Midtown George comment-61782 2011-12-30T20:31:13Z 2011-12-30T20:31:13Z The Sports Basement, a Bay Area retailer, is opening a three-story sporting goods emporium in downtown Sacramento in the former Bank of America buliding at Eight and I Streets. There will be 70,000 square feet of sports equipment at discount prices. Midtown George 2011-12-30T20:31:13Z Midtown George comment-55187 2011-08-16T20:05:15Z 2011-08-16T20:05:15Z So long as politicans are allowed to draw their own district lines, we will always see extreme cases of gerrymandering similar to the current case with the Sacramento City Council. On the state level, voters took away from the legislature the power to draw their own districts. It is time for voters to do the same on the local level. I am in favor of creating an initiative to remove the City Council from drawing redistricting maps. There should be an initiate that removes "Advisory" from the Sacramento Redistricting Citizens Advisory Committee. To quote a phrase popular when I was in college, "Power to the People!" Midtown George 2011-08-16T20:05:15Z Midtown George comment-53937 2011-07-27T19:44:22Z 2011-07-27T19:44:22Z The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was enacted to ensure that states did not use the redistricting process as a means to dilute the voting strength of minority communities. The Voting Rights Act works to protect against two types of redistricting—fracturing and packing. Fracturing occurs when a group of minority voters is broken off from a concentration of minority voters and added to a large majority white district. Packing occurs when a minority group is concentrated into one or more districts so that the group constitutes an overwhelming majority in those districts, thus minimizing the number of districts in which the minority could elect candidates of their choice. Councilmember Sheedy's proposed map factures and unlawfully dilutes the Latino community voting strenth into four districtss, none with more than 30 percent of the electorate. A member of the Latino communtiy has not been elected to the Sacramento City Council in over 10 years, Councilmember Sheedy's proposed map insures that none would be elected within the next 10 years. Midtown George 2011-07-27T19:44:22Z Midtown George comment-52714 2011-06-28T19:56:29Z 2011-06-28T19:56:29Z THANK YOU, Midtown Business Association for creating the Streetscape Improvement Program!! Ray, congratulations on beating out 300 applicants for the job! Midtown George 2011-06-28T19:56:29Z Midtown George comment-52139 2011-06-14T19:58:57Z 2011-06-14T19:58:57Z Haley, Best Wishes on your move to S.F. Thanks for all the excellent reporting you did with SacramentoPress.com. Melissa, WELCOME! I look forward to reading your future articles! Midtown George 2011-06-14T19:58:57Z Midtown George comment-52132 2011-06-14T19:31:28Z 2011-06-14T19:31:28Z Lena Logan and James Bahn, THANK YOU for opening your dance studio in Midtown! Your Contemporary Dance Conservatory is a MAJOR plus for the neighborhood! Good Luck on your long term goal of opening a true Conservatory of dance, acting, music and art! Midtown George 2011-06-14T19:31:28Z Midtown George comment-50717 2011-05-17T19:45:32Z 2011-05-17T19:45:32Z I fail to see how recognizing Latino musical contributions to U.S. music from the 1940s to the present is "Latino progaganda". Tito Puente, Ritchie Valens, Celia Cruz, and Selena popularized Spanish lyrics and Latino sounds in U.S. music. Fact is not propaganda, it is recognizing that the U.S. is a melting pot, and some of the favoring is Latino/Hispanic. Midtown George 2011-05-17T19:45:32Z Midtown George comment-50424 2011-05-10T20:07:21Z 2011-05-10T20:07:21Z In the past, Marshall School Neighborhood Association could be characterrized as being at war with the bars on the 2700 block of J Street. Times have changed. Personalities have changed. Two of the worst offenders, G.V. Hurley's and Lure, are gone. In their place are new businesses which are reaching out to the neighbors, and offering an olive branch. We neighbors are responding in kind. Bad deeds of past tenants should not be heaped on the owners/operators of these new businesses. It takes guts to open a new business in this economic