jmrewers comment-37003 2010-09-15T00:01:53Z 2010-09-15T00:01:53Z I think that saying that we currently have lower taxes, in terms of percentage of income, is a bit broad sweeping and could be considered anecdotal evidence. I haven't seen any accurate state-by-state statistical data, and I'm sure it's impossible to find this information on an individual case-by-case level. I can, however, tell you that I paid more taxes last year than I did the year before, and made less money last year than I did the year before. My circumstance are that I went back to school (graduate school), didn't take any loans and paid tuition out of pocket, and reduced my normal 40 hours at work to make time for school (thus taking a pay cut). Something seemed wrong with this picture. After having a lengthy discussion w/ the IRS (one of my favorite big bureaucratic govt. agencies), I came to find out that certain policies had changed from 2008 to 2009, that somehow involved shafting people like myself, who bust their butt at work & school - this equaled graduate students not qualifying for the full "Hope & Lifetime Credits," and paying more in federal taxes. I should have qualified for the full credit based on my income....and I didn't play any “minority cards” btw, because I don't believe in that. Anyway, going back to the subject at hand, I don't have any problems with the Tea Party. I'm sure they'll lose steam at some point...and I think it's a bit of a hyperbole to say that they will turn to something like "The Tuner Diaries" for inspiration. Personally, I think that groups that espouse socialist and communist doctrines are more concerning... jmrewers 2010-09-15T00:01:53Z jmrewers comment-34670 2010-08-11T19:19:02Z 2010-08-11T19:19:02Z Russ Fher does rock, and he's practically an expert on municipal finance! I had him as a teacher for a public budget & finance class in grad school at CSUS and he was incredibly knowledgeable. He came across as someone who knows how to think outside of the box. jmrewers 2010-08-11T19:19:02Z jmrewers comment-32814 2010-07-14T16:19:26Z 2010-07-14T16:19:26Z On the subject of the live music venue, I agree that this location is ideal; right in the heart of the central city. Though it's on Greenback, the location of the Boardwalk is terrible, making it somewhat of a misrepresentation of Sacramento. Even in the early 90's the Cattle Club/BoJangles, an analogous venue, wasn't as badly located as the Boardwalk. I think the idea of a medium-sized venue along K Street is fantastic...as long as it doesn't fall into the same peril as the former Empire Events center, which at one point had some great bands coming through, then somehow turned into a hip-hop/top-40, tacky club; where the likes of "girls gone wild" could come through (and yes, that franchise did stop through). I think the Council made a forward-thinking, yet pragmatic choice!! jmrewers 2010-07-14T16:19:26Z jmrewers comment-24315 2010-04-06T18:57:58Z 2010-04-06T18:57:58Z Hmmm.. I would've given Nation Wide Freezer Meats the #1 spot and Jamie's #2. In my opinion, those are the two best, although the others are definitely notable! jmrewers 2010-04-06T18:57:58Z jmrewers comment-19781 2009-12-23T17:35:12Z 2009-12-23T17:35:12Z What would proabably help all this is a good (and accurate) traffic study that focused on examining how frequently cars run reds and how frequently they don't stop at marked crosswalks (without traffic lights). Perhaps starting with main thoroughfares that you mention - 15th, 16th, etc. Then the City might be able to "crack down" in the most problematic areas in the best way possible. I wouldn't see why they wouldn't want to, especially since it could be a good source of revenue. jmrewers 2009-12-23T17:35:12Z jmrewers comment-19736 2009-12-23T17:17:35Z 2009-12-23T17:17:35Z Cheesendorf - The focus of this "operation" is to go after drivers (vehicles) by ticketing them for not stopping for pedestrians & cyclists crossing. They aren't ticketing the pedestrian or cyclist in this case. Pedestrians are frequently injured or killed at crosswalks (that have no traffic calming devices) because of cars not voluntarily stopping for them, as they should. I see it all the time downtown, particularly at 14th & P Streets and 16th and O Streets. jmrewers 2009-12-23T17:17:35Z jmrewers comment-18975 2009-12-09T00:22:17Z 2009-12-09T00:22:17Z In theory, consolidation should produce economies of scale which allows cost savings to be achieved – average costs are reduced when spread out over a wider set of users. However, this isn't always the case when city and counties consolidate services, and costs can actually go up (previous studies on U.S. cities have shown this). There are a few reasons, including: labor intensive services (police, fire protection, etc.) that require replication from one neighborhood to the next may in fact result in diseconomies of scale, mergining personnel related costs, mergining service quality costs (“averaging up” effect may occur with service levels and standards for equipment & facilities), and one-time trasition costs (one time operating & capital expenses) that can add up. jmrewers 2009-12-09T00:22:17Z jmrewers comment-14677 2009-10-20T17:40:59Z 2009-10-20T17:40:59Z William: I know the numbers related to transportation funding in SF and I realize there is a tax structure difference, and I know that no public transit is self-supporting. I think ridership plays a role in this as well... I've traveled and read enough about the east coast subways (NY, DC Metro, Atlanta MARTA) and their level of ridership is quite a bit higher (for a multitude of reasons). I'm also aware of the Pearl Dists. development (and how often it is cited); however that took place during a more fluid and stable economic time. While I do agree that development of public transit is intergral to the development of a city, Sacramento is too car dependent..and I think it's obviously a mentality issue (probably the result of all