advocate comment-62693 2012-01-24T20:04:23Z 2012-01-24T20:04:23Z It is true that Sheedy is not the most friendly person on the council, but I recall Sheedy standing up fiercely for her district, but the rest of the council and mayor were/are just not interested in hearing problems residents face in District 2 AND those in former alignment of District 3. Both consist of primarily old neighborhoods with old housing inhabited by mostly low income people who can't afford to contribute to campaign funding. advocate 2012-01-24T20:04:23Z advocate comment-61617 2011-12-22T21:21:18Z 2011-12-22T21:21:18Z newguy-you obviously did not see or pay attention to the signs and slogans the manipulated Tea Party seniors were carrying. These dunderheads were so uninformed that they carried signs that read "keep the government's hands off our Medicare." Mark is right and he is informed--you're not because you must have been watching FOX which didn't air them.. advocate 2011-12-22T21:21:18Z advocate comment-55687 2011-08-23T21:04:58Z 2011-08-23T21:04:58Z Good question. If a restaurant, why open until 2:00 a.m which are not standard restaurant hours but a bar/club hours? advocate 2011-08-23T21:04:58Z advocate comment-50801 2011-05-19T04:14:32Z 2011-05-19T04:14:32Z Was their any discussion about police and fire starting to contribute to their own pensions -- like the rest of the city employees do? advocate 2011-05-19T04:14:32Z advocate comment-47388 2011-03-14T18:42:23Z 2011-03-14T18:42:23Z A great play, well worth seeing. Lots of clever undertones and subtle humor as well as laughing out loud. Actors were well chosen for their roles and gave superb delivery. advocate 2011-03-14T18:42:23Z advocate comment-45895 2011-02-17T20:17:38Z 2011-02-17T20:17:38Z Because the wealth of the country has been redistributed and concentrated upward not downward. You know, the two percent of the families who own 95% of the country's wealth now advocate 2011-02-17T20:17:38Z advocate comment-45220 2011-02-07T18:16:03Z 2011-02-07T18:16:03Z No buyers to save it? Apparently, it was a thriving business. Instead of lamenting how about a rally to find a new owner? advocate 2011-02-07T18:16:03Z advocate comment-45051 2011-02-03T17:41:02Z 2011-02-03T17:41:02Z The builders were going to build a "dream house" on part of a lot they don't even own? On a crummy alley and then LIVE in it when they've sold their other projects and could choose to live anywhere else in Midtown, etc.? "Gimmee" a break! advocate 2011-02-03T17:41:02Z advocate comment-44717 2011-01-31T22:05:10Z 2011-01-31T22:05:10Z So based on the past, they could very well plan to sell it and not live in it themselves. It isn't a matter of conformity, it is a matter of compatible architecture with surrounding structures. Creativity incorporates historic features with newer design--quite a task for an architect. If they have built the traditional Craftsmans as you say they have and sold them what are those addresses? Having sold all, then they know what neighbors want and what sells. Why not be a good neighbor again and repeat that success on this project rather than a three story bland house that may not sell? If she wants to live in that design so badly, then take it to the suburbs and try it there. They did not buy the lot, right? That is a measure of commitment. This design is very similar to 14th & C which were to be condos but did not sell all and are now being rented. It took several years for them to be occupied. That could happen here too. Their large glass walls and stucco stick out like a huge "sore thumb", towering over nearby historic craftsmans as does this one. Based on the hard line the builder is taking, I would question the sincerity. advocate 2011-01-31T22:05:10Z advocate comment-44625 2011-01-30T23:00:47Z 2011-01-30T23:00:47Z I've seen the drawings. The building looks cold and cheap--huge glass walls (not windows) and stucco. The massing and design are totally inappropriate for the area, neighboring areas, East Sac, Curtis Park and Land Park. No way is the builder going to live in it. If they were, they would buy the lot and build something on it that respects the architecture of the era. They just want to make some money off it like other builders have. I commend Cohn greatly for his efforts to keep the integrity of the neighborhood. This, if built, will set an alley precedence and will fail to stand the test of time just like the ugly shotgun apartments of the 1960's and 70's, which have been ridiculed and have higher rental vacancy rates than the restored quality historic multi-family dwellings. These type of buildings bring down neighboring historic homes' property values and reduce ability to sell adjacent historic properties because buyers are seeking to live in the rich looking historic homes not these cheap looking, newer characterless structures . If the builders want a "modern" feel then build and live in the "modern" suburbs. There are several infill projects in the central city that have been built which do respect their neighbors, are creative and compatible with the architecture in the area. However, designing those is a challenge for the architect and apparently this architect either by direction or lack of skill cannot meet such a challenge. advocate 2011-01-30T23:00:47Z advocate comment-43429 2011-01-11T18:23:40Z 2011-01-11T18:23:40Z If the Art Walk were held during the day when it is warmer and safer and ended early evening when it starts to get cold, maybe more people would attend. Certainly, more who depend on public transportation would be able to get there. advocate 2011-01-11T18:23:40Z advocate comment-39665 2010-10-28T12:29:52Z 2010-10-28T12:29:52Z Your suspicions about connections is right. advocate 2010-10-28T12:29:52Z advocate comment-38949 2010-10-15T03:21:40Z 2010-10-15T03:21:40Z In view of the fact that some galleries no longer open on SS, would it be less about the ARTS if the the event started earlier in the day and ended about six? I mean more families and youth could take public transit in and home, more businesses would benefit from the day time crowd shopping when those businesses are open, the bars would still have their drinkers for afternoon ball games and other celebrations, less policing would be needed. The business who are now adversely affected might find relief. What do you think? advocate 2010-10-15T03:21:40Z advocate comment-38728 2010-10-13T03:28:08Z 2010-10-13T03:28:08Z Not a good example. I'm personally familiar with that case and there was far more to it behind the scenes than anyone involved wanted reporters to know. advocate 2010-10-13T03:28:08Z advocate comment-38699 2010-10-12T19:43:34Z 2010-10-12T19:43:34Z Parrhesiac, are you aware most of those alleged "attacks" were made up by the bigots? Name one person who lost a job due to opposing Prop 8 or any of the other "FEARS". No one has. It doesn't happen. advocate 2010-10-12T19:43:34Z advocate comment-38228 2010-10-02T02:27:06Z 2010-10-02T02:27:06Z Now that we know Zen approves of businesses "establishing themselves illegally" which is a fact, would someone with ethics answer Marion's question? advocate 2010-10-02T02:27:06Z advocate comment-35260 2010-08-20T22:19:21Z 2010-08-20T22:19:21Z Chuck, thanks for the article and exposing another hypocrite--not that his constituents care. As to ethics investigation, Democrats are too wimpy and main stream news too afraid of being called "liberal