Steve Vicente comment-63166 2012-02-03T04:05:02Z 2012-02-03T04:05:02Z It is pretty lame that the homeless were evicted from their "Obama-villes", but who cares what the UN says? How arrogant that our Bill of Rights strived to protect property rights, while leftist europeans think everything is a "human right" from health care to housing to internet... while they go bankrupt making it happen. No thanks. Those homeless deserve better charity than being evicted from unused lands though. Its also ironic that KJ and co boycotted AZ last year for similar so called "rights" violations (arrogantly), while they signed it with pens made in China, the country with extermination vans. Pandering. Everyone needs to read some Rothbard or John Locke and quit bastardizing the words "rights". Steve Vicente 2012-02-03T04:05:02Z Steve Vicente comment-63091 2012-02-02T00:06:38Z 2012-02-02T00:06:38Z To clarify - that's not what happened. The rep for the candidate that didn't respond was courteous, but informed me that they were busy doing more in-person forums and wouldn't have the time to respond to this questionnaire. It was not a matter of deadlines. Steve Vicente 2012-02-02T00:06:38Z Steve Vicente comment-63090 2012-02-02T00:01:05Z 2012-02-02T00:01:05Z I mean this in no way as critical of the candidates answers (because I'm thankful for their time and thoughfulness in replying) but instead critical of my own questionnaire... if I ever do something like this again I will probably aim to include strictly Yes/No questions. I will try to attend the two candidates forums posted above. Thanks for sharing those. It would be helpful if anyone recorded and posted video of them as well for the online community. Hopefully we'll get some of these topics covered with Yes/No answers at the forums. :-) Thanks again to candidates who share their views on these important issues to the community! Steve Vicente 2012-02-02T00:01:05Z Steve Vicente comment-59171 2011-10-25T23:30:37Z 2011-10-25T23:30:37Z I watched the City Council meeting when Land Park NIMBY's moaned & whined, then councilmember Angelique Ashby (not even her district) caved and suggested excluding Sutterville Rd from the study. There was no rhyme or reason to that decision, if anyone is familiar with West Sac and Sutterville Rd... just look at a map and you will see that allowing those homeowners sensible access to I-5 is just plain smart city planning. Land Park folks were absolutely being NIMBY's, because nobody wants to drive through their neighborhood... they just want freeway access and to get from Point A to Point B without driving through Points C, D, Y, and Z to get there. Steve Vicente 2011-10-25T23:30:37Z Steve Vicente comment-58898 2011-10-19T23:53:20Z 2011-10-19T23:53:20Z The problem with the "99%" is that they have misdirected their anger. Wall Street is not the problem. Government is the problem. Wall Street does not have the Rule of Law to to use force, they influence politicians to do that. If Joe paid Frank $100 to punch you in the stomach... who is the villian? In this scenario - the Tea Party would blame Frank. The OWS would blame Joe. The OWS has their priorities mixed up. In order for you to remove the rights of a corporation, you would have to remove the rights of individiuals... because a corporation is just a group of individiuals(shareholders). If you want to restrict corporations, then also restrict the rights of: labor unions, clubs like Boys Scouts, or two guys standing on a street corner... because there is no difference between groups of people unless you want to violate the 1st Amendment whereby people are free to assemble & speak or act for common purpose. (But let's not pretend... the OWS movement is about socialism/communism and looting the wealthy. That's why they only talk about corporations & not unions) Steve Vicente 2011-10-19T23:53:20Z Steve Vicente comment-57059 2011-09-12T07:32:32Z 2011-09-12T07:32:32Z If that were true (thought it's not), then change the Constitution why don't you? Pass a new amendment "Since well regulated militias are no longer needed, the right to bear arms may be infringed". Until then... deal with it. The Constitution was written in ink, not pencil. Steve Vicente 2011-09-12T07:32:32Z Steve Vicente comment-57058 2011-09-12T07:26:16Z 2011-09-12T07:26:16Z This is a great story. Even if it wasn't your goal to "test the cops"... I think that was the most important part of your adventure. Steve Vicente 2011-09-12T07:26:16Z Steve Vicente comment-42355 2010-12-17T00:10:32Z 2010-12-17T00:10:32Z This is hilarious... What if it's not a scammer, but a germ-o-phobe who wants to eat out... but KNOWS what really goes on in the kitchens of most restaurants. My bet is - this guy is a customer the next day after these phone calls. Steve Vicente 2010-12-17T00:10:32Z Steve Vicente comment-41766 2010-12-06T18:12:10Z 2010-12-06T18:12:10Z Gayle, Do you really think pepper spray or a stun gun will be suitable defense against a predator who's entered your home? It is time to exercise your 2nd Amendment rights. Keeping a loaded shotgun and/or revolver in your home should ease your concerns. As for walking around town... it's fairly safe since most of downtown is farily busy, but stick to well-lit streets with eyes on them. Steve Vicente 2010-12-06T18:12:10Z Steve Vicente comment-40834 2010-11-17T16:50:19Z 2010-11-17T16:50:19Z Ditto man - you nailed it with that comment. Steve Vicente 2010-11-17T16:50:19Z Steve Vicente comment-40050 2010-11-04T03:01:26Z 2010-11-04T03:01:26Z ... and if anyone doesn't think the ballot language was confusing... imagine you are one of the large voter turnout for Prop 19 or governor, and read this... What would you make of it? "Shall the ordinance repealing increases in monthly water, sewer, garbage/solid waste