erickcartman2 comment-30730 2010-06-18T21:14:15Z 2010-06-18T21:14:15Z Waste of tax dollar's' time to cut the bad weed from the dept and buy guns you can use on American' blow someone brain's all over the street don't make you special!! erickcartman2 2010-06-18T21:14:15Z The Parrhesiac comment-18825 2009-12-07T17:20:30Z 2009-12-07T17:20:30Z Yes bbbbmer in FACT my neighborhood is "godawful." I live in Natomas. Natomas can mostly be blamed on Heather Fargo and Ray Tretheway. In the 80's, as part of the NCA, they sued to stop the development of Natomas. After meetings with Greg Thatch, the developers attorney (mainly Tsakopoulos), Fargo and Tretheway suddenly dropped the lawsuit and switched sides on development. About the same time, suddenly the Tsakopoulos mob and developers helped fund and start the Sacramento Tree Foundation, which has funneled MILLIONS OF DOLLARS to Fargo and Tretheway, and these developers started donating heavily to get both Fargo and Tretheway elected to office. Everything I just said is public record, and everything is a fact. For their small investment at buying Fargo and Tretheway, the developers made BILLIONS of dollars developing Natomas. Fargo and Tretheway went so far as to actually sue the Army Corps of Engineers, which wanted to restrict development in the Natomas flood zone. Fargo and Tretheway had the Matsui Clan fight the Army Corps as well, they wanted development at all costs... Almost NONE of the public infrastructure which was to be installed by the developers has been built. The City has never forced them to follow up on their commitments. There is no light rail connector. All of Natomas has ONE fire station. A community of 60-70 thousand residents does not have ONE hospital or emergency room. And now, they want to annex even more land all the way up to the Sutter County line. This development has led to the destruction of South Natomas, which is now Sacramento's highest crime rate, and turned it into a complete ghetto, where once it was a safe and thriving middle class neighborhood. The Parrhesiac 2009-12-07T17:20:30Z The Parrhesiac comment-18752 2009-12-07T17:02:03Z 2009-12-07T17:02:03Z Yes...even Salt Lake City is a better City than Sacramento, by all measurable standards...Lower crime, lower taxes, robust private sector business, much cleaner, better managed, much friendlier, closer to Park City than we are to Tahoe. And to William, I've Iived in Portland, before you try to compare this town to it, try living there...except for the differences in weather..Portland is a better city than Sac by all standards. Portland has a much better quality of life...better education system, better entertainment, higher education level, better mass transit, closer to the mountains... oh and the best...lower taxes.... The Parrhesiac 2009-12-07T17:02:03Z William Burg comment-18771 2009-12-06T19:10:08Z 2009-12-06T19:10:08Z Jim Knapp: Utah's "lower taxes" are only possible because of California's tax dollars. In 2005, California got back 78 cents for every tax dollar sent to the federal government. Utah got $1.07. In a very real sense, taxpayers here subsidize those in Utah. Take Utah off federal welfare and they might have to raise taxes quite a bit! http://www.taxfoundation.org/research/show/266.html William Burg 2009-12-06T19:10:08Z bbbbmer comment-18753 2009-12-05T23:41:36Z 2009-12-05T23:41:36Z Um, I've been to SLC, and while it's a clean and pure and white white white place, there is something profoundly 'Stepfordy' and oppressive in its character and composition, perhaps due to the overwhelming dominance of the Mormons... I found the architecture there to be as bland as cream of wheat and cheese, with not even an attempt at innovation whatsoever. At all costs I will not be returning... As to comparisons with Portland, I do agree that we have a way to go... Portland has made an art of inviting world class designers to compete for their major commissions, and incentivizes private development to follow suit -- especially where public subsidy is involved. Here, we just seem to give money to anybody who'll build anything or to sanction just about anything for jobs, which is how projects like the apartments on the east side of 16th and P, or the condos on the west side of 16th and P, get built. And then there's the State works, the aesthetics and greenability of which vary with each passing