, training adults and youths in track cycling and educating the public about bicycling and fitness, according to a press release Thursday.

As part of the effort to promote the idea of a velodrome, Alleger’s Savage Sprints – an organization that provides cycling coaching and training – has hosted a series of stationary bike races at local bicycle shops and at Hot Italian restaurant at 16th and Q streets.

According to the release, about 1,500 cyclists belong to the more than 50 cycling clubs in the Sacramento valley, and more than 6,700 people in the Sacramento area rode 1.35 million miles during “May is Bike Month.”

“People here ride bicycles – lots of people, lots of bicycles,” Alleger said. “A velodrome would be a big draw here.”

The board of directors at the Sacramento Valley Velodrome Association includes Kevin Hedahl, a senior accountant with the American Red Cross who was a collegiate national track champion; Carrie Lo, an investment analyst at a state agency who raced for McGuire Real Estate; Michael Sayers, a two-time member of the U.S. World Championship cycling team; and Larry Wolff, a local cardiologist who has two national track cycling titles and a third-place finish in a world championship race to his credit.

Lo said an important factor in having a velodrome is the focus on fitness.

“Cycling draws people of all ages, shapes and sizes,” Lo said Friday. “A velodrome provides a way to challenge ourselves and our youths to become better in many ways. It’s about getting kids to channel their energy in a new way, or learning something new or just challenging ourselves to get better at something.”

Lo said there have been efforts to get a velodrome in Sacramento in the past, but a variety of hurdles and red tape prevented the idea from getting anywhere.

“One thing different this time is (we are) developing interest at the grassroots level,” Lo said. “We want corporate sponsors, but we also want it to be built from the ground up so we have plenty of community support.”

Hedahl said having a velodrome is also about community.

“People enjoy coming together and watching velodrome racing,” Hedahl said. “We’re kind of like NASCAR – we go in circles and turn left, and it appeals to everyone. If you like cycling, you get to see some great races. If you don’t like cycling, you get to see some fantastic wrecks. Everyone wins.”

Hedahl said the track racing bikes are fixed-gear bikes – that means no brakes – so a sudden stop means a wreck.

“We can’t just stop pedaling after the race,” Hedahl said. “We pedal slower.”

Hedahl said it’s not an expensive sport to get into – but cost is relative.

“I had a friend that built up a bike to race for about $400,” Hedahl said, “and GT makes some cheap track frames that you can pick up used for about $75. Just add wheels and you’re ready to go.”

But, as with anything in cycling, Hedahl said, the price can get steep if you let it.

“You can get a custom Steve Rex frame and spend up to $3,000 or get a carbon fiber frame and spend up to $10,000,” Hedahl said. “Some pros out there spend $3,000 just on a wheel.”

But the price of the bike isn’t the point, Hedahl said. It’s about doing something fun and exciting.

Alleger said that, once financing is in place, the entire velodrome project could be up and ready for racing in about 120 days.

For more information about the velodrome project, visit the Sacramento Valley Velodrome Association website.

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

Darrell Fong gets surprise ‘thank you’ from residents

2012-01-07T04:10:05Z

City Councilman Darrell Fong was recognized by District 7 residents Thursday for his part in establishing an event that brought more than 500 neighbors together for a common cause: the safety of their children.

Valley-Hi residents James Shabazz, Donald Johnson and Joseph Sillands surprised Fong at the City Council meeting with a scrapbook of photos and letters from event attendees commemorating the Valley-Hi Safety Day fair organized by Fong and his staff in July.

“It was important for us to find time to thank (Councilman) Fong for the work he did to put on the safety fair,” Shabazz, an apartment manager at Ridgestone Apartments in Valley-Hi said after the presentation.

“We appreciate his hard work and his interest in the community,” Shabazz said.

The idea for a safety fair came in response to a traffic accident at the corner of Arroyo Vista and Center Parkway that resulted in a 5-year-old girl being injured, Shabazz said.

According to Noah Painter, assistant to Councilman Fong, that intersection is in need of a traffic signal to better regulate traffic and make it safer – but it is 18th on a city list for receiving traffic signals.

“Traffic signals cost about $100,000 each,” Painter said, “and the city installs about one a year. Do the math – you can see when this light might finally get put in.”

The fair – the first of its kind organized in that community, according to Shabazz – offered information from a variety of organizations, food and entertainment for the people who came out for the day-long event.

Sillands said the event and others like it are important because they teach people to be prepared to help others and to keep each other safe.

“When we are prepared to do right and serve correctly, then we are ready to respond to where the need is,” Sillands said Thursday. “What is needed in every area of our community is to make sure people are respected and served very well. That’s why we want to launch the Safety Day program every year.”

Fong was clearly taken aback by the unexpected recognition, saying the credit for the fair and the work that went into it should go instead to the community that participated.

“It wasn’t really me – they did all the work,” Fong said after the presentation. “I was just happy to step in and help where I could.”

Painter said that the initial push for the safety fair came from Shabazz, Johnson and Sillands, and Fong and his staff worked with numerous groups to help make it happen.

“They wanted some way of bringing people together and raise awareness of the safety issues that they were seeing,” Painter said. “The result was a lot of people energized and ready to be more engaged in their community.”

Fong said he appreciated the recognition, but the work in that part of the district is not done yet.

“We promised we would go out and work with the community, but they have done a lot of work themselves,” Fong said. “I think we have honored our commitment to the area – but there is still work to do. I think (the fair) really empowered (the community) and we know we can do more.”

Shabazz said he and Johnson and Sillands are working with Fong’s office to host another safety fair in June with the theme, “Be Prepared.”

“Prepared for what? For anything,” Shabazz said. “For flood or for earthquake or any emergency. It’s all about education – educating our kids on what to do to be safe.”

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

‘Hometown boy’ sets his sights on District 4 Council seat

2012-01-07T01:44:42Z

The ever-widening field of candidates for District 4 opened up once again as Land Park resident Terry Schanz joined the 2012 City Council race.

Schanz (pronounced “Shawnz”), 33, said Friday that his background in public policy – extending from a degree in political science from UC San Diego, to community-building work in Cape Town, South Africa, to eight years with the State Legislature – is one reason he is the best candidate for the job.

“My experience is in public service,” Schanz said. “I live it every day. I understand it, and I understand what it takes to make good policy. City Council is, first and foremost, a policymaking body.”

For a self-described “hometown boy” who spent his younger years in the same Land Park house his grandmother grew up in, Schanz said he knows Sacramento and the fourth district intimately.

It’s that personal relationship with the town he loves, Schanz said, that gives him the drive to make it a city to be proud of.

“We are always saying, ‘if we have this one thing, then we’ll be a real city,’ or ‘if we only had this other thing, we’d be a real city,’ ” Schanz said. “Well, we are a real city already. Now let’s build up our city and make it a place to really be proud of.”

To do that, Schanz said, Sacramento needs efficient basic services above all else.

“When things are challenging fiscally, you have to pay attention to the basics,” Schanz said. “Public safety, police, fire, garbage service, parks, water service – we need to make sure we can maintain those basic functions,” Schanz said.

As a City Council member, Schanz said he would like to see the budget process emphasize basic services first before looking to less critical areas – such as how to pay for a sports and entertainment complex.

“Would I love to see a stadium anchor all the new development that will happen in the railyards? Yes,” Schanz said. “Do I want a vibrant and alive downtown? Absolutely.

“But, we are talking about closing public pools, and parks that are not being maintained and not knowing if police or fire trucks will show up in an emergency. Am I willing to sacrifice public safety or public services? No, I’m not ready to go there,” Schanz said.

U.S. Army Sgt. Aaron Crouch, 33, said he has known Schanz since the first day of senior year at C.K. McClatchy High School. Crouch said Friday that Schanz has always been a man of passion for helping people – even in his younger days.

“(Terry) has a huge heart, and he is unrelenting,” Crouch said. “He has this desire to lift all ships, starting from the bottom and working his way up. He’s all about making life better for everyone.”

Crouch said that when Schanz traveled to South Africa, he went to see what life was like somewhere completely different that what he knew, to get a sense of reality and contrast.

“That’s just one example of how he goes the extra mile to get a new perspective,” Crouch said.

Although Schanz said he has always had an interest in public service, Crouch said Schanz never set his sights on a higher office.

“People kept telling him he should run for office – president, even,” Crouch said, “but he has always wanted to stay local and help the people around him. He has no visions of grandeur.”

Listening to the people he would represent is the backbone of his campaign, and Schanz said all of his fundraising will happen from a “boots on the ground” effort: small-dollar fundraising events and plenty of knocking on doors and meet-and-greets at small businesses in the district.

