jhorenstein comment-57370 2011-09-16T19:17:09Z 2011-09-16T19:17:09Z Thanks for providing the info! I have been curious about the bldg. I work in. It's the old brick building on the SW corner of 9th and R (1812 Ninth St). I'm guessing it was one of the box factories or canneries you referred to? jhorenstein 2011-09-16T19:17:09Z sacguy2010 comment-23052 2010-03-07T18:46:02Z 2010-03-07T18:46:02Z this boondoggle isn't adding anything that wasn't already there. ... it's now March 2010 and it's still being worked on so, sac 1380, you were full of it 13 months ago sacguy2010 2010-03-07T18:46:02Z Lesley Miller comment-20266 2010-01-07T18:45:43Z 2010-01-07T18:45:43Z Just stumbled up on this article and wanted to mention that B Street has a Yelp page. I help with their marketing efforts and know that we'd love to see more reviews there. The link is: http://www.yelp.com/biz/b-street-theatre-sacramento Lesley Miller 2010-01-07T18:45:43Z sac1380 comment-3741 2009-02-20T03:44:28Z 2009-02-20T03:44:28Z The City just celebrated the groundbreaking today and the 5.4 millon dollar project will be complete by the end of the year. The project will feature new street furniture, look out points, and a .4 acre park. Considered a catalyst project, it will create about 75 jobs during construction -- a warm welcome and a spirt of hope during a time of economy uncertainy. sac1380 2009-02-20T03:44:28Z Sarah Payne comment-3726 2009-02-19T17:54:00Z 2009-02-19T17:54:00Z 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. Sarah Payne 2009-02-19T17:54:00Z William Burg comment-3672 2009-02-19T06:06:07Z 2009-02-19T06:06:07Z I might argue that the Naked Lounge's location on Q Street is a little more retro than the H Street location, seeing as it is located in a city landmark building more than 110 years old, but I'm looking forward to checking out the mid-century retro look at the RetroLounge location too. William Burg 2009-02-19T06:06:07Z Jerry Montoya comment-3284 2009-02-08T08:43:25Z 2009-02-08T08:43:25Z THis is a tremendous forum. I'm just catching up and discovering an amazing amount of intelligent argument. My only advice to the mayor would be to clearly define what he means by a strong mayor and run on it for re-election. If being a strong mayor is what he runs and wins on then he has a mandate for it. If it's what he believes in then he should put his job where his mouth is located. Jerry Montoya 2009-02-08T08:43:25Z Jerry Montoya comment-3283 2009-02-08T08:36:53Z 2009-02-08T08:36:53Z I got busy with work. Where is this issue now? And to reply to the previous, we elect the City Council who hires the City Manager. The City Manager is still accountable. Jerry Montoya 2009-02-08T08:36:53Z Ben Ilfeld comment-3263 2009-02-07T17:55:59Z 2009-02-07T17:55:59Z I do agree that some things need changing. I think dismissing the last 8 years is pretty silly. I am very, very proud of our city's growth in the last 8 years. Ben Ilfeld 2009-02-07T17:55:59Z Jonathan Mendick comment-3192 2009-02-07T02:14:34Z 2009-02-07T02:14:34Z *** Update. It's nearing spring and there are still a lot of piles everywhere. It's one issue that seemed to be talked about a lot during the last city council meeting. Perhaps containerizing everything will help (though it would be hard to have those on the curb and still be able to park downtown/midtown)? Jonathan Mendick 2009-02-07T02:14:34Z William Burg comment-3157 2009-02-06T21:32:27Z 2009-02-06T21:32:27Z KJ isn't a career politician, but he wants to be. He is supported by career politicos and the entrenched power structure of the development community. He appears to be shaking off his attachments to Oak Park (he is selling off most of his Oak Park properties, except for a house for his mother) and if he gets the opportunity to go up the political ladder I have little doubt he will shake off his attachments to Sacramento just as fast. I don't think you're recalling Fargo's administration properly, but if you have something to back it up, please do so. A lot of her frustration was due to things like developers' ability to circumvent the Natomas community plan, which is largely why Natomas looks the way it does, and works as poorly as it does. Activists like "Joe Sacramento" railed against Fargo for her willingness to accede to developer demands--while Johnson's supporters claimed that Fargo wasn't nearly accommodating enough to developer interests. This "Strong Mayor" effort, from its financial backing to its planned implementation, seems based around letting developers do whatever they want, whenever they want, and cutting the city council and the citizens out of as many decisions as possible. Take a look at the city's analysis of the proposition: the "checks and balances" on the mayor's power are weaker and more limited than those in other "strong mayor" cities, including some parts that are unique to Sacramento, and deeply troubling, like the right to enter contracts without the council's consent. William Burg 2009-02-06T21:32:27Z Marc Christensen comment-3184 2009-02-06T19:49:18Z 2009-02-06T19:49:18Z This citywide electorate knows KJ is not a career politician. We know he is a local sports hero who returned to his community with a desire to improve it. His election can be viewed as a mandate (or an opportunity) to bypass the business-as-usual methods many people feel have not worked. If I recall, even the defeated mayor expressed frustration at not having the authority to accomplish what she wanted under the current charter. The Mayor’s current attempt at adjusting the charter are consistent with his being elected, his dynamic personality and his desire to get things accomplished in a timely manner. I don’t think this electorate is as timid and mistrusting as some postings here might indicate. Checks and balances are in place and would continue to be under a strong mayor model. And you can always go to City Council meetings and speak your mind – for about three minutes. Marc Christensen 2009-02-06T19:49:18Z William Burg comment-3138 2009-02-05T19:42:00Z 2009-02-05T19:42:00Z Ryan: I see...so he's talking about 74,000 signatures...but two signatures per person, so really only 37,000 signed the petition. I was also intrigued by the comments in today's Bites column in the SN&R: apparently 37,000 signatures when trying for a