Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "roger dickinson"

Save Sunny's Campaign is About Restoring Fairness, Local Control to State Law

2011-08-26T01:26:04Z

Anyone who's been following the Save Sunny's Market campaign, might wonder how we got to this point. In short, state law allows the negligent actions of a previous business owner to impact the potential success of a new owner. After researching the legislative history, the answer to why this is the case is somewhat mysterious.

The legislation in question is AB 1042 (Chapter 538, Statutes of 1996), authored by Assemblywoman Dede Alpert, and came about to "reduce the number of applications for liquor licenses by premises who have continually been denied a license and thus reducing the impact that these 'unwarranted' applications have on communities."

Specifically, residents of the Linda Vista community in San Diego claim to have spent over 575 hours and given up $11,570 in wages fighting entities who repeatedly applied for an alcohol license without addressing the issues initially causing the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to reject their applications. This is a seemingly legitimate grievance, right?

Well, at the time, ABC already had an existing regulation in place that denied a license to any premises that had its application denied or license revoked in the preceding 12-months. But it was still possible for an operator to reapply for a license annually, even if their application was denied year after year. And the Linda Vista community was tired of fighting the same battles, so they contacted Asm. Alpert to rectify the situation.

But here's where things get really interesting. The ABC regulation also had a provision that allowed the Department to waive this rule "when the reasons that caused the denial no longer exist." In other words, prior to AB 1042, ABC had the authority to approve a new owner's application at the same premises if a transfer of ownership occured within the 12-month period.

Somehow, though, that regulation ended up becoming codified in AB 1042 without the clause granting ABC the authority to consider scenarios whereby "the reasons that caused the denial no longer exist." Remember, all of these restrictions are on the site itself, regardless of who is the operator. In reaction, the California Grocers Association stated their opposition to the bill as follows:

AB 1042 focuses on the premises rather than the operator. It is the irresponsible operator, not the premises, that causes a license to be revoked. If the irresponsible operator manages to get his/her license revoked twice within a 36 month period, the premises would be ineligible for a license for two years, no matter who wished to operate at that location.

Similarly, committee consultant Jim Branham wrote in his analysis:

The longer waiting period may cause economic loss to the owner of the property. It may be preferable to allow the ABC the flexibility to continue to deal with these requests on a regulatory, not a statutory, basis.

(Editor's Note: Statutes are authored by the Legislature and, therefore, trump regulations which are promulgated by state agencies.)

Translation: the current dillema faced by the Patel family was completely foreseen. But it's also a testament to the manner in which decision-making has moved away from local communities.

Yes, there are some residents who don't want Sunny's to sell alcohol. However, the vast majority of us do and we don't even have the opportunity to collectively decide the matter as a neighborhood because lawmakers decided that they know better than we do.

I realize most folks might have a hard time setting aside the issue of Sunny's acquiring a license from the fundamental unfairness in the law, but those really are two different things. In any application for an alcohol license, a transparent, public process exists for residents to voice their concerns and ABC must consider those concerns in determining whether or not to grant the license.

But AB 1042 took away our ability to even have that conversation in the first place.

Disclosure: I live one-half block from Sunny's as a renter and have no financial conflict of interest. I just want the Patel family to succeed. I'm managing the campaign through pro bono services.

Practical Solution to Save Sunny's Market within Sight

2011-08-23T17:11:35Z

Thanks to the support of so many Marshall School/New Era Park (MSNEP) residents, the Save Sunny's Market campaign was able to deliver eleven pages of petition signatures to the offices of Assemblymember Roger Dickinson and Senator Darrell Steinberg yesterday. The 165 signatures demonstrate broad-based neighborhood support for the new operators of Sunny’s Market to acquire a beer and wine license.

If you are just hearing about this issue for the first time, Josh and Monica Patel – the new owners of Sunny’s, are at risk of closing their doors due to the negligent actions of the previous owner who violated the law several times by selling alcoholic beverages to underage decoys.

Under current law, if there are multiple violations within a specific timeframe, not only is an operator’s license revoked, but the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control must impose a one-year cooling off period on the site itself, even if there is a transfer of ownership.

Upon acquiring the business, the new owners were unaware that the actions of the previous owner would impact their ability to successfully run a small business. This unfairness led to the formation of a grassroots campaign to save Sunny’s Market.

The campaign is asking lawmakers to approve a minor change in the law that would keep the mandatory one-year cooling off period in place, but also allow this provision to be overridden if a new owner acquires the business and a majority of nearby residents sign a petition in support of the new operator’s intent to acquire a license.

Existing law does not provide a way around the mandatory one-year cooling off period, even if a responsible owner takes over the business and neighbors support the new operator possessing a license. Midtown residents in support of the campaign are asking Asm. Dickinson and Sen. Steinberg to author the necessary changes in law to shift accountability from the state down to residents at the local level. Government works best when decisions can be made at a level that is closest to the people.

Because September 2 is the last day bills can be amended, the campaign is urging residents to contact their lawmakers. This goal, however, is completely within reach. We just need to show how much we support exists for the Patel family.

While the MSNEP Neighborhood Association recognizes that existing law was enacted to protect residents in a neighborhood where bad actors willfully violate the spirit and intent of the law, we also believe that it should not be so unduly burdensome that it restricts the ability of good stewards like Josh and Monica to successfully run a small business through the responsible sale of alcohol - particularly when there is demonstrated public support.

What You Can Do

1. Read the Fact Sheet

2. Contact our local legislators and tell them you support Sunny's Market:

Assemblymember Roger Dickinson

(916) 319-2009 // assemblymember.dickinson@asm.ca.gov

Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg

(916) 651-4006 // senator.steinberg@senate.ca.gov

3. Stop by Sunny's and make a small purchase so that they can get throught this rough period.

Also, don't forget to "like" the campaign on Facebook:

facebook.com/SaveSunnys

Disclosure: I live one-half block from Sunny's as a renter and have no financial conflict of interest. I just want the Patel family to succeed. I'm managing the campaign through pro bono services.

State Controller and Sacramento Mayor celebrate non-profit’s decade of success

2011-08-05T18:31:54Z

Before guests could hit the dance floor and mingle with friends at a non-profit organization’s 10th Anniversary celebration, local community leaders gave a “Celebrity Show” posing to be celebrities of the last decade to say a few words.

The emcee introduced the first celebrity – Hillary Clinton. Walking and gracefully waving to “Stand by Your Man” by Tammy Wynette from the back of the ballroom to the podium is Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg’s (D-Sacramento) District Director Susan McKee.

Guests stood up from their seats to take videos and photos while others clapped and laughed.

“I told the President that C.C. Yin has always been my man and all of you know I stand by my man,” Clinton said. “I brought a special gift from the White House, but, because of budget cuts, it’s only a key chain.”

The room roared with laughter until the next celebrity was introduced.