climate. I respect them for giving it a go. And, if they do turnout to be BAD neighbors, I personally will let loose the 'dogs of war' upon them! Midtown George 2011-05-10T20:07:21Z Midtown George comment-50369 2011-05-09T20:07:34Z 2011-05-09T20:07:34Z Hi! i am George Raya, immediate Past-Co-Chair of Marshall School-New Era Park Neighborhood Association, a post I held from 2005 to 2010. In 2007, my then-Co-chair Bill Burga and I lead the neighborhood opposition to granting a liquor license to the former G.V. Hurley's (currently Red Lotus). It has long been the unwritten understanding of Midtown neigbhorhood associations, the neighborhood association nearest an issue, or most effected by an issue, takes the lead in a neighborhood response. ie. Sutter Hospital expansion - Midtown Neighborhood Association; Rite Aid Pharmacy, 2211 F Street - Boulevard Park Neighborhood Association; McKinley Village - Marshall School-New Era Park Neighborhood Association. In 2007, our neighborhood association coordinated the filing of 94 individual neighbor objections to the granting of a liquor license to G. V. Hurley's. ALL 94 objections were my residents of Marshall School. Neither Midtown Neighborhood Association (then known as Winn Park Capitol Avenue Neighborhood Association), or Boulevard Neighborhood Association, or residents of those area, filed any objections or spoke up at all. Now, all of a sudden to ask BarWest to meet with Midtown Neighborhood Association if a MAJOR surprise! Hey, it's a free country, everyone is allowed to express an opinion. But, let us not be unreasonable when asking businesses to meet with ALL neigbhors. I live one-half block from BarWest. My upstairs neighbor and my next door neighbor likewise live less than a block from BarWest. Midtown George 2011-05-09T20:07:34Z Midtown George comment-49071 2011-04-12T20:02:17Z 2011-04-12T20:02:17Z Whatever the outcome, I'm glad that private citizens are stepping up to provide leadership in the effort to keep the Kings in Sacramento. Midtown George 2011-04-12T20:02:17Z Midtown George comment-47808 2011-03-22T19:49:08Z 2011-03-22T19:49:08Z Bill is correct. There are many residents in Midtown/Downtown who are members of more that one "Community of Interest". Coalition buidling is the only way to succeed. Midtown George 2011-03-22T19:49:08Z Midtown George comment-45000 2011-02-02T20:54:53Z 2011-02-02T20:54:53Z I attended last night's City Council meeting. The issue was about enforcement of the Central City Design Guidelines, which were adopted in 1999. In residential nieghborhoods, the height limit is 2-stories. NO WHERE in ALL of Sacramento will you find a 3-story single family house in a residential neighborhood. The Cunningham's and their architect choose to ignore the Central City Design Guidelines. Unfortunately, the Planning Commission is still operating as if former-City Manager Ray "The Developer is Always Right" Kerridge was still in charge at City Hall. The neigbhors are willing to accept a 3-story house, IF the design complimented the surrounding single-story pre-World War II bungalows. No, the Cunninghams wanted a RADICALLY modern tower, so they could have a view of the river. I hope the Planning Commission starts to enforce the Central City Design Guidelines. A BIG THANK YOU to the CITY COUNCIL, and especially to CITY COUNCILMEMBER STEVE COHN!!! Midtown George 2011-02-02T20:54:53Z Midtown George comment-44959 2011-02-02T20:53:26Z 2011-02-02T20:53:26Z I attended last night's City Council meeting. The issue was about enforcement of the Central City Design Guidelines, which were adopted in 1999. In residential nieghborhoods, the height limit is 2-stories. NO WHERE in ALL of Sacramento will you find a 3-story single family house in a residential neighborhood. The Cunningham's and their architect choose to ignore the Central City Design Guidelines. Unfortunately, the Planning Commission is still operating as if former-City Manager Ray "The Developer is Always Right" Kerridge was still in charge at City Hall. The neigbhors are willing to accept a 3-story house, IF the design complimented the surrounding single-story pre-World War II bungalows. No, the Cunninghams wanted a RADICALLY modern tower, so they could have a view of the