[ltsmotorsport]

It would be just like Sacramento to elect an even dumber council.

[ozone]

ozone: You do realize that the mayor isn't the one who oversees the city staff, right?

Yeah I know about the city manager system. So? The mayor and council still direct the city manager and staff as to what to focus on. Obviously we do not elect the city manager so it's only by election -of our mayor and council representatives that we can make changes to the system. Why do I get the feeling you are being condescending half the time? I know we ain't very smart and don't know nut'n about how we's got here but jeesh yous don't have to rub it wes face ..do's you?

[wburg]

ozone: yep, ah thinks ah does. Council/manager government is similar to a corporation's board of directors and CEO--in fact, it is based on the corporate model. Think of the city council as the board, the mayor as chairman of the board, and city manager as CEO. The board dictates general policy, and the CEO serves at the pleasure of the board, but the CEO generally has a lot of leeway in terms of how the corporation is run.

So, if the problem in a city is the management rather than the council, how does replacing the council change the management?

[snfenoc]

So, if the problem in a city is the management rather than the council, how does replacing the council change the management?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm....Now, that is one tough question.........If we don't like the way our city is managed, we can replace the council (through this strange process called an "election") with those who will to change the management to something we do like. Once the new council changes the management to something we do like, the management will no longer be the problem. Does that show how replacing the council changes the management when management is the problem?

[wburg]

It seems a little indirect...like buying a new car because you have a flat tire.

[ozone]

To me Steve points out the obvious so I will move on.

Sometimes I think Sacramento just a "white trash and bureaucrats" town and always will be. There's no artistry. No aesthetics. Most everything the City does seems lame and and half-assed. If you try to make something look a little nicer people scream gentrification. Street people litter the neighborhood like human rats, egomaniacs spray can their disorder all over the place while cops feed their faces with burritos. So much of this town looks like sh*t. There's no reason to love Sacramento. No inspiration at all. Prove me wrong?

[Cynikal]

And it is this exact attitude that is to blame for that. The only thing I can ask after comments like that is...why are you here?

[wburg]

Are you sure you aren't actually living in Fairfield or something, ozone? That doesn't sound at all like the city I know. I constantly find beautiful sights to see and interesting things to do here in Sacramento. I know so many creative people doing interesting things, and hear about so many cultural events that I can't possibly attend them all.

All I can recommend is that you might consider relocating to, say, the Bay Area, where there are no homeless people and you never see graffiti, everyone is pro-gentrification, and no police officer consumes burritos at any time.

[Fusey]

After living in San Diego for the last six months I gotta say Sac has much more character. The local joke is that the oldest building was built in 1960. Just about every friend and co-worker I have moved here from somewhere else. I love it here, but to me it seems like SD lacks a lot of the creativity of Sac.

Wburg, last night I saw two cops eating burritos at the end of the USS Midway's pier. For some reason your comment cracked me up.

[neuhickman79]

To me Steve points out the obvious so I will move on.

Sometimes I think Sacramento just a "white trash and bureaucrats" town and always will be. There's no artistry. No aesthetics. Most everything the City does seems lame and and half-assed. If you try to make something look a little nicer people scream gentrification. Street people litter the neighborhood like human rats, egomaniacs spray can their disorder all over the place while cops feed their faces with burritos. So much of this town looks like sh*t. There's no reason to love Sacramento. No inspiration at all. Prove me wrong?
Get the eff out! :yuck:

[ozone]

And it is this exact attitude that is to blame for that. The only thing I can ask after comments like that is...why are you here?

What nonsense. My 'attitude' has nothing to do with the way Sacramento is. I returned to Sacramento 3 years ago, started a business, got involved in community events, supported the arts, 2nd Sat., made public improvements to neighborhood. Don't give me that BS. What have you done?

I'm happy that you "constantly find beautiful sights to see and interesting things to do here in Sacramento" and "know so many creative people doing interesting things, and hear about so many cultural events" that you can't possibly attend them all. I'm for one quite bored with most of it. I was reading through the SNR today about the things you can do around town (on the cheap) and it could have very well been written in 1980. Not a lot of new in 20 years! That is sad. I don't care if that hurts. It's the truth. Oh things are a little better -more nightlife, more places to eat. But basically it hasn't changed all that much. And yet locals still cry about the good old days. I still love Sacramento but I think we are getting way ahead of ourselves in thinking our city doesn't need a lot of help. We may have come a long way..BUT we have a long way to go baby.

Your recommendation to relocate to the Bay Area is exacly what most people with ambition end up doing. That's the problem. So if you don't like our homeless, graffiti, bumpkin-filled city then get the hell out. Classic- love it or leave eh? :rolleyes: I'm trying to understand the pathology of this city.

[Pistola916]

I kinda of agree with Ozone. I like Sacramento, but I'm not to crazy about it. Yes, Sacramento 10 years ago isn't the Sac of now. New lofts and apt. projects have open up in the CC, high-rise construction, more community events, bars and restaurants, etc. However, there are a lot of fail projects here. There hasn't been a lot of ambition. We still haven't seen our first high-rise residential or a new arena. I wouldn't be surprise if the airport terminal gets delayed.

I moved to SF a year ago and I'm attending SF State. Many who attended Sac City College with me last year told me they don't plan on moving back to Sac for reasons such as air pollution, boredom, wanting something different.

I know in the next ten years Sac will be even more buzzing. But for now, its not enough for me to move back there after college-unless the Bee offers me a job. Please don't attack me. I'm just stating what I feel.

[neuhickman79]

I kinda of agree with Ozone. I like Sacramento, but I'm not to crazy about it. Yes, Sacramento 10 years ago isn't the Sac of now. New lofts and apt. projects have open up in the CC, high-rise construction, more community events, bars and restaurants, etc. However, there are a lot of fail projects here. There hasn't been a lot of ambition. We still haven't seen our first high-rise residential or a new arena. I wouldn't be surprise if the airport terminal gets delayed.

I moved to SF a year ago and I'm attending SF State. Many who attended Sac City College with me last year told me they don't plan on moving back to Sac for reasons such as air pollution, boredom, wanting something different.

I know in the next ten years Sac will be even more buzzing. But for now, its not enough for me to move back there after college-unless the Bee offers me a job. Please don't attack me. I'm just stating what I feel.
How is the airport terminal going to be delayed when it already started construction? The funding is there...so is the vision...end of story!

[wburg]

ozone: My comparison with the Bay Area was simply because there are homeless, graffiti, etcetera, in *every* major city: they aren't exclusive to Sacramento. Those are all problems that need solving, here and in other cities, but don't even suggest that they are exclusively Sacramento problems. Not so sure about the burrito/cop thing, though.

I don't read the SN&R very often, but I do know that it certainly isn't the be all and end all of local culture and entertainment. If the SN&R is your only source for things to do, no wonder you're bored!

I am encouraged by a lot of the changes I see going on in town. I don't think the point of our city's growth is to try to surpass the level of excitement/culture/etc. one finds in Los Angeles or San Francisco--that's an impossible goal. Sacramento will succeed by being itself--a unique city with its own identity, not a carbon-copy of other cities or a pre-fab place without a history or culture of its own.

I suppose if you're the sort of person who is unimpressed by Italianate townhomes or Craftsman bungalows, or who avoids going into shops whose name you don't recognize from high-fashion magazines, midtown Sacramento's charms might fall flat on you. But yeah, I like 'em.

Pistola916: Go ahead and state what you feel--and thank you for expressing it as your opinion. San Francisco is a fantastic city. I like it too, I have friends & family there and visit there more than anywhere else outside Sacramento. But I don't think I'd like living there full-time. That's just my opinion.

[Pistola916]

How is the airport terminal going to be delayed when it already started construction? The funding is there...so is the vision...end of story!

Whoa! chill. First off it was a ground breaking ceremony. I don't think (correct me if I'm wrong) actual work begins until August such as grading. This project-which I hope does get built-is very early in its stages. Some wacko or environmentalist could sue and force it to delay. And with the cost of fuel, Sac will be losing service such as what happen with Air Canada today. Maybe the airport is too over built. By the time the new terminal is ready, there will only be a dozen or so airlines left.

