Dale Kooyman comment-63108 2012-02-02T03:53:54Z 2012-02-02T03:53:54Z Actually, Danielle, the fault was not yours. I'm the one to apologize to you. You clarified the length of stay. I made the mistake which was actually meant for TWRL. Haste makes waste and I was rushing to get out of the house. Confusion happens partially because of not being able to reply directly to commenters commenting on a comment. Dale Kooyman 2012-02-02T03:53:54Z Dale Kooyman comment-63064 2012-02-01T17:56:38Z 2012-02-01T17:56:38Z Daneille and Sheppard: newguy had stated an opinion as fact. I was only asking the legal basis for his conclusion. Neither of you answered that basic question. That is the key point on which officials must make the decision as to when entry and/or remaining on public property becomes either legal or illegal. I was not defending those in the building. Obviously you don't know, totally misunderstood or did not understand at all the comment and did not have a logical answer in view of what I laid out, so you chose flippant "oranges and apples" comparison as replies. Dale Kooyman 2012-02-01T17:56:38Z Dale Kooyman comment-62909 2012-01-30T19:04:30Z 2012-01-30T19:04:30Z "Campus property" is public property owned by and maintained by funds from taxpayer revenues. Although there may be rules that the campus administration lays out, with or without good cause, the building is not owned by UC Davis. So whether that apparently vacant or partially vacant "building" is occupied by students or protestors, at what point does "illegally" enter into the equation?. Dale Kooyman 2012-01-30T19:04:30Z Dale Kooyman comment-62908 2012-01-30T18:52:16Z 2012-01-30T18:52:16Z Conditions of buildings, like people, highways and motor vehicles, deteriorate with age and use. Delayed investment in maintenance of all four equals increased cost to each. But that investment mentality began to fall by the wayside 30 years ago, promoted by the "great communicator" in favor of mass personal wealth accumulation by the 1%ers. Predictable and inevitable results were reduced revenues to repair buildings and highways and reduced incomes to maintain vehicles and personal health. Dale Kooyman 2012-01-30T18:52:16Z Dale Kooyman comment-62796 2012-01-27T18:24:43Z 2012-01-27T18:24:43Z Ben, no mention is made of the federally funded Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV). Is that at risk too or will those staff be kept on without reductions? Dos Rios has always been a city operated program and the one on Broadway too (forget its name) but HCV office on 12th Street is part of SHRA but does not receive state funding as far as I know. Dale Kooyman 2012-01-27T18:24:43Z Dale Kooyman comment-62690 2012-01-24T18:53:43Z 2012-01-24T18:53:43Z Old Sac businesses could help residents like Joe get a Zip Car pod there too, like Midtown did. A major problem for Old Town, Downtown and MIdtown small businesses is that the vast vast majority of them choose to live outside the central city and commute, so apparently expect their customers to do likewise. Consequently, they know little about how to serve central city residents who live in the most compact and densely populated area in the entire city. I find those owners' a striking contrast to some So Cal Beach cities that I'm very familiar with. Dale Kooyman 2012-01-24T18:53:43Z Dale Kooyman comment-62617 2012-01-23T18:14:00Z 2012-01-23T18:14:00Z Joe, Check with the parking dept as to the procedure to obtain a Preferential Residential Parking Permit program. BUT it may be a little challenging for you as residents there because there may be an assumption that you do not need a car when you work, shop, "play" and can walk, light rail, bus to all needed services. It might be easier (and is far cheaper than privately owned cars) to get a Zip car pod in front of your apt. house (8 is all I believe it takes). Zip cars can be passenger and cost shared when renting (cheaper than cabs) on evenings or weekends to go to destinations outside the walkable and public transportation routes. Dale Kooyman 2012-01-23T18:14:00Z Dale Kooyman comment-62111 2012-01-11T03:58:24Z 2012-01-11T03:58:24Z Brandon, please go back and take a picture of the beautiful trees in the parking lot behind the building that got butchered in the process of this restaurant opening. Dale Kooyman 2012-01-11T03:58:24Z Dale Kooyman comment-62015 2012-01-09T19:00:21Z 2012-01-09T19:00:21Z I did notice that. I also noticed that she said she had already met with some residents. Were you one? If so, you were not on the RHI/HZA committee and you say you are a business owner too. That to me, tells something about her priorities. It is no wonder you have no complaints because I understand you don't have children, and where you live is not in the core troubled area where we have lived for decades before you and they decided to locate here, . How hard is it for alcohol outlets and you to understand that if they would just provide parking for their drinkers, there would be no deterioration of our quality of life and no complaints? Instead of assuming their responsibility to provide parking as a cost of doing business and a convenience to their customers, it seems they insist on being a parasite, sucking the life out of core residents' quality of life and economic well-being.. Dale Kooyman 2012-01-09T19:00:21Z Dale Kooyman comment-62002 2012-01-08T21:36:17Z 2012-01-08T21:36:17Z If you'll reveal your real name, I will respect your comment but since you don't and probably won't, I'm not going to take the time to show how lame your comments are. Except I will let you know I selected my home in 1976. Where were you then? Further, unscientific surveys like this are as worthless as the proverbial "t*tts on a boar." Dale Kooyman 2012-01-08T21:36:17Z Dale Kooyman comment-62001 2012-01-08T20:59:43Z 2012-01-08T20:59:43Z Time will tell, Julie, but her comments as quoted are not encouraging. I hold out hope. Fact remains, she has met with none of us residents who were on the RHI/HZA committees, but allegedly met with others. As the studies in many other enlightened cities have shown what (and what she may have done in SD) is possible in those cities such as limiting the numbers of alcohol outlets concentrated in a given area and imposing local operating conditions will not fly in Sacramento. Too backward and controlled by the alcohol interests. Dale Kooyman 2012-01-08T20:59:43Z Dale Kooyman comment-61980 2012-01-06T20:13:49Z 2012-01-06T20:13:49Z You are right on all counts Lisa. Sacramento's city government, MBA and some elected officials remain entrenched in the past as numerous studies have shown when they allow over concentration of alcohol outlets in an area, the result increases violent crime, increases police costs, degrades neighboring businesses and eventually destroys livability in adjacent neighborhoods. It is pathetic and shameful. All of this is particularly destructive to the health of residents—especially destructive to children as several studies in California and around the country show. But since none of these owners live in the area they promote over concentration, why do they care. They are only after short-term profits. I find her statement typical of alcohol business owners, large builders, developers and smacks of insincerity when they (she) choose(s) to make money here but refuse to live in Midtown’s “history and nature of the district and its buildings.” I see that she said “buildings” and carefully avoided mentioning historic houses, the selling prices of which range from moderate to 800k or more. One 3br, 2bath with home office space or 4th br near me is on the market for 400k plus—room for kids who live on both sides. So in reality her “excitement” ends where she could buy, live and experience the fallout from the party scene MBA has promoted and that she is obviously aware of. With the statement “The MBA does not have the authority to set (alcohol) licenses or set conditions on those licenses,” she avoids the fact that MBA CAN influence the city to limit and set controls on alcohol licenses issued in the PBID—most other cities have done this as several studies show. ABC sets conditions under ABC statutes--local governments can and most do add more. Further, she should know well, if she worked in the San Diego Gas Lamp PBID (she avoided saying where in SD she workEd) that businesses and residential were given EQUAL consideration when redeveloping that area as again, most PBID’s in other cities do BUT not MBA. “I’ve met with a few of the residents.” Who? Since Nikki is still one of her staff, Studebaker knows well who those residents are who attended the RHI and HZA meetings. Sounds like she will avoid them. “ It’s still too early to say anything direct about how I’m going to work with the residents.” Really? How about meeting with them to determine “how” rather than making her mind up first Dale Kooyman 2012-01-06T20:13:49Z Dale Kooyman comment-61862 2012-01-03T19:36:42Z 2012-01-03T19:36:42Z Thanks for the information. All are laws the right wing, small government ranters would claim are unnecessary, waste of out tax dollars, gives government too much power, ad nausea. Dale Kooyman 2012-01-03T19:36:42Z Dale Kooyman comment-61861 2012-01-03T19:31:41Z 2012-01-03T19:31:41Z As an Amtrak passenger caught in that delay some years ago, I heard Amtrak explain that water traffic has right of way since it does not have the capability to stop. And that incident was for a pleasure boat (yacht?) too tall to maneuver under the bridge when the water was at high level. That was the law when there was more river traffic than auto and train, hence the drawbridges. Unfortunately, the old law has never been updated. Dale Kooyman 2012-01-03T19:31:41Z Dale Kooyman comment-60512 2011-11-22T17:23:31Z 2011-11-22T17:23:31Z The Tree Commission is a joke--no central city members anymore and they have become a rubber stamp for staff. The city management imports from Portland never saw a tree they liked and anyone could remove one for any reason and UFS went along with it. It sounds as if the college degreed Pskowski (only one of two real arborists hired and working the city's job arborist classification--all other so called arborists just pass a test after studying for it and then miraculously become an arborist) may have objected in the past for valid reasons on occasion. That may explain why management at some level transferred our most experienced arborist (tree doctor) OUT of UFS and into the street dept. to do root work which a lesser qualified and experienced "arborist" could do. So in the city of trees we have ONE degreed arborist with five or six years of experience to professionally take care of our trees. This vs. 20 or so years experience of Dan P's diagnosing tree health, diseases, insect infestations and researching and applying remedies for these threats to our urban forest. Ashby is not being realistic. Unless you see the tree removal notice no one knows the removal is planned. Further, she knows the drill well. If a person sees the notice--it is often out of sight on a large tree and NOW only 10 days to respond--that person is to call the number on the notice where you get boiler plate reasons. If you notify by email the council person who has jurisdiction over the district in which the tree is located BUT you are not one of that member's constituents, it is more than likely you will not get a response--my experience with Rob Fong and Cohn has been great--not on some others. We can all agree that old sick and dangerous trees should be removed but the environmental cost of whimsical removing of healthy ones (like the annoying Gingko in front of the Lung Association's office) adversely affects the health of all of us. Further, leaves of newly planted trees IF ones removed are replaced, will not produce the oxygen of the old for 15-20 years. Thanks Mr. Jacobson, for the time consuming and hard work you have done to fight a bureaucracy which no longer cares about our trees or our health. Dale Kooyman 2011-11-22T17:23:31Z Dale Kooyman comment-59609 2011-11-03T19:18:20Z 2011-11-03T19:18:20Z As co-creator with Midtown Business Association Sacramento County and