those car-centric suburbs). I would like to do actual research on this someday...examining if rail transit does actually drive density (it didn't in parts of Florida), since there are so many variables at play... Anyway, good thoughts on the subject! jmrewers 2009-10-20T17:40:59Z jmrewers comment-14676 2009-09-29T22:58:18Z 2009-09-29T22:58:18Z Perhaps the City Council should take a look at this study (done is SF) before making their determination on surveillance cameras: http://groups.ischool.berkeley.edu/samuelsonclinic/files/CITRIS%20SF%20CSC%20Study%20Final%20Dec%202008.pdf This study concluded that while the program decreased property crime within the view of the cameras by twenty percent, other forms of crime, including violent crime, one of the primary targets of the program, were not affected. It also specified the many costs associated with this camera program. jmrewers 2009-09-29T22:58:18Z jmrewers comment-14279 2009-09-24T17:52:12Z 2009-09-24T17:52:12Z I agree with most of what you've stated, and I agree that these transformations take time...and $$$ As far as improved transporatation goes and from an overly pragmatic standpoint, with STA funds having been slashed and RT not being financially self-supporting, I don't see how transit improvements will occur in the near future (next 5 years). Perhaps we can channel what funds are left into other public amenities...while the other improvements you speak of (housing/retail) are done by private business (developers). Realistically, the order of these developments is, at least in part, dependent on the money available. jmrewers 2009-09-24T17:52:12Z jmrewers comment-14274 2009-09-24T16:30:57Z 2009-09-24T16:30:57Z It would seem that this alley concept is yet another example of Sacramento attempting to be "European chic." How novel. But don't get me wrong, I think the idea of alley activation is great, and I commend anyone who can successfully carry it out (especially in 20 ft. alleys). However, there are critical evolutions that need to occur in Sacramento before ideas like this really take off (i.e. - more density (i.e.- activity that is closer together and not sparsed), more pedetrians on the streets, a variety of surrounding attractions (aside from Zocolo and Crepeville, and the bazillion other restaurants), improved lighting, improved streets, etc.). It will take time, and Sacramento has plenty of potential to develop into a bustling city...but as in anything, it's good not to put the chicken before the egg. jmrewers 2009-09-24T16:30:57Z jmrewers comment-10695 2009-07-14T18:28:45Z 2009-07-14T18:28:45Z No, Patrick is right...I believe 2nd Saturday did originally start on Del Paso around the late 90s. I think that crime near/around Del Paso & business and econ. development in midtown were two factors that played a significant part in the shift of 2nd Sat towards midtown. I remember Thursday Night market, and I recall that there were similar problems with crime & other "elements," though, despite this, it thrived for some time. With more business along K Street (i.e.- Cosmo, Ella, Pyramid, etc.), and, hence, more activity I think this Design Downtown could be a sucessful monthly event. jmrewers 2009-07-14T18:28:45Z jmrewers comment-10700 2009-07-14T18:28:08Z 2009-07-14T18:28:08Z Thanks for the clarification and the article reference... I was actually living in SF back then, and only saw it emerge to more noticable levels in the latter part of the 90s. I also know D. Neath, and she had told me about the inception of 2nd Sat, although even from the article, it doesn't sound like it "came to be" downtown, but rather in the midtown/del paso area. But, no matter as to where it started....I think the 3rd Saturday idea is a pretty good one! jmrewers 2009-07-14T18:28:08Z jmrewers comment-6852 2009-04-28T20:03:33Z 2009-04-28T20:03:33Z I think Newsom is all show, more so than most politicians. Once he figures out a real way to balance that $438 million deficit in SF, then I might be inclined to believe some of what he says. Furthermore, it would be nice if he would stop taking credit for rainy day reserves that were established well before his time, and stop claiming that the SF Unified school district being number #1 among the urban school districts in CA has anything to do with him... it was #1 when I was there in the 80-90s! jmrewers 2009-04-28T20:03:33Z jmrewers comment-6261 2009-04-16T19:10:45Z 2009-04-16T19:10:45Z Banning elected officials from speaking? Did I actually read that? What ever happened to First Amendment rights?? I'm pretty sure that right applies to all citizens, elected or not! BTW- Political posturing by coalitions happens all the time...didn't we just experience this after the passage of Prop 8? Just because people don't want to pay exorbitant taxes or may want to know the details into how their tax money is spent, does not mean that they want to kill public/social services. I think everyone should have the opportunity to express their thoughts and beliefs, especially in a political forum. jmrewers 2009-04-16T19:10:45Z jmrewers comment-6260 2009-04-16T18:54:29Z 2009-04-16T18:54:29Z This information presented in this article is somewhat inconclusive. We aren't told how many home sales this is based on, nor are we told actual averages for each neighborhood in the Sacramento area. Furthermore, we don't know if this average of 50% depreciation includes the County or is just based on the City of Sacramento. I'd say the information is anecdotal in this respect. jmrewers 2009-04-16T18:54:29Z jmrewers comment-5737 2009-04-08T18:42:47Z 2009-04-08T18:42:47Z Having a vision for a project is one thing, but seeing it through to completion is quite another. I know we're in difficult economic times, but the completion of the exterior has been at a halt for about 2 mos. Are they paying for this completion through the sale of pizzas? Despite this little predicament, I give kudos to them for their efforts! jmrewers 2009-04-08T18:42:47Z