This is pretty gross news from the Sacramento Business Journal:
“The Sacramento Area Sewer District faces a fine of $201,000 for about 886,000 gallons of raw sewage that spilled into Arcade Creek and other surface waters from Nov. 2, 2006 through April 14, 2008. The largest spill happened on Feb. 13, when more than 700,000 gallons spilled into Arcade Creek after a pipeline bridging the creek collapsed.
“The sewer district serves much of unincorporated Sacramento County, Citrus Heights and parts of Elk Grove and Rancho Cordova.”
And certainly reminds those of us who haven’t yet done so, filter or buy your drinking water.
There is another move to shut down the Auburn Dam—which is still an approved project—and the California Republican congressional delegation recently sent a letter in opposition.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
Funding, Big Fix, & New York
Our first guiding principle is:
(1) Preserving the Parkway is not an option, it’s a necessity.
We specify the funding support to be able to act on this principle as creating a public/private partnership with a nonprofit organization to manage the Parkway—contracting with a Joint Powers Authority of local government—which could raise supplemental funding philanthropically.
In the face of today’s article in the Bee noting that perhaps $900,000 might be cut by Sacramento County from the Parks Department—which runs the Parkway—our solution might look more attractive.
The Big Fix starts tonight and for those who have to use the 1-5 freeway or related arteries, the crush might be huge.
The New York firm that has done so much work in Sacramento gets another big job and it reminds us that the value of the development of the private and public sector in one of our nation’s oldest cities is well worth looking to for particular expertise.
We also have looked to them for guidance on how to manage and develop supplemental funding for our Parkway and have found it in the Central Park Conservancy, the public private partnership that has virtually saved Central Park.
A press release from January 18, 2008 on our news page (second one down) goes into more detail on the plan we propose to provide supplemental Parkway funding.
(1) Preserving the Parkway is not an option, it’s a necessity.
We specify the funding support to be able to act on this principle as creating a public/private partnership with a nonprofit organization to manage the Parkway—contracting with a Joint Powers Authority of local government—which could raise supplemental funding philanthropically.
In the face of today’s article in the Bee noting that perhaps $900,000 might be cut by Sacramento County from the Parks Department—which runs the Parkway—our solution might look more attractive.
The Big Fix starts tonight and for those who have to use the 1-5 freeway or related arteries, the crush might be huge.
The New York firm that has done so much work in Sacramento gets another big job and it reminds us that the value of the development of the private and public sector in one of our nation’s oldest cities is well worth looking to for particular expertise.
We also have looked to them for guidance on how to manage and develop supplemental funding for our Parkway and have found it in the Central Park Conservancy, the public private partnership that has virtually saved Central Park.
A press release from January 18, 2008 on our news page (second one down) goes into more detail on the plan we propose to provide supplemental Parkway funding.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Warming, Creative Class & Indian Heritage
A new report out from the Department of Agriculture forecasts dire results—for agriculture, water supplies, and an increase in invasive species and insects—from global warming over the next 25-50 years.
Sacramento has earned a top ten best-places-to-live rating from Kiplinger magazine, and much of the data concerns the creative class concepts developed by Richard Florida in a series of books beginning with The Rise for the Creative Class.
Florida postulates that cities that cater to people whose work is driven by knowledge and creativity will become the most successful and even with some criticism of Florida’s research that has arisen, it is an interesting concept that has the ring of credibility and Sacramento could benefit by being so labeled.
The Indian Heritage Center, which we have been long supporters of, is moving forward and if all goes well will occupy a magnificent site at the confluence of our two rivers.
Sacramento has earned a top ten best-places-to-live rating from Kiplinger magazine, and much of the data concerns the creative class concepts developed by Richard Florida in a series of books beginning with The Rise for the Creative Class.
Florida postulates that cities that cater to people whose work is driven by knowledge and creativity will become the most successful and even with some criticism of Florida’s research that has arisen, it is an interesting concept that has the ring of credibility and Sacramento could benefit by being so labeled.
The Indian Heritage Center, which we have been long supporters of, is moving forward and if all goes well will occupy a magnificent site at the confluence of our two rivers.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Economy, Parkway, Bikes & Transparency.
What we see locally we also see nationally as the US makes it five years in a row it is ranked number one in global competitiveness.
