Homelessness is a problem of most metropoliseses, and especially those such as ours where housing prices skyrocketed in a short time, making affordable housing difficult to obtain by those who need it most.  Many times, people have to make do with whatever they can get their hands on.  Some people deal with such adversity better than others.

Just ask Gov. Arnold. According to SFGate.com’s Lynda Gledhill:

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Wednesday that he’s “very happy in my little hotel room.”

That in response to a published report in the Sacramento Bee that he and First Lady Maria Shriver have toured a new 15-floor hotel and condominium project being built a few blocks from the Capitol.

Schwarzenegger has been living in a the penthouse in the Hyatt hotel across from the Capitol since taking office. The state has no official governor’s residence and he and Maria found no suitable house when he was first elected. The constraints of security, wanting to be close to the Capitol and necessary space for a governor with four children left almost no options.

Continue reading “Feed the homeless (governor)” »

Well here we are, Sacramento, it’s time to get out the vote. Beckler has an entertaining post on Heckasac conjuring Aileen Voisin’s penchant for straw men and the helpful services they provide. If anyone has any enjoyable polling place stories or witnesses anything out of the ordinary (people eating $6000 combo meals outside your polling place, for example) make sure to post them here.

CBS13 has thrown their support behind the Sac Rag’s prognostication regarding Doolittle’s impending victory (red box for emphasis is our own):

Continue reading “More evidence that Doolittle will win his seat” »

Got an email tip last night about Sacramento Political Forum, a new site providing a sounding board for Sacramento’s diverse opinions. Stop on by and squip to your turty’s content!

(CBS 13) SACRAMENTO The California Voter Foundation released “The Proposition Song”, a sing-along song designed to introduce voters to the thirteen propositions on California’s November 7 ballot. Each proposition is reviewed in the song, which runs just under three minutes and is set to a traditional folk melody.

Oh, there once was a proposition, its number was One-A
The first of thirteen measures to decide by Election Day. (November 7th!)
Arnold and the lawmakers want the first five props to pass
One-A would mandate road funding from the sales taxes on gas.

One-B is a bond act with billions for highways
One-C would build shelters for folks who need a place to stay.
Next we have Prop One-D, a school improvement bond
There’s nine more measures in this song

Pay attention and sing along
It’s the Proposition Song
‘Cause the ballot is too darn long!

One-E protects the rivers, repairs the levees too
One-E’s followed by 83? Confusing, but it’s true.
Sex offender laws will change if we pass Prop 83
84 protects our state from floods. It’s a lot like Prop One-E.

85 requires aborting teens to first inform their folks
Prop 86 funds health programs with another tax on smokes.
There’s just a few more measures to sing of in this song
So hang on friends, we’re near the end, you should all be singing along
It’s the Proposition Song
‘Cause the ballot is too darn long!

If we pass Prop 87, the oil companies
Will pay a tax to fund alternative energy.
Prop 88 would raise taxes to help fund public schools
Prop 89 would rearrange state campaign funding rules.
This lesson’s almost over, just one more prop remains
Prop 90 curbs your city’s use of eminent domain.
It’s the Proposition Song
Let’s all be singing along
‘Cause the ballot is too darn long!

View the video here.  Personally, I think it’s better as a crunk rap than a traditional folk song.  But hey, that’s just me.

My wife reports that gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides is making a speech right now in front of the fire station near Stockton & Broadway. It’s a charming Spanish style building but I can’t find a picture of it right now; I’ll add a screen grab from one of the news stations when it makes the Web. (The FCC probably appreciates when copyright violators give plenty of warning!)

But more importantly, in her research she uncovered a Phil Angelides MySpace page! (I can’t view it from work but she says it does not disappoint…)

…that John Doolittle will win his seat.

Yes, we are that damn good.  We know how to read the signs, the indicators, and the will of the people.  And the intentions incompetence of election administrators:

 AP) SACRAMENTO After receiving dozens of complaints, Sacramento County election officials said Monday they will send letters to 40,000 absentee voters telling them to check their ballots for errors.

By Monday evening — a week after absentee ballots were mailed — more than 50 people had called to report ballots that were flawed or incomplete, officials said. Most of those reporting errors said they received two of the same ballot cards instead of two different double-sided cards…

As a result, the county asked its mailing firm, Admail West, to take extra precautions to avoid errors.

Admail West officials said Monday that the latest problem was with the printer and not their company

Democracy.  Done Right.

Did you all read the front page Bee story today on the McClatchy High freshman, Julia Wilson, who was questioned by the secret service without her parents present because she wrote “Kill Bush” on her MySpace page?

Sure, that sounds outrageous, but apparently state law does not require parental notification when law enforcement officials want to question a student during school hours. And actually, the mother was notified when the agents knocked on her door, but she “asked the agents to come back in an hour,” apparently mistaking Federal agents with the Fuller Brush Man.
Continue reading “MySpace and the Secret Service” »

SacBee.com has a breaking news story regarding the arrest of a Sacramento-area man accused of “sending threatening letters containing a powdery substance to the El Dorado Hills country club where President Bush will appear Tuesday.”

Hmmmmm … seems Sacramento isn’t a great place for presidents to visit. Remember Squeaky Fromme, who tried to kill President Ford in Capitol Park?

Greenfair HOA building,
my old polling place

I’d like to open up this forum for people to bitch and complain about their polling places. Mine was moved from its usual location at the Greenfair community room on Broadway, a tranquil, tree-covered setting with ample parking, to the County primary care center on the corner of Stockton & Broadway.

Any other Tahoe Parkers out there ready to write to the local officials and ask for Greenfair back?
Continue reading “You want me to vote where?” »