“When people make even small donations to a campaign, they take ownership, in a way, of the candidate and of the issues,” Schanz said. “Come meet me. Meet my dogs. If you want to make a donation to my effort, that’s great – but I want you to know who I am, too.”

Schanz will face at least three other candidates in the District 4 City Council race, including attorney Phyllis Newton, architect Joe Yee, and local policy advocate Steve Hansen.

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

Editorial Note: A correction was made to this story after it was published: Schanz grew up the same house that his grandmother lived in.

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.

Redevelopment agencies lose in the courts

2012-01-05T03:54:12Z

In what has been called a David versus Goliath victory, the California Supreme Court ruled Thursday in favor of Gov. Jerry Brown’s plan to disband redevelopment agencies in California, and opponents of redevelopment in Sacramento wasted no time to celebrate the success.

“After years of opposition to redevelopment activities, the abuse of government power and confiscation of property for private use, our day finally came,” Moe Mohanna, a local real estate developer, said Tuesday.

The California Supreme Court ruled Thursday to uphold the redevelopment “elimination” bill, but struck down the bill that would have allowed agencies to make “continuation payments” to stay in business.

The two bills were passed as part of the 2011 state budget and caused a flurry of activity for redevelopment agencies across the state.

The California Redevelopment Association and the League of California Cities quickly challenged the new laws in court.

Meanwhile, redevelopment agencies got to work coming to terms with the possibility that they would have to either “opt in” to a new program – which would require annual payments in the millions of dollars – or submit to having their agencies phased out permanently.

In Sacramento, the City Council and the county Board of Supervisors chose to keep the Sacramento Housing and Revelopment Agency active by agreeing to the required “continuation payments” outlined in the legislation.

If the court had upheld both bills, the SHRA would be preparing to make the first of those payments due in 2012 – an estimated $22 million total – to keep the SHRA going.

The ruling to uphold the elimination bill, however, is more than a game-changer for redevelopment agencies – it’s a game-ender.

“We’re shocked,” La Shelle Dozier, executive director for the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency said Wednesday. “Obviously this is not the outcome that the agency was hoping for.”

Dozier said the SHRA sees the court ruling as one of the “worst possible scenarios” – and one the legislature never intended.

“There was never any anticipation that over 400 agencies would have to unwind over night,” Dozier said. “It was anticipated that some (agencies) would opt to dissolve, but some would opt to continue activities – which is what we had opted to do.

“I think the severing of the two bills in the court was a huge blow to redevelopment agencies,” Dozier said.

Sacramento projects stalled by the legislation while the courts were sorting things out now come to a screeching halt – including the affordable housing portion of the 65-acre Township 9 project and the remaining phases of the Paso Del Nuevo housing project.

“The issue is that, even if the deadline (to dissolve) is extended (by the legislature), there will be a stay on redevelopment activities,” Dozier said. “I don’t anticipate that they will allow us to move forward on any projects while they are figuring out a new redevelopment plan for the state.”

Now that the decision has been handed down, redevelopment agencies will start the process of dissolving – but leaders at the the California Redevelopment Association (CRA) and League of California Cities said Thursday they aren’t finished fighting yet.

The (California Redevelopment Association) and the league vowed to work with state legislators immediately to develop legislation to revive redevelopment, Kathy Fairbanks, California Redevelopment Association representative, said in a press release Thursday.

Opponents of redevelopment agencies see the court ruling as a step in the right direction for the state and for Sacramento, Mohanna said.

“Our neighborhoods, our schools, our police department and many other governmental agencies will now have more funds to provide essential services for our community,” Mohanna said, “rather than a few select private developers that play the game with redevelopment money.”

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

Workshops provide information about utilities rate hike

2012-01-05T03:06:47Z

The first of a series of informational workshops about proposed utilities rate hikes took place in the lobby of City Hall Wednesday where attendees walked away with a personalized report on what the new rates will look like on their own utility bills.

“It’s an opportunity for people to come in, ask all the questions they want and really become informed about the proposal,” Jessica Hess, communications specialist with the city Utilities Department, said Tuesday.

The workshops are set up in an open house forum with information booths staffed by Utilities Department engineers, regulatory compliance specialists and field crews that respond to customers.

The Utilities Department’s proposed three-year rate increase for water is 10 percent per year, and for wastewater it’s 16 percent the first year, 15 percent the second year and 14 percent the third year.

Rate increases would go into effect on July 1 each year, if they are passed.

According to Utilities Department staff, the proposed rate increases will up the average customer’s monthly utility bill by about $5.80 the first year, $6.35 the second year, and $6.91 the third year.

That’s a total increase of about $19 per month over a customer’s current bill by 2014 – a $228 annual cost bump after three years, according to Hess.

The majority of the funds raised by this rate increase will be dedicated to funding projects necessary to meet state requirements and to start replacing the city’s aging infrastructure, according to Dave Brent, interim director of the city Utilities Department.

“A significant amount of the city’s water and sewer infrastructure is approaching or exceeding 100 years (old),” Brent said Wednesday.

"Reinvestment in these systems is necessary to assure reliable water and sewer services and to comply with state and federal regulations,” Brent said.

One booth at the workshop offered information about regulatory compliance – and someone to explain exactly what regulations the Utilities Department must satisfy and how.

Another booth provided information about programs to get the city’s water and sewage system to meet higher industry standards.

“At our current rate of investment in our infrastructure,” said ~~Bob~~ Bill Busath, interim division manager of engineering services division, “we would be replacing our sewer and water systems every 600 years. The industry standard is every 100 years.”

Yet another booth at the workshop provided detailed background information on how the rate proposal was developed and how it will affect individual rate-payers. At this booth, people can get a personalized report that estimates what their utility bill will look like if the rate increase proposal goes into effect.

“At the end of the day, whatever decisions are made by City Council and our community,” Hess said, “our main goal is that we want the community to feel like they are making an informed decision.”

Hess said that more than 30 people visited the workshop’s booths by noon Wednesday, and she was hopeful that more would take advantage of the opportunity to get information before the workshop ended.

Rose R., a homemaker from Sacramento who attended the workshop Wednesday, said she was glad she went – but not excited about the information she received.

“By 2014, I’ll be paying $130 a month,” Rose said. “I paid $64.08 a month in 1996. How are people on fixed incomes going to pay that (increase)? It’s too much. I went to (Mayor Kevin) Johnson and the City Council last time to tell them it’s not right, and I’ll go again.”

Another resident who came to the workshop, who asked to be identified only as Martha, said the information she got solidified her opposition to the rate increase proposal.

“I’m objecting to this increase because it is so much,” Martha said. “I have to buckle under. I know they want to fix and replace sewage lines, but that’s an awful lot of a (rate) increase. When you have a lot of money in your pocket you aren’t as thrifty as you are when you only have a little bit like me.”

Hess said that some who came to the event expecting to oppose the rate increase walked away with a different point of view.

“They thought they weren’t going to like it at all,” Hess said, “but after talking about it with (department staff), they left with a better understanding of why it’s important. That’s what we want – for people to be informed.”

Three more workshops are planned at different locations around the city, and the same information will be available at each workshop:

January 12
5 - 7 p.m. at the School of Engineering and Science, 7345 Gloria Drive

January 18
5 - 7 p.m. at the South Natomas Community Center, 2921 Truxel Road

January 19
6 - 8 p.m. at the Clunie Community Center, 601 Alhambra Blvd.

The Utilities Rate Advisory Commission will hold a public hearing on the rate increases Jan. 25 at City Hall. Hess said the commission might make a recommendation to City Council to move forward with the rate increases, or it may suggest alternatives.

Any recommendation to the council will be heard by mid-February, Hess said, and council will make the final decision.

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

Editorial Note: A spelling correction was made to this article after it was published. Bill Busath is the division manager of engineering services division, not Bob Busath.

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.

The Sacramento Press on 'Insight'

2012-01-04T01:10:43Z

On Capital Public Radio’s “Insight” program on Tuesday, host David Watts Barton and I talked about new laws in effect for the new year, businesses scheduled to open in the near future, the upcoming elections and other local issues.

The beginning of the year typically brings in a number of new laws, and 2012 is no different. Some of the notable changes include mandatory child booster seats in cars for kids under age 8 or shorter than 4 feet 9 inches, the banning of openly carrying unloaded handguns and a new law that states police can no longer impound a vehicle at a DUI checkpoint if the only offense is the driver not having a license.

Click here to read about those and other laws that went into effect Sunday.