when it comes to exposing the Republican miscreants. That is why we have we not heard more about the Senator from Nevada and the one from Louisiana and their sexual escapades and hypocrisy. advocate 2010-08-20T22:19:21Z advocate comment-35259 2010-08-20T22:10:03Z 2010-08-20T22:10:03Z As usual, the homeless advocates abused the privilege so all of us will be silenced as a result. Still, I don't blame the council. The ineffective, politically connected and powerful homeless advocates spout their self-serving rhetoric over and over--no new positive suggestions just the same old thing that benefits them.. advocate 2010-08-20T22:10:03Z advocate comment-35258 2010-08-20T22:04:34Z 2010-08-20T22:04:34Z I was there today. It was mobbed, checkers were great and the products offered incredible prices. advocate 2010-08-20T22:04:34Z advocate comment-35184 2010-08-19T22:36:57Z 2010-08-19T22:36:57Z Your reasoning is interesting and biased, if not contradictory. You are concerned that civil disobedience will escalate out of control BUT PD has been unworried and unwilling to deal effectively with the Second Saturday crowds which have done and continue to do far more out of control damage to residents, some non-alcohol businesses and their properties and neighborhoods than a few protesting elderly wheel chair folks could ever do. In fact you are quoted as saying Second Saturday is "a great thing." Where are you and your force when reality hits? Facts are that PD chooses a safe route of arresting the elderly and disabled while letting the violent drunks and other Second Saturday night scofflaws spiral out of control, like the damage done to a number of cars on 24th last Saturday. advocate 2010-08-19T22:36:57Z advocate comment-34013 2010-08-02T03:32:39Z 2010-08-02T03:32:39Z Does "the public" know that years of experience has shown that when any level of government starts out sourcing, it ALWAYS costs the taxpayers more in the long run? Sweetheart deals are made, employees are paid peanuts, services decline and company execs line their pockets at taxpayer expense. advocate 2010-08-02T03:32:39Z advocate comment-32246 2010-07-06T17:14:12Z 2010-07-06T17:14:12Z A reality check is now in order. Sacpress writers need to do an article by interviewing ex-JW's or ex-JW's need to write an article about JW's commanding family members never to speak to other family members once they have left the "faith" and no longer follow JW narrow dogma. OR how about their intolerance of gays and their rigid anti-gay stance? I've never seen either of those issues mentioned in their hand outs. advocate 2010-07-06T17:14:12Z advocate comment-28192 2010-05-26T17:17:01Z 2010-05-26T17:17:01Z Is Sacramento City contributing to the problem when there does not appear to be anything in its codes that requires contractors to comply with a clause that states it will not hire illegals? It is after all, employers who hire the illegals, who provide a job market for illegals to risk their lives coming to this country. Absent that, the motivation would be drastically reduced. That was the benefit of the Guest Worker program that worked well for years and was abandoned due to pressure from grower corporations and other big companies. advocate 2010-05-26T17:17:01Z advocate comment-27763 2010-05-22T22:20:01Z 2010-05-22T22:20:01Z One of the best gay music performances I ever saw was the gay band years ago in the SF Opera House, playing to a packed house. It consisted of talented musicians from around the country touring and playing at limited venues in the country's largest cities. The repertoire was extremely varied and members performed in formal attire. To the delight of the audience, the bandmaster added a few unique gay touches now and then to his directing. Does anyone know if it still exists on tour and could be contracted to play in Sacramento? advocate 2010-05-22T22:20:01Z advocate comment-27440 2010-05-20T19:04:12Z 2010-05-20T19:04:12Z So this is out of towner based--maybe Fair Oaks or Citrus Heights Diebels trying to influence Sacramento District 3 voters? Connected with or family connected with real estate firm connected to Las Vegas? Like I wrote earlier, midtown has learned the hard way not to trust real estate connected folks--$$$$ is always the bottom line. advocate 2010-05-20T19:04:12Z advocate comment-27414 2010-05-20T16:20:46Z 2010-05-20T16:20:46Z So what has that got to do with this Republican being able to represent his diverse group of constituents? It is one thing for this real estate SALESMAN to use these types of "social media" in his business and campaign where he is SELLING himself, but where does that get him in knowing how government works for ALL of the people. Cohn has learned how to work with different departments to be able to get results quickly for constituents IF they bother to contact him or Sue his District Director, instead of just sitting around and complaining. Notice how many signs in Midtown are in front of apartment houses and rental units but very few, if any, in front of homeowners who are residents. That's what East Sac real estate interests did to midtown in years past when they tore down quality construction historic homes and built cheap shoddy apartments designed to last a max of 40 years. Those 40 years are nearly up. It is not hard to guess what those real estate interests are up to now by putting up a SALESMAN beholden to those same interests that helped to make it a slum in decades past. advocate 2010-05-20T16:20:46Z advocate comment-26579 2010-05-10T02:37:06Z 2010-05-10T02:37:06Z A friend who does apartment repair and painting for rental owners after tenants move out invited me in to see an apartment he was working in because he knew I admired historic buildings. The absentee owners are very elderly, own several midtown properties, ask for and get high rents while living well in an upscale suburban neighborhood. They can command these high rents because the old apartment house is historic, once was a spacious luxury apartment, has architectural details that will never be again, hardwood floors, has original wall sconces, quality construction, has great decorating potential. and is located in a midtown neighborhood where many home owners have bought and restored their houses . I was appalled at the plumbing in the original bathroom and kitchen fixtures, which were cobbled together and leaks have done considerable damage to the wall and floors over the years. The electrical is dangerous and has never had wiring updated. It is not if but a matter of time when the place will catch fire because of lack of and overloaded circuitry. Lives and properties next door on both sides are at risk. These are the reasons the council passed this long overdue and strongly needed inspection ordinance. advocate 2010-05-10T02:37:06Z advocate comment-22254 2010-02-15T06:01:25Z 2010-02-15T06:01:25Z Chris, your comment about "Obama can't pass anything." Are you aware that per politfifact.com (Pulitzer Prize-winning fact-checking service of the St. Petersburg Times) "that in his first year, Barack Obama has already fulfilled at least 79 campaign promises. This is one of the most accomplished records of any first year in office, and it has come with considerable difficulty in working with and around a Congress fraught with obstructionism and distracted by its own mythology regarding specific points of policy, and in the face of the most uniform