disposal service rates approved by the Sacramento City Council in June 2009, setting these monthly utility rates at the amounts in effect on February 2010, and allowing the City Council to increase these rates without voter approval beginning July 2012 only if the rates are not increased above the annual increase in a specified consumer price index, be adopted?" This should make anyone who believes in democracy extremely angry. It's dishonest of City Council to not let voters decide an issue on it's merits by clearly representing it on a ballot. It's outright fraud. Steve Vicente 2010-11-04T03:01:26Z Steve Vicente comment-40047 2010-11-04T02:45:00Z 2010-11-04T02:45:00Z "Steve Cohn ... led a "No on Measure B" campaign with Councilman Kevin McCarty and local union leaders." - Wow, big suprise local unions had anything to do with opposing this. "I think the tea party sort of anti-government, anti-tax (movement) – it doesn't have as strong an appeal in the city of Sacramento" - This statement is very true in Sacramento, #1 US city of government workers (see recent Sac Biz Journal article on that). It's why Steinberg, Matsui, et al never have to even campaign against their opponents. But I'll tell you a big reason why Measure B failed so dramatically. It's because of slimey tactics by City Council to make mincemeat out of the ballot language. http://www.sacbee.com/2010/08/12/2953196/councils-ballot-gobbledygook-tries.html When my wife voted, she filled out her entire ballot except Measure B... and had to ask me what it meant when I came home. Steve Vicente 2010-11-04T02:45:00Z Steve Vicente comment-38984 2010-10-15T17:06:31Z 2010-10-15T17:06:31Z Well, my neighbor built a house on an empty lot and it took him 3+ years to navigate the departments, committees, and permits. Ask him if he would ever try that again.... well, maybe, if he could bribe some CDD officials. Steve Vicente 2010-10-15T17:06:31Z Steve Vicente comment-38983 2010-10-15T17:02:37Z 2010-10-15T17:02:37Z Fine whatever... AB 32 will sink the state at the cost of local ARB jobs. Pay a dollar for a dime. City leadership doesn't surprise me with another short-sighted move. YES on 23. Steve Vicente 2010-10-15T17:02:37Z Steve Vicente comment-38904 2010-10-14T20:35:18Z 2010-10-14T20:35:18Z PW, to that point - it follows that the CDD's disarray & the permit process does nothing to incentivize infill. It 'shoo's developers away. I bet most folks who praise the permit process haven't dealt with it much. I wanted to install a new window in my house. I called to ask if I needed a permit, and was instructed to come down to CDD/Planning. I waited an hour just to find someone to answer a simple question, before walking out & giving up on the entire plan due to frustration. Remember... the title of this article isn't "codes", it's "permits". They are very different issues. Steve Vicente 2010-10-14T20:35:18Z Steve Vicente comment-38802 2010-10-13T19:26:43Z 2010-10-13T19:26:43Z I support codes, so far as they prevent one person from damaging another persons property. The permit process, however, is an entirely different matter and causes more harm than good. Instead of being reactive, and holding citizens accountable for code violations (which could in many cases be handled better in small claims courts anyways)... it makes doing business in the city painful. Most if not all the examples I listed do not protect property. E.g., the Happy Happy restaurant was not anoise pollution issue, it was the police dept abusing codes to punish a business for unrelated reasons. Steve Vicente 2010-10-13T19:26:43Z Steve Vicente comment-38772 2010-10-13T17:21:31Z 2010-10-13T17:21:31Z An audit which I linked to in this article as an example of what happens when you rely on layers of bureaucracy to micro-manage private property & free-commerce: inefficiency & abuse. Steve Vicente 2010-10-13T17:21:31Z Steve Vicente comment-38770 2010-10-13T17:03:05Z 2010-10-13T17:03:05Z On the contrary, many rules are born from special interests seeking to control others. E.g. medical marijuana dispensaries supporting moratorium to squash competition. Same goes for taxi cab permits, and local restaurants outlawing hotdog stands. Then there are the other cases where City simply wants revenue. I often wonder why they planted a sycamore tree in front of my house, which is known for aggressive roots raising sidewalks & not meant for narrow parking strips. Yet, they deny my permit to cut back the tree & will surely profit from sidewalk repair fees. This is at best negligence, at worst extortion. Steve Vicente 2010-10-13T17:03:05Z Steve Vicente comment-38738 2010-10-13T06:39:58Z 2010-10-13T06:39:58Z The examples are not a joke either.. from figure models to miniature golf courses. It's all there in the city codes (first link in the editorial). Steve Vicente 2010-10-13T06:39:58Z Steve Vicente comment-38519 2010-10-08T06:41:48Z 2010-10-08T06:41:48Z I also suspect that the City is violating Prop 218 by charging green waste "opt-out" (claw/pile pickup) residents more than those who use green waste containers. All residents benefit from claw pickup, even those with containers. The City seems to be shifting costs to "opt-out" folks, because the City is prevented by 1977 voter-passed ordinance from outright mandating containerization on residents. Steve Vicente 2010-10-08T06:41:48Z Steve Vicente comment-38473 2010-10-07T01:14:20Z 2010-10-07T01:14:20Z YES on B Steve Vicente 2010-10-07T01:14:20Z Steve Vicente comment-36092 2010-09-03T01:39:55Z 2010-09-03T01:39:55Z Once again, we can see.. whatever the City Council thinks, you should think the opposite. Yes on Prop 23. AB 32 will scare jobs out of CA. Steve Vicente 2010-09-03T01:39:55Z Steve Vicente comment-34199 2010-08-04T05:48:18Z 2010-08-04T05:48:18Z and Jersey