Newest articles and comments on The Sacramento Press written by John Schmidt

John Schmidt on "Sacramento's 2nd Annual Beer Week Feb 25 - March 6"

2011-02-22T19:17:04Z

Nice job, Zephyr.

John Schmidt on "Holiday drinks: Get 'em while it's cold outside!"

2010-12-23T07:12:27Z

Now THAT's what I call an egg nog! Yum. Oh, and the Paesanos photo is awesome.

Slow Food Sacramento Brings “Lunch Line” to Big Screen

2010-09-24T00:56:33Z

Slow Food Sacramento and Movies On a Big Screen will present the documentary film Lunch Line at the Guild Theater Sunday, September 26th at 7:00 PM. Admission is $6, and tickets are available at the door. The Guild Theater is located at 2828 35th Street, Sacramento.

Lunch Line begins by telling the story of a group of Chicago high school students who have just won a contest to cook up a healthier school lunch. The students get to travel to Washington, D.C. and prepare their winning menu for policy makers. The film goes on to document the history of America’s 64-year-old school lunch program and to examine the difficulties in making substantive changes to it.

Following the film, there will be a panel discussion featuring Julie Raymond of Sacramento Unified School District’s Healthy Foods Task Force, Bill Maynard of the Sacramento Area Community Garden Coalition, Fatima Malik of the Health Education Council, and Paul S. Towers of The California Food Project. The panel is expected to speak about local advocacy efforts for improving school lunches and child nutrition.

At 5:30 PM, before the film, a reception with appetizers will be held at Old Soul at 40 Acres Café, 3434 Broadway, Sacramento.

John Schmidt on "Mex 200 brings comedy, dancing, heritage to Sacramento"

2010-09-23T20:50:11Z

Thanks for this article, Chris! Very well written and informative. Sounds like it was a great event.

John Schmidt on "Sacramento to Celebrate "Beer Week""

2010-02-23T19:42:43Z

Lucky you, Allison! That Mulvaney's beer dinner seemed to sell out quickly. I'll be at Pangaea Cafe enjoying The Bicycle Chef's handmade sausages and moule frites with Odonata's Belgian-inspired beer selections.

John Schmidt on "Beer Week Scavenger Hunt: A Mystical Journey "

2010-02-21T21:11:49Z

Thanks for writing about the Beer Week scavenger hunt, Greg. Sounds like fun!

Sacramento to Celebrate "Beer Week"

2010-02-16T03:46:42Z

This week marks the first Sacramento Beer Week. Breweries, restaurants and bars throughout the Sacramento region will shine a spotlight on beer. Sacramento Beer Week will feature more than 200 events including brewer’s dinners, beer and cheese pairings, rare ale tastings, pint nights and brewery showcases.

Sacramento Beer Week seeks to brew up interest in beer generally and in locally brewed craft beer in particular. The period following the holidays and before the warmer Spring weather is traditionally a slow period for beer sales, and Sacramento Beer Week organizers hope their event will be a shot in the arm for the local economy.

Local brews won’t be the only ones showcased during Sacramento Beer Week. Many of the scheduled events will feature craft beers from other American breweries or specialty imports with an emphasis on Belgian ales.

The Beer Week concept was born in Philadelphia just two years ago and has since inspired other cities and regions such as San Francisco, San Diego, Cleveland and Baltimore to follow suit.

The Sacramento region’s local beer community has had its struggles in recent years. Elk Grove Brewery, Beermann’s (in Roseville), and Sacramento Brewing Company have permanently closed their doors.

Brewpubs, restaurants and bars from Sacramento, Folsom, Roseville, Rocklin, Auburn, Nevada City, Davis and more will host Sacramento Beer Week events February 22-28. Go to SacramentoBeerWeek.com for more information.

John Schmidt on "Solar Cookers International to Help Haitian Families"

2010-02-01T02:55:24Z

Thank you, Rene!

John Schmidt on "Solar Cookers International to Help Haitian Families"

2010-01-26T05:43:17Z

Cool! Uh, I mean hot! Is SCI a Sacramento area company?

Sustainability is Hot in Sacramento

2010-01-23T23:40:32Z

Sacramento environmental groups gathered Thursday night to recognize local leaders in sustainability and to raise funds for local environmental projects. Sustainable Sacramento was hosted by Pesticide Watch and Slow Food Sacramento. The event was held at Hot Italian Pizza and Panini Bar in midtown Sacramento.