and inflexible opposition any president in recent decades has faced." The media continues to focus on what he has NOT been able to get done--leaving out the obstructions-- as opposed to what he has accomplished. advocate 2010-02-15T06:01:25Z advocate comment-22104 2010-02-12T21:16:44Z 2010-02-12T21:16:44Z You know little--maybe even nothing like Marion wrote. So your "dying" to know because you think your awareness is correct. In fact, OS Alley operation started out with permits for a wholesale business and then decided without permits to go into the retail business (I assume that you are "aware" of the significant difference between the two) including proper sanitation safeguards such a pubic restrooms, SO the COUNTY closed them down until they complied. Now, do you want a place where you are buying food to comply with the county health requirements that every other business must comply with or a rogue business that does anything it wants to as OS history clearly shows as Marion points out? advocate 2010-02-12T21:16:44Z advocate comment-21440 2010-01-29T03:46:39Z 2010-01-29T03:46:39Z Hanneman is a good man and a loyal employee. He is doing what his boss, the city manager, has told him to do. Same for other staff reporting to the manager. These scandals were brought on by the duo from Portland (city manager and Development Services Manager) who were brought here by the big developers to do their bidding. Now their favoritism, mismanagement and bumbling has gotten the city into financial trouble. The buck stops at the manager's office and he's ultimately responsible. The Council should stop dancing around these scandals and fire both; then get on with city business! advocate 2010-01-29T03:46:39Z advocate comment-20073 2010-01-01T20:15:51Z 2010-01-01T20:15:51Z This would appear to create another bureaucracy for implemention, which means at least 15% if not more of the funding would go to staff, premises, overhead. etc. These services can and should already be incorporated into existing programs administered by education (where haughty administrators there look upon "work" as being a dirty word), SETA and EDD and County Dept of Human Services. Were the county funds for TANF totally eliminated? DHA’s mission on its website still reads "fostering self-sufficiency among those it serves touches every facet of daily life, from employment . . education . . ." No youth should have to pay to learn vocational skills in a two-year college as they do in California, but not in many other states. An existing major problem with current programs is the failure to include parents for those 18 and under 18 to ensure parental support. advocate 2010-01-01T20:15:51Z advocate comment-19433 2009-12-17T02:50:48Z 2009-12-17T02:50:48Z So now the alley belongs to Old Soul? "Old Soul Alley Project . . . " OUTRAGEOUS that this money was taken from a very poor neighborhood like Ben Ali which needs it so badly for council to subsidized Drucker and Old Soul who don't need it at all! There may have been presentations at various meetings but were people told that Ben Ali was being robbed of $100,000 to do this alley? Were Ben Ali residents told and did they approve when they need more sidewalks and street lights? As a condition of receiving this money, Drucker and Old Soul should repay with interest Ben Ali folks. advocate 2009-12-17T02:50:48Z advocate comment-19365 2009-12-16T03:19:12Z 2009-12-16T03:19:12Z More people should be there. Thanks for going. advocate 2009-12-16T03:19:12Z advocate comment-19364 2009-12-16T03:14:05Z 2009-12-16T03:14:05Z Remember, Jim, collective bargaining came to state employees during the Reagan years. advocate 2009-12-16T03:14:05Z advocate comment-19350 2009-12-16T00:11:24Z 2009-12-16T00:11:24Z Yeah, build the arena where the plaza is, knock out Macy's and other shops, then downtowners and midtowners can drive to Arden Mall to shop. Then when RR yards are developed develop a new shopping mall there for the new thousands of residents someday. advocate 2009-12-16T00:11:24Z advocate comment-19330 2009-12-15T19:46:21Z 2009-12-15T19:46:21Z Outrageous! But it follows the national and state reverse Robin Hood policy of taking from the poor and giving to the rich. Follow the money. Plutocracy is not limited to national politics. advocate 2009-12-15T19:46:21Z advocate comment-19329 2009-12-15T19:40:11Z 2009-12-15T19:40:11Z Fire and police retirement benefits are actually very generous and set off this misguided effort in Orange County when Supervisors there increased FD and PD retirement benefits based on the Ali rationale. Public employees at any government level are often people's favorite "whipping boy." In fact, I've dealt with city, county and state employees who bring such hostility upon each group--forgetting that they are "public servants." But in all fairness, I've dealt with private and non-profit employees who are equally if not more deserving of the pubic's anger. But for the most part public employees do an excellent job of often very difficult work of which the general public has little understanding. In the meantime, this tactic diverts customer attention away from the private and non-profit employees' bumbling performance. advocate 2009-12-15T19:40:11Z advocate comment-19104 2009-12-10T19:53:02Z 2009-12-10T19:53:02Z Right on fifthgen!!! But what you suggest does take a little time and effort and most voters don't or know how to do that. So it's comforting but trite for some to say "just vote." We don't have a system from which we can effortless get key information. So a vote without specific and concrete knowledge of what you are pointing out relies on puff political ads and campaign speeches--worth hardly anything. advocate 2009-12-10T19:53:02Z advocate comment-19102 2009-12-10T19:44:37Z 2009-12-10T19:44:37Z add the mayor to that list of no response. Failure to respond never happened under the prior mayors. advocate 2009-12-10T19:44:37Z advocate comment-19085 2009-12-10T17:10:16Z 2009-12-10T17:10:16Z You are right, savemidtown, to advise people to ask around in Portland if they know anyone at all there. Ones I know say that he undid the many good things that happened prior to his higher elevation in job level. As you say, he has done the same thing here. Anyone ever check to see how many staff reports to council that he actually signed vs. asst. managers? On anything that has any measure of controversy, I've heard from staff in meetings that this curious omission (as top dog) is consistent with his direction which goes something like this: "go ahead, but I don't ever want to see my fingerprints on this." advocate 2009-12-10T17:10:16Z advocate comment-19039 2009-12-10T03:37:55Z 2009-12-10T03:37:55Z Next time you call or see him tell him you represent a developer and you want to discuss a project. advocate 2009-12-10T03:37:55Z advocate comment-18989 2009-12-09T04:54:07Z 2009-12-09T04:54:07Z Only if there is no closer free street parking, free parking in the garage, free valet services. advocate 2009-12-09T04:54:07Z advocate comment-18943 2009-12-08T19:03:52Z 2009-12-08T19:03:52Z And where will these additional customers clamoring for this expansion park? advocate 2009-12-08T19:03:52Z advocate comment-18826 2009-12-07T17:54:44Z 2009-12-07T17:54:44Z Stores nationwide displayed such scenes--not only Christmas but every major holiday. Each competed with the other for creativity and beauty. They believed these