river. I hope the Planning Commission starts to enforce the Central City Design Guidelines. A BIG THANK YOU TO THE CITY COUNCIL, and espcially to City Councilmember Steve Cohn!! Midtown George 2011-02-02T20:53:26Z Midtown George comment-43447 2011-01-12T00:56:37Z 2011-01-12T00:56:37Z Thanks for the reminder that this is Dine Downtown Restaurant Week. Now, the tough part: selecting where to dine tonight? Midtown George 2011-01-12T00:56:37Z Midtown George comment-42298 2010-12-15T18:40:10Z 2010-12-15T18:40:10Z I attended the November 19th Fashion Gives Back fundraiser at Lounge ON20 for the Capital City AIDS Fund. The place was PACKED!! The $5,000 check he donated was greatly appreciated. However, more important was Mr. Mackani's assistance in bringing awareness to a largely non-gay audience that the HIV/AIDS pandemic is still with us. Midtown George 2010-12-15T18:40:10Z Midtown George comment-42296 2010-12-15T18:24:21Z 2010-12-15T18:24:21Z See you at the workshop on Jan. 12th! Midtown George 2010-12-15T18:24:21Z Midtown George comment-41093 2010-11-22T20:40:06Z 2010-11-22T20:40:06Z Thank You for a look behind the curtain. Now, when I see this year's production of "A Christmas Carol", I'll have more appreciation for the costumes. Midtown George 2010-11-22T20:40:06Z Midtown George comment-41012 2010-11-19T23:41:57Z 2010-11-19T23:41:57Z I guess you don't attend the Bull Fest each summer during the State Fair at CalExpo, or the Sierra Stampede Rodeo sponsored by Sacramento's Capital Crossroads Gay Rodeo Association. http://www.CapitalCrossroads.org Midtown George 2010-11-19T23:41:57Z Midtown George comment-40770 2010-11-16T21:01:50Z 2010-11-16T21:01:50Z THANK YOU, Sacramento Press/Sacramento Deal for sponsoring the pizza and refreshments at the monthly NAG meetings. Midtown George 2010-11-16T21:01:50Z Midtown George comment-40136 2010-11-05T19:55:04Z 2010-11-05T19:55:04Z What a difference a new City Manager makes!! The police department and code enforce are FINALLY allowed to do their job. Educating bar/restaurant owners and staff about their responsibilities, as well as state laws and city regulations is HUGH! As a Midtown resident, all my neighbors and I have ever asked is the bar/restaurant owners and their staff obey state laws and city regulations! Midtown George 2010-11-05T19:55:04Z Midtown George comment-39736 2010-10-29T19:59:16Z 2010-10-29T19:59:16Z I found Kathleen Haley's interview with County Sheriff Captain Jim Cooper informative. And, it has helped me make up my mind as to who to vote for County Sheriff. I will be voting for Jim Cooper. I have read not just this interview, but I have reread the Sacramento Bee's October 2nd endorsement of Scott Jones. To me the big difference between the two candidates is Jim Cooper's 10 years on the Elk Grove City Council, with two terms as Mayor. Both have spent the law enforcement careers in the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department, both are Captains. However, Scott Jones has been the right hand of Sheriff John McGinnes. To me a vote for Scott Jones is a vote for the status quo. Even the Sacramento BEE in its endorsement of Scott Jones states that our local Sheriff Department is failed culture. Change is needed, Jim Cooper is the person to do the job. Midtown George 2010-10-29T19:59:16Z Midtown George comment-39241 2010-10-20T19:49:09Z 2010-10-20T19:49:09Z Looking forward to having a new dining option. Midtown George 2010-10-20T19:49:09Z Midtown George comment-37880 2010-09-26T21:25:07Z 2010-09-26T21:25:07Z I liked the formate of the meeting. You did not have people making speeches, in the form of asking questions. The Interaction Stations worked well. I was able to speak with city staff face-to-face, and have a dialogue. And, there were a number of times Safety Team members asked for a particular comment card to follow-up on a suggestion. It is impossible to schedule a meeting that will please everyone. In addition to the persons William Burg mentioned, other nightlife representatives present at the meeting were: Suleka Sun-Lindley, owner of Thai Basil,: Patrick Mulvaney: and Bill Blake, President of the Midtown Business Association. One thing not announced at the Community Forum is a Committee has been