Cities Homeless Board, I predict a JPA will produce little results except under conditions that I’ll detail later. City Council and a small amount of funding from the County Board of Supervisors supported the Homeless board. Our goal was to end homelessness countywide Our mistake was to include Homeless Providers on the board as voting members because they immediately objected to the goal. We were forced to revise the goal to “mitigate” homelessness. Their reason was that the goal was impossible to meet. We felt if we set the goal high (as you would do for your children’s achievement or a coach sets for his/her teams), we would achieve better results i.e. low goals strongly suggest lack of confidence or ability to achieve a goal. Encountering one roadblock after another, we finally proposed that homeless service centers be set up close to where the homeless were originating. A primary advantage was clients would not be forced to leave their familiar surroundings and support systems only to be stranded and over concentrated in the area around L&F. We wanted to pattern the centers after the very successful Veterans Resource Center located off Florin and 99. This garnered city and county staff support BUT council members were silent and suburban county supervisors objected—“don't have homeless in my area," the late Supervisor Cox objected to me. Most influential were board member homeless providers who voted it down. Why? Could the reason have been that it would have reduced the number of their clientele by diverting more of the money to temporary housing and rehabilitating homeless than to their own “non-profit” operations (staffing and overhead)? Why do I ask that? Because when Bush’s 10-year plan to END homelessness was implemented the providers who were to receive the bulk of the funds (no longer the county) did not feel “ending homelessness” was unrealistic. They now all jumped on the bandwagon enthusiastically! Further, we had also suggested that some of the federal homeless funds be used to set up a “homeless hot line” for individuals who were facing losing their housing to call for preventive services. That too was voted down BUT when the current administration added funds for a plan to prevent homelessness, again the homeless providers were right there with open mouths. The survey should have been worded, “Will the JPA result in fewer homeless being on the streets and more in permanent housing.” That mission is “results oriented” (which we also failed to get). UNLESS THAT is the focus and providers are forced to be accountable to comply with specific performance requirements and goals for placing homeless in housing with oversight monitoring to their data collection, there is little hope for change, or so my experience tells me. Dale Kooyman 2011-11-03T19:18:20Z Dale Kooyman comment-59433 2011-11-01T22:31:26Z 2011-11-01T22:31:26Z Good idea, Shawn. The fallout from my serving as resident liaison on the Midtown Business Board for three years, was that somehow someone must have referred my name to some alcohol business interests deciding to locate in Midtown. At that time I was contacted, among others, by the owner of the recently purchased Mayflower building (MARRS) and Streets of London when they bought and decided to obtain an ABC license. Having been involved with ABC for over 15 years at that time, I was able to help them speed up their application process by doing exactly as Shawn suggests. Same for some other nearby real restaurant owners--not bars/clubs who masquerade as restaurants all the while intending to be a bar/club. I know from prior negative comments and the number of thumbs down on my above comment that alcohol drinkers just hate to hear about the days when residents and businesses worked successfully together to create a better business and quality of life residential environment. Any such cooperation goes against their being able to engage in one of their favorite past times: bashing residents, if not their fear that compatible working relationships might interfere with their drinking habits. Dale Kooyman 2011-11-01T22:31:26Z Dale Kooyman comment-59308 2011-10-30T19:43:55Z 2011-10-30T19:43:55Z "Aziz Bellarbi-Salah, owner of Aioli Bodega Espanola, said Friday. “Getting an alcohol license in Sacramento is especially hard.” Is your complaint that you couldn't get one or that it took you more than a couple of weeks to obtain a new one or transfer one in? Maybe it was because you are a bona fide restaurant. Your partner's license and business at his prior J Street location was supported by the city, ABC and residents, Actually, Midtown alcohol licenses have been approved in numbers and ease as throwing out confetti because the city has no opposition to ABC issuing any--no matter how many license were requested for bars/clubs masquerading as "restaurants." The city has not supported Midtown residents when they have opposed adding for very good reasons an additional license to the already "undue concentration." That density has been determined by ABC, which issues the license. With no city opposition ABC staff have no reason to deny any licenses. Dale Kooyman 2011-10-30T19:43:55Z Dale Kooyman comment-59209 2011-10-27T17:09:20Z 2011-10-27T17:09:20Z While some people like to trash long time midtown residents, they and others don't know that these same midtown residents proposed and worked with midtown businesses many years ago to create this annual fun event. They also created a network of "safe houses" where kids could know that every "treat" was safe to consume. While the originators' kids are now adults, these two annual traditions live on. Dale Kooyman 2011-10-27T17:09:20Z Dale Kooyman comment-59013 2011-10-22T16:35:50Z 2011-10-22T16:35:50Z Cogmeyer: If local occupiers had the money to go to and stay in D.C., then they wouldn't need to occupy here or anywhere in the country. Unlike the Tea Part dupes who were/are controlled and funded by super wealthy such as Armey, Koch Bros. etc. the occupiers are real grass roots. If you will buy them round trip tickets, some may just go and join the locals there. Dale Kooyman 2011-10-22T16:35:50Z Dale Kooyman comment-59012 2011-10-22T16:26:16Z 2011-10-22T16:26:16Z lang is brilliant and overflows with singing ability, delivery and diversity. She stands alone in the music world but very much under appreciated. Dale Kooyman 2011-10-22T16:26:16Z Dale Kooyman comment-58567 2011-10-13T04:56:51Z 2011-10-13T04:56:51Z As to these jokers saying if "you don't like it, move", you would not even be here, including the prior bike shop owner who received all kinds of support from neighborhood bikers, had it not been for those people creating a residential neighborhood that prompted them to open a business here. That includes Thai Basil. Had the area remained the slum that it once was, neither owner would have risked their investment in that kind of environment. Further, those who think the problems the alcohol businesses have created in Midtown are just part of urban living have never lived in a true urban environment as I and and many others who live here now and who made Midtown what it is today. The shallow thinking of the "move if you don't like it" is typical of country folks and those raised in the suburbs. Real cities protect residential property owners' rights because they know that renters vote with their feet and move when the going gets tough. It is the residential property owner whose investment is at stake, who form the heart of a neighborhood and whose taxes fund needed city services. Obviously, these non-thinkers do not know there is nothing in the state or local statutes that require residents who live in an urban environment to sacrifice their quality of life. In fact, the opposite. There is a long standing Supreme Court decision which protects that quality of life--Sacramento has just been grossly negligent in enforcing it. Dale Kooyman 2011-10-13T04:56:51Z Dale Kooyman comment-58476 2011-10-11T20:55:56Z 2011-10-11T20:55:56Z There is no doubt in my mind but what Kerth did his best. But in all fairness to him, trying to coordinate the widely divergent MBA member businesses and their interests is like trying to "herd cats" and vicious attack ones at that. Too many MBA businesses have only one focus, the focus that advances their bottom line of profit without regard for neighboring businesses or neighboring residents. There was a time when businesses did respect and cooperate with each other and their residential neighbors i.e. jointly sponsored Halloween on J Street, Christmas festivities, Marshall School Board members placed on the door of each new resident a promotional packet of coupons and ads with directions to various midtown businesses, sidewalks sales and joint sponsors of bands in Marshall park with local entertainment and sales in the park, jointly founded Sacramento County & Cities Homeless Board--just to name a few. That all ended when monied suburban "investors," knowing nothing about Midtown, decided they were going to create a Midtown "renaissance" which really meant chasing out many local shops and stores and replacing with clubs and bars. Dale Kooyman 2011-10-11T20:55:56Z Dale Kooyman comment-57917 2011-09-27T16:21:21Z 2011-09-27T16:21:21Z Fifthgen: Williams is not able to deny the following with facts. Despite all assurances from staff that they will not, they have repeatedly either under direction or creative job performance, robbed every central city funding pot of money that was set aside for neighborhood improvement, whether it is for two way traffic conversion south of J or any other project that might improve our livability. AND the mayor and council will approve the theft whether council members know the source details or not. Both have a history of not caring--none live here and the renters don't vote in any substantial numbers, so they get away with it. Bottom line is that staff are not going to be specific about where they are robbing these funds. Dale Kooyman 2011-09-27T16:21:21Z Dale Kooyman comment-55769 2011-08-24T03:41:05Z 2011-08-24T03:41:05Z Actually, Michael/Julie, you are wrong on two counts. I don't have a strong opinion on alcohol--just a strong opinion about the ABC process being followed as the ABC codes intend for them to work for both the petitioners and the affected residents. Within that framework, I worked with five applicants near me to open on sale restaurant businesses—not bars/clubs (although one later did obtain bar/club hours). I did not support any of them because they were just “nice” people, although all seemed to be, but I did support and work with them because they offered a product for which my neighbors and I felt that there would be a market. Secondly, I do live across from a building that has had several non-alcohol businesses open and fail over the years in two of its addresses; also two nearby large historic structures on H Street. I think it is fatalistic and does not speak well to people's confidence in their neighborhood when they assume that the only option for a vacant building is blight and related problems. I became acquainted with owners of each of those vacant properties and offered to let them know about any of what you call problems related to vacant buildings and through my limited sphere of contacts, worked with them to find businesses which may have wanted to locate in those properties. I helped to find a buyer for one. Problems that did occur while vacant and even after new businesses moved in were caused by the disrespectful and inebriated customers of the market/liquor store on the corner. Economic times were tough then too. As to your interpretation of what is an insult to renters, I only repeated what my several rental property owner friends and I experienced (when I was a landlord) when asking tenants for support on neighborhood livability issues. Dale Kooyman 2011-08-24T03:41:05Z Dale Kooyman comment-55694 2011-08-23T22:18:30Z 2011-08-23T22:18:30Z Oh, great Ash! How shortsighted. You are a renter and for how long will you be renting here to take care of the alcohol related problems that exist in every direction from an off sale? Our experience shows that renters