Newest articles and comments on The Sacramento Press written by Robert Horowitz

Robert Horowitz on "Editorial: Crime and the City "

2010-12-01T08:46:57Z

DWB, there is plenty of crime reporting on the TV, KFBK, the Beevis and other places. I don't think your niche lies with more in depth crime reporting. Unfortunately, you might wind up spending all your time on that. I like Craig Powell's ideas about a neighborhood list serve, and I think there may be fodder in the fact that crime fighting resources are dwindling at a time when folks are more desperate than ever.

Rally tomorrow for fair elections and clean government

2010-08-09T23:35:27Z

Are we, the people, tired yet of corporate governance yet? Corporations and the wealthy elite who make up the boards of directors of corporations have gained control of government at all levels in this country. They do this by donating extravagantly to election campaigns, by recruiting their lobbyists from the cream of the public service sector, and by placing their lackeys in control positions in the bureacracy (through extravagant donations). With their army of highly paid lobbyists, they hound elected officials and regulators tirelessly, mercilessly, until they get what they want. If they have to ply our government representatives with sex, drugs, meals or travel, that is the cost of doing business.

The result of all this is predictable and all-too-obvious these days; endless wars and nearly unregulated defense spending outsourced to contractors, global-scale envrironmental crises like BP's oil spill and pending climate disaster, and massive Wall Street fraud resulting in a global financial meltdown, conveniently bailed out by taxpayers. What cold be worse?

A recent Supreme Court decision, known as the Citizens United decision, greatly increases corporate ability to pour money into election-related activities. Legislative efforts to counter the Citizens United recently collapsed amid accusations of each side favoring their core donors. So we can expect more corporate influence in government, not less.

All of our many crises have their roots in one place, and that is the failure of America's system of electing leaders, and the closely related failure of how we regulate legislators and top regulators once they are in office. Attack the core problem, and the rest of the issues may take care of themselves.

Toward that end, please join the Other 98 tomorrow, Tuesday, Aug. 10 for a rally at the Federal Courthouse in downtown Sacramento. The Other 98 are the 98 percent of the American population who do not hire personal lobbyists, who do not sit on the boards of corporations, and who do not give extravagantly to candidates for elected office. See the Other 98 website.

The Other 98 is asking elected officials and candidates for federal office to sign the Other 98 pledge, which has three basic parts:

1. The candidate will work to overturn the recent Supreme Court decision which allows corporations to channel unlimited amounts of money into federal elections.
2. The candidate pledges to support the Fair Elections Now Act, proposed federal legislation which evens the playing field for candidates who are supported by numerous small donors.
3. The candidate pledges to support legislation which stops corporate lobbyists from showering federal officeholders with gifts like free meals and travel to exotic locales, and ends the revolving door between federal officials and the higher-paying corporate world.

The rally on Aug. 10 is to kick off a longer effort to clean up corruption in Washington DC. At the rally, a representative of Congresswoman Doris Matsui will read a statement of support for the effort. We will have speakers representing Sacramento labor groups and local grassroots activists working to build momentum for clean government and fair elections.

The rally begins at 11 a.m. and ends by 1. The Federal Courthouse is located at 5th & I streets in downtown Sacramento. Hope to see you there.

Robert Horowitz on "Playground Arson Sucks!"

2010-08-09T20:44:41Z

A little Singapore-style caning would fix their wagon. All the vandalism at the newly fixed up schools around Sac makes me sick. What is wrong with these people? Perhaps this type of behavior could be deterred by a good, old fashioned ass whooping, televised for everyone to see...

Robert Horowitz on "Rally for fair elections and clean government Aug. 10"

2010-07-31T21:12:07Z

Well, we are working on that and I just didn't know whether she would be able to make it or not. I cannot commit her to an event when that had not been confirmed. If she has to be in DC to vote on something then it's OK with me to send a member of her staff; that's what they're for. When I get more info on attendees and speakers I will revise the article.

Robert Horowitz on "Members of Local 39 call for action"

2010-07-30T06:06:59Z

Dang. LandParker's comments are very revealing, and union politics are often ridiculous. But we may be missing a larger point. Cogmeyer points out that there will be a ballot measure in November to further reduce city revenues. All those folks out there wishing to starve government to the point it can be drowned in a bathtub better be careful what they wish for. Sacramento is nice place to live in part because of the services we receive, including parks, code enforcement, fire, police. Is our goal to be more like third-world cities that don't provide a similar level of service??? Maybe I should reconsider that remodeling project....