[Pistola916]

Pistola916: Go ahead and state what you feel--and thank you for expressing it as your opinion. San Francisco is a fantastic city. I like it too, I have friends & family there and visit there more than anywhere else outside Sacramento. But I don't think I'd like living there full-time. That's just my opinion.[/QUOTE]



Thanks. I wasn't knocking Sacramento. nor was I trying to compare Sac with SF. I'm very proud to be born and raised in Sac. I spend the first 11 years of my life in the New Helvetia housing projects off of Broadway and spend some years in Midtown. Before my parents moved to the south area. I am an inner city guy.

Now there are some great qualities about Sac, tree-lined streets, Midtown, McKinley Park (my fav), diversity, weather, the people (a whole lot nicer than SF), it's small town feel.

But since I'm in my early 20's, I wanted to experience something more. What better way to experience it by going to college in SF. I think SF is the greatest city in the universe. It has everything an urbanist like myself would like, but I hate a lot of thing about SF, for instance, the weather in the summer. I hate bumping shoulders while I'm walking in downtown and I'm not a big fan of the people that live here. A bunch of yuppies. So should I leave SF because I dislike some of the things in the city. No. There's more to love than hate.

My point is I don't like it when someone offers their opinion and then someone criticizes it by saying "get the effin out." There are people who don't like the way Sac is heading. Personally, I wish I didn't have to leave Sac. But I don't want to be someone who spends his rest of his life living in one place. Moving out to SF has made me a stronger person. I'm sure I'll be moving again after college, maybe to Seattle or Vancouver BC. Sac is not for everyone. People move.

[cozmoose]

To me Steve points out the obvious so I will move on.

Sometimes I think Sacramento just a "white trash and bureaucrats" town and always will be. There's no artistry. No aesthetics. Most everything the City does seems lame and and half-assed. If you try to make something look a little nicer people scream gentrification. Street people litter the neighborhood like human rats, egomaniacs spray can their disorder all over the place while cops feed their faces with burritos. So much of this town looks like sh*t. There's no reason to love Sacramento. No inspiration at all. Prove me wrong?

I agree.
Sometimes, reading this forum, one would think Sac is the most wonderful place with great future.
I think many on this forum are wearing rose colored sunglasses.

Nothing wrong with civic pride but I think ozone's discription of Sac is quite realistic.

[Majin]

If I had the power I'd ban all of you from this forum.

[wburg]

Pistola916: I wasn't serious about suggesting that Ozone leave town, just pointing out that other cities also have problems. Ozone insinuated that somehow these problems were unique to Sacramento, and that isn't true. He also said this:
There's no reason to love Sacramento. No inspiration at all. Prove me wrong?

And I tried to do so. He claims there's no reason to love Sacramento--I claim there is. He claims there is no inspiration here--I'm constantly inspired by this city.

Does that mean I think it's perfect? No, far from it. But lovable? Yes. Inspiring? Hell yes! Over the years it has inspired me to participate in the local community, getting involved in the arts and music scenes and doing stuff instead of grouching about how there wasn't anything to do, or blaming my own lack of inspiration on where I was instead of what I was doing. See, I didn't grow up in Sacramento. I moved to midtown...because this is where I wanted to be.

But it's not the town for everyone. Plenty of my friends have made the same move you did, to San Francisco or Portland or Los Angeles. When I visit them, they generally seem happy with their decision, although some have also moved back. So maybe it isn't a "GTFO" kind of thing as much as "well, if you're really that unhappy here, maybe you do need a change of scene!"

[otnemarcaS]

If I had the power I'd ban all of you from this forum.

Good to see Sacramento is also a place that welcomes dissent. Look in the mirror and start your ban there.

450K+ live in Sacramento city and over 2 million in the metro area, so do people really think everyone has but a love love love and more love affair with Sacramento? Puhleeze. Everybody has an opinion, good or bad, of how they feel about a particular city. Many of the arguments for and against Sac also applies to many cities across the country. And many people just can't "GTFO" because they dislike a city since many factors from jobs to homes to families to school and other reasons tie them, temporarily or permanently, to a city they may, or may not, like. Sacramento included.

I've said this before .... if all anyone does is live, work and play in the central city and thinks that is all that defines Sacramento, then you really, really, really need to get out more often.

[Grimnebulin]

I agree.
Sometimes, reading this forum, one would think Sac is the most wonderful place with great future.
I think many on this forum are wearing rose colored sunglasses.

Nothing wrong with civic pride but I think ozone's discription of Sac is quite realistic.

I too think that to a degree that ozone's description does have merit. I think it may be a little over the top but there is a shade of truth to much of what he posted. And sometimes I too think that the rose tinted glasses analogy does apply to some posters here. Sacramento is a very unique and interesting place and I look forward to its continual development as I plan to be here for a long time myself. It's made a LOT of progress in the last 10 years, but I really do feel it has much room for improvement. So I sit somewhere in the middle! :D

[Majin]

If anybody really wants to leave here, I'll go ahead and call your bluff. PM me and I will personally buy you a one way plane ticket out of here to anywhere you want and will pay to have all of your shit moved with you. After which you are permanently banned from ever coming back.

[Fusey]

Would we be banished from the metro area or just the grid? :haha:

[neuhickman79]

The problem I have with ozone's comments is that there seems to be no hope for Sacramento in his mind. I love Sacramento and can't understand how one could not find SOMETHING good about it! My opinion is, if you can't find something good about it and you're going to complain so emphatically; then get out! Misery loves company...and, frankly, I don't want your miserable company, ozone!

[econgrad]

To me Steve points out the obvious so I will move on.

Sometimes I think Sacramento just a "white trash and bureaucrats" town and always will be. There's no artistry. No aesthetics. Most everything the City does seems lame and and half-assed. If you try to make something look a little nicer people scream gentrification. Street people litter the neighborhood like human rats, egomaniacs spray can their disorder all over the place while cops feed their faces with burritos. So much of this town looks like sh*t. There's no reason to love Sacramento. No inspiration at all. Prove me wrong?

I somewhat agree with these comments as well, which is kind of strange because Ozone and I seem to have opposing points of view most of the time. I wouldn't use the term "White Trash" as I deem it racist, (No, please do not think I am calling Ozone a racist and turn my one opinionated sentence into a huge argument, I just do not like racially based categories and comments in any way shape or form). Ozone, could you agree with me that a better term for "White Trash" could be "Un-educated" or "Small Town Minded with Tunnel Vision" ? I believe that would describe the people we both are referring to..

I am frustrated as well with the decisions and development processes of the entire Metro Area. Yet, we can admit it has improved greatly in many ways. Before I left here after high school and moved away to college, this entire town was dead...just dead! The most happening thing was this place called 'America Live" in the capitol mall, I was 18 at the time this was popular, got in with a fake ID, and all I can say is: "YUCK!" Some of you may be too young to remember what Sac was like in the late 80's and early 90's, but it was a slight step above Modesto, now we have a lot to be proud of with many changes to come. Lets not get too impatient. Second Saturday is one thing we can all be proud of..

And the Folsom Rodeo! (I'll see you there Majin! I know you love the rodeo..)

[Fusey]

I grew up in Folsom and despised the rodeo.

[Cynikal]

What nonsense. My 'attitude' has nothing to do with the way Sacramento is. I returned to Sacramento 3 years ago, started a business, got involved in community events, supported the arts, 2nd Sat., made public improvements to neighborhood. Don't give me that BS. What have you done?


I disagree, your attitude and the attitude of "always has been X always will be X" is defeatist, but who am I to tell you how to think. I can just disagree with you.

As for what have I done, well, I work as a planner for the city you hate so much, I was part of the group that started a non-profit promoting cycling advocacy (Bicycle Kitchen if you are wondering), and member of the Urban Design Alliance. These are a few examples of what I do both professionally and in my free time to make the city I live in better. I hope this satisfies your requirements.