window displays promoted the Christmas spirit and encouraged customers to buy in their store. SF Gumps was famous for its fabulous display but Marshall Fields in Chicago, Kleins in NYC and high end stores in other cities were also great and the entire field created a friendly rivalry. Elegance and simplicity were key to promoting the store's image. Creators were well paid and often stores lured the most creative decorators to change employers. Sadly the art and skill of window display and decorating gradually disappeared as the corporate chains swallowed up more and more local family owned stores and cut costs by eliminating such unnecessary "frills." advocate 2009-12-07T17:54:44Z advocate comment-18743 2009-12-05T06:05:38Z 2009-12-05T06:05:38Z "All of my neighbors that accepted the bin, pay a little less and still get both services; i.e., bin and claw pick-up." That tells me what to do. Thanks for the tip! advocate 2009-12-05T06:05:38Z advocate comment-18409 2009-11-28T21:43:27Z 2009-11-28T21:43:27Z Did I read right? MBA is charging the little kids to see Santa? Whassa matter, ice rink not paying off so gotta charge the kiddies to see Santa???? I don't think the real Santa or JC would approve of that commercialism and insensitivity. That ain't the spirit of Christmas, Kerth. advocate 2009-11-28T21:43:27Z advocate comment-17969 2009-11-19T05:30:45Z 2009-11-19T05:30:45Z Thomas will take the case of anyone who will pay her firm big bucks. They will argue either side--mostly for CEQA violators in recent years. No consistency as to principles it appears. advocate 2009-11-19T05:30:45Z advocate comment-17685 2009-11-12T19:13:26Z 2009-11-12T19:13:26Z Best of luck will be needed since not many people walk-by the location. Looking forward to going there. advocate 2009-11-12T19:13:26Z advocate comment-17639 2009-11-12T00:54:47Z 2009-11-12T00:54:47Z No, they won't take poop home with them. They'll put it in your waste bin. advocate 2009-11-12T00:54:47Z advocate comment-17638 2009-11-12T00:45:19Z 2009-11-12T00:45:19Z Whatever is done, should not compete with K Street for visitors. And whatever is done will surely do so. Clean up K Street first THEN take on the green spaces or they can be come a hangout too. advocate 2009-11-12T00:45:19Z advocate comment-17485 2009-11-07T22:30:47Z 2009-11-07T22:30:47Z thsas, did it occur to you that the property owner or his/her gardener dumped the leaves on top of the crap I listed? Did you dig through the leaves to see what was under them or notice the twigs and small broken up branches in or next to the piles? I don't know where you walk but about two blocks in any direction of a convenience store, bar, club, food take out place, coffee house, drug store, restaurant, etc. you will find what I listed plus small liquor bottles, candy wrappers, empty cigaret boxes or wrappers, boxes, gum and candy wrappers, small piles of cigaret butts from car ashtrays. There are quite of few of those places in the central city in case you didn't notice those either.Wherever people buy something and walk, there will be litter, because people discard the wrappings and often part of the content. Remember what you see now is only a one week collection because the claw picks them up, so there is less on a weekly basis than what I listed . BUT multiply that times four weeks and imagine the accumulation and a sweeper trying to sweep that junk into its hopper. advocate 2009-11-07T22:30:47Z advocate comment-17472 2009-11-07T17:35:19Z 2009-11-07T17:35:19Z Sacpress photographer, it would have helped some people who support it to better visualizes the proble , if you had taken a photo more representative of the leaf and garbage piles in the central city. The one you show looks so benign. Had you shown one with the sticks, broken up limbs, plastic bags, and filthy litter in them, et al, supporters of this poorly thought out plan who might make a better decision. Thanks fifthgen for pointing out the loss in revenue to the parking department that Edison Hicks and no one on council thought of. advocate 2009-11-07T17:35:19Z advocate comment-17412 2009-11-06T23:01:58Z 2009-11-06T23:01:58Z Knapp, I didn't say the top 1% are in congress--most aren't. Why dirty their hands with that kind of work? What the wealthy do with their wealth is what sets them apart. Wealthy conservatives are on record for decades for saying and voting "just work hard: and you'll be like us--no one needs help if they work hard" as thsas writes. There is far more to accumulating wealth than just working. So have fun when the wheels hit you while you continue to blame liberals. thsas: go on believing both myths that the wealthy are feeding you, and you'll die a poor worn out old man. advocate 2009-11-06T23:01:58Z advocate comment-17363 2009-11-06T05:27:20Z 2009-11-06T05:27:20Z Would you suggest another form of government to replace ours? If so, which kind? It was great when had a democracy but now that conservatives gradually ushered in a plutocracy, it doesn't work so well for the average American. Great for the wealthy but not much trickles down. But what the hell, let the peasants eat cake. advocate 2009-11-06T05:27:20Z advocate comment-17362 2009-11-06T05:12:22Z 2009-11-06T05:12:22Z Great article, Kathleen. VERY informative--now we don't have an excuse for not "following the money." Thank you. advocate 2009-11-06T05:12:22Z advocate comment-17348 2009-11-06T00:59:38Z 2009-11-06T00:59:38Z You and Robert don't seem to notice that the dog and human poop, litter from half eaten sandwiches, half empty beer, coffee and soft drink bottles, fast foods and plastic cups, bags, etc. which rats, cockroaches and other bugs love are year long problems. So are tree blossoms, discarded clothing, seed pods, falling twigs and branches. You don't notice all that crap because the claw picks it up every week. Wait until there is no claw, then you'll moan about the dirty streets. So now you want homeowners to pick up all that crap, expose themselves to disease, vermin and unsanitary disposed goods and cram it into their bins and hold it on their property. How considerate of you. How about you and volunteering forming a team to do it for the seniors, disabled and others with mobility and lung problems? advocate 2009-11-06T00:59:38Z advocate comment-17346 2009-11-06T00:37:43Z 2009-11-06T00:37:43Z No. WE don't have the money. But the 1% of the population that owns more wealth than the other 95% combined does. Prior to WWII, the wealthiest of our population were in the 90% tax brackets AFTER deductions and they still lived very very luxuriously. Corporations were also taxed at much higher rates but still raked in the profits. It was that tax money that built our dams, bridges, roads and other infrastructure (even paid for services to the mentally ill) and were major contributors to what the country became in those days and has fallen down greatly under conservatives' self-centered polices of greed and gluttony. Those high tax rates were gradually reduced to what is it now, about 36% and conservatives who have that wealth and those that they are able to dupe into feeling sorry for them now scream that they may have to pay two or three percent more when the Bush tax breaks run out. You are right liberals can't have their cake and eat it too because the top wealthy conservatives will snatch the cake away and gorge on it themselves and are doing it now. Your enemies, Jim, are