move when the going gets tough. Do you plan to invest your life’s savings in buying and restoring a nearby historic house to raise a family? If you were, you would probably feel much differently. Think of those neighboring property owners with families for just a moment. If all those 165 signers will guarantee that they will support the new owner by making Sunny's their primary grocery shopping destination, then the new owner wouldn't need an alcohol license or have the problems that go with selling alcohol. He did say he plans to be "grocery store." Not just a place to stop by “for a small purchase.” That tells the real kind of support the new owners will be getting. He needs more sales than that to survive. How insulting. BTW, there is a liquor store a few feet to the east and one block to the southeast is a Shell station which has a market and will soon have an alcohol license, AM/PM with market and alcohol is a couple more blocks, so it is not as if neighbors are desperate for a place to buy alcohol. Further, if and when he gets the license, he will face fierce competition because he is right when he says these kinds of markets are all over the area. He said that he also knew he could not get an alcohol license at that address for a year, so why did he go ahead with just "groceries?" How sad that those signing the petition (do they all live within 300 feet?) do not feel their neighborhood is worthy of turning the property back to residential or finding another use for the site other than the already over 50 plus off sale alcohol sellers in the central city. As one long time resident said when hearing about this, “You can’t stumble in any direction without finding a place that sells booze.” That and the over concentration of on-sale alcohol sellers was no doubt a primary consideration when Men’s Health Magazine ranked Sacramento 20th in the United State’s drunkest cities—something to be real proud of and attract businesses and other residents with children, right Ash? Dale Kooyman 2011-08-23T22:18:30Z Dale Kooyman comment-55572 2011-08-21T19:40:04Z 2011-08-21T19:40:04Z Thank for writing so eloquently what most of us long term Midtown residents have tried to point out for several years now. Midtown has an enviable mix of so many things and is not just for the young new comers from the suburbs seeking a playground they couldn't' have a at home. Midtown is to be respected for the reasons you point out and many others. Too bad respect is not in many newcomers' vocabulary. Dale Kooyman 2011-08-21T19:40:04Z Dale Kooyman comment-55431 2011-08-19T13:54:27Z 2011-08-19T13:54:27Z Ryan has been great--personable, articulate, very intelligent and highly competent. He will definitely be hard to replace. Dale Kooyman 2011-08-19T13:54:27Z Dale Kooyman comment-54829 2011-08-10T00:00:35Z 2011-08-10T00:00:35Z As to Land Park not having anything common, what does equally upscale, upper income East Sacramento have in common with Midtown? Again nothing--never has. The late Mayor Serna when he first came to Sacramento lived in Midtown. and believed the history showed the proof of that and it was rooted in employment at Blue Diamond. The low wage line workers lived in Midtown while management and their bosses lived in East Sacramento. He felt that set up a political mentality that those low income residents living in Midtown should do what their East Sac bosses tell them and that was the way it was for years? Where does Cohn live? Where did all of his predecessors live? While some take issue with Steve, he still was far better for Midtown interests than the others. Further, Land Park residents often supported and attended Midtown residents meetings on issues with shared borders such as the Broadway Corridor. I'lll drop it at that because I don't want to give examples that open old wounds. As to others seeking commonality to be the primary focus, homogeneity only exists in the suburbs beyond the first suburbs that border the Central City. Any slice of the central city including RR yards is different that its bordering neighbors but lack of population does not enable the Central City to have "its own" district. Dale Kooyman 2011-08-10T00:00:35Z Dale Kooyman comment-54634 2011-08-06T18:46:29Z 2011-08-06T18:46:29Z Indeed it is! Very sad and to think that much of the misery could have been avoided had the majority of Board of Supervisors not opposed and homeless providers on the now defunct Homeless Board exercised their power and influence to defeat establishing comprehensive Homeless Service Centers for all ages throughout the county. Dale Kooyman 2011-08-06T18:46:29Z Dale Kooyman comment-54310 2011-08-02T02:17:08Z 2011-08-02T02:17:08Z I just read your offensive comment. You are in no position to judge. The truth often offends. You have no idea of his role during those years but we will never forget them because they hurt our efforts so much. Dale Kooyman 2011-08-02T02:17:08Z Dale Kooyman comment-53839 2011-07-25T19:33:13Z 2011-07-25T19:33:13Z Depends on the situation, Brandon. The aggrieved or perceived aggrieved (particularly well funded tea party demonstrators) are more inclined to show up at demonstrations than the uninformed or those not affected by a given issue/action . The big difference is when the reporter gives the impression that the tiny minority is equal to the majority, instead of so stating the reality. By failing to state the contrast, the reporter creates a bias in favor of the minority voice. In days before video media, I well remember reporters writing something like this after newspaper or magazine photos showed "A crowd of thousands gathered in front of the courthouse . . . . " In the story itself there would then be reference to "a few (or 10 or two hundred) standing along side . . . ." Dale Kooyman 2011-07-25T19:33:13Z Dale Kooyman comment-53654 2011-07-20T20:31:15Z 2011-07-20T20:31:15Z So until the light rail green line is extended, how do non-car owning boarding passengers get to the station and and de-boarding riders get to connecting buses or light rail in the meantime? Dale Kooyman 2011-07-20T20:31:15Z Dale Kooyman comment-53652 2011-07-20T19:23:19Z 2011-07-20T19:23:19Z In defense of Ashby/ She listened to and heard: “I’m not opposed to growth, but not at the expense of our neighborhood,” said Susan Sidhu-Manuel, a retired analyst from Land Park. “Don’t make this about West Sacramento’s transportation needs.” Dale Kooyman 2011-07-20T19:23:19Z Dale Kooyman comment-53407 2011-07-15T05:52:38Z 2011-07-15T05:52:38Z Originally the NAG (Neighborhood Advisory Group) was the NAAG (Neighborhood Association Advisory Group). Association was in the title because there were several active Neighborhood Associations in the central city, which collectively formed the Central City Alliance of Neighborhoods (CCAN). They had learned by meeting each other accidentally at council meetings and reading the Sutter Town News, etc. that they were all having similar problems with city services and staff opposition to resident needs, including preservation of historic homes and other structures, Banding together gave us a cooperative voice that could overcome the city's tactic "divide and conquer." Then Bill Edgar became city manager, the city had fallen into bad fiscal shape. He respected and recognized that many residents had several ideas which could be implemented and save the city money in the central city. He reasoned that if that resource existed here, then it must be equally so citywide. So he crafted a plan to institute a city wide "Barn Raising" event (a concept borrowed from the days when a barn burned down, all neighbors came together to help rebuild it) and together "Barn Raising" to help the city pull through the fiscal emergency. Through a series of citywide workshops he tapped into residents' skills, knowledge, abilities to find that volunteerism could provide many of the same services as city employees who were going to be laid off due to that fiscal emergency. He also learned that residents knew best what services and resources neighborhoods could be reduced or eliminated and those which residents felt were essential to them. It was then he created four Neighborhood Service Areas through out the city. Mike Hanamura was our first Area Manager and Fernandez the second. There were several of us who had been "burned" by the city before and while liking Bill and staff he appointed to work with us, we remained suspicious. To ensure that the city did not slip back to its old ways, we in Area 1 then formed the NAAG to hold meetings to continue our communication. We also found it necessary to create an Action Request Form (ARF) which the NAAG "chair" and city partner completed jointly at the meeting to record an issue/problem, recommendation to resolve that lack of service problem, assign staff responsibility for resolving the issue/problem and a report back when it had been resolved. It was through the more than excellent management skills of Hanamura and Fernandez that several years of productive problem solving and neighborhood improvement followed. We look back now to realize that the Edgar/Martinez/Crist/Hanamura/ Fernandez team were the golden years, which enabled Midtown as well as other parts of the central city to become the precious and unique area of that city that attracted families and those investing to preserve historic houses to return to livable, pedestrian oriented neighborhoods that that once were here. The restoration and improvements attracted artists, musicians, a variety of offices and businesses to move here as well as dinner houses and live theatres. All were warmly welcomed, including the intial few entertainment clubs, which many of us patronized. Some worked with Midtown Businesses to hold events such as Halloween trick or treat, sidewalk sales, art and Christmas festivities. It is because of these years of hard work and eventual success that turned the area from a slum to the livable mixed ethnic and income area that it became and we oldies and newer home owners guard so fiercely against the heretofore uninterested alcohol businesses, the over concentration of which now threaten to degrade our quality of life. Dale Kooyman 2011-07-15T05:52:38Z Dale Kooyman comment-53250 2011-07-12T21:47:10Z 2011-07-12T21:47:10Z In 10 to 20 years the city will be converting K Street back to a pedestrian mall because "looky loos" in cars don't shop, drink dine in the restaurants. They drive by with no place to park and move on like they did before. If people lived on the upper floors of these buildings, that would be the customer base. With good marketing of the businesses located those blocks of K Street car passerby's are not needed. In 10 to 20 years depending on the economy's recovery they may be. For years downtown businesses didn't want residents there because they mistakenly thought their customers would drive from the burbs to the mall and do ???? The problem is that none of the planners ever lived or ever plan to live on K if and when those upper floor residences get built. Dale Kooyman 2011-07-12T21:47:10Z Dale Kooyman comment-52748 2011-06-30T03:42:30Z 2011-06-30T03:42:30Z I attended the "Bias in Journalism" workshop held previously and it was excellent. Interesting how some media strive for that lack of bias. It is often very funny--funny strange and funny haha. In crowd demonstrations or meetings the vast majority will be holding signs or speaking for one side of the controversial issue. Then the reporter proudly and glibly says "BUT not everyone feels that way." She/he, in order to avoid "bias" has dug, scoured and searched until, finally she/he can find ONE dissenter to speak for the other side. The result is that the reporter creates bias for the reader or viewer in attempting to avoid bias, leaving the impression that that the one single voice was equal to the 100 others who were there. I've seen and read this over and over. Dale Kooyman 2011-06-30T03:42:30Z Dale Kooyman comment-52747 2011-06-30T03:16:17Z 2011-06-30T03:16:17Z "Committee Member Miranda Perry said she wanted a variety to give to the council pairing the central city with different areas of the city." It has been for 20 years