August 2011    

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Election UPDATE   |August.17.2011 As of 5:15pm 8/17/11, per the Vallejo City Clerk. CANDIDATES FOR THE OFFICE OF MAYOR Osby Davis Joanne Schivley CANDIDATES FOR THE OFFICE OF COUNCIL MEMBER David Cary Matthias Esoimeme (Pastor Divine Faiths Ministry)) Erin Hannigan Sam Kurshan Jonathan Logan Jesus C. Malgapo Robert McConnell Ruperto Sampayan

Anonymous   |August.17.2011 The deadline to file papers to run for council has expired. Are there any additional candidates?

Anonymous   |August.17.2011 Sorry,I forgot Section 8 money does flow into the pockets of the local realtors who get a commission every time an investor flips a Vallejo rental plus they often get a nice fat management fee. An effective realtor is going to funnel new foreclosures and stuff coming on the market to their best customers...the investors who own bunches of homes...so they don't have to waste time on new, single family first time homeowners.

Anonymous   |August.17.2011 Section 8 does not represent money flowing into the city! It represents money flowing into the fat salaries of the VHA staff and the pockets of the "investors" most of whom live out of town. The unintended consequence costs that stay in Vallejo include costs for additional police, fire and social services; maintenance for trash pickup; code enforcement; increased homeowner insurance; costs for security systems; increased costs for driving out of town for essential services, etc. There is no benefit to the citizens of Vallejo; only to those that "farm the poor".

anon   |August.17.2011 You are not to treat sec 8 ANY different than any other bad tenant. The only thing HUD ask is for "no cause" you give them a 90 day notice. Otherwise, you can use 3-day notice to pay or quit and 30 Day for breaking contract issues. If you know your rights you will not be bullied by Housing or sec 8 tenant.

Mousy   |August.17.2011 Mr that is why home owners need to sue to property owners rather than even deal with the VHA and section 8. Enough lawsuits and a slum lord will sell the property. If enough people in town start suing, Vallejo becomes hostile to slum lords and owner occupancy will become more common, simply because slum lord investors won't touch us. So sue, sue, sue. I know everyone hates the lawsuit happy people but filing lawsuits for stuff you don't like happening is a mark of a healthy community that has residents that care what happens. We need to protect our rights, and if the city won't do it let's use the courts. Does anyone know of an organization in town that could set up workshops on how to sue bad property owners for quality of life issues?

Mr :)   |August.17.2011 Your fantasy of eliminating section 8 might have unintended consequences. What if the section 8 tenants don't leave? What if instead rents just fall to the level the poor can afford. At that point you will have the same tenants but now you will have property owners that cannot afford regular maintenance of their properties due to low rents. It is also possible that instead of moving out of Vallejo they will just live in fewer rental units, allowing them to pay the now unaffordable rents by doubling or tripling up. Does this sound like an improvement to you? Yes that is only one pessimistic scenario. It is possible that if section 8 were eliminated many would move out of Vallejo. But section 8 does represent money flowing into a city that would normally not be there. Think about how that money will be replaced. Finally, at some point austerity measures may be inevitable so section 8 will be cut back like it or not, ready or not.

Instill Fear in Landlords,   |August.17.2011 Landlords should always be in fear that if they rent to the "wrong" tenant, that surrounding homes will sue them in court at 7 thousand dollars a household. I want Landlords to "squirm" when they think about investment property in Vallejo. If you own a rental property it should be the best looking place on the block, including gardening and weed abatement, not to mention that the building should be "spot on." Lets become the City that sues Slumlords, lets instill "fear" in Slumlords, they can go buy property in cities that dont care or havent figured it out yet.

Anonymous   |August.17.2011 Here's another horror story from the book of neighborhood nightmares and it does not involve section 8. Imagine one of Vallejo's finest old neighborhoods where people have owned and lived in their homes for 20 years minimum. A peaceful and quite pocket of old Vallejo that has gone unnoticed by vandals and burglars. One of the long time homeowners dies and her property is left vacant for a couple years. Squatters discover the home and move in, the entire neighborhood is immediately affected. Copper wire and copper pipe are ripped out of neighboring basements. Cars doing doughnuts in the yards and streets. Drugs sales continuously, around the clock. The question for all of us is, how much do we take of this kind of behavior. What semi legal strategies will we devise to crush a problems like this. The Police in this case are doing everything they can but it's not enough. How far do we have to go to take back our neighborhoods from this plague?

Vallejo Is Burning   |August.16.2011 Just burn it down.

Must Remain Anon   |August.16.2011 As a landlord I had found it extremely difficult to remove sec 8 tenants. Since they must be given 90 days notice it adds to the time when they can misbehave. One sued me for racial discrimination for giving her a ninety day notice. The VHA will do absolutly nothing to assist you, so don't bother wasting time going to them. If you write the feds you risk a legal aid lawyer suing you for discrimination. Look what happened about two years ago when residents in Western Contra Costa were likened to being in the Klan for complaining about sec 8 families. I have found a very simple solution on how to get Sec 8 tenants to behave. Don't rent to them.

Anonymous   |August.16.2011 to "not section 8" - please re-read your post. Do you reallize how much effort it takes to remove a section 8 renter. Lots of documentation and calls to the PD not to mention finding neighbors brave enough to confront a renter with behavorial problems. I don't believe that only 10% of the complaints are actually about Section 8. People work very hard to afford nicer neighborhoods in an effort to ensure a good quality of life for their families only to have it ruined by dysfunctional renters. I've had two Section 8 families live next door to me. It was a nightmare. It never mattered to the owner that his renters failed to maintain the property and caused other problems and it wasn't until they failed to pay him rent that he finally took action.

Mousy   |August.16.2011 I say just take them to straight court. We need to stop being soft on these people.

Embarasse the SLUMLORDS.   |August.16.2011 One more thing,let the Slumlord know that you and the neighbors intend to sue using the now famous "class action" where the Slumlord may have to pay out up to $7000 per claim. This could get quite pricey. I am sure the VHA wont like hearing someone they have been approved for a section 8 voucher home is going to be sued. Hey does that make VHA a party to the lawsuit? Perhaps VHA should be advised of their rights....

Embarasse the SLUMLORDS.   |August.16.2011 Okay, lets speak frankly. Get straight to the source, send a letter of complaint, many letters of complaint to the Landlord of slummy properties. Promise in the letter that if something has not been done, ie upkeep of home, eviction of bad tenants, you intend to share with the landlords friends, relatives and business associates what kind of property they keep in Vallejo. If you are able to include pictures, do so, it puts pressure on the landlord. If you know for a fact they receive section 8 make sure you say you intend to call the Feds as well, just pass over the VHA, go higher. Then make sure if it is section 8 to "cc" to the VHA. Believe me, VHA does not want the Feds sniffing around.

Anonymous   |August.15.2011 Pounding on doors is no where near as effective as a well mounted legal challenge.

Anonymous   |August.15.2011 ...and that is how it will continue to work until people make it an issue that won't go away. The problem is that government agencies lack any impetus to get things done. Constant pounding on the door and a barrage of phone calls is the only way to get their attention.

Anonymous   |August.15.2011 Section 8 voucher programs? When it works, it works. The problem is when there are people who have moved into a house that is "section 8" qualified and then proceed to be a nuisance; moving more people into the house, loud noise, intolerance to neighbor complaints. The Vallejo police will not show up on these types of complaints; would not even get dispatch to report it. The landlord does not want the hassle of how long it will take to have a sec. 8 tenant removed (at least 90 days); only wants the guaranteed government check each month. VHA is suppose to regulate in some way, But it is clear that VHA, the Landlords, the Police all put it on the shoulders of the neighbors which is disturbing. Why should I have to shoulder that burden? The government is handing out "free" money; they should shoulder the burden. But that is not how it works.

Anonymous   |August.15.2011 VHA does nothing. A mother of 4 young children resided in my neighborhood; she was housing with use of a voucher. She was prostituting out of her house. She had one john who came every tuesday and wednesday mornings at 6am and others throughout the day. I reported this to VHA and gave license plate numbers, dates and times. VHA did nothing

Salty Dog   |August.15.2011 correction... psychobureaupathological servants.

Salty Dog   |August.15.2011 Enforce all ordinances? Well...some need to be reviewed and revised. Like charging a musician $40 business licence and researching his tax return for further charges. (Val Times Herald). Hell, if its all about money....go after the boom box folkes....should be able to get a couple hundred per violation at least....and in the process assist the health and welfare of residents. Talk about a wacked out city. Ignore the rental housing violations, pretend boom boxes are an asset, and hit on a lone musician for $40 bucks. Real heroes, these local high priced psychopathological servants of the public.