[innov8]

What nonsense. My 'attitude' has nothing to do with the way Sacramento is. I returned to Sacramento 3 years ago, started a business, got involved in community events, supported the arts, 2nd Sat., made public improvements to neighborhood. Don't give me that BS. What have you done?

I'm happy that you "constantly find beautiful sights to see and interesting things to do here in Sacramento" and "know so many creative people doing interesting things, and hear about so many cultural events" that you can't possibly attend them all. I'm for one quite bored with most of it. I was reading through the SNR today about the things you can do around town (on the cheap) and it could have very well been written in 1980. Not a lot of new in 20 years! That is sad. I don't care if that hurts. It's the truth. Oh things are a little better -more nightlife, more places to eat. But basically it hasn't changed all that much. And yet locals still cry about the good old days. I still love Sacramento but I think we are getting way ahead of ourselves in thinking our city doesn't need a lot of help. We may have come a long way..BUT we have a long way to go baby.

Your recommendation to relocate to the Bay Area is exacly what most people with ambition end up doing. That's the problem. So if you don't like our homeless, graffiti, bumpkin-filled city then get the hell out. Classic- love it or leave eh? :rolleyes: I'm trying to understand the pathology of this city.

It’s funny for me to read ozone’s description of the city that he has decided to
call home after being abroad for so many many years.

For ozone and other to view our city like he doe’s seems weird to me.
He’s states that he’s bored with it and in my view it sounds like you do need
to move on to green pastures. Maybe your one of those people who gets
bored really easy, so looking for the negative in something is the easiest way
to make an excuse to leave. Do you plan on moving or are you going to walk
around griping at how not much the city has not changed since the 80’s?
Those comment right there sound absurd if you’re being serious. I think
everyone on this board knows the city is a long way from our urban oasis,
but most of what’s said on the boards are how things could and should
be done better... and these rose colored sunglasses we put on are needed
from time to time to keep us all positive about what the future can be :yes:

Are you having a nicotine moment again? You seem to have these moody
funks from time to time.

[BrianSac]

Midtown is the most unique and awe-inspiring place in the whole world! :), not.

Sacramento is a major trend setting city, and every mover and shaver, creative type wants to move here, not.

Our skyline is so awesome.....when they turn the lights.

Ozone, i hear what you are saying. I find myself on the coast these days...surfing at Half Moon Bay while the valley was filled with smoke.

Sacramento is fine. It moves at its own pace. I'm still waiting for that big burst, synergist growth spurt in the downtown/midtown; it hasnt quite happened for me yet, but there are people and things keeping me here for at least another 2yrs.

[Phillip]

I'm highly ambivalent about Sacramento (and for me that means the greater Sacramento area; not just Midtown/Downtown).

I've come to Sac area and left it five times since 1996. The shortest I've stayed was three months; my longest stint was two years. Every time I've left Sacramento I thought I was leaving for good. A year passes and what do you know...I'm back. I'm trapped in an abusive relationship with a city, lol.

So something draws me to Sacramento, and honestly I don't know what it is. I've also lived in Portland and San Diego and San Jose and Austin and some other places (yes I'm old), and looking at them objectively (if that's possible) I think those are all better cities than Sac (I'm not saying that to start arguments), but for some reason I feel at home here, as hideous as Sacramento often seems to be.

I know about Curtis Park and Land Park and the Fab 40's but overall I think Sacramento, at least 80% of it, is among the ugliest cities I've lived in. Every city has these bleak districts and sprawl areas but Sac seems to me especially well stocked. Maybe I'm drawn to this board because it celebrates the best things about Sac....the parts I'd like to savor...but most of Sac is ugly to me, and sometimes the city's overall spirit feels bad, with tensions and divisions everywhere.

Nonetheless I like it here. There's no explanation. I stay in Sac until I'm sick of it, then I go. I'll be leaving again soon, maybe this time forever...for family reasons.

All those other times I thought I was leaving Sac forever too. Who knows? We'll see. Good luck to us all.

[Pistola916]

I came across a video on youtube about a song called "Sacramento". It was sung by Middle of the Road, a 70's band. I thought it was hilarious and share it you guys. Enjoy. BTW it was shot in Amsterdam.

According to the song, its a wonderful town

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FX-wssroWA

[Grimnebulin]

I came across a video on youtube about a song called "Sacramento". It was sung by Middle of the Road, a 70's band. I thought it was hilarious and share it you guys. Enjoy. BTW it was shot in Amsterdam.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FX-wssroWA

And of course the more recent electronic version of "Sacramento"...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPf_SgQjddE

[Grimnebulin]

dbl post

[innov8]

And of course the more recent electronic version of "Sacramento"...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPf_SgQjddE


That one's fun, it's always a party going to Sactown :haha:

Today I saw the new size for the printed version of the Sacramento Bee and
it looks like it's getting smaller in size by and inch or so. A few years ago I
remember they reduced it's size to save money and now they are doing it
again. We should start seeing the new size in a few weeks.

[Pistola916]

That one's fun, it's always a party going to Sactown :haha:

Today I saw the new size for the printed version of the Sacramento Bee and
it looks like it's getting smaller in size by and inch or so. A few years ago I
remember they reduced it's size to save money and now they are doing it
again. We should start seeing the new size in a few weeks.

I kind of wish they would have turn the Bee into a tabloid size paper.

[ltsmotorsport]

^That would fit it's reporting style to a tee.

[Majin]

Anybody know if any local shops sell any "I love Sac" or "Sac 4 Life" type shirts?

[wburg]

I'd try Swanberg's on J Street and 23rd. They even have hoodies with midtown neighborhoods on them, or did last time I was in there.

[Tenebrist]

It's amusing that this Yelp review by Nick B. is 90% rage on "San Francisco wanna-bees, stuck in their fairy ghetto"
and about three half-sentences in favor of his opinion that "Roseville is pleasant and well run, unlike the hellhole of downtown and midtown".

Yelp Link: http://www.yelp.com/biz/roseville-city-of-roseville-7#hrid:t6Qn-8vqYKY10vnGu1Yu9w

[aufbau]

It's amusing that this Yelp review by Nick B. is 90% rage on "San Francisco wanna-bees, stuck in their fairy ghetto"
and about three half-sentences in favor of his opinion that "Roseville is pleasant and well run, unlike the hellhole of downtown and midtown".

Yelp Link: http://www.yelp.com/biz/roseville-city-of-roseville-7#hrid:t6Qn-8vqYKY10vnGu1Yu9w

Yet he lists Sacramento as his location? pity the guy with Roseville envy:rolleyes:

I like this fairy ghetto. Despite all our discussions about Sacramento's (lack of?) sense of place, midtown does well enough to keep me here for the time being.

[wburg]

I grew up within spitting distance of Roseville. I liked it better when it was basically the railyards, the Auction, the area around Riverside and a buncha dirt.

Gimme the mincing Midtowners anytime. There's plenty of place here, it's just not the place a lot of people want it to be...

[tronblue]

"It's amusing that this Yelp review by Nick B. is 90% rage on 'San Francisco wanna-bees, stuck in their fairy ghetto'
and about three half-sentences in favor of his opinion that 'Roseville is pleasant and well run, unlike the hellhole of downtown and midtown'".
-Tenebrist

Tenebrist, I found Nick's observations to be laughable at best. I would agree that the city maybe better maintained, but only because a typical Roseville household makes twice what a Sacramento family would make. Some other important facts: Almost 90% white with very little diversity or exceptence for diversity anyways.

I've driven through the downtown and its very small town minded. They have that rad theater there and they do almost nothing with it. The demographics are mostly conservative and that tends to say a lot about a community and its goals. Just look at their ideas of smart growth. They continuosly refuse light rail and practical transportation and inflict their commute congestion on us down south. As far as I'm concerned they can just stay within their city limits. If they desire to come to sac than they need to pay a toll at 80 and Greenback in order to enter our city. Granted I've always disliked Roseville, but I'm sorry Arden-Arcade is a better place to live than Roseville and I'm not trying to mock Arden-Arcade because as far as suburban environments go its better than most.