not the liberals. You seem to be deluded into thinking the top wealthy 1% care about you. Forget it, they have already thrown you under the bus, but you don't know it. But when the wheels run over you, your mindset will still be blaming the liberals. advocate 2009-11-06T00:37:43Z advocate comment-17193 2009-11-04T00:38:54Z 2009-11-04T00:38:54Z When you look at metal siding it is ugly and cheap looking and does not weather well.. That was why it was used years ago for granaries, warehouses, quonset huts, and other cheap buildings, often along railroads which were not intended to be decades permanent. Metal causes a building to be super hot outside and inside and cold in winter. It would be better to use those back lots for fruit trees and garden plots. Knapp is right. advocate 2009-11-04T00:38:54Z advocate comment-16970 2009-11-01T22:42:08Z 2009-11-01T22:42:08Z It is important to distinguish hemp from marijuana. The U.S. government in the 1800's required farmers to grow it. Seeds were very hardy and showed up growing for decades in Midwestern fence rows and sometimes as weeds in crops. Hemp is NOT smokable--unless you like temporary splitting headaches and very burning nose and throat passages. But it has an incredible number of uses ranging from rope, twine and building materials to oils. Arnold in his lack of wisdom and knowledge of history twice vetoed bills that would allow Calif to grow it. The irony is that U.S.businesses import and sell many of those products made in other countries, including Canada, sending our money to those countries which in turn contributes to our trade deficit while harvesting and sales would have added to California's tax income. How smart were your vetoes Governor???? advocate 2009-11-01T22:42:08Z advocate comment-16890 2009-11-01T05:39:32Z 2009-11-01T05:39:32Z You are right about not knowing the full story if in fact it is as you stated, but the author did not reveal that in the in the original article. That still does not make egging a harmless little prank. It is unacceptable vandalism which disrespects people's property when done to anyone and the consequences of vandalism are unpredictable as I stated and can be lethal as proved in this case. You are also right that I don't know how the girls were raised. but I have known and worked with thousands of teenagers over the years and you are definitely wrong that guidance makes no difference because teenagers will misbehave anyway. You are also wrong that I'm blaming the victims. I only pointed out the risks and consequences of misbehavior, something everyone should learn if they don't already know. So don't read things into what is not there because that also becomes part of the problem. advocate 2009-11-01T05:39:32Z advocate comment-16881 2009-10-31T17:57:35Z 2009-10-31T17:57:35Z Once again, your attitude of excusing misbehavior and promoting futility of educating young folks as to the consequences of actions which disrespect other's property, as well as how to act to rectify harms they may have caused, contributes to the problem. Read my comment again. I made no suggestions as you misstate. I asked questions "what if' the misbehavior had been followed with civil behavior that they apparently were not taught. I am not suggesting that would have solved the dispute, but might it have? Further, you have no idea unless you were in Palmer's unreasonably angry mind, whether his motive was revenge or not. Neither do you know how he would have responded to three young pretty girls who suddenly became docile and stopped to make amends. You only state your personal opinion of what Palmer would have done. No one knows that but you seem to feel that you are endowed with special knowledge to assert that his or anyone's unknown motivation in such generalized cases is "certainly" revenge. Over and over we do know from experience that when civility is introduced into a hostile situation, the emotions and anger drop dramatically. Let's learn from that instead of defending obvious misbehavior. advocate 2009-10-31T17:57:35Z advocate comment-16861 2009-10-31T03:52:53Z 2009-10-31T03:52:53Z It seems to me "rage" crimes have increased too.. But maybe we don't have to look much farther for the seeds that sow such anger than: "Who would think that a silly, mischievous prank (egging a car) . . ." While I agree totally that "egging" does not deserve such an angry violent reaction, I don't believe that "egging" is a "silly mischievous prank." It disrespects other people's property, and is a form of vandalism. What happened to the girls was tragic and should never have happened! I'm not defending Palmer because he let his anger get out of control. That is inexcusable and being older, he should have known better. He is now paying the price for that. BUT neither should the girls have thrown the egg or eggs to begin with. What if, after they realized that they had done wrong, they had just stopped their car instead of fleeing. What if he had stopped his car too and came over angrily cursing them. What if, at that time, they had called an apology out the window and offered to wash his car? Wouldn't that have calmed his rage--at least brought down the level? Somewhere in their past they did not learn or their parents did not teach them that every act of misbehavior has a consequence. Nor did they learn that they nor anyone else can never predict the type or extent of that consequence. It is difficult to believe that this is the first time these girls misbehaved. How did they happen to have eggs with them when leaving a party? I doubt that they had just gone to the store for Mommy on the way home from the party. Only the parents know how many prior times they excused their daughters' misbehavior. Any lessons to be learned from this needless tragedy? advocate 2009-10-31T03:52:53Z advocate comment-16820 2009-10-30T17:26:32Z 2009-10-30T17:26:32Z Washington School grounds stretch from 17th & F to 18th. It is bound on the north by E Street. The entrance to school building is located on 18th most of it faces that street. advocate 2009-10-30T17:26:32Z advocate comment-16733 2009-10-29T22:31:28Z 2009-10-29T22:31:28Z I hope you sent this powerful letter directly to her either via email or U.S. mail with appropriate cc's. She and others must be put on the hot seat to realize that their reputations, if not jobs, are at stake. advocate 2009-10-29T22:31:28Z advocate comment-16710 2009-10-29T22:27:50Z 2009-10-29T22:27:50Z To paraphrase an old quote: "Something is rotten in SCUSD's decision making process." Get your act together Miller and Superintendent Raymond and Board while you can bow out gracefully. Your incompetence is crashing down all around you. advocate 2009-10-29T22:27:50Z advocate comment-16589 2009-10-28T18:15:22Z 2009-10-28T18:15:22Z One thing SMUD could also do is stop being hypocritical by reducing shade butchering trees along power lines and start placing major lines underground, which they should have done years ago, but led by then board member Keat, opposed. advocate 2009-10-28T18:15:22Z advocate comment-16450 2009-10-27T03:41:53Z 2009-10-27T03:41:53Z I was not thinking of the county. You did not respond to my statement that people are not able to get ahold of them by phone when one needs them. As I wrote, when one cannot call a POP officer when needed anymore as was intended--after all, that was the reason the positions were created in the first place--that