So the strong mayor initiative has been removed from the ballot. I'm relieved. They'll appeal the decision, of course, but it looks pretty bad for them.
Don't forget about the shows this weekend! Ten years of Rock The Light. That's crazy. Ten years flew by pretty fast.
That is awesome, I didn't think it would pass, but you never know.
ReplyDeletegbomb
Is RtL the offcial band of the Bush Era? We do torture audiences with noodling.
ReplyDeleteHow do you define "noodling"? We've been calling it shreding for years.
ReplyDeleteCharles
Shredding happens within the cotext of a song, noodling is shredding that happens once the song is over. Though we do shred at noodling, that's true.
ReplyDeleteNoodling also happens when you are jamming. Or sometimes, such as in the case of prog rock or modern jazz, when a musician gets egregiously self-absorbed during a solo.
ReplyDeleteRick, dude, bro, did you just call me egregiously self-absorbed? I'm not sure cause I'm thinking about solos too much to really pay attention.
ReplyDeleteRick, that last post was in jest, I know you weren't reffering to me. Though I am thinking about solos!
ReplyDeletetoo bad...status quo ante is pretty malignant to our city.
ReplyDeleteyou guys are the best shneddlers in town!
ReplyDelete"status quo" is a sound bite that conveniently ignores what a horrible idea the SMI is for everyone who isn't a real estate developer or a real estate developer's lapdog. It's based on the assumption that the city is not corrupt enough as it currently is, and it is too hard for crooks to rip off the city.
status quo as opposed to awarding a political figure with a sketchy history the opportunity to operate without any checks and balances. an individual who has already been proven to promote friends to positions of power regardless of their ability to do there job. giving kj that much power would create a malignancy in our city government far more destructive than any current "status quo."
ReplyDeleteTrue. In a different political climate I think there could be a good pro & con debate over SMI. I can see positives & negatives on both sides. But nobody in their right mind would give that power to KJ. He simply doesn't deserve it.
ReplyDelete-miller
Yep. And KJ's SMI is way beyond that of any other city in California. If it were along the same lines as those in other cities, then there'd also be room for debate.
ReplyDeleteshall I name off the ignominious list of corruptible issues that this council has been in "charge" of?
ReplyDelete1. Water meters
2. Levee Improvements/SAFCA/FEMA/Corps of Engineers bungling
2.A - Building permits for buildings AFTER the moratorium was in effect.
3. Prop. 218 hammer will prolly drop pretty soon and when the Federal prosecutor's office sees the BS, I'm sure some indictments as well as some pleas coming down. (btw - pretty arrogant when YOUR city attorney sends you an opinion that says you CAN'T take funds from the respective utilities' departments, BUT YOU DID IT ANYWAYS).
My point is: this IS the status quo and the current council members have been there about 10 years now. YES, the status quo is a malignancy we CAN'T afford right now.
Just because the current city council is inept, doesn't mean that the concept of a city council is a bad thing and should be done away with. On the other hand, KJ has proven himself to be an untrustworthy shepherd, and if he succeeds in his power grab all of us sheep will be in deep deep trouble.
ReplyDeleteto Araki:
ReplyDeleteI don't think that anyone is arguing that the system couldn't use a revamping. I think the issue is that Kevin Johnson is not the guy to be given that much power.
Let's try on this ignominious list:
1.To your water meters may I suggest a federal investigation regarding misuse of funds.
2. To your water levees how 'bout KJ's outrage at the leaking of the Robbie Waters building permit scandal not the violation itself. Call me crazy but it seems like the outrage should have been aimed at Dan Waters, Robbie's son as opposed to calling for an investigation into who spilled the beans.
2. A - One word Nestle.
3. To your prop 218 how 'bout electing to hire an auditing firm with ties to his now fiance who incidentally helped him out with the sexual misconduct charges which were lodged against him at St. Hope.
4. Phoenix
Beyond the above, the strong mayor initiative as drafted by KJ would allow the mayor an unprecedented degree of power. More than we should give any elected official especially one as sketchy as this guy. If you would like to defend that, more power to ya.
Listen, KJ (loved him as a b-baller, NOT as a mayor) would not have been my first choice. Considering how lackluster Fargo was, and her handling of the Arena, he was a step above.
ReplyDeleteThe misconduct issue REALLY makes me sick, but as far as I know, it' her word against his. We all know (unfortunately) how that plays out in a court room.
ISSUES:
1. AGREED. Let's call the Feds and MAYBE heads will roll.
2. Believe me, Dan Waters (and his poppa) are not ideal public servants. Dan should prolly get fired (maybe a suspension).
2.A. The proverbial jury is still out.
3. already addressed.
4. Phoenix?
I agree the way the SMI is structured, as it is, is not ideal. My point is that KJ has been around 1 year, most of that insular council has been around for about 10 years.
Keep in mind, araki, that the Strong Mayor supporters' main objection to the current system is that it was not corrupt enough for them--and its supporters include the same suburban developers who built North Natomas!
ReplyDeleteEverything about KJ's actions so far indicate that ignoring the rules, quid pro quo for his supporters, and a general disregard for the advice of attorneys whose job it is to tell you when he's doing something illegal, are all intended to be parts of the "strong mayor" system. Also keep in mind that the one person on the Council dais who doesn't have Johnson on their shit-list is Ray Kerridge, the city manager who oversaw (if you can call it that) the malfeasance of the past few years. If SMI does pass, expect Kerridge to keep his job--and today's corruption become tomorrow's business as usual.
bill-
ReplyDeleteI love your tireless doggedness when it comes to arguments like this. I gave up instantly. I'm not being sarcastic, I really love it! You're always in the trenches.
In a trench coat.
ReplyDelete-miller