target of 33,000 is very, very low: signature gatherers normally shoot for a 30-50% overage to account for invalid signatures. So that 37,000x2 figure sounds impressive out of context, but when you look at it, it's not nearly the sort of response they were trying for... Link to the article: http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/Content?oid=903237 William Burg 2009-02-05T19:42:00Z shawn eldredge comment-3118 2009-02-05T06:26:05Z 2009-02-05T06:26:05Z ryan , ( hello , nice to hear from you again :-) they are running a beautiful machine,, they have the money making machine to gather votes ,maintain a balance of (power) terror . we finally are seeing hte results of citizens and council wake up to fight them tip the scales a little.. Big business locally is way too busy to care about KJ right now. I am excited to see how he will maintain a solid image while we are goin bankrupt. The state money will be on his list of accomplishments next year ( kinda like grant highs winning state.). sorry for the dry cynicism.. I am so sad about the state of politics and the likes of maviglio (whom i like personally) who are comfortable spinning while treating the average taxpaying resident like they are an idiot ( or mushroom) all the while creating popular vote ( or paid for signatures )... sacramentos strength is truly in its own citizens (active on this page and other sites, shoing up at council etc) and local business folk , ayers , otto , even the new young guns of heller ,friedman, miry etc.. too bad they wont run for office... sacramento will prevail in spite of the spin doctors shawn eldredge 2009-02-05T06:26:05Z ItsPossible comment-3113 2009-02-05T02:54:33Z 2009-02-05T02:54:33Z I think our City needs BIG political changes, you simply can't have this many problems in the city and just blame the people. We definitely need stronger leadership, but we also need to have leadership that is much more aware of the politics that an old-fashioned city like Sacramento can muster up. Guys, I really hope that Kevin can do this because we have been led completely the other way for the past 8 years, just look at our results because that's one thing that is always truthful. ItsPossible 2009-02-05T02:54:33Z Ryan Sharpe comment-3100 2009-02-04T18:47:51Z 2009-02-04T18:47:51Z "KJ 's political machine ( and it is a fine machine , that all involved should be proud of)" I disagree. Considering mayor Johnson's public image still needs remediation after the character assassinations of the campaign, the last thing he needs is to be seen as power-hungry or corrupt. There, his political advisors are doing him a terrible disservice. While he did manage to get elected easily, I don't think his team gave enough credit for that victory to the sheer depth of the public discontent with Heather Fargo (heck, that's half of why you and I thought we had a chance at the seat, Shawn). Judging by their handling of the volunteer staffing issues (particularly the unresolved conflicts of interest) and the botched strong-mayor push, they're operating as if they have a much stronger mandate than they do. It certainly doesn't help them at all to have volunteer spokesman Steven Maviglio getting roasted here, in the comments sections of the Bee and Press, and on my low-volume blog, for repeating talking points and ducking out when substantive questions are asked. Nor does it help to trot volunteer attorney Tom Hiltachk before the city council only to accuse city attorney Eileen Teichert of bias after she gave a very clear and very dry PowerPoint presentation that compared the Johnson strong mayor initiative to fourteen city charters. He did excoriate the council for its lack of action on charter review over the last few years, but he wasn't able to address what should have been obvious flaws in the proposal like the lack of documented legislative intent or consideration of residual powers, and he certainly wasn't able to counter accusations heard often at the meeting that we need to identify the problems in the city government before we start trying to change it. Frankly, his team is either made up of incompetent tone-deaf politicos or they've pulled off a Machiavellian maneuver to push the need for a strong mayor into the public consciousness. If the latter, they've spent $131,000 to do so and merely succeeded in getting the council to warm to the idea of changing the charter, which is almost certainly going to include mayoral term limits, giving Johnson far less time as he'd like with the special powers. Also, after Hiltachk's presentation, I figured out Maviglio's 74,000 number: this is the 37,000 signatures for the strong mayor proposal and the 37,000 signatures for the companion initiative. Ryan Sharpe 2009-02-04T18:47:51Z shawn eldredge comment-3073 2009-02-04T05:15:33Z 2009-02-04T05:15:33Z I love sacramento, these posts both in the bee , here on sac press, in brooks truits email loop , neighborhood association loops.. there is great concensus here . KJ 's political machine ( and it is a fine machine , that all involved should be proud of) However it is not of the citizens of sacramento, it is not pure.. if someone paid me to gather signatures you can bet your ass id get them no matter the cause hell i could get them for killing babies ..(especially in this economy). if this is the "change "KJ is speaking about then we all screwed up by allowing him in.. a change so far has meant, no need for the council or public input just spinmeisters and signature gatherers. Tonights mtg was a good start. ( ia m sure KJ was bored and thinks we are all back woods humans) I used to think a pure interactive government was the future ,no politicians just single voting done in your home on all things ,, was the answer,, eliminating politicians ,, my pipe dream was flawed ,i never thought there would be humans willing to lie cheat and steal to promote something bad for the population just to further their own agendas/ careers etc.,,, naive i am .. the spin meister is the most scary of all .. all lobbyists, political volunteers must have background checks , sign conflict of interest statemens , income statements ... (hell eliminate politicians and elect spinmeisters). & steve if you made it this far in my rant.. if all this is so good for us ( & we just dont know