Category: Business

News10.net runs a story about how there will now be “Fewer police on Sacramento streets” because of, well you know, the economy.

Data collected from the Bureau of Justice statistics shows: In 2007, the national average for city police to residents ratio was 2.3 officers for every 1,000 residents. By comparison, after this most recent layoff, Sacramento has 659 sworn officers – giving the city about 1.45 sworn officers to every 1,000 residents. That’s nearly 2/3 the 2007 national average.

Now, they’re are not saying you should go commit a crime now, but they are positioned to tell you “I told you so” if you did. Or, am I missing the point of this story? You have a 25 million dollar budget deficit. You have to cut jobs, right? Or, maybe salaries?

Then, I hop over to sacbee.com where I learn that “Sac Metro’s new chief played role in Vallejo bankruptcy” which is another clever headline. Continue reading “Good work, if you can get it”

Sacramento’s downtown mall has struggled the last five or six years. Maybe the toughest blow came when Hard Rock Cafe closed and the giant plastic guitar came down. I still snuck over there yesterday for quick shopping for a birthday gift, because, well, it’s downtown and that’s convenient if you work downtown.

It’s actually not as bad as it used to be. Vacancies on the first floor are about five percent, and maybe 35 percent on the second floor. Still, an improvement. Foot traffic looks pretty good. And the cinema, Macys, and River City Brewing Company remain as anchors on the mall’s west side. The Doubleday bookstore has been gone for a few years, which sucks (bookstores are generally great places to shop for hard-to-shop-for people). But still there are signs of life sneaking back into the mall.

The cavernous 24 Hour gym is even undergoing an expansion (and hopefully renovation) that will take it to the second floor on the mall’s east entrance.

Back in February, a team of urban planners recommended restructuring the mall into an open mixed-use area for retail, housing and workspace. I really see the virtue in that. Right now, its frontage looks more like a fortress than a market, buttressed against growing national trends that favor outdoor malls or “lifestyle centers.” Open it up if Westfield wants to front the money.

Full disclosure, I sit on the board for Sacramento’s redevelopment agency, which has some jurisdiction with streetscape improvements and tenant attraction in the area. My comments shouldn’t be taken as representing any city officials other than yours truly.

In the meantime, a slow rebound in the mall’s current structure appears to be picking up steam. That funky exotic antique store is gone, where I almost bought a samurai sword once. But if trends continue, something better will come along.

When not social networking, apparently Sacramento enjoys cutting jobs.

The Sacramento region topped job losses in the nation for the last year, according to new figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Ninety-three metros suffered declines, and 13 were unchanged. The Sacramento-Arden Arcade-Roseville metro area lost 14,500 nonfarm jobs from January 2010 to January 2011. Atlanta and Las Vegas came next, with respective declines of 12,300 and 9,500.

Nonfarm? Why the face? Man, how can Stockton do us like this?

This story from Sacto 9-1-1 made me chuckle as I can’t believe the movies this guy was pirating.

A Sacramento man pleaded guilty today in federal court to felony copyright infringement in a case involving the pirating of DVDs…His inventory for sale or rental included unauthorized copies of Hollywood movies such as “The Godfather” and “Indiana Jones”, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release.

Really? You are going to do time for Indiana Jones? And people are still pirating DVDs? And selling/renting them in stores?

According to court documents, Yan Akhumov, 45, of Sacramento, distributed unauthorized copies of copyrighted motion pictures in Music Land stores that he controlled in Rancho Cordova, West Sacramento, Citrus Heights and North Highlands.

Ah, why didn’t you say so. Carry on.

This one is a little too easy to pick on, but what the hell.

But some of the unemployed job seekers say they are facing a new challenge as some companies aren’t even considering applicants who are currently unemployed. Some companies have even gone as far as posting signs, stating you must have a job just to fill out an application.

I guess they are going with the old theory that you need to have a girlfriend in order to find a girlfriend? That it takes one girl to find you attractive in order for another girl to think you’re dreamy? It’s actually not that wacky if you break it down.

Some employers admit they believe the unemployed have lost their skills or workers who are currently employed, are better qualified.

It’s simple. Whoever returns the bike is obviously the person who stole it. So they don’t deserve any reward!