Robert Horowitz on "Sac to plan streetcar's route"

2010-07-30T05:55:36Z

I think a streetcar down Stockton Boulevard from Alhambra to Florin would benefit a lot more folks.

Robert Horowitz on "Teichert pitches New Brighton"

2010-07-30T05:52:35Z

I think this is actually a pretty decent location for new development, but would like to hear more about tie ins with light rail and the concept that many of these mined areas are substantially below "ground" level and what that might mean for flooding, flood insurance, etc.

Robert Horowitz on "Rally for fair elections and clean government Aug. 10"

2010-07-30T05:20:22Z

Nice Rockwell-esqe imagery, but it doesn't fit the current situation. Joe the donut maker and Jim the dry cleaner are not the ones making the big contributions. It's the giant trans-national corporations. Every single corporate chieftain, manager or worker bee is free to contribute their personal dollars to any candidate, and no one is interfering with that. So, in fact, corporate donations are nothing more than double-dipping. And let's get real, they are not doing it on behalf of their employees, but rather on behalf of executives and shareholders (yes, I realize that many of us are shareholders via our pensions and 401ks). These donations, combined with their influence from lobbying, has allowed large corporations to ship jobs overseas where labor is cheaper and protections for workers and the environment virtually non-existent, and hide their profits overseas so to avoid taxation here at home. The larger point of all this corporate influence peddling is to lower the corporate tax burden, and they have been quite successful at that. Wonder why government is always broke, even though your personal taxes don't ever seem to go down? That's because the effective corporate tax rate today is less than half of what it was in the 1950s, that supposedly blissful by-gone era of Rockwellian lore to which all good Republicans pine to return. I say great, let's start that return to better times by restoring corporate tax rates and shifting the burden off the individuals and back to the corporadoes. Anyway, that's only one of the three points of the Other 98 Plan, and definitely the toughest of the three to accomplish. I guess there is no argument on the other two points. So, everyone, hope to see you at the Rally!

Rally for fair elections and clean government Aug. 10

2010-07-21T05:56:00Z

More than $3 billion –billion with a B--in campaign funds were spent in the 2008 federal elections cycle (a). If you’re a typical American, you gave almost none of that. Most of the $3 billion was given by wealthy corporations and individuals who make up the top 2% of all earners.

How much is $3 billion? It’s approximately equal to what BP will pay for its screw-up in the Gulf,(b) and about the same as the drop in value of all assessed property in Sacramento County due to the economic downturn.(c) It’s similar to what 1500 Americans with a bachelor’s degree will earn in their entire lifetimes.(d). And it was given in only one election cycle.

Three billion dollars is a lot of money. And citizens should not be surprised when elected officials who depend on large donors consistently fail to act for the common good. It doesn't matter what your issue is, if there is money involved, lawmakers will act in accord with their campaign contributors' interests, not yours. Because the system itself is corrupting, simply changing legislators is not an effective long-term solution.

If you think there is a fundamental problem with government that only listens to the wealthy super-elite and corporate lobbyists, then please turn out for a rally on Tuesday, Aug. 10 in front of the federal courthouse in downtown Sacramento. This rally will be to support a new campaign called “The Other 98%” being organized by Move On. We, the people, are the Other 98% who do not have lobbyists on our payroll.

The premise of “The Other 98” is simple. Federal elected officials and candidates are asked to sign a pledge with three components.

The candidate will work to overturn the recent Supreme Court decision which allows corporations to channel unlimited amounts of money into federal elections. Read about the decision here.
The candidate pledges to support the Fair Elections Now Act, proposed federal legislation which evens the playing field for candidates who are supported by numerous small donors. For more info, see: http://www.fairelectionsnow.org/
The candidate pledges to support legislation which stops corporate lobbyists from showering federal officeholders with gifts like free meals and travel to exotic locales, and ends the revolving door between federal officials and the higher-paying corporate world. Read about some of the revolving door appointees and their activities here.

