So if you’re a registered voter you’ve probably received your pamphlet for the upcoming June 3 primary election. First of all, they probably should have come up with a better name than “primary election,” it’s so played out, what with the other primary election we had less than 90 days ago. (Sure fine, one was a presidential primary and this one is statewide.) But more importantly, your pamphlet for this election contains 2 things: Propositions 98 and 99. Which — without boring you by actually doing any research into the props — are for all practical purposes opposing pieces of legislation. Both descriptions contain language to the effect that if this one passes the other one most likely won’t take effect. This is where things get interesting.

Continue reading “Whose eminent domain is it anyway?” »

On May 8, award winning journalist and pop culture icon Geraldo Rivera will be the featured guest at the California Latino Caucus Speaker Series. He will be discussing his new book “His Panic – Why Americans Fear Hispanics in the US”. The first 100 to RSVP will receive a free copy of the book, which will also be available for sale and for autographs after his lecture. Anyone wishing to attend should RSVP to the office of Senator Gil Cedillo at 651-4022. The event will take place at the State Capitol from 11:30 -12:30.

Sources to the SacRag have uncovered a number of shocking rumors about Geraldo’s additional plans for his visit.

Continue reading “Geraldo to speak at State Capitol” »

The questions about Kevin Johnson’s past just keep on coming. The SacBee reports on a federal investigation into St. Hope’s suspected misuse of grant money for the AmeriCorps program and of reports of KJ’s inappropriate behavior towards two teenagers.

From 2004-2007, St. Hope received more than $800,000 for their Hood Corps program aimed at leadership development among inner city youth. Last year, federal funding was terminated because half of the youth involved had dropped out. The program is also supposed to be non-religious and completely voluntary, yet former members report that they were required to study the Bible, attend church, and receive communion. Many participants also had trouble with the mandatory “boot camp” style physical fitness training, another activity forbidden by the funding guidelines. Participants were also allegedly required to perform activities outside of the program’s scope, including campaigning for Sacramento City School Board candidates, a major violation of campaign rules and electoral ethics.

If these allegations turn out to be true, they will be a major blow to KJ’s mayoral campaign, as they show that he cannot even manage a simple government grant within the specified rules. And if he cannot do that, how much success will he have with an entire city?

The allegations against Kevin Johnson are definitely troubling. As usual with these things, the truth is almost impossible to discern for those of us who actually want to know it. For example, why are we in Sacramento just supposed to be concerned about the 1995 Phoenix case now and not, say in 2003 when he took over Sacramento High School? Hmm, highly coincidental timing. If it is important now to know that it took place, wasn’t it far more important to know back then when he was taking over a school full of 16-yo girls?

Continue reading “Padilla circulates creepy allegations against KJ” »

From a recent Kevin Johnson for Mayor campaign email, listing the recent activities of the campaign:

3. Thought you knew everything there was to know about “The Dunk”, Kevin’s infamous thunder-dunk on NBA Hall-of-Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon — one of the most famous NBA clips of all time? Think again, and check out an amazing video where Kevin tells — in his own words — how it really went down…see the “Recent Videos” section at our homepage www.kevinjohnsonformayor.com, or email this link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kidpegzfFc) to your friends.

As always, from The Simpsons, “Brother’s Little Helper“:

Bart: But why, Mr McGwire?
Mark McGwire: Do you want to know the terrifying truth? Or do you want to see me sock a few dingers!
Everyone: Dingers! Dingers!
(Mark McGwire socks a dinger, and as everyone looks at the dinger, he takes the info from the satellite.)
Mark McGwire: Yoink.

Do you want a mayor who talks boring tax stuff? Or do you want a mayor who can dunk over Hakeem freakin Olajuwon??!! You decide, Sacramento…

Heather Fargo should be ashamed. Apparently her campaign’s charge, repeated several times, that among the problems Kevin Johnson must answer to is “not paying his taxes” has been all but proven false. Yesterday, “pressed” (not sure by whom) “to support her claim,” Fargo couldn’t provide any evidence of outstanding liens or unpaid taxes either for Johnson personally or for his businesses.

I wonder if she’ll take a closer look at the interview she granted Eyes of Argus yesterday in which she claims “we’re also going to need to look at his record and … look at where he is in terms of, you know, paying his taxes.” And Argus might want to amend his claim Johnson was “hamming it up at the Guild Theater” during the interview to “fighting Fargo’s bogus claims.”

Continue reading “Fargo’s tax charge bogus” »

Newish Natomas-based “The Buzz” found the Bee’s report today that a representative of Kevin Johnson has “pulled papers” for entering the upcoming election for mayor. KJ still has a few weeks to officially enter the race, or should I say to actually create a race, as otherwise Fargo would run unopposed, I believe.

The News & Review’s Cosmo Garvin is reporting that Kevin Johnson is rumored to be considering a run for mayor and could announce his candidacy as early as tomorrow (I think; SNR says “Friday, January 24″). Garvin of course brings up the Bee’s report last fall about citations at KJ’s Oak Park properties. I wonder how Mayor Fargo will deal with that.

P.S. Thanks to FFT for posting it

The Presidential Primary Election is coming to Sacramento on February 5th. In an effort to encourage folks to vote, Regional Transit has been running ads featuring McClatchy High School students…

By the way, are we ready to retire the use of pop culture phrases in advertising? (this post is sponsored by Buick - It’s All Good).

At any rate, visit the County Web site for more details on the election. Not sure if you are registered? Use this handy look up tool.

Sadly, it’s not the list we were hoping for:

From north to south, here are the 48 state parks, beaches, reserves and recreation areas that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is proposing to close to help balance the state budget. The parks would be closed until enough money is available to reopen them. The governor’s office also said some parks could be turned over to local governments to operate.

Well hopefully this will help California get out of this pickle and our kids won’t have to suffer any other cuts…

Continue reading “Sutter’s Fort makes a list!” »