Salty Dog   |August.15.2011 So then, it appears that it is not so much about numbers and percentages or different jurisdiction....and more about what effective remedies are available for antisocial behaviors. Once again it boils down to that organization that has the local legal authority to act....or do nothing. And again, I say it behooves the municipality to put by-law enforcement (all ordinances) front and center on priorities. I would not vote for anyone who puts a Casino proposal ahead of existing law enforcement.No funding? Get it, and get busy.

Must Remain Anon   |August.15.2011 Melissa's response about what the VHA will do about a troubled Sec 8 tenantn is a croc. The VHA will do absolutely nothing to complaints about SEc 8 tenants, saying its a landlord - tenant issue. No neiighbor in their right mind would take time off from work to testify against a Sec 8 tennat. In the 25 years I have been involved in the Vallejo housing market I have only seen the VHA remove one tenant from their jusrisdiction because of bad conduct (she had punched out an onsite manager). I have been to a hearing where the tenant was openly threatening a witness and making fun of the owners Asian accent. The then manager of the og the VHA, Gary, wished the tenant luck in keeping her voucher. The hearing officer ruled in the tenants favor, finding the witness "not credible."

Anonymous   |August.15.2011 Thanks, Melinda, for explaining, completely and in detail why Section 8 is a negative impact on Vallejo neighborhood. There is no meaningful accountability or path to mitigation. It is obviously up to the neighbors, from your perspective, and nothing can be done. I've heard that cop out before ("how do you know it is Section 8?" Easy, those 10% bad apple in Section 8 (your figure) are in your face hostile which often leads to acts of mayhem against those neighbors they think are complaining. Those in substandard, market rentals are better behaved because the landlord has to screen them if they expect to get the rent paid, it does not take months and months of bureaucracy to get rid of bad apples and the path to a small claims action against the landlord is much easier. So, I agree. Section 8 contibutes to the concentration of poverty and social problems which is a negative impact under Federal and State Law.

Most Complaints are not Sectio   |August.15.2011 Below is the response I ( Robert Schussel) recevied from Melinda Nestlerode Vallejo Housing Authority manager about a complaint from a Glen cove residents. I would urge everyone to follow through with VHA when you think you have a problem. RESPONSE First of all, I would make sure that the house really was being assisted through the Voucher program. Ninety percent of the phone calls we receive complaining about "Section 8" houses actually are not being assisted through the program. If this is one of the ten percent of program participants who cannot abide by the Voucher program rules, there are several things the neighbors can do. The most important action is to document exactly what the problems are. They should document the dates, times and specifics of each occurrence. The landlord is responsible for ensuring that his/her tenant complies with their lease agreement, and is legally responsible for making sure that his/her tenant does not hamper the neighbors right to quiet enjoyment in their homes. Once the neighbors have factual documentation, they should notify the landlord of the problem. He may not be aware of the issues, or, he just may be an irresponsible landlord. The landlord is responsible for enforcing his lease, and, if necessary, evicting tenants who violate it. If the Housing Authority can obtain enough documentation through, 1)neighbor records, 2)PD Calls for Service, and/or 3)Police Reports, that the Voucher holder has violated his/her Family Obligations, we will propose termination of assistance. The Voucher holder is entitled to a fair hearing to explain his/her side of the story. At the fair hearing, the Housing Authority must show through a preponderance of evidence that the Voucher holder violated federal regulations. Neighborhood witnesses are crucial to the Housing Authorities case, as the Hear Officer cannot relay solely on hearsay when making a determination.

Anonymous   |August.15.2011 I agree Vallejo has it's own big-hitters. But aside from Vallejoans, who really follows Con funk shun? While I would pay to see Patty Label or Smokey Robinson, Willie Nelson because they are classics. Aside from Sly and the Family Stone, I wouldn't really venture out to see anyone else you named. The musicians I named have followers not just exclusive to Vallejoans.

GC'er   |August.14.2011 SD, I am familiar with both communities you described. Great touristing.... I also recall visits to the Cowichan Aquatic Centre in Duncan, BC (in the same general area) during construction and opening in 2008. Of course being able to hop the excellent Ferry System with a car to tour the area is a big plus. Many towns fell on hard times when their life blood, aka long time industries, simply went away. A few fell by the wayside, but the majority pulled themselves out and prospered. Vallejo is a diverse community with people from all corners of the world. However to be heard and taken seriously with the simplest of suggestions is another story. Not being born in Vallejo and not knowing how wonderful it was to grow up here immediately disqualifies any opinions expressed as outlandish, can not do or it will never work, newbie stuff. Of course, our monetary situation is tight, but it already was 19 years ago when I first set foot into Vallejo. Nothing has changed, our quality of life has deteriorated or is non-existent. The only thing one can count on is our weather Stores closed in 1993 and left town even as the Navy still had some people working at MI. Then families moved away ..... Property values sank within a year of my home purchase and tripled within 14 years. Now we have pretty much bottomed out again, I hope, which should tell the majority of us that we have already been there and done that..... and yet we do not seem to have learned much since then! It is time to pay attention to other communities that have been successful in reinventing themselves with a vision that is incorporating their past.

Anonymous   |August.14.2011 Big Hitter - I agree with your optimistic view of what should be done with downtown Vallejo but please note that our downtown is wedged between what are essentially two massive welfare projects. I live on the East side and few of my neighbors ever venture to downtown Vallejo. Deserved or not, downtown has a bad reputation. I was hopeful that our Mayor would address the dysfunction in some of our communities but instead he opted to single out gay people for ridicule while ignoring the crisis in his own community. Sad but true!

Big hitters   |August.14.2011 Vallejo has it's own hall of famers from music to sports to screen writers. How about a fund raiser at the Empress with all talent that has come from Vallejo? I realize this goes all the way back to turn of the century, we could flash video of all the great sports, music and other famous people that "hail from the Big V." It would draw quite a crowd if we could get Con funksun, Sly and the Family Stone, N-2 Deep, Horn Blower Marvin McFadden, CC Sabathia could appear, Alvon, Okay I could go on and on. The Empress is one of the most under-utilized venues I have ever seen. Why has there not been a film festival? Folks love old film if we did a Bette Davis or Greta Garbo film festival we would draw from all over the Bay Area. We have been waiting for our Govt ie the City of Vallejo to fix everything, make everything perfect in the downtown. This is not going to happen. When has the Govt fixed anything at city, state or county levels and it has been a success? Business folks need to do it themselves, start filling up the downtown with art, restaurants and shops. Dont worry about development and what the city is going to do. So far Vallejo has been the receipiant of funds from the Govt called Section 8 and Redevelopment funds, how do you like what these funds have done to help our city???? Forge your own future!!!!!

Salty Dog   |August.14.2011 anon says: Smokey Robinson, Willie Nelson, Boz Scaggs & Michael McDonald, Men of Soul, Patty Labele, George Benson and David Sanborn.. Wouldn't it be cool if these musicians came to Vallejo to perform instead of Cache Creek Casino? Wouldn't it be cool to offer this treat to Vallejoans? I don't go to casinos to gamble but for the entertainment and hey maybe I'll stop at some slots when i'm there. I would be a nice choice to have. Yes...yes it would be cool. It is the other crap that comes with it that isn't so cool. But who says you have to attach gambling to git em here. Besides...I don't see any high priced names heading for the San Pablo Casino.....but I do see a lot of low iffy people hangin out in the vicinity. Nice vision. Now you or I, as private citizens may think it is cool...but for elected reps or wannabe reps suggesting such an activity as a way forward is a measure of how unsuited they are for being the trustees of the public good.

Salty Dog   |August.14.2011 Chemainus could teach Vallejo a lesson or two.... Chemainus is a town on Vancouver Island with a history of logging as its sole livelihood and reason for being. In the seventies, it ran out of wood and markets. With few options, someone had the bright idea of painting murals on all the city buildings. Today, Chemainus is a tourist destination and is thriving as people come to look at the artistic expressions and spend. Nanaimo, also on Vancouver Island, another resource town, was also hit hard in the seventies by economic circumstance....until the then Mayor promoted the idea of an annual bathtub race to Vancouver. People thought he was crazy at the time. Now there is a statue on the waterfront of Mayor Neye. Today, people travel from all parts of the world to compete in and watch the annual competition.... I am sure there are countless other examples of a community redefining itself to survive. But what astonishes me is that Vallejo has some incredibly rich established assets dead center and, although recognized and developed in part, there appears to be little real effort to build on the architectural and historic districts as attractions. In fact, these beautiful assets appear to be on the tipping point of ghettodom and that is a real tragedy and a testimony to lack of vision and a bankruptcy of ideas. How about if we stop gambling with existing assets.