any better) then have KJ explain it to us in real terms real examples of why it is a good thing... you know simple language so we understand it ... sorry for the rant.. many thanks to all of those that showed up to council tonight and continue the good fight for our great city shawn eldredge 2009-02-04T05:15:33Z William Burg comment-3064 2009-02-04T00:09:56Z 2009-02-04T00:09:56Z With all due respect, Mr. Christensen, hell no. I'm sure that there are people who would be happier if the general public just shut the hell up in between elections, only stirring to vote for whoever has the best commercials every couple of years. But the franchise isn't (and shouldn't be) the end-all and be-all of a citizen's political life: it is the bare minimum. In fact, the ability of citizens to organize politically, and be heard, is what makes us citizens and not subjects. The right to challenge power is about as American as you can get, regardless of how much (or little) money you make. There may come a time for the people to trust their leaders or reserve judgment, but this is sure as hell not one of those times. Trust is earned, not granted without condition, and reserving judgment means reserving our common sense. No thanks. Incidentally, skepticism is not the same as cynicism. The former asks questions to seek the truth, the latter assumes a foregone conclusion. Cynicism among our leaders is just as dangerous to democracy, because their foregone conclusion is that voters are stupid and apathetic--and it is that cynicism that seems to pervade this "Strong Mayor" initiative, assuming that people are too dumb to understand the changes it will make or too apathetic to care. I hope that Mayor Johnson has not fallen victim to that sort of cynicism. William Burg 2009-02-04T00:09:56Z Marc Christensen comment-3050 2009-02-03T23:16:59Z 2009-02-03T23:16:59Z It is a common misconception that wisdom or propriety resides solely among the folk. And those with power or a will to power are not to be trusted. It is a potential failing of our democratic model if the people become too cynical to let their leaders exercise genuine leadership. We have voted KJ into the mayor's office. Why not adjust the city charter to give that office enough power so that he can accomplish what he envisions? We can voice our opposition or support for his efforts in four years time. There comes a time for the people to trust their leaders or simply reserve judgment... that is our part of the political contract. Marc Christensen 2009-02-03T23:16:59Z Ryan Sharpe comment-3000 2009-02-02T23:03:34Z 2009-02-02T23:03:34Z Steven, tell us why a public commission with politicians and special interests is inherently worse than four or five anonymous people. Sacramento probably does need a strong mayor system, but we voters need to know that we're not being thrust back into the bad old days of machine politics and strong-arm political bosses. An open commission, as was used in San Diego, would let citizens participate in (as opposed to just approve or disapprove of) the city structure. It would also help identify exactly the areas in which the current system is lacking and make sure any reasonable idea is considered to fix those flaws. The basic question is this: how, as a citizen and voter, will I be sure that the people who drafted the charter amendment have the city's interests at stake? How will I be sure that the flaws they've identified are the true problems in the city's political structure? How will I be sure that they've considered all possible solutions? How will I be sure that the solutions they've decided to include are the best ones? Simple reassurances aren't going to cut it, and repeating those empty reassurances hurts more than it helps. If you can honestly address those questions, nine-tenths of the promotional work for the strong mayor campaign will already be done. Ryan Sharpe 2009-02-02T23:03:34Z William Burg comment-2993 2009-02-02T17:31:44Z 2009-02-02T17:31:44Z Nicholas: That's the response when the answer given doesn't make any sense. First the signature count was 37,000, now according to Steve it's 74,000. That strikes me as odd. In order to be counted as legal signatures for the purposes of getting a proposition on the ballot, they have to be turned in to the registrar. That's just part of the procedure. Every petition gets a lot of unusable signatures: people who think they are registered but actually aren't, unreadable addresses, people who don't live in the right area (someone who lives outside the city limits, for example) etcetera. Nicholas, you have probably figured out by now that I am a skeptic. A good historian has to be--so does a good journalist. If the facts don't add up, it's time to start asking questions and look for the truth. Steve is entitled to his own opinion, of course--but he is not entitled to his own facts. When he starts calling an effort promoted by the mayor and wealthy developers "grass-roots," and referring to neighborhood activists and residents as "special interests," he has left the world of facts. William Burg 2009-02-02T17:31:44Z JoesacramentoDotCom comment-2964 2009-02-02T06:50:41Z 2009-02-02T06:50:41Z Yeah I have got plenty advice for KJ. Column after column. Have fun reading: http://www.joesacramento.com JoesacramentoDotCom 2009-02-02T06:50:41Z Nicholas Walsh comment-2961 2009-02-02T00:38:57Z 2009-02-02T00:38:57Z I want to know who has confirmed the registrar is who they say they are? I would also like to know if said registrar's counting calibrater has been serviced and up to code. Come on WB thats the response anytime the answer is the opposite of the one you like! Its like saying Im rubber and your glue... Nicholas Walsh 2009-02-02T00:38:57Z advocate comment-2991 2009-02-01T22:20:25Z 2009-02-01T22:20:25Z Let's define "grass roots". The roots are community folks, and a movement "grows" up from them--this did not. It came top down--the only "community" members (even most them live outside the city) are the aforementioned wealthy, developers, attorneys--the top adivisor list. I was forwarded information that showed one member has a residence in the Fab Forties, a condo on N Street, Homestead exemption claimed for a house in Tirburon, has SF property and has a villa in the South of France. Now we've learned that