As attendees escaped the damp streets and persistent rain, they were greeted warmly by Paul S. Towers, state director of Pesticide Watch Education Fund, and Slow Food Sacramento’s Kathy Les. Hot Italian co-owner Fabrizio Cercatore poured glasses of red wine and brought out a variety of pizzas for guests to enjoy.

Pesticide Watch, a statewide organization based in Sacramento, seeks to empower citizens to use sustainable solutions to deal with pests and to keep their community healthy. Towers addressed the crowd of approximately 75 people by thanking them for supporting local environmental champions.

“There is a long history of people in our area willing to stand up to injustices when they see them. These people are champions,” he said.

Sustainability Leadership Awards were presented to Harvest Sacramento, the GEO Environmental Science and Design Academy and Hot Italian.

Harvest Sacramento’s award was presented by Blake Young of the Sacramento Food Bank and accepted by Randy Stannard, Food Access Coordinator for Sacramento’s Soil Born Farms.

Harvest Sacramento’s mission is to collect fruits and vegetables which might otherwise go to waste from neighborhoods and small orchards and distribute it to local hunger assistance agencies. It is a collaborative effort of Sacramento area residents, non-profits and businesses. Since the effort got underway in 2009, Harvest Sacramento has collected more than 20,000 pounds of produce.

Soil Born Farms has taken a leadership role in organizing the group’s efforts and in connecting those efforts with local food banks.

In his acceptance remarks, Stannard talked about the origins of Harvest Sacramento. “People saw a problem. They saw trees full of fruit going to waste and fruit rotting on the ground. They said, ‘This just makes us sick! What can we do about it?’ ”

The Sustainability Award for GEO Academy was presented by David Herbert of Kaiser Permanente and accepted by Fatima Malik, GEO’s Cooking and Nutrition Educator.

GEO Academy, located at Grant Union High School, is pioneering efforts to teach Sacramento youth how to create and foster healthy, sustainable communities. GEO provides high school students with a unique combination of rigorous academics and real world based projects that prepare students for careers that will shape our communities and our environment.

Students and community members grow vegetables, fruit and flowers at GEO’s community garden. Students use the garden for hands-on learning about ecology, plant biology, health and nutrition.

Hot Italian owners Andrea Lepore and Fabrizio Cercatore accepted their Sustainability Award. The award was presented by Sacramento City Councilmember Steve Cohn.

Hot Italian is the first restaurant in the Sacramento region to achieve LEED certification. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a rating system of the U.S. Green Building Council in order to provide standards for environmentally sustainable construction.

The midtown Sacramento restaurant was a major restoration from the retail space which previously existed there. The building now has a solar thermal system for hot water, low energy LED and CFL lighting, low flow faucets and toilets, and uses recycled materials in chairs, tables and other fixtures. Hot Italian strives to serve food made from local and organic ingredients with a menu that changes seasonally. They also compost their kitchen waste, provide compostable pizza boxes and there is parking for 32 bicycles on site.

Brenda Ruiz attended Sustainable Sacramento on behalf of Slow Food USA’s “Time for Lunch” campaign and is heading up the effort here. Time for Lunch is an effort to get Congress to reform the U.S. Child Nutrition Act and the National School Lunch Program in a way that provides more funding for school lunch and farm to school programs.

Ruiz, a chef at Sacramento’s Biba restaurant, reminds people that they have the power to address problems in their community.

“People sometimes say, ‘The school lunch issue, it’s messed up,’ and they don't think there is anything they can do. Well, people need to know there are always things they can do to help,” Ruiz said.

For more information:

Cinco de Alchemist: A Celebration of Transformation

2009-11-06T22:37:03Z

Sacramento’s Alchemist Community Development Corporation hosted a party and fundraiser to mark its fifth anniversary Thursday evening, and veggies never seemed so cool.

At “Cinco de Alchemist,” about 150 guests enjoyed delightful offerings from local restaurants Mulvaney’s B&L, The Waterboy, Taylor’s Market, Magpie Caterers, Mikuni and more. Live music by Caribbean Jazz and Musical Charis complemented the celebratory mood.

Alchemist CDC was founded in 2004 by Wendy Carter, Lisa Nelson and Chris Aguirre to promote equitable community development in Sacramento. The nonprofit group believes that the overall health of the region depends on the health of urban centers, and they are currently focused on serving the Alkali Flats and Mansion Flats neighborhoods of downtown Sacramento.

In 2007, Alchemist CDC and the Sacramento Mutual Housing Association began the city’s first urban farm stand at J. Neely Johnson Park in Alkali Flats. In 2009, they began a farm stand at McClatchy Park in the Oak Park neighborhood. The farm stands operate from May through October.