administration, with serious ugly projects like the East End State offices, or the AG's office, cancel out the more progressive efforts of eras like the Brown administration's attempts at progressive architecture. Portland has its Michael Graves City Hall, Cleveland has its IMPei Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, Vancouver has a world class building by a world class architect on every block. When we encourage the same, or better, rather than kleenex box highrises, or Buzzy Oates tilt-ups posing as workplaces, at least our built environment will be a whole lot better off.... and that's a significant start... And, again, we don't need a 'strong mayor' to do it... Perhaps, Mr. Knapp, if you like living elsewhere, what's stopping you from doing so??? You make unquantifiable attributions using the term 'better' before each, but with regard to issues as complex and subjective as an 'education system', and 'entertainment', and 'closer to the mountains', one must wonder what on earth you're doing in Sacramento under what appear to be such unlivable conditions. Your neighborhood must be godawful to live in. Or perhaps it is just your perception... bbbbmer 2009-12-05T23:41:36Z The Parrhesiac comment-18740 2009-12-05T16:40:05Z 2009-12-05T16:40:05Z Jesus H Christ.. do you people travel? Does anyone thing we are on par with Portland..a second tier city, San Antonio, Salt Lake City...and many other second tier cities.... Sacramento is a third tier city. The ONLY thing going for it is that the state capitol is here. The Parrhesiac 2009-12-05T16:40:05Z bbbbmer comment-18749 2009-12-05T14:17:01Z 2009-12-05T14:17:01Z Salt Lake City???? ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously... That explains a lot... bbbbmer 2009-12-05T14:17:01Z William Burg comment-18742 2009-12-05T05:43:25Z 2009-12-05T05:43:25Z The only reason Salt Lake City doesn't look like Redding is because they're the largest city in the state, they're less than half our population...same goes for Portland, they're a bit larger than us. Some friends from Portland came down to visit last week, one of whom is a former Sacramentan, and they came away pretty impressed with Sacramento in its current state. So yeah, I'd put us in the same tier as those places. William Burg 2009-12-05T05:43:25Z Rhonda Erwin comment-18678 2009-12-04T20:08:21Z 2009-12-04T20:08:21Z bbbmer wrote, "Ah, semantics -- but what trouble simple semantics can make for an unsuspecting community..." I absolutely agree Johnson and Associates have used a play on words for some time now and so many people are preoccupied with everyday struggles, life, family- marriage and children, unemployment...... that many people look at things on the surface/ face value and when Johnson and associates use a play on words they can intentionally sway public opinion from those too occupied with struggles, life..... to look beyond Johnson and associates propaganda. Personally I am sick of Mayor Johnson and Associates propaganda. I am exhausted with their consistent form of communication aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward their cause or position on SMP as opposed to impartially providing information. I am tired of Johnson & Associates propaganda and presenting information primarily to influence an audience. I am fed up with Johnson & Associates presenting facts selectively (thus lying by omission) to encourage a particular synthesis, or uses loaded messages to produce an emotional rather than rational response to the information presented. The desired result is a change of the attitude toward the subject in the target audience to further a political agenda. I am tired of Johnson & Associates systematic form of purposeful persuasion that attempts to influence the emotions, attitudes, opinions, and actions of specified target audiences for ideological, political or commercial purposes through the controlled transmission of one-sided messages (which may or may not be factual) via mass and direct media channels." Basically, I looked up propaganda and FOUND JOHNSON & ASSOCIATES. Sadly, I've learned Johnson is basically dishonest. Thanks bbbmer, your comment is also appreciated Rhonda Erwin 2009-12-04T20:08:21Z Rhonda Erwin comment-18676 2009-12-04T19:47:22Z 2009-12-04T19:47:22Z Burg writes "Maybe they're just looking for a phrase less worn-out and meaningless than "world-class city"?"