Anonymous   |August.14.2011 Smokey Robinson, Willie Nelson, Boz Scaggs & Michael McDonald, Men of Soul, Patty Labele, George Benson and David Sanborn.. Wouldn't it be cool if these musicians came to Vallejo to perform instead of Cache Creek Casino? Wouldn't it be cool to offer this treat to Vallejoans? I don't go to casinos to gamble but for the entertainment and hey maybe I'll stop at some slots when i'm there. I would be a nice choice to have.

Anonymous   |August.14.2011 Amen, Salty Dog! Look at San Pablo as the example, because that's what Vallejo would get. Don't show us pretty pictures of fancy casinos. People wouldn't come here to gamble and spend the night. They would be Bay Area local or Vallejoans. Bankrupt ideas, I like that. Vallejo needs to raise it's self esteem and expect better. The film studio may have fell through, but at least it was "more" and had potential to attract other quality businesses and industry. That's the type of thing we should shoot for. The only other industry a casino would attract is drugs and prostitution, maybe some more bars.

Salty Dog   |August.13.2011 Dealer...I was being a bit facetious in referencing Atlantic City....but the ideals or ideas are the same. A Casino, successful at any level is the measure of bankruptcy of ideas of those seeking to bring economic stimulus to Vallejo, The only people who will benefit are the owner(s) and a few employees. The gamblers will be poorer and the residents will see another layer of antisocial behavior laid upon the area. Gambling. C'mon Vallejo...its been bad, but you can do better than that.

drbob   |August.13.2011 Hannigan lost any hope of my vote when she took major credit for the State Farm building, apparently unconcerned that the parking lot was situated so that a 50 year old grove of redwoods had to be sacrificed! She could find no other place to have her cohorts park than the nicest part of the 60s waterfront mess.

Dealer   |August.13.2011 Salty I don't think Atlantic City is what he shooting for. Just a single successful casino ie. http://edmonton.cnty.com/

Anonymous   |August.13.2011 This Malgapo (?) guy was peddling his plan for a casino around Vallejo a couple few years ago.

Anonymous   |August.13.2011 Oh God, please, not another Sunga!

Salty Dog   |August.13.2011 Wonderful....a Councillor who wants to create an Atlantic City West ( how well did that work out for the poor of Atlantic City)...with the help of his bro in law if elected. If only Vallejo was singularly fiscally bankrupt. Unfortunately, there are other genres of bankruptcy that can be applied to the collective Vallejo ethos.

know vallejo   |August.13.2011 malgapo is sunga's brother-in-law.

Anonymous   |August.13.2011 Neutral? Seriously? She rarely votes against her stupid majority. There's no neutral in Hannigan. She's loyal to her PSUs, her Daddy's GOBs and her little friend Kenny.

Glub glub glub   |August.13.2011 Looks like Jess used his house for an ATM. He's way under water on his loan. Maybe he went to the Osby Davis school of home finance? At least Hermie transferred all of his holdings into his wife's name.

Anonymous   |August.13.2011 The word is that Jesus "Jess" Malgapo is a puppet of Sunga; both want a casino on Mare Island.

IlikeHannigan   |August.13.2011 At least Hannigan will talk to people outside this little circle. Aside from her psu support, she is the most neutral. I can't say that for some of the other council members.

Anonymous   |August.13.2011 Joe Tanner was hired to whip the unions and get them in line. He was hired because he was not a bought and sold union agent.. BUT that was all he did. He did not do anything else for our city. He approved the police contract with its huge benefits and raises because, in January 2009, the key union fighter in the city was Kurt Henke with the IAFF and the goal was to smash the IAFF. To do that, giving "everything" away to the Police (and the department heads thorugh CAMP, don't forget they got mandatory raises also), then there literally was nothing left for the fire. The decision was wrong, The contract was wrong. The judgment call was wrong. They succeeded in getting Henke out of Vallejo (good riddance), but the decisions allowed the VPOA to rise and roar for more money, benefits and money without caring about the people actually living here. If it wasn't for the fact that Mayor Davis voted for the VPOA contract and he was the same guy behind getting Tanner fired, Tanner deserved to go. Davis does too.

Anonymous   |August.13.2011 Until we get a new police chief, and a city manager who will actually take the full responsibility of being the police chief's boss, and this city's city council passes resolutions from the dias setting clear POLICY that this city wants and expects service and the residents deserve respect from its police department, nothing will change. The police hate this town, they come in and work, take huge salaries, tell anyone that will listen that no place is safe is Vallejo, why move here? and do not respond to anything but after a serious crime has occurred. I'm looking for police, not CSI; I'm looking for dispatch who will answer a call with respect, not disdain towards the caller, and I want an answer that police will respond. Fine, tell me it will be a while, but say they will respond, and then, I'd like them to show up. Our police department, the highest paid in the Bay Area, don't care about the residents here or helping us build safer neighborhoods. Regardless of how much you pay them or don't, until that mentality and attitude is removed and changed, the police will just keep doing what it does...work with the DEA, SWAT and other joint task forces, and show up after a shooting.

Grumblers   |August.13.2011 It was actually better to cut the ranks of both Police and Fire and to maintain their pay, it's what they wanted, remember what Chief Nick said when asked if cutting pay would enable the City to keep fire and police if they were willing to take a cut in pay, remember the famous words? "We just want to get paid." Now they have their pay and their reduced ranks, they actually look like a bunch of idiots because surrounding cities and counties have taken cuts in pay to maintain their ranks ie, City of Napa, Napa Co., Santa Rosa, Palo Alto, Oakland etc. Actually now they look like a bunch of pig-headed, selfish idiots, since others are taking a cut in pay and they have elected to take a pay raise (police) and they have the nerve to complain about their ranks being reduced, they made that decision when they refused to take a cut in pay and benefits. How about the new hires (I think the new hires had left for other cities and didnt like working for other cities) in the police dept, will they be "second tier" in pay and benefits???? Yep, glad we gave the police dept what they wanted, didnt want to hear grumbling all the time...

Anonymous   |August.12.2011 Hannigan wrote a letter (or signed it after Daddy wrote it). In four years she writes a letter and that's "positive change?" Name one thing she has accomplished? Other than sucking up to the unions and selling us taxpayers out by giving her union buds raises and free bennies? And now she is pushing a sales tax on us because she gave our money away to her PSU buddies. Yeah, it was Hannigan who said we should cut all departments completely to keep public safety happy. Cut public works. Economic development. Just keep the PSUs happy.

Salty Dog   |August.12.2011 but....on a more positive note... VALLEJO WELCOMES YOU!!! Welcome to one of the nicest climates around, where afternnoon sea breezes moderated by the land keeps a nice ambient temperature...week after week after week. Just drive from Richmond to Vallejo to notice the difference. Welcome to the gateway to Napa wine country and lazy days of wine tasting and exploring the backroads of Napa. Welcome sailors to the Marina. Yes, sailing to the Gate will be a headwind challenge but the return following winds mean a delightful sailing experience. And the berthing rates are cheaper. Take a walk down Vallejo's historic and Architectural districts and imagine simpler times gone by. Many are available for sale at below market values. Need recreation for the kids? Vallejo has its very own theme Park. Purchase a season ticket for the full benefits. Retiring and looking for a place to putter. You can grow almost anything in Vallejo...even some things that aren't exactly legal, but will sooth the mind and aching back....and increase the appetite too. Vallejo awaits you. lol.

Anonymous   |August.12.2011 anon, Hannigan has done things for the city? You've got to be kidding. She's a suck up to Osby and a fully funded union candidate who will vote in the interests of public unions and not in the intests of Vallejo taxpayers. We're stuck with a ridiculous Police contract that she voted for. Have you forgotten that the police got a 7% pay raise last year while the rest of us struggle to hold onto our jobs. I haven't had a raise in three years but at least I have a job. Hannigan is especailly fond of the fire department having voted for a contract that exceeds by 2 million dollars the city's ability to fund. Nice work Hannigan!