Also new this year will be several businesses. A sports-themed restaurant and bar, Mongolian food’s arrival on the grid and a new bicycle share program have all been covered by The Sacramento Press in the past and will soon be open for business in the central city.

To read about some of the new businesses coming in the next few weeks and months, click here.

If the mayor’s office has its way, it won’t be business as usual in Sacramento’s political future. A charter reform proposal could be on this summer’s ballot, and it would reshape the way Sacramento’s government works. An executive – or “strong” – mayor, an independent redistricting commission and an ethical review process are all parts of the reform measure being discussed at City Hall.

It’s a big year for Mayor Kevin Johnson, as he and the City Council members from even-numbered districts campaign to keep their seats in this year’s elections. While some districts – including District 4, which covers the central city – are full of competition, others currently only have a couple candidates, and Kevin McCarty currently has no challengers to his District 6 seat. But the deadline to enter the political race isn’t until March, so the competition could heat up even more.

One of those in the running for a City Council seat is Rob Kerth, former executive director of the Midtown Business Association. The MBA position was filled by Elizabeth Studebaker on Monday, and The Sacramento Press will follow up with her to learn what plans she has in store for Midtown.

The California Supreme Court’s upholding of Gov. Jerry Brown’s plan to eliminate redevelopment agencies – and its dismissal of legislation that would allow them to continue with significant payments to the state – mean many projects in blighted areas of Sacramento won’t get done, and those that haven’t been finished might be in jeopardy too. Look for Sacramento Press reporter Melissa Corker’s latest update on redevelopment Wednesday.

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

January 1: New Year, new laws in effect in California

2012-01-03T07:25:31Z

As of Jan. 1, laws affecting child booster seats, LGBT rights, handgun open-carry and liquor sales will be among many going into effect in California. Here are some of the highlights of what Californians – and Sacramentans – have in store for them in 2012.

BOOSTER SEATS: Previously, children had to ride in approved child restraint devices – booster seats – until they turned 6 years old or weighed 60 pounds. As of Jan. 1, children must ride in booster seats until they are 8 years old or at least 4 feet 9 inches tall. Kids under 8 years who are taller than 4 feet 9 inches are allowed to use a safety belt instead of a booster seat.

HANDGUN OPEN CARRY: Bans citizens from openly carrying handguns – but Californians can still get permits for concealed weapons. Violators of the new law will be subject to $1,000 fines and six months in jail. Previously, it was allowable to carry an unloaded handgun in a visible holster.

LIQUOR SALES: SB 39 prohibits the production or sale of beer with caffeine added. AB 183 prohibits grocery stores from allowing liquor sales at self-checkout stations.

VEHICLE IMPOUNDS: Police officers will no longer be able to impound a vehicle from a sobriety checkpoint if the only offense by the driver is failing to hold a valid driver license (AB 353).

DUI CONVICTIONS: A new section was added to the California Vehicle Code that allows courts to revoke a driver license for 10 years if a person is convicted of three or more DUIs.

COPPER THEFT: AB 316 makes “stealing, taking, or carrying away copper materials” that value more than $950 a grand theft felony. Criminals are subject to fines up to $2,500 and one year in jail on the first offense, and two or three years in jail and a fine up to $10,000 for repeat offenders.

KINDERGARTEN ENTRANCE: SB 1381 pushes back the 5-year-old birthday for kindergarten eligibility from Dec. 1 to Nov. 1 for the 2012–13 school year. That date pushes back to Oct. 1 for the 2013–14 school year, and then to Sept. 1 for the 2014–15 school year and beyond.

LGBT RIGHTS/HISTORY: Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law the Gay History Act, which requires schools to include the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans in history and social studies lessons and textbooks.

Another law that went on the books in 2011 – the Transgender Non-Discrimination Law – adds “gender identity and gender expression” to the list of characteristics that require equal rights protections in the state.

FOOD HANDLER CARDS: Beginning Jan. 1, health departments will begin enforcing a new law which requires food handlers to complete a training course and assessment.

EMPLOYEE RIGHTS: AB 22 prevents employers from running credit checks on prospective employees or using credit information in a hiring decision. Exceptions are allowed for law enforcement positions and positions that require access to bank and credit information or access to confidential information.

Not every new law charts new ground this year, though – some are simply no-brainers:

AB 688: Bans California stores from selling expired infant food and formula.

AB 25: Requires schools to remove athletes suspected of having a concussion or head injury from athletic activity until a doctor or health care provider gives clearance.

SB 746: Prohibits minors under 18 from using tanning beds without a parent’s permission.

With more than 40,000 new laws going into effect across the nation in 2012, people will want to do their research to make sure they don’t inadvertently run afoul of a law that they didn’t even know existed.

Start with the list of new California laws here.

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

Photos: New Year's Eve with Mickey Avalon

2012-01-03T07:10:46Z

Hollywood rapper Mickey Avalon headlined a New Year's Eve show at Ace of Spades on Saturday.

Supporting Avalon on the bill were 2ME, Richard the Rockstar, and producer Big Chocolate.

Photos by Steven Chea.

Wallpaper. at Ace of Spades

2012-01-03T02:48:13Z

A couple hundred people wanting to get an early start on 2012 partying headed down to Ace of Spades on Friday, where Oakland musician and frequent Sacramento visitor, Wallpaper., headlined an eclectic bill.

Starting the show was Chaotic Fusion, a drummer and DJ duo. DJ Oasis spun radio hits – "Teach Me How To Dougie," "Ghosts 'n' Stuff," "Last Resort" – while Radio 94.7 on-air personality Casey Lewis drummed along to the beat.

Performing next was Oakland-by-way-of-Panama Latin rap duo Los Rakas. Rhyming in Spanish over dancehall and hip-hop beats, the up and coming young pair were well-received by the slowly growing crowd.

Headliner Wallpaper. took the stage next, with the men of the group dressed to the nines in cheap tuxedos.

Wallpaper. is the solo project of Eric Frederic, who performs as Wallpaper. vocalist Ricky Reed.

Frederic received a music degree with a focus in composition from the University of California, Berkeley and now creates poppy party songs with lowest common denominator lyrics.

"That's a grown ass woman with a grown ass," is one example from the song, "Butt2Butt” (feat. Too $hort).

Although his two LP’s are called "Doodoo Face" and "#STUPiDFACEDD," the songs are well-produced and have sharp hooks. MTV uses Wallpaper. songs on shows like Jersey Shore, and sometimes this type of music resonates with everyone (see: LMFAO).

Kicking things off with the song, "Shotgun," Reed worked to establish a connection with the Sac crowd early, referencing past visits to the city.

"We're gonna take you right back to Press Club, Town House, Luigi's!"

Flanked by two drummers, a standing percussionist in the back and a female vocalist/dance partner, Reed and Wallpaper stayed hyphy the whole set and made sure the crowd did too.

At one point Reed lamented the fact that it was the day before New Year's Eve, and had the crowd do a mock countdown before performing the catchy, "Okay."

Later it was a short cover of Prince's "1999," played with a ukulele, before another sing-along ditty, "FUCKING BEST SONG EVERRR."

After Wallpaper. came back on stage for the encore, Reed let the crowd know that the band has a tradition where they finish a bottle of Jameson before coming back on.

Stupid, but fun.

Not bad for New Year's Eve eve.

Photos by Steven Chea

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.

2011 roundup recap

2011-12-31T01:12:24Z

Throughout the year, The Sacramento Press compiles roundup articles to let readers know where they can score anything from vintage clothes to coffee to comic books.

Where do you go for your favorite cup of Joe? The Sacramento Press checked out the central city’s coffee bar selection in October, compiling a list of caffeinated hangouts. Whether for studying or hanging out with friends, there’s something for everyone.

In addition to those mentioned in the roundup article, Insight Coffee Roasters opened in Southside Park in December.

Fashionistas looking for something from a bygone era might want to scour the clothing racks in Sacramento’s thrift and vintage clothing stores, listed here. From charity storefronts to local boutiques, shoppers can find classic fashion or a hipster’s paradise.

One area where digital media hasn’t made many inroads is the comic book market, and Sacramento has enough options that it took two articles to gather them all. Some shoppers might be surprised that the stores aren’t full of guys resembling the cast of “The Big Bang Theory.” Click here for part one and here for part two.

Those looking to spend their weekends in relaxed culinary heaven need not cook their own breakfasts: sleep in and, when getting out of bed doesn’t seem like a bad idea, head out to brunch. The Sacramento Press looked at a number of local restaurants’ brunch offerings in this article.