-- LOL -- maybe so- I hadn't thought of it like that but yes, Johnson and associates have played the world class city card so long I imagine it is time for a new thought "second tier"- I absolutely agree, ""Second tier" does not mean "second rate." I really like what you wrote, "But that sort of measuring isn't really all that helpful or meaningful--plenty of cities are great places to live and visit without needing anything close to "first-tier city" status" Your comment is appreciated. Rhonda Erwin 2009-12-04T19:47:22Z bbbbmer comment-18674 2009-12-04T19:16:08Z 2009-12-04T19:16:08Z Mr. Burg, My point is that *some* use the term 'second tier' in the broader sense of how Sacramento stacks up against much larger more cosmopolitan cities -- a la KJ's 'dream' (read 'nightmare') of world class status... Perhaps such nomenclature, even if used appropriately, as in the measures you address, enables the KJ's of this town to first think of Sacramento as 'midway between SF and Tahoe', or words to that effect, with the intent of emphasizing what seems to be a latent community wide inferiority complex... rather than building upon what amazing strengths and resources there are already in existence here. Ah, semantics -- but what trouble simple semantics can make for an unsuspecting community... bbbbmer 2009-12-04T19:16:08Z William Burg comment-18673 2009-12-04T19:03:06Z 2009-12-04T19:03:06Z As I said, bbb, "second tier" does not mean "second rate." It refers to size and regional economic influence. We're a second-tier city, like Portland or Vancouver or many other similar-sized places, which is nothing to be ashamed of. Some of the most elegantly liveable cities in the world are "second tier" in terms of demographics--while many "first tier" cities are not such desirable places to live. William Burg 2009-12-04T19:03:06Z bbbbmer comment-18671 2009-12-04T18:12:45Z 2009-12-04T18:12:45Z I don't think of Sacramento as 'second tier' at all... It is indeed a city growing into another phase in the urban maturation process, and this can be done for better or worse. By KJ's tribe's benchmarks, I guess cities like Napa, or Portland, or Vancouver, or Montreal , or Lyons, or Siena, Tel Aviv, or any of so many great cities -- all relatively of similar size, give or take 100k or so -- would be of 'second tier' status if they had a democratic form of governance, as Sacramento currently does. I do not know what forms of governance any of these cities operate under, but I do believe there are few reasons this 'cowtown' will not emerge among them. They are destinations, they are each beautifully planned, they are each unique in terms of their built environment, and they are each pitched to the world in an organized, orchestrated way that appeals to the more evolved sensibilities of humankind. If we pay attention to such criteria and more, I have no doubt that ten or twenty years from now we could be ranked among them... well, at least in the company of Napa and Portland... Great cities are part planning, part architecture, part culture, part community, among other criteria. I wonder if part of our problem is that our resources have not been pitched to the world effectively. Like Napa we too have world class vineyards, appellations, and wineries -- but seemingly always taking a back seat to the more monied, more culinarily oriented, more marketed valleys to our west... These many times are issues of hype, and I believe Sacramento is one of the best kept secrets of the West -- perhaps due to inept marketing efforts, perhaps due to a lack of capturing that which is unique here. There is a 'northern California' mystique that is pitched right to a waiting world, could propel us from what *some* believe is 'second tier' status into a vanguard of elegantly liveable cities. And we wouldn't need a 'strong mayor' to do it... bbbbmer 2009-12-04T18:12:45Z Rhonda Erwin comment-18669 2009-12-04T17:35:24Z 2009-12-04T17:35:24Z “If you want to get to a new level, you’ve got to take new risks. It’s hard to lead, basically. It’s hard to lead in a visionary way under the current system.” It's not hard to lead IF you are a leader. It's hard for a boss to lead............. Basically, it's not hard to lead in a visionary way under the current system IF you have a vision and weren't --- a follower-- so busy piggy-backing off the ideas of other cities and only picking and choosing from