Urban farm stands bring improved access to fresh, seasonal, locally grown vegetables and fruit to people and communities who can benefit most from it. An urban farm stand is different from a farmers’ market. Whereas farmers’ markets involve many different producers selling their produce in a large area, farm stands involve a single vendor who resells produce they have purchased from various local farmers. The farm stand is smaller and less complex than a farmers’ market and requires less coordination and fewer people to operate.

Alchemist CDC also operates an internship program for youth ages 14 to 18. According to their website, the “program focuses on providing the interns with knowledge of the benefits of fresh produce to overall health and disease prevention, as well as the differences in conventional and organic produce.”

Land Park resident Fiona Castleberry interned with Alchemist from May through October in 2009, and she attended the Cinco de Alchemist party. Castleberry worked as a volunteer at the new farm stand in McClatchy Park, and she said it was especially interesting to see how a new farm stand was set up.

“I was a bit skeptical before I started,” she said. “I really wasn’t sure there would be a lot of interest there in a farm stand, but it turned out to be a great success, and I learned a lot.”

Cinco de Alchemist was held at the newly renovated Beatnik Studios. Alchemist board president Wendy Carter said they looked at several spaces in Sacramento, but knew right away that Beatnik was just right. Beatnik did seem the perfect match for the event with its simple, elegant decor and wide-open spaces with room for guests to stand and talk or just lounge on the couches.

Carter and other Alchemist board members were pleased with the success of the event. Many of the guests stayed for hours chatting with old friends and new acquaintances, enjoying wine and beer from local producers.

“Alchemist is very appreciative of the support that everybody has shown us,” executive director Davida Douglas said in an e-mail. “The event exceeded our expectations and we are thankful to everyone that made it out to the event, and to the donors and supporters.”

Yet, there was a bit of uncertainty in Carter’s outlook about the future of Alchemist.

“We are in an in-between phase where it’s getting more difficult to raise the funds necessary to continue and expand our efforts in the community,” she said. Carter cited the economy as a huge strain on the funds available through grants and on the ability of the individual donor to give.

Carter said she has high hopes for the future of Alchemist and for better food access in her community.

“One of the things I have talked about is possibly operating the farm stands year round,” she said. “The farm stands have the best produce available in my opinion, and I miss it when it isn’t there.”

Board Secretary Jessica Pearson also has big dreams for the future of the community and its access to fresh, healthy food. She sees a future where the urban farm stands have become self-sustaining, integral parts of their respective neighborhoods and can be operated solely by the people who live there.

According to Alchemist’s website, alchemy is the medieval science that sought to transform base metals into gold. The Alchemist Community Development Corporation, true to its name, is seeking to guide the transformation and growth of the Sacramento community by putting the tools to do so in the hands of the people who need them most. If the outpouring of love, community and dedication present at Cinco de Alchemist is any indication, the future is golden for this organization and the communities it serves.

John Schmidt on "City Council 2010: How to follow the money"

2009-11-06T21:48:37Z

Jim: Sounds like a great idea! Are you volunteering? =)

John Schmidt on "Nestlé can legally set up bottling plant, city attorney says "

2009-10-28T23:20:03Z

Ladies and Gentlemen! I now present to you... YOUR HUMBLE PRESIDENT OF THE METRO CHAMB... oooops, I mean MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SACRAMENTO! Enjoy. http://www.sacfortourists.com/post/226275672/k-j-cares-more-about-nestle-than-sacramentans

John Schmidt on "Nestlé can legally set up bottling plant, city attorney says "

2009-10-28T07:07:53Z

I was there, Tony, and your guess is as good as mine as to how supportive the individual councilmembers are of the project. Based on what was communicated at the meeting, both verbally and non-verbally, I would say that Vice Mayor Hammond is the only councilmember who objects to the idea of the City selling its public water to be bottled and sold for profit. Councilmember McCarty, of course, has also expressed concern, and did so again tonight. He said he thought the Council owed it to the public to get the issue right. Councilmember Pannell expressed confusion at why the Council had not been informed by Community Development Department about the project before things progressed so far, and she warned Dept. Manager Kwong not to "do this in my district." Councilmember Sheedy spoke up only once to question Save Our Water Sacramento's Evan Tucker when he claimed City staff, upon being asked for more information on the project, had told him to speak to Nestle's PR firm. Councilmembers Tretheway, Cohn, and Waters, and Mayor Johnson were very concerned that the City had stopped work at the plant and they wanted answers from Development Dept. Manager Kwong right away as to how much longer Nestle would have to wait. After Nestle got everything it wanted, Mayor Johnson apologized to them. I don't recall Councilmember Fong saying anything.