Assemblyman Roger Dickinson played Jerry Brown, NAACP Sacramento Branch President Betty Williams played Diana Ross and former Sacramento Monarchs’ player Ruthie Bolton played Oprah Winfrey, just to name a few.

Over 700 guests attended the 10th Anniversary Gala celebration of non-profit, non-partisan organization Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association’s (APAPA) Saturday, July 31 at Sheraton Grand Hotel.

The celebration included dinner, several speakers, a video about the organization and lots of dancing.

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson began the ceremony noting how thankful he is for APAPA’s contributions to the community.

“I’m so proud to have APAPA based in Sacramento,” said Johnson.

Founded in 2001 by C.C. Yin and fellow civic-minded community members, APAPA’s goal is to empower Asian Americans in civic and public affairs through education, active participation and leadership development.

Keynote speaker California State Controller John Chiang is grateful for APAPA and its effort in helping create leaders who are willing to make the tough decisions.

“What APAPA has tried to do in the last decade is to narrow the divide between research and knowledge and good public policy,” said Chiang.

A video showcasing APAPA's successes of the past decade was played. Check out the video.

APAPA has given over $50,000 in scholarships and over 80 State Capitol internships. In 2001, there were no API state and constitutional office holders. In 2009, there were 15.

APAPA helped bring about API leaders into our government system.

Looking back at the past decade, Yin had high hopes for the future.

“Ten years from now, led by the younger generation, APAPA will be taken to the national level,” said Yin.

APAPA currently has four chapters throughout California: Collegiate, Bay Area, Central Valley and Southern California.

Yin invited everyone to the dance floor with the final words.

“See you in October,” said Yin.

Every September or October since 2005, APAPA has put together Voters Education and Candidates Forum free for the public to become more aware of the democratic process, register to vote, interact one-on-one with candidates and watch debates.

Last year, over 30 state and constitutional candidates spoke and debated with opponents for the some 2,000 attendees at California State University, Sacramento.

On Saturday, October 22, APAPA’s 2011 Voters Education and Candidates Forum will be held in San Francisco.

For more information, visit www.APAPA.org.

Community honors Grantland Johnson

2011-03-21T02:10:42Z

Close to 150 people braved the rain Saturday afternoon and came to the Hagginwood Community Center for the dedication of the Grantland Johnson Soccer Field.

“It’s quite an honor, I must tell you,” said Grantland Johnson to the crowd crammed inside the lobby of the community center.

A native resident of Sacramento’s Del Paso Heights neighborhood, Johnson graduated from Grant High School where he played for the Pacers football team. He received his B.A. Degree from Sacramento State in Government and later received honorary Doctorates of Humane Letters from both Sacramento State and Golden Gate University.

“I would not be the person I am today, had I not grown up in this great community of Del Paso Heights. I am so blessed and fortunate to have grown up in Del Paso Heights,” said Johnson.

Hagginwood Park was brought into the City of Sacramento when it merged with North Sacramento in 1964. It is where Johnson played baseball as a youth.

“A lot of folks I met, literally for the first time, out on the baseball field,” said Johnson.

Johnson went on to serve in offices at the city, county, state, and federal levels. He served as a member of the Sacramento City Council representing District 2 from 1983 to 1986. He then served as a member of the Sacramento Count Board of Supervisors representing District 1 from 1987 to 1993, when he was appointed by the Clinton administration as Director for the U.S Department of Health & Human Services overseeing Region IX from 1993 to 1998.

Johnson served as the Cabinet Secretary for the California Health & Human Services Agency during the Administration of former Governor Gray Davis from 1999 to 2003.

“It was a pleasure to work with Grantland,” said former Sacramento Mayor Anne Rudin. “I was so impressed with his understanding of policy issues, his ability to work with other people, his willingness to give and take a little.”

“His priorities were always right.”

When it was his turn to speak, Johnson returned the favor.

“She really reached out to me and worked with me to be an effective member of the council,” said Johnson. “Mayor Rudin is a person of supreme principle.”

“I learned from her the importance of building relationships to get things done. I want to say, Mayor Rudin, how much you mean to me, how much I respect you and honor you, but I think you’re much too modest in terms of the impact you’ve had on this community.”

“I can tell you personally the impact you’ve had over me, and I’m deeply grateful and I cherish your friendship.”

Johnson’s time serving the public allowed him to cross paths and influence several of today’s high-profile public officials.

“We take for granted that Sacramento has this great neighborhood-movement”, said State Senate Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, who began serving as a Sacramento City Councilmember while Grantland served on the Board of Supervisors.

“We take for granted that the City and the school districts work together in the joint uses is the way we work together. We think the fact that we now connect economic development and job creation and the neighborhood movement. Back in 1992, none of that was really a reality, and wasn’t even the way of thinking, and the person who was really on the forefront of all of that was Grantland Johnson.”

“This recognition is not only very appropriate, but it’s necessary to recognize how far we’ve come as a community in 20 years and who was on the front-end and front-line when that happened.”

Assemblymember Roger Dickinson, who was Johnson’s successor as County Supervisor, reminisced about their work to bring light rail to Sacramento.

“I was privileged to join Grantland for a period of time on the Regional Transit Board in those early days of the 1980s when we were working to bring light rail transit, what was a new idea to Sacramento, which was really an old concept brought back to life,” said Dickinson.

“How far ahead of so many of us Grantland was with regard to making sure that we on the leading edge in transportation for those who most needed it and relied on it in our community.”

The soccer field is just one part of a planned makeover of Hagginwood Park to include a new play areas, an arbor structure, a skate park, a dog park, new basketball courts, and an outdoor theatre.

“Hagginwood was one of the focuses of a study that was done about two years ago about public safety in our parks and making parks like Hagginwood centers of our neighborhoods,” said City Parks and Recreation Commissioner Jonathan Rewers.

“The soccer field is another part to make this park a jewel within the city’s park system.”

Said Councilmember Sandy Sheedy: “It’s a professional soccer field, the first in this area. It’s already rented through the first of the year. It’s always going to be busy, and it’s always going to know the name ‘Grantland Johnson’ on it.”

Generous Grant From First 5 Sacramento Will Allow Powerhouse Science Center To Devote Entire Area to Young Children

2010-11-29T17:58:58Z

The Powerhouse Science Center in Sacramento today announced it has accepted a $250,000 grant from First 5 Sacramento. The grant will help build a room that will support a school readiness program by featuring age and development-appropriate learning activities.

Located on the scenic banks of the Sacramento River, the Powerhouse Science Center will be the premier science and space learning center serving Northern California. It will serve as a model for 21st-century experiential education in science, math, technology, engineering, and space – and an exemplary “green” building that functions as an environmental teaching lab.

The Center, which will cost an estimated $50 million, has nearly completed its pre-construction phase. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2013.

The grant will fund the First Discovery Room, a 625 square-foot, semi-enclosed space located within the main Powerhouse building – the historic PG&E power station. The room will serve as an affordable, accessible, and culturally-sensitive space dedicated for children zero through five years of age, their families, and caregivers to experience an array of school readiness, parenting, and community building activities.

