The March 6 City Council meeting was the place where the possible future of Sacramento's downtown was to be decided. The vote on the current proposal to move forward with plans for an Entertainment and Sports Complex could have historic implications.  After hours of discussion by the public and members of the City Council, and with the roll call vote standing at 6-2 in favor of proceeding with the plan, it was Mayor Kevin Johnson's turn to voice his vote. As he added a resounding "yess!", his emotions of the past year, the agony and the ecstacy of the lows and highs, were on display. While the tv cameras covered the crowd reaction, I was unable to turn away from the man who many believe i

For the past few weeks, a debate has been taking place about the way lines have been drawn to redefine the voter content of Sacramento's District 5. Rarely has a topic resulted in so many residents of the city expressing their opinions in the context of City Council meetings. The last minute appearance of a redistricting map, removing what Oak Park residents consider integral parts of their community, has stirred up controversy that has resulted in hundreds of speakers coming forward to speak out. The outcry has not been confined to the interior of City Hall. Last week, hundreds of marchers rallied outside the UC Davis Medical Center to register their opposition to the plan brought forth b

With his security detail watching the surroundings, Mayor Kevin Johnson answers a question about an earlier incident that involved a reported threat to his safety. To accommodate the media, the Mayor took a momentary break in a day-long series of meetings with the mayors of eight other California cities and several State officials, including Governor Jerry Brown. The "Big 10 Mayors" were in Sacramento in an attempt to keep redevelopment funds from being completely absorbed back into the State budget.