For anyone looking for food from foreign shores – be it for a new dish or something to recall a homeland or vacation destination – The Sacramento Press searched out some of the area’s ethnic grocery stores, listed here.

Anyone looking to show off knowledge of the inane, the obscure or just have fun might look to pub trivia night events. Local watering holes provide an array of options for trivia competitions, and this article outlines many of them.

2011: The year at City Hall

2011-12-30T06:20:29Z

Sacramento City Council members had their hands full this year – from balancing the budget to redrawing district lines to a citizen uprising that found its way to the doors of City Hall.

Here’s the city government year in review.

CITY MANAGER DRAMA
The year started off with interim city manager Gus Vina not being promoted to the open city manager spot. Vina replaced previous city manager Ray Kerrige when Kerrige resigned in February 2010.

Vina resigned two months later – just a few weeks before the budget was due to the City Council. He later became the city manager of Encinitas.

The City Council was criticized for making decisions about the city manager position in closed sessions before voting not to promote Vina and instead open a national search.

City Council members stalled the search for City Manager saying they wanted to define the qualities they were looking for in the next person to fill the job. Two weeks later, they announced the qualities and the search continued.

The door was open for a new city manager, and while the nationwide search was ongoing, what Sacramento ended up with was not one but two interim city managers: Bill Edgar and Betty Masuoka.

Edgar and Masuoka followed through with the budget plan and presented it to the City Council on time.

As the city got closer to finding its next city manager, Mayor Kevin Johnson expressed disappointment about the search process, saying he felt “the pool of candidates wasn’t as deep” as he would have liked.

By August, Sacramento had a new city manager – John Shirey, former head of the California Redevelopment Association.

Shirey’s three-year contract included a $258,000 base salary – a 16 percent increase in salary over the previous city manager – making him the highest-paid in city history and the first to receive a labor contract.

BUDGET BLOWUPS
The budget process was complete by the time Shirey took his seat at the dais alongside City Council members.

The 2011 budget brought more challenges to face, including a $39 million budget gap.

After months of discussions and negotiations with unions, advocacy groups, public comment and hours-long council meetings, a budget was finally passed.

The new budget included severe cuts to fire and police personnel and city employees – as well as the closure of community centers and public pools.

REDISTRICTING: MAPS AND MAYHEM
As if there wasn’t enough going on in City Hall with the annual budget process, 2011 brought redistricting – a redrawing of council districts that happens every 10 years.

This time, the mayor and City Council appointed a Citizens Advisory Redistricting Committee to do the heavy lifting of vetting a variety of proposed district maps.

After months of review and discussion, the committee presented a group of four maps for the council to consider. From there, the discussions and map revisions really took off.

One unexpected twist to the redistricting drama came when one map was revealed to have been anonymously submitted by advisory committee member Steve Hansen.

Discussions heated up further when two council members – Steve Cohn and Sandy Sheedy – submitted their own map for the council to consider.

A week later, Cohn submitted yet another map, a hybrid version of Cohn and Sheedy’s previous submissions, this time called “Neighborhoods 2.0.”

A boundary dispute between council districts 5 and 6 over which district would contain the UC Davis Medical Center and Sacramento High School created a huge outcry from residents.

In the end, after six months and a grand total of 45 map versions, a final map was selected and approved by City Council, and new district lines went into effect on Oct. 6.

REDEVELOPMENT
With the passing of the state budget in July came big changes for the way redevelopment agencies are allowed to work in California.

Cities throughout the state are given an option to “buy in” to a new redevelopment plan – which would require large annual payments to the state from local agencies. Sacramento decided to go along with the plan and keep the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency alive.

Other cities wouldn’t go down without a fight, and a lawsuit was filed against the state by the California Redevelopment Association. While the case was pending, the court issued a temporary reprieve so cities did not have to make the required “opt-in” payments until a decision was made.

Some redevelopment projects that were moved ahead in 2011 in Sacramento included a revamp of K Street, the La Valentina project and housing projects in the south area of the city.

OCCUPY SACRAMENTO: CITIZENS TAKE A STAND
What started on Wall Street in New York as a citizens’ uprising against corporate greed in America became a nationwide statement of discontent from coast to coast.

When the first Occupy Sacramento protesters stepped into Cesar Chavez Plaza on Oct. 6, it was unclear how long they would stay – or what their message was going to be.

Quickly, the calm protest of Sacramentans showing solidarity with other Occupy movements was stunted by a city park curfew ordinance that prevented protesters from remaining in the park overnight.

Protesters were arrested – more than 100 in October alone – and the uprising was strengthened by a common goal: get the city to make an exception to the rule.

Over the next 10 weeks, large numbers of Occupy protesters spoke at the public forum of City Council meetings to ask the city manager and City Council to allow the group to remain in the park to continue to exercise its First Amendment rights.

Protesters who had been arrested – including war veteran mom Cindy Sheehan – had their day in court, and charges were dropped against many.

Meanwhile, attorneys for the Occupy group filed suit in federal court against the city claiming First Amendment violations, and some Occupiers moved the protest to the lawns at City Hall.

As the year came to a close, the number of Occupiers dwindled at Cesar Chavez Plaza, but the movement was not disbanded completely. A lawsuit is still pending in federal court, according to attorney Mark Merin, one of the representing attorneys.

Despite the ups and downs at City Hall this year, more change and drama is expected in 2012. Between elections and yet another budget – and the ever-present discontent bubbling just under the surface from events in 2011 – the new year is bound to be worth watching.

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

Homelessness in Sacramento: A look back at 2011

2011-12-30T04:59:18Z

From head counts and courtroom drama to Winter Sanctuary and SafeGround – homelessness remained at the top of the list of issues in Sacramento in 2011.

Despite data showing the number of homeless in the county had declined over the past year, there were still many people sleeping on the streets each night in 2011.

Local charity groups and community service programs struggled through the year to provide for the homeless – including an increasing percentage of families – many of whom were homeless for the first time due to fallout from the housing and mortgage crisis.

The alleged mishandling of homeless individuals’ personal property as police enforced city anti-camping laws resulted in a lawsuit filed by local civil rights attorney Mark Merin on behalf of the homeless.

As the lawsuit made its way through the halls of justice, another fight was brewing over creating “safe ground," a place for homeless people to call their own – if only temporarily – while they worked toward securing permanent housing.

Community events held in 2011 designed to raise awareness of homeless issues included a SafeGround Jubilee, and a workshop for City Council members to discuss ways to provide such a safe ground area for homeless.

Jennifer Lystrup, a teacher of social justice at Christian Brothers High School, created a documentary series on homeless youth, and artist and filmmaker Costa Mantis created the film series “Searching for Safe Ground,” revealing the daily struggles of being homeless in Sacramento.

In September, the court in the homeless class action suit decided in favor of the homeless plaintiffs, but the city appealed the decision, and the case is still pending.

Without a tent city to return to each night, and without a safe ground option, many homeless people set up tents on the edges of the American River Parkway – which was at odds with the city’s anti-camping ordinance, and rangers soon moved in to oust the homeless “campers.”

As winter approached, faith-based organizations came together with the nonprofit agency Sacramento Steps Forward to provide the Winter Sanctuary program for the second year, offering shelter for the homeless during the coldest part of the year.

The program – which provides shelter from Thanksgiving to March 1 at an estimated cost of $150,000 – lacked adequate funding, and the program was in jeopardy of not being able to open.

With the help of numerous donations from local businesses and individuals – and a last-minute $75,000 donation from Wells Fargo – the program opened on Dec. 1.

At the end of December, the winter shelter program was expanded, thanks in part to efforts by City Council members Steve Cohn, Jay Schenirer and Angelique Ashby, and requests for increased local donations to open more doors to the homeless.

Homelessness has been a hot topic for local government for many years, and despite minor upturns in the economy of late, it is an issue that does not appear to be going away anytime soon.

In November, the City Council started developing a plan to address homelessness from a regional standpoint – to include city, county and regional resources and leadership in solving the issue.

Perhaps 2012 will bring greater security – whether it’s “safe ground” or more transitional housing or enhanced services – for those struggling in the city without a permanent place to live.

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

Two polls show different levels of support and resistance to Kevin Johnson’s latest strong mayor push

2011-12-30T03:03:47Z

Question: Is there or isn’t there a real desire on behalf of the everyday citizens of Sacramento to see a broad overhaul of the current city charter? One that favors placing most of the power into the hands of the mayor, bypassing the need to find compromises or the coalition-building it normally takes to enact new polices that in the end affect the ordinary people who live in this town? Well, it all depends on who you ask, and who you want to believe.