Let's take an idea from Reno and bus our homeless to Roseville, as they have enough median income to support trickle down theory within their gated community. Roseville is to Sacramento as Clakamus is to Portland, Just another place to find united artists mega complex, khols, and claim jumpers for fat baby boomers.

[SacUrbnPlnr]

Tronblue:

Good points, but your estimate of income and ethnic disparities between Roseville and Sacramento was a bit off according to the Census Bureau's 2006 American Community Survey:

Median and average household incomes in Roseville: $71,453/$86,473
Median and average household incomes in Sacramento: $46,055/$59,926

(Sacramento City income was about two-thirds of Roseville income in 2006.)

Percent of population white Roseville in (2006): 79%
Percent of population white Sacramento in (2006): 50%
;)

[Majin]

I rather live in South Sac than Roseville.

[neuhickman79]

I rather live in South Sac than Roseville.
Again, we agree!

[Pistola916]

I rather live in South Sac than Roseville.

Me too. Wait I did live in South Sac. My parents live there.

[neuhickman79]

An era soon to end in Sacramento media! :(
JULY 9, 2008

The rumors are true: Dave and Lois will retire this year

http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/ticket/archives/PK%20KCRA%20WALKER%20HART.JPG

The rumors have been swirling for months but Channel 3 (KCRA) stalwarts Dave Walker and Lois Hart refused to confirm the buzz that they were set to leave their anchor desks for good this year.

Until today.

"Yes, we are going to retire at some point, later this year," said Lois Hart, reached on the phone as she took a break from jury duty. "But I can't really tell you more than that."

She wasn't even sure she wanted the news out just yet.

"Dave? Should we talk to The Bee?" she said, calling over to her husband. "Can we tell them we're retiring?"

Walker, apparently, gave the nod of approval and so, there you have it.

While the anchors declined to give a specific date, Hart did talk aspirations.

"I'm very comfortable telling you that I'm thinking of travel - Costa Rica, Truckee.
she said. " Actually, that's all I've had time to think about at this point."

Walker and Hart both worked in Sacramento during the 1970s before launching CNN's inaugural broadcast in 1980. The pair returned to KCRA in 1990 and, in 1994, started anchoring its late night news broadcast. Currently, they work the 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. shifts.

Hart promises that more information regarding an exact exit date and whether the two will remain involved with KCRA is soon forthcoming..

Stay tuned.

(from the Sacramento Bee)

[econgrad]

Tronblue:

Good points, but your estimate of income and ethnic disparities between Roseville and Sacramento was a bit off according to the Census Bureau's 2006 American Community Survey:

Median and average household incomes in Roseville: $71,453/$86,473
Median and average household incomes in Sacramento: $46,055/$59,926

(Sacramento City income was about two-thirds of Roseville income in 2006.)

Percent of population white Roseville in (2006): 79%
Percent of population white Sacramento in (2006): 50%
;)

Why do more educated and wealthier people prefer to live in Roseville, and why is racial makeup of an area an issue pertaining to what city is better run?

[neuhickman79]

Why do more educated and wealthier people prefer to live in Roseville, and why is racial makeup of an area an issue pertaining to what city is better run?
How about comparing Midtown/East Sac/Land Park/Curtis Park/South Land Park/Pocket to Roseville? That should be maybe 100,000 people (about the size of Roseville). I'd be interested in seeing the difference in demographics between the two.

[innov8]

How about comparing Midtown/East Sac/Land Park/Curtis Park/South Land Park/Pocket to Roseville? That should be maybe 100,000 people (about the size of Roseville). I'd be interested in seeing the difference in demographics between the two.

Yeah, that's a good one. Roseville would have twice as many stores and place
to shop but the area of Midtown/East Sac/Land Park/Curtis Park/South Land
Park/Pocket would have more food variety in restaurants to choose from.

[econgrad]

^ How about having the guts to answer my questions...

[ltsmotorsport]

You want the truth? You can't handle the truth!

[wburg]

Why do educated/wealthy move: For the past century or so, when Americans' social standing increases, they buy new homes in the suburbs. However, because suburbs are disposable consumer items, these relatively wealthy folks buy new suburban homes farther and farther from the urban core every few years. Originally, the vast majority of suburban migration was white as well as wealthy (due to racial covenants that were in effect until the 1960s) but in recent years the migration is more explicitly based on class lines (but still predominantly white.)

Roseville is the current center of attention for suburban "white flight," but, assuming suburb developers get their way and there is no major change in the paradigm, they will fade and the affluent homeowners will move on to the next suburb. 10-15 years ago Elk Grove/Laguna was the new affluent suburb, before that it was Citrus Heights, before that it was Rancho Cordova--if you keep going back, one finds eras when North Sacramento and South Sacramento were the energetic new suburbs.

Why racial makeup pertains to the perception of better-run cities: For reasons mentioned above, most suburbs tend to be white-dominated. Suburbs are in the first wave of the "Growth Machine" cycle, where formerly rural property values are suddenly amplified greatly, causing a dramatic increase in property tax income for the city. Because suburbs generally feature large lots, and are laid out using feeder streets and cul-de-sacs, resulting in (in the short term) lower costs for city infrastructure like streets and sewers (a grid system is more efficient in use but more expensive to build and maintain.) Suburban communities can also avoid spending money on things that cities can't avoid, like low-income housing programs or social services. Because things like social services are commonly associated with the nonwhite population, and the generally white makeup of new suburbs, people in these communities learn to associate whiteness with good governing.

The end result is that new suburban cities tend to be flush with cash, as long as they keep building, while keeping city taxes relatively low. This is what gives the perception of the better-run city. Once the city stops being able to grow, and has to base its income on the current tax base, this can change in a hurry.

[Majin]

Suburbs like Roseville/Folsom are pieces of trash to me. I don't give a damn how many affluent people live there or how many upscale stores they have. They are straight up garbage and would never, ever live in places like that. They just sicken me.

I'd buy one of those 34th street condos in Oak Park without thinking twice over a large cul-de-sac McMansion in Roseville. I wouldn't even live there if a house was given to me for free (I'd sell it and buy a real house in a real neighborhood).

[Pistola916]

^
Preach it my brotha!

[econgrad]

Suburbs like Roseville/Folsom are pieces of trash to me. I don't give a damn how many affluent people live there or how many upscale stores they have. They are straight up garbage and would never, ever live in places like that. They just sicken me.

I'd buy one of those 34th street condos in Oak Park without thinking twice over a large cul-de-sac McMansion in Roseville. I wouldn't even live there if a house was given to me for free (I'd sell it and buy a real house in a real neighborhood).

OK, nice opinion. But can you explain why? Do you hate white people or are racist against people of Euro-Decent? What makes your strong convictions against single family homes in suburban neighborhoods?

Wburg, Thank you very much for your well thought out response and keeping our debates worth debating, I will have a rebuttal ASAP. :)

[otnemarcaS]

Sacramento's most walkable neighborhood? Richmond Grove according to walkscore.com rankings (http://walkscore.com/rankings/Sacramento)of cities with most walkable neighborhoods. Downtown, Midtown, Boulevard Park and Marshall School round out the top 5. I guess crossing eight lanes of traffic in city blocks the size of a soccer field caused most neighborhoods in North Natomas to barely miss the Top 5. Heck, none made the Top 87 'hoods listed for Sac but mine placed 50th. :D If you enter an address it will return the neighbood walkability and amenities within distance.

Sacramento as a whole came in 20th out of the top 40. Not surprisingly SF was first with NYC, Boston, Chicago and Philly rounding out the Top 5 nationwide. Jacksonville, FL was last.

Of course, this is all walkability approximation.

[FresnoFacts]

Sacramento as a whole came in 20th out of the top 40. Not surprisingly SF was first with NYC, Boston, Chicago and Philly rounding out the Top 5 nationwide. Jacksonville, FL was last.