service is a thing of the past because that service no longer works. It is back to business as usual. The fact that they're somewhere in PD in name means nothing. They are being assigned other duties in the absence of hearing from us. So POP becomes a PD name game to mislead council. I've heard that both assigned to midtown used to come to the NAG but haven't been there for months if not the last year or more. So what are their names? If the chief really wanted them to be used as was originally intended, he would make not make it so cumbersome to contact them. advocate 2009-10-27T03:41:53Z advocate comment-16344 2009-10-26T04:30:06Z 2009-10-26T04:30:06Z Concerned 10: Officer Michelle forgot to tell you that you have a constitutional right to quiet enjoyment of your property. The city's noise ordinance is based on that right, and for years has done a very poor job of enforcing it in cases you describe. POP officers are a pre-Kerridge PD resource and are now a part of the past. We used to be able to call them on their cell phones but those were taken away to "save" money, so any contact now is to be through email--a nearly useless process at a time when you need them most. In addition to savemidtown's good advice as to record accountabiity and repeated calling, ask your roommate or another apartment neighbor you know to call also. If you told PD that the noise makers were having sex, that would probably up the priority real fast! When I lived in SF, one day when I was not home, a nude young lady lowered herself from the balcony above me to mine. Neighbors called a short-staffed (at that time) PD, and they said several PD officers were there faster than they had ever seen to rescue the poor young thing. It sounds as if the offenders were in your own complex, Definitely notify your landlord or his/her management company that night (leave a message on the tenant emergency number). Ask the landlord to keep your name confidential. Follow up the next working day and advise your landlord that these neighbors are violating your quiet enjoyment right. (Google that phrase and you will find scores of court cases upholding your right.) A knowledgeable landlord will take action upon hearing that magic phrase. advocate 2009-10-26T04:30:06Z advocate comment-16338 2009-10-26T03:49:59Z 2009-10-26T03:49:59Z Great article, Marion. The realities of considering moving to midtown. The realities of once a person moves here and the realities of why people move. Thanks for pointing them out! Most don't want to hear them. advocate 2009-10-26T03:49:59Z advocate comment-16139 2009-10-23T05:04:32Z 2009-10-23T05:04:32Z Isn't there something about private owners don't pay property taxes if they are entered into a long-term lease with the State--say 20+ years. advocate 2009-10-23T05:04:32Z advocate comment-16138 2009-10-23T04:35:18Z 2009-10-23T04:35:18Z "Leaking documents" or leaking information on documents happens in all administrations-government and private (whistle blowing as Burg says). I've heard that even sports teams' secrets are sometimes leaked. The irony here is that Thomas and Kerridge puffed themselves up on "TRANSPARENCY". How are "privileged documents" compatible with transparency? Both repeated that word so often that the rhetoric became suspicious. Shortly transparency turned into translucence, then fogged over and finally obfuscation. Now we see why. The mayor's article sill sounds more like he is more worried about the leak of "privileged documents" than the alleged misdeeds. advocate 2009-10-23T04:35:18Z advocate comment-16120 2009-10-22T23:46:20Z 2009-10-22T23:46:20Z Sounds like more fun in the area. Greg, any parking space being provided for those who go? advocate 2009-10-22T23:46:20Z advocate comment-16103 2009-10-22T20:09:42Z 2009-10-22T20:09:42Z There are many of us who have known severe poverty who were either born here or immigrated here legally, so you are misinformed, so don't make such broad and inaccurate generalizations. As to this land being Mexico's, you and many other who champion that argument, either don't know or don't want to hear the real history of centuries' evolution of countries' boundaries worldwide. The U.S. bought the Gadsen Purchase land (know where that is?) from Mexico; the vast Louisiana Purchase (know where that is?) from France; Seward's Alaska folly was bought from Russia; Manhattan Island, NYC was bought from the local Indian tribe. Territories that are won by war (sorry it had to be that way) now legally belong to the victor. When Mexico lost Texas to the U.S. in the Mexican War Mexico (some Anglos in the U.S. may wish it never lost), the Mexican government ceded (means gave up rights to ownership) the California territory to the U.S, The Alsace- Loraine district bordering France and Germany changed nationalities 4 times since 1871 until French troops entered Alsace-Lorraine in November 1918 at the end of the World War I, and the territory reverted to France at the Treaty of Versailles. Other countries around the world have gone through similar kinds of wars, boundary victories and losses. That is history! Had you stay awake in your history class (Mexico or here) or made the effort to learn the history, you would know these facts too. So saying Calif still is or belongs to Mexico is like saying the lands won in the above war and treaties still belong the losers. Incidentally, did you ever stop to think that California might be just like Baja California had it not been ceded to the United States? The ruling classes of Mexico have done a very good job of keeping the Mexican people in poverty and prompting the poor to blame the U.S. but have done a very poor job over the decades of creating an economy that enabled the poor to move out of poverty into the middle class. Why would those wealthy families have done any different in the California Territory? It is to them that your anger should be directed. advocate 2009-10-22T20:09:42Z advocate comment-15890 2009-10-20T17:39:09Z 2009-10-20T17:39:09Z Never change? Are you aware that all of the Planning Commission members have just been fired to be reconstituted under a far more political appointment basis. A couple or so members apparently had the general public's interest in mind too many times instead of rubber stamping big developers wants. Rumor has it that city management has been pushing for this for a long time. I wonder if sacpress is aware of this recent major step? advocate 2009-10-20T17:39:09Z advocate comment-15835 2009-10-19T05:23:01Z 2009-10-19T05:23:01Z Are you serious? Reduced to two minutes? Very little can be said in three minutes, let alone two. How many other cities allow only two? So much for the mayor wanting to hear from the public. That is a warning right there! Obviously the mayor has become even more "my mind is made up, don't confuse me with facts." advocate 2009-10-19T05:23:01Z advocate comment-15580 2009-10-15T02:12:16Z 2009-10-15T02:12:16Z Noise is in the ear of the beholder just like beauty is in the eye of the beholder. One definition is noise is any unwanted sound. advocate 2009-10-15T02:12:16Z advocate comment-15557 2009-10-14T20:25:05Z 2009-10-14T20:25:05Z Kati, 3400 block of J is in East Sacramento. It offends some there to be called midtown. advocate 2009-10-14T20:25:05Z advocate comment-15521 2009-10-14T04:29:55Z 2009-10-14T04:29:55Z "Midtown works better than downtown because it has "mid-level" options, said