About a month ago, Kevin Johnson started telling various local media outlets that “many people (are) interested in changing the way things are happening here in Sacramento.” It seemed, at the time, that he was testing the waters to see if the voters would be receptive to another Strong Mayor Initiative, or SMI, a proposal that was somewhat controversial when it was first debated back in 2010. Sure enough, a group of business leaders, a pastor, the head of the city’s police union, and other Johnson supporters held a press conference earlier this month without K.J. in attendance to announce their endorsement of a new plan to change the way the city does business, this time calling it the “Checks and Balances Act of 2012”.

Fast-forward to this week, and Kevin Johnson’s office announces that a poll which was paid for with his own re-election funds shows that 63% of respondents favor the new proposed charter amendments. According to the summary released to the media by the polling firm FM3, a telephone survey was conducted over the course of four days, from October 29th till November 1st, before it was public knowledge that K.J. was planning to try to revamp the city charter yet again. Now, it’s been extremely difficult to fully understand how the polling firm came to this finding, because no one involved with FM3, the mayor’s office, or the group of citizens who believe that passage of the Checks and Balances Act is critical are willing to release the complete study to the press. I sent this email to every person who works at FM3, and copied Kevin Johnson’s press secretary as well:

To the staff of FM3,

I apologize if you have received this email in error, but as I am unfamiliar with your firm and do not know who the best person to ask in regards for the information I am looking for, I do not know what other route to take.

I am a Sacramento resident and a writer who has covered local government issues and many more topics throughout the region on several digital platforms. I am producing an article about the Sacramento Checks and Balances Poll that was conducted by your firm. After viewing the summary that was posted on the Sacramento Bee website, I would now very much like to review a copy of the entire report. Who can I speak to about accomplishing this in a timely fashion?

For example, I would like to see the exact wording of the questions, and the way those questions were presented, similar in fashion to the poll you can find on this site:

http://www.cityofsacramento.org/council/departments/home.cfm?MenuID=5007

One of Mayor Johnson stated priorities has been to create a local government that is transparent and accessible. I'm sure that providing the information that I have requested would go a long way towards accomplishing this admirable goal.

http://www.cityofsacramento.org/mayor/actionPlan/effectiveGovernment.html

Thank you for your time, and I await your reply.

-Isaac Gonzalez

www.ransackedmedia.com

After a little more back-and-forth between a researcher from FM3 and a lawyer working on behalf of the mayor, this was the final answer I received:

Isaac:

I checked with some of the folks close to the campaign and it was relayed to me that they are unable to satisfy your request.

Jeffrey K. Dorso

Pioneer Law Group, LLP

I then sent one final message to Joaquin McPeek at the mayor’s office for clarification:

Joaquin,

Would the "folks close to the campaign" like to give our readers a reason why they are unable to satisfy this straightforward request? How does this mesh with the Mayor's goal of accountability and transparency? Since the reelection campaign paid for the poll, I can only imagine that if the Mayor wanted to, he could release the entire text of the study.

Thanks.

-Isaac

After waiting all day, I have yet to receive a reply.

Meanwhile, the Sacramento Business Journal conducted their own non-scientific poll over a period on eight days via their website, and it came up with nearly the exact opposite findings of the FM3 study. Between December 21st and December 28th, 65% of online survey participants said that the new “Checks and Balances Act” is not an idea they want to see enacted in Sacramento, with the vast majority of “no” votes coming from people who also believe that the new executive mayor initiative is just a power grab by Kevin Johnson.

In my opinion, both of these polls should be taken with generous grains of salt. The latter because it is impossible to verify the validity of on-line participants; are they likely voters?, do they live in Sacramento?, did they vote more than once?, etc. And the former because the exact wording of the questions and the full findings of the study are not being made available to the public, an act in itself causes this author to conclude that the producers of the poll are worried about how it would be scrutinized if it were exposed for all to see.

But we do know this much; the Checks and Balances Act is being touted as the way to make Sacramento’s local government “one of the most accountable, ethical, transparent, and citizen-friendly in the state.” Its goals include “establishing higher standards for ethical and transparent behavior.” Those statements were taken directly from the first three pages of the proposal, as they are posted on the mayor’s city website. It doesn’t require any act of legislation to behave in an accountable and transparent manner. Perhaps if the mayor did a better job of practicing what he preaches, we’d would all have an easier time taking him for his word.

2011 recap: The fight to keep the Kings in Sacramento

2011-12-29T05:17:22Z

The question of whether Sacramento will get a new sports arena heated up this year, as Sacramento Kings owners threatened to relocate the team to Anaheim and potential arena sites – such as a land swap with Cal Expo – came and went.

Despite an emotional rollercoaster ride for Kings fans this year, supporters of the team refused to throw up their hands in defeat. Here’s what 2011 looked like from the bleachers.

As plans for a land swap between the state fairgrounds at Cal Expo and the current Natomas arena site fell through, a task force appointed by Mayor Kevin Johnson recommended that Sacramento developer group ICON-Taylor explore the viability of building an arena in the downtown area.

Business leaders from the Natomas Chamber of Commerce wanted the City Council to reject the task force recommendation, saying they felt Natomas was “fighting an uphill battle” against losing the then-named Arco Arena as the Kings’ home turf.

The owners of the Sacramento Kings, the Maloof family, confirmed suspicions that they were considering relocating the team to Anaheim by requesting a filing extension with the NBA to give the owners until at least April 14 – the day after the Kings season ended – to make a decision.

The NBA granted an extension to 5 p.m. May 2, and Kings fans went into overdrive to convince the Maloofs that the team should stay put.

Between a grassroots “Here We Stay” campaign, “painting the town purple” and sold-out games, there was little question of the importance Sacramentans placed on keeping the Kings in town.

Still, negotiations between the Maloofs and the city of Anaheim seemed to be well under way – until problems with financing emerged.

Anaheim was reportedly making plans to issue $75 million in lease revenue bonds to entice the team to move, but Sacramento city officials intervened, saying that the Maloofs would first have to repay $77 million in bond debt to Sacramento.

A private group successfully halted the issuance of the Anaheim bonds, and Billionaire Pittsburgh Penguins co-owner Ron Burkle stepped up with plans to buy the Sacramento Kings from the Maloofs to keep the team in Sacramento.

Just before the final filing deadline to officially request relocating the team, an NBA relocation committee came to town and took over the Kings offices to study the possibility of keeping the Kings in Sacramento. The committee was welcomed with open arms – and plenty of purple.

At almost the same time, tribal leaders from Thunder Valley Casino pledged $1 million toward the effort to stop the Kings from moving to Anaheim, bringing the total of business pledges to keep the Kings in Sacramento to more than $10 million.

In addition to business interests, retired Kings player Chris Webber pledged his support – along with additional financial backing from private investors – to keep the effort going.

Finally, on the day of the filing deadline, the Maloofs announced they would not move the Kings out of Sacramento – this year.

The question of an adequate arena was still open, however, and NBA officials said they would support the team moving next year if a new arena could not be built to replace the Kings’ current facility, Power Balance Pavilion.

After a huge push for ticket sales to the next season, the Maloofs asked Johnson to stand in for them at the NBA draft lottery in New Jersey.

In June, with four months before the start of the 2011-12 basketball season, Kings supporters got down to business formulating a plan for a new arena – this time, with the help of a coalition of interested parties from business, sports, finance and development sectors.

The coalition – called the “Think Big” committee – worked on a self-imposed 100-day deadline to come up with a “menu of options” for financing a new entertainment and sports complex to be built at the railyards site downtown.

The Think Big committee released a series of reports over the 100-day period that discussed financing options including strategic use of public land, user fees and leasing the city’s parking system.

Two opinion polls surfaced – one commissioned by the Think Big committee and one by City Councilwoman Sandy Sheedy – to gauge public support of a new sports and entertainment complex. Despite the opposing results of the polls, Johnson and members of the Think Big committee continue to pursue a plan to build an arena and keep the Kings in Sacramento.

The latest aspect of the financing plan – leasing the city’s parking system to a private operator for an up-front lump payment to get construction under way – is in the earliest stages.

What’s next for the Kings and the city of Sacramento?

2012 promises fervent action on the part of supporters, developers and the entire Think Big committee to have a solid arena plan in place before the March 1 deadline for Kings’ owners to once again attempt to relocate the team.

Meanwhile, Kings fans are filling seats for games, staying positive and hanging on for the final loop-de-loop of this wild ride.