Fresno came in at 19th, one spot ahead of Sacramento. Its not all sprawl down here like some think.

[Majin]

Fresno came in at 19th, one spot ahead of Sacramento. Its not all sprawl down here like some think.

Yes it is.

[FresnoFacts]

LOL, poor planning in the past yes, but not all sprawl. I guess you haven't come down to see the neighborhoods like these in Fresno:
Downtown Fresno/Kern Street
http://www.fresno.gov/NR/rdonlyres/11F45DB0-F433-45F5-8F88-74130DA93718/9330/VIBEcrowd1.jpg
Huntington Blvd.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/88/250617874_7ba949c926.jpg?v=0

So you'll have to take it up with the people who came up with the walkability scores. They have a lot of cities ranked lower than Fresno meaning more sprawl. ;)
http://www.walkscore.com/rankings/most-walkable-cities.php

[Pistola916]

Fresno at 19??? Whoa... I'm lost for words.

[TowerDistrict]

Richmond Grove is actually tied for 6th in the whole nation (if you lump all the tie scores together).

The Walkscore rankings are highly mechanical though, and shouldn't be taken toooo seriously. I mean, you shouldn't let a number tell you everything you know about a given place. The scores are HIGHLY dependent upon locations to amenities that eliminate short car trips - most heavily weighted on proximity to food sources like restaurants, and even more so, by grocery stores. It's all search based really - a liquor store sometimes shows up as a "grocery" store on their maps. I'm thinking this is how some of the financial districts and downtowns showed up so high on the lists too. I mean.. I know plenty of people who live in SF and not a single one would live in the financial district. It's a stretch to even call it a "neighborhood".

And on another note... I think it's a bit hypocritical to bag on Fresno on a board like this - considering the civic-minded folks around here. I do enough defense of Sacramento to smug Bay Areans in my own life to see the attitude perpetuated towards another stigmatized city. Not to get overly preachy, but you know there must be parts of Fresno worth recognition, and you know there's people who care about said places. We get giddy in Sacramento when the San Jose Mercury News writes up 2nd Saturday - let Fresno relish their 19th spot.

[SacUrbnPlnr]

It might not be that crazy to think that Fresno could beat Sacramento (although slightly) for walkability--at least based on an overall comparison. An important measure of walkability is the connectivity ratio. Believe it or not, much of Fresno is laid out in a well-connected grid or modified grid pattern, although this pattern tends to be less recognizable in some of the newer parts of the City. In contrast, many Sacramento neighborhoods constructed during the 1970s and after (Pocket area, South Natomas, North Natomas, etc.) are full of loops and lollipops, which are much less walkable because the connections among destinations are more challenging.

These contrasting patterns are very clear when one compares the two cities from the same distance on Google Earth.

[aufbau]

I'm just thrilled one of these national rankings finally got a recent stock photo of our skyline.

[FresnoFacts]

The entire Walkable city list is interesting. Among the 40 large cities studied, California cities ranked:
1. San Francisco
8. Long Beach
9. Los Angeles
16. San Diego
17. San Jose
19. Fresno
20. Sacramento

[otnemarcaS]

As TD says, this is highly mechanical and is certainly geared towards neighborhoods with high proximitiy of amenities. How else do you explain Horton Plaza as a neighborhood in San Diego or University of Texas in Austin or Country Club Plaza in Kansas City? Interesting that UT is a top 3 walkable neighborhood in Austin but Sac State ranks 32nd in Sacramento. Yep, definitely a commuter school with a dearth of places and activities surrounding the campus to walk to despite its almost 30,000 students.

Cities like LA get high rankings even with its car centric culture because even in its endless merging of cities, there are many truly fascinating neighborhoods. And this is a compilation of cities with the most walkable neighborhoods.

No need to go Sac vs Fresno regarding walkability. The site gave both cities a score of 54 so the ranking may just be random for tied scores or actual rankings were not rounded like the final shown.

[FresnoFacts]

No need to go Sac vs Fresno regarding walkability. The site gave both cities a score of 54 so the ranking may just be random for tied scores or actual rankings were not rounded like the final shown.

I think the site gave both a score of 54 but gave Fresno a higher ranking due to how they build in population.

Sacramento had MORE people in the most walkable areas. But Fresno had FEWER people who were car dependent.

20% of Sacramento residents have a Walk Score of 70 or above. 54% have a Walk Score of at least 50—and 46% live in Car-Dependent neighborhoods.

18% of Fresno residents have a Walk Score of 70 or above. 60% have a Walk Score of at least 50—and 40% live in Car-Dependent neighborhoods.

[Phillip]

I lived in Fresno three years. Neither city is very walkable. A lot of people in Fresno walk by necessity because they can't afford cars.

Downtown/Midtown Sacramento is walkable, but DT/MT isn't 10% of Sacramento. Fresno's Tower District is walkable but there's no longer a supermarket there.

A survey I'd like to see is a Civic Self Esteem Survey. Even though Fresno trails Sacramento in education, employment, median income, cultural amenities, and almost any other measure you can think of, I think the average Fresnan is more content in Fresno than the average Sacramentan is in Sacramento.

[TWAK]

2 more weeks and I'll be back in sacramento. Man for a city of over a million people san antonio freaking sucks.

[Fusey]

Do you have something against green water?

Sorry, that's the last time I'll paraphrase Mark Cuban.

[FresnoFacts]

Both Sacramento and Fresno have pros and cons. Rather than argue one being better than the other I think we could learn from what is working or not working in each city.

I do think people need to remember that metro Fresno is just now at the population level of metro Sacramento 25 or 30 years ago.

So to compare things like cultural amenities, population needs to be considered. Remember the Capitol Plaza Holiday Inn was considered a tall building 30 years ago. ;)

But in some measures Fresno is currently doing better than Sacramento.

For example, Crime in the main city (City of Fresno pop is 486,171, City of Sacramento is 475,743) Fresno has figured out how to reduce its crime and gang problem with only about 15% more police officers than Sacramento.
2007 Violent Crime Incidents
Fresno - 3,044
Sacramento - 5,128

2007 Property Crime
Fresno - 20,969
Sacramento - 24,399

2007 Auto Thefts
Fresno - 4,023
Sacramento - 6,073
http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/2007prelim/table4al_ca.htm

And there are some similiarities between the 2 areas.

Both come from ag backgrounds, I remember Sacramento being called Sacratomato or the Big Tomato not many years ago.

Sacramento has Hard Rock, Fresno is getting Cabo Wabo.

Both cities have river parkways.
Fresno's - http://www.riverparkway.org/

I have friends who were excited that Anthropologie and Sur La Table recently opened at the Fountains in Roseville. I told them, big deal those chains have been open in Fresno since last year. ;)

Like I said we can learn from each cities mistakes and from what is working.

[neuhickman79]

Both Sacramento and Fresno have pros and cons. Rather than argue one being better than the other I think we could learn from what is working or not working in each city.

I do think people need to remember that metro Fresno is just now at the population level of metro Sacramento 25 or 30 years ago.

So to compare things like cultural amenities, population needs to be considered. Remember the Capitol Plaza Holiday Inn was considered a tall building 30 years ago. ;)

But in some measures Fresno is currently doing better than Sacramento.

For example, Crime in the main city (City of Fresno pop is 486,171, City of Sacramento is 475,743) Fresno has figured out how to reduce its crime and gang problem with only about 15% more police officers than Sacramento.
2007 Violent Crime Incidents
Fresno - 3,044
Sacramento - 5,128

2007 Property Crime
Fresno - 20,969
Sacramento - 24,399

2007 Auto Thefts
Fresno - 4,023
Sacramento - 6,073
http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/2007prelim/table4al_ca.htm

And there are some similiarities between the 2 areas.

Both come from ag backgrounds, I remember Sacramento being called Sacratomato or the Big Tomato not many years ago.

Sacramento has Hard Rock, Fresno is getting Cabo Wabo.