incase you had not noticed, Perry. How about dividing your and other neighborhoods up the same way for the same "benefit"? "It doesn’t make sense to me to put East Sacramento into three different areas,” Camp said." Nor did it make sense to do that to the central city for the last 20 years, Bill, but you know that they made the decision in 2000 census to do the three-way in order save a particularly council member's seat on the council.. Maybe it is now East Sacramento's turn. Dale Kooyman 2011-06-30T03:16:17Z Dale Kooyman comment-52621 2011-06-25T16:18:22Z 2011-06-25T16:18:22Z Thanks Sacpress, the article’s author and Ray, for making it OFFICIAL as to all the trash that litterers’ throw into our streets, gutters, park strips, etc. Central City residents have long pointed this out in vain to MBA, our/other council members and city staff & management that this happens daily, if not hourly (as Ray confirms), in the residential neighborhoods too. But what do residents know? They’re just whiners who live on these streets. In residential neighborhoods some of that trash may come from cars as Ray believes but a far, far greater amount comes from pedestrians littering as they walk down the sidewalk, cross the street and discard any an all on resident’s yards too. The litter amount is particularly voluminous within a couple or more blocks each direction from convenience markets, liquor and drug stores, sidewalk cafés, coffee houses or other takeout eateries Littering customers repeat the Hans and Gretal story in which Hans dropped bread crumbs to leave a trail so the two children could be found. Only here there are no birds eager to pick up the litter and destroy the trail. An observant visitor or new resident can find the above establishments just by following any or all of the discarded litter Ray describes. Retired Solid Waste, Manger Hicks, his replacement, Harriman believes that the city should eliminate the claw or other trash gathering devices, and force residents pick up all the litter (including human and dog fecal matter) and put it in their ”green” waste bins and return to their property until pickup day. From comment posted previously in response to sacpress and BEE articles, many other people believe the solution is affected residents to pick up this trash too, dump it into their green waste bins or compost. AND if they don’t, they’re going to be charged must more for the city waste collection service than in the clean and green suburbs. Great solutions for the central city! From comments posted previously in response to sacpress and BEE articles, many other people believe the solution is for affected residents to pick up this trash too, dump it into their green waste bins or compost. AND if they don’t, they’re going to be charged much more for city waste collection service than in the clean and green suburbs. Great solutions for the central city! Dale Kooyman 2011-06-25T16:18:22Z Dale Kooyman comment-51379 2011-05-31T16:56:36Z 2011-05-31T16:56:36Z Where were you, Merin, during the five years the Homeless Board was in existence? You could have really helped us all to implement a plan--yes, there was such a plan-- to enable homeless to get OFF the streets then. BUT you were no where to be found. Now these publicity seeking ego centered actions seem like a goal to keep homeless ON the streets. What help is that? Dale Kooyman 2011-05-31T16:56:36Z Dale Kooyman comment-50870 2011-05-20T00:01:02Z 2011-05-20T00:01:02Z Thank you very much, Pembe, for the link. It may be one of Sacramento's best kept secrets. These are absolutely great art projects--very creative and original--all of which prove my point that we have many great artists in this city. I clicked on some randomly and about half had the addresses. Why is that? Unfortunately, they appear to be widely spread out. That is good for those areas but it also dilutes the impression and weakens the interest for visitors. Were all of these funded by SMAC? Does SMAC tie into the Second Saturday "Art Walk?"--not just in Midtown but citywide? From a marketing perspective, I think the next step is now to focus all new projects in the central core to get many visitors' attention. Then conduct tours starting from downtown--numerous people interested in art will be willing to pay for those to see art works close up. Those could pay for themselves if reservations are encouraged. Summer is just beginning and a great time to do it for this year. See if you can get full coverage on TV and written media. I'm sure Sacpress would do an article as well as SN&R, etc. This has great potential, BUT it needs PUBLICITY!!! Thanks again. Dale Kooyman 2011-05-20T00:01:02Z Dale Kooyman comment-50861 2011-05-19T21:00:24Z 2011-05-19T21:00:24Z Your comment reads like you are missing the main part of my point. Your examples appear to relate to funding and seem to be focused on specific groups. These are great accomplishments, nice things to do and that is great for those groups but most are largely invisible to the general public. To be a Valley center for art and attract visitors and tourists, which brings revenue to the city which in turn can bring more revenue to fund not only arts but other needs as well, the art must be visible to where the largest number of visitors and tourists come. That is downtown/central city. A collection on the Malls mentioned where this ethnic and other art can be displayed brings visibility to the art and to our diversity. It can be a big part of clearing up the K Street blight. People respect and admire art but there is nothing there for visitors to see. I'm not suggesting at all that Sacramento team up with other cities--that would not be a good idea. The idea is to make Sacramento stand out from those other cities. It seems that your marketing arm of your community does not understand this. For example, how many of the" 400 permanent art works" are visible to these downtown visitors/tourists? Where are they located n downtown or the central city? Are they part of the Del Paso Blvd. display? Are they part of any of the buildings I mentioned? I just hosted an out of town artist to see what Sacramento had to offer by walking around downtown and Old Sacramento. The murals stood out but there was little else. Dale Kooyman 2011-05-19T21:00:24Z Dale Kooyman comment-50851 2011-05-19T18:58:37Z 2011-05-19T18:58:37Z As important as art is to our culture, equating funding priority with “transportation, safety and libraries” is an invalid argument. Various art and related projects impacts the public indirectly while results of funding or lack of funding for safety, transportation and libraries have a direct impact on the city’s population. There are two existing major visible results of art: the beautiful murals around the central city and the great sculptures in the center of Del Paso Blvd. The art community was behind the first but wasn’t it Redevelopment that included Del Paso in their plans? So by thinking” outside the box,” how can SMAC and other art groups depend less on or eventually become independent of government funding to make their contribution as visible or nearly visible as safety, transportation and libraries? There are lots of ongoing opportunities. How has SMAC and the rest of the art community made sure its contribution was incorporated into and made visible inside and outside the various Sutter Hospital projects, the many other medical buildings, the variety of city, county, state, and federal government buildings and properties, local theatres, the light rail stations, the train depot, future inter-modal terminal, along J, other main artery streets and make wrought iron apartment entrances and parking lot fences more creative? How about making K Street Mall and Capitol Mall an outside museum of sculpture, plant and animal topiaries, statues and other works of art? Don’t forget the various new privately built buildings where art design suggestions are often welcome. When Office Max presented its plans to the city to build an “off the shelf” typical suburban box store at 19th & J, I met with the architect who was happy to change that design by incorporating the mosaic mural type feature and other changes. Finally with all the art talent that exists in Sacramento how has SMAC and others tapped into that to make our city a center for art in for the entire Valley? Dale Kooyman 2011-05-19T18:58:37Z Dale Kooyman comment-50331 2011-05-09T03:14:10Z 2011-05-09T03:14:10Z Your derogatory remarks and personal attacks, apparently afraid to reveal your name, contribute nothing constructive to this dialogue and you apparently do not know the history of Midtown. What you label "obstructionist ideas" are actually the creative ideas that turned residential Midtown from a slum to what it is today, and the city is benefitting tremendously from the property tax revenues that resulted. Further your comment, "Midtown isn't for everyone. It will never be the quiet, bucolic suburb that you would like it to be." shows that you obviously failed to read or understand my comments and the history of Midtown and its future. As to "come up with positive solutions" you apparently also didn't read the prior "Open letter to ..." in which numerous positive solutions were suggested. Dale Kooyman 2011-05-09T03:14:10Z Dale Kooyman comment-50330 2011-05-09T02:53:19Z 2011-05-09T02:53:19Z You totally misunderstood, distorted and/or misinterpreted Julie, my points. To rebut each point you quarrel with would be useless. Remember I have known you for several years and cannot forget your history of neighborhood participation when you lived in Boulevard Park. I'm sure that the BarWest owners and the Midtown Neighborhood Association Board will be in touch with each other soon. Incidentally, did you ever hear of an attorney or legal aid who was never wrong? Dale Kooyman 2011-05-09T02:53:19Z Dale Kooyman comment-50298 2011-05-08T03:50:30Z 2011-05-08T03:50:30Z 3 Hefling also has expressed a misunderstanding of what residents want, which may very well be a result of his having a conflict of interest since his livelihood is dependent on the bar/restaurant industry and is a member of the Midtown Business Association Board, some of whom promote the over concentration of bars and clubs in Midtown. While he is also a resident, he lives farther from J Street bars/clubs than most of those who have been so adversely impacted over the past years. He fails to mention that those residents have long supported restaurants, which serve good food with beer, wine or cocktails. They have opposed some bars/clubs because of a few but repeated drunken customers’ misbehavior in front of or next to their homes. It is true unfortunately that past new owners of bars/clubs masqueraded as restaurants in the early hours but then misled residents as to what they said they were going to be later in the evening. Having been misled before, residents with whom I’ve spoken fear that could happen again in this case. 4. He also misunderstands or misrepresents what both longtime (“25 years or more”) and newer property owner residents want as to quality of life in their neighborhoods. I know both and both agree that they want three very basic courteous and simple things: (1) bar/club customers should respect residents’ properties; (2) bars/clubs should provide parking for their customers instead of forcing customers to park in adjacent neighborhoods where they take up residents’ parking spaces; and (3) bars/clubs and their customers should respect the fact that many of residents are raising their children in these neighborhoods and ask that inebriates returning to their parked cars behave as they would at home where they were raised. 5. Hefling does a disservice to all Midtown businesses and residents and widens the gap between the two when he talked to “70 residents” and then apparently pitted longtime residents against newer by saying that the difference between the two are those who want “quiet central city atmosphere and those who like having bars and restaurants.” That is not a true assessment. The truth is that in addition to asking respect for their quality of life and their children and proving customer parking, many residents want to be able to walk safely to and from restaurants, and like to have drinks in bars and like to attend bands or other performances in the nightclubs. 