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

The highs and lows of medical marijuana in 2011

2011-12-29T04:35:45Z

In 2011, medical marijuana dispensaries in Sacramento city and county went from being barely legal to riding a wave of potential for acceptance – but in the end, saw the future of their operations heavily scrutinized or banned outright.

Here’s what happened on the medical marijuana scene this year:

In February, medical marijuana dispensaries in the city were lining up to complete a permit application process that would allow a limited number of facilities to operate within city limits.

Pot shops that didn’t apply for the proper permits – or had applications denied through the process – were shut down by city code enforcement.

Once the application deadline passed for the first part of a two-part process, 39 dispensaries were left in the running for a permanent place on the Sacramento scene – while many others withdrew from the city limits to operate within the county, where restrictions were scarce and permits nonexistent.

As the county became aware of the proliferation of dispensaries within its boundaries, county leaders opened the door to regulating medical marijuana.

In August, medical marijuana awareness among the public reached a peak in Sacramento when the inaugural Hempfest Sacramento took place at an RV park and campground in Sutter County.

Despite dispensary operations gaining some favor with the city, dispensaries in the county continued to run afoul of laws that didn’t include any zoning regulations to protect them, and many dispensaries were shut down by the county.

In June, the federal Department of Justice sent a memo to state attorneys general stating that the federal government would enforce its marijuana prohibition laws – despite any state laws to legalize the drug.

In response, the City Council reviewed its permit application process and put a “freeze” on all dispensary applications until it could be determined that dispensaries could somehow operate legally under state law while still being at odds with federal law.

At the county, instead of pursuing an ordinance to allow special permits for medical marijuana dispensary operations, officials switched gears and moved to reinforce county codes that prohibit any “activity that violates federal or state law in any way” – essentially solidifying an all-out ban.

Dispensary operators and city residents weighed in on the ordinance freeze in the city, with public opinion being fairly evenly divided between support and opposition of keeping dispensary operations legal.

At the start of the year, medical marijuana dispensaries enjoyed a wide berth from the city to advertise in newspapers and on billboards, and pot shops openly operated throughout the city.

As the year draws to a close, however, many have turned to a more low-key approach to doing business while federal and state governments iron out their legal wrinkles.

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

Year in review: Food vs. government

2011-12-29T02:23:45Z

Two city ordinances regulating food were the subject of debate in Sacramento in 2011, and while backyard keeping of egg-laying hens was allowed, the other, more volatile issue rages on – the controversial ordinance governing food trucks.

The ordinance limiting food truck operation within city limits to 30-minute intervals has been a source of contention for more than a year, but it heated up in 2011 with the inaugural SactoMoFo mobile food festival in April.

At the festival, Fremont Park was occupied by thousands of foodies who dropped by for a taste of gourmet on the go, and it achieved its goal of bringing widespread awareness to the issue.

Owners of “brick-and-mortar” restaurants were split on the issue, prompting a series of talks between them, restaurant advocacy groups, city officials and mobile food vendors.

The issue came before the City Council’s Law and Legislation Committee most recently in November, but the issue was postponed.

City Councilman Jay Schenirer, chairman of the Law and Legislation Committee, said Wednesday that while the issue will be on the agenda in 2012 – and he hopes it will be in the first quarter, there are no firm plans on when that will be.

In the meantime, regular food truck gatherings are held outside the city limits, because the county has no ordinance limiting operators to 30 minutes.

Backyard chicken keeping was allowed in the city in 2011 after a long discussion and series of public meetings, with advocates writing about it on The Sacramento Press as far back as 2009.

Those in favor of keeping chickens for egg-laying purposes argued that they wanted to have control of their food supply, ensuring food to their standards, and they pointed out that numerous other cities already allowed chicken keeping.

People opposed to allowing backyard chicken keeping said they feared the chickens would be noisy and possibly be conduits for avian flu.

The issue was almost killed in 2010, but City Councilman Steve Cohn walked out of a meeting to prevent what would likely have been a vote to end it.

The ordinance, which went into effect Nov. 1, did not please everyone, as it placed several restrictions on keeping chickens in backyards, including limiting the number to three and keeping them at least 20 feet from an adjacent residence.

The ordinance only allows the keeping of hens – as roosters don’t lay eggs and also crow, and it remains illegal to slaughter chickens in backyards. A $15 licensing fee per chicken is collected to pay for enforcement of the ordinance.

Gina Knepp, manager of the city’s animal shelter, said Wednesday that only about 20 chickens have been licensed in the past two months, but far more than that live in the city.

“We just cited a gentleman who had 30 chickens in his yard,” she said, adding that there has been no decrease or increase in calls since the ordinance passed.

“It’s still premature to tell,” she said. “I plan to go back to the council after six months and recommend some changes to the ordinance.”

Some of the recommendations she said she is considering include a flat licensing fee so owners don’t license each chicken as well as the ability to pay licensing fees online, which she said is probably discouraging some people from licensing their chickens.

Another change in food laws was the state-mandated food handler card, which requires most restaurant workers to pass a state test on food safety before being allowed to work.

The law went into effect July 1, though enforcement was delayed to allow time for restaurants and their workers to get the cards and come into compliance.

The state government got involved in funding garden boxes this year, with the local nonprofit organization Ubuntu Green working with low-income families to build boxes where they can grow healthy foods.

Community gardens were also a part of Schenirer’s WayUp Sacramento program, which promotes healthy living. It was launched in Oak Park in October.

Even schools got involved in small-scale farming this year, as Sacramento City College started a city farm project to “teach with dirt.”

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

Mayor: City is at 'critical juncture' on the road to new arena

2011-12-28T01:41:33Z

Mayor Kevin Johnson spoke confidently Tuesday about the possibility of a new entertainment and sports complex becoming a reality for Sacramento – despite the challenges ahead.

“We are at a critical juncture in this process,” Johnson said. “On the court, our team needs to play well. Off the court, I feel good about the progress we’re making on the new entertainment sports complex and the financing.”

Johnson said that – on the public side of the equation – the city is moving forward with its “due diligence” on a plan to lease out the city parking system as part of the financial plan for a new arena.

“On the private side,” Johnson added, “AEG and ICON and all those folks are doing their part, and we are in negotiations now with the NBA and the Maloofs and all the parties involved. We’d like to be in a good position by the March 1 deadline.”

Proponents of a new sports and entertainment complex have until March 1 to solidify a plan to finance the new arena or the Kings owners will have an opportunity to file a request with the NBA to relocate the team.

At the Dec. 13 City Council meeting, Johnson and council members voted to gauge the interest of investors – through a process called “request for qualifications” – in taking over the city’s parking system as a key component of the finance picture for a new arena.

The RFQs were scheduled to be sent Dec. 22, but city consultants suggested holding off until after the new year, creating a delay in the process.

Johnson said that, despite the RFQs being issued later than expected, he has been assured by the city manager’s office that the delay will not affect the city timeline in a significant way.

“I was a little disappointed because I thought we could get (the RFQs) out even with the two weeks (of holidays) so people would know how things are going,” Johnson said Tuesday, “but I’ve been assured that it won’t slow us down at all.”

Once the city receives responses to the RFQs, the city manager and the City Council will have a better idea of how much the city’s parking assets may net. The initial analysis of the plan to lease the parking system showed a range of $170 million to just over $240 million.

Johnson said Tuesday, however, that he believes the gain from the parking assets for the entertainment and sports complex financing plan may be larger than anticipated.

“It’s not deeply rooted in science or empirical data,” Johnson said, “but I do think we can come in higher than we think – and that’s just my gut feeling.”

Johnson said he thinks the city and Kings fans have come a long way from April 13, when it seemed the Kings were about to play their last game in Sacramento.

“I think we are going to get it done, but there’s work to do,” Johnson said. “It’s going to be very challenging, and there are lots of moving parts (in the process), but I think council will step up, the NBA will step up and we will be able to create a win-win-win for all parties.”

The push for a new sports arena has been ramping up since the Sacramento Kings owners, the Maloof family, announced earlier in the year that they might move the team to Anaheim.

The Sacramento Press will take a more in-depth look Wednesday at how Sacramento has faced the possibility of losing the only major professional sports team in the city.

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

Emergency Shelter Programs Expanded

2011-12-27T16:50:08Z

Sacramento, CA – Sacramento Steps Forward will expand its emergency shelter program to meet additional demand. An additional 57 beds will be made available through expanded Winter Sanctuary and Motel Voucher programs.