“The Powerhouse Science Center is an innovative educational center that will cater to many different age groups,” said Michele Wong, Interim Executive Director for the Powerhouse Science Center. “First 5 Sacramento focuses on the early growth experiences for children, so this generous grant means we will definitely have an area that can help provide the zero through five age children and their families with many wonderful experiences that will enable the children to be more successful in school and ultimately have a better opportunity to succeed in life.”

The First Discovery Room will provide a wide variety of school readiness and community building programming, including:

Community Meeting Area that will help build community by providing a safe, comfortable place where families can interact with their children in an instructional manner while socializing with other parents, children, and community members.
Stage, with Movable Puppet Theatre and Hidden Storage Area.
Play Diner featuring healthy food choices and pretend play, and school readiness activities.
Reading Cabin featuring a cozy space where youth and caregivers can interact and read.
Take-Away Kiosk, with free, helpful publications.
Tot Crawling Area where the youngest children can interact with age and developmentally appropriate manipulatives while learning to socialize with each other.

“We are very excited about partnering with the Powerhouse Science Center and what this will mean for the many families that we represent,” said Roger Dickinson, Chair to the First 5 Sacramento Commission. “First 5 Sacramento partners with high quality learning programs that are committed to providing children with the necessary tools to make them successful life-long learners. One of our primary goals is preparing children to enter kindergarten ‘ready to learn.’ The Powerhouse Science Center will be a great asset in helping First 5 Sacramento achieve that objective.”

Situated in the River District off Jibboom Street, the historic PG&E Power Station B was the first-choice location for the Powerhouse Science Center because the historic building’s position on the riverfront is highly visible, creating greater awareness for the imaginative science facility.

A premiere Northern California science and space learning facility, the Center project is a unique public, non-profit educational institution that involves a partnership between the Powerhouse Science Center, PG&E, The City of Sacramento, and 28 other Founding Partners who have declared a commitment to the project.

In restoring and reusing this property that is now owned by The City of Sacramento, the Center will serve as a model for 21st-century experiential education in science, math, technology, engineering, and space, and be utilized as a field trip destination for pre-kindergarten to 12th grade students from throughout the region.

The Powerhouse Science Center will include:

Generous exhibit space for current and traveling exhibits
Science laboratories and classrooms
150-seat full-dome planetarium
New Challenger Learning Center
Robotics exhibit and lab
Environmental exhibits
Outdoor stage and screen
Cafe with outdoor seating
Restaurant with riverfront views
Spacious entry, reception, event and meeting areas
Bookstore and gift shop
Auto and bus parking areas

For more information on the Powerhouse Science Center, visit www.powerhousesciencecenter.org, email info@PowerhouseScienceCenter.org, or call 916 853-0343

Disclosure: Jeffrey Weidel is V.P. of Halldin Public Relations in Roseville, Volunteer PR work for Powerhouse Science Center.

County laying groundwork for economic turnaround

2010-11-11T01:41:02Z

The message from officials at Wednesday’s third annual State of Sacramento County forum was that things might be tough now, but hard work today is laying the groundwork for prosperity in the future.

“We should always question our assumptions that things tomorrow will be as they are today,” said Roger Dickinson, chair of the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors and State Assemblyman-elect.

The Metro Chamber event was held at Sacramento International Airport, and 260 people attended, according to Communications Director Hal Silliman.

Dickinson said the $1.08 billion airport expansion – also known as “The Big Build” – is iconic of what is in store for the county and will “inspire us to focus on realizing an even brighter and better future.”

For context, Dickinson recalled the devastating news the county received in 1995 when it was decided that McClellan Air Force Base would be closed – a base on which 13,000 people worked, including 10,000 civilians.

Just six years later, 2,500 people were employed on the former base.

“Today, over 15,000 people report to McClellan Park each and every day, and 6.5 million square feet is under lease,” Dickinson said.

He added that the McClellan Park project was one of the best partnerships between government and the private sector he has ever seen, and the airport expansion is another way to strengthen the region.

Interim County Executive Steven Szalay laid out the steps the county has taken to weather the current recession.

He said the county closed a $181 million budget gap this year and is constantly looking at better ways to govern and increase efficiency.

To prevent similar budget crises in the future, Szalay said the county has reduced its reliance on one-time funding from $80 million to $30 million per year and is working to lower that number further.

When the economy turns around, a budgeting policy will be put into place that will save 50 cents of each dollar in revenue. Those funds will be put into reserves and will be reinvested to provide a hedge against future downturns.

To encourage departments to run more efficiently, Szalay said they will now be able to carry over money they save in their own budgets to the next fiscal year, rather than having any savings diverted to the county’s general fund.

Finally, Szalay said the county is working within the region to streamline services needed by all governing bodies, including animal control and emergency dispatching, so unnecessary parallel services are consolidated.

Metro Chamber members were given a look at what will be included in the new airport’s Terminal B by Sacramento County Airport System Director G. Hardy Acree. Details of the expansion will be provided in an upcoming Sacramento Press article.

Bill Swelbar, a research engineer for the MIT International Center for Air Transportation, then discussed the issues facing the global airline industry and metropolitan areas with airports going into the future.

Swelbar said he sees successful airports in the future as being ones around major metropolitan centers, while more-remote ones could find it difficult to stay open.

“That’s not Sacramento,” Swelbar said. “Sacramento is very well-positioned for tomorrow.”

Attending the event was Tim Youmans, who works in the public finance and real estate field.

“The county seems to be repositioning themselves well for the next 10 years,” Youmans said.

He added that he found the presentation on air travel to be interesting and was heartened by the conclusion that Sacramento will continue to be a viable option for air travel growth.

“I think they’re seizing the opportunity in this economic downturn to become more innovative and rethink their procedures and changing them to be more efficient,” said Jim Alves, who works for SMUD.

During his remarks, Dickinson voiced his vision for the future of the county.

“We have a vision of a vital and vibrant region,” he said, “of an ever-growing and attractive center of community life, commerce, entertainment, the arts ... in short, the best place to live, anywhere.”

Photo 3 is Roger Dickinson, and photo 4 is Steven Szalay.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Ice skating rink opens

2010-11-05T23:03:57Z

Sacramento's holiday ice-skating rink opened downtown Friday with fanfare and free skating.

About 120 screaming school kids joined Mayor Kevin Johnson, Assemblyman-elect Roger Dickinson and Downtown Sacramento Partnership Executive Director Michael Ault at a noon ceremony to welcome the Westfield Downtown Ice Rink back to St. Rose of Lima Park.

The capital's outdoor winter skating rink was built in Midtown last year during a $4.5 million renovation of the park at Seventh and K streets, the 700 block of K Street and a light rail platform relocation.