Goethe Park has officially been renamed River Bend Park, a very nice name, descriptive of its location and setting in a big bend of the river in Rancho Cordova.
Bikes on K Street were being discussed to help commuters during the big fix but that plan has apparently been squashed. Too bad, it is a good idea and one that should be resurrected on a permanent basis, though you would certainly need some form of wall to protect bikers from walkers.
And, speaking of the big fix, here is a tentative schedule for the work due to start in two days, yikes!
The Sacramento Bee did a very informative test of the openness of several local governments and came away with some surprising answers which let us know we still have a way to go to get governments to follow their own laws requiring transparency in the conducting of the public’s business.
Goethe Park has officially been renamed River Bend Park, a very nice name, descriptive of its location and setting in a big bend of the river in Rancho Cordova.
Bikes on K Street were being discussed to help commuters during the big fix but that plan has apparently been squashed. Too bad, it is a good idea and one that should be resurrected on a permanent basis, though you would certainly need some form of wall to protect bikers from walkers.
And, speaking of the big fix, here is a tentative schedule for the work due to start in two days, yikes!
The Sacramento Bee did a very informative test of the openness of several local governments and came away with some surprising answers which let us know we still have a way to go to get governments to follow their own laws requiring transparency in the conducting of the public’s business.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Details: Warming, Transit & Housing
The Senate is starting to look at a global warming related bill that would create a cap and trade policy regarding pollution and the details of it are significant, could cause real economic problems and redistribute income around the country in ways that many of those affected may not enjoy; all of which calls for some serious debate, which we will hopefully see over the next several months.
A major piece of the mass transit system in the United States is the airline industry and how they manage their companies says a lot about the impact of the experience of individuals using their mass transit, and one of them has written a book about it, an angry book.
Affordable housing, whether it is for the chronic homeless, or the working poor, is an issue each community wishing to be other than an exclusive enclave, needs to address and Sacramento has long chosen inclusiveness over exclusiveness.
It is a choice that always needs expression and expansion; and city wide affordable housing regulations do make sense to allow all developers a share in the process.
A major piece of the mass transit system in the United States is the airline industry and how they manage their companies says a lot about the impact of the experience of individuals using their mass transit, and one of them has written a book about it, an angry book.
Affordable housing, whether it is for the chronic homeless, or the working poor, is an issue each community wishing to be other than an exclusive enclave, needs to address and Sacramento has long chosen inclusiveness over exclusiveness.
It is a choice that always needs expression and expansion; and city wide affordable housing regulations do make sense to allow all developers a share in the process.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Energy & Memorial Day
Congress has been active on the energy front, though a comprehensive energy strategy incorporating utilizing our own sources of fossil fuel and a larger commitment to nuclear, still aren’t being addressed significantly.
Today is Memorial Day, so fly the flag, remember those who died and suffered for our freedoms, and a good place to visit is the Patriot Post for some good reminders of the meaning of today.
Enjoy the day, it promises to be mild, maybe a few showers later.
Today is Memorial Day, so fly the flag, remember those who died and suffered for our freedoms, and a good place to visit is the Patriot Post for some good reminders of the meaning of today.
Enjoy the day, it promises to be mild, maybe a few showers later.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Texas, Potemkin, & Valley Air
It looks like the biofuel movement, of which ethanol is the main ingredient, has caused some economic problems in Texas around the cost of corn as cattle feed, and very probably also, contributing to the increase in food prices, and the EPA is being asked to stand down for a year, at least in Texas.
There is also a good argument being made, once again, to relook our dependence on fossil fuel and step up our investment in electric/ethanol cars, nuclear/wind/other alternative forms of commercial energy and all of this is doable, but it takes leadership rather than partnership, don’t hold your breath, but don’t lose hope either.
This article in City Journal suggests the environmentalism of our governor is more like the fake village of Potemkin the Soviets used to show visitors to their country how wonderful it was, but it was all a faced, only a façade, and a 2005 article from the same magazine reminds us why we need to get with it on nuclear power.
New air rules for the valley area appear to be a very good thing, and if we are all lucky could result in the long-stalled bridge and road development to move the auto traffic around the area a little more efficiently and reduce the stalls that generate even more air pollution; as well as increasing the use of transit for those folks who are able to cope with the insecurity of time schedules and insufficiently policed fellow passengers that can cause some safety concerns; which appear to be two of the reasons transit isn’t used more.
