An analysis was conducted by a non-partisan and neutral economic research firm that discovered the furloughs are actually harming the California economy. Hear that silence? That is the sound of local businesses dying.
The California Supreme Court ruled today that furloughs on state employees are not illegal, but that the Governor does not have the power to impose them. This creates a window of opportunity for Californians like you to stand up and call to an end of this ridiculous practice.
What? You support the furloughs? Well, read on, dear Sacraggians, maybe I can change your mind with some hard facts.
Continue reading “Furlough Fridays Found Falsely Foisted!”
I’m addicted to calling 3-1-1. Ever since I first heard about the city’s catch-all public issue hotline, I’ve found a bushel of reasons to call. Broken sprinkler? Call 311. Overflowing public garbage can? Call 311. Wanna check the wait time for brunch at Tower Cafe? Call 311.
In all honesty, I’ve found the responsiveness, professionalism, and follow-through from my 311 interactions startlingly good. As a recent transplant to the actual confines of the city (formerly living the squire’s life in the county) I’ve be consistently impressed by many ofthe services the city offers. Whether it was picking up my (free) resident parking permit, chatting with folks that work at the park across the street, or having non-criminal interactions with city police I’ve found the city employees to be competent, accessible, and friendly. Continue reading “Civic Slouch Becomes Civic Crusader/Pest”
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?
Just read “A letter to my students,” a blog post from UC Berkeley professor of public policy Michael O’Hare. In it, prof. O’Hare apologizes to incoming freshmen for the “swindle” that has wrecked California over the last 30 years and exhorts them to start working to change it.
It’s a blog, so he gets away with a generation-sized straw man — at one point literally putting words in the mouth of millions of voters — because it’s such an impassioned piece. He places blame for our current predicament solely on tax-hating voters (even, mind-frakkingly, safe districts!?), ignoring the generation-long dearth of sanity in the Capitol building. I wouldn’t give Abel Maldonado or Darrell Steinberg an extra $1000 even if it was to get them to fight each other to the death. But everything he says about the current situation, especially as it pertains to education, is undoubtedly true and his piece is definitely worth a read.
A letter to my students, by Michael O’Hare, from The Berkeley Blog
On this here web log, we have long documented the unique ability of greater Sacramentans to DIY their own garages, often into unsuspecting stationary structures that happened to be built at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Leave it to the gubment to find a way to make this a revenue stream:
Sacramento is the latest city to be considering what many call, a “crash tax.” It’s a product of the recession. More and more fire departments are charging out-of-town drivers for cleaning up car crashes.
Note the “out-of-town”. If you live here, you’re still good.
Oh, this isn’t a product of local drivers smashing into local buildings. Let’s not target the innocent, now, and actually try to prevent the behavior. This is about our “tough economic times”:
“We’re not reinventing the wheel, ” said Captain Jonathan Burgess with the Sacramento City Fire Department. “It’s already being done so we are following suit, with the economic climate we may see a lot of departments going this way.”
The Sacramento City Fire Department responds to about 3,600 car accidents a year and charging non-residents a response fee ranging from $400 to $2,200 dollars could bring in a million dollars a year.
“Half the people here are probably non-residents, that’s a lot of money,” said Sacramento resident, Nick Burruel.
Re-inventing the wheel might actually help here. Not only would a potentially re-invented wheel help drivers not crash and reduce the number of such crashes, it would in turn reduce the tax windfall from —
Never mind.
After a 13 year battle with prostate cancer, Sacramento political leader David E. Cox has died at the age of 72.
Dave served us as a member of the SMUD Board, KVIE Board, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, the California State Assembly and, at his death, the California State Senate.
I was hanging out with some other long term local politicos and public servants today who remember him as I do. Dave was above “politics” and the bullshit that frustrates the public and distracts our elected representatives. He understood his mission, which is to do the right thing, sometimes regardless of political pressure. He frequently found a middle ground to create the best community he could through compromise. He fought for what he believed in without fighting for the sake of battle.
His death is California’s loss. We remember him today.
Nearly two-thirds of that cash came from Pacific Gas & Electric, which has poured $46 million into the campaign for Proposition 16, a constitutional amendment that would require two-thirds voter approval on proposals for a public utility to expand services to new customers or new territories using public funds or bonds.
“PG&E’s spending to support Prop. 16 has eclipsed all other proposition spending this election season,” the foundation’s president, Kim Alexander, said in a statement.
Of course, I scan over to the right side of the page and what did I see being advertised? Fitting, I guess.
Sure seems like this kind of money could be put to better use, huh? Perhaps PG&E could save a library or two and use that exposure to promote their measure? Seems crazy, but these are crazy times, right?
Environmental groups were successful in gathering the required signatures to place a new measure on the November ballot which would add an $18 charge to most DMV registrations in order to keep the state parks open.
If approved by a simple majority of state voters on Nov. 2, the measure would increase annual vehicle registration fees for California motorists by $18 a year, and allow any car with California license plates free admission to the state’s 278 parks, which currently charge fees that range from about $6 to $15 per visit.
Of course, tax groups and the Governator will fight such a measure. But though I am no tax lover, to me this actually sounds like a great deal and a major boost to state park attendance, I would think. Of course, that’s because I know that I would really get my money’s worth.
The Avid Reader at the Tower continues its impressive author lecture series with discussion of a new book that has particular relevance for Sacramento. Seth Masket from the University of Denver will be in town to discuss No Middle Ground: How Informal Party Organizations Control Nominations and Polarize Legislatures. Masket’s book focuses on California politics and how extremist political views are encouraged. If you love politics but are frustrated by California’s status quo of hyperpartisan clashes and gridlock, this book and discussion are for you.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
7-9 pm
The RT service cuts announced last night will hurt pretty bad. On a personal note, this rider loses 3 of his regular routes including the beloved (for some reason) 50E. Apparently the cuts were not as bad as expected, though since money doesn’t grow on trees, one doesn’t relish the sound of the other shoe dropping someday on the “last-minute agreement between the governor and Democratic legislators” that freed up an additional $12 million for RT.
The Sac Rag 