6. The new BarWest owners send mixed messages. Its name sequence BarWest Burgers and Wings is one. It suggests alcohol services are first and food services are second. Their proposed closure time of midnight during the week and 2:00 a.m. on weekends is another, and they have been unwilling to change those. Such hours are not normal restaurant hours but are typical of bars. In addition, Brandon reports that owners had already made “several concessions” by agreeing not to apply for an entertainment permit. In fact, owners told a resident in a meeting that the landlord required a clause in their lease that they were not to apply for entertainment permit and bolting the tables to the floor may very well have been part of that requirement. What other “concessions” to residents have they made? While certain types of entertainment, such as dancing, are specified in the cities’ ordinance the number of TV screens, which we all watch for entertainment purposes are not. The cost for installing and operating 15 to 20 such screens plus stocking and serving 14 kinds of beers suggests more far more than dining pleasure. At this point BarWest has not filed for an alcohol license. When it does, residents will follow the process ABC codes provide them to obtain operating conditions, which protect resident’s constitutional right to quiet enjoyment of property. Hopefully, BarWest will follow through with agreeing to those conditions, which will focus on being a restaurant and not a bar. Dale Kooyman 2011-05-08T03:50:30Z Dale Kooyman comment-50297 2011-05-08T03:49:42Z 2011-05-08T03:49:42Z Your article is excellent Brandon but there are some discrepancies in what you were told, Mark Hefling’s comments and the understanding that applicants’ for the alcohol license have. At stake here is whether BarWest will be a restaurant that is primarily dependent for its income from food or is it going to be another bar/club? More on that later. 1. BarWest is not located within the boundaries of Marshall School Neighborhood Association. Its boundaries end at the north side of J. While residents closest to the long troublesome 2700 block, have been greatly and adversely impacted by customer misbehavior leaving those clubs, the residents to the south have also. Those residents live within the boundaries of the Midtown Neighborhood Association, and BarWest too is located within the MNA area boundaries. Members of that association and its board members, to whom I’ve spoken, say that to their collective knowledge neither Barwest nor Hefling contacted residents and or any board member. They should have been contacted. 2. “In Midtown, the only way you’re going to survive is if the neighborhood association supports you,” he [BarWest] said. It is unfortunate that someone misinformed the owner(s) about this. It is residents, near and far, who are businesses’ customers. A neighborhood association has no buying power. Any business is dependent upon those residents. Further, when it comes to alcohol licensing, Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) recognizes only residents as having a constitutional right to the “quiet enjoyment of property, ” which has been interpreted by the courts to cover much more than sound. ABC’s governing codes do not designate neighborhood associations as “people.” Dale Kooyman 2011-05-08T03:49:42Z Dale Kooyman comment-49167 2011-04-14T18:43:05Z 2011-04-14T18:43:05Z I welcome bike lanes and think it is great we will be having more but your point is well taken. I have asked some bikers why they don't use the bike lanes and they say that bike lanes are too dangerous. Like, who would a biker rather hit or experience a "near miss"--a vehicle or a pedestrian? Dale Kooyman 2011-04-14T18:43:05Z Dale Kooyman comment-48881 2011-04-07T23:52:16Z 2011-04-07T23:52:16Z Too many, including Waste Management which knows better, buy into or promote several myths like all neighborhoods are the same, all lots are the same size, all structures on those lots are the same size and have the same footage facing the street, all lots have nice green front and back yards with maybe one or two trees, everyone can compost, that trees only drop leaves two months out of the year AND all the trees in the city grow on private property. They conveniently ignore CITY trees (you know those trees that grow in the park strips and provide our shade canopy for pedestrians and streets and make the central city so cool and beautiful?) or believe that these trees never become infected with the elm leaf beetle, Dutch Elm Disease (DED), Sycamores never get Anthracnose--all of which cause those trees to collectively shed hundreds of thousands of leaves all summer long, none drop oranges, blossoms and seeds every spring, none drop branches, twigs, pods, branches, fronds other than two months out of the year. They assume too that no yard workers haul their refuse from the suburbs into the central city where they deposit large piles of "green" refuse in the street gutters along empty lots or neglected properties. Further they assume that no drivers, visitors and local patrons of liquor stores, coffee houses, restaurants, fast food ever discard plastic & paper bags, styrofoam & paper food containers, plastic or paper drinking glasses/cups, plastic sandwich wraps, beer & soft drink cans, liquor bottles, hypodermic needles, partially eaten foods, empty cigarette packets, pens, small articles of clothing into our gutters along with those leaves, etc. Nor do they know that dead rats, mice, birds and occasionally some road kill crawl to the gutters to die--the smaller animals hidden by those leaves until they start to smell. And they expect residents to pick up all this crap and dump it into their green waste bin, bring those bins back to their property and haul them back to the street until pick up day? There are other cheaper and better ways to collect all this rubbish. It is through use of large hose equipped vacuum trucks which other cities and large industrial areas use and one manufacturer offered to test out in Sacramento but Solid Waste refused to accept the offer. Dale Kooyman 2011-04-07T23:52:16Z Dale Kooyman comment-48587 2011-04-01T19:07:30Z 2011-04-01T19:07:30Z Please read again more carefully. We never wrote "reporters on this site." Sacpress and reporters have been very good. We very much appreciate that, and we have told them so. Apparently you haven't followed too closely on other reports however. Several Midtown residents have been interviewed over recent years by other written and video media. You must have missed those. Anger from whom? Critics? I could agree on that. But from the writers? No. Just stating facts, frustrations and recommended solutions. But if you feel there is anger, then that is your opinion to which you are entitled but don't state it as fact. See comment below. Dale Kooyman 2011-04-01T19:07:30Z Dale Kooyman comment-48537 2011-04-01T05:39:14Z 2011-04-01T05:39:14Z Thanks Bill! I was a stakeholder in that very study, along with 5 other local neighborhood leaders. This study became necessary due to the need to quantify the ongoing and additional potential parking impacts associated with development proposals, the issuance of special permits and variances to waive or reduce parking requirements for bussnesses wishing to operate in impacted areas and address policy concerns to those quantifiable realities. Part of the study was to create a baseline snapshot of supply vs demand and how much available parking was present in the off-street, on-street and combined parking inventories. The stakeholders of the study involved all fields of viewpoints, (unlike the special events committee meetings and the ones that put together the solutions for 2nd Saturday). The meetings were all well attended and the discussions were consensus driven with “balance” being one of the primary objectives. I strongly suggest that folks take a look at page 76 and 77 and the maps entitled fig. 12.6, 12.7 and 12.8. Those maps identified specifically the parking impacts occurring on Friday night block by block within the central midtown area. The time frames were 7PM-9PM, 10PM-12AM and 2AM-5AM respectively. So it’s not 2nd Saturday it may be said. Well if the impacts are what they are on a regular old Friday night and you compound that by a conservative 3-4 fold increase, then how much Redder could that area become? Where do those visiting cars go? The main website is : http://www.cityofsacramento.org/transportation/parking/central_city_parking/ Folks can read all about the study procedures, comments meeting etc to their hearts content. Then look at : http://www.cityofsacramento.org/transportation/parking/central_city_parking/Redev%20area%20with%20Hot%20Spots.pdf And lets not forget too that there is one heck of a big hospital project occurring at 29th and L/Capitol that even with the garage will have an additional impact. Dale Kooyman 2011-04-01T05:39:14Z Dale Kooyman comment-48538 2011-04-01T04:51:01Z 2011-04-01T04:51:01Z Lindy, You obviously did not read or comprehend the part of the article that addresses "urban" living, using other cities with far more "urban" environments than Midtown as examples. Bill is totally correct, vandalism should never be tolerated more in an urban environment than a suburban. To do so signals decline is beginning. Dale Kooyman 2011-04-01T04:51:01Z Dale Kooyman comment-48535 2011-04-01T04:07:25Z 2011-04-01T04:07:25Z Tony, Lisa and SP. You understand and said it very well--short and to the point. Thank you for clarifying. It always amazes me how those living on some block in the central city have the audacity, prejudice and/or lack of knowledge to actually believe and based on that narrow belief, state their opinion that the conditions they have or had on their block are the exact same on every other block in Midtown. Further, they or others have the pious opinion that everyone else should have the same tolerance level and same reaction to a situation that they do. They ignore differences in health conditions, mobility, age and possibly most important whether children are involved. Dale Kooyman 2011-04-01T04:07:25Z Dale Kooyman comment-48530 2011-04-01T03:39:22Z 2011-04-01T03:39:22Z Galt: If you knew what you were talking about and had any knowledge about the people and conditions you describe, you would know that all four of these authors and several of their Midtown neighbors for some years have helped, worked with, donated time and money, "adopted, counseled " or in some way or another helped those individuals you despise. What have you done? Dale Kooyman 2011-04-01T03:39:22Z Dale Kooyman comment-48393 2011-03-30T18:18:59Z 2011-03-30T18:18:59Z That question can be answered by going to the ABC license query site and enter the address. Time is short though because I seem to remember that turned in licenses remain public information only for a short time. Dale Kooyman 2011-03-30T18:18:59Z Dale Kooyman comment-48392 2011-03-30T18:15:05Z 2011-03-30T18:15:05Z Thanks for your signficant history of facts. I'll breath my sigh of relief only when the payback check for Maloof's 77 million, or whatever the total amount finally owed is, clears the bank, and the city has the cash firmly in its hands. Dale Kooyman 2011-03-30T18:15:05Z Dale Kooyman comment-48390 2011-03-30T18:05:41Z 2011-03-30T18:05:41Z Before passing and then repealing, it would be interesting to know from studies made by many cities that have the "crash tax" as to how many people actually avoid working or driving in or into those cities. I doubt very few in spite of the empty threats we read in comments previously. The crash tax message is: we welcome you but drive safely in our city because your careless driving, which results in crashes, causes bodily or property injure to our businesses, their employees, our residents and their properties and can affect their insurance rates. It did not apply to residents of the cities and ONLY to those out-of-town drivers who were at fault. On the other hand, council should