John Schmidt on "Mayor clashes with city staff over Nestlé decision-making"

2009-10-27T21:58:09Z

Thanks, Suzanne!

John Schmidt on "Let's Make Smart Decisions Regarding the Commercial Use of Our City Water"

2009-10-27T21:40:17Z

fargo: My point was that Nestle isn't being given any limits or restrictions in the amount of water they buy. Yes, I know they have a projected water budget for themselves, but frankly, who cares? It is just bad policy for any local government (our public servants) not to put some restrictions on a business who will use one of our public resources as their for-profit end product. I completely agree with your other points. Fantastic comments!

John Schmidt on "Let's Make Smart Decisions Regarding the Commercial Use of Our City Water"

2009-10-27T21:28:59Z

Matt: Yes, but it has to be "fair" to everyone, not just to businesses. The promises of jobs and investment should not be substitutes for an open, fair, public review. Who decided that it was "good policy" for Nestle to come to Sacramento and bottle public water? The mayor? The Chamber? The City Development Department? We don't really know, and that is one of the problems in this case. Who decided that it was "bad policy" to put a pause on the project and discuss it? Apparently you did. "Political whim?" Really? From what little information has come out, it would appear the City Council was all too willing to completely ignore this project, even after having been informed about it. The only reason this has been agendized for a Council meeting is because a bewildered and agitated public has demanded input. Would this situation be better if the project had been subject to Council (public) review from the start instead of in midstream? Of course. I don't want to see businesses promised one thing only to have the rug pulled out from under them any more than you do. But this is the situation we find ourselves in. No one wants to hang a "closed sign" over Sacramento. But Sacramento residents are not going to be told to "take our 40 jobs and shut up" either.

John Schmidt on "Let's Make Smart Decisions Regarding the Commercial Use of Our City Water"

2009-10-27T17:40:10Z

I hope that EVERY one of you, regardless of your opinion on this issue, will come to the City Council meeting tonight. We the people finally have a chance to get this out in the open and discuss it with the policymakers. The fact that this project went ahead with no public input at all is at the crux of our concerns. It was never about "NIMBY" or simply a "knee-jerk" reaction as some here have claimed.

John Schmidt on "Let's Make Smart Decisions Regarding the Commercial Use of Our City Water"

2009-10-27T17:35:10Z

fargopentameter wrote: "Even moderate reductions in per-household water use in Sacramento residences can add up to water savings that will dwarf the Nestle plant's entire water budget." But Nestle doesn't have a "water budget." THAT'S THE POINT.

John Schmidt on "Bottled water film screened Wednesday "

2009-10-22T16:36:55Z

Huh? Why wouldn't one have to pay money to see a film in a theater? Crazy? Maybe you could explain what you mean, Reno.

John Schmidt on "Crawls unite charities, community and cuisine"

2009-10-02T20:02:09Z

Great article, Colleen. I am so psyched to be doing the Big Nosh. Can't wait!

John Schmidt on "Nestle wants Sac's water"

2009-09-30T20:26:55Z

Yes, 'bbbbmer,' unfortunately it would appear that the Mayor hasn't given this much thought beyond: "Nestle Waters' desire to do business in Sacramento is more proof that we are on our way to becoming a world-class city." (I am paraphrasing).

John Schmidt on "Nestle wants Sac's water"

2009-09-30T20:12:12Z

Great question Anthony. According to Nestle's press release, the plant will initially provide 16 on-site jobs with additional work being provided for contractors, delivery personnel, etc., and that the plant will eventually provide approximately 40 jobs once it is working at full capacity. In addition to the point 'President1' makes above, someone at the Save Our Water Sacramento meeting pointed out that Nestle is making the claim that this plant will provide 40 jobs for Sacramento. The reality is, of course, that Nestle can't legally make any guarantees as to who will get those jobs. They are posted on the web for anyone who is qualified. "Approximately 40 jobs" doesn't sound to me like something we should be willing to accept in trade for a company to bottle our public water and sell it back to us.

