Hell, the entire railyard area is toxic. There's no way the developer is going to remove ALL the toxic soil and you believe they'll leave plenty for future generations! This whole development is as insane as building new homes in the flood plain called Natomas. I remember when they finally bulldozed the Mandella Community Garden downtown and found organo-heads had been growing veggies in poisoned soil all these years! If you want to live or work within the Toxic Zone you do so at your own risk. And leave the freakin' Heritage oak trees alone!

Actually, it's 47 percent of earners who don't pay a cent of Federal income tax. These parasites, however, always seem to get a $1,000 to $3,000 refund courtesy of child credits and other "deductions" the government grants them. EVERYBODY needs to pay taxes - even a little - to make it work. By the way, Hatch violated the terms of his release and yesterday a U.S. District judge said he very well may send him back to jail.

A name better suited to how the Kings are performing this season: Power Dump Pavilion.

Sounds like Land Park "progressive" yuppie scum is upset about homeless types in their neighborhood turning in paper and plastic to be recycled. Oh, pleeeze. Only Curtis Park has worse yuppie scum. These are the same people who volunteer at Loaves & Fishes but don't want the unwashed near their homes and religious centers. They bring NIMBY status to new lows with each passing day.

Jerry made his point at this media dog-and-pony show - California will be shopping at Wal-mart instead of Macy's. He'll avoid the common folk because of time restraints and because the peasants soon will be at his chambers with pitchforks and torches. This is no time for back-slapping and shaking hands. California is on the brink of destruction and many will soon be feeling the pain. This silly, little story was actually very entertaining and a respite from the usual Capitol-crowd reports that put us to sleep.

I applaud the mayor's Greenwise push but the true celebrities of this initiative are the regular folks who will make it work. Greenwise is a no-brainer with many of us already conducting the day-to-day business of growing our own food, recycling, water conservation, using sustainable building materials and energy conservation. But let's face it, green technology isn't going to make a dent in our local economy and joblessness for a very, very long time.

Mr. Gideons says the general opera audience is age 65 and older? That doesn't bode well for opera. I know of only one couple younger than 65 who attend opera. Ballet, local theater and symphony are in the same sinking ship. Even Broadway plays are closing at an alarming rate. You have to wonder if the old school performing arts are even capable of surviving in the Facebook/iPad/videogame digital world of today.

My heart goes out to this little dog and the wonderful person who has made this sacrifice. I've donated, too and urge others to show compassion. Giving is even better than sex!

Only 700 people in a venue that seats 3,850? And symphonies/performing arts wonder why they're going bankrupt?

I wasn't thinking air quality when I read the headline, I was thinking trash and filth downtown. Oops.

Let the pain begin for all of us. California has bungled its budget beyond belief. Check out this morning's Wall Street Journal page one story on how California is getting clobbered trying to sell bonds to stay afloat. Yet, we keep re-electing the same buffoons. Bend over, grab ankles and keep screaming to the swat master: "Yes, sir! I'll have another!"

The rest of the story: Steinberg & Co. are trying to push more "fiscal responsibility" onto city and county government budgets. State is desperate to cut costs and local government will be paying more for fewer services. Residents will be doing the suffering. It won't be pretty.

Years of tasting, drinking and collecting wine brings me to this point: Most of this studied BS is just that. Leave the "wine judging" to the pros and just enjoy whatever wine tickles your palate. Don't analyze it to death, don't study its "nuances," don't drone on about "essences." Just follow the one line that stood out in this story: "Everyone is different and all that matters is what tastes good to me." Why complicate a beautiful thing with "classes" and pretentious bull crap?

Best of luck. Our city needs an entertainment complex/arena. Let's get on with the construction!

While all these extra shakedown fees and assessments are ludicrous, I still have no sympathy for Becky. $500 would be a more suitable fine. Start being responsible and stop placing lives in danger.

I'm still not clear on which candidates Mayor Johnson is supporting. Anybody know? The balance of power on the council is in play.

Unions are out for one thing - salary and benefits for their members. Always keep that in mind when voting.

Very nice! Great asset here for those who haven't voted. More of us now vote early and by mail. I voted nearly two weeks ago.

You may want to hold off on buying your own home until Obama's boys and girls decide on whether or not to end mortgage interest as a deduction on Federal income tax. Right now they are considering cutting that one and the child credit deductions in order to increase taxes and reduce the deficit. The alternatives to saving the country from bankrupcty are to cut Social Security and Medicare and those two are virtually untouchable - politically.

This is the way it should be - reduced tax dollars and increased community support for the homeless. Neighbors can now complain to the churches rather than the mayor's office and county supervisors. Let's just hope the churches don't become habitual enablers and that they educate and insist the homeless become productive members of society.