"I think the ice rink is back where it belongs," Dickinson told the crowd shortly before he, Johnson and Ault cut a big red ribbon at the rink's entrance.

With a yell, kids in skates blasted onto the ice – where Johnson's Special Assistant R.E. Graswich was already trying his luck by skating for the first time.

"That doesn't mean I can skate. It just means I'm floundering around," said Graswich, who wore a red and white, candy cane-striped tie for the occasion. "They make it look so easy on television."

Neither the mayor nor Dickinson joined him on the 7,000-square-foot ice rink. But students from Washington and Earl Warren elementary schools and Sutter Middle School were more than happy to. They and everyone else who hits the ice Friday skate free until the rink closes at 10 p.m.

This year brings a few changes to the rink, which is operating downtown for its 19th season. Ticket prices for two-hour sessions have been raised from $6 to $8 for kids and adults. Skate rentals will still be $2.

The price hasn't increased in at least six years. But the fee had to be raised after vendor costs went up, DSP Marketing and Outreach Director Lisa Martinez said.

Also new this year are training skates for toddlers and skating lessons. Private skating instructors Chris Kinzer, Carrie Clarke and Holly Thompson will be available for lessons at 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Saturdays. A half-hour lesson is $20 and three lessons are $50, according to DSP Events Manager Annie Stuckert.

People who own skates will need to get them sharpened beforehand, because the ice rink doesn't have a skate sharpener.

To offset the price increase, the rink will offer various specials, including Family Skate Night Tuesdays. One child skates free with each paying adult.

Except for Christmas, the rink will be open daily through Jan. 17, weather permitting. Hours are noon - 8 p.m., Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Sessions start on the hour.

One thing the ice rink doesn't have: training skates for adults.

"We don't, unfortunately," DSP Marketing Manager Megan Emmerling said. "But we do have lessons."

Lesson reservations must be made in advance by calling DSP at 442-8575. To contact the ice rink, call 442-5563.

Photos 1-3 by Kati Garner. Photo of R.E. Graswich skating by Suzanne Hurt, a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Photographer Barry Wisdom returned Friday night to capture the shots below.

McCarty concedes District 9 race

2010-06-25T01:53:35Z

At approximately 5:30 p.m. today Kevin McCarty called Roger Dickinson and conceded the District 9 race for the State Assembly.

In a statement released this evening, McCarty announced his gratitude to his campaign and his congratulations to Dickinson.

"I know he’ll serve the City of Sacramento well in the State Assembly," McCarty wrote. "To my family, friends and supporters…Thank you! I’m really proud of our positive, energetic, grassroots campaign…and couldn’t have done it without you!"

The Dickinson camp is looking forward to getting involved with the business of District 9, according to Dickinson's campaign manager, Gabriel Medina.

"All the candidates ran a very strong race, and we look forward to Roger being in the Assembly," Medina said.

The county Registrar of Voters Jill Lavine said that of the remaining 4,000 provisional ballots, only 700 pertain to this race, and added it is possible not all of them will be valid.

Dickinson holds 35.3 percent of the vote. McCarty holds 34.8 percent of the votes.

A candidate needs to simply have the most votes to be declared the winner.

You can view the updated election results here.

District 9 results update

2010-06-23T04:05:21Z

As of 3:32 p.m. Roger Dickinson held 228 more votes than Kevin McCarty, his main competitor in the District 9 race for the State Assembly, according to the state elections website.

A candidate only needs to have more votes than all other candidates to claim victory in State Assembly races.

Sacramento County still has mail-in and provisional ballots to count in this race, but the official count of how many exactly was not available at 9 p.m.

The election is still a very tight race with Dickinson claiming 35.4 percent of the vote. McCarty holds 34.8 percent.

McCarty is waiting until more is known from the county registrar.

"I am going to respect them and wait until they finish their job of counting all the ballots," McCarty said.

Roger Dickinson was not available for comment.

Another election update will be made public on Thursday afternoon.

County leaders pass budget with at least 725 layoffs

2010-06-18T03:20:44Z

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Waiting game: Dickinson, McCarty divided by 33 votes in Assembly race

2010-06-10T02:34:34Z

Thirty-three votes divide the two local politicians fighting for a state Assembly seat in the Democratic primary.

Sacramento County Supervisor Roger Dickinson currently has a tiny lead of 33 votes over City Councilman Kevin McCarty in the race for the District 9 Assembly seat.

Dickinson has 35.05 percent of the vote, while McCarty has 34.93 percent. With all precincts reporting, McCarty had 9,634 votes to Dickinson’s 9,667.

Jill LaVine, Sacramento County’s top election official, estimated that more than 86,000 remaining ballots still need to be counted. That total is comprised of unprocessed ballots that came to the elections office before Tuesday night, vote-by-mail ballots delivered to polls, and ballots that need to be studied further, according to a news release from the elections office.

The competitor who will run in the general election will be the one with the most votes.

“It can come down to one vote,” said Shannan Velayas, spokeswoman for the California Secretary of State’s office.

Gabriel Medina, campaign manager for Dickinson, said that the supervisor’s supporters were “cautiously optimistic.” Dickinson’s campaign was pleased with the vote tally, Medina said, and supporters celebrated late into the night on Wednesday.

McCarty also has an upbeat attitude about the contest.

“I’m feeling good,” McCarty said Wednesday afternoon. “I think we ran a very strong campaign. We ran a really positive campaign.”

After the precincts were reported, City Councilwoman and Assembly candidate Lauren Hammond was in third place with 18.8 percent of the District 9 vote.

The district includes most of the city of Sacramento.

Hammond’s City Council seat was up for grabs in this election cycle. She did not run in the City Council election. There will likely be a runoff between candidates Jay Schenirer and Patrick Kennedy for Hammond’s seat, Assistant City Clerk Stephanie Mizuno said Wednesday morning.

The city staggers the years of its City Council races: McCarty’s City Council seat was not part of the June election.

Wendy Klock-Johnson of the Sacramento City Clerk’s office said Tuesday that if McCarty wins the Assembly seat in both the primary election and the November general election, the city will need to hold a special election for his City Council seat.

Photos by Anthony Bento.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Leipheimer ready to repeat as Tour of California champion

2010-05-15T04:13:13Z

The Amgen Tour of California doesn't begin until Sunday, but Levi Leipheimer already is heavily favored to win.

"I think it will be a wonderful race," cycling commentator Phil Liggett said at a news conference Friday. "Levi Leipheimer will still win, but what the hell."

Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong echoed that sentiment about the winner of the last three Tours of California.

"If I were looking at it like an analyst, I would say that Levi, Dave (Zabriskie) and Michael Rogers are the big three," Armstrong said. "I guarantee you that Levi will kick (Mark) Cavendish's ass on hills."

Cavendish would do the same to him on sprints, Leipheimer said under his breath. He noted that in previous years the race was held in February, but that professional cyclists' fitness is at a higher level in May.

Leipheimer pronounced himself "ready and here to win it again."