have found out how much cost reimbursement those cities raised and if the amount was worth the law being on the books to enforce. But most CM's or their staff rarely think and act based on a more comprehensive analysis on many issues---except in this case maybe Ashby and Cohn did. Dale Kooyman 2011-03-30T18:05:41Z Dale Kooyman comment-48191 2011-03-28T23:13:10Z 2011-03-28T23:13:10Z No, I don't--sorry but "too much water under the bridge" since. It was one of so many fights we had in order to make Midtown residential what it is today. But I would say those years are approximately right. Do you mind my asking you why that year is important to you/us? Dale Kooyman 2011-03-28T23:13:10Z Dale Kooyman comment-48180 2011-03-28T20:25:46Z 2011-03-28T20:25:46Z thsas: What you are suggesting is the Houston Texas model--finally abandoned after too many disastrous results. Dale Kooyman 2011-03-28T20:25:46Z Dale Kooyman comment-48179 2011-03-28T20:23:40Z 2011-03-28T20:23:40Z Yes, it almost happened--no thanks to Councilman Kerth and Midtown Business Association both of whom favored the JinB drive thru. Fortunately, we had a more visionary mayor council members at that time. Dale Kooyman 2011-03-28T20:23:40Z Dale Kooyman comment-48178 2011-03-28T20:20:16Z 2011-03-28T20:20:16Z But you're the one who objected to residents voicing their opinions in other neighborhood impacted matters. And what change you have undergone apparently when I read your "residents have a right" comment below. Why the flip flop? Dale Kooyman 2011-03-28T20:20:16Z Dale Kooyman comment-48174 2011-03-28T20:15:57Z 2011-03-28T20:15:57Z Thanks very much Steve for following up on residents' failed/blocked efforts and our subsequent two-year old request to you to see how residents could get zip cars into Midtown. We know from prior conversations with you and Sue that it has been a frustrating task. City first opposed it and nearly killed it. We then appreciated Zeff coming to the rescue but that seem to fade out too. So now your perseverance has finally paid off--sort of. Interesting, and I doubt very much that it is coincidental, that the locations of the cars are at locations most convenient for business employees but not to residents. Now we'll see which businesses use them. Unfortunately two residents who had hoped to benefit could not wait this long so had to go out and by new cars, so will no longer need zip car services. BUT at least it will be here for others IF it is convenient to walk that far. Now it is a matter of getting the word out. Thanks again. Dale Kooyman 2011-03-28T20:15:57Z Dale Kooyman comment-48078 2011-03-27T00:25:08Z 2011-03-27T00:25:08Z Thanks for reminding me. I should have remembered because my niece lives there. Dale Kooyman 2011-03-27T00:25:08Z Dale Kooyman comment-48073 2011-03-26T19:47:58Z 2011-03-26T19:47:58Z Agreed. Other cites. e.g. Hermosa Beach and Long Beach are far less tolerant of this kind of violent behavior when committed in or outside an alcohol purveyor's establishment. Dale Kooyman 2011-03-26T19:47:58Z Dale Kooyman comment-48070 2011-03-26T18:46:34Z 2011-03-26T18:46:34Z Ben, I'm still of mixed opinion on this issue, having lived under both good and bad strong mayor cities. If it were possible to enact, would you support a sunset provision? In case the strong mayor turns out to be a bad or no better thing for the city, then the strong mayor structure would have to be renewed, by vote of the people--let's say after four, eight or 12 years. While some might say that the voter already has such an option by voting out an incumbent come election, that does not prevent the powers of money (much of which comes from outside the city limits as it did/does now) to fund massive amounts in campaign contributions for ads to substitute another of their favorites whose actions might be equally bad for the city. Dale Kooyman 2011-03-26T18:46:34Z Dale Kooyman comment-48058 2011-03-26T16:06:36Z 2011-03-26T16:06:36Z Did the crime data include PD DUI arrests? Also does it include the crime reports by Highway Patrol, including their DUI's? Its patrols are a significant force in Midtown to assist PD. Obtaining its information is more complicated and the last time I tried, there was a charge for furnishing results. To answer your question above, yes, that assumption can be made. I feel the value of your analysis is crime in total on any weekend. While it is interesting to show a contrast or lack of contrast on SS and other weekends, your analysis is also very significant because it shows the data for all weekends at least for the fall/winter seasons. Dale Kooyman 2011-03-26T16:06:36Z Dale Kooyman comment-48057 2011-03-26T15:48:10Z 2011-03-26T15:48:10Z You sound as if you object to people asking intelligent questions, so resort to typical name calling. What are you afraid of? The answers may not support your perceptions? Joel has done a good job but in all analyses readers have legitimate questions. Dale Kooyman 2011-03-26T15:48:10Z Dale Kooyman comment-48011 2011-03-26T04:50:44Z 2011-03-26T04:50:44Z Looks like this was a great analysis of reported crimes. PD in the past estimated reported crimes to be about 40% of the total since so many people say that they do not call the non-emergency number to report crimes because they know they will have a long wait time on weekends. Or people call and then get impatient waiting, so hang up. I think PD can capture the hangups but have no idea as the reason for those calls. Then there is apparently a significant number of individuals who do not follow through with completing the written report form. So do you happen to know if the reported crimes were those called in to the non-emergency number and answered or actual completed report forms? Dale Kooyman 2011-03-26T04:50:44Z Dale Kooyman comment-47913 2011-03-24T20:44:52Z 2011-03-24T20:44:52Z Markes, you can throw out these baseless charges because your anonymous handle protects you from a real meaningful dialogue. Nevertheless you are entitled to your opinion as to the groups you outline no matter how wrong it is. But if you really had attended "enough" of those groups long enough, then you would know that NAG is a forum not a membership group. You would also know that the other groups have always focused on Midtown as as whole and NOT just their block. Further you would know that these and other groups of neighbors formed these associations nearly 30 years ago to successfully battle the city against its redevelopment plans to bulldoze all of Midtown as we know it today and replace with rows of three story low income housing. Not to mention that these same folks "with provincial minds" you belittle were actually responsible for the preservation of the many historical structures that give Midtown its character and enables it to be the setting of several movies shot here. Without those victories, I doubt that you or any of the art and alcohol businesses would have chosen to locate in a faceless low income ghetto. Dale Kooyman 2011-03-24T20:44:52Z Dale Kooyman comment-47893 2011-03-23T22:36:03Z 2011-03-23T22:36:03Z No. They just expanded the discussion but nothing new. Dale Kooyman 2011-03-23T22:36:03Z Dale Kooyman comment-47884 2011-03-23T19:08:32Z 2011-03-23T19:08:32Z That Curtis Park resident owns property in the general area, and we residents warmly welcome him plus ANY AND ALL out of the area owners who are willing to take their time and make the effort to maintain their property to ensure a decent quality of life for everyone to attract responsible tenants. That is a a great change from most absentee owners who collect their rental income checks and take them to to the bank but have no idea what is going on. So you may not care but WE care that he is conscientious enough to stay involved, and we do thank him for it. However, I do agree with you that more of the action needs to be moved Downtown. We support that too. Incidentally, if you lived here and noticed what is happening at all, you would know that "Life in central Sacramento" IS a " little more like this all the time" each weekend. Dale Kooyman 2011-03-23T19:08:32Z Dale Kooyman comment-47755 2011-03-22T06:19:42Z 2011-03-22T06:19:42Z Janis Stevens is one of Northern California's most brilliant actresses and talented directors. She has directed several stage plays and performed numerous roles on several stages in Northern Calif and in addition to the Off Broadway show mentioned above but also in Maine and Philadelphia theatres. In 2006 she also received the Elly Award for her portrayal of Julia Morgan at the California Stage premier of Becoming Julia Morgan. She played Klytemnestra the California Stage production of Electra and Her Family in Myth. Stevens has an incredible ability to draw the audience into each character she portrays. Dale Kooyman 2011-03-22T06:19:42Z Dale Kooyman comment-47739 2011-03-21T20:39:57Z 2011-03-21T20:39:57Z Why would anyone be embarrassed to attend a neighborhood advisory group meeting? Do you think that you are too superior or are too good to mix with the common neighborhood folk who sponsored and have run this forum for well over 10 years? Try it, you might like it. Dale Kooyman 2011-03-21T20:39:57Z Dale Kooyman comment-47644 2011-03-18T04:40:00Z 2011-03-18T04:40:00Z So very sorry to hear of your disappointment. I hope you will email your comment to our councilman. If not, I would like your permission to do so. It is very telling and you are not alone. He says that there is more information to be presented at the NAG Monday evening, so hope you will be there to hear it. I plan to be. Dale Kooyman 2011-03-18T04:40:00Z Dale Kooyman comment-47614 2011-03-17T21:17:05Z 2011-03-17T21:17:05Z Thanks for the breakdown. That amount is obviously enough taxpayer contribution that the non "safety committee" should have respected and addressed the residential neighborhood's many verifed complaints. The committee only had to do two things that would have solved most of the problems residential neighborhoods face and reduce city PD costs. In addition, both actions would have really made every weekend safer with very little or no loss of revenue to the powerful, self-focused, uncaring alcohol dispensaries. Those are: 1. Change the hours back to closely match the original SS hours which helped ALL Midtown businesses and did not adversely impact residential neighborhoods AND 2. Provide 90 minutes free paring in the private lots like the city does at the East End Garage so the drinkers could park closer to their favorite watering holes. Dale Kooyman 2011-03-17T21:17:05Z Dale Kooyman comment-47612 2011-03-17T20:31:41Z 2011-03-17T20:31:41Z T Leon: From the staff report that was presented to city council as to what its contribution would be from city properties within the PBID. Check out that report. I didn't say residential property owners, I wrote "taxpayers." You will find that within the PBID city owned Marshall Park, some curious reason the city pays state's portion for Sutter's Fort ($27,000 alone) and the RT properties leased are included for a total (phone call from someone who corrected me) that taxpayers actually contribute 47k each year. This does not include the 90 minute free parking that the city allows Midtown business customers in the East End Garage. Dale Kooyman 2011-03-17T20:31:41Z Dale Kooyman comment-47608 2011-03-17T05:43:50Z 2011-03-17T05:43:50Z Suzanne, thank you very much for reporting on this. I’m sure you have done a great job. The resulting changes are about 90% window dressing and 10% substance. Now we know why residents have not been able to find out over these past six months what changes were being planned to resolve Second Saturday and other weekend alcohol related problems--not only in general but specifically for heavily impacted residential neighborhoods. Now we know our fears that there would be a big fat ZERO in results for the adversely impacted residential neighborhoods have been confirmed. It is now obvious from these paltry results that the basic rule the safety team had to follow was that nothing could be adopted that would lessen alcohol dispensaries’ profits—no matter what cost to the city PD and surrounding neighborhoods. Therefore, the