Both cities have river parkways.
Fresno's - http://www.riverparkway.org/

I have friends who were excited that Anthropologie and Sur La Table recently opened at the Fountains in Roseville. I told them, big deal those chains have been open in Fresno since last year. ;)

Like I said we can learn from each cities mistakes and from what is working.

NO! Fresno and Sacramento are not that close! Please don't try to compare them! They're totally different cities! Where is Fresno's light rail? How about their State Capitol Building? Does Fresno have a Fab 40's? Land Park? an historic neighborhood like Old Sac? ANYTHING even REMOTELY close to Midtown? A world class railroad museum? ANYTHING? I don't see the significance in Fresno as far as California is concerned! Not to bash or anything. But, FresNO is NO Sacramento!

[Pistola916]

^
Plus we have the NBA, two rivers running through the city, a great art museum in the Crocker, more high-rise development, and will have a spanking new airport terminal, possible new arena, a restaurant and clubbing scene that beats Fresno and finally, the railyards. So the future is even brighter for Sac. Sac is in the same boat with Portland and Salt Lake City while Fresno is more like El Paso TX and Death Valley.

[FresnoFacts]

LOL and didn't I just say
I do think people need to remember that metro Fresno is just now at the population level of metro Sacramento 25 or 30 years ago.

So to compare things like cultural amenities, population needs to be considered. Remember the Capitol Plaza Holiday Inn was considered a tall building 30 years ago.

Sacramento IS a different city than Fresno because it is further along a development path driven by size. And it has the state capitol.

BUT before you bash Fresno and compare it to "Death Valley" remember what people said about Sacramento 25 years ago. If you want Sacramento to be respected for what it has accomplished, then respect what Fresno is now accomplishing.

A new arena in Sacramento? Great, but give Fresno credit for building a 15,000 seat arena in 2003. Thats only 2,000 seats smaller than ARCO.

NBA team? Again a function of size. Great for Sacramento but there are more sports (pro, college, minor league) than just the NBA.

Light rail? Fresno is currently studying the first phase with construction tentatively scheduled to start in the next few years.

More high-rise development? Yes, like I said Fresno is the population size of Sacramento BEFORE those buildings went up. We are just now getting the interest downtown in new buildings.

Midtown and Land Park? Fresno has Huntington Blvd and the Tower District to name just two. And now there is new live/work loft housing going into the Arts District near several museums. Some is reserved strictly for up and coming artists whose careers are being supported by sponsors.

Historic old neighborhood? How about Fresno's still existing Chinatown with real tunnels underneath? Or historic buildings surrounding downtown, many still in use.

Importance in California? Fresno is home to many water technology companies producing filters, meters, pipes, pumps, valves, etc. Also there are research institutes and business incubators geared to how California will manage its water needs for urban, commercial, industry and ag as we enter a drought period. Maybe all of that might be important in the next few years?

Speaking of environment, where is the solar energy in Sacramento to compare to the solar projects at Fresno State, the Fresno airport and private companies that opened this year? Don't we get credit for going green.
http://www.worldwater.com/pages/fresno.html
http://www.fresnostatenews.com/2007/11/solarwrapup2.htm

And what about world-class public art? Fresno has works by Renoir, Puccinelli, and others on public display not just in its museums.

Fresno is home to the CSU Summer Arts program
http://www.csusummerarts.org/public_events_calendar/index.shtml
The Rogue Festival of independent arts
http://roguefestival.org/
One of the oldest GLBT film festivals in the US
http://www.reelpride.com/
Shakespeare in the Park
http://www.woodwardshakespeare.org/
PLUS museums, restaurants, a growing arts community,
http://my.fresnoarts.net/events
nightlife and VIP lounges, casinos, a soon to open theme park, etc.

BUT guys its not a competition. You want to be proud of Sacramento and bash Fresno. Why not be proud of Sacramento AND find out what Fresno has to offer besides your negative views of this city? :tup:

Cities don't all have to be the same. And all have their good and bad points.

[BrianSac]

If the High-Speed Rail (HSR) bond passes in Nov. Fresno will be one of the first cities in California to have HSR. They will be able to travel to San Jose in 1 hour, SF in 1 1/2hrs, LA in 2hrs, Orange Cnty (Irvine) in 2 1/2 hrs.
Sacramento may never get HSR; if we do, it will 20 yrs after Fresno has had it. Dont be duped by the HSR rhetoric and advertising. Sacramento is not part of the first phase and there is no real plan to ever include Sacramento the way it stands today.

Fresno will never have two rivers like the American and Sacramento, nor do they have a comparable lake like Folsom Lake. They dont have nearly as many trees as our downtown/midtown.

[Pistola916]

Well, Fresno will get HSR and Sac got screwed

[LandofFrost]

I think this is the most depressing thing I've heard since the towers failed.

From the Sac Bee.

Corti Brothers gourmet grocery store loses east Sacramento lease, will seek new location
By Jim Downing - jdowning@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PDT Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Landmark Sacramento grocer Corti Brothers has lost the lease on its east Sacramento store and will close Sept. 30, company President Darrell Corti said Monday.

Corti says his business remains profitable, and he is looking for a new location.

The new tenant at the 5810 Folsom Blvd. site, Corti said, will be Good Eats, a gourmet bistro-market planned by a partnership that includes Michael Teel, former chief executive of West Sacramento-based Raley's Stores. Teel could not be reached for comment.

Corti said he learned he would be forced out of the location during the first week of July. The store's landlord, Nancy Cleavinger, called him to her office to say that his month-to-month lease would not be renewed, he said.

Cleavinger could not be reached for comment.

"It came as a shot out of the dark," Corti said.

At the meeting, Corti said he was handed papers showing the site had been rented to Teel's partnership. The new tenants will pay twice Corti's $12,000 monthly rent, he said.

Corti's shop has occupied the 20,000-square-foot building since 1970. The lease has been month-to-month since 1988, he said.

Founded in 1947 by Corti's father and uncle, Corti Bros. pioneered and came to define upscale specialty food markets in the Sacramento area with an aromatic delicatessen, full-service meat counter and tips on the culinary arts.

Darrell Corti, 66, began working at the store when he was 12.

Over the years, the store became known for its wine selection, hand-picked by Corti, an internationally known wine expert.

In the 1980s, Corti Bros. had four stores. But the three other locations closed in quick succession starting 19 years ago.

In 1989, Corti Bros. vacated a 30,000-square-foot outlet near Sunrise Mall at the request of the center's management, which wanted the space leased to nonfood retailers.

A year later, it closed its Arden Fair location, also 30,000 square feet, when the shopping center underwent a major renovation.

And in 1991, Corti Bros. shut the Freeport Boulevard store in a center once known as the Cort-Yard.

The Sacramento Public Safety Center now occupies the site.

Monday evening, shortly before the store's 7 p.m. closing, Corti Bros. customers could be heard talking with checkers about the upcoming closure. Some loyal customers were quick to list the store's charms.

"It's run by people in the community, not by somebody in another state," said Andrew Brillante of Sacramento, who's been shopping at Corti Bros. for a decade.

His favorite part of the store: imported prosciutto and serrano ham he said you can't find elsewhere.

"This is the best grocery store in Sacramento," said Tom Birchfield, another 10-year customer who was scanning the beer shelves. "They're very service-oriented. They're the opposite of a big chain."

Corti said the store has 50 union employees and revenue of about $8 million a year. He said it was too early to say whether any employees would lose their jobs.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[neuhickman79]

I think this is the most depressing thing I've heard since the towers failed.

From the Sac Bee.

Corti Brothers gourmet grocery store loses east Sacramento lease, will seek new location
By Jim Downing - jdowning@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PDT Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Landmark Sacramento grocer Corti Brothers has lost the lease on its east Sacramento store and will close Sept. 30, company President Darrell Corti said Monday.

Corti says his business remains profitable, and he is looking for a new location.

The new tenant at the 5810 Folsom Blvd. site, Corti said, will be Good Eats, a gourmet bistro-market planned by a partnership that includes Michael Teel, former chief executive of West Sacramento-based Raley's Stores. Teel could not be reached for comment.