even imperial Orange County was heavily behind this--a county definitely known to cater to its wealthy class and businesses--not respecting any other kind of lowly grass roots!!! advocate 2009-02-01T22:20:25Z William Burg comment-2982 2009-02-01T05:56:42Z 2009-02-01T05:56:42Z Hang on just a sec, Steve. The Bee is reporting that 37,000 signatures were collected. Twice above, you have mentioned 74,000 signatures. Which figure is correct? Links to Bee stories reporting 37,000 signatures: http://www.sacbee.com/ourregion/story/1581613.html http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/story/1587354.html In either case, have these signatures been certified by the county registrar? William Burg 2009-02-01T05:56:42Z TomRunge comment-2939 2009-02-01T00:11:09Z 2009-02-01T00:11:09Z I think Sacramento is ready to move to a strong mayor form of government, but the way SAG has gone about this isn’t working. Suspending the paid signature gatherers is a good first step. Form a blue ribbon panel of community leaders to solicit input from the public about what type of strong mayor system will work best for Sacramento. You will already have significant public buy-in when this is ready to be placed on the ballot. TomRunge 2009-02-01T00:11:09Z William Burg comment-2917 2009-01-31T23:12:02Z 2009-01-31T23:12:02Z No, it doesn't, ben, it means one that is driven by the constituents of the community, not one originating from existing power structures. This is a "top-down" movement: it is being driven by the wealthiest and most powerful, endorsed by the mayor, and backed with large contributions from very wealthy people. 300 people turned out because someone used the "Sacramentans for Obama" mailing list without permission. You got a lot of signatures in short order because you paid a bunch of signature gatherers $100,000 to pound the pavement. Every organization has to start somewhere--yours started with wealthy developers and the mayor, whose biggest supporters were wealthy developers. That says a whole lot about whose interests this initiative is intended to serve--and who this mayor intends to serve. William Burg 2009-01-31T23:12:02Z Ben Ilfeld comment-2915 2009-01-31T20:12:40Z 2009-01-31T20:12:40Z I actually want to think about the term "grassroots." Does it mean widely popular? I did a little google search: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=safari&rls=en-us&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=def%3A+%22grassroots%22&spell=1 Ben Ilfeld 2009-01-31T20:12:40Z Steven Maviglio comment-2912 2009-01-31T18:44:19Z 2009-01-31T18:44:19Z 74,000 people signed petitions in about six weeks. More than 300 turned out for the first meeting of the group. I've been in Sacramento politics for about a decade, and I've never seen a stronger grassroots effort. The reason the seed money was from large contributors was that the campaign and organization had to start from somewhere. Take a look at Obama's early money. Steven Maviglio 2009-01-31T18:44:19Z Steven Maviglio comment-2911 2009-01-31T18:41:55Z 2009-01-31T18:41:55Z Loading a commission with politicians and special interests is exactly the wrong thing to do. I think 74,000 signatures on petitions is about as democratic a process you can get. Do you know how many people contributed to the last charter reform effort? Stick out one hand and count your fingers, that was about the extent of it. Steven Maviglio 2009-01-31T18:41:55Z William Burg comment-2910 2009-01-31T17:14:47Z 2009-01-31T17:14:47Z Learn the details of the current Mayor's job before finalizing decision on how it should be expanded. Mayor Serna did a whole lot as mayor using the current system by being the cheerleader, making deals and using the mayor's office as a bully pulpit. Mayor Fargo did a whole lot as mayor by building consensus and knowing how the system worked (I know many may disagree that Fargo did a lot--she actually did, she just did a lot of things that her opponents didn't like, which in their mind is the same as inaction.) Johnson can do a lot with his current mayoral powers by trying to salvage the influence he had over the majority of the Council during the election (before he alienated them) and using his celebrity to rally attention to some of the things he platformed on (like more cops, better schools, etcetera.) Or he can instruct Ray Kerridge to explain why the city budget is in such a mess. But he won't be able to do any of that if he doesn't utilize the current system. Oh yeah, one other thing--people generally don't respond well to a campaign described as "grass-roots" when the vast majority of contributions (well, apparently, all of the contributions) were made by two big developers. It smacks of political cynicism. http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/snog/blogs/post?oid=902048 William Burg 2009-01-31T17:14:47Z TomRunge comment-2936 2009-01-31T04:57:26Z 2009-01-31T04:57:26Z Scrap the plan crafted behind closed doors and form a charter reform commission to examine what type of a strong Mayor system would work best for Sacramento. Show an effort at reaching out by appointing some community leaders who didn’t support his run for Mayor (Lauren Hammond and Roger Dickinson are both running for Assembly—I’m sure they would both love to be serving on a high profile commission while running for higher office). Add some civic-minded stalwarts like Jimmie Yee, Sandy Sheedy and Alice Huffman and he would have a good group to lead the effort. Hold district forums and solicit plenty of public input. Place a well-crafted initiative on the ballot in 2010 and I’m sure many folks will see its merits. TomRunge 2009-01-31T04:57:26Z William Burg comment-2838 2009-01-29T22:52:18Z 2009-01-29T22:52:18Z Shawn: I've got an idea. Let's take it back. Sarah: Have you read the initiative? Most of the "checks" on mayoral decisions would require a two-thirds vote of the council, rather than a majority vote. So there are checks, but it hardly seems balanced. You are correct in that the council does currently have the power to appoint and dismiss officials, including the city manager, and control over the budget. What do you mean "mandatory approval of mayoral candidates"? You don't have to have the Council's OK to run for Mayor--you should ask Shawn about that! William Burg 2009-01-29T22:52:18Z Composition . comment-2233 2009-01-14T02:52:47Z 2009-01-14T02:52:47Z I saw a dead cat in a pile of leaves the other day. It was fat and had orange and white stripes. Like Garfield. And Heathcliff. I wonder how many dead pets people leave in those leaves. What's the city's policy on dead pet disposal? Just dump them in the leaf piles? Bet they'd make great compost. Composition . 