Shore has more viewers than Mad Men... so what's your point William? Steve Vicente 2010-08-04T05:48:18Z Steve Vicente comment-32917 2010-07-15T05:45:22Z 2010-07-15T05:45:22Z William, it's not that hard to NOT spend money... you just don't do it. Not that complicated really. I saw Brewster's Millions. This is like KJ's Millions... no one is forcing anyone to spend tens of millions of tax dollars. It doesn't grow on trees, so *yes*, it IS debt. Steve Vicente 2010-07-15T05:45:22Z Steve Vicente comment-32864 2010-07-14T20:23:10Z 2010-07-14T20:23:10Z BOO! The City Council is once again playing Monopoly with taxpayer dollars... $100 million no less! Public money should not be subsidizing private investment. -No bank bailouts. -No public-funded basketball arena. -No freaking "boqueria", or anything else. The above are all examples of poltical favors & cronyism, as special-interests & developers try to raid the coffers of public funds... so they don't risk anything themselves & therefore, don't have to come up with a smart or feasible idea. They just need to put up some pretty powerpoint slides with pictures of people walking on K Street, and abuse buzzwords like "green" and "living spaces"... in order to convice the Silly Council to give them money. All these things worsen our debt & our tax burden. This type of leadership inevitably makes Sacramento a worse place to live as a result. "Revitalizing" downtown is such a pointless effort. Downtown Sacramento has sold it's soul to the devil years ago, by becoming the state capital. Just look around at the monolithic concrete jungle. That's why K ST sucks! The City Council constantly debates "How can we get suburbanites to drive downtown?" Answer: They can't, wont, never will. Dense urban housing is the only thing that will improve downtown, and it will only happen over time on it's own if you let it. CA government needs to shrink, which will debase property values downtown, and once make investment reasonable there. That's what makes towns like Chico & Davis nice communities. Steve Vicente 2010-07-14T20:23:10Z Steve Vicente comment-31856 2010-06-30T06:27:21Z 2010-06-30T06:27:21Z I'm all for keeping a strong police force, but I also wonder how this decision was made. Here is another article (albiet on Sac County), that discusses a similar issue: http://reason.com/blog/2010/06/25/if-you-dont-give-us-150-percen Steve Vicente 2010-06-30T06:27:21Z Steve Vicente comment-31561 2010-06-26T07:17:23Z 2010-06-26T07:17:23Z Kevin McCarty has a history of opposing the 2nd Amendment. No thanks. On the other hand, Dickenson was on the Board of Supervisors when the County passed that ridiculous law "No dancing closer than 6 feet".. in order to shut down strip clubs on Auburn Blvd. I'm just glad one of them lost. Now, I hope the other one will in November. Steve Vicente 2010-06-26T07:17:23Z Steve Vicente comment-28277 2010-05-27T02:50:59Z 2010-05-27T02:50:59Z And once the resolution was passed to boycott civil rights violations in Arizona... Then, Mayor KJ signed the resolution with a pen made in China - land of iron-fist censorship and mobile execution vans. Grandstanding pandering hypocrisy. Steve Vicente 2010-05-27T02:50:59Z Steve Vicente comment-28112 2010-05-26T07:14:43Z 2010-05-26T07:14:43Z Of course Don Johnson welcomes regulation. Nothing better than a government protected monopoly or oligopoly! No competition for Don Johnson & his pot shop with the City's "moratorium" on new stores (i.e. competition). Steve Vicente 2010-05-26T07:14:43Z Steve Vicente comment-22336 2010-02-17T03:52:42Z 2010-02-17T03:52:42Z Lincoln is overrated. Steve Vicente 2010-02-17T03:52:42Z Steve Vicente comment-22335 2010-02-17T03:48:49Z 2010-02-17T03:48:49Z Kudos for summarizing and sharing this important information. This clearly shows the massive hurdle that anyone faces when trying to unseat an incumbent, even for an office as minor as city council. The challengers were outspent at least 2:1, and as much as 20:1... with the winning campaigns funded by trades & interests instead of individuals. All the more reason to question council meddling in the affairs of local businesses and individuals. Thw government which governs best governs least. Steve Vicente 2010-02-17T03:48:49Z Steve Vicente comment-22062 2010-02-12T03:49:49Z 2010-02-12T03:49:49Z Excellent! The City Utilities are out of control. Water meter scandal, Green waste bins forced on us. Somebody fire someone already! Take back those freakin' green waste bins too. Steve Vicente 2010-02-12T03:49:49Z Steve Vicente comment-21534 2010-01-31T02:55:44Z 2010-01-31T02:55:44Z I would vote for Lungren... at least over Bera. Steve Vicente 2010-01-31T02:55:44Z Steve Vicente comment-21404 2010-01-28T07:00:46Z 2010-01-28T07:00:46Z Let's not forget wasting money on lame green waste bins that downtowners don't want! Will someone please fire the green waste bin fools already? Steve Vicente 2010-01-28T07:00:46Z Steve Vicente comment-20552 2010-01-14T06:39:33Z 2010-01-14T06:39:33Z Why would law enforcement officers join to fight legalization? Because arresting people and filling prisons keeps them employed. Why would ex-drug addicts and faith-based folks fight legalization? Because they are weak-willed people that need the law or Jesus to scare themselves straight, lest they lose control of themselves. Shame on them for trying to control other people's lives. Marijuana and criminal behavior should not be confused with one another. Murdering & stealing should be crimes. Drugs should not be crimes. Let people do with their own body what they want. Steve Vicente 2010-01-14T06:39:33Z Steve Vicente comment-20440 2010-01-11T08:56:49Z 2010-01-11T08:56:49Z None of the supes are good guys... They passed that Physical Dance Ordinance last year, and I can't support