At the rally, Sacramento Congresswoman Doris Matsui or her representative will sign The Other 98% pledge, and give brief remarks. Other speakers and signers are invited.

The Federal Courthouse is located at 501 I Street in Sacramento (5th & I). The rally will begin at 11:00 a.m. Please bring signs supporting free and fair elections. For more information about this event, or to volunteer to help, contact Michael DeSantis at: moveon810rally@yahoo.com

(a) http://www.opensecrets.org/bigpicture/stats.php
(b) http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0705/bp-oil-spill-costs-spike-3-billion/
(c) http://sacramento.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2010/07/05/daily19.html
(d) http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/moneymatters/a/edandearnings.htm

Robert Horowitz on "PART I - Sacramento City “Green” Waste Proposal Selectively Punishes Central City Residents "

2009-12-10T23:07:12Z

This article is long on emotion and unsubstantiated allegations, and short on fact. The part about asthma sufferers is laughable. Putting greenwaste into a covered bin is bad for asthma, but sweeping it into a pile which blows in in the wind and gets run over by vehicles is not? You got any scientific evidence for that??? The author's response to comments indicates he is not any more interested in contradicting opinions than the people he has criticized in his "article" There are many strong arguments in favor of bins. Very few good ones, in my opinion, for keeping the claw. I'm with Gabriel and Beerzie, let's have the election and let the chips... er the leaves, twigs and branches... fall where they may.

Robert Horowitz on "To Bin or Not to Bin: The story of Sacramento's green waste battles"

2009-11-30T21:05:54Z

I don't know what they did before the claw. But I suspect homeowners were more intimately involved. Good question! City archives or historians might be in the know. The claw is effective, but inefficient. By the time these materials make it to their final destination, I'll bet they have been handled by 5 different people and five different machines! Not sustainable! In the future, the large-scale compost facilities which are the best-case final destination for these materials will be more heavily regulated for air and water emissions. That means tipping fees have nowhere to go but UP. So, local, small scale solutions are needed. The less the city has to haul away, the better for taxpayers and the environment.

Robert Horowitz on "To Bin or Not to Bin: The story of Sacramento's green waste battles"

2009-11-30T19:32:00Z

I think Oracle has made some good points here, but I also agree that during certain times of the year, like this Saturday when high winds blew down a ton of leaves and branches, there can be an overwhelming amount of materials on the ground. I, for one, would be in favor of a city ordinance mandating property owners keep their street frontage clean and storm drains clear! Since I have a corner lot with 120' total of frontage, this is not something I say lightly. We need neighborhood-level solutions to these issues which keep the resources in the neighborhood. Maybe community block leaders or councils which help organize and compost leaves, branches and other materials so they stay out of the streets and out of the storm drains. Stop asking for city-level solutions to neighborhood-level problems. More backyard composting, more neighborhood composting, more street sweeping by homeowners, less gas-powered leaf blowers, less hauling away of valuable organics to distant landfills and compost facilities. What better way to meet your neighbors than a block party of sweeping, chipping and composting!

Robert Horowitz on "Dear City, keep your bin or cut my tree"

2009-11-05T22:15:20Z

I am going to have to disagree here, and I don't think the tone of this article is helpful. You make this sound like a capricious whim of unelected bureacrats, but in fact the city staff who are responsible for implementing these programs serve any number of masters, some of whom are elected, and others who have the ability to fine the city large amounts of $$$. While I certainly agree that massive fall leaf drops in the central city will overwhelm any bin, I don't think they city is unaware of that or would completely cease fall leaf-pickup efforts. While it may have some merits, the claw system is archaic and inefficient. It means running extra diesel engines, it damages city streets, and it requires a clean-up crew of broom-wielding workers. This is all very expensive, and results in significant emissions and noise. The bin loading trucks are faster, quieter and cleaner. Furthermore, the leaf piles are a hazard to cyclists and sometimes motorists. Few city residents take the time to properly sweep their portion of the street and keep their leaf piles out of the rights of way. Then there is the issue of attractive nuisance; street piles are a magnet for trash, little bags of dog poop, and other contaminants to the greenwaste stream. Then there is the most important issue of all, water quality and flooding. The street piles inveitably find their way into the city's antiquated storm drain system, inrtroducing nutrients, pathogens and other nasties. Sometimes the unwanted debris simply clogs the drain completely, resulting in flooding and much overtime for city staff unclogging them during a storm. Otherwise the stuff is just carried to the river. Street piles were eliminated in Woodland for that very reason. If there is a mosquito issue, and I have not heard that one before, it is because the street piles clog the storm drains and water pools there. Sacramento, like many city's, hires a pest control company to regularly treat the storm drains to eliminate mosquitoes. While there are some city reaidents who do a great job sweeping their gutters and keeping their piles out of the way, the majority do not. Bins are the way to go. I am certain that the city will continue to deal with the leaf issue; but it would be better for all if residents composted that themselves and used it on their yards. Barring that, get used to another bin.