2009-01-14T02:52:47Z Sarah Payne comment-2185 2009-01-13T02:02:34Z 2009-01-13T02:02:34Z 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. Sarah Payne 2009-01-13T02:02:34Z Jerry Montoya comment-2175 2009-01-12T22:36:23Z 2009-01-12T22:36:23Z If Mr. Johnson wanted to be the City Manager, why didn't he apply for that position? Jerry Montoya 2009-01-12T22:36:23Z Sarah Payne comment-2139 2009-01-12T20:47:33Z 2009-01-12T20:47:33Z 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. Sarah Payne 2009-01-12T20:47:33Z George Jackson comment-2129 2009-01-11T20:13:34Z 2009-01-11T20:13:34Z While I'm all for having more accountable (i.e. elected) officials running our government, instead of shadowy city managers, it worries me to consolidate it too much. Why not just grant more powers to the entire council, including budget, appointments, etc. George Jackson 2009-01-11T20:13:34Z Dale Kooyman comment-2113 2009-01-11T05:43:13Z 2009-01-11T05:43:13Z In Sacpress's Kevin Johnson article, he (or his writer ) extended readers an invitation o "join his team." I suggest that we do that. Then perhaps some of these questions will be answered. If we sit on the sidelines, we can only guess and speculate. AND we will never know the inside workings which may surprise us. I sent an email to "join the team." I received a thanks but not yet heard back. If we join, and he invites us to the table, then we may have a voice--a voice that is heard. If we don't join, what chance do we have? If many of us join and are never called, that sends a message that we can use to go from there. I'm willing to give it a chance. I would like to see many others do the same. To use an old cliche but proven strategy, "there is strength in numbers." The vast majority of the "Top Advisors" from what someone told me who checked out their home addresses apparently don't live in the city. That is worrisome. Can anyone out there who reads this disprove what I was told? If that is true, then the city, as Shawn, says is being taken from us. Dale Kooyman 2009-01-11T05:43:13Z Ryan Sharpe comment-2099 2009-01-10T05:39:20Z 2009-01-10T05:39:20Z The proposal seems nice overall, but man does it smell bad to have a city charter amendment drafted by a personal coterie and pushed without public input after only a month in office, especially since it will take effect pretty much immediately. Even state and federal legislators give themselves raises that take effect after they're re-elected to avoid getting called out for shenanigans. I don't think I can in good conscience support it as is. Give me the opportunity to vote for a strong mayor charter amendment and then for that first strong mayor, and you've got a deal. Give me the opportunity to vote for something that looks and smells like a power grab, noble though it is, and I'll walk away. Ryan Sharpe 2009-01-10T05:39:20Z Ben Ilfeld comment-2096 2009-01-10T01:39:56Z 2009-01-10T01:39:56Z Who is taking the city and where? Ben Ilfeld 2009-01-10T01:39:56Z shawn eldredge comment-2094 2009-01-10T01:14:48Z 2009-01-10T01:14:48Z the city is being taken from us quickly shawn eldredge 2009-01-10T01:14:48Z William Burg comment-2045 2009-01-08T23:14:41Z 2009-01-08T23:14:41Z Indeed. It's a bit of a stretch to describe an organization consisting of the mayor, business leaders, and local political figures as "grass-roots." William Burg 2009-01-08T23:14:41Z Raoul Kleven comment-2025 2009-01-08T22:10:03Z 2009-01-08T22:10:03Z Looking over the list of supporters on the 'Sacramentans for Accountability' website, I saw mostly business owners. Also the VP of the Sacramento Police Officers association, the president of the California AARP, a former member of the state legislature, and the co-chair of Sacramento for Obama. While there isn't anything wrong with this, it just seemed like there wasn't the voice of an average citizen anywhere on the list. I'd like to know more about who's organizing Sacramentans for Accountability. Raoul Kleven 2009-01-08T22:10:03Z Mark Forsyth comment-2023 2009-01-08T18:27:57Z 2009-01-08T18:27:57Z it all depends on what kind of tattoo you're looking for, whether its a small flash type or a large back mural. Each place does different styles well. Your best bet is to gather some recommendations, go to the shop with your design and ask them how they feel about doing the work. That is what I did and I am very please with the work I had done (at Modern Body) Mark Forsyth 2009-01-08T18:27:57Z Sarah Payne comment-2019 2009-01-08T18:19:45Z 2009-01-08T18:19:45Z 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. Sarah Payne 2009-01-08T18:19:45Z William Burg comment-2017 2009-01-08T17:51:23Z 2009-01-08T17:51:23Z Thanks for the link. Who wrote the text of this initiative? William Burg 2009-01-08T17:51:23Z William Burg comment-2016 2009-01-08T17:50:45Z 2009-01-08T17:50:45Z So who plays the role of the Supreme Court? William Burg 2009-01-08T17:50:45Z Colleen Belcher comment-1996 2009-01-08T16:33:17Z 2009-01-08T16:33:17Z I went to Safeway last night on 19th and R and as I was leaving I was approached to sign this petition. Colleen Belcher 2009-01-08T16:33:17Z Kevin Johnson comment-2012 2009-01-08T06:33:46Z 2009-01-08T06:33:46Z Sarah is correct. It works just like the President/Congress, Governor/State Legislature. It's an executive/legislative system. The City Council actually will GAIN power. Kevin Johnson 2009-01-08T06:33:46Z Kevin Johnson comment-2011 2009-01-08T06:32:49Z 2009-01-08T06:32:49Z I provided the link to the text above. The language is on the petition, which can be downloaded from the website Kevin Johnson 2009-01-08T06:32:49Z Sarah Payne comment-1993 2009-01-08T01:37:45Z 2009-01-08T01:37:45Z 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. Sarah Payne 2009-01-08T01:37:45Z Raoul Kleven comment-1984 2009-01-07T22:19:38Z 2009-01-07T22:19:38Z In theory, I'm very in favor of increasing the accountability of city