There is also a good argument being made, once again, to relook our dependence on fossil fuel and step up our investment in electric/ethanol cars, nuclear/wind/other alternative forms of commercial energy and all of this is doable, but it takes leadership rather than partnership, don’t hold your breath, but don’t lose hope either.
This article in City Journal suggests the environmentalism of our governor is more like the fake village of Potemkin the Soviets used to show visitors to their country how wonderful it was, but it was all a faced, only a façade, and a 2005 article from the same magazine reminds us why we need to get with it on nuclear power.
New air rules for the valley area appear to be a very good thing, and if we are all lucky could result in the long-stalled bridge and road development to move the auto traffic around the area a little more efficiently and reduce the stalls that generate even more air pollution; as well as increasing the use of transit for those folks who are able to cope with the insecurity of time schedules and insufficiently policed fellow passengers that can cause some safety concerns; which appear to be two of the reasons transit isn’t used more.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Life Jackets, Bikes & A Deficit
Local government is considering requiring life jackets for those people who are in our rivers, and it does make sense as the currents, rapids, and old holes from long-ago river dredging for gold are impossible to anticipate and protect against if you get caught in one, so yes, let’s be safer out there.
And, also being considered is allowing bikes on the K Street Mall during the Big Fix on I-5, which makes great sense, and even better to think about making it permanent, but creating a bike lane to protect bikers and pedestrians.
Sacramento city deficit is seen as ballooning to $200 million in the near future, big enough to ask what’s been going on and how can we fix it; and it is good to hear about this during a mayoral election, when voters have the option of bringing in new leadership if they agree the problems lie with the current team.
And, also being considered is allowing bikes on the K Street Mall during the Big Fix on I-5, which makes great sense, and even better to think about making it permanent, but creating a bike lane to protect bikers and pedestrians.
Sacramento city deficit is seen as ballooning to $200 million in the near future, big enough to ask what’s been going on and how can we fix it; and it is good to hear about this during a mayoral election, when voters have the option of bringing in new leadership if they agree the problems lie with the current team.
Friday, May 23, 2008
From Global to Greyhound
One of the best thinkers out there around the issue of global warming is Bjorn Lomborg and he penned this great article reminding us of the real catastrophes we could consider dealing with on an emergency basis, and global warming barely makes the list.
This is truly the kind of thinking we would be blessed to have from more public leaders.
Some very good thinking also comes from Europe around energy issues, and with its focus on cap and trade, plug in electric vehicles and other ideas, primarily grounded in market approaches to the energy issue, reminds us that regional and global energy cooperation really is beginning to shape itself, and that is a very good thing.
An award winning program to help women who have survived domestic violence, and their families, is The Grateful Thread, where discarded fabric items are unraveled and the thread is rewoven into marketable goods, an incredibly creative method of recycling and the rebuilding of lives.
We offered an idea—and had several meetings about it—in 2005 to involve the homeless in Parkway cleanup as a money making business in our report about the illegal camping in the Parkway’s lower reach, the ARPPS Homeless Job Training Project, see pages 34-36 for more information.
There hasn’t really been much follow up with it, which is too bad, as it has been working very well in New York as the Ready Willing and Able program that has won many awards for getting the chronic homeless—the same population of folks who make up the majority of those who camp illegally on the Parkway—back into the working life.
A new poll on the Sacramento mayoral race is out and there was a great one-on-one debate last night between the top two candidates, very informative and should be presented as an encore.
Elk Grove has petitioned to expand its boundaries southward, and there are some other local areas that are real hot for real estate sales, very good news for us all; and we are reminded that in the good-for-the-community move of the Greyhound Bus Depot to the Richards Blvd. area, we should not forget to make sure bus service goes to the new location regularly, to help those who take the bus, primarily low income folks, get there without difficulty.
Great weekend coming up, enjoy!
This is truly the kind of thinking we would be blessed to have from more public leaders.
Some very good thinking also comes from Europe around energy issues, and with its focus on cap and trade, plug in electric vehicles and other ideas, primarily grounded in market approaches to the energy issue, reminds us that regional and global energy cooperation really is beginning to shape itself, and that is a very good thing.