Andrew Messick, president of co-sponsor Anschutz Entertainment Group Sports, presented Mayor Kevin Johnson and County Supervisor Roger Dickinson with yellow jerseys. Johnson praised the tour for bringing $8 million to local businesses. He vowed to keep Armstrong's bike safe and promised never to wear spandex.

Armstrong's time-trial bike was stolen after the race prologue last year, but returned three days later. He said this year he would keep the bike in his hotel room, instead of in a trailer, where it was stored last year.

Leipheimer and Armstrong will be racing on the newly formed Team Radioshack, which Armstrong said is similar to last year's Team Astana. Six of that team's riders remain, two have changed. Armstrong said one of his goals is for his team to win first place.

"We're going to support Levi," he said. "It's like his Super Bowl."

For more information on road closures in Sacramento, visit: www.sacramentopress.com/headline/26944/City_readies_for_rolling_street_closures_and_thousands_of_spectators_this_weekend.

For a bird's eye view of the first stage and stage one information, visit this article: http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/26951/Birds_Eye_View_of_AMGEN_Race.

To view team rosters, visit: www.sacramentopress.com/headline/26484/Amgen_Tour_of_California_teams_announced.

For stage maps and other information, visit amgentourofcalifornia.com.

The race will be broadcast on the Versus Network for several hours daily.

Photographs:
1. Left to right: David Zabriskie, Lance Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer, Andy Schleck
2. Lance Armstrong
3. Phil Liggett, foreground: Levi Leipheimer (left), Lance Armstrong (right)
4. Mark Cavendish
5. Left to right: Andrew Messick, Kevin Johnson, Roger Dickinson
6. Fabian Cancellara
7. George Hincapie

Sac State College Democrats receive contributions from PG&E

2010-05-14T05:20:26Z

A student Democratic group at California State University, Sacramento, is more than just a club of like-minded young people — it’s a major political player that attracts thousands of dollars in campaign contributions.

The College Democrats group at Sacramento State both receives financial contributions from various interests and contributes to political candidates.

A few months ago, the student club received a hefty sum: Pacific Gas and Electric Corporation contributed $10,000 to the group Dec. 22, according to campaign records.

The student group is also a political player in advance of the upcoming June 8 primary: Just a few days after receiving the $10,000, the College Democrats contributed $7,800 to Chris Garland’s Assembly District 9 campaign on Dec. 28, according to campaign reports.

Garland is running against fellow Democrats Adam Sartain, Lauren Hammond, Kevin McCarty and Roger Dickinson. McCarty and Hammond are members of the Sacramento City Council; Dickinson is a county supervisor. The sole Republican candidate is Rick Redding.

PG&E spokeswoman Cynthia Pollard responded to the question of why the company donated $10,000 to the student group.

“PG&E’s contribution to the College Democrats of Sacramento State was for general support of the organization’s goals,” Pollard wrote in an e-mail Thursday. “It was not earmarked for any specific initiative or candidate. It is ultimately the recipient organization’s decision as to how to spend the funds.”

PG&E made the contribution to the College Democrats after the student group endorsed Garland Dec. 10. The student group's endorsement is online.

Pollard responded to a question asking if the company contributed to the College Democrats with the expectation that the College Democrats would give to Garland’s campaign.

“No,” Pollard said. “PG&E contributes to hundreds of committees and organizations throughout the state based on their programs and goals. Like many individuals and businesses, PG&E participates in the political process.”

Phil Giarrizzo, a political consultant for Garland’s campaign, said questions about PG&E contributions to the College Democrats after the students endorsed Garland assumes a “ridiculous nexus.”

There is no relevancy to the question, Giarrizzo said.

PG&E’s Pollard said that PG&E’s political contributions do not come from utility bills paid by the public.

“As an additional note, I would like to point out that PG&E holds itself to the highest standards of public disclosure and compliance with applicable laws and regulations and that our political contributions are paid for with shareholder funds, not utility customer dollars,” she said.

PG&E has put millions toward Proposition 16, which would establish that two-thirds of a local body's voting public must sign off on certain electricity service decisions made by a local government.

PG&E contributed money to numerous groups last year, including the California Democratic Party, the California Republican Party and an array of political candidates, according to campaign records filed with the California Secretary of State’s Office. Many of the contributions dwarf the size of the $10,000 contribution to the College Democrats.

However, the $10,000 contribution is a big one for the College Democrats at Sacramento State.

By contrast, Senate President Darrell Steinberg contributed $250 to the student group in February 2009. The next month, a sheet metal workers union gave $1,000 to the student club.

John Ryan, president of the College Democrats at Sacramento State, said the group endorsed Garland because he focused on higher education issues. “And that really resonated with us,” Ryan said.

In response to a question about PG&E’s $10,000 contribution, Ryan said: “We wouldn’t begin to have a kind of quid pro quo with anyone that donates to the campaign. There’s isn’t any kind of implied strings attached.”

See PG&E’s campaign contributions for last year here.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

The Big Build at Sacramento International Airport

2010-04-27T20:03:52Z

A United Airlines passenger jet makes a landing yesterday just to the west of the new expansion project, The Big Build, at Sacramento International Airport.

According to a press release, The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded an $8.6 million Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grant to Sacramento International Airport the first week of April. It is the second installment in the seven year $59 million FAA Letter of Intent (LOI) funding program for the Big Build at Sacramento. AIP funds support construction of terminal aprons, taxiways and overnight aircraft parking for the Big Build project.

“On a project as large as the Big Build, funding is a critical piece of the overall program and the support of the Federal government is very important, “said Roger Dickinson, Chairman of the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors. “Every dollar of grant money helps reduce the amount of bond funding we have to borrow and helps us complete the project on time and on budget.”

The Big Build is designed to meet current and future air travel demands by replacing the outdated Terminal B with a 669,000 square foot multi-story terminal. The new Central Terminal B will offer 19 aircraft gates, a two-level roadway system, 42,000 square feet of concessions space, an international arrivals facility and an automated people mover. The airside construction projects supported by the AIP grants are necessary to facilitate movement of aircraft around the new terminal.

“One of our goals for this project is to create an even more efficient airfield,” said Interim Sacramento County Executive Steven Szalay, “and the aprons and taxiway funded by this grant will help us achieve that goal.”

The Letter of Intent program is designed to provide annual grants over a seven-year period concluding in fiscal year 2015.
Sacramento County Airport System is responsible for planning, developing, operating and maintaining the county’s four airports: Sacramento International Airport, Executive Airport, Mather Airport and Franklin Field.

The Big Build Facts:

    •    Approximately 1 million labor hours have been spent on the Big Build. That equals $38.6 million in straight wages for the people working on the project.
    •    Over the course of the Big Build, approximately 2400 jobs will be created
    •    On any given day, about 400 people are working directly on site
    •    The total economic impact for the Big Build construction project is approximately $2 billion
    •    By the year 2020, the new terminal will produce $2.6 billion in economic impact and 16,500 jobs annually

Since construction began on the Landside project: 13,750 truckloads of dirt were excavated to form the basement for this new terminal. 5.1 million pounds of rebar have been used, 32,565 cubic yards of concrete have been poured, 609 piles have been driven, and 5000 tons of steel have been erected.