Corti said he learned he would be forced out of the location during the first week of July. The store's landlord, Nancy Cleavinger, called him to her office to say that his month-to-month lease would not be renewed, he said.

Cleavinger could not be reached for comment.

"It came as a shot out of the dark," Corti said.

At the meeting, Corti said he was handed papers showing the site had been rented to Teel's partnership. The new tenants will pay twice Corti's $12,000 monthly rent, he said.

Corti's shop has occupied the 20,000-square-foot building since 1970. The lease has been month-to-month since 1988, he said.

Founded in 1947 by Corti's father and uncle, Corti Bros. pioneered and came to define upscale specialty food markets in the Sacramento area with an aromatic delicatessen, full-service meat counter and tips on the culinary arts.

Darrell Corti, 66, began working at the store when he was 12.

Over the years, the store became known for its wine selection, hand-picked by Corti, an internationally known wine expert.

In the 1980s, Corti Bros. had four stores. But the three other locations closed in quick succession starting 19 years ago.

In 1989, Corti Bros. vacated a 30,000-square-foot outlet near Sunrise Mall at the request of the center's management, which wanted the space leased to nonfood retailers.

A year later, it closed its Arden Fair location, also 30,000 square feet, when the shopping center underwent a major renovation.

And in 1991, Corti Bros. shut the Freeport Boulevard store in a center once known as the Cort-Yard.

The Sacramento Public Safety Center now occupies the site.

Monday evening, shortly before the store's 7 p.m. closing, Corti Bros. customers could be heard talking with checkers about the upcoming closure. Some loyal customers were quick to list the store's charms.

"It's run by people in the community, not by somebody in another state," said Andrew Brillante of Sacramento, who's been shopping at Corti Bros. for a decade.

His favorite part of the store: imported prosciutto and serrano ham he said you can't find elsewhere.

"This is the best grocery store in Sacramento," said Tom Birchfield, another 10-year customer who was scanning the beer shelves. "They're very service-oriented. They're the opposite of a big chain."

Corti said the store has 50 union employees and revenue of about $8 million a year. He said it was too early to say whether any employees would lose their jobs.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What a shame! It will be good in DT/MT, too, though if that works out!!

[wburg]

It doesn't sound like they've worked anything out at all.

[innov8]

City Management Academy Applications Due Friday

City Management Academy applications are due this Friday by 5 p.m.

This is a great opportunity to learn about how the City of Sacramento is
managed and operated!

The Neighborhood Services Department is currently recruiting for the City
Management Academy. This free program provides an opportunity to learn
about the City of Sacramento through a series of leadership development
activities, group discussions, fireside chats with senior staff and
presentations from a variety of city departments and charter offices.

There is talk that it is so expensive to run that they will be cutting it out in the future.

To download an application and for additional information please go to the
Neighborhood Services website:
www.cityofsacramento.org/city-management-academy/ or contact Yvonne
Riedlinger at 808-6523 or by email at yriedlin@cityofsacramento.org .

[innov8]

L Street Lofts project faces $1.26M lien, parties negotiating
Sacramento Business Journal

Friday, September 5, 2008

L Street Lofts developer, financial partner reportedly in dispute

The contractor that built the L Street Lofts in midtown Sacramento has filed a lien against the property, alleging it’s owed $1.26 million.

But John F. Otto Inc. and developer Sotiris Kolokotronis are negotiating amicably over the claims, according to a construction company executive and Kolokotronis, and were doing so even before the lien was filed.

Roger Ghilain, vice president for finance at John F. Otto, said the lien was filed Aug. 8 to beat a deadline and to protect the company’s interest should the matter not be resolved. He said the dispute concerned things such as resolving change orders and said he believes the project entity, L Street Lofts LLC, is liquid.

“We’ve never been told they’re out of money,” he said. “We anticipate all issues will be resolved.”

Kolokotronis also described the lien filing as a “procedural matter” and said that condo units were still being sold.

Last month, the Business Journal reported Kolokotronis and partner Resmark Equity Partners LLC were in dispute over the project, but neither would acknowledge that dispute or comment.

Resmark manages capital in residential investments for large investors, including the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, though it is unclear if Cal­PERS money was invested in the project.

The lofts have been averaging about three sales per month, according to analyst Hanley Wood Market Intelligence, outpacing many larger suburban developments.

“They have a very unique product,” Ghilain said. “We think they’re going to continue to sell better than the rest.”

John F. Otto performed the design-build project at 1818 L St., a signature building that took years to develop.

Kolokotronis said last year the project cost about $45 million, as did an apartment building he built across the street.

http://sacramento.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2008/09/08/story11.html

[TWAK]

where is a good sports bar in the area? I been going to Paradise in fairfield for over 10 years but the drive aint worth it anymore. I'm out in greenhaven

[otnemarcaS]

Suggestions include -

C-Webbs Center Court in Natomas (lots of plasma/lcd tvs and sports bar food and more. Can chill and watch games inside or outside).

Mandangos in Elk Grove or Roseville or Fulton Ave (Used to go to the one on Fulton till I moved out of the area).

R J Grins at the Doubletree Hotel (not visited this year yet but they used to have free hot dogs, burgers, nachos and pretzels for every Monday Night Football game).

And let's not forget Hooters (Natomas, Challenge way near Arden Mall, and new one in Rancho Cordova).

Others in downtown and Sac area here (http://www.sportstavern.com/ncalifornia/sacramento.html)

I always prefer places with HDTV games on plasma/LCD TVs and that makes Center Court the best place to go. Food is decent and prices are inxepensive. Beer is ice cold. Went to watch UCLA/Tennessee with friends at Hooters on Challenge last week and could not believe how old all their tvs were. Never again. Same with the Mandangos in Roseville. HDTV or I stay home.

[econgrad]

where is a good sports bar in the area? I been going to Paradise in fairfield for over 10 years but the drive aint worth it anymore. I'm out in greenhaven

Try MVP's 1629 Capitol Ave., Sacramento, CA
916 441-1114

Its nice, rarely crowded...

[econgrad]

Best of Broadway is a Must-See Hit Now in Rocklin
Posted by: debgopromo

Light Up the Night, the new show from Best of Broadway, is an amazing musical extravaganza featuring a cast of all volunteer children and adults from Placer, Sacramento and El Dorado counties. It shows at Whitney Theatre at 701 Wildcat Blvd. in Rocklin.

One of the choreographers, Diana Ruslin, a Rocklin resident, hails from New York, where she danced with the likes of Gregory Hines, Bob Fosse and other big names. Her talents, along with the other choreographers, are obvious, as you watch the show. Wonderful singing, phenomenal dancing, great costumes...definitely NOT an amateur production.

Proceeds from the performances go to WEAVE, Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Vanished Children's Alliance.

This is the 36th production from Best of Broadway. Each year is a new show with new music and dance numbers. This show is the largest and oldest non-profit all volunteer organization in the area.

Placer county has no shortage of talent! You've got to see this amazing production. Broadway has met its match in Northern California!

[Majin]

econgrad can you get that Rocklin related bullshit off my forum. In fact you can take McCain/Palin with you, they aren't welcome.

[Fusey]

How much does this forum cost you each month, Majin? :haha:

[econgrad]

econgrad can you get that Rocklin related bullshit off my forum. In fact you can take McCain/Palin with you, they aren't welcome.

Never gonna happen! :cheers:

FYI: The best Jazz club in Sac metro is in Roseville. Anyone know what it is?

[Phillip]

The Red Note?

:cool:

[TowerDistrict]

So this trial lawyer walks onto a stage...
By Bob Shallit - bshallit@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PDT Thursday, September 11, 2008
Story appeared in OUR REGION section, Page B4

Article online here. (http://www.sacbee.com/shallit/story/1227411.html)

Sacramento trial lawyer Joe Genshlea has hundreds of stories about growing up and working in the capital city. Now he's putting them into a one-man show next month as a benefit for the Sacramento Theatre Co.