John Schmidt on "Nestle wants Sac's water"

2009-09-29T15:22:03Z

Great article, Suzanne. I was at the meeting too, and you did a good job here in accurately describing the events. I would like to emphasize one of Save Our Water Sacramento's main points. As far as anyone knows, the relationship between Nestle Waters and the City's (our) municipal water supply is not defined. That is, there are no limits set on how much water Nestle can purchase. (Some, like Zeidner, have claimed that Nestle would be subject to drought restrictions like anyone else- But if not now, when?) Save Our Water Sacramento believes this is not wise because the water is itself the end product for Nestle, and they will consequently have an incentive to take as much as they can get.

John Schmidt on "Activists, Vegetarians Descend on Downtown Sacramento for Film Premiere"

2009-05-24T03:18:06Z

Please forgive me, I neglected to include a few important points in the article. Among the film’s more disturbing images are those of factory farm animals and their treatment: Chickens bulked up so quickly they cannot even stand and cows shoved to the slaughterhouse with a forklift. Jennifer Fearing, Chief Economist for The Humane Society of the United States, was also on the discussion panel. The Humane Society was a sponsor of the film screening. For more information visit: http://www.hsus.org/farm/

Activists, Vegetarians Descend on Downtown Sacramento for Film Premiere

2009-05-23T00:23:04Z

Let’s face it: Sacramento is rarely visited by celebrities. But on Wednesday night, actor Martin Sheen visited the Crest Theatre to help State Senator Dean Florez welcome about 200 guests to a screening of the new documentary film Food, Inc. Sheen does not appear in the film, but he clearly shares a passion with Sen. Florez for fixing our broken food system.

Food, Inc. offers a critical look at the way America grows, distributes and eats its meals. A food system dominated by a few mega-corporations and unevenly regulated by the government is making us sick. This system has wrought havoc on the environment, and many farmers, ranchers, and laborers are trapped in a hopeless spiral of debt. Still, the film makes clear that it is ultimately the consumer who has the power to change this bleak landscape.

Food, Inc. is co-produced by Fast Food Nation author Eric Schlosser and takes source material from Michael Pollan’s book The Omnivore’s Dilemma. To the delight of many in the audience, Schlosser and Pollan appear prominently in the film. And the author of this article was secretly hoping one or both of them would pop up unexpectedly from the crowd, but it was not to be.

The audience, made up of food system activists, local foodies, farmers, and vegetarians, was treated to a lively panel discussion after the film. Sheen, first introduced as West Wing’s President Bartlett, was a witty and engaging participant. “I can feel the anger in this room. Anger can be good. Anger can motivate us to push for real change. Anger is only bad when we push it down and swallow it,” Sheen said.

Chef and food activist Alice Waters spoke about the vital importance of providing America’s children with fresh, wholesome food every day. She also described the battle between the corporate fast food, quick profit system we now have and a healthier system of localized grower-eater relationships as one in which there can be “no compromise.” Waters, co-owner of Berkeley’s Chez Panisse restaurant, reportedly visited Sacramento’s Grange Restaurant and Bar on her visit and called the restaurant “an Oasis.”

Carmen Hirkala, a lab technician and teaching assistant at Sacramento City College, was in the audience for the film and for the discussion. She thought the film was very effective and hit all the right points, but wondered how extensively it would be seen by those who are not already educated on the current state of the food system. Hirkala also challenged Waters’ no-compromise attitude toward food. “I have a lot of respect for Alice Waters, but she has to understand that for a lot of people, food is just something they have to eat for sustenance. We have to think about better ways to reach those people as well. I hope this film helps.”

Food, Inc. opens Friday July 3rd at The Crest Theatre.

For more information:

Food, Inc. Official Website: href="http://foodincmovie.com

The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Michael Pollan: http://www.michaelpollan.com/omnivore.php

Chez Panisse: http://www.chezpanisse.com

Grange Restaurant and Bar: http://grangesacramento.com

Crest Theatre: http://www.thecrest.com

John Schmidt on "Is Anyone Paying Attention?"

2009-05-14T18:18:17Z

Thank you, Monique, for giving me hope and lifting my spirit today.

John Schmidt on "Sacramento Police Department begins series of crosswalk operations"

2009-04-17T22:03:13Z

Great article, Casey! I am glad to see the City is making an effort to make it safer for pedestrians to walk our streets and raise some cash at the same time. I think that most drivers just aren't paying close enough attention much of the time, and they may need a reminder every once in a while.

John Schmidt on "Earth Fest at The Sacramento Zoo"

2009-04-04T21:54:34Z

Yay, Earth Fest at the zoo! I went to this a couple of years ago and had a great time. I learned about worm composting (something I do now), solar ovens, and beneficial garden insects, among other things. Looks like you had nice weather, too.