officials, but I'm also a little wary about overly centralizing authority in one person. I'd like to see specifics on the changes, as well. Raoul Kleven 2009-01-07T22:19:38Z William Burg comment-1981 2009-01-07T17:41:01Z 2009-01-07T17:41:01Z David: It's not a link to the proposal, but a link to the campaign website, with a brief question-and-answer document but nothing documenting the actual changes. The text to the proposal, meaning the specific changes, has not yet been provided. There's nothing on the City of Sacramento homepage about the changes, and a search for "charter" is not very helpful--is there a direct link on the city website to these proposed changes? William Burg 2009-01-07T17:41:01Z David Watts Barton comment-1939 2009-01-07T17:08:18Z 2009-01-07T17:08:18Z Not to get too nit-picky about this, but Jeffrey Callison's show is actually called Insight, singular. And thank you Mr. Mayor, for posting the link to the proposal - twice! I am interested in who wrote the initiative, too, but I'd like to see the actual initiative itself discussed. David Watts Barton 2009-01-07T17:08:18Z William Burg comment-1938 2009-01-07T16:58:13Z 2009-01-07T16:58:13Z I am very interested in who actually wrote this initiative and the proposed modifications to the charter. Can you provide any insight for the curious? William Burg 2009-01-07T16:58:13Z Kevin Johnson comment-1919 2009-01-07T08:59:41Z 2009-01-07T08:59:41Z http://www.reformsacramento.com/pdf/Sac_Init_CharterAmendment_WEB.pdf Kevin Johnson 2009-01-07T08:59:41Z Kevin Johnson comment-1918 2009-01-07T08:59:32Z 2009-01-07T08:59:32Z http://www.reformsacramento.com/pdf/Sac_Init_CharterAmendment_WEB.pdf Kevin Johnson 2009-01-07T08:59:32Z Kevin Johnson comment-1917 2009-01-07T08:57:26Z 2009-01-07T08:57:26Z It was drafted by my transition team. They looked at best practices from more than 15 cities across the U.S. The independent budget analyst component is similar to that of San Diego's. Kevin Johnson 2009-01-07T08:57:26Z Kevin Johnson comment-1916 2009-01-07T08:56:08Z 2009-01-07T08:56:08Z You can find the initiative summary on the www.reformsacramento.com website. I understand there will be additional information up on that website in a few days. In the interim, you can visit the cityofsacramento.org and find additional information there. Appreciate the positive comments here, and the continuing dialogue on this proposal to modernize city government. We haven't had charter reform since the 1920s, and it's time Sacramento modernize its government so that it is accountable and nimble. Kevin Johnson 2009-01-07T08:56:08Z Geoff Foley comment-1915 2009-01-07T04:20:57Z 2009-01-07T04:20:57Z Being able to read the actual proposal would be nice. On the surface I would side with a "strong" mayor. The idea of an unelected executive officer, not accountable to the people, doesn't appeal to me. I think it will provide greater accountability for the actions of the Mayor's administration. I also think that a Mayor that has a stronger position than merely ceremonial would have a stronger sense of responsibility and duty to the city. Geoff Foley 2009-01-07T04:20:57Z William Burg comment-1913 2009-01-07T02:19:29Z 2009-01-07T02:19:29Z I'd really, really like to see the actual proposal. I'd also like to know who wrote it. William Burg 2009-01-07T02:19:29Z Sarah Payne comment-1912 2009-01-07T01:13:02Z 2009-01-07T01:13:02Z 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. Sarah Payne 2009-01-07T01:13:02Z Ben Ilfeld comment-1933 2009-01-07T00:44:41Z 2009-01-07T00:44:41Z Do you have a link to the text of the actual proposal? Ben Ilfeld 2009-01-07T00:44:41Z Colleen Belcher comment-1855 2009-01-05T21:16:55Z 2009-01-05T21:16:55Z While I don't personally have any tattoos, I think of tattoos as being in the same category as other personal splurges. Every once in a while I like to buy myself a new shirt or other clothing item - even if my money is a little tight. I think it would be the same thing for tattoos, something you're spending money on for yourself - a treat if you will. You'll save up for it the way you would something else you want - and it's permanent. Colleen Belcher 2009-01-05T21:16:55Z SunnySideUp comment-1864 2009-01-05T04:20:46Z 2009-01-05T04:20:46Z jumping into a pile of leaves is overrated. SunnySideUp 2009-01-05T04:20:46Z Steven comment-1846 2009-01-05T01:14:51Z 2009-01-05T01:14:51Z Leaves are an excellent addition to the compost pile !!! Just remeber to mix them 50/50 with grasses. And add a few worms. Steven 2009-01-05T01:14:51Z Ken Plumlee comment-1807 2009-01-02T04:07:48Z 2009-01-02T04:07:48Z Since I use a Starbucks card all year, I don't tip as often as I should. So I like to do something extra for my morning crew at the end of the year. But I like to do it individually for the people I see everyday instead of just throwing it in the jar. Ken Plumlee 2009-01-02T04:07:48Z mrlittlejeans comment-1762 2008-12-31T00:36:59Z 2008-12-31T00:36:59Z yo everybody... we had to reschedule our press club show to feb 2nd! Monday Feb. 2nd Pets Casual Fog @ The Press Club 21st & P, Sacto. 9:30p mrlittlejeans 2008-12-31T00:36:59Z Jessica Hess comment-1745 2008-12-30T19:27:26Z 2008-12-30T19:27:26Z William Burg is correct. The City doesn't rake the leaves for you. Residents and businesses need to sweep or rake leaves into a pile for collection and leave them on the street, out of the gutter and the bike lane for collection. For those areas of the City with containerized service, the yard waste may be placed in the container and the container can be put out for collection. Typically, this is a weekly service. However, during leaf season, we can get backed up due to the large quantity of leaves. You can use the link in the article above to find out when we will be back in your area. Jessica Hess 2008-12-30T19:27:26Z ErikDaniells comment-1690 2008-12-29T01:13:09Z 2008-12-29T01:13:09Z Hello Sarah and Colleen! This is Erik Daniells, the executive producer of Artistic Differences. I'm glad you enjoyed the show, Sarah! Our next show, See What I Wanna See, is going to be performed at California Stage on R and 25th in midtown. We do move around a bit from show to show but are hoping to stay as close to midtown as we can for the future. See you at the theatre! ErikDaniells 2008-12-29T01:13:09Z Dan