Brook Taylor, a young professional who works in the Governor's Office of Planning and Research." Taylor is "professional" at what? What funny meaning does "mid-level options" have? He for sure doesn't know what makes midtown work. What rock did he crawl out from under? Midtown works because those much maligned people who live there, work and have worked since Taylor was in diapers in spite of city opposition and all other odds against them, to keep midtown's architecture preserved and its quality of life livable to attract other residents and businesses. He should put that in his planning and research. advocate 2009-10-14T04:29:55Z advocate comment-15471 2009-10-14T04:09:50Z 2009-10-14T04:09:50Z There goes your twisted thinking again although deaths did result from those adopting his campaign tactics to elect Bush II. The point is that being good at a game is not necessarily a skill to be admired or respected. In his case the game was winning at all costs with a long line of victims maligned and damaged unjustly. advocate 2009-10-14T04:09:50Z advocate comment-15474 2009-10-13T19:31:43Z 2009-10-13T19:31:43Z I've been to the Santa Monica Promenade several times because some friends live nearby. That is the key, the promenade is surrounded by market rate rentals as well as some very upscale. Hopefully, we'll have that someday near K Street. advocate 2009-10-13T19:31:43Z advocate comment-15473 2009-10-13T19:22:23Z 2009-10-13T19:22:23Z Rhonda, I would not judge your neighborhood and what is going on there by one or two visits and then state generalizations. I would listen to you and your neighbors as to what their experience is since you live there, You and your neighbors are the most reliable source of information. Please give these folks that same respect. I hear these folks asking for the same respect and their comments and complaints (backed up by experience and incidents) being paid attention to. It seems that is not happening. Rhonda, do you really think that these midtown folks don't also hear what you hear: "sirens, helicpoters, shots and awakening to a nightmare" ? Just add yours on top of theirs. Do you think also these same folks have not met the city manager and hear his blather about "transparency?" Only to find it's a line repeated over and over again but it is not a reality. Again meeting a person once means little, it's what they do that reveals the real person. advocate 2009-10-13T19:22:23Z advocate comment-15461 2009-10-13T17:12:38Z 2009-10-13T17:12:38Z Amazing in this world of hate, accepted and promoted by Evangelicals, Catholic church and some other religions against a targeted group, how love and bonding between two individuals are outlawed. God must be shaking his head in disbelief. advocate 2009-10-13T17:12:38Z advocate comment-15460 2009-10-13T17:04:13Z 2009-10-13T17:04:13Z "good at his game." Jim, Countless murderers and terrorists have been good at their "game" too. You respect them too apparently. So you are saying that it was "dumb" of people to listen to the rhetoric that elected Reagan twice, Bush and Bush II twice because it was those techniques that got them elected. That I might agree with you on. Still it is a bit of twisted logic you spout--or maybe words of a bitter person. Incidentally, you may not consider yourself a Republican, but you sure sound like one. advocate 2009-10-13T17:04:13Z advocate comment-15289 2009-10-11T23:28:32Z 2009-10-11T23:28:32Z This is the kind of environment that city manager and Development Services manager are promoting, and it is self defeating. The more this type of information gets out the more people will be afraid to come to midtown. Could it be that PD is being told by its boss, Kerridge, to soft pedal this danger? advocate 2009-10-11T23:28:32Z advocate comment-15262 2009-10-10T23:44:49Z 2009-10-10T23:44:49Z What? Another school in the central city? Much too wholesome! Not going to happen if this city management can stop it! advocate 2009-10-10T23:44:49Z advocate comment-15261 2009-10-10T23:33:09Z 2009-10-10T23:33:09Z Excellent summary for reporting, Kathleen. Glad to hear that Quinn set the record straight when Rice failed to add that it was the private sector's "creative, innovative and risk taking" focused on greed (with government failing in its over sight role) that brought the system down to being in the dilemma that we now face. Were there no speeches from our esteemed Chamber to tell everyone how much creativity, innovation and risk taking it and Perspectives have taken/done to bring "world class" companies to Sacramento with "world class" jobs for Sacramento and its workers? advocate 2009-10-10T23:33:09Z advocate comment-14798 2009-10-01T19:21:51Z 2009-10-01T19:21:51Z I've rarely read an article or comments where the author expresses such condescension, arrogance and elitism as sactoe's comments do. Sorry, "empress," those comments are just like mine and others: "opinion" and a verbose rambling opinion at that. advocate 2009-10-01T19:21:51Z advocate comment-14568 2009-09-28T17:05:48Z 2009-09-28T17:05:48Z This is very good information to know. Thanks. Much harder to report are drivers who are drunk and zoom through our local streets and then disappear. Too often they are driving so fast and at night it is too dark to get a license number. What do you suggest in these cases? advocate 2009-09-28T17:05:48Z advocate comment-14433 2009-09-26T02:17:46Z 2009-09-26T02:17:46Z Good idea if it were possible but unfortunately that isn't the way CDBG funding works. Those grants are intended to help low income neighborhoods improve their conditions--street lighting is only one of several possibilities. Such funds can also be used to help struggling neighborhood serving businesses in a low income area, but I think it is quite a stretch to call the alley activation project "neighborhood serving" or any of the builders involved "struggling." The 100k should have been used for other improvements needed in the Ben Ali. neighborhood. advocate 2009-09-26T02:17:46Z advocate comment-14278 2009-09-24T17:20:11Z 2009-09-24T17:20:11Z Great description of what is really going on, Marion in this alley baloney. It reveals again the type of illogical and spastic "planning" by variance and by developer influence that this city management has promoted with no council attention attention except Cohn who would probably be accused of being "anti-business" if he were to try to interject some common sense into the process. But expecting common sense decisions from both city management and council is only a fantasy. Far be it from them to ever get hung up on reality. advocate 2009-09-24T17:20:11Z advocate comment-14275 2009-09-24T17:02:21Z 2009-09-24T17:02:21Z You are absolutely right but central city residents have always come last. If the alley development is such a good idea, why subsidize wealthy developers? Let's see the "market" demand at work to develop these alleys. Census shows that midtown has long qualified for CDBG funds based on the large number of low income residents who live in Midtown and those funds are to be used to help them and their neighborhood. How much has been spent to improve their quality of life? Very little. Why? Studies and midtown's experience is that bars and night clubs increase crime in adjacent business and residential areas. Street lighting is shown to reduce crime and save law enforcement costs. So that 100k and more that is available