Councilmember Steve Cohn and Jay Schenirer met last week with Sacramento Steps Forward, Sacramento Housing Alliance, as well as homeless advocates, the faith community, and business leaders to discuss the critical need for additional winter shelter options. The added beds will double the existing capacity of the Motel Voucher program from 40 to 80 beds and increase the Winter Sanctuary program from 100 to 117 spaces per night.

The additional beds are not fully funded for the entire winter. Several members of the City Council, including Schenirer, Cohn and Ashby, committed to raising the necessary funds to ensure both programs are able to remain operational for the entire winter and are asking businesses, individuals, and others to make contributions. To support the winter shelter, please visit Sacramento Steps Forward at http://sacramentostepsforward.org/ or mail checks to (payable to Sacramento Steps Forward):

Sacramento Steps Forward
1331 Garden Highway, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95833

“This immediate step by the City will help relieve a trying situation,” said Councilmember Steve Cohn. “In these difficult times, we need the business community, other jurisdictions throughout the region and the public to assist by stepping up to contribute to this effort.”

“The existing shelter programs are operating at capacity,” said Councilmember Jay Schenirer. “I’m happy we were able to work together with housing advocates and members of the business community to make this happen. These are temporary solutions as we continue to work on the long term solution of permanent housing.”

“Sacramento is a city that knows how to step forward in times of need,” said Mayor Kevin Johnson.
“It’s gratifying to see the collaboration among so many diverse people pulling together during the holidays to increase the capacity of our winter shelters.”

“The Sacramento Housing Alliance [SHA] deeply appreciates the leadership shown by Councilmember Schenirer and Cohn in expanding the emergency shelter programs, especially at a time when the temperatures are approaching freezing,” said Bob Elrenbusch, Executive Director of Sacramento Housing Alliance (SHA). “This is an important effort to keep an additional 57 homeless people safe and warm. SHA knows that we cannot continue to scramble to find stop gap emergency solutions, and we are committed to partner with Sacramento Steps Forward, the City and County to proactively create permanent housing solutions to end and prevent homelessness.”

The Winter Sanctuary program is an interfaith program run by Volunteers of America in partnership with Sacramento Steps Forward. They provide a safe place to sleep, meals and transportation for up to 100 homeless individuals each night at more than 20 houses of worship throughout Sacramento. The motel voucher program currently shelters approximately 40 plus women and children who would otherwise have nowhere safe to sleep.

No swap for Sac High and West Campus – for now

2011-12-23T02:28:05Z

The potential West Campus/Sacramento High School “swap” is off the table, but the budget and facility use problems that spurred the proposal still exist – leaving open the question, is this really the end of the conversation?

“We have serious issues as far as our budget goes,” Sacramento City Unified School District trustee Patrick Kennedy said Monday. “We’ll have to look at all of our facilities. I won’t say there won’t be discussions of (school) closures in the future.”

In an effort to save money and make more efficient use of district facilities, the SCUSD board recently considered swapping two school programs – the charter school program at the Sac High campus and the program at the West Campus facility.

After much debate and community outcry, the proposal was tabled at the Dec. 6 school board meeting. No date was set to continue the matter at future board meetings – but it remains an open possibility for future consideration.

As the school district budget troubles continue, so will the need to consider cost-cutting alternatives such as school closures or program consolidations.

It is a possibility that Kennedy said is unlikely to be successful, however.

“I can speak for myself, not the board, in saying I feel confident that in the long term I don’t see anything happening as far as a move (for either campus),” Kennedy said.

The school district has been plagued with budget shortfalls for the past few years, and last year, the district faced nearly $18 million in cuts to the budget, resulting in class-size increases, a reduction of school counselors and nearly 350 staff layoffs.

One of the ways board trustees considered saving money was closing schools that were operating at low capacity or combining programs at under-utilized facilities into a single program. The West Campus/Sac High swap proposal was intended to be part of those cost-saving measures.

Although the issue of a potential swap appears to be resolved, Kennedy said the budget issues for the district are not – and that may mean more painful cuts for area schools in the coming year.

“We need to take care of our long-term viability for the next few years,” Kennedy said, “So, we expect there will be another round of cuts next year. We are looking at everything – we’ve even opened up the contracts with our unions to see about getting concessions there.”

For administrators at St. Hope – the organization that runs the charter high school program at the Sac High facility – the potential for the school board to move the charter program is a constant threat, regardless of the most recent board action to table the idea, because the school has a short lease agreement for the facility.

“When a (school) charter is granted, they usually get a five-year (facility-use) lease,” said Mayor Kevin Johnson, who founded St. Hope. “It is frustrating that we’ve been given only 1-year leases, where other charter schools got two years or longer.”

The school board determines which facility the charter can use and the term length of the agreement.

According to the district website, there are currently eight independent charter schools in the Sacramento City Unified School District, and two of those are operated by St. Hope.

Of those eight charter schools, five have two year facility agreement terms, and one has an agreement in perpetuity – it remains in effect for the life of the charter.

The two charter schools operated by St. Hope have one year lease agreements.

“What we are looking for is stability so the question doesn’t come up again next year and the year after and so on,” St. Hope schools superintendent Jim Scheible said Thursday.

“People want to be secure in knowing where their kids will go to school for the long term,” he added.

Scheible said St. Hope started the process for the annual renewal of its facilities use agreements with the district in November, and the agreements will be discussed at the Feb. 2 school board meeting.

If the school board agrees to multiple-year lease agreements, Scheible and Johnson both said that would lend important stability and security to the programs – and take some pressure off administrators.

“Why would you not want to give a successful program the stability and security they need to keep functioning?” Johnson asked. “Other places could learn from (the program) and then, hopefully, duplicate the success.”

City Councilman Jay Schenirer, the council representative for District 5 where Sac High is located, said Wednesday that he hopes the notion of a campus swap is off the table for good.

“They are talking about the two highest-scoring high schools in the area,” Schenirer said. “My hope is that they would leave it alone and let the schools do their business.”

Schenirer said a long-term facilities agreement would help stabilize the programs and allow administrators to focus on a more important work: the education of kids in the district.

“Having to fight that fight every year and worry about it – it’s time off task,” Schenirer said. “Their task is really about educating young people. The more time they have to worry about facilities, the less time they have to spend on the education aspect of their work.”

Scheible said the goal should be to work in partnership with the school district to get kids the best education possible, adding, “If we work in collaboration, we can come up with a good compromise that will benefit everyone.”

On Dec. 6, we asked our readers “What should the SCUSD board do about a West Campus/Sac High swap?” 482 people voted and here are the results:

Leave both campuses as they are – 399 votes
Make the swap and add a comprehensive high school – 61 votes
Put it to a vote in the district – 7 votes
Make the swap, but wait until the current students have graduated – 6 votes

Nine voters chose “Other” and gave the following responses:
“Make the swap period!”
“Make the swap next school year”
“Provide all children with modern, high quality facility they need to learn”
“Improve West Campus and leave Sac Charter alone”
“Leave them as they are separate schools”
“Leave both campuses as they are and look for an alternate site for WC”
“Build another school for West Campus”
“Put both schools at the Sac High location”
“Leave Sac High and move West Campus to one of the ‘adult’ school locations”

The SCUSD board meets on the first and third Thursdays of each month. Meetings are held at the Serna Center Community Room at 5735 47th Ave.

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

How Registered Sex Offenders can Challenge “Jessica’s Law” Residency Restrictions

2011-12-22T17:30:03Z

Q. My brother is going to get out of jail soon, and we were planning on him moving in with me, but his parole officer told him he couldn’t because he has to register as a sex offender and I live too close to an elementary school, which is against “Megan’s Law” or “Jessica’s Law” or something like that. Isn’t there anything we can do? I’m afraid if he doesn’t live with me he will be homeless.

Jerri

A. California’s Megan’s Law requires anyone convicted of a wide range of crimes, including forcible sex crimes involving non-consenting adults and most sex crimes involving children, prostitution, and child pornography, to register as a sex offender upon release on parole or probation or discharge from custody. California Penal Code § 290. Proposition 83, the Sexual Predator Punishment and Control Act, or “Jessica’s Law,” which amended Megan’s Law on November 8, 2006, forbids any registered sex offender from living within 2,000 feet of a school or park where children regularly gather. California Penal Code § 3003.5(b).

Your brother is not alone in facing a very bleak prospect. According to the Prison Law Office, a nonprofit public interest law firm which engages in class action and other impact litigation on behalf of prisoners, these residency restrictions have forced many parolees to become homeless because they are unable to find affordable, compliant housing.