formed to hold public meetings on proposed changes to the City's Special Events Ordinance. The Committee created under the Parks and Recreation Commission, since Neighborhood Services is now under the Parks and Recreation Department. Those meetings will be held in the evenings at Old City Hall, in the former City Council Chamber. It is my understanding that all stakeholder groups are represented on the Committee including Midtown neighborhood associations and the nightlife industry. Midtown George 2010-09-26T21:25:07Z Midtown George comment-37731 2010-09-23T19:53:43Z 2010-09-23T19:53:43Z Halloween on Castro Street is not a 'street fair'. It's a public event that promotes exhibitionism. There are no arts & craft vendors, or even food vendors. The same with Bay to Breakers, it is not a street fair. There is a festival at the end on Ocean Blvd. The event is known for its public drunkenness. Those two events are not in the same category as the City's street fairs. Midtown George 2010-09-23T19:53:43Z Midtown George comment-37724 2010-09-23T17:57:49Z 2010-09-23T17:57:49Z Brooks, from having lived in S.F. for 14 years, I can provide some information on how S.F. manages their "street fairs". Each neighborhood sponsors, usually during the Spring/Summer months, a true street fair. And, usually, each street fair is coordinated by the local merchants association. The street is closed, vendors booths and stages for entertainment are set up. Everything closes are 6 p.m. And, there is NO problems! This weekend is the very popular Folsom Street Fair. This is truly an international event, with attendance bordering on 100,000 fair-goers. The city, and MBA, would do well to send some observers to this weekend's Folsom Street Fair to see how a 'world-class city' manages a street fair. Midtown George 2010-09-23T17:57:49Z Midtown George comment-36848 2010-09-13T19:27:58Z 2010-09-13T19:27:58Z Please read Dale Kooyman's comment regarding the experience residents have had with Max Fernandez. As a Midtown resident, I have had excellent customer service from Code Enforcement - including when I reported a landlord for not making repairs to the apartment building I was living in at the time. I wish ALL city managers were like Max Fernandez. I first met him at neighborhood meetings when he was director of Neighborhood Services. I don't need promises from Mr. Fernandez. I know his history as a city administrator. Homeowners and developers should be pleased that Max Fernandez is now in charge at the city's Community Development Department. Midtown George 2010-09-13T19:27:58Z Midtown George comment-34838 2010-08-13T19:59:03Z 2010-08-13T19:59:03Z I used to shop alot at WEAVE's recycled clothing store when it was on 20th Street. I hope Freestyle Clothing Exchange has much success on the corner of 21st and 'L' Streets. For 20 years, the location was a GREAT one for Jeff Heald and Abond Legrand, former owners of Postcard Etc. Midtown George 2010-08-13T19:59:03Z Midtown George comment-34835 2010-08-13T19:36:32Z 2010-08-13T19:36:32Z WOW!! Our Second Saturday Art Walk truly is THE place to be if Maria Shriver, First Lady of California, is now participating! Midtown George 2010-08-13T19:36:32Z Midtown George comment-34834 2010-08-13T19:30:30Z 2010-08-13T19:30:30Z I live in Midtown, and have been watching the progress of this remodel for months. I am adding Kupros to my list of places to visit this weekend during Saturday's Art Walk. Midtown George 2010-08-13T19:30:30Z Midtown George comment-34833 2010-08-13T19:22:43Z 2010-08-13T19:22:43Z I'm looking forward to the Grand Opening! Midtown George 2010-08-13T19:22:43Z Midtown George comment-21325 2010-01-26T20:34:09Z 2010-01-26T20:34:09Z There is not much more I can add. Thanks for your help in finding the right card or gift for that special person. Your moving to Mexico is their gain, our lost. BIG Hug, George Midtown George 2010-01-26T20:34:09Z Midtown George comment-16215 2009-10-24T04:23:13Z 2009-10-24T04:23:13Z I know we do not have term limits for members of the City Council, maybe we should. 