John Schmidt on "Object found on light rail not hazardous, investigation continues"

2009-04-04T21:49:44Z

Any word on whether or not the robot will be claiming overtime for this assignment? (sorry, couldn't resist). You guys obviously scooped this one, and you didn't have to go very far, did you?

John Schmidt on "Local Crop Swaps Offer More than Fresh Vegetables"

2009-04-04T21:40:11Z

This wonderful crop swap idea combines two things I believe we need more of: ways to make our food system more direct from grower to eater and ways to foster more community/neighborhood cooperation. My wife introduced me to Bill Maynard a couple of years ago at Soil Born Farm. He really knows A LOT about growing food!

John Schmidt on "Board of Supervisors Outlaw Lap Dances"

2009-03-28T19:07:56Z

Steve: If you want to call it outlawing instead of restricting, that's fine with me. However, when I read your article I was shocked at the idea that lap dancing had been outlawed throughout Sacramento County with little or no public input. That would put hundreds of people out of work at the worst possible moment. Not to mention, I, like you, believe (in most cases) that when there is demand for a good or service in a free-market economic system, that it should be allowed to exist. But that doesn't mean that it should be allowed to exist without regulation or restriction of any kind. All societies walk a precarious balance between liberty and order. After some research, I found that yes, Sacramento County has outlawed lap dancing ["No entertainer shall have physical contact with any patron or customer"] UNLESS the business has a valid general license to provide adult live theater and is located in an industrial zone. Why does your article make no mention of these important facts? If you want to be angry at the government for taking away your and my right to enter into a contract with another consenting adult to provide "boobs-in-face" for 20 bucks, I am on your side brother! But when you are on the right side of an argument, as I believe you are here, it greatly strengthens your case to gather and provide all of the facts that you can. And I am interested to read more about how the Sheriff's Department claims this new restriction will help the neighborhood. I hope that you will continue to follow this story and keep us readers in the know about what happens next! :)

John Schmidt on "Board of Supervisors Outlaw Lap Dances"

2009-03-28T07:07:36Z

Wait a minute. The County did not "outlaw" lap dances. From News10.net: "Sacramento County supervisors voted to restrict lap dancing to adult live theater businesses holding valid general business in county industrial zones only." This was a measure targeted specifically at the Auburn Boulevard bars (where liquor is served) that provide nude entertainment (The Body Shop and Ember's, I believe). The juice bars in industrial zones are not affected. Whether or not this restriction will indeed lower the crime rate in the area as the Sheriff's Department hopes is another question.

John Schmidt on "Off Air rocks KXJZ"

2009-02-05T04:42:55Z

Great, great, great article Dave. I was sitting here reading this and wondering why I didn't know about "Off Air." I listen to KXJZ a lot! I remember hearing Nick's spot teasing "something new" coming in January, but I never heard what that was. Guess I need to check on CapRadio.org more often! Thanks so much for bringing me up to speed on this really cool development. You make a great point about the flexibility created by the ability to stream or download. I would add that it also makes for a rather large potential audience! I am going to make sure my music fanatic brother-in-law, a Bay Area resident, knows about this.

John Schmidt on "My DC Diary: The Historic Inauguration of Barack Obama"

2009-01-25T00:13:24Z

Thanks Leslie! I agree (with both of your points). As for the point about our agricultural system (although I believe, as Michael Pollan does, it is important to start refferring to it as a food system), educating our children about where real food comes from and how it is grown is SO important in this process. I hope that the Mayor has some ideas about how we can do more of that in Sacramento. If not, there are many people who are ready to advise him if he would like to make it a priority. Mayor Johnson: I came across this fantastic article at Grist.org, and I hope you will read it. It is about Dr King's legacy, community gardens, and where we might go from here: http://grist.org/comments/food/2009/01/23/index.html

John Schmidt on "My DC Diary: The Historic Inauguration of Barack Obama"

2009-01-24T08:55:34Z

Sounds like you had a great time, Mr Mayor. You raise many important issues here, and I would be interested in reading more about your thoughts on how to move forward. I am especially intrigued by your discussion with Alice Waters. It is absolutely imperative that we begin the process of rebuilding a food system that is truly sustainable, and I believe this process starts at the local level. Where our food comes from, how it is grown/processed, and how it gets to us affect our soil, air and water, and must be considered in any plan to combat global climate change. Our health is directly affected by what we eat, and too many of us, particularly low-income people, have little in the way of healthy "real food" choices. I would be very interested to hear from you any ideas or discussion regarding how we might begin to make Sacramento's food system more sustainable.