Anonymous   |August.12.2011 Because Danny Jefferson clicked a like button on Erin Hannigans Facebook page you equate this to her being a homo phobic. This makes you sound absolutely ridiculous and brings a level of insignificance to this website and the people that care about it. I did not support Hannigans run for city council four years ago, and I might just have to hold my nose if someone else does not decide to run besides a retired cop that is milking the tax payers pension fund. Let alone the fact he has been a puppet for another cop (sorry Steph) milking the tax payers pension fund. I hate to say this but Hannigan has made a positive change in the community. She has been a strong advocate for quality of life issues, like holding property owners responsible. I could not believe my eye when I read the flattering report by Robert Shussel regarding the decrease in calls for service to some of our most troubled section 8 properties. This was attributed to a Chronic Nuisance Ordinance that city staff is still sitting on.

Gaaaaayyyyys Going Down   |August.12.2011 HAHAHAHA... Sunga supports Jesus. Osby Supports Logan. Wilson dropping out. Erin-Danny hysteria. The Gaaaaayyyyy agenda going down in Vallejo. OMG, this is something to behold. Going to be 5-2 Council makeup in November.

Danny Jefferson- Erin WARNING   |August.12.2011 Danny Jefferson, a local homophobic preacher who likes to preach against homosexuals and posts videos to his myspace page on how gays can be cured, "likes" a post on Hannigan's facebook page: July 31 Hannigan4Vallejo Today is the first official day of my reelection campaign to the Vallejo City Council, a job that I take very seriously. If you are in town and are available this afternoon, join me and my friends at the USA World Classics Museum on Sonoma Blvd at 2. I will be sharing my vision of Vallejo and my plan for Vallejo's future. See you there! Seven people like this including Danny Jefferson. Erin Hanningan are you a homophobe too? Bird of a feather......

Jesus Warning   |August.12.2011 He was a supporter of Erin Hannigan's in 2007 https://ibvallejo.com/archive/Hannigan.pdf Check out page 5. Does this mean he'll be another union darling?

New Candidate   |August.12.2011 Vallejo City Council candidate Jesus "Jess" Malgapo will host a campaign kickoff party Saturday afternoon, formally announcing his intention to run. http://www.timesheraldonline.com/ci_18667507

CAL GREEN LAWS   |August.12.2011 http://www.documents.dgs.ca.gov/bsc/CALGreen/2010_CA_Green_Bldg.pdf The above is the link for the new CAl Green laws for building and maintaining a building. How it can affect Vallejo rentals is that you cannot rent out a house that has peeling paint unless it has been professionally tested by a CAL Green professional. Homes built before 1978 often were painted with lead based paint inside and out. Section 8 which receives Fed/State funds should not be using inventory ie housing in Vallejo that is built before 1978 unless the paint has been tested for lead This applies to families with children who could injest the paint. If the paint is found to have any lead, then the entire structure must be "abated" by a professional licensed by CAL Green to do the job. This includes fences and walls. This will be very expensive. So these new laws apply to painting, also to plumbing and heating which also used materials which had lead and abestos in them. If pipes are wraped or heating ducts are found to have materials with lead or abestos, these need to be abated as well. So, perhaps the Vallejo Housing Authority needs to be sent a copy of the new CAL Green law. We should not be using old inventory in Vallejo to house Section 8. Perhaps a letter to a slumlord should read like this "It has come to our attention that the property you rent on 1234 Ohio St. was built during the turn of the century and used construction materials such as lead and abestoes. The entire south North side of your property is peeling, and will require a lead paint test from a professional, we are notifying the VHA and suggest you prepare for the results of the test which may require abatement." Etc. Then you can go on to tell the other problems, ie grass too tall, graffiti, broken windows etc." Make sure to include a good picture too, landlords hate the pictures because they do not know who might be looking at them. Give them a cut off time to solve the problem, such as two weeks or so. You might be surprised at how quickly they come out to work on the problem.

Ho Patrol   |August.12.2011 Neighborhood Watch Launches 'Ho Patrol' to Help Crack Down on Prostitution http://www.760wjr.com/rssItem.asp?feedid=118&itemid=29707677

Fight Back   |August.11.2011 Look up who own's the property and send them an anonymous letter stating clearly what is happening to the property and facts that you have observed. Let it be known that you will report each and every offense to VHA, Code Enforcement and VPD. Let them know you will get other neighbors involved. Take pictures, send them along with the letter. If no action, put up some flyers by the home of the owner (Napa, Marin, wherever) that said property owner is unresponsive and is ruining a neighborhood in Vallejo. Do it anonymously and fairly. That is how you fight back and they will listen.

Salty Dog   |August.11.2011 Thanks for the feedback on Section 8. I can't think of a more important issue for the well being and healthy growth of a community than the issue of rentals, the purchase of properties by investors" and the connection to degrading social behavior. I see it all around me and it dumbfounds me to understand why people in positions of authority (the city) don't put this front and center on their to do list- ordinance enforcement. If they are hell bent on ignoring the issue or claiming lack of funding or inviting low income rentals, then, at the very least, they could and should take equal measures to encourage residential ownership. A small step would be to cancel fees for building renovations and improvements for residents and local contractors. Double the fees for so called "investors".

Anonymous   |August.11.2011 I live in Glen Cove next to a rental house that's occpied by Section 8'ers. It may sound like a stereotype but the house is rented to a single mother who now has her baby daddy living there, a few of her young adult nieces and nephews and some of baby dady's friends. It's been a nightmare having them next door. I've called our neighborhood board rep, Code enforcement and the housing authority but they all seem powerless to do anything about the noise, unkept lawn, and general disregard for others. We certainly seem to have people in our community who know how to milk the system and Vallejo seems to get more than its fair share of this type.

Michael Tatham   |August.11.2011 Re Section 8, the VHA only screens for VIOLENT felonies, almost all other crimes are okay. It's up to the individual landlord to screen for credit and rental history. To remove a Section 8 tennat a landlord must give 90 days notice, which is to end on the 1st of a month, which can give a tenant up to 120 days to move while the landlord and the neighbors suffer. There are also other arcane regulations protecting Sec 8 tenants.

Desperate For Movie Studio?   |August.11.2011 The two-alarm fire broke out about 10:30 a.m. in the first floor of the city-owned Building 755 at the north end of Railroad Avenue. http://www.timesheraldonline.com/ci_18662992

Anonymous   |August.11.2011 Section 8 is a net drain on a neighborhood in Vallejo. You have only to look around at the neighborhoods affected. Both the Heritage District and St. Vincent's Hill Historic District are over 70% rentals of which 10% are Section 8. The evidence is that middle class homeowners are continuing to leave because the quality of life is eroding. Supposedly Section 8 units are inspected by VHA for habitablity and the recipients are screened. But when it all plays out, it has been proven over and over VHA is not doing their job and frequently approves units with code violations. Then recipients often lie like rugs. The biggest lie has to do with who lives there. Most often the unit is rented to a woman, single head of household with kids but then the "baby daddy" moves in or maybe a grown kid. The number of occupants tends to increase but there is no way to prove it. In one example, a one bedroom rented to an older woman then expanded to her daughter with two kids and then the daughter's boyfriend who just happened to be in the drug dealing business. But, herein lies the rub, there is no way to enforce the regs. In the above case, attempts to evict the tenant for non-compliance with the terms of the rental agreement were met with the treat of a lawsuit on the basis of racism. Section 8 recipients are often skilled con artists...if you say something about the out-of-control kids then you threatened and might have your car scratched and your landscaping pulled up. You are not supposed to know which units are Section 8 so all calls go to either the police or Code Enforcement which does nothing. The costs of managing the properties is passed from the landlord who never has to set foot in Vallejo to the City's General Fund or to the neighbors who either just have to take it, put ear plugs in or move. With non-section 8 rentals, the landlord is often more receptive to the kind of letters from the neighbors that document problems in advance of a Nuisance small claims action. With Section 8, everybody hides behind the veil of victimization from "descrimination" and the lawyers and owners are the winners as is evidenced by the continuing Marina Vista problems. There is a nexus between the "subsidized housing" problem, the "absentee fathers" and boom boxes often discussed here. One elderly AA gentleman told me that subsidized housing was the worst thing that ever happened to AA families because when the women realized they could live for free at taxpayer expense, they kicked the fathers out of the home. Clearly that is over simplification but there is a degree of unpleasant truth. I think that the era of entitlements is coming to an end and the future looks pretty scary.