An award winning program to help women who have survived domestic violence, and their families, is The Grateful Thread, where discarded fabric items are unraveled and the thread is rewoven into marketable goods, an incredibly creative method of recycling and the rebuilding of lives.
We offered an idea—and had several meetings about it—in 2005 to involve the homeless in Parkway cleanup as a money making business in our report about the illegal camping in the Parkway’s lower reach, the ARPPS Homeless Job Training Project, see pages 34-36 for more information.
There hasn’t really been much follow up with it, which is too bad, as it has been working very well in New York as the Ready Willing and Able program that has won many awards for getting the chronic homeless—the same population of folks who make up the majority of those who camp illegally on the Parkway—back into the working life.
A new poll on the Sacramento mayoral race is out and there was a great one-on-one debate last night between the top two candidates, very informative and should be presented as an encore.
Elk Grove has petitioned to expand its boundaries southward, and there are some other local areas that are real hot for real estate sales, very good news for us all; and we are reminded that in the good-for-the-community move of the Greyhound Bus Depot to the Richards Blvd. area, we should not forget to make sure bus service goes to the new location regularly, to help those who take the bus, primarily low income folks, get there without difficulty.
Great weekend coming up, enjoy!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Coyote Watch
The Cal Expo arena plan has moved to the next level and while it is much too soon to celebrate, the credibility of the people and institutions involved is heartening.
The American River Parkway now has sings posted warning everyone about coyotes, in response to the reported attacks on about a half-dozen children in Southern California, and though none of the attacks resulted in serious injury, it is sure better to be safe than sorry, so be careful out there.
And a Parkway bike riding event that benefits the Parkway is coming up next month.
Carmichael parks is set to begin work on some new parks, and according to plan, should have four new parks finished within two years.
Enjoy the day, windy though it is.
The American River Parkway now has sings posted warning everyone about coyotes, in response to the reported attacks on about a half-dozen children in Southern California, and though none of the attacks resulted in serious injury, it is sure better to be safe than sorry, so be careful out there.
And a Parkway bike riding event that benefits the Parkway is coming up next month.
Carmichael parks is set to begin work on some new parks, and according to plan, should have four new parks finished within two years.
Enjoy the day, windy though it is.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Of Mice and Men
It always amazes me how adaptable nature is to human development, almost as if it is all really part of nature, all natural, the works of humans and of critters, and this story of the nesting swallows on the river barge is such a story.
Moving the bus depot from downtown is a very good thing as downtown bus depots traditionally attract the transient, often loitering populations that can cause some distress to the commercial establishments near by, but in the discussion by the city council to approve the move, the good point was made that we still need to remember that poor people are as worthy of our respect as the rich, and that is so very true.
The county has opened up Parkway adjacent parking for free use to help with the traffic congestion during the I-5 big fix by encouraging people to park their cars then bike on the Parkway bike trail to work, and that is very good, but better still would be if they left the access free, which, considering the common good resulting from it being easier to bike commute, would be worth the tradeoff.
And if the Parkway comes under nonprofit management, as we suggest, the resulting ability to generate philanthropic funding to supplement government funding could very well make up the difference and more.
One of the original organizers of Earth Day back in 1971 is still coming up with good ideas and his powerful electric car is one of them.
An ARPPS Letter was published in the Bee today, and here it is:
Of mice and men
Re "Rodents shouldn't trump humans in disaster recovery," May 19: David Stirling's commentary is a poignant reminder that we really do need to begin to restore some balance between our shared concern to protect the environment and private property rights, as it has gotten too far out of balance.
The creation of rights for animals is a form of environmental stewardship most people can support, but using those rights to pursue government actions that outweigh the property rights of human beings is going to an extreme few people will support.
We can have both, the protection of property rights and the protection of animal rights, but we need to remember that the balance has to lean toward human beings.
This is an issue similar to what is playing out in the ongoing discussions around the American River Parkway and how much space should be devoted to natural preserve vs. how much to developed recreation.
While both are crucial, the need for more developed recreation to address the needs of all parkway users, including the frail elderly and the disabled, has to become a higher priority.