anybody who goes around trying to police personal behavior. Nope, Roger Dickenson needs to go! (along with Susan Peters and the rest of them) Steve Vicente 2010-01-11T08:56:49Z Steve Vicente comment-20389 2010-01-09T20:33:48Z 2010-01-09T20:33:48Z Right bbbbmer, I didn't say that's right either... did I? Steve Vicente 2010-01-09T20:33:48Z Steve Vicente comment-20388 2010-01-09T20:31:35Z 2010-01-09T20:31:35Z Whoa... your profile name is "InfoWars.com" and you support socialist ideals? That is a contradiction man... I thought Alex Jones & his minions at least stood for freedom. McCarty is probably one of the worst on the council. Steve Vicente 2010-01-09T20:31:35Z Steve Vicente comment-20337 2010-01-09T09:19:38Z 2010-01-09T09:19:38Z McCarty brought forward the proposal to challenge 2nd Amendment last month. I hope people will vote him out next term. Who is supposed to pay for these people to be treated by physicians who spent years and thousands of dollars on education? Who pays for the advanced equipment which private investment has innovated? Should the hospitals pay? Are they a charity...and not a business? No. All you commenters above who praised McCarty, I think YOU should drive down to the hospital with your checkbook and start paying for all the people that can't afford the miracles of modern medicine. A few hundred years ago, King Henry VIII bled out with leeches... so don't be communist whiners people! Steve Vicente 2010-01-09T09:19:38Z Steve Vicente comment-20336 2010-01-09T09:06:19Z 2010-01-09T09:06:19Z and what has Steve Cohn contributed JimmyWee? Do you know how much these incumbent council members spend on campaigns? Where does that money come from & what favors are being doled out? I'd like to see incumbents get voted out this year, unless they stand for limited govt and freedom. Steve Cohn voted to challenge the 2nd Amendment of the US Constitution. Steve Cohn voted to place a moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries. These decisions show a belief in the "Nanny State", with little respect for freedom. No thanks! Steve Vicente 2010-01-09T09:06:19Z Steve Vicente comment-20305 2010-01-08T07:00:47Z 2010-01-08T07:00:47Z Agreed... this is a puff piece. Who cares what he SAYS he is going to do? I'm more interested in what someone said they would do in 2009, and whether they delivered. Steve Cohn voted to challenge the 2nd Amendment last month. To me, that shows he is a not worthy of office. Vote him out! Steve Vicente 2010-01-08T07:00:47Z Steve Vicente comment-20235 2010-01-07T09:32:13Z 2010-01-07T09:32:13Z Why does so much need to be spent on a study?!? Heck, just look at traffic counts and major arteries. Ignore the NIMBY's that want to protest all development, and BUILD A BROADWAY BRIDGE already! Sacramento is sad when you compare it to another river city like Portland. Portland has 3 or 4 times the river crossings, and a nicer city to show for it. Sacramento has complete lack of cooperation between the Capitol and Yolo/W.Sac. Steve Vicente 2010-01-07T09:32:13Z Steve Vicente comment-20158 2010-01-05T06:02:23Z 2010-01-05T06:02:23Z Why was "opt out" used instead of "opt in"? Because the City made "opt out" difficult, and cumbersome. Now they have inflated numbers when most folks put their bin in the garage and continue to dump waste in the street. To the City - When the costs/rates are calculated... I would like to make sure that it's calculated based on leaf piles VS bins on pickup day - and NOT calculated by the ridiculous statistics which have been shifted by the implementation of the heinous "opt out" program. Of course, if you deliver bins and call it "opt out" and make it difficult to return them (as many people have commented is the case)... then you will have inflated numbers falsely showing that the bin program is widely adopted. If you use these numbers in calculating my new rate (instead of what's actually put out on the street), then I will be sure to make public comment about the City Utility dept at an upcoming City Council meeting. Steve Vicente 2010-01-05T06:02:23Z Steve Vicente comment-20031 2009-12-31T03:59:53Z 2009-12-31T03:59:53Z Also, when the costs/rates are calculated... I would like to make sure that it's calculated based on leaf piles VS bins on pickup day - and NOT calculated by the ridiculous statistics which have been shifted by the implementation of the heinous "opt out" program. Of course, if you deliver bins and call it "opt out" and make it difficult to return them (as many people have commented is the case)... then you will have inflated numbers falsely showing that the bin program is widely adopted. If you use these numbers in calculating my new rate (instead of what's actually put out on the street), then I will be sure to make public comment about the City Utility dept at an upcoming City Council meeting. Steve Vicente 2009-12-31T03:59:53Z Steve Vicente comment-20030 2009-12-31T03:46:49Z 2009-12-31T03:46:49Z Jessica, you said: "As more customers opt into the containerized program, the costs to collect materials loose in the street goes up because we may only need to collect a single pile or two on a street and then need to drive across town to pick up a few more piles, etc." This does not address the fact that there are now TWO waste pickup programs running. The claw has to skip houses... but so does the bin truck. So everyone pays more. The City has raised the costs for all residents with their poor planning and execution of this attempt to force bins on residents. It is time to bite the bullet and collect all the bins, and go back to the claw. It's time to admit this entire ordeal has been a disaster. Fire whoever is responsible, collect the bins, and let's get back to life in downtown with the claw... as the 1977 ordinance intended. Steve