them what suits your personal self-absorbed agenda's. I just don't get the CHILD-LIKE behavior if we keep-up-with-the Jones Sac will be considered a world class city or the juvenile inmature thought of "they have what I don't have........the other cities are looking down on me.... they're making fun of me... I wish this mayor would GROW UP and work on inner city issues as hard as he is attempting to work on outer beauty. But perhaps his vision for the city is the same as his vision for himself--- as long as I look the part some may not question whether or not I really know my role..... Just look the part (on the outside he can mislead and charm a few) build a structure and not worry about the inside (lack of leadership ability or vision or effective solutions) foundation the rocky roads, debris, earthquake which will tear down/ destroy since he has laid it without a foundation without going below the surface to address issues ........Why would we give a big kid one appearing to be a spoiled little kid more power? Mayor Johnson should have went into theatre, became an actor and not a politican-- he can read a script-- he's an average actor but he's not the writer and not the visionary.......................... Rhonda Erwin 2009-12-04T17:35:24Z William Burg comment-18670 2009-12-04T17:32:41Z 2009-12-04T17:32:41Z "Second-tier city" doesn't mean what he thinks it means. The fact that we're considered second-tier is a move up from third-tier. I'm about as big a booster for this city as one is likely to find, but even I would have a hard time trying to argue that we're in the same class of city as Los Angeles, New York or Chicago. But that sort of measuring isn't really all that helpful or meaningful--plenty of cities are great places to live and visit without needing anything close to "first-tier city" status. "Second tier" does not mean "second rate." Maybe they're just looking for a phrase less worn-out and meaningless than "world-class city"? William Burg 2009-12-04T17:32:41Z The Parrhesiac comment-18661 2009-12-04T17:17:36Z 2009-12-04T17:17:36Z Merchant is correct when he said that "...it's hard to lead...under the current system..." But that is EXACTLY what the liberals and unionists in this town want, a lack of leadership. A lack of leadership gives them much more power. The unionists and liberals could care less about the financial crisis in this country, in fact, they are using the crisis to jockey for position and increase their profits. They are doing the same on the local level. They could care less that the state and the City is broke. They will stick it to the taxpayers at any opportunity, and the only way they can do this locally is by making sure we have weak leadership which they can bully and control. And to respond to another of his comments about policing. The best way of lowering crime is not more policing. Policing can have some deterrent effect, however it is primarily reactive. We need to provide more job and educational opportunities for at-risk youth. The City could do this, they have been offered programs, which would not cost the City one additional dime, they have so far rejected these offers. This City spends more on dogs & cats than it does on it's as-risk youth. That says everything about the priorities of this City. The Irony is that it is ran by Democrats who wring their hand over this issue. The Parrhesiac 2009-12-04T17:17:36Z bbbbmer comment-18666 2009-12-04T13:26:16Z 2009-12-04T13:26:16Z Hmm.... And despite this media blitz by KJ's suckups, they STILL only garnered 80 people at the well hyped sporto oriented Arena thingy... Pretty pathetic.... And that ridiculous response on the SMI attributing San Diego's bankruptcy to a more democratic 'weak mayor' system of governance... GOOD ONE!!! Pretty soon KJ's staff of sycophants will be tying everything from the mortgage meltdown to world hunger to our current 'weak mayor' system -- just as he tried to blame Heather Fargo for such absurdities... Eh, just give him enough rope... he seems to be doing an excellent job -- at embarrassing himself. Unfortunately doing so on this very public stage, and now with palpable results that are starting to make this town appear like a haven for sexual predators posing as upstanding citizens... "This too shall pass..." bbbbmer 2009-12-04T13:26:16Z JoshA comment-16480 2009-10-27T17:47:35Z 2009-10-27T17:47:35Z Hadn't