- David H. Lukenbill, Sacramento
Senior Policy Director,
American River Parkway Preservation Society
Moving the bus depot from downtown is a very good thing as downtown bus depots traditionally attract the transient, often loitering populations that can cause some distress to the commercial establishments near by, but in the discussion by the city council to approve the move, the good point was made that we still need to remember that poor people are as worthy of our respect as the rich, and that is so very true.
The county has opened up Parkway adjacent parking for free use to help with the traffic congestion during the I-5 big fix by encouraging people to park their cars then bike on the Parkway bike trail to work, and that is very good, but better still would be if they left the access free, which, considering the common good resulting from it being easier to bike commute, would be worth the tradeoff.
And if the Parkway comes under nonprofit management, as we suggest, the resulting ability to generate philanthropic funding to supplement government funding could very well make up the difference and more.
One of the original organizers of Earth Day back in 1971 is still coming up with good ideas and his powerful electric car is one of them.
An ARPPS Letter was published in the Bee today, and here it is:
Of mice and men
Re "Rodents shouldn't trump humans in disaster recovery," May 19: David Stirling's commentary is a poignant reminder that we really do need to begin to restore some balance between our shared concern to protect the environment and private property rights, as it has gotten too far out of balance.
The creation of rights for animals is a form of environmental stewardship most people can support, but using those rights to pursue government actions that outweigh the property rights of human beings is going to an extreme few people will support.
We can have both, the protection of property rights and the protection of animal rights, but we need to remember that the balance has to lean toward human beings.
This is an issue similar to what is playing out in the ongoing discussions around the American River Parkway and how much space should be devoted to natural preserve vs. how much to developed recreation.
While both are crucial, the need for more developed recreation to address the needs of all parkway users, including the frail elderly and the disabled, has to become a higher priority.
- David H. Lukenbill, Sacramento
Senior Policy Director,
American River Parkway Preservation Society
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Housing, Boulevard, Parks, and Arena
A prominent global warming scientist has apparently changed his position after new research he conducted, as this story from CBS notes.
Del Paso Boulevard, the main street of a wonderfully intact community that was once the city of North Sacramento, is slowly coming back, in a new way, but still is struggling with old problems, like the bike riding stabber.
Our state parks make a list of endangered places, and as with the Parkway, it is still a struggle for the public agencies that manage parks and open space to realize that it is time to move beyond increasing taxes to pay for parks and look to the type of public private partnerships that work so well with places like Central Park in New York and the Sacramento Zoo.
The premier parks are the ones that have the best chance to develop philanthropic efforts to help fund them, but even the less well-known can build a strong community support network with the proper work and management.
It takes a change in thinking we hope to soon see at the state level and here with our Parkway.
Home sales are up big time in Sacramento and it is great news, though the depressed housing market bas been quite good for the organizations, like habitat for Humanity, to buy price depressed properties real cheaply and help get more low income people into homes, a very good thing.
The arena effort at Cal Expo, right next to the parkway, is moving along very nicely and it appears to be the best location, with all of the right people lined up, to actually become a reality, which would do wonders for the Point West area and the region.
Del Paso Boulevard, the main street of a wonderfully intact community that was once the city of North Sacramento, is slowly coming back, in a new way, but still is struggling with old problems, like the bike riding stabber.
Our state parks make a list of endangered places, and as with the Parkway, it is still a struggle for the public agencies that manage parks and open space to realize that it is time to move beyond increasing taxes to pay for parks and look to the type of public private partnerships that work so well with places like Central Park in New York and the Sacramento Zoo.
The premier parks are the ones that have the best chance to develop philanthropic efforts to help fund them, but even the less well-known can build a strong community support network with the proper work and management.
It takes a change in thinking we hope to soon see at the state level and here with our Parkway.
Home sales are up big time in Sacramento and it is great news, though the depressed housing market bas been quite good for the organizations, like habitat for Humanity, to buy price depressed properties real cheaply and help get more low income people into homes, a very good thing.
The arena effort at Cal Expo, right next to the parkway, is moving along very nicely and it appears to be the best location, with all of the right people lined up, to actually become a reality, which would do wonders for the Point West area and the region.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Be Careful & Have Fun
This is river time for many Sacramentans and we need to remember that it can be as dangerous—as we see on our two rivers—out there as joyful and remembering basic river safety rules can keep us happily in the latter.