Vicente 2009-12-31T03:46:49Z Steve Vicente comment-19949 2009-12-29T09:04:52Z 2009-12-29T09:04:52Z On 4/21/2009 council meeting, they approved purchasing 600 bins for Southside Park (my neighborhood) for $30,000. So... these bins cost $50 each. "About 85,000 residents have chosen bins, the report notes." Does the word "chosen" apply when this heinous "opt-out" program is used? Personally I found it very difficult to opt-out. Some questions I'd like the City to answer: - How many people have opted out? - How much money is the City wasting now that they are stuck running TWO leaf pick up systems (claw and bins)? Who will pay for that? Who will be fired for creating this disaster? - If the City raises prices for "claw" customers.... isn't it violating the letter of the 1977 ordinance that prevents them from being forced onto containerization. Steve Vicente 2009-12-29T09:04:52Z Steve Vicente comment-19581 2009-12-19T06:56:58Z 2009-12-19T06:56:58Z Here's some advice: DON'T USE TAXPAYER DOLLARS Steve Vicente 2009-12-19T06:56:58Z Steve Vicente comment-19431 2009-12-17T02:16:00Z 2009-12-17T02:16:00Z Update: I saw on the meeting minutes that KJ also voted "NO", in addition to Robbie Waters. Good for him... he earned some points back in my book. Steve Vicente 2009-12-17T02:16:00Z Steve Vicente comment-19275 2009-12-15T01:04:21Z 2009-12-15T01:04:21Z Kathleen, Anyone can sign up for 2 minutes of public comment at City Council meetings. I suggest you sign up, go up to the podium, and share this story in front of the council and city manager. That will embarrass him... perhaps enough to give you the time of day. It's one thing if he's busy... and needs to respond to you in limited fashion, even by telephone or email. To ignore a prospective member of "the press" (no matter how mainstream) completely & repeatedly is asking to be called out. Steve Vicente 2009-12-15T01:04:21Z Steve Vicente comment-19217 2009-12-12T20:48:42Z 2009-12-12T20:48:42Z Gabriel... I looked at your link. it's funny - all the supporters of containerization listed on that webpage are tree-hugging organizations (Save the river, Bikers, hikers, etc.) If you guys succeed in forcing us on leaf bins... I will be thinking of you when I cut down my tree. I invite any supporters of the claw to sign-up here: http://www.southsidepark.org/claw Steve Vicente 2009-12-12T20:48:42Z Steve Vicente comment-19075 2009-12-10T07:27:04Z 2009-12-10T07:27:04Z I will cut down my tree if I'm forced on a bin. Eat that green-freak eco-warriors! Steve Vicente 2009-12-10T07:27:04Z Steve Vicente comment-18745 2009-12-05T07:57:01Z 2009-12-05T07:57:01Z Keep the Claw! http://www.southsidepark.org/claw Steve Vicente 2009-12-05T07:57:01Z Steve Vicente comment-18741 2009-12-05T05:09:11Z 2009-12-05T05:09:11Z Keep the Claw! http://www.southsidepark.org/claw Steve Vicente 2009-12-05T05:09:11Z Steve Vicente comment-18455 2009-11-30T22:05:12Z 2009-11-30T22:05:12Z A couple questions for pro-bin folks: Question #1 - If you force folks on streets inundated with leaves onto a more cumbersome way to clean them up (bins)... do you really think our streets will be prettier? Put it this way - if I made you clean your toilet with a toothbrush, would you clean it as often? Question #2 - Since you pro-bin folks admit there are too many autumn leaves downtown to fit in a bin, and the claw would still be needed... doesn't this nullify all or most your proposed benefits of bins? Clogged drains just as likely, mosquitos still have hundreds of places to breed, bikes and cars have bins to dodge instead of leaves, twice the trucks still needed. Anyways, I'm staying with my plan to cut down my tree if I'm forced on a bin. I don't have space for a bin. Go green! Steve Vicente 2009-11-30T22:05:12Z Steve Vicente comment-18433 2009-11-30T08:03:06Z 2009-11-30T08:03:06Z Who wants to bet these city officials pushing bins on downtowners live in the suburbs? SUBURBS: tree? lawn lawn lawn driveway driveway driveway parking parking parking DOWNTOWN: tree tree tree tree tree driveway? parking? It is interesting to note that the City Utilities is making absolutely no effort to reach out to residents. This is because they know residents don't want bins.... so they have resorted to pushing bins with wacky "opt-out" programs. I hope whatever numbers/info they communicate based on that program will be reviewed with deserved skepticism. It's too bad City Utilities is a govt-enforced monopoly... I have no option to cancel their service when I find it unsatisfactory. Steve Vicente 2009-11-30T08:03:06Z Steve Vicente comment-18268 2009-11-25T08:28:31Z 2009-11-25T08:28:31Z I plugged Sac Press at the City Council meeting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7TOBotn76w Steve Vicente 2009-11-25T08:28:31Z Steve Vicente comment-18267 2009-11-25T08:27:46Z 2009-11-25T08:27:46Z I plugged Sac Press at the City Council meeting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7TOBotn76w Steve Vicente 2009-11-25T08:27:46Z Steve Vicente comment-18080 2009-11-21T08:20:07Z 2009-11-21T08:20:07Z Let's not forget.. Doris Matsui called the White House regarding Walpin shortly before he was fired. Tsakopoulos stood to get rich off "shovel ready" stimulus money for Sacramento... and he's been a huge campaign contributor to these folks. They are all dirty & "in bed" together with big money special interests. Vote limited government. That is the only way you can fight corruption... by limiting their power & protecting individual rights & the Constitution. Steve Vicente 2009-11-21T08:20:07Z Steve Vicente comment-17974 2009-11-19T07:43:53Z 2009-11-19T07:43:53Z No, the service wasn't slow because of the storm. I was calling the City complaining about them missing pickup service for a couple months BEFORE that storm, since they pushed the bins in my area. The City's "opt-in" program has been a disaster & if you ask me, someone should be fired for it. Steve Vicente 2009-11-19T07:43:53Z Steve Vicente comment-17973 2009-11-19T07:34:50Z 2009-11-19T07:34:50Z You work for the city & live in the burbs don't you? Yeah, check YOUR facts... other cities use the claw. I remember that flood... 