seen that study before by the Brady folks, but after looking at it I am pretty skeptical of their claims. If they think that accidentally shooting your girlfriend is the same thing as murdering a cop - then I don't know if they should have a seat at the table with the rational adults when discussing gun control. I lived in Oakland for almost 20 years, and you have to be a politician (Perata) or work for one (Jerry Brown's old aide Jacques) to get a permit there.... does that mean people don't carry guns? Hardly! JoshA 2009-10-27T17:47:35Z dave03835 comment-16444 2009-10-27T00:50:59Z 2009-10-27T00:50:59Z "Earlier this year, Sheriff John McGinness said he would consider issuing more concealed weapons permits" Our inalienable right to self defense and bearing of a gun was granted to us by God. Therefore, only God can nullify that right. What is the difference between Sheriff McGinness and God? God doesn't think he's Sheriff McGinness. dave03835 2009-10-27T00:50:59Z MikeLee comment-16442 2009-10-27T00:48:33Z 2009-10-27T00:48:33Z This is a growing tragedy for the "predator class" that flees the states that allow their citizens to defend themselves. I had hoped that New York, Illinois, Washington, D.C. and California would be maintained as safe, helpless, defenseless sheeple so the predators we drive out would have a safe environment. However, once California completes the transition to socialism & bankruptcy, perhaps we could get Mexico to take it back. MikeLee 2009-10-27T00:48:33Z fr8dog comment-16441 2009-10-27T00:09:31Z 2009-10-27T00:09:31Z Re: “...500% increase in CCW permits by Sacramento County Sheriff...” ************************************* Im “UNWHELMED” by this increase. The only increase I will find impressive is when ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of all those who pass an appropriate background check are issued permits: NO questions asked or reasons required for issuance. Until that day, IF it ever comes here in “The Peoples Republik of California”, I will continue to follow the True intent of the US Constitution and carry a gun without a so called “permit”. The following is the only significant data for my permit: Date of issue: 15 Dec. 1791..... Issued to: All law abiding Citizens..... Expiration Date: NEVER..... Issuing Authority: The US Constitution..... fr8dog 2009-10-27T00:09:31Z fr8dog comment-16440 2009-10-27T00:06:33Z 2009-10-27T00:06:33Z Re: “...500% increase in CCW permits by Sacramento County Sheriff...” ************************************* Im “UNWHELMED” by this increase. The only increase I will find impressive is when ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of all those who pass an appropriate background check are issued permits: NO questions asked or reasons required for issuance. Until that day, IF it ever comes here in “The Peoples Republik of California”, I will continue to follow the True intent of the US Constitution and carry a gun without a so called “permit”. The following is the only significant data for my permit: Date of issue: 15 Dec. 1791..... Issued to: All law abiding Citizens..... Expiration Date: NEVER..... Issuing Authority: The US Constitution..... fr8dog 2009-10-27T00:06:33Z swampdog comment-16406 2009-10-26T21:05:24Z 2009-10-26T21:05:24Z By the way, there are over 213,000 concealed carry permits in issuance at this time, in Michigan. swampdog 2009-10-26T21:05:24Z swampdog comment-16404 2009-10-26T21:02:35Z 2009-10-26T21:02:35Z Before Michigan went to "shall issue" in 2001, the bradybunch said there would be "BLOOD IN THE STREETS!!!!!!!" The shrieking and wailing went on and on.....Know what? They were WRONG, WRONG, WRONG! CPL holders are the most law-abiding to the tune of more law-abiding than off-duty police officers! swampdog 2009-10-26T21:02:35Z Floyd Hancock comment-16403 2009-10-26T20:55:51Z 2009-10-26T20:55:51Z Number of CCW permits in California approximately 39,000 for a population of about 36,000,000. Number of CHL (concealed handgun licenses) in Oregon about 110,000 with a population of an estimated 3.3 million. Oregon is a shall issue state and has a much lower crime rate. The crime rate in states with a shall issue system is lower and the Brady predicted violence does not occur as has been proven many times over. California's system is dependent upon political law enforcement administrators that ignore real life dangers to citizens