Couldn’t agree more.
Editorial: Timely competition
Fargo, Johnson should debate city's future
Published 12:00 am PST Friday, March 7, 2008
Thank you, Kevin Johnson. And please do not misunderstand, Heather Fargo: This is not an endorsement.
It's way too early for this page or anyone else to decide which of these two, Fargo or Johnson, would make the better mayor for Sacramento going forward.
Still, at this challenging point in Sacramento's history, it is clear that the city will benefit from a real mayor's race. Just by deciding to run, Johnson has given city residents a gift, a chance to experience serious competition between serious candidates where the challenges that face the city can be vigorously debated and addressed.
Sacramento needs such an election. The city is not just broke; it's adrift. Downtown redevelopment has stalled. Natomas is a mess. Property tax revenues are depressed, and foreclosures are up. The historic Railyards development is on the cusp of success or failure; ditto for Township 9. The future of the Kings and their new arena remains unresolved. Street crime and gang activity remain worrisome. So do homelessness and the state of our schools.
Other new cities in our region are making strides. West Sacramento, Rancho Cordova, Roseville and Citrus Heights exude an air of optimism. Sacramento seems listless by comparison.