drunken party scene must be maintained because that is the real money maker and gives Midtown a great reputation as a place to party. With this governing rule, note that there was not one neighborhood representative on the “Safety Team.” Note also that none of the really effective suggestions made at the forum after the fatal shooting which were intended to alleviate parking and other adverse effects of inebriates in residential neighborhoods were adopted —oh, correction: “The biggest change is a requirement that vendors, musicians with amplified sound and other street performers who are set up on public property – primarily sidewalks or closed streets – operate from 4 - 8 p.m.! FANTASTIC! Cease operations one entire half hour sooner! That long, entire half hour –“will (keep) some of the kids from lingering and just kind of hanging around” said Jones. Her quote: ”The thinking was – on everybody's part, even from the community's side," she said. "There's not a lot you can stop unless you shut it down. We want it to continue, but we want it to be safe.” That is nonsense and a total distortion of what neighborhood folks suggested at the Senior Center meeting. They came up with a lot that can be done but the committee would have to dismiss when its results had to please the alcohol profiteers. First, Vincene, scratch the word “community.” That is an inappropriate generalization. The Midtown “community” consists of various business AND residents AND residents were not present in those meetings, so only half of the “community” was there! Second, at the forum after the fatal shooting, among the many oral and written suggestions was that the Art Walk should go back to hours similar to the very successful 1990’s “art walks” (shut down by the city then)—perhaps as early as noon and ending at 6 or 7. Those suggestions pointed out that these earlier hours would enable more people, including public transit users such as seniors, disabled and youth to shop at Midtown retailers, eat at luncheon places and stay for dinner at Midtown’s dinner houses. This could also reduce visitor-parking problems for the neighborhoods. So what else had to be changed or omitted to fit their square peg into the round hole created? “Problems” had to be redefined to “SERIOUS.” Leong did not define serious so I guess that means shootings are serious but DUI’s, mere fights, robberies, car break-ins and neighborhood noise and vandalism are not. Readers may not have noticed but there was no mention either of the city taxpayer subsidized parking at the East End Garage where SS patrons could park FREE for 90 minutes. This benefit is not even on MBA’s website!! Nor was there any reference to what benefits resident taxpayers get for their nearly $45,000 per year contribution to MBA’s PBID which is heavily dominated by the alcohol interests. Conveniently left out also were PD costs for SS and other weekends to maintain order for the drinkers and any studies that show related revenues to the city exceed city costs. I’m sure that involved city staff did the best they could within the defined confines, but the results were pitiful and will make no changes in the affected neighborhoods. Dale Kooyman 2011-03-17T05:43:50Z Dale Kooyman comment-47236 2011-03-10T19:25:15Z 2011-03-10T19:25:15Z You are absolutely right that people deserve better. As I pointed out in your prior article such programs can be better designed, there are workable models. and they should be better and those responsible for continuing the status quo should be held accountable by denying future funding. BUT these Providers are a very powerful political block statewide and no elected official at any level dares oppose them as Willie Brown found out when he was mayor of SF. I recommend all read Chapter 11, Gamed by the System, from his book "Basic Brown, My Life and Our Times." The core problem is that no one has ever found a way to fund providers more for reducing the homeless population that they say they help. The reality for them is that fewer homeless clients means less funding, so there is no incentive for them other than the status quo. A sad lesson learned from serving on the Homeless Board. Dale Kooyman 2011-03-10T19:25:15Z Dale Kooyman comment-47161 2011-03-08T23:19:10Z 2011-03-08T23:19:10Z Sonny, many of our problems are of our own making and it is good to hear that you recognize that too BUT solutions are often of our own making also. I appreciate your answer to my question because such centers that I described do not exist EXCEPT for veterans. One does exist in Phoenix Ariz according to what I've been able to find out. As co founder (approved and funded by city council and board of supervisors) of the Homeless Board here in Sacramento about 10 years ago, the resident and business reps fought hard to get such a center here but were out-voted by the homeless providers that are still benefitting from the millions of dollars that poured into this community then and have since. Meanwhile the homeless still suffer. The center could have included and targeted services to youth as well as women--any such center would have to be responsive to the needs of those that sought help. Drugs and alcohol at such places can be a problem but as long as a resident followed the rules and did not physically fight with other residents (not always possible when drunk or on hard drugs) then sensible drinking or smoking pot off site would not have to be a disqualifying factor. The important thing would be the individuals' goal to engage in whatever activity was necessary to enable him/her to no longer be homeless. Dale Kooyman 2011-03-08T23:19:10Z Dale Kooyman comment-47104 2011-03-08T17:26:17Z 2011-03-08T17:26:17Z Thank you for sharing your experiences from the time your parents “kicked you out” of their house (your house too) because you smoked pot. Too often homelessness starts with parents such as yours. Over the years from my work and personal life, I have known other young men and women who were banned from their family support and home environment because parents disapprove of their son or daughter being unemployed too long, associating with friends who they did not approve of, for telling their parents that they were gay, rejecting the parents’ religion, etc. etc. I would like to ask you some questions. When you found you were going to be homeless do you think it would have been helpful if you could have gone to a Homeless Service Center for help and advice? A center where you could have stayed in dormitory type facilities, meals provided, but also where residents would receive alcohol and drug counseling, referral to jobs and training? The only conditions asked of you would be not to cause trouble like fighting with other homeless there and to help out around the facilities by performing on site tasks as assigned on a rotating basis such as janitorial, laundry, cooking, yard work, etc.? Do you think you could have been helped by such a facility or would you have chosen the route you describe in your article? Dale Kooyman 2011-03-08T17:26:17Z Dale Kooyman comment-46984 2011-03-06T02:58:43Z 2011-03-06T02:58:43Z Parents picking up their kids could address the traffic problem too by talking to one another to see if each child actually needs individual personal "taxi" service or if trade-off car pooling is an option. I'm sure the situation outlined by Edwards in his last paragraph below is replicated many times over now to add to the existing problem. As for some kind of practical speed calming on H Street to make it safer for pedestrians, children and vehicles? Perish the thought! Neighbors who live and drive on feeder streets to H will kill such efforts, if not beat up the people promoting it, as they did years ago. They made it clear then that they don't walk in East Sacramento and it is their right as well as every commuter's right driving across the American River Bridge to speed down H, and if those H Streets residents don't like it, then get out of the way or MOVE! Dale Kooyman 2011-03-06T02:58:43Z Dale Kooyman comment-46983 2011-03-06T02:28:06Z 2011-03-06T02:28:06Z I could ask my Winn Park neighbors too but the costs can vary widely depending on where and when they are installed--very "suspicious. " That is why I want to know what the costs are in Alkali. Dale Kooyman 2011-03-06T02:28:06Z Dale Kooyman comment-46941 2011-03-05T04:49:57Z 2011-03-05T04:49:57Z Jeeze, $130,000 for the "design" phase?" What does that phase consist of Brandon? Did they explain why that is needed? Private consultant? Also how much money will the 220 lights cost after the design phase? And how much will each property be assessed or are all costs paid out of redevelopment funds? Great for Alkali! These lilghts should be all over the central city. Interesting that the city in its infinite wisdom removed those very same style of lights about 50 years ago. Apparently, staff didn't realize that cars, even then, had headlights to light their way down the streets. "Illuminate the sidewalk" was the point we had to fight with staff, still wanting to light the streets, to get them to recognize that is the pedestrians who need the lights when we residents voted to assess ourselves for historic streetlights in Boulevard Park several years ago. Voting against and defeating our efforts were Mayor Serna who supported a behind the scenes dirty numbers trick, Rob Kerth, Deborah Ortiz and two other council members at that time whose names I've forgotten Thanks to Cohn we have a few now. Dale Kooyman 2011-03-05T04:49:57Z Dale Kooyman comment-46656 2011-03-01T21:55:16Z 2011-03-01T21:55:16Z Great reporting on a complex issue. Clarification, the little balloon is on the very SE tip of Ashby's district (formerly Tretheway). The rest of it is all to the north and west extending out through Natomas. In the 2000 census there was disagreement as to leaving that much of the downtown in District 1, but council made the final decision, which chopped the central city into three districts with little regard for the homogeneity of its neighborhoods--a factor that was to be considered. Dale Kooyman 2011-03-01T21:55:16Z Dale Kooyman comment-46542 2011-02-27T20:19:47Z 2011-02-27T20:19:47Z "punish those who don't want the containers." It is not so much a matter of not wanting, it is more a matter of containers don't fit the needs of those who have so much "green waste" from city trees in the park strips and litter from careless and thoughtless litterbugs. Incidentally, some cities use the large vacuum trucks--cheaper and more effective than our system. Dale Kooyman 2011-02-27T20:19:47Z Dale Kooyman comment-46541 2011-02-27T20:11:14Z 2011-02-27T20:11:14Z One thing missing this past year was the usual annual tearful August contribution raising "we're closing because we're out of money" tactic. And the gullible send in their donations. Guess that wouldn't fly too well while building the steel structured Welcoming Center. There is a good reason why L&F doesn't take any government grant money: it's called having to show accountability. Check out their non-profit filings with the Secretary of State if you want to get an approximation--and it is only an approximation because L&F is slick about their fiscal accountability. Dale Kooyman 2011-02-27T20:11:14Z Dale Kooyman comment-46253 2011-02-23T06:06:11Z 2011-02-23T06:06:11Z Bill, market rate does not have to mean expensive or luxury at all. We have a lot of market rate housing in midtown and those rents reflect what the market will bear--now as low as $625 to $650 for a one bedroom quite reasonable for a couple whether one or both work. I saw a for rent sign for a one bedroom in MSN for $510, There have always been too many SRO's in relation to market rate in the CBD and the "least it exists" is far too few which is why there are no customers for the downtown businesses. Far more market rate is needed in or adjacent to the CBD. Dale Kooyman 2011-02-23T06:06:11Z Dale Kooyman comment-46184 2011-02-22T20:04:24Z 2011-02-22T20:04:24Z Seems that location, next to the existing light rail and Amtrak terminal and coming intermodal terminal, would be better suited to market rate apartments for people working