Jessica's law has been challenged in courts as being too restrictive. Your brother may wish to ask a court to review his case. The Prison Law Office, which has been involved in many of these challenges, has produced a packet of forms and instructions that parolees can use to ask for an immediate stay of the restrictions while their individual cases are being heard by the courts. The packet is available for free on the web at http://www.prisonlaw.com/pdfs/ModelHabeasFull,Dec10.pdf. An additional fill-in-the-blank form, required by all California state courts in this type of case, can be downloaded from the California Courts’ website at http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/mc275.pdf.

You should be aware that local cities, towns and counties are permitted to adopt ordinances which impose further restrictions on where you can live. If you are not in Sacramento and are unsure whether your residence is in compliance with local law, check with someone who is familiar with your community’s laws.

Good luck!

Coral Henning, Director
@coralh & @saclawlibrarian
www.saclaw.org

Optimistic yet guarded response to Mayor Johnson’s gang prevention initiative

2011-12-22T08:44:45Z

Mayor Kevin Johnson was flanked by high-ranking law enforcement officials, community leaders, students and others as he officially launched his Gang Prevention Initiative at the Teichert Branch Boys and Girls Club of South Sacramento.

The plan was announced Tuesday morning after a year of gathering input from the community from neighborhood meetings throughout the Sacramento area and combining the results with the efforts of the mayor’s Gang Prevention Task Force.

The community came together in the aftermath of the murder of innocent bystander Monique Nelson following a gang-related gun battle at the Fly Cuts and Styles barbershop in the 6900 block of Stockton Boulevard on Dec. 14, 2010. Six other victims were injured during the barbershop shootout including Marvion Barksdale who subsequently died of his injuries.

Johnson emphasized his vision to create a “paradigm shift” toward prevention and away from law enforcement after the fact in an effort to discourage youth involvement in gang-related activities.

Johnson praised law enforcement officials for bringing all of the shooters involved in the tragedy to justice within four months of the incident.

“Law enforcement and the community must do better to build a relationship based on trusting one another,” Johnson said.

The community values at the core of the Mayor's initiative include holding youth accountable for their conduct, not trying to arrest our way out of the problem, and meeting community challenges with community responses. Johnson emphacized that the city will not give up on its youth because that are valued.

To implement his strategy, Johnson said “a school-based approach” to encourage literacy and discourage juvenile delinquency is necessary.

"85% of the juveniles that are caught up in justice system are functionally illiterate," said Johnson when explaining why it is so important to have all children reading at grade level by the third grade.

To counteract gang activity, Johnson wants to increase community empowerment. He specifically targeted the Neighborhood Watch program, the Problem Oriented Policing program and the gun buyback program as ways to help to make neighborhoods safer.

Johnson also emphasized the importance of workforce readiness and positive alternatives such as internships. He said the summer jobs program spearheaded by Councilmember Jay Schenirer needs to be “bigger and bolder.”

County Undersheriff Mark Iwasa announced that the department applied for and received two grants to fund gang prevention activities that will keep 25 officers on the streets in various roles related specifically to gang prevention.

Without the grants, Iwasa acknowledged that the positions would likely have been eliminated.

Isawa said the three-year program will focus on prevention and intervention through the use of school resource officers as positive role models, in addition to the more traditional activities such as intelligence gathering, crime analysis and enforcement.

The Sacramento police department also announced that it received a grant that will allow for 24 officers to remain on the beat specifically to target gang activities after those positions had been threatened by budgetary challenges.

Betty Williams, president of the Sacramento branch of the NAACP, said the national NAACP office recently awarded the local branch a grant to support its efforts to become more involved in the strategic effort to decrease youth gang activities.

Williams said Sacramento branch would probably not have received the award without the mayor's letter of support.

The award was only one of two granted throughout the country and will fund at least one, but possibly up to three, paid staff positions. Williams said the award will greatly enhance the Sacramento branch’s ability to develop more of a presence in the community in support of the mayor’s anti-gang efforts.

Johnson responded to a question about the use of current resources to further these efforts by acknowledging that the plan is not complete and that the financial struggles to fund the implementation team are a concern.

Johnson further acknowledged that city and county officials have been willing to work “outside of the box” and that they must continue to “work within the solution.”

Johnson made it clear that regional cooperation of all local law enforcement jurisdictions would be required to make the plan successful.

Isawa said the mayor's plan has encouraged law enforcement to work more closely together across jurisdictional lines, thereby creating savings by eliminating unnecessary duplication of efforts.

Isawa also said they will continue seeking grants before the current three-year awards expire.

Members of Monique Nelson's extended family were frequently acknowledged for the difficulties they have faced during the past year throughout the press conference. Most speakers that came to the podium remarked on the tragedy that brought the community together.

“Our family has been destroyed by gang violence,” said Richard Anthony Nelson, brother of the slain victim. “It's been a difficult year.”

Johnson also took time to acknowledge the “negative catalyst” that brought the community together before the formal press conference adjourned.

Members of the faith-based community joined together with community activists and individuals affected by gang violence to take turns speaking at a podium set up in front of the Boys and Girls Club to honor Monique Nelson and acknowledge others who have fallen as a result of gang violence.

“Use this day for gain, not loss, for the sacrifice that Monique made,” said Beatrice Bailey, an aunt of Monique Nelson who expressed to those gathered around how much she missed the close relationship she shared with her niece. “Don't let the support and concern end today.”

Labeeba Rahman attended the event after learning of it when she expressed an interest in becoming involved in direct intervention with at-risk youth. She was visibly moved by the comments of community activist Rhonda Erwin, who expressed her frustrations with gang violence when describing how one of her sons is serving a life term in prison and another mother's son was killed because of gangs.

“I remember the incident when the young man Rhonda mentioned was killed,” Rahman said. “I live in that neighborhood, and having her discuss it so openly brings up the horrible memories. It feels like it just happened yesterday.”

Erwin reserved some of her sharpest comments until after the memorial service was completed.

“Nothing stops a bullet like a job,” she said. “But it appears the jobs are going to law enforcement and not to the youth who need to be employed.”

Erwin continued on to indicate that she was disappointed that none of the other victims of the tragic shootout were acknowledged by name during the press conference. “The Barbershop shooting didn't just take the life of Monique, it also took the life of a 20-year-old youth,” Erwin stated in reference to Marvion Barksdale.

Others who were in attendance at the memorial expressed sentiments ranging from frustration to a call for action and accountability in the community.

“The challenge is to save our young people,” said Steve Streeter, a retired law enforcement official who now mentors young victims of violent crimes in his role as the case manager for the Wraparound Project at the UC Davis Medical Center. “These are our kids, and we’ve got to do everything we can to save them.”

“I work in the main jail,” stated Sacramento Sheriff Deputy Henry Harry during his time at the podium outside of the Boys and Girls Club.

Sheriff Deputy Henry Harry, who works in the main jail, said the best strategy for our at-risk youth is “not to lock them up, but to help them.”

The current reality is that many youthful offenders lose their lives to lengthy prison sentences at a very young age once it is charged and proven by the District Attorney in court that a crime was committed in furtherance of gang activitiy. Following a trend in legistation that has developed since the creation of the three strikes and you're out law, violent offenders now face severe consequences for crimes that involve gangs and guns, even if an offender is not facing a third strike.

“Our children are dying on our streets and becoming the walking dead in California state prisons because of the lengthy sentences that are being handed out based on enhancements for gang membership,” Erwin lamented.

Community activist Marta Rodriguez spoke about the difficulties of changing her life course and developing a positive lifestyle after spending part of her youth involved in gang activities.

“What are we going to do with former gang members?” Rodriguez asked, throwing up her hands with a very concerned look on her face. “It's very discouraging for many people when doors are shut because of (negative) background checks.”

”Not enough former parolees and probationers realize that they may be eligible for a certificate of rehabilitation or to have their felony convictions expunged,” criminal defense attorney Keith Staten said. “Also, the required filing fees may be waived if the individual is struggling financially. Often having one’s felony convictions set aside by the courts can make a tremendous difference to an ex-felon who is seeking employment.”

The very real struggles and frustrations with overcoming a history of bad choices were evident in the comments of some of the attendees who came to the event hoping to hear some words of encouragement and a message of hope for the future.

“I heard a lot of words today, and it sounded like the police were the only ones who received any money,” stated Brian M., a 31-year-old parolee in the process of changing his life around after years of gang activity, including multiple terms in prison. “It's difficult to understand how anything I heard today is actually going to benefit someone like me who is at risk.”

“It's all about people,” said Gregory King, president of Always Knocking Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to stopping youth and gang violence. “It's all about the daily struggle, and until our people get on board, we must keep pushing.”

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