Robert Horowitz on ""Grim" layoff news at The Sacramento Bee"

2009-02-13T06:41:55Z

What a mess. Agree with Rock Star, the big buyout was the straw that is now breaking that camel. Now the employees and the readers will pay. I have to say that, overall, I like the new design, and that i think the story selections are a lot better than they used to be, even if the editorial hole is a bit smaller. Sadly, this improvement probably is not sustainable, and certainly will not be enough to fix the problems caused by Pruitt and his corporate clowns. Media consolidation is a bad deal for everybody!

Robert Horowitz on "One week left to support mountain biking in national parks"

2009-02-13T06:31:07Z

Thanks, David. Flat riding is better than no riding. One day when I am old and incontinent, I'm sure riding out there will be quite the thrill!

One week left to support mountain biking in national parks

2009-02-11T06:48:25Z

It's always been a struggle for me when I bring my bike to Yosemite or any other national park. Because of the difficulty of siting any kind of mountain bike trail, you're stuck on the paved roads with the Winnebagos and tour buses. Frankly, that scares the snot out of me. I wind up riding in places I shouldn't be, and that's bad too. The International Mountain Bike Association has been working for years to improve off-pavement bicycle access in National Parks and many other places. The Park Service has finally come up with a proposed new policy which will make it a little easier to site some trails in national parks. There is one week left for you to get your comments in on the new rule. You can read more about it and find a sample letter at the IMBA web site.

On the Sacramento front, SAMBA has been fighting for local trails for five years now. The newly updated American River Parkway Plan provides for an off-pavement bicycle trail network in between Parkway miles 2 and 6. These areas are known as Woodlake and Cal Expo. We could have up to 6 or 8 miles of trails in these areas, mostly on existing roads that are used by rangers and the folks who maintain the power lines. There is still some legislative work that needs to be done, so those trails probably can't happen until 2010, and even then there are some conditions we will have to meet regarding signage and buffer zones. SAMBA will be working on that over the next few years and needs your help.

These trails are going to be a great spot for family riding and also for people who are new to the sport. The terrain is mostly flat, and there are very few places--actually, no places--that require expert skill or nerves of steel. What folks in Sacramento and everywhere do need is more fun ways to get exercise that don't involve driving up to the mountains or out to the coast. Keep the fun local, and save the gas. Visit SAMBA on the web to get more info and the latest events.

Robert Horowitz on "Greenest skis on the planet take on the slopes"

2009-01-25T01:48:43Z

These sound like great skis, however, ski length of 82 or even 93 MM would be smaller than your boot. Those numbers undoubtedly mean the width of the ski at the "waist," the area under your foot. An 82 would be a normal width for today's fatter skis. A 92 is a pretty fat powder ski, though today's super fats can go as wide as 110. Downhill skiing is inherently non-sustainable. Even if you were to bike up there with all your gear, which is not feasible, the lifts run on a ton of juice. However, you need to put it all in perspective. One could probably run all of the ski lifts in the world for an entire season on the energy burned by the US military in a day. Carpool, or take a bus, by all means, cuz' you'll need the company stuck in those apres-ski traffic jams.

Robert Horowitz on "Community members discuss budget, possible school closure"

2009-01-23T17:55:13Z

This story shows some bias against the district and needs more balance. There is no real discussion about what drives actual school funding. Also, this statement, "Many parents and one of Washington's own teachers were concerned over rumors that 18 months ago a dance company toured the school with the intention of closing down the school. " seems preposterous. Are school administrators posing as dancers touring the state to choose which schools they will crush under their evil pointed toes? Please explain.