downtown and those commuting on the Capitol Route. These folks are always the last to be considered while the K Street and Plaza businesses struggle in the absence of such market rate housing that can house potential customers and then wonder why businesses fail. But that is, has long been and will apparently continue to be Sacramento's short sighted approach. As long as that mentality exists there will be no real lasting revitalization to the CBD. Mercy does have a good reputation for good management so that is the only plus I can see. Dale Kooyman 2011-02-22T20:04:24Z Dale Kooyman comment-46046 2011-02-18T21:10:16Z 2011-02-18T21:10:16Z You don't say who you are directing your comments to. You mention Tom who is homeless and does not have a backyard and Petroff who may or may not have a backyard. You and I don't know whether any of the other commenters have backyards either but if they live in the central city, they may very well have homeless in their back or even front yards IF they yards. If you were referring to me, I stated above what I've done plus "adopted" 14 homeless (meaning advising them of services, helping them to obtain such services, etc.) over a two year period some years ago. Now please say what you have done. Dale Kooyman 2011-02-18T21:10:16Z Dale Kooyman comment-45989 2011-02-18T16:56:39Z 2011-02-18T16:56:39Z Correction, Cogmeyer, the proposal was NOT to spread homeless around the CITY--it was to locate Homeless Service Centers around the COUNTY. That included Folsom. As part of that proposal providers were asked to obtain prior resident and work addresses before an individual had become homeless so that the location would represent the number of homeless in a Supervisor's --not council--District and be convenient for homeless to get to via biking, car or public transportation. The providers REFUSED to cooperate in obtaining that information! A "return to residence" program was implemented whereby the PD did find out prior addresses and relatives of homeless who were not from Sacramento city/county. They then contacted that relative and asked if they would take the homeless relative back and help them there. Several hundred over the years have been returned to their home--whether in other California counties or other states. Dale Kooyman 2011-02-18T16:56:39Z Dale Kooyman comment-45961 2011-02-18T16:39:03Z 2011-02-18T16:39:03Z As I wrote above, over ten years ago some public members on the Homeless Board did propose (and some government folks agreed) implementing proven models of effective and reasonable solutions for homeless. This would have avoided the misery they were in then and have been since. But those homeless providers who say they want to help the homeless voted down the idea--after all, they don' get more government grants from serving fewer clients. Dale Kooyman 2011-02-18T16:39:03Z Dale Kooyman comment-45893 2011-02-17T20:23:20Z 2011-02-17T20:23:20Z No solution will be accepted that does not line the pockets of the powerful homeless providers. Some homeless know this and many others allow themselves to be victimized by these providers' power. This was a reality I and others learned as cofounder (along with Midtown Business Assoc president ) of the Homeless Board with support of Board of Sups and city council. County hot line for those to call and get help when they find themselves going to be homeless before actually being out on the street? Creating homeless service centers/campuses around the county where the homeless had lived--one in each Supervisor's district so those in the outlying areas are not forced to come downtown? Incorporating into those centers dormitory all services they need -like limited time sleeping quarters, eating or fixing meals in community dining rooms, working to maintain such facilities as well as receiving onsite drug, physical and mental health counseling, clothes and tool closets and then referral services to jobs, training, health, dental and other personal needs? Modeling the centers after the very economical and efficient Veterans' Resource Service Center just off Florin? N0! The providers had a more beneficial way to themselves but more costly to the county and inconvenient for the homeless which had been in effect for years. So providers on the board voted against spending any of the millions of dollars each year (up to 28 million) for these kind of help services and facilities. AND they were joined by Supervisors Cox, Notolli, and Muriel Johnson who opposed such a place in their districts. They felt that homeless should all come downtown "where services are i.e. L&F, VOA, Salvation Army, etc." and the providers believed the homeless should be referred to them where ever their offices were, which then forced homeless to run all over the county to get services during provider office hours--to help homeless RT should honor county issued bus and light rail vouchers . Dale Kooyman 2011-02-17T20:23:20Z Dale Kooyman comment-45888 2011-02-17T19:21:54Z 2011-02-17T19:21:54Z "they're the lonely voice in the center city" meaning DSP. Actually central city residents, including Midtown, identified and have tried to get support for many of these ideas for the last two and one half decades but have been ignored by the suburban mindset of the Convention Bureau, most city council members (Fargo and Cohn exceptions), city employees of all ranks, suburban or corporate owned businesses, builders and all other interests who live elsewhere in or out of the region but never come downtown except for their jobs, then think they know what is best for downtown and unfortunately have the influence to see nothing gets done that does not mesh with their ideas of making money for them. Dale Kooyman 2011-02-17T19:21:54Z Dale Kooyman comment-44878 2011-02-01T22:26:24Z 2011-02-01T22:26:24Z CORRECTION: Speaking for the NAG agenda setting committee, we are not substituting ("in lieu of") the redistricting meeting at the Hart Senior center for the NAG meeting. The agenda setting committee never agreed to that. Redistricting is the ONLY guest item on the agenda for February. NAG will still have its usual round table introductions of attendees (which the redistricting meeting will have anyway) updates and police report. Those will take about 5-10 minutes. We will not need the Neighborhood Services update. Dale Kooyman 2011-02-01T22:26:24Z Dale Kooyman comment-44873 2011-02-01T21:53:32Z 2011-02-01T21:53:32Z "On that alley, developers propose a six-story apartment building with 153 units and a 91-space parking garage." Hope that can be fast tracked for one of the first to be completed so residents can support the businesses and Plaza and other retail stores. Dale Kooyman 2011-02-01T21:53:32Z Dale Kooyman comment-44572 2011-01-30T00:43:03Z 2011-01-30T00:43:03Z The issue of sound/noise is complex, as you will soon find out if you research and study it as I have. MD’s have told me that the human body via its adrenal glands is constructed to respond to loud sound/noises with fight or flight. In fact, if adrenals are stimulated too often and too long, they become over stressed and sooner or later, body illness in some form will develop. So, Bill, is it is not a simple flippant matter “as your cup of tea.” Noise/sound types/kinds and levels vary in pitch and volume. Some stimulate the adrenals more than others. Individuals’ innate body-ability to cope with pitch and volume varies considerably also. As to sleep, some people sleep very soundly and others very lightly. Nrem and Rem factors in sleep patterns of both kinds of sleepers are complex but important to health and well-being and affected by noise/sounds. Ear tolerance also varies somewhat but not as greatly. Young children’s’ ears and adrenals are especially sensitive and vulnerable to physical and hearing damage caused by loud noises/sounds. Some adults have lost significant hearing, so are less affected. Studies have shown that adults suffering the most recent significant hearing loss are those between the ages of 30 and 40. Distance affects transmission and volume. Sound/noise barriers also vary in efficiency, often depending on the above factors. Intervening techniques such as “white noise” or sound machines to block out exterior sounds/noises work for some but not others and definitely not good for young children. Location of sleep areas to distance sleepers from the noise source is effective for some but not all. Hotels particularly are concerned about exterior sounds affecting guests’ sleep. In spite of carefully restored single pane windows and thick heavy foam backed velvet drapes to cover them, the historic Richelieu in SF was forced to close some years ago because of late night/early morning noise from and related to the night club across the street. Interior of the Citizen Hotel is very “sound proof” but management offers earplugs to its guests for weekend visitors whose rooms face 10th because of nightclub noise across 10th street. Double pane window quality and effectiveness can vary, as does apartment design. Double paned patio windows and balcony doors in my SF third floor Pine Street apartment served me very well from the heavy traffic but each apartment was also constructed with a large fireplace and partial wall between the living room and sleeping area. Double panes seemed less efficient in my Washington D.C 8th floor apartment BUT the sleeping area was adjacent to the wall facing the street. So that may have been the major factor. Those of us who installed a special type of double pane here in Sacramento without violating the historic architecture have found them to be quite effective but still do not block out the truck noise, roars of speeding traffic, music volume, vibration or shrill party behavior. Even solid walls do not accomplish that. But considering all of these variables, double pane is a good way to reduce noise/sound impacts. Dale Kooyman 2011-01-30T00:43:03Z Dale Kooyman comment-44545 2011-01-29T17:04:59Z 2011-01-29T17:04:59Z That may be well in theory but in actuality, no single pane even with curtains provides a good sound barrier--even double pane only reduces the noise somewhat. I speak from my and from residents in such restored buildings experience. I'm all for preservation and retaining original character but sometimes practicality must win over. Dale Kooyman 2011-01-29T17:04:59Z Dale Kooyman comment-44535 2011-01-29T03:38:05Z 2011-01-29T03:38:05Z Looks like a beautiful job but "not multi-pane windows, but single-pane" seems to contradict “We’re not taking any shortcuts,” he added. . ." . For any of the units that face 15th or J Street (which I think is most) or unless the kitchens are all facing those streets, with the sleeping and living areas behind the kitchens, the horrendous traffic and night pedestrian noise can prove to be short sighted for residents with normal hearing ability. Dale Kooyman 2011-01-29T03:38:05Z Dale Kooyman comment-44498 2011-01-28T21:44:02Z 2011-01-28T21:44:02Z The main problem with Downtown Plaza and other K & J Street businesses has been and still is the absence of downtown residents. For too many years business owners and the city ignored the need to provide condo and market rental housing in or immediately adjacent to the CBD. Since the owners lived in the suburbs, they felt, reinforced by equally stodgy, uninformed lenders, those residents were their customers because "no one will live downtown." Their over reliance on government workers to shop and support them presumed that this customer base would never go away. Now they see the need for local residents, but is it too late to get the buildings built and occupied to provide the support needed? Dale Kooyman 2011-01-28T21:44:02Z Dale Kooyman comment-44388 2011-01-26T05:01:00Z 2011-01-26T05:01:00Z Shame on them but typical. Penalize those that know the inside of the city, perform well and know their jobs but send out a fishing expedition for those whose performance is unknown. But would any know a good manager from a bad as evidenced by their failing to recognize five years of the last city manager's developer favoritism, which created much of the mess the city is in? Dale Kooyman 2011-01-26T05:01:00Z