Also see: www.sacramentopress.com/headline/25728/Sacramento_International_Road_Closure_Returns

For more information on the system, visit www.sacairports.org.

SacPress Photo | Kati Garner

Redding and Dickinson Trade Jabs in AD 9 Candidate Forum

2010-04-26T02:00:11Z

In what will more than likely be a glimpse of the general election season this coming fall, County Supervisor Roger Dickinson (D) and public school teacher Rick Redding (R) wasted no time in hurling critcisms at one another's respective positions on the issues. The candidate forum, sponsored by the River Park Neighborhood Association and the American Women Federated, highlighted seven candidates all vying for the Assembly District 9 seat being vacated by Dave Jones.

Aside from Dickinson and Redding, Democratic candidates Lauren Hammond, Kevin McCarty, Adam Sartain and Chris Garland as well as Peace and Freedom candidate Daniel Acosta all partipated in the forum.

Dickinson wasted no time in going on the offensive. In his opening statement he made an indirect reference to Redding's position on AB 32. Dickinson claimed that "anyone in support of suspending or repealing AB 32 is a neanderthal." When it came time for his opening statement, Redding, seemingly bemused by Dickinson's comment claimed, " I guess I'm one of those darned neanderthals!" This exchange seemed to enliven a quiet crowd. On the very next question which pertained to education, Dickinson opened with "I didn't mean neaderthal, Rick, I meant Luddite." Redding did not address the slight until his closing argument.

The questions posed to the candidates included: education, Proposition 14, funding for Child Protective Services and what they would do to assist in balancing the state budget. The forum lasted for approximately one hour. Due to the short length of the forum, all of the candidates encouraged the audience members to visit their websites to become more acquainted with their campaigns.

Redding, in his closing statement, quoted Albert Einstein and said "the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result." Redding was surely referencing that fact that the Assembly District 9 seat has never been held by anyone other than a Democrat and that the current condition of the district can only be attributed to poor Democratic leadership. Redding further stated that "the folks are tired of career politicians like Roger [Dickinson] talking out of both sides of their mouth and I find it odd that Roger claims that his top priority is creating jobs, yet he supports legislation like AB 32 that has eliminated 1.1 million jobs in California."

The AD 9 campaign just woke up.

Labor, religious groups back youth jobs measure

2010-01-20T03:51:37Z

A proposed measure to fund jobs and other services for young people in Sacramento is being supported by a coalition of labor and religious groups and some local elected officials.

A $29 annual tax on parcels of property in the city would be set up to pay for programs provided through Youth Jobs and Opportunity Act. Property owners would be charged the tax.

The proposed initiative could appear on the November ballot. Supporters say they intend to collect 30,000 signatures from residents. Proponents say several kinds of programs could be funded through the program, including after-school programs, apprenticeships and street outreach services.

Groups supporting the proposal include the Yes to Youth Coalition, Sacramento Area Congregations Together, the Sacramento Central Labor Council and the Urban League of Sacramento.

Sacramento County Supervisor Roger Dickinson and City Councilman Kevin McCarty, who are running against each other for Assemblyman Dave Jones’ seat, both spoke in favor of the initiative at a Tuesday press conference.

Addressing reporters at the Asian Resources One-Stop Career Center on Broadway, Dickinson said the initiative could help cut youth violence.

“As a member of the Board of Supervisors, I understand just how expensive it is — over $90,000 a year — to keep a young person in juvenile hall,” Dickinson said.

McCarty said it was “imperative” to invest in youth through the initiative.

Councilman Ray Tretheway also backs the proposed initiative, said Alicia Ross, executive director of Sacramento Area Congregations Together.

Amanda Ramos, who graduated from Kennedy High School last year, told reporters that she gained job skills while participating in a local summer program at a Boys and Girls Club branch.

“I want other young people to have the same opportunities that I got,” Ramos said.

Young people ages 11 to 25 would participate in the programs. Funding would be doled out in three ways. Youth jobs and job training would receive at least 40 percent of the dollars. Programs for at-risk youth would receive at least 20 percent of the funding. At least 20 percent of the money would pay for programs to help students with their academic skills.

Read the full text of the proposal here.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Councilman Kevin McCarty's 2010 priorities

2010-01-13T05:21:07Z

Councilman Kevin McCarty wants the city government to make it easier for residents to be environmentally conscious. Environmental programs — one program focused on energy efficiency measures and another on water conservation — are among his top three priorities for the year.

At the same time, McCarty is emphasizing the importance of the city’s looming budget gap. He said the city budget will be his first priority for 2010. City leaders made major cuts to local services when they closed out last year’s $50 million budget deficit.

“The budget is probably the single most important act that we do every year that affects ... the quality of life in our neighborhoods,” McCarty said.

The city should examine possible ways to increase revenues and set up efficiencies and consolidations in order to save money, he said.

While the city should keep public safety as its top budget priority, “we also can’t eviscerate other programs,” he said.

McCarty represents neighborhoods that include Fruitridge Manor, Tahoe Park and Colonial Village. He is running for Assemblyman Dave Jones’ seat against his colleague, Councilwoman Lauren Hammond, and Sacramento County Supervisor Roger Dickinson.

McCarty’s second priority for the year will be to advance two of his environmental programs. One of his programs, which received $740,000 in federal stimulus funds in November, would let homeowners and businesses fund energy efficiency improvements at their properties over a period of years. The cost of the upgrades would be charged to participants through their property taxes. McCarty plans to start the program this spring.

In addition, he said he is starting work on a plan to provide residents with incentives to lessen the amount of water they use for landscaping.

“I think that we as a city ought to be helping people do their part,” McCarty said. He noted that he believes in Mahatma Gandhi’s sentiment that people can “be the change” they hope will occur.

McCarty’s third priority will be programs at parks. The San Francisco Giants selected a park in his district, the George Sim Community Center, to receive grant funding, he said. The baseball team is providing money to upgrade the park’s baseball fields, according to McCarty. Sacramento’s Junior Giants play at the baseball fields at the park.

“We’re going to really have these top-notch, brand new baseball fields for a league that I created out there about five years ago,” he said.

McCarty is also working to set up a community garden at Tahoe Elementary School. The community garden could be used by the public when school is not in session, he said. He plans to put funds from cell towers toward the community garden project.

McCarty mentioned that he’s also working to set up parks at the Fruitridge Manor and East Tahoe Park neighborhoods.

The Sacramento Press is publishing a series on the 2010 goals of City Council members. Read about Councilwoman Lauren Hammond’s goals for the year here. Steve Cohn’s 2010 goals can be read here.