2 inches of rain in an hour. They upgraded the pipes after. Sorry, bins wouldn't have prevented that. The problem is, you think bins are going to eradicate leaves or something? I raked my leaves yesterday & guess what... I had a fresh coat of leaves out front today. Welcome to the City of Trees. Don't think for a second bins are going to encourage people to clean up leaves better... it will DISCOURAGE them because bins are a pain in the butt. I am happy to pay more for claw service. How about the City quits acting like it knows what we want & try to talk to residents or something? That's the problem with a govt supported monopoly... I can't fire them or cancel service. Steve Vicente 2009-11-19T07:34:50Z Steve Vicente comment-17818 2009-11-16T19:55:47Z 2009-11-16T19:55:47Z The gist of my post is that State of California = BIG MONEY. Our city planners have all too often crawled to the big government office projects like a cheap whore to a pimp... seeking that next fix and abusive security. I'd agree with William that other big cities have downtown cores which are quiet on weekends. In my opinion, it's not as extreme in other cities. You'll have a few blocks of high rises, surrounding by a bustling shopping district. In Sacramento, we have nearly a 16-block core area that's relatively DEAD. I think the history of planning & state government muscle has much to do with that. Hell, the state properties don't even contirbute tax revenues do they? I think "smart growth" will happen here. It will happen naturally, as freeways continue their congestion & people seek shorter commutes. I just hope we don't keep making the same mistakes. Steve Vicente 2009-11-16T19:55:47Z Steve Vicente comment-17702 2009-11-13T01:17:27Z 2009-11-13T01:17:27Z You can submit questions to him here: http://senweb03.senate.ca.gov/focus/townhall/sd06/20091112.htm I submitted the following questions & I would be willing to wager that these questions are being cherry-picked and none of my questions will be selected ============== How are you going to help reduce the burdensome business environment we've created in California with our heavey taxes and regulatory environment? ============== How are you going to help fix our prison system in California? It's estimated it costs $47,000/year to incarcerate someone in our prisons. Are you willing to cut back prison budgets, fight the CCPOA, deport illegal aliens, and decriminalize drug offenses? ============== California currently has one of the most heavily regulated health care environments of any state, raising costs for residents. How are you going to reduce regulations and support tort reform in California to increase consumer choice and reduce costs? Steve Vicente 2009-11-13T01:17:27Z Steve Vicente comment-17701 2009-11-13T01:01:44Z 2009-11-13T01:01:44Z Steinberg sucks. Vote him out! Steve Vicente 2009-11-13T01:01:44Z Steve Vicente comment-17479 2009-11-07T19:11:07Z 2009-11-07T19:11:07Z regarding the photographer comment - why don't you take a photo in a central neighborhood where they have bins? Then you will see the reason for the 1977 law, and why we will regret moving to bins if the City bureaucrats who live in the suburbs keep pushing bins on us. East sac has some neighborhoods with bins and 50% of their streets are filled with leaf piles AND bins. Parking is impossible. The City needs to earn the $13 it's charging us monthly and PICK UP THE LEAVES! They have quit doing that to try & force bins on us.... just plain negligent. BTW folks -feel free to read my post on this topic too http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/17158/Dear_City_keep_your_bin_or_cut_my_tree (I got more thumbs up... just saying! people don't seem to want bins) :-D Steve Vicente 2009-11-07T19:11:07Z Steve Vicente comment-17406 2009-11-06T19:07:39Z 2009-11-06T19:07:39Z Piles which have built up since the City stopped picking them up... thanks to bins. Steve Vicente 2009-11-06T19:07:39Z Steve Vicente comment-17388 2009-11-06T16:55:08Z 2009-11-06T16:55:08Z Good story... I'm going to have some fun with this in Excel. ..maybe post a follow up on Rob Fong's contributions. Steve Vicente 2009-11-06T16:55:08Z Steve Vicente comment-17375 2009-11-06T07:24:02Z 2009-11-06T07:24:02Z Oh yeah... plus, I would like a refund for my $13 for green waste Dept. of Utilities - because I have received no service. Steve Vicente 2009-11-06T07:24:02Z Steve Vicente comment-17374 2009-11-06T07:22:53Z 2009-11-06T07:22:53Z Robert, you said it yourself. The bins will not fit all the leaves. So again... what is the point? All your following arguments kind of fall flat due to this, because the City will need to do the "claw" no matter what right? Downtown is not the burbs where you live. We don't have your big lawns. We have little to no green waste except for Fall. How about instead of wasting all that money on those bins, actually pick up the leaves? We've had piles of leaves on my street almost constantly the past two months because the City is trying to force the bins & stopped picking up leaves. Nice job... problem is worse now. Steve Vicente 2009-11-06T07:22:53Z Steve Vicente comment-16625 2009-10-29T03:00:21Z 2009-10-29T03:00:21Z What happened to Muriel Strand, the chicken lady?? MURIEL STRAND FOR CITY COUNCIL! hehe j/k Shawn, I wish you the best... but with all due respect, I think you'll have better chances if you get a haircut. Steve Vicente 2009-10-29T03:00:21Z Steve Vicente comment-16021 2009-10-22T06:23:35Z 2009-10-22T06:23:35Z Haha, good one Jim. Yeah... these guys are crackpots. Steve Vicente 2009-10-22T06:23:35Z Steve Vicente comment-15843 2009-10-19T18:00:59Z 2009-10-19T18:00:59Z Socialism destroys. Health care reform yes... but the RIGHT kind of reform: http://healthcare.cato.org Steve Vicente 2009-10-19T18:00:59Z Steve Vicente comment-11580 2009-08-05T05:56:31Z 2009-08-05T05:56:31Z Let's tea bag this town hall! Steve Vicente 2009-08-05T05:56:31Z Steve Vicente comment-11318 2009-07-31T01:30:43Z 2009-07-31T01:30:43Z Excellent article topic! Steve Vicente 2009-07-31T01:30:43Z Steve Vicente comment-10795 2009-07-16T06:14:09Z 2009-07-16T06:14:09Z Federal law > local law ? 