And how about those sweet Delta breezes coming in last night, a nice cool down, but the heat is sure nice too, and there is great news about the Delta King being remodeled and getting ready to get back in the river, one of Sacramento’s finest treats is riding up the Sacramento on it, and maybe having an evening dinner on the way.
We couldn’t agree more with the editorial in the Bee this morning that the arena finally appears to be located in the right spot, handled by the right people, and is just a triple win for all. If all goes well with design and placement, there might even be a view of the river from some of the seats.
And of course, it being summer, there will continue to be struggles around air pollution, especially in Southern California, but it all shouldn’t affect our enjoyment of the summer, though the water looks a tad low, and the heat maybe a bit high, it still looks like a very nice summer coming up for all of us.
Finally, is it any wonder that some folks get upset with the environmental movement when, as in this case during hurricane recovery efforts in Florida, rodent's "rights" trump those of human beings?
Enjoy, and stay cool.
And how about those sweet Delta breezes coming in last night, a nice cool down, but the heat is sure nice too, and there is great news about the Delta King being remodeled and getting ready to get back in the river, one of Sacramento’s finest treats is riding up the Sacramento on it, and maybe having an evening dinner on the way.
We couldn’t agree more with the editorial in the Bee this morning that the arena finally appears to be located in the right spot, handled by the right people, and is just a triple win for all. If all goes well with design and placement, there might even be a view of the river from some of the seats.
And of course, it being summer, there will continue to be struggles around air pollution, especially in Southern California, but it all shouldn’t affect our enjoyment of the summer, though the water looks a tad low, and the heat maybe a bit high, it still looks like a very nice summer coming up for all of us.
Finally, is it any wonder that some folks get upset with the environmental movement when, as in this case during hurricane recovery efforts in Florida, rodent's "rights" trump those of human beings?
Enjoy, and stay cool.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
The Sunday News
The advent of Indian casinos is beginning to have the effect on Lake Tahoe gambling that many warned about, but is also having a very nice impact that most didn’t think about; the restoration of one of the most beautiful lakes in the country (and recently ranked number one as a tourist destination) to just a beautiful place to visit, stay awhile, have dinner; returning it, in a very updated way, to the ambiance of many years ago when those of us fortunate enough to have grown up here and of an age to remember when it was primarily "our" lake.
A very spiffy new car is being developed that has three wheels, leans like a motorcycle around turns, travels at speeds up to 100 miles per hour and gets 100 miles per gallon. Sign me up!
A very nice story about Midtown and its growth from the perspective of long time residents and newer business owners and developers, both speaking a lot of truth and giving the sense that this area will continue on its upward spiral and residents will need to learn from more urban areas how to live there and still find peace and harmony. Think thicker walls and windows, iron gates, closed in front porches, etc.
The June primaries aren’t stirring up much excitement except in our local mayoral race, and in this very political town, that is enough to keep us busy.
Enjoy your Sunday.
A very spiffy new car is being developed that has three wheels, leans like a motorcycle around turns, travels at speeds up to 100 miles per hour and gets 100 miles per gallon. Sign me up!
A very nice story about Midtown and its growth from the perspective of long time residents and newer business owners and developers, both speaking a lot of truth and giving the sense that this area will continue on its upward spiral and residents will need to learn from more urban areas how to live there and still find peace and harmony. Think thicker walls and windows, iron gates, closed in front porches, etc.
The June primaries aren’t stirring up much excitement except in our local mayoral race, and in this very political town, that is enough to keep us busy.
Enjoy your Sunday.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Greyhound on the Move
Finally, a deal appears to have been reached.
"After nearly two decades of talk, Sacramento's downtown Greyhound bus terminal is finally about to leave the station.
"Assuming City Council members approve the latest relocation plan on Tuesday night, a new, temporary bus terminal will be in operation next year on Richards Boulevard.
"This has been a long time coming," says Michael Ault, head of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, which has viewed the existing terminal as a crime magnet and impediment to redevelopment.
"Ault says the development comes at the same time Westfield Corp. is about to seek approvals for a Downtown Plaza makeover, the Citizen Hotel is nearing completion at 10th and J streets, and Moe Mohanna is rumored to be near a settlement of a dispute with the city that has stalled development on the 700 and 800 blocks of the K Street Mall.