Photos by Anthony Bento.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Sacramento Democrats Help to Build A Home

2009-11-24T05:51:09Z

On Saturday, over 30 Democrats and friends helped build a house for a Sacramento family. When the team arrived, they found an empty lot, with only a concrete foundation and piles of lumber that would soon become the walls of a home. By the end of the day, the structure of a home had replaced the empty lot. Event organizer, James Schwab said, "We helped to build a house but we also built friendships and relationships that will help us build a better Sacramento in the future."

The cold, foggy morning did not dampen the volunteers' spirits. After touring a recently completed nearby home, the team received instructions from site supervisor, Terry Hardin and set to work building a new, LEED certified home.

The first step was to remove the forms from the foundation. With hammers, crowbars and an eagerness to unleash a small amount of productive destruction, the sounds of wood cracking and forceful exertion could be heard from the job site. Once the wood was removed and piled neatly in the back, the team drilled holes in the base of the walls, so they could be bolted to the foundation.

The next step was to attach foam to the bottom of the walls and spread a paste along the foundation, adding additional insulation to the house and ensuring LEED compliance. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system promises that certified buildings will save energy and be sustainabie. The house the DPSC worked on will be LEED Gold certified.

Finally, the team was ready to raise the walls into place. Six or eight workers lined up to lift the walls and drop them onto the bolts. With such a large team of workers, the house was framed quickly and the team soon had to carefully walk new walls through fully formed hallways to their destination.

As the sun burned through the fog, the team enjoyed a well-earned lunch of pizza and Ethiopian dishes. Volunteer Naomi Amaha, a Young Democrat, said, “It was a moving experience to have been a part of providing a hardworking family with a new home and a new life. I was touched to work side by side with women who will soon see their own dreams for a home for their families fulfilled.”

A Grateful Family

The house is being built for Mrs. Belaynesh Feleke and her family. She has a young son and is expecting another child soon. She is excited that her children will grow up in a safe, comfortable home in Sacramento.

The Ethiopian immigrant was touched when she learned that the team working to build her home was volunteers. DPSC Community Outreach Chair, Silvia Landers, herself a Bolivian immigrant, reflected on the conversation they shared, “We agreed that we are truly lucky to be enjoying the blessings and opportunities that America offers. One of the very best things about America is the spirit of service, our great willingness to come together to help our friends, our neighbors, our community and people that we have not even met.”

Candidates Join In

DPSC Treasurer and candidate for the Board of Equalization, Chris Parker was among the first to arrive. He lifted and carried the lumber that would soon frame the house. Steven Buhrman, representing Dr. Ami Bera, a candidate for Congress in District 3, also joined in the efforts.

In addition , Ryan Chin, candidate for City Council in District 7, Dr. Richard Pan, a candidate for Assembly in District 5 and Cortez Quin, a Los Rios School Board Member and representative of Roger Dickinson, County Supervisor and candidate for Assembly in District 9 were there to lend moral support.

"Seeing the members of the Democratic Party of Sacramento County and Sacramento County Young Democrats at the Habitat for Humanity build demonstrates to me the importance of volunteerism to develop a community and reminds me why I am proud to a Democrat," said Chin. "Helping Habitat for Humanity is helping to fulfill the need to provide affordable housing, develop overlooked in-fill projects and create a sense of pride and community."

A Season of Hope

The Democratic Party is working to fulfill the holidy wish lists of certain organizations that have been hit hard by budget cuts and have seen an increase in need: Michael J. Castori Elementary School, My Sister's House, Safe Ground and the Sacramento and Elk Grove Food Banks. Interested individuals can donate here to help organizations that empower, educate and feed our community. Canned food, gently used clothes and school supplies can be delivered to the DPSC headquarters at 2729 P St, Sacramento, Monday through Friday 10-4 and Saturday 10-2.

Photos courtesy of:
Cliff Popejoy (c) 2009 / cap2053@sbcglobal.net
and Silvia Landers

County approves budget, severe cuts include child services

2009-10-03T03:02:11Z

Severe budget cuts to Sacramento County programs and controversial layoffs for 186 employees in the Child Protective Services unit are part of the 2009/2010 fiscal year budget that was approved by the Board of Supervisors Friday. The county, which had faced an immense budget gap of $76 million, laid off 300 workers last month.

The total budget the supervisors approved is $4.2 billion. Around $1.9 billion of that total is the county’s general fund. More than 700 county employees have been laid off since July.

CPS has faced criticism from the county’s grand jury and MGT of America, Inc., a management consulting firm, over child fatalities. Ann Edwards-Buckley, director of the county’s Department of Health and Human Services, told The Sacramento Press outside the meeting that the cuts to CPS will harm children’s safety.

“As I've said before, I’m concerned about the welfare and safety of children in our community — that we won’t be able to do the same kinds of things that we’ve been able to do in the past,” Edwards-Buckley said. “So, kids may stay longer in foster care, waiting for family reunification. They may stay longer in an unsafe home.”

The entire budget was approved by four of the five supervisors.

Supervisor Roger Dickinson voted against significant parts of the budget including the general fund, saying the cuts harm the community. “I think this budget does not adequately consider our fiscal circumstances, either currently or for the future,” Dickinson said.

Approval of this budget means that the county would need to make deeper cuts in the upcoming years and “decimates” the county’s ability to protect important segments of the community, he said.

Dickinson is running for Assemblyman Dave Jones’ seat in 2010 against two current members of the Sacramento City Council, Lauren Hammond and Kevin McCarty.

The county’s contentious plan to shorten work schedules for about 7,000 employees represented by unions is still unresolved. The approved budget says that the the plan will go into effect if the supervisors do not pass a different plan on Oct. 20.

Dickinson voted against the proposal for shortened work schedules. “I’m not willing to be on record supporting that,” he said.

Photo of Roger Dickinson by Anthony Bento.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

County faces heat from health advisory board

2009-09-10T03:15:21Z

The county’s planned budget cuts to local health services drew withering criticism Wednesday from a member of the public health advisory board and public interest attorneys. During the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors’ second day of final budget hearings, critics charged that the cuts were unlawful and decided in a “closed-door” process.

The supervisors are planning more than 360 layoffs and cuts to numerous county programs to address a budget gap in excess of $54.5 million.

Wednesday’s hearing addressed proposed cuts to health services in numerous areas including immunizations, California Children’s Services, Community Health Promotion & Infectious Disease Prevention, Community Disease and STD Control & Epidemiology and Pharmacy and Support Services.

Ann Edwards-Buckley, director of the county’s Department of Health and Human Services, said planned cuts to the California Children’s Services program would affect 300 children. “There will be 300 children per year that won’t receive medically necessary physical or occupational therapy,” Buckley told the Supervisors.

Stephen Goldberg, a staff attorney with Legal Services of Northern California, told the supervisors that proposed cuts were being considered for programs that are mandated by law. “The California Children’s Program is specifically for disabled children,” Goldberg said. “The scope of the CCS program is mandatory.”