comment-1726 2008-12-27T17:40:02Z 2008-12-27T17:40:02Z A massive music/tattoo artist tour was just canceled due to economic reasons: http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/inaugural-musink-festival-tour-canceled-1003920525.story Dan 2008-12-27T17:40:02Z Mona Romero comment-1652 2008-12-23T22:56:34Z 2008-12-23T22:56:34Z Does anyone in Sacramento practice hand tattooing? I wanna be like Angelina. Mona Romero 2008-12-23T22:56:34Z David Watts Barton comment-1662 2008-12-23T20:08:08Z 2008-12-23T20:08:08Z That's really interesting, Sarah. In all the time I've been looking at people's tattoos around town and elsewhere, I never really thought about what distinguished the artists. And I'm now curious about the history of tattoos - did they indeed originate in Borneo, or all over the primitive world? Thanks for the link to the tattoo page, that was useful as well. David Watts Barton 2008-12-23T20:08:08Z Mona Romero comment-1649 2008-12-23T18:35:22Z 2008-12-23T18:35:22Z I noticed the piles of leaves all over the streets and was wondering why people rake their leaves into a big pile and leave it in the street. Since I grew up in windy Oklahoma, this made no sense at all to me, but then I realized the wind here is almost non-existent and the piles will stay in place for a bit. Thanks for the insight, Sarah. Mona Romero 2008-12-23T18:35:22Z Greg Brown comment-1660 2008-12-23T17:14:02Z 2008-12-23T17:14:02Z City Of Trees, City Of Leaves. Greg Brown 2008-12-23T17:14:02Z Colleen Belcher comment-1643 2008-12-23T04:12:46Z 2008-12-23T04:12:46Z I like to see people raking their own leaves and doing their own yard work, it shows a sense of pride in your property and a commitment to your community. I'm not a big fan of leaf blowers, though. I wish there were a quieter invention that blew leaves - I guess that's where the rake comes in - and the arms muscles get a work out too. It's amazing how many leaves are scattered through the streets of Sacramento, but we are the city of trees. 311 seems to be a really good source of information for general city questions. I had never really thought to call them about things like this. Colleen Belcher 2008-12-23T04:12:46Z Colleen Belcher comment-1642 2008-12-23T04:08:45Z 2008-12-23T04:08:45Z This is such a great article! I learned more here in one article than I have from going into multiple tattoo shops. You asked some really great questions and got some great answers! Thanks for following up on your initial story and sharing your interviews with local tattoo artists. Colleen Belcher 2008-12-23T04:08:45Z William Burg comment-1640 2008-12-23T02:19:15Z 2008-12-23T02:19:15Z Solid Waste doesn't actually come around and rake, they just send the big "claw" and a trash truck and scoop up the piles made by the folks who rake them into piles. On my street, some people rake their own leaves (I do), some people pay a gardening service (the rental apartments) and a couple people just don't bother, their leaves just rot in place until weather deposits them somewhere else. Raking leaves can be a nice thing. It gets you out near your neighbors, it puts eyes on the street, and of course it keeps things tidy. A friend of mine used started raking and sweeping around his house in Boulevard Park back when there was a lot of drug activity on I Street, eventually other neighbors started and over time the street drug dealers got less and less comfortable and finally just stopped showing up. William Burg 2008-12-23T02:19:15Z Pyerse Dandridge comment-1634 2008-12-22T17:44:55Z 2008-12-22T17:44:55Z Cool article Sarah Pyerse Dandridge 2008-12-22T17:44:55Z Sarah Payne comment-1625 2008-12-20T17:33:29Z 2008-12-20T17:33:29Z 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! Sarah Payne 2008-12-20T17:33:29Z Colleen Belcher comment-1554 2008-12-19T07:27:34Z 2008-12-19T07:27:34Z There is also a yearly Tattoo Festival in June at the Sacramento Convention Center - even if you don't have tattoos it's worth going to check out the artwork. It will make you think of tattoos differently. They have artists from Japan, Spain, Italy, England - all over the world. I wonder about the different techniques of tattooing - what sets people apart, how can you tell if it's a quality tattoo. What tattoo artists compare it to in terms of doing art? Do you plan on interviewing any tattoo artists, Sarah? Colleen Belcher 2008-12-19T07:27:34Z Colleen Belcher comment-1551 2008-12-19T07:08:11Z 2008-12-19T07:08:11Z Thanks for posting the renderings, Sarah - they look great. I can't wait for the Crocker to be completed! Colleen Belcher 2008-12-19T07:08:11Z William Burg comment-1545 2008-12-17T23:38:13Z 2008-12-17T23:38:13Z see, that's just it. Tattoos and piercings have entered the mainstream, and these days even the most button-down business type younger than 40 (and some older) are likely some ink or metal under their suit. Thus, I don't think folks have to worry much about tattoo parlors in their neighborhoods, as their customers these days probably include as many stockbrokers as sailors, as many businesspeople as bikers. Mona: Not having any tattoos makes it difficult to recommend an artist, but I know one, Alycia at Modern Body on I and 20th, who has won multiple awards for her work and usually has a backlog of several months. She would be a safe bet if you're looking for a reputable artist. I am told that you want to ask how they sterilize their tools. Some places use topical disinfectants to clean their tools but reputable places use an autoclave. William Burg 2008-12-17T23:38:13Z David Watts Barton comment-1564 2008-12-17T23:03:32Z 2008-12-17T23:03:32Z That's great, Sarah, I've not seen anything about this particular gallery, which does seem unique in Sacramento's art scene. Would you please add some contact information and perhaps hours that we can come visit? Thanks! David Watts Barton 2008-12-17T23:03:32Z Greg Brown comment-1542 2008-12-17T16:26:24Z 2008-12-17T16:26:24Z I have no tattoos or piercings....guess who's the rebel now? Greg Brown 2008-12-17T16:26:24Z advocate comment-1419 2008-12-17T00:45:35Z 2008-12-17T00:45:35Z What do I think? I think people should do whatever they want with their own bodies even if tattoos mar beautiful bodies and do nothing to improve less than perfect bodies. advocate 2008-12-17T00:45:35Z