Salty Dog   |August.11.2011 And while on thge subjetc of housing...I am wondering if Section Eighters are as bad as they are made out to be.... don't they have to subscribe to certain behaviors or risk losing tgheir voucher? Seems to me that it may be more low income people without vouchers who may be causing social problems. In which case it again comes back to the city as the prime enforcer of rules. Any stats out there on section 8 and social problems v. non section eighters?

Salty Dog   |August.11.2011 I agree with below...we need strategies to encourage ownership, not "investment" and Obama et al aren't helping one bit. Leave the freakin market alone and let it sort itself out. Market value, not Obama convoluted value. I suspect Cal Green is designed for new construction only....correct me if I am mistaken.

Jay   |August.11.2011 (trying again) Can you point us to some of these new Cal Green rules? Some more info would help. The more owner-occupied housing we have here, the better!

Jay   |August.11.2011 Foreclosure Sales

Foreclosure sales   |August.11.2011 Last night on the 10 O'clock news, they were reporting that the Obama Admin. is pressuring banks to sell off their foreclosed properties in large blocks to investors who will buy the multiple homes and rent them all out to get them off the market. WTF? This is the opposite of what I and many other of my realtors friends have been trying to accomplish. We have been getting as many first time homebuyers in homes as possible and shunning the out of town investors. I have sold 39 homes to firt time home buyers, which took homes out of 5 out of town investors who rented them out. These have all been sales of foreclosed props or short sale props. We do not need out of town investors who dont maintain their property to buy up blocks of foreclosed property from Banks. I know this would help the Obama Admin. look "better" but I could give a flying fig! If you know someone that would like to buy a home, get them to Vallejo!!! We need to encourage the middle classes to move back to Vallejo and buy a home which will stimulate the economy! Create your own neighborhood, every time a home comes up for sale on your street, start finding a friend to buy it. Dont forget to letter write to slumlords who do not take care of their property. There are a lot of building codes and rules now due to the CAL GREEN buiding laws, site a few of these laws in your complaint letter, it's sure to get a result. Make the lives of those who dump on Vallejo a nightmare! Remember investment property should be the best looking property on the block! Peace!

Paul Norberg   |August.11.2011 Mike Wilson's latest filing with the FPPC shows that his assembly committee is still $40,615 in debt. $15,200 on a loan from himself to the committee, $13,499 due to US Bank VISA and $11,916 due to Paul Mitchell political consultant in Sacramento. Wonder how he is going to get those debts paid off???

Anonymous   |August.11.2011 Big difference. "Vallejo Businessman" closes Vallejo office in favor of Benicia office months after getting elected. And p.s. Marc does the reporting, we just comment

Mikey Wilson   |August.11.2011 Mike did not move the business to Benicia, Arc already had a location for years in Benicia in the Arsenal area. He did however close the Arc office in downtown Vallejo. I am not a Wilson fan, but lets get the facts straight, lets not do "junior high" reporting like the Times Herald....

Anonymous   |August.11.2011 Wilson is also the guy who ran for city council as a "Vallejo businessman" and yet pulled his and his brothers business from Vallejo and moved it to Benicia just months after winning election. He's just fake.

Everything's Wrong With Wilso   |August.11.2011 I signed the "Better Vallejo" pledge and I'm not gay. I support people having the freedom to be who they want to be (except criminals and morons like you WWWW and Wilson of course) and don't support people who try to restrict that freedom. I'm just fine with Wilson being a moron in his own life. I will not support him trying to represent me in public office. He's not very smart, lacks initiative (unless it concerns himself), he "goes along to get along", and lacks a moral compass when it comes to sucking up to unions/special interests and paying them back in votes.

Anonymous   |August.11.2011 I have to agree. Mr. Wilson is just not quick enough on complex topics to be an effictive leader. He actually comes across as not smart but that may just be nerves sitting up at the dais. I'll vote for a left-handed, one-eyed, questioning transvestite if he/she has a good mind and is willing to use it unencumbered by insane political correctness and failed leftest policies. But then again, we only serve up democrat candidates here in Vallejo so I guess we are doomed to remain encumbered.

Anonymous   |August.10.2011 Saying Gays support Wilson is like saying Women support Palin just because she's a women (reminds me of Linda Engleman's "woman to woman" campaign mailer--barf), or Men support Huckaby or any of those other crazy teabagger men.

What's Wrong With Wilson?   |August.10.2011 "Wilson lost his first Assembly run because of Vallejo. He'll lose his second. He's not wanted here." But, But, But... Wilson is Gaaaaayyyyy like the Better Vallejo people. All Gaaaaayyyyys are supposed to be in solidarity for each other, no matter what!!! Isn't that what it's all about? VIB and VIBers all support the Gaaaaayyyyys, don't they?

Maddy   |August.10.2011 Yowza! Look at that list of union donations. Gee, I wonder who he'd represent if elected again?

Anonymous   |August.10.2011 Michael Wilson is disgusting in his desire to step on the heads of us Vallejoans to get to higher office. Less than two years into his FIRST city council term, he runs for Assembly. Then, less than four years into his first term he starts running for Assembly? What has he done for Vallejo? Just name one thing, even small, that he proposed and saw to conclusion. Just one. Wilson can't stand the heat. He doesn't like rubbing elbows with us simple Vallejoans. He wants to become accustomed to the life he thinks he deserves. What a joke. Wilson lost his first Assembly run because of Vallejo. He'll lose his second. He's not wanted here.

Observer   |August.10.2011 anon, we always knew that Michael was bought and paid for by unions. His feeble attempt at keeping Measure A off the ballot was embarrassing to watch. He has never done anything to serve the best interests of Vallejo's citizens or tax payers. Lets pray that he doesn't enter the political arena ever again.

Anonymous   |August.10.2011 Wilson is officially not running for council. Word is he's hoping for the a newly created assembly seat by redistricting and that he'll start campaign for a June 2012 election. Note to Michael: WE DON'T WANT YOU TO REPRESENT US, E-V-E-R. Don't care that you're married to your man, you are Judas to us by kissing the you-know-what of a Homo-hater. Mike's raising $ for something (maybe to pay off his old loans?) UNITED FOOD & COMMERCIAL WORKERS LOCAL 5 PAC MONETARY SAN JOSE CA 95113 1294035 $500.00 5/6/2011 MICHAEL WILSON LOAN VALLEJO CA 94590 ARC INC/CITY OF VALLEJO CFO/COUNCILMEMBER $30.00 12/30/2009 BRICKLAYERS AND ALLIED CRAFTWORKERS LOCAL # 3 PAC MONETARY CASRAMENTO CA 95814 1244975 $150.00 5/12/2011 UFCW 5 REGION 8 STATE COUNCIL POLITICAL EDUCATION FUND MONETARY BUENA PARK CA 90622 910874 $500.00 4/28/2011 VALLEJO POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION PAC MONETARY VALLEJO CA 94590 871400 $1,000.00 4/26/2011 CEMENT MASONS' LOCAL NO 400 PAC MONETARY SACRAMENTO CA 95834 1223458 $150.00 4/26/2011 NORTHERN LAW ENFORCEMENT PROP 34 PAC MONETARY SACRAMENTO CA 95814 1235700 $1,000.00 5/5/2011 NAPA-SOLANO BUILDING TRADES COUNCIL, AFL-CIO MONETARY FAIRFIELD CA 94533 941707 $250.00 5/6/2011 NAPA-SOLANO COUNTIES CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL AFL-CIO MONETARY FAIRFIELD CA 94533 742921 $200.00 5/6/2011 IBEW LOCAL 180 PAC MONETARY NAPA CA 94558 1259083 $500.00 5/6/2011

Anonymous   |August.10.2011 Sheesh! She said she disagreed with him on the contract. He gave his reasoning for why he recommended it. She still voted no on his recommendation. So how could she approve of his reasoning but think he was wrong on the reasoning's outcome? That's illogical.

anon   |August.10.2011 Wrong! Ok, I agree. Wrong on a major issue involving bankruptcy, the most important issue Vallejo has ever faced, but you think he was worth every dime he was paid. Gomes did not disagree with his reasoning, on the video, for approval. Tacit approval of the logic

Conspiracies everywhere!   |August.09.2011 Does one speech make a "lecture circuit?" And I watched the video, Gomes said Joe was wrong and asked him to explain because she couldn't. It was enlightening. But he was still wrong.