Also at Wednesday’s meeting, a member of the Sacramento County Public Health Advisory Board said the advisory board and community health clinics are “terribly disappointed” with the planned cuts. Marty Keale, who represents community clinics on the advisory board, harshly criticized the county’s process of budgeting for public health.

“From start to finish, that process has been dominated by closed-door decision-making, based largely on rushed, narrowly defined data collection and analysis,” he said. "And now we all face the mess that’s being presented to you today.”

Nav Gill, the county’s chief operations officer, disagreed. “From our side, it’s still a very collaborative process,” he said. Many of the proposed cuts are based on recommendations from county staffers, he said.

Jim Hunt, the acting director of the Countywide Services Agency, also responded to Keale’s comments. Hunt said that he and Buckley have been active participants in the Sacramento Healthcare Improvement Project. They have pushed the agenda of how the county “should reshape healthcare delivery for the Medi-Cal and population and uninsured in Sacramento County,” Hunt said.

Keale said his complaint did not concern that project. “Our issue has been with the budget process — strictly the budget process,” Keale said.

Supervisor Roger Dickinson said reform is needed to address the county’s problems with its public health programs. “This hearing to me just punctuates the point that we have an unsustainable scheme at this point — and a barely rational one as well — that requires systemic reformation.”

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Amtrak locomotive gets an eco-makeover

2009-07-23T07:20:19Z

California's air may start to look a little cleaner, thanks to the California Department of Transportation and its project partners.

Caltrans's revolutionary "green locomotive" debuted Wednesday morning at the Amtrak Sacramento Valley station.

Members of Caltrans and its project partners assembled within the train station at a press release to make statements regarding the new locomotive, considered a major step toward reducing California's carbon footprint.

It is one of the 15 F59PHI model locomotives owned by Caltrans and operated by Amtrak that is now installed with a 710ECO Repower upgrade package. The package is said to consist of the latest microprocessor-controlled locomotive engine technology for lower emissions, increased fuel economy and predictable maintenance costs.

The F59PHI models were initially built by Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc. in October 2001 to meet Tier 0 Environmental Protection Agency emissions standards, the minimum EPA requirement for fuel emissions from passenger locomotives.

James Goldstene, executive officer of the California Air Resources Board, explained that in other words, the newly-installed technology in the F59PHI model makes the engine run cooler and uses fuel more efficiently, allowing the locomotive to advance from Tier 0 to Tier 2 EPA emission standards, resulting in a 50 percent reduction of operating emissions.

Sacramento County Supervisor Roger Dickinson said that the development is "an illustration of our willingness to work with anyone and everyone to clean up the air for Sacramentans." He added that climate change and global warming is an issue that must be addressed at the local level by communities, and that the newly-introduced technology makes riding the train a "smarter and better" decision than ever before.

Following the statements, the representatives of Caltrans, the EPA and other organizations descended into the tunnel beneath the Sacramento Valley rail tracks, resurfacing to stop and admire the "green locomotive."

The retrofitted model has already begun operating on the intercity passenger rail service Capitol Corridor between Sacramento and the Bay Area as of three weeks ago.

The Capitol Corridor serves the Sierra Foothills in addition to Sacramento and the Bay area, and it is operated by the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority in partnership with Caltrans and Amtrak.

Along with Amtrak California’s Pacific Surfliner and San Joaquin intercity rail line, Capitol Corridor is the third busiest rail line in the nation with a ridership of 1.7 million.

Capitol Corridor alone is responsible for eliminating 559 million miles worth of highway travel, said Eugene Skoropowski, Capitol Corridor managing director.

Caltrans is working to convert the remaining 14 Amtrak-operated locomotives to this upgraded model — which is the cleanest diesel electric passenger locomotive in the country — as quickly as possible, stated Caltrans Division of Rail chief Bill Bronte. So far there is available stimulus funding for seven of the 14, he said.

Money for the project came from the Carl Moyer Program, a partnership between the California Air Resources Board and local air boards in the state that provides grants for projects reducing pollutants from heavy-duty engines. Retrofitting the F59PHI involved both the Sacramento Metropolitan and Bay Area Air Quality Management districts.

Kevin Bahline of EMD said that the company is in the process of launching the eco-friendly technology globally.

See also: Eco train engine unveiled

Photo Credit: Images 1, 2, 4 & 5 by Ed Fogle; images 3 & 6 by Kati Garner.

Lots at Stake for Sacramento in May 19th Election

2009-04-29T22:49:35Z

It may be the best kept secret in politics: there's a statewide special election on May 19th that could have a greater impact on Sacramento's schools, fire stations, and budget than anything they're doing down at City Hall.

This special election is all about the state budget: the gaping $58 billion hole, and how the Governor and Legislature will go about fixing it. It includes new taxes, shifting of funds, the payback of funds to schools, and "modernizing" the state lottery so that it brings in more cash.

Led by Sacramento's own State Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, the California Teachers Association (CTA), and the California Professional Firefighters Association, the pro-reform forces http://www.cabudgetreformnow.com/splash.php?_c=xxzcw3j20w5zgp say these initiatives are a test of bipartisanship -- a compromise of both the left and the right that will keep the state afloat through tough times. Liberals won revenue increases, conservatives won a soft budget cap to prevent sharp rises in state spending, with the result being a balanced package that nobody seems to love but everyone can live with.

But there's plenty of opposition. On the right, the California Republican Party and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association say any tax increases are acceptable. On the ultra-left, the California Faculty Association and some other labor unions say any cuts and a spending cap are unacceptable.

Meanwhile, the voting public is caught in the cross fire. According to some Field Poll numbers out today, all the initiatives except one are trailing in the polls. But these numbers might well be skewed because of what is expected to be a record low turnout.

Pundits say the main reason voters aren't getting excited about this election is because the ballot initiatives are complex and confusing.

But this much we know: if the initiatives fail to pass, there will be some immediate dire consequences.

As the newly-minted State Senate Republican leader told the Bee today, he will advocate for sharp reductions in state spending across-the-board. The CTA estimates that 75,000 teachers will lose their jobs in August. The California Professional Firefighters Association says it will lead to fire station closures. And health care providers would also be expected to see major cuts in services.

Sacramento's pols are near-unanimous in backing the initiatives. Mayor Kevin Johnson is expected to lead a press conference next week where he'll endorse the initiatives. Supervisor Roger Dickinson was at the California Democratic Party convention in Sacramento where he joined the overwhelming majority of delegates in supporting the propositions. Assemblymember Dave Jones supported the plan when it came to a vote earlier this year.

The Secretary of State's website features a guide to each of the initiatives -- well worth reading if you need to catch up with what's on the ballot. /www.voterguide.sos.ca.gov/title-sum/prop1a-title-sum.htm

(Full disclosure: I'm doing some work for the Yes! campaign)