10th amendment > your opinion Steve Vicente 2009-07-16T06:14:09Z Steve Vicente comment-10788 2009-07-16T03:15:15Z 2009-07-16T03:15:15Z Vote OUT the City Council and the Board of Supervisors. Those D-bags will regulate any type of business they hear some hoity-toity whiner was offended by... whether it's a strip club or medical marijuana. Steve Vicente 2009-07-16T03:15:15Z Steve Vicente comment-7999 2009-05-21T07:02:11Z 2009-05-21T07:02:11Z I'm not familiar with the code/ordinances/permits/other-B.S. required to put on a show like that. I just have to think... neighbors should be compensated in some way if there is an outdoor concert blasting noise near someone's home for a long time. If there isn't any permit process (involving neighborhood input) or compensation, then I should have every right to stand on the corner of J and 27th with my 50W megaphone and sing karaoke all day long. Steve Vicente 2009-05-21T07:02:11Z Steve Vicente comment-7372 2009-05-09T03:37:55Z 2009-05-09T03:37:55Z The only good party is a keg party. Political parties suck... Dumbocrats & Retardlicans. Vote for liberty. Steve Vicente 2009-05-09T03:37:55Z Steve Vicente comment-7371 2009-05-09T03:34:57Z 2009-05-09T03:34:57Z VOTE 1ABC NO, 1DEF YES Vote for liberty. Steve Vicente 2009-05-09T03:34:57Z Steve Vicente comment-6715 2009-04-26T06:10:19Z 2009-04-26T06:10:19Z You guys should run an auction on this site or something. I'd probably bid up to $20 for that KZAP sticker alone! Steve Vicente 2009-04-26T06:10:19Z Steve Vicente comment-5182 2009-03-28T19:22:58Z 2009-03-28T19:22:58Z Yeah, I hear you John. That headline could be misleading if people think Centerfolds will be shut down, I think that's technically Rancho Cordova anyways... which incorporated so isn't affected. There may be one or two places with valid licenses. I don't know whether they expire, and the lawyer for the adult places pointed out that this legistlation will put the Auburn places out of business because there's no new zoning & no new licenses being offered. If a reader of my article is worried about no boobs-in-face anywhere in Sac, I apologize for not detailing that - as I wrote it for readers who are appalled at government over-regulation. The fact remains, if you walked into Embers now, a place that's been operating peacefully for 10 years, and get a lap dance, you could be cited for a misdemeanor. Steve Vicente 2009-03-28T19:22:58Z Steve Vicente comment-5158 2009-03-28T07:26:05Z 2009-03-28T07:26:05Z Sure John, just like the federal government didn't "outlaw" marijuana right? They just passed a tax-stamp act, where you need the stamps in order to sell hemp/cannabis, then they never issued any stamps. Outlaw... Legislatively restrict. Same difference. Steve Vicente 2009-03-28T07:26:05Z Steve Vicente comment-5145 2009-03-27T16:20:24Z 2009-03-27T16:20:24Z waldorfandstatler, it's one thing when I make an assumption in an editorial article, but when government justifies limiting rights based on flimsy assumptions... liberties are carelessly violated. The Supervisors have demonstrated the don't hold much regard for personal choice. Steve Vicente 2009-03-27T16:20:24Z Steve Vicente comment-2663 2009-01-23T08:01:33Z 2009-01-23T08:01:33Z Good comments. I will vote NO on this... because it's too soon. Let KJ show us his performance a year or two as Mayor. Then I'll consider his suggestions on the City Charter, with input from the City Council and residents alike. Steve Vicente 2009-01-23T08:01:33Z Steve Vicente comment-1874 2009-01-05T22:39:12Z 2009-01-05T22:39:12Z It is sad when I walk down K St on a Saturday and all the shops are closed. I agree that downtown needs more mixed residential development. Too bad project like the Towers went kaput, but moving the Greyhound station to Richards Blvd will be a good first step to making downtown someplace livable & not just a state employee zone. Steve Vicente 2009-01-05T22:39:12Z Steve Vicente comment-1873 2009-01-05T22:33:18Z 2009-01-05T22:33:18Z I wholeheartedly agree with you Geoff. I am also a Libertarian. Unfortunately, we have a two-party dominated system... so we often find our views not well represented & we have to pick the lesser of two evils when voting for a candidate. What we need is people like Ron Paul - libertarians posing as Republicans, or fiscally-conservative democrats. The Libertarian Party is like a Shasta Cola, next to Pepsi & Coke (even though it may be tastier!). I hope that changes though. Steve Vicente 2009-01-05T22:33:18Z Steve Vicente comment-1548 2008-12-18T02:44:41Z 2008-12-18T02:44:41Z I wonder if they had "Saloon Crawls", or "Sacramento Saloon Connoisseurs Club", or "Street Car Pub Crawls" back then. That would be schweet. hehe Steve Vicente 2008-12-18T02:44:41Z Steve Vicente comment-779 2008-11-07T21:55:24Z 2008-11-07T21:55:24Z I meant Sept 3, 2008. Steve Vicente 2008-11-07T21:55:24Z Steve Vicente comment-745 2008-11-05T01:52:20Z 2008-11-05T01:52:20Z Yeah, sorry I forgot to credit you for those photos Nick (except for the fuzzy ones of the chicken & bell peppers - I took those). Nice job on those photos... love the cool fisheye lens! Steve Vicente 2008-11-05T01:52:20Z Steve Vicente comment-596 2008-10-31T00:27:15Z 2008-10-31T00:27:15Z MAYOR FARGO CANCELLED/RESCHEDULED DUE TO BAD WEATHER - This has been rescheduled for this Sunday 11/2, 10:30am. Location: Farmers Market under the freeway. The mayor will be there where the booths are on the east side of the market. Steve Vicente 2008-10-31T00:27:15Z Steve Vicente comment-622 2008-10-30T01:13:46Z 2008-10-30T01:13:46Z It's great... really looking forward to the upgrade.