Anonymous   |August.09.2011 Joe was wrong, anon. The contracts that were approved were bad contracts, and they still are!

anon   |August.09.2011 Not really, the contacts approved were all recommended by Gomes touring/lecture partner Joe Tanner. VIB and supporters all say he was worth every dime he got paid. Was VIB wrong? Was Joe wrong? Why would Gomes be on the lecture circuit with someone that got it so wrong?

Anonymous   |August.09.2011 KEMP, ROGER $135,642.84

Anonymous   |August.09.2011 CalPERS cuts pensions for 329 top paid officials. Making the list is a former Vallejo City Manager. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-pension-rollbacks-20110809,0,1605170.story

Not Really   |August.09.2011 Osby Dais, Erin Hannigan, Michael Wilson and Hermie Sunga (and Tom Bartee) all voted for new employee contracts while the city was in bankruptcy that increased pensions, gave pay raises, and offered free health care. REALLY? Tell me why this makes sense? If their employee costs were the primary driver of bankruptcy, why not address those issues while you could under the protection of bankruptcy? Why give raises? Increase pensions? REALLY? And now they have the gall to ask us to pay more money and vote for their sales tax increase because they suddenly realize the city needs money? While city employees, at least in three union groups, are making big six figure salaries. And they'll get to retire with 90% of those salaries for life starting in their early 50s? And have healthcare for life. REALLY? We must be in the twilight zone. Davis, Hannigan, Wilson and Sunga all voted for this. Yet two of them want us to re-elect them and one is rumored to be running for higher office again. They must think us voters are really, really stupid.

Mr :)   |August.08.2011 "Vallejo exits bankruptcy paying more for pensions" - Which is why Vallejo should not have exited, and will likely incur the expense of filing a second time like Prichard Alabama did. News from Vallejo's sister city: Central Falls officer who retired at 41 says pension reductions unfair http://www.projo.com/news/content/cf_sidebar_08-07-11_PPPJ4VI_v12.45b83 Note the small amount of his pension compared with Cali-style pensions. It is also interesting that the headline is framed in such a negative way rarely used with the police. Possibly this person. http://www.stevedesjardins.com/home.htm

Article   |August.08.2011 Good article about Vallejo bankruptcy (Ed Mendel, Calpensions). Maybe someone would care to comment? "Vallejo exits bankruptcy paying more for pensions" http://calpensions.com/2011/08/08/vallejo-exits-bankruptcy-paying-more-for-pensions/

Anonymous   |August.08.2011 I'm with you on the panhandler problem Tramky but Lennar, no. Where do we draw the line of responsibility on the housing and mortgage crime that just occurred? The rating agency's - the buck stops there? The real estate agents who did anything and everything to make a commission? The land developers that are tied closely with political leaders? Where is that line of responsibility? I draw it right through the local Lennar office and I don't like the crappy little houses they built either. Lennar, in my opinion, is a shining example of where and how this crime was committed. Political influence, influence in the broader market, influence with rating agencies. I will not give them a pass. On a positive note, however, I give them credit for making a course correction and "allowing" the small business start up to use the dry docks. Credit where credit is due, this was a move of good faith.

tramky   |August.08.2011 It's really not important, but a couple of postings here prompted this recall: while it is true that nearly all the people standing on median dividers at intersections with 'homeless' or 'anything will do' signs are white, it is also true that ALL the 'homeless' or panhandlers who have actually approached me and verbally asked for money have been black--every one. It doesn't matter because I don't care for either--it is annoying and, on a couple of occasions, mildly intimidating. And don't bother to admonish me for my intolerance and oversensitivity to these kinds of intrusions. I have a right to be annoyed by this stuff & will exercise that right from time to time.

Anonymous   |August.08.2011 What are the native americans doing about this? as they cry over their ancestors, they can't even take care of their living and breathing children. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/08/08/MNS41KK6CN.DTL&tsp=1

Two Bobs are better than one.   |August.08.2011 Hey everyone is asking me, who are you voting for? I like to say "two Bobs are better than one." And... Yes siree Bob! My favorite, "Thats a nice set of Bobs you have there."

No Movie Studio   |August.08.2011 Curtain closing on Mare Island film studio plan http://www.timesheraldonline.com/ci_18637653

Anon   |August.07.2011 Since Shivley is considered an incumbent and she is not refiling for a council run, according to the city clerk, the deadline is extended to the 17th of August.

Anon   |August.07.2011 The only one who filed so far is Kurshan. His signatures were also verified and he is on the ballot according to the City Clerk.

Clothes Hanger   |August.07.2011 How about Sampayan? Isn't he officially :in"?

Anonymous   |August.07.2011 Does anyone know who has "pulled" candidate papers from the clerk's office? I read about Hannigan and Kurshan doing so; not sure who else. Does anyone know who has filed? Deadline is this Friday 8/12. Maddox seems silent and his website is dead. That may leave Davis and Schively only. Pathetic.

Anonymous   |August.07.2011 I bet the Napkins have a solution for their water problem similar to the ferry solution Perata found for his developer friends in Alameda. Just steal Vallejo's.

tramky   |August.07.2011 I love the know-nothings who complain that the City government 'gave away' Mare Island to Lennar. Lennar has invested over $100 million on Mare Island. How much investment has the City made on Mare Island? Here's a clue, most of the north end of Mare Island is owned & controlled by the City, NOT Lennar. The City is the largest & worst code enforcement violator in the City--with its own properties. No, that's wrong--with OUR own properties. Mare Island properties have been SQUANDERED by the City of Vallejo, which possesses NO competency or ability to function as a real estate developer. The City's primary marketing pitch to prospective commercial investors on Mare Island is: So you know you will have to pay our fat Mello Roos property taxes and whopping permit fees, so when are you going to sign this lease or purchase agreement. Oh, you're not??!! Gee, why not?

12 percent cant vote   |August.07.2011 Hey, if 12 percent of Napa is illegal, then 12 percent for sure cannot vote. Vallejo has almost the same population as Napa Co. This could be Mike Thompson "un-doing" as we in Vallejo and Benicia could actually replace him with someone who would benefit us folks in Solano Co. American Canyon made such a big deal out of redistricting, they didnt want to be lumped into Solano Co as Mike Thompson said they had nothing in common with us. What about Vallejo and Benicia? We have NOTHING in common with Napa Co. We do not depend on the grape to survive, do not depend on tourism do not have desparate need to find a sourse of potable water. I would say Vallejo and Benicia have less in common with Napa Co. than American Canyon to Solano Co. The great thing is, the combined voting efforts of Vallejo and Benica could name our next Congressman....

Anonymous   |August.06.2011 Here's the problem with "affordable" (subsidized) housing in Napa County. It's not for illegals. The Napa County General Plan platitudes include the seemingly reasonable policies that housing belongs in the urban centers to protect prime agricultural lands and the "special" ambience that draws the tourist dollars. So once upon a time, vintners provided housing for their own workers but it messed up the "ambience" so it had to go. The vintners closed up their farmworker housing and it moved to garages, basements and other substandard dwellings or encampments in Napa City and later to American Canyon where farmworkers live 20 to a garage without sanitation. Now they must drive to and from their jobs but they often don't have licenses or insurance. The impact on the neighborhoods they end up is considerable even though they try not to draw attention to themselves. Who profits? In this case, I found that it was resident Mexican workers who bought up houses and they rented them to a bunch of guys trying to gain a toehold in the American Dream. In one case I investigated, 10 to 20 guys were paying $200 apiece for the opportunity to live in a garage without plumbing in Napa. That's $2,000 to $4,000 per month total and much better return than Section 8. No inspections or Code Enforcement there either. The Section 8 subsidies go to American citizens. Now that Napa is shoving the farmworker problem down the road to Vallejo, it will end up concentrated in the many substandard and illegal dwellings that Code Enforcement turns a blind eye to.

Hope   |August.06.2011 I read the article in the horrid this morning about Thompson coming to Mare Island. At first I thought this was some photo Op for him and Hannigan but if what they say is true, he will not even represent Vallejo 18 months from now. If Hannigan was really behind getting him to come to Vallejo then I have to give her credit. I believe Mare Island is the last hope that we have for an economic engine for the city. Marc can someone follow up and find out how he really got here. This is an election year, if Hannigan got him to the dry docks and to listen to our concerns , then kudos for her. But if she is just a tag along trying get ink in the paper then she should be exposed as a phony.