"A lot of things are starting to come together," Ault says.
"As the first step of the planned Greyhound move, council members will be asked to approve $2 million for street improvements around the new terminal site at 420 Richards Blvd., not far from the I-5 exit."
"After nearly two decades of talk, Sacramento's downtown Greyhound bus terminal is finally about to leave the station.
"Assuming City Council members approve the latest relocation plan on Tuesday night, a new, temporary bus terminal will be in operation next year on Richards Boulevard.
"This has been a long time coming," says Michael Ault, head of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, which has viewed the existing terminal as a crime magnet and impediment to redevelopment.
"Ault says the development comes at the same time Westfield Corp. is about to seek approvals for a Downtown Plaza makeover, the Citizen Hotel is nearing completion at 10th and J streets, and Moe Mohanna is rumored to be near a settlement of a dispute with the city that has stalled development on the 700 and 800 blocks of the K Street Mall.
"A lot of things are starting to come together," Ault says.
"As the first step of the planned Greyhound move, council members will be asked to approve $2 million for street improvements around the new terminal site at 420 Richards Blvd., not far from the I-5 exit."
Bigger Airport
Today’s Bee article notes the vote:
"Workers at the airport are expected to break ground next month on perhaps the biggest public works project in Sacramento history.
"Acree, Schutten and Sacramento County's Board of Supervisors have designed a gleaming four-story steel-and-glass terminal in the center of the airport to replace Terminal B.
"It will be backed by a hotel tower. A people-mover tram will take riders to a 19-gate concourse on the airfield. A second parking garage will serve the new terminal...
"Led by Sacramento's dominant carrier, Southwest, resident airlines charge Acree with twisting their arms to pay more than they should for what they think will be an oversized facility...
"The airlines last week pleaded with county supervisors, asking them to rethink the financing. Supervisors instead voted to increase fees 45 percent."
"Workers at the airport are expected to break ground next month on perhaps the biggest public works project in Sacramento history.
"Acree, Schutten and Sacramento County's Board of Supervisors have designed a gleaming four-story steel-and-glass terminal in the center of the airport to replace Terminal B.
"It will be backed by a hotel tower. A people-mover tram will take riders to a 19-gate concourse on the airfield. A second parking garage will serve the new terminal...
"Led by Sacramento's dominant carrier, Southwest, resident airlines charge Acree with twisting their arms to pay more than they should for what they think will be an oversized facility...
"The airlines last week pleaded with county supervisors, asking them to rethink the financing. Supervisors instead voted to increase fees 45 percent."
Taxes to be Cut
According to the Bee this morning:
"Nearly 180,000 Sacramento-area homeowners can expect millions of dollars in collective property tax cuts this fall as county assessors engage in a wholesale markdown of home values.
"Assessors say the tax cuts may reach $104 million or more in the eight-county capital region – and primarily benefit people who bought homes in 2004 and afterward.
"The wide-scale reassessments will enable owners with declining home values to keep more of their personal income as intended under Proposition 8, an initiative passed in 1978 that, among other things, requires reassessments when a home's value falls below its purchase price.
"The new assessments will also sharply trim budgets for school districts, cities and counties and special districts during the 2008-09 fiscal year, which begins July 1.
"This marks the second consecutive year assessors in Amador, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties have put residential property taxes under review. The reassessments come as mounting foreclosures and a massive inventory of discounted bank-repossessed homes have sharply depressed values."
"Nearly 180,000 Sacramento-area homeowners can expect millions of dollars in collective property tax cuts this fall as county assessors engage in a wholesale markdown of home values.
"Assessors say the tax cuts may reach $104 million or more in the eight-county capital region – and primarily benefit people who bought homes in 2004 and afterward.
"The wide-scale reassessments will enable owners with declining home values to keep more of their personal income as intended under Proposition 8, an initiative passed in 1978 that, among other things, requires reassessments when a home's value falls below its purchase price.
"The new assessments will also sharply trim budgets for school districts, cities and counties and special districts during the 2008-09 fiscal year, which begins July 1.