15 years is WAY TOO long for a person to serve on the Council. Incumbents rarely lose an election. So, it is often only through term limits do we get needed change. Elected office should not be viewed as a lifetime position, or one family's property. Midtown George 2009-10-24T04:23:13Z Midtown George comment-15350 2009-10-12T19:20:33Z 2009-10-12T19:20:33Z Purple is my favorite color! Go KINGS!!!! Midtown George 2009-10-12T19:20:33Z Midtown George comment-14806 2009-10-01T20:19:07Z 2009-10-01T20:19:07Z Definitely an incentive to be creative and to write articles. Midtown George 2009-10-01T20:19:07Z Midtown George comment-14382 2009-09-25T05:59:37Z 2009-09-25T05:59:37Z At the candlelight vigil, many patrons and employees of The Depot and Badlands stepped forward to offer tearful remembrances of Leroy (Pops) Fisher. To me the most moving and appreciated expressions of grief came persons who share the neighborhood where the bars are located. From the other side of the block came a young man from the Sacramento Native American Health Center who spoke of how we are one, and united in our saddness at losing a beloved member of the community. He then sang a song in his native Crow while beating on a drum. From across the street Michael Heller, one of the co-owners of the MARRS Building of restaurants, shops and art galleries, came to share his feelings about the death of Leroy Fisher. He stated that he had driven to his home in the Northern suburbs, learned of the vigil, and decided to drive back into town to be there. Midtown George 2009-09-25T05:59:37Z Midtown George comment-12338 2009-08-20T07:38:23Z 2009-08-20T07:38:23Z The purpose of the NAG is to be a forum where information can be shared, and to promote neighbors working together to address issues of mutual interest. Midtown George 2009-08-20T07:38:23Z Midtown George comment-9019 2009-06-07T09:49:33Z 2009-06-07T09:49:33Z I disagree. I regularly attend the Folsom Rodeo. And every January, when the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) comes to ARCO Arena, I am there with my gay rodeo friends. Midtown George 2009-06-07T09:49:33Z Midtown George comment-9018 2009-06-07T09:41:45Z 2009-06-07T09:41:45Z The photo of Sammy Van Galder, our 2009 Rodeo Director. riding that bull in from our 2001 Sierra Stampede Rodeo. The photos of Sam attempting to chute dog a steer are for the 2008 Best Buck of the Bay Rodeo. Midtown George 2009-06-07T09:41:45Z Midtown George comment-4277 2009-03-09T05:20:51Z 2009-03-09T05:20:51Z I also attended Neighborhood Summit 2009 at the Convention Center. While I agree with most of Dale's observations regarding the day's events, I disagree with his interpretation of the motive behind City staff handing out pins at the end of the summit. The tree pins (Sacramento City of Trees) were only one of three that were given to departing attendees. The other pins included one celebrating Sacramento as Camellia City and the third had the City's seal embossed on it. It is my belief that City staff were simply handing out souvenir pins as a 'thank you' for attending the summit. Midtown George 2009-03-09T05:20:51Z Midtown George comment-3817 2009-02-26T03:03:25Z 2009-02-26T03:03:25Z Panama, GREAT article! Thanks for all the work you are doing regarding transparency in city government. Midtown George 2009-02-26T03:03:25Z Midtown George comment-3725 2009-02-19T07:43:23Z 2009-02-19T07:43:23Z Dolores Huerta is a labor leader, organizer, and social activist. With Cesar Chavez, she was the co-founder of the United Farm Workers (UFW). .In the late 1960's, she coordinated the table grape boycott on the East Coast, which helped win recognition for the farm workers' union. She also became involved with the early feminist movement. In the 1970's, she was the political director of the UFW and lobbied the California State Legislature on farm workers issues. She continues to to active, and formed the Dolores Huerta Foundation after receiving a substantial settlement as the result of police brutally at a demonstration in San Francisco. Midtown George 2009-02-19T07:43:23Z Midtown George comment-1266 2008-12-09T06:08:43Z 2008-12-09T06:08:43Z If you care about trees, you are qualified. Midtown George 2008-12-09T06:08:43Z Midtown George comment-1265 2008-12-09T05:53:32Z 2008-12-09T05:53:32Z We need to have a Trees Commission. Please read my earlier article on the subject. Midtown George 2008-12-09T05:53:32Z