@Mousy   |August.06.2011 Not to mention the fact the recent census shows 12 percent of the pop in Napa is "illegal" and cannot vote. If the census shows 12 percent, then its most likely 15-20 percent. Census shows huge latino population growth, which is one of the reasons Napa NEEDS TO BUILD ITS AFFORDABLE HOUSING ELEMENT, instead of unfairly expecting Solano and Sonoma Counties to pick up the slack. Anyone want to call Congressman Mike Thompson and ask about this???

Salty Dog you are right on   |August.06.2011 SD you are "right on!" Folks in Vallejo need to get OUTRAGED and start yelling more often. Here are some good "yelling points." "HEY GET OFF MY PROPERTY." "HEY GET OUT OF MY NEIGHBORS BACKYARD BEFORE I UNLOAD MY DOUBLE BARREL." "HEY CONGRESSMAN MIKE THOMPSON IF YOU DONT PAY ATTENTION TO VALLEJO WE WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE A LIVING HELL." "HEY CITY COUNCIL, GET SMART AND START MAKING THE RIGHT DECISIONS FOR A CHANGE." "HEY JOHNS, SMILE YOUR ON CANDID CAMERA, STREAMING VIDEO NOW BEING LOADED TO YOUTUBE." And my favorite because this is "my fight" "HEY SLUMLORDS, WE NOW HAVE 310 NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOC. IN VALLEJO, IF YOU DONT MAINTAIN YOUR PROPERTY OR SCREEN YOUR TENANTS WE WILL HUNT YOU DOWN, EXPOSE YOU TO YOUR FRIENDS, RELATIVES, NEIGHBORS AND BUSINESS ASSOCIATES, AND MAKE YOUR LIFE A GENERAL HELL, LIKE YOU HAVE MADE OURS." Whew, I feel better all ready!!! So Salty Dog, welcome to Vallejo, we are a "gritty bunch" who are taking back our town, and are not afraid to YELL when we are forced to!!!!

Mousy   |August.05.2011 Napa County's population as per Wikipedia is ~130K. Vallejo's population alone is ~115K. You won't be able to win the seat without courting Vallejo.

Anonymous   |August.05.2011 Visit Sean Maddox for Mayor website http://www.maddoxformayor2011.com/ "This Online Candidate Website is no longer active." He who shall not be named is over on Topix desperately trying to associate himself and his campaign with Maddox. The bad luck charm of He Who Shall Not Be Named has worked quickly on poor Maddox.

Anonymous   |August.05.2011 I would be surprised to see Thompson anywhere near Vallejo. His heart is in Napa. At least Miller would stop by every once in a while. Do not think for a second that old Mikey will give Vallejo the time of day.

Anonymous   |August.05.2011 Miller NEVER comes to Vallejo. Think it might have something to do with Mare Island and Vallejo being redistricted into Mike Thompson's district? Maybe he needs to rebury some bodies. Miller is part of the Union problem here. Lennar made a deal that they would build homes on the non-historic portions of the island (their area of expertise) and turn the historic part over to Craig for the Redevelopment bulldozers. Maybe they have to "brief" Thompson on the "plan".

Anonymous   |August.05.2011 i seen George Miller on Mare Island today, does anyone have any information on what or if anything is going on.

Salty Dog   |August.05.2011 An Architectural District vingette: Our home sits uncomfortably close to the sidewalk and even though I have the beginnings of a fortress fence, my wife and I are continually interrupted by a variety of passing human creatures as we sit and gaze upon our Vallajoan purchase and muse about the wisdom of moving here. Yesterday, as I was discussing the various merits of stains, paints and varnishes, I wheeled around to see a young, long haired man approach with a "hey, you wouldn't have a cigarette would ya?" (ok, at least he asked). With the intensity of the couple yelling "your going the wrong way" in Planes, Trains, etc, my wife and I yelled out from a ten foot distance, NO!!!! And then we proceeded to out shout ourselves with..."hey, I'm on a fixed income" and, from my wife, "see the holes in these jeans, da ya think?" And followed by a few other choice comments, the young man backed up...both hands in the air as though we had a loaded forty five pointed at his chest. He kept moving and muttered words that were inaudible but, I suspect, uncomplementary. I turned to my wife and sheepishly inquired, "Do you think we were a little hard on him". And then we both roared with laughter. Two months ago we would have said "oh sure, do you live around here?" Oh what a few months of boom boxes, unsolicited requests, motor cycle raps and the equally unsolicited experience of a neighbour's impeccable taste in rap and hiphop can do. We have become Vallajoans. Uncivil Vallajoans. lol postscript: the young man was lily white....I wonder if our reaction would have been the same if he were black. (answer:yes).

GC'er   |August.05.2011 Of course, closing a fire station (where ever) as well as in the immediate hood could cost lives and/or loss of property, to reduce response times in case of ....was the original idea of strategic station placement. Not having my/our station in Glen Cove has not had any serious ramifications to date (to my limited knowledge). But maybe building a fire station in very close proximity to a major gas transmission line, like in GC, may not have been the smartest thing to do. Anyone who ever had a close call with respect to a fire in the neighborhood can not deny that close proximity to a station is having a calming effect on ones nerves as well as on ones home owner insurance. As it stands now I dread the dry season and holidays that promote anything with a boom to it. Seeing embers as large as a silver dollar raining down on ones home and holding a garden hose to wet the property, fence and beyond (because the neighbor is still at work) will get your heart pumping. Not to mention those residents who feel free to terrorize the neighborhood all year long with their "other activities" including offroading and dirt biking on the grass lands beyond our fences. Which actually leads me to a question. When individuals enter fenced off prohibited areas on motorized vehicles, like properties surrounding our water reservoirs i.e. Swanzy, or other protected public lands and one advises the various entities of the vandalism occurring, i.e. cutting off the chain and lock to gain entry, circumventing posted signs, etc. why is there no response and the problem is not followed up on? It would seem appropriate to receive at least a phone call that advises that action will/may be taken to "fix" the vandalism that has occurred to city property. I know, not enough people.....

Anonymous   |August.05.2011 As reported in the Contra Costa Times this morning: "If your house catches fire, Contra Costa dispatchers will send the nearest engine no matter which agency pays the firefighters' wages and pensions. But a recent Pinole station closure and imminent cutbacks in Rodeo-Hercules and East Contra Costa County fire districts will force all Contra Costa fire agencies to spread their remaining firefighters and equipment across more square miles. Fire officials say it will mean longer response times and probably higher insurance costs. It could cost lives." Sound familiar?

Anonymous   |August.05.2011 Contra Costa is catching up with Vallejo...... Fire Fighters... Financial Crisis: "Fire districts' financial crisis a threat to public safety" in today's contra costa times.

The Pen is mightier   |August.05.2011 If any of you have "problem" rentals in your neighborhood, there is a good chance they are owned by out of town slumlords who dont care. Well guess what, you can make most of them care by writing them a letter letting them know what is going on at their property, i.e. grass not cut, drug dealing, loud parties etc. You do not have to sign the letter, simply let the owner know that if situation is not abated you are sending the next letter on to the Vallejo PD and Code enforement. If you inclue a picture (unkept properties) in the letter, this really sets them off. Make sure to mail the letter to their home address and not the rental, it really scares them that someone knows where they live, I mean after all, the letter writer could next sent a picture of said rental property to everyone that lives on thier block, just to let everyone know what slummy property they own. You can go to the county tax accessors office, its public record of who owns property and where the tax bill goes. From personal experience, I myself have sent many letters to owners in Benicia, Napa, ST Helena, Mill Valley, Daly City San Francisco, Yountville and of course some to Vallejo owners. I have a 90 percent success rate for grass cutting and graffiti removal. I think SHAME does play a part in it, as I do shame the person in the letter with my words and 8.5x11 color picture. Its my goal that when folks think about buying investment property in Vallejo they know their live will become a helll unless they rent to quality people and keep up their property. Rental property is an investment, it should be the best looking property on the block. I have no problem with folks owning investment property, but it needs to be maintained to the highest standard. No excuses. So yes, its true, I have found the "pen is mightier than the sword." I love when I find out an owner lives in a very affluent area, they are usually the fastest to clean up their property, fear I believe that friends or family might find out...

Salty Dog   |August.04.2011 Wha, thank ye there Grey Goos...that''s mighty neighbourly of ya. Might see me there at some point.