"This marks the second consecutive year assessors in Amador, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties have put residential property taxes under review. The reassessments come as mounting foreclosures and a massive inventory of discounted bank-repossessed homes have sharply depressed values."
Friday, May 16, 2008
Big Fix
The work on I-5 is coming up in a couple of weeks and you can go to this announcement in the Bee to see the tentative work schedule with closure times and contacts.
Walking in Sacramento
Sacramento has always been a great walking city, and this Bee article says it is even getting better, but watch out for the cars, as this excerpt notes:
“Anne Geraghty's seemingly simple job is to make walking safer and easier in Sacramento and its suburbs.
“For better or for worse, Geraghty's business is booming. The 66-year-old executive director of the nonprofit WALKSacramento has made travel on foot her mission in life.
“She's not going it alone. Walking is considered a key part of the equation as midtown enjoys a renaissance. The city is witnessing more pedestrian energy out there, the way a thriving city should and, according to urban visionaries, must.
“People are walking to get groceries, to join friends for dinner, to take their dogs and hang out at the coffee shop. They meet strangers eye to eye and, on occasion, mingle.
“As AAA's magazine Via says in its May/June issue: "Sacramento has become what many cities aspire to be: a great walking town."
“Some folks are buying into this walking dynamic to such an extent they are moving into the city's center and giving up their cars, or at least their second cars.
“So why is it that when Geraghty stepped off the curb one recent morning at a well-marked crosswalk at the corner of 13th and H Streets near her office, she got no respect?
“The driver of the first car didn't even look her way. The second one zoomed past. Then came the third, the fourth, the 11th. Nobody came close to stopping, as required by law.
"People are trying to get somewhere in a hurry," she said with a shrug after the street cleared and she made it across. To be fair, upon Geraghty's return, someone did stop, a woman driving with a child.”
“Anne Geraghty's seemingly simple job is to make walking safer and easier in Sacramento and its suburbs.
“For better or for worse, Geraghty's business is booming. The 66-year-old executive director of the nonprofit WALKSacramento has made travel on foot her mission in life.
“She's not going it alone. Walking is considered a key part of the equation as midtown enjoys a renaissance. The city is witnessing more pedestrian energy out there, the way a thriving city should and, according to urban visionaries, must.
“People are walking to get groceries, to join friends for dinner, to take their dogs and hang out at the coffee shop. They meet strangers eye to eye and, on occasion, mingle.
“As AAA's magazine Via says in its May/June issue: "Sacramento has become what many cities aspire to be: a great walking town."
“Some folks are buying into this walking dynamic to such an extent they are moving into the city's center and giving up their cars, or at least their second cars.
“So why is it that when Geraghty stepped off the curb one recent morning at a well-marked crosswalk at the corner of 13th and H Streets near her office, she got no respect?
“The driver of the first car didn't even look her way. The second one zoomed past. Then came the third, the fourth, the 11th. Nobody came close to stopping, as required by law.
"People are trying to get somewhere in a hurry," she said with a shrug after the street cleared and she made it across. To be fair, upon Geraghty's return, someone did stop, a woman driving with a child.”
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Auto Parts Jobs Leave
Our region loses quite a few jobs. Not real good news in this period of time.
“A Rancho Cordova car-parts factory will lay off most of its workers next month, after completing the sale of much of its business to a competitor. Their jobs will be sent to Tijuana, Mexico.
“An estimated 144 workers will be let go by Automotive Importing Manufacturing Inc., or AIM, according to a notice filed with the state. The 40-year-old company remanufactures, or overhauls, used alternators and starters.
“Steve Seabourne, AIM president, said the layoffs follow the sale of most of AIM's business to Motorcar Parts of America Inc., a publicly traded company based in Torrance. The deal is set to close Friday.”
“A Rancho Cordova car-parts factory will lay off most of its workers next month, after completing the sale of much of its business to a competitor. Their jobs will be sent to Tijuana, Mexico.
“An estimated 144 workers will be let go by Automotive Importing Manufacturing Inc., or AIM, according to a notice filed with the state. The 40-year-old company remanufactures, or overhauls, used alternators and starters.
“Steve Seabourne, AIM president, said the layoffs follow the sale of most of AIM's business to Motorcar Parts of America Inc., a publicly traded company based in Torrance. The deal is set to close Friday.”
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