<br><br>I hope they can remove a few of the shopping carts & tires while they're at it. You can see them from the waters edge in some places... Steve Vicente 2008-10-30T01:13:46Z Steve Vicente comment-586 2008-10-29T19:37:43Z 2008-10-29T19:37:43Z William - I'm really impressed with your knowledge of the area. BTW - I have a copy of your Southside Park book.. good stuff! Yes, it'll be too bad if the lot becomes weed infested. I will surely continue to submit code violation complaints if that happens (whether she pays the fines or not... the fines will just increase) as well as the weed abatement program through the fire department (if they still run that). Regarding 1901 6th - I'm no expert on historical preservation, so here's a picture of the two houses. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3287/2971798417_ef9e25b981.jpg?v=0 Steve Vicente 2008-10-29T19:37:43Z Steve Vicente comment-575 2008-10-29T16:13:19Z 2008-10-29T16:13:19Z William, sorry - my bad. I meant 1901 6th St. (corner of 6th & S)... that's the residential building that currently has approval to be demolished & is planned to be turned into an office building. That would be a real shame, especially since 99% of everything north of S St in downtown are already concrete block office buildings. Steve Vicente 2008-10-29T16:13:19Z Steve Vicente comment-574 2008-10-29T07:10:38Z 2008-10-29T07:10:38Z Oops... my first article, so I might have filled out the storyline thing incorrectly. Steve Vicente 2008-10-29T07:10:38Z Steve Vicente comment-522 2008-10-28T03:08:33Z 2008-10-28T03:08:33Z SCHWEET! I subscribed in my feed reader. Steve Vicente 2008-10-28T03:08:33Z Steve Vicente comment-412 2008-10-25T19:35:48Z 2008-10-25T19:35:48Z The City should not be funding private development projects... however the City should invest in infrastructure which will incentivize private development. The Docks area plan is great... but it's economic feasibilty is hazy, because there are clean-up costs & State bureaucracy to deal with (see Ahnold's past interference regarding the railroad museum) - where it's a small sliver of land to fight over. I like the plan, but I think it's putting the cart before the horse. The City needs to invest in infrastructure, e.g. supporting decking I-5, a Broadway Bridge, buying up superfund sites then footing the bill to clean them up & THEN sell the land back to private developers. I hope the Docks Plan happens... but if they make it all nice & pretty no one will go there when they have to traverse across a measly bootbridge or go through industrial-bilght on Broadway. Steve Vicente 2008-10-25T19:35:48Z Steve Vicente comment-411 2008-10-25T19:25:20Z 2008-10-25T19:25:20Z Southside Park neighborhood is great because it has one of my top-three favorite parks in Sacramento (besides McKinley & Land). You can't beat it's location for convenience & centrality. We have more of a neighborhood feel than midtown, where residents have to compete with bars/restaurants for parking. The only bad thing about the neighborhood is the amount of crime & blight... You have that anywhere downtown though. I think there are planning issues that could really help improve that situation though: establish a better 'mixed-use' policy along the S-R St corridor, and Broadway corridor. There is already economic incentive to do that along S-R, but the City would need to help reverse damage that's been done in the past with emminent domain by the State which has turned the core into a lifeless concrete jungle. There should also be connections made to further motivate development along these corridors. Decking I-5 from Q St to Capitol Mall would reconnect downtown with the waterfront & further revitalize the core. A Broadway bridge would spur development of the docks area & revitalize the blighted west end of Broadway. Steve Vicente 2008-10-25T19:25:20Z Steve Vicente comment-410 2008-10-25T18:33:28Z 2008-10-25T18:33:28Z Love the site guys! You probably have this on the list already... but it'd be sweet if I could also subscribe to a certain tag, or author, or the whole site in general. I'm a HUGE Google Reader & RSS fanatic... you should see my feed subscription list! :-D Steve Vicente 2008-10-25T18:33:28Z Steve Vicente comment-405 2008-10-25T07:12:16Z 2008-10-25T07:12:16Z Thanks for posting that jen! I've been so busy, I'm just catching up on some content here & the site looks great! I think I posted a similar comment to the one above in the other story by Emma. Steve Vicente 2008-10-25T07:12:16Z Steve Vicente comment-404 2008-10-25T07:09:01Z 2008-10-25T07:09:01Z Cool story! It's too bad that this house had to be demolished... but the city did the right thing. I live a few houses away & 506 S was not only unsafe, it was a major eyesore & cause of blight because the owner let it basically rot from the inside out. Neighborhoods & communities like Southside Park need to do what's best for the big picture. That means striking a balance between blight removal & preservation. Just a few houses down, 1901 S St is a good condition historical residence that has been given permission to be demolished already. There is an opportuntiy for these same parties to step in before it's too late & save a historic house... Steve Vicente 2008-10-25T07:09:01Z