I don't think posting singles ads online is necessarily about selling yourself physically anymore. Check out this study done by Sperling: http://www.bestplaces.net/docs/studies/DatingCities_list.aspx. A good percentage of the city's dating success rate comes from online dating. Besides, in an age when we are surrounded by our cell phones, ipods, ipads and sleek laptops, how else are we going to meet someone?

I had no idea that that building on Q Street is over a hundred years old! While that no doubt makes the building more retro, the interior of the H Street location has a more retro vibe than the interior of the Q Street location. It's bright, it's mis-matched, it's what I would imagine my mom's apartment in the '70's to look like.

Personally, I like old and forgotten favorites. One of my favorite cocktails is a spin on the Sidecar. I don't exactly see how the Shady Lady will lose money by serving only classic drinks. As long as they taste good, people will buy them and drink them.

Those are beautiful pictures! I personally prefer these cloudy, gloomy days to the sunny ones.

I'm aware of that, and the point I was trying to make is that perhaps Kevin Johnson is not behind these campaign tactics. Has it been verified that he is? Perhaps certain advocates - like Kim Mack - are the ones coming up with and utilizing these strategies independently. Does Kevin Johnson himself endorse these strategies?

I'm asking this mostly out of curiosity - has it been verified that Kevin Johnson is directly behind these campaigning strategies? While I definitely don't agree with Kim Mack's tactics, I'm still hesitant to judge Kevin Johnson and his initiative based on the way certain groups are campaigning for it.

My guess is that he ran for mayor for purposes of accountability. If Kevin Johnson was the city manager, he could do everything that he wants to do as a strong mayor, but without accountability. As an appointed rather than elected official, he wouldn't have to answer to the public for his decisions. Personally, I like the strong mayor initiative. Although some of the campaign tactics may be a little questionable (http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/2200/Strong_Mayor_Weak_Ethics), I would still rather the major decisions be made by someone who is directly accountable to the public than by someone who doesn't feel the pressure to answer to the public's demands.

Right now the council does have all of those powers - the power to appoint/dismiss officials, primary control over the budget, and mandatory approval of mayoral candidates. It is true that, should Mayor Johnson's campaign be successful, that they will lose primary control over these issues. However, they will still act as the legislative body, approving/vetoing his decisions and maintaining a system of checks and balances.

Thanks for the updates, Colleen! I know I will try to make at least one of these shows.

It looks like it was drawn up by Thomas Hiltachk, a lawyer who practices political and election law. His name is given at the bottom of page 5. Here is a link to his website: http://www.bmhlaw.com/index_files/Page2958.htm. I will make some calls this week to positively confirm this.

Technically there already is a centralized authority in one person - the city manager. Kevin Johnson's proposal is to transition that existing authority from the unelected city manager to the elected mayor. The city council will lose some executive powers (like having primary control over the budget) but will still retain all legislative powers and approval/disproval rights.

Kevin Johnson doesn't have any power right now. All of the decisions are being made by the city council and by the city manager. And I agree with William Burg - the term "responsive and transparent government" is completely vague. I think the term "strong mayor" lends more definition to what Kevin Johnson is trying to accomplish, which is a transition of existing power from the unaccountable, unelected city manager to the elected mayor. Also, that's a really interesting point about the potholes being used as an example on the initiative. I wouldn't expect either the mayor or the city manager to take action. I'm wondering if the citizen's group wrote that or if that's something that the mayor expressly said.

I have yet to find a text document of the actual proposal. But, the Sacramentans for Accountability website (http://www.reformsacramento.com) has a lot of great information, including an initiative summary and a downloadable copy of the petition.

I agree - it would be awesome if there could be a closed off block for dancing, partying and the like. It can get way too crowded in the bars. What if there was a city-wide dance party?

Wow. I can't even imagine getting a blank IOU slip instead of the expected paycheck. How long are these legislators expected to go without receiving an actual paycheck?

Awesome article, Colleen! I didn't realize that there is so much stuff lying around my house that I consider "junk" (like an old pair of crutches) that can be recycled and reused.

Great reporting, Sarah! My family and I were actually at The Melting Pot when the firefighters were cleaning up. It was bizarre to be so close after getting all of the SacPress tweets.

I've also had a chance to hear Justin Farren play. "Tadpole" is my favorite song so far.

I twitter! (Just not as much as SacPress.)

I do! I was originally going to ask them questions about how business goes in this kind of economy, but I think might add the ones you posed. The questions you just asked are really interesting - I want to know the answers, too!