each year should be used for that. But is Cohn, Fong or Tretheway, Kerridge, Thomas far sighted enough to connect those dots of safety, lighting and reduced police costs? Obviously not. Don't forget elections are coming up. advocate 2009-09-24T17:02:21Z advocate comment-14237 2009-09-24T00:01:25Z 2009-09-24T00:01:25Z Don't forget that it was all of these houses and more that the city planned to tear down and replace with rows of three story very low income housing. But for the efforts of preservationists and pioneer residents who recognized the value of the quality of materials and design, none of these houses would exist today. advocate 2009-09-24T00:01:25Z advocate comment-13278 2009-09-04T19:30:11Z 2009-09-04T19:30:11Z 47% of your income for federal and state taxes? Does that include local property taxes? Shocking! And for that you get free education thru college, free health care, here like 60 minutes program when it aired Denmark Happiest Place in the World where they pay only three per cent more than you are paying. . . . http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/14/60minutes/main3833797.shtml advocate 2009-09-04T19:30:11Z advocate comment-13277 2009-09-04T19:03:50Z 2009-09-04T19:03:50Z All data collected is set up on a priority basis. Knowing the " customer "(mentally ill offender) is essential to the success of any business. This applies just as much to PD as anyone else. If this is not yet a priority, it should be, because so many other cities send their homeless and mentally ill here. advocate 2009-09-04T19:03:50Z advocate comment-13233 2009-09-03T23:48:23Z 2009-09-03T23:48:23Z Nationwide serves top quality meats and I believe it is ground sirloin--not chuck. There is no cereal added and no pre-flattened commercial patties like most other places. It is true that the profit is on the drinks . Nationwide doesn't serve alcohol either, so with all that, its menu is a few cents higher. When I walk by, I see a middle aged working---often male blue collar workers. I don't see elderly retired workers. advocate 2009-09-03T23:48:23Z advocate comment-13229 2009-09-03T23:30:16Z 2009-09-03T23:30:16Z "The police department does not keep statistics on the number of mentally ill people with a criminal charge who are booked at jail instead of in a mental health facility, he said." Did Haley happen to ask why police not keep such statistics? That data is very important and educational to elected officials when making budget decisions. Savemidtown is right. There are more incidents. For two days in a row a bearded man with a blanket thrown over his left shoulder was pacing up and down three midtown streets, shouting and cursing until he lost his voice for a while. He entered people's front yards and walked up to their stairs and cursed the residents there. When he started destroying a businesses' property, and pedestrians felt their safety was threatened, they called PD, but PD never responded. advocate 2009-09-03T23:30:16Z advocate comment-12975 2009-09-01T19:20:02Z 2009-09-01T19:20:02Z You are right Oracle , but no official has the guts to say it. The well-funded and politically powerful homeless providers and their minions jump down anyone's throats immediately who might say it. L&F could help a lot by not throwing their "guests" out of their extensive compound at 3 every afternoon. The idea of moving the benches somewhere else? Donate them to L&F and then they could offer a nice place for homeless to spend their time on their facilities--even a few tents. I heard on the news recently that a homeless man was killed walking across12th Street to go to or leave L&F. Maybe the benches there would have saved his life. advocate 2009-09-01T19:20:02Z advocate comment-12913 2009-08-30T18:44:59Z 2009-08-30T18:44:59Z Thanks for the clarification Bill. Pierce: Read again, I never blamed farmers. I don't agree with subsidies to CORPORATE (the ones you defend) growers either. Growing up on a small farm and working hard in the fields from age 10, I find you fail to distinguish between small farmers and big growers--the size of the operations varying from state to state. Most of the big guys are your fellow Republicans. Talk about uniformed, you don't know that apparently.. Farm subsidies began in the 1930-40's to help the small farmers throughout the country who were going broke at the mercy of the weather and commodities market. National Farmers Organization represented the small farmer. The Farm Bureau represented Republican big farmers. At the lobbying of BIG agribusiness, the subsidies covered them too. If you want to blame government for creating subsidies, blame the politicians who responded to meet a need and then swept in the corporate farmers at THEIR demand through campaign contributions. Talk about uniformed, you don't know that either. Now, which government (federal, state, county or city) and which agencies to you want to abolish to achieve a small government? How and which governments have abused you? You definitely talk the party line with general accusations but no substance. advocate 2009-08-30T18:44:59Z advocate comment-12877 2009-08-30T03:09:36Z 2009-08-30T03:09:36Z Where are the distortions? I read and quotedthe sacpress article (which you ignore) and other articles as well. I saw the extremists' behavior as photographed at the town halls where they disrupted and shouted down anyone who wanted to ask a reasonable question. That was the strategy promoted right out of the Armey publication. I saw the many other tea party anti free speech extreme tactics. You are concerned about Pelosi, why were you and the tea party folks not concerned about the Clinton trillion dollar budget surplus that the Bush tax cuts to the wealthy turned in a deficit? Apparently the tea party people were not mad at Bush's illegal war when the U.S. invaded a nation that posed no threat to us while letting terrorism get a solid footing in a nation where bin Laden was and is still hiding? tpierce 2: I agree that there is far too much corruption. It started when corporations realized that they could buy politicians with Reagan among them. Remember when the concept of public funding of campaigns was introduced to head off root cause: funding of campaigns by special interests like drug, various insurance companies and other corporate interests? The general public objected to cutting off that avenue. Go after that and you'll have my support. Sorry but I don't believe in these updated and distorted versions of the tea parties--they are not any way like the ones I read about in history that preceded the American Revolution. These folks now don't believe in freedom for all--just want their own way. advocate 2009-08-30T03:09:36Z advocate comment-12868 2009-08-30T00:04:19Z 2009-08-30T00:04:19Z tpierce 2 and aticama: Quote from the article: "Meckler leading the crowd in chants of "Government is the problem," and "No more government." I wrote with no anger. Why did you interpret it that. way? There sure was anger in the crowd and signs. You write as if you are angry about "big" government." What is that? How big is "big?" And as to truth, I wrote what I read. Tell THEM about truth--unless all the reporters are wrong and the signs that they carried didn't mean what was written, the tea party folks all around the country displayed a bunch of distorted and inflammatory messages, many of which were false. . advocate 2009-08-30T00:04:19Z