You civic-minded readers may be able to help me understand this story about Mayor Johnson’s new ride. Here are a few quotes that do not make sense to me…
To pay for it, the city of Sacramento used funding initially scheduled to replace two police vehicles; an aging Ford Expedition and a forklift used at the police department’s property division. “So it’s basically cost-neutral,” Johnson said.
You know, basically. More or less. About. As far as you know.
Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson’s got a new car — a jet-black sport utility vehicle with tinted windows, a hybrid engine and a satellite television dish on its roof.
Wow, that sounds like a sweet rig. How on earth did he find the money in these tough economic times to purchase such a luxury item?
The mayor’s office said no taxpayer dollars were used to purchase the onboard television system.
Ah, I see. Same goes for the CD holder and clip-on air freshener?
The mayor said the hybrid gets six more miles to the gallon than his previous car — a 2007 Chevy Tahoe with 78,000 miles.
Whoa! That’s all you had to say. Going green never looked so good.
The SUV came from a dealer near Fresno with a price tag of $51,250.
What, the Sacramento dealerships have all gone out of business?
The Sac Rag 
In a totally unrelated story, an auto dealer near Fresno negotiated a deal with Mayor Johnson to be Sacramento’s newest business. The unnamed dealer received promises of over $11 million in tax breaks over 7 years on their sales, and 9 acres of prime city-owned property on which to place a dealership. When asked how this was pushed through without any notice to the public, Johnson’s 16 -person media department issued the statement that “We are following these developments on TV from inside our new green-friendly SUVs. We will inform you after doing studies and polls on public perception.”
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ugh
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People…these politicans are all the same. Do you really think they are there to help YOU or to make life better (much better) for themselves.
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I’ve always wondered why celebrities and former executives are willing to spend million$ to win an election for a job that pays less than they usually earn for showing up at a bar opening.
FYI – it’s a 3 day weekend, so I expect to stay at the top of the comment widgit until Tuesday morning at 9:34 PST
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Typical Republican corporatism. It’s rubbed off enough on the Democrats too, now, so that they’re not really much better.
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I assume the forklift, police cars and the Expedition were purchased with taxpayer dollars, right? Pretty funny to trade taxpayer owned items for another item, and then claim the new item is not taxpayer funded.
How can KJ be so tone deaf to think that rolling up in a new black Tahoe with a TV antenna on the roof could possible endear him to his constituency?
KJ is starting to remind me of former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. Except Kwame preferred Lincoln Navigators.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwame_Kilpatrick
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“To pay for it, the city of Sacramento used funding initially scheduled to replace two police vehicles”
I don’t understand, don’t we still have to buy the police vehicles? One time I spent my bill money on clothes… but then I STILL had to pay the bills. Isn’t this the same concept?
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Don’t you understand HoneySac? Mayor Johnson is actually saving us money by spending money on a more efficient SUV. The gas savings alone will pay this vehicle off in 43 years.
I’m really disappointed that so many ‘raggers’ were online this weekend and totally screwed up my prediction.
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HoneySac
KJ laid off police officers so now there extra police cars. Apparently there is also an unemployed forklift driver now, too.
If the city lays off the meter maid and auctions her 3 wheeler, maybe KJ can be rolling in an Escalade next year.
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