Genshlea, 70, a founder of what is now the Weintraub, Genshlea, Chediak Law Corp., says the idea came up in a conversation with STC artistic director Peggy Shannon.

The lifelong Sacramentan will describe colorful characters he's known. He'll riff on ill-fated decisions, like taking cars off K Street downtown. ("We need a time machine" to reverse that one, he says.) And tackle public art. (The nude statue of Poseidon outside the Sacramento Convention Center, he says, resembles an Olympics athlete who "forgot his javelin … and his jockstrap.")

Genshlea has done plenty of public speaking. Arguments in court. Eulogies for friends. Telling stories in front of a crowd doesn't worry him. But he is concerned about filling 2,000 seats for the Oct. 25 "A Sense of Place" evening at the Wells Fargo Pavilion. He implores: "Bring all your friends, will you?" Most certainly.

[innov8]

Sacramento foreclosure rate was No. 10 in U.S. in August
Friday, September 12, 2008 - 10:29 AM
Sacramento Business Journal

Foreclosure filings continued to rise around the United States and in California during August, with Stockton leading the nation in filing rate and Sacramento at No. 10 out of 230 metro areas studied.

Filings of all types -- default notices, auction sale notices and bank repossessions -- were reported for 303,879 U.S. properties during August, up 12 percent from July and 27 percent from August 2007, according to a report released Friday by Irvine-based RealtyTrac. The report showed one in every 416 U.S. households received a foreclosure filing during the month.

California again was recorded the nation’s second-highest state foreclosure rate, behind only Nevada, which has topped the list for 20 consecutive months.

One in every 130 California households receiving a foreclosure filing in August -- a total of 101,724 filings, up 76 percent from August 2007 and more than 40 percent from July. In Nevada, the rate was one in 91, although the number of households in Nevada is much smaller.

California cities accounted for eight of the top 10 metro foreclosure rates out of the 230 metro areas tracked in the August report. Stockton was No. 1, with one in every 50 households in San Joaquin County receiving a foreclosure filing during the month, followed by Merced, Modesto, Vallejo-Fairfield and Riverside-San Bernardino in the No. 2 to 5 spots. Bakersfield, Salinas-Monterey and Sacramento held the No. 8, 9 and 10 spots.

Sacramento County had 5,971 foreclosure actions of all kinds during the month, including the seizure of 2,288 homes by the lender. That was up 37 percent from July and 13 percent from Aug. 2007. In the four-county Sacramento region, there were 7,726 foreclosure actions, up 16 percent in a year. Yolo County saw foreclosure actions jump 193 percent, from 112 in Aug. 2007 to 328 a year later.

Florida posted the second-highest total in August, with foreclosure filings reported on 44,000 properties during the month -- down 4 percent from July but still up nearly 30 percent from August 2007. One in every 194 Florida properties received a foreclosure filing in August, the nation’s fourth-highest state foreclosure rate.

California, Florida and Arizona together accounted for more than half of the nation’s foreclosure activity.

http://sacramento.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2008/09/08/daily59.html

[Majin]

Sorry but this is music too my ears. I'm buying up foreclosed houses left and right and making a lot of money off it.

[COASTIE]

http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2008/9/prweb1355224.htm

Join 20,000 Rubber Ducks, 500 Runners and Walkers and Hundreds of Food Epicureans at the inaugural Be a Fan, Sacramento! day Saturday, Sept. 27 The event promises community fun and celebration in recognition of Special Olympics Northern California. Be a Fan, Sacramento! ties together two favorite Special Olympics events for the Sacramento community - the Great Sacramento Duck race and a 5k/10k walk and run, formerly known as Walk for the Gold. Both events, plus the addition of Taste of Old Sac, are designed to celebrate and raise support for Special Olympics in our community.

Be a Fan, Sacramento! ties together two favorite Special Olympics events for the Sacramento community - the Great Sacramento Duck race and a 5k/10k walk and run, formerly known as Walk for the Gold. Both events, plus the addition of Taste of Old Sac, are designed to celebrate and raise support for Special Olympics in our community.

Runners and walkers will participate side-by-side with local Special Olympics athletes in a 5K/10K run and walk along the Sacramento River. Special Olympic athletes are vying for advancement to the Northern California Long Distance Running & Walking Championship.

Duck fans are invited to adopt a duck for a $5 donation and watch the fun as a flock of 20,000 rubber ducks are dropped into the river off the I Street Bridge and race to the finish line at the Tower Bridge. The first 40 lucky ducks to finish will win fabulous grand prizes like a 7-day cruise for two, cash prizes, and more

Food lovers have a chance to purchase a "Taste of Old Sac" passport for $15 and spend the afternoon enjoying tasty treats from favorite shops and establishments.

Sacramento Regional Transit has donated FREE transit passes for all Special Olympics supporters who would like to volunteer or participate in the "Be a Fan, Sacramento!" Passes are valid all day on 9/27 only. Ride the light rail or bus to the Sacramento Valley Station and walk one block to the California State Railroad Museum to save time, gas and parking fees. Contact Josh at (916)920-2950.

Schedule of Events: Be a Fan, Sacramento!

10 a.m. - Be a Fan Fun Run & Walk
11 - 3 p.m. - Tasting Tour of Old Sacramento
3 p.m. - The Great Sacramento Duck Race

For information, go to BeAFanSacramento (http://www.beafansacramento.com/).

[greenmidtown]

econgrad...put a bullet in your head. thanks.

[econgrad]

econgrad...put a bullet in your head. thanks.

:haha: I love it!!

[otnemarcaS]

Autumn in the City

Fall has blown in. Here are seven city parks where you can watch the season turn over a new leaf, in living color.

By Maureen Sullivan for MSN City Guides

Think you have to road-trip to the countryside to see fall leaves changing color? Think again: Some of the best places to spot those gorgeous hues are in urban areas -- yes, right in the heart of them -- around the country. Your local city park can be a great leaf-viewing venue. Here are some of the major ones around the country, and some surprises.

Sacramento (http://cityguides.msn.com/citylife/cityarticle.aspx?cp-documentid=10600021&page=3)'s claim to fame, as big as the politics and the Governator it hosts, has long been that there are more trees per capita here than anywhere else in the world, except Paris (though in recent years, that claim has been challenged). That puts the unlikely state of California on the map for some fall foliage, with Sacramento (the "City of Trees," as it's known) front and center. Head first to William Land Park. In the park itself and in the surrounding neighborhood of the same name, you'll find leaves at their California finest. (This is by no means a Northeastern fall, but it's some of the best foliage you'll find on the Left Coast.) Also sporting color is McKinley Park, in the equally old and tree-laden neighborhood of East Sac, where you'll find gingkos, elms and black locusts turning yellow, dawn redwoods that burn bronze, and scarlet oaks that turn, well, scarlet in autumn.

[econgrad]

Keeping the status of more trees per capita than any other city in the world except Paris is something worth trying to keep.

[wburg]

The problem is, nobody has ever counted the number of trees in Sacramento, so the "more trees per capita" figure is pretty much unverifiable. It just sounds better than "we've got a whole buncha trees here!"

[otnemarcaS]

Although do have to agree about the William Land Park as one of those lovely urban parks, especially in fall. I just ran out there in the Corelogic Cowtown 1/2 Marathon race last Sunday and it was a lovely place for a run.

[Phillip]

I don't think Sacramento's "more trees per capita" claim can possibly be true. Eugene, Portland, Olympia, Seattle....any city in the rainy Pacific Northwest should have more trees, and more trees per capita, than Sacramento. Portland's Forest Park, which is basically a 400 acre forest inside the city limits, probably has more trees than all of Sacramento.

I think most of the Midwest has denser tree cover than Sacramento too.

This isn't a criticism of Sacramento. My opinion of Sac doesn't rely on its tree density. At least Sacramento has more trees per capita than Fresno...I think.

edit: Washington Park is about 4,000 acres; not 400.