Sarah Payne comment-1418 2008-12-16T23:57:33Z 2008-12-16T23:57:33Z I've heard good things about Forever Tattoo on 16th Street from someone who got a 1/2 sleeve done there. She said the artists did great work and were really friendly. Another girl I talked to got hers done at American Graffiti. She said the people weren't as nice, but they did great art. I myself actually had one done a couple of years ago at Bonehead on K Street, and I was quite pleased with both my tattoo and my tattoo artist's friendly demeanor. Sarah Payne 2008-12-16T23:57:33Z Mona Romero comment-1429 2008-12-16T19:19:13Z 2008-12-16T19:19:13Z Do you know which tattoo parlors are reputable? Not only by sterilization standards, but talent as well? Mona Romero 2008-12-16T19:19:13Z William Burg comment-1409 2008-12-16T17:35:48Z 2008-12-16T17:35:48Z I don't have any tattoos or piercings, but I think tattoo parlors are great. One opened up in my neighborhood a couple of years ago. Before they opened, the corner was dark at night, and typically it was the hangout for spare-changers due to its proximity to a local liquor store. When the tattoo parlor moved in, they installed bright lights, cleaned up corner graffiti, and almost always had someone out in front, discouraging panhandlers. They are open until midnight, which means that the corner has eyes on the street and legitimate business activity even when most of the neighborhood is closed. Sure, tattoo parlors used to have a lot more social stigma. But there was a time when women wearing slacks or men with long hair was considered shocking. For most people under 40, tattoos and piercings are far more socially acceptable, simply because so many people have them. The parlors themselves are social centers. Some people go in for work and leave, but people often stay and congregate, because they can meet friends of similar interests in a comfortable, social setting. This kind of comfortable public gathering place fills a real social need, in addition to providing a service people want. William Burg 2008-12-16T17:35:48Z Tracy B. comment-1309 2008-12-11T16:41:44Z 2008-12-11T16:41:44Z Over the years I have lived,worked,and played in the downtown area.I definitely grew accustom to many buildings,or in some cases nearly vacant lots that are no longer with us.Many were not architectural treasures haunted by the spirit world ,nor did they have historical significance.They simply were just there, occupying the same space for years.I sort of liked it that way. Tracy B. 2008-12-11T16:41:44Z Colleen Belcher comment-1246 2008-12-07T20:34:15Z 2008-12-07T20:34:15Z I also love B Street Theatre! I hope to hear more reviews of B street's plays and/or learn about other plays - especially if they're Christmas themed. Thanks for sharing your passion with the rest of us. Colleen Belcher 2008-12-07T20:34:15Z Sarah Payne comment-1186 2008-12-05T02:49:07Z 2008-12-05T02:49:07Z I agree - the Crocker should utilize the park. That would be really cool to sit on a bench in the park, observing art, observing life, observing everything in between. Sarah Payne 2008-12-05T02:49:07Z Colleen Belcher comment-1203 2008-12-05T02:08:04Z 2008-12-05T02:08:04Z I had been wondering what exactly was being done to the Crocker. Thanks for sharing all the details with us and I look forward to hearing more as it progresses. I'm excited for the expansion. I think it is one of the core galleries in Sacramento and as William Burg said it needs more space - its collection is far bigger than what it can house. Only bigger and better exhibits can make their way to Sacramento with the expansion - there won't be as many limitations. I'm all for developing the arts in our city. Colleen Belcher 2008-12-05T02:08:04Z William Burg comment-1201 2008-12-05T01:00:41Z 2008-12-05T01:00:41Z I can't say I loved the renderings I have seen for the new building, but at least it's an improvement on the 1970s brutalist concrete expansion. The Crocker has a huge collection but can only show about 10% because of limited gallery space--this will let them increase their profile. In my opinion, they need to use more of the park as part of the museum. There used to be a few statues in the park, but those are gone, and there are only like 3-4 park benches for a city block sized area! The Crocker is super busy every Sunday when admission is free, but the park is nearly empty except for the handful of park benches, which are overflowing. Bring in a few benches, put up some public art and watch that big park come to life...pretty cheap, too! William Burg 2008-12-05T01:00:41Z Lauren Richardson comment-1181 2008-12-04T19:29:55Z 2008-12-04T19:29:55Z I have never been dissapointed with any of the B St Theater plays, so I bet it is great! I recently saw "How the Grass Grows" and it did not dissapoint either. It was a wonderful comendy about an election in a little town. Highly recommend it! Lauren Richardson 2008-12-04T19:29:55Z Catherine Foss comment-1135 2008-12-04T01:41:48Z 2008-12-04T01:41:48Z Wow I should go because I'm one of those Scrooge-like characters. Yeah, bah humbug! Sounds like you really know a lot about theatre, so I'll be looking for more of your play-related posts. Catherine Foss 2008-12-04T01:41:48Z Ben Ilfeld comment-1133 2008-12-03T19:57:54Z 2008-12-03T19:57:54Z I love how the steel skeleton looks. I say drop some glass over it and call it a done building. Ben Ilfeld 2008-12-03T19:57:54Z Sarah Payne comment-1115 2008-12-03T01:14:37Z 2008-12-03T01:14:37Z Thanks for the comment! Capital Stage definitely deserves to be recognized. At the moment Capital Stage is currently doing a series of one-acts. I don't know much about it, but there should be a review coming shortly. Sarah Payne 2008-12-03T01:14:37Z advocate comment-1114 2008-12-02T05:33:35Z 2008-12-02T05:33:35Z You overlooked one. Check out the California Stage--three little theaters in one complex on 25th between Q & R. Ray Tatar is the Artistic Director. Just closed was the The Women of Lockerbie--story of the terrorist bombing of the passenger airline that crashed over Scotland. The California Stage is an experimental type little theatre. It puts on plays written by Californians or plays with California historical significance . For future productions email raytatar@calstage.org. advocate 2008-12-02T05:33:35Z