in favor of pleasing their political superiors. There is no documentation that indicates more permits result in higher crime but that does not seem to matter to many Sheriff's and Chief's of Police so long as they can maintain their position of power. Floyd Hancock 2009-10-26T20:55:51Z BREAKOUT45 comment-16358 2009-10-26T17:16:31Z 2009-10-26T17:16:31Z The Brady campaign about 51 ccw killing 51 people was proven false already.They consider self defense as mudering someone.The brady campaign should call their self the brain dead campaign because they only make up lies to tell people.This new law that the governor pass AB962 they think is going to solve all are gun related cases and we will live in a peace world,I think they still live in la la land..If a person can pass the ccw process they should be able to get a permit..Remenber the brady campaign think sacramento is a safe place to live and you don't need to protect your self..I wish they would wake up and see the real world not the one they live in. BREAKOUT45 2009-10-26T17:16:31Z Billy comment-16353 2009-10-26T15:37:44Z 2009-10-26T15:37:44Z Hmmm... so, CCW permit holders are responsible for less than 1% of unjustified deaths involving guns? How many people convicted of vehicular manslaughter do you think were licensed drivers? I'd bet my 9mm that the number is in the high 90% range! We better stop issuing driver's licenses now! And is anybody seriously arguing that people capable of murder are going to have a problem carrying a gun illegally??? “More CCW permits, which would result in more loaded hidden guns in public, would not make us safer and could actually increase gun violence in Sacramento County,” Right now, the VAST majority of CCW permit holders in Sac County are law enforcement officers... does this woman think that the shouldn't be able to carry off duty? Seriously? They are making us less safe? Not to mention that her prediction of increase gun violence has been completely disproven in counties that increase CCW permit issuance. -Billy Billy 2009-10-26T15:37:44Z William Burg comment-16334 2009-10-26T03:14:51Z 2009-10-26T03:14:51Z Actually, if you look at firearms fatality rates, especially accidental deaths, it has been getting better in recent years. Especially in states with concealed-carry laws, for some odd reason. William Burg 2009-10-26T03:14:51Z John Boyer comment-16332 2009-10-26T03:09:59Z 2009-10-26T03:09:59Z The nightly news tells the tale of communication with bullits over and over again. Its still as common place as the old west. I say quit yaping about the effect and target the cause. We as americans seem to have a failure to communicate and would just rather shoot each other to resolve our differences. Sounds like its going to get worse before it gets any better. John Boyer 2009-10-26T03:09:59Z Anne Lowe comment-16327 2009-10-26T01:14:50Z 2009-10-26T01:14:50Z You're right, I think it would be pretty difficult to conceal those weapons! The picture is from the Mather Mud Run -- the sheriff had a display with their firearms set out for people to look at. It was the only stock photo with the Sheriff and guns that I had :) Anne Lowe 2009-10-26T01:14:50Z William Burg comment-16324 2009-10-25T23:19:45Z 2009-10-25T23:19:45Z The Brady Campaign study reports 51 people killed by CCW holders in 2 years? Why, that's nearly .07% of the total number of firearms-related fatalities during the same period! (Not counting the one of 51 that was not killed with a firearm.) Take a look at that report--it includes accidental discharges, and also incidents that took place in the shooter's home, where one can carry a firearm without a concealed weapons permit. CCW is legal in most of the United States, and the result of liberalized CCW laws is generally an overall drop in firearms deaths in that state. A 500% increase in approvals sounds pretty shocking until you realize that is a jump to just 37 approved permits, not exactly a huge number. One final point, although maybe it's a quibble--the firearms in the photo don't look very concealable to me, unless one is wearing a heavy parka! Concealed-carry weapons are generally small pistols, not shotguns or rifles. William Burg 2009-10-25T23:19:45Z Dan comment-16307 2009-10-25T17:12:47Z 2009-10-25T17:12:47Z The number of permits processed combined is just only half the number of deputies laid off. Dan 2009-10-25T17:12:47Z