Grey Goose   |August.04.2011 Salty Dog, I love your style. Welcome to our beloved city. I hope you pull up a chair and stay awhile. While I'm not an old timer, I'm not a newbie either. I've been here for 26 years, a middle grounder. We have had an uphill battle but we have kept the fight going to get this city to it's potential. Vallejo didn't get this way overnight and it won't change overnight. But the change is coming. So your new voice is welcomed by those of us who have a vested interest in Vallejo reaching it's potential. If you like coffee and conversation, bring the wife and join us at Moschetti's coffee on Saturday mornings. They are located at Curtola and Solano Ave. Great coffee, food and conversations. Viva Vallejo!

Anonymous   |August.04.2011 I'm a "newbie," also; 5 years almost 6 years in Vallejo. And I am also tired of hearing I haven't been here long enough to really understand Vallejo. I don't think you need to have lived here for 20 plus years; the problems now are serious changes in neighborhoods -- 50% or more of houses on the street are rentals in certain neighborhoods, with many renters not caring about the neighborhoods they live in... its only temporary; increase in drug selling in the residential neighborhoods (hey some dealers will drive to your house to deliver!), gang activity increasing, and with that crime increasing. This is not an issue about the size of our Police force, but the fact that investors have bought up 50% of Vallejo and rent out the property, many not taking care of the property or caring who the renters are. Noise has increased 100 fold over the last 5 years in this City. can't go anywhere without the booming box from the cars and certain houses. The "safe" neighborhoods are becoming less and less, and isolated in parts of Glen Cove, all of Hiddenbrooke, and some neighborhoods in the Northeast area. Everyone else.... on your own. time for change.

Anonymous   |August.04.2011 Sam is going to run again; ok. And what on earth is he going to do to better Vallejo. What is he going to do to bring business to the city. What is he going to do to help the economic livelihood of this city. What is he planning on doing over the next 4 years to better Vallejo, help its growth, and make sure the residents are taken care of instead of paying too much for too little service. time for him to start sharing, other than just joining the dissidents at the glen cove waterfront and designating himself someone who will support squatters over residents in this city.

Equal Time   |August.04.2011 Hey Marc, your boy Kurshan was designated as officialy being on the ballot today. So far he is the only candidate to achieve this status. How come no update on that bro?

Salty Dog   |August.04.2011 Thanks GC'er for those good insights and as generalizations I believe they are pretty valid. They way I see it is this.....when I purchased my home in Vallejo, I signed up for a host of charges and taxes. THAT puts me on the same footing as the longest lived Vallajoan, as far as I am concerned. They (the longest lived) may not take kindly to strangers comin to town and creatin a fuss, but this isn't Tomestone Territory(yet) and I don't require a visa to live here. I now have a vested interest in the well being of this area because that means the well being of me personally. Very selfish but an honest view and one that should benefit not hinder Vallejo. As a tax payer, my voice has the same weight as any other tax payer and I choose to ensure my voice is loud and clear. Time to give that unruly child a sharp and politically incorrect whack on the side of the head. Smarten up, you old timers. Us newcomers have arrived. Now shut up and listen for once....you might learn something above and beyond your parochial experience.

GC'er   |August.04.2011 Why is that important concept so difficult for some people to grasp? SD, you seem to forget, some people never had the opportunity to live outside their community nor did they ever have to contribute much in a way that could be considered a challenge to their thinking of entitlement. If you are told long enough that this is the only way things can be done and indeed, life is good, many tend to believe it. Why rock the boat? I have lived here for some time, actually the longest time my family and I have ever spent in one location. To leave Vallejo has not been on my mind, but I am not entirely ruling it out anymore..... I came to realize that a large segment of our residents do not want nor tolerate *outsiders* telling them that their way needs some tweaking and is not necessarily the only way. There is more to life then going along with certain things because it always has been done this way. Including uncivil behavior, littering, noise etc. There is very little in the way of a vision. Oh, some have visions, but they involve emulating other cities that had a great monetary base to begin with and thereby allowed development of those finer things. Vallejo is like an unruly child that is fully aware that smacking it into reality for bad behavior would be considered child abuse, therefore they can!

Anonymous   |August.04.2011 I hear alot about citizen apathy being the problem in Vallejo but I think most thinking, intellent citizens are biding their time and working behind the scenes to get a City Council elected that represents the people. That is critical. We have been in the minority too long and there is no sense in wasting time at City Council meetings when the outcomes are predetermined based on Staff's objectives. The evil empire knows full well how to divert us and tire us out with continuous small battles so we can't even grasp the extent of their control because of all the smoke and mirrors. There is a strategic advantage to "playing dead" for awhile. Remember the Star Wars prequel when the forces of the Empire massacred all the Jedi knights and the knights-in-training? The Jedi had to wait for a new crop of Jedi knights to mature. Many of us in the creative class have given up and moved to safer cities; we have to build a critical mass again.

Salty Dog   |August.04.2011 GC'er...... Yes, I agree, apathy is pandemic when negative actions don't have a personal impact. But that really is my point...it is in everyone's personal interest to change the tone of the municipality. Aside from the direct benefits to health and sense of peace, a municipality that is seen to be guarding that peace will be attractive to people wishing to take advantage of its many assets and will have a positive impact on property values in the long run. Why is that important concept so difficult for some people to grasp?

What happened to Scott Yates,   |August.04.2011 Did anyone hear what happened to Officer Scott Yates after he tried arresting a citizen for not handing over his cell phone? Just saw the video again on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ev90Y2wxSU&feature=BFa&list=WL0A71B4772A089472&index=11) and his arrogance is unbelievable! This is the same guy that is on the Board of Directors for VPOA. I thought I keep hearing Vallejo has the cream of the crop in regards to Police? If so, how can rookie mistakes (no offense to rookies) like this take place from their "cream of the crop"? What was the result of the internal investigation? (Chief Nic, are you paying attention to your Officers?) I make a point of video taping VPD now strictly because of their lack of professionalism in this case. It is a shame because there are good cops in Vallejo, unfortunately Officers like this make all cops look like arrogant, self righteous bullies. Didn't this guy just get a raise too?Well I guess we have low standards in Vallejo.

annon   |August.04.2011 I agree Salty... go a little further and say any local contractor get better pricing over out of town contractors.

GC'er   |August.04.2011 ...people with some sense of community will jam the hearing meeting .... SD, your heart is in the right place, however you have to remember that many Vallejoans do not want to get involved unless it directly involves THEM! So jamming may not happen! You know that "All for One and One for All" saying, not happening here. Individual support in our neghbourhoods, yes, community wide, no! A club/meeting place of any sort which does generate noise above acceptable levels deemed tolerable and not during usual regular business hours, is inappropriate in any neighbourhood. Some will say: Well, it is zoned industrial.... How many businesses do we have in Vallejo that are working 24/7 at noise levels considered a nuisance? If the number of posts are any indications at all, the majority of our residents are already hearing impaired. Only a handful of people seem to be affected by the excessive noise levels assaulting us at any given time, day or night. In addition, the will to enforce the noise ordinances is not present. Especially NOT when our PD has an award winning motor team cruising through town.....

Salty Dog   |August.04.2011 City of Vallejo Be it enacted and added to Title 12: Building and Construction All permit fees pertaining to construction and renovation per regulations be waived for all residents upon proof of residency. Subsequent inspections will be subject to a nominal fee not more than $10. Permit fees for non residents and investors will remain at the current level. Rationale: Vallejo contains many vintage homes that require upgrades. Current permit fees are based on a percentage of the estimated costs.Residents already pay taxes and this is one way to encourage home owners to commence improvements while ensuring proper standards.

Precedent Setting   |August.03.2011 From the Planning Commission report "Due to a misunderstanding of the public hearing process, the hearing proceeded and action was taken without the benefit of receiving public comment from the applicant or members of the club." Hmmmmmmm...ok ANYONE could claim this "duh, I didnt know I could speak." Planning Commission (department) is a bit silly.

Salty Dog   |August.03.2011 On granting a new hearing for a Biker Club Application on Broadbway.... Are you people nuts... I mean are you really certifiable to allow even a consideration of such a proposal in a residential area? Apparently so....or at least the ole liberal "we must appear to be fair" persona has taken hold of four of the seven members of the Planning Commission..( three apparently understand the connection between biker club and a peaceful residential area. But...but...but....we won't be noisy....we can self regulate our members...we are Desperados. Right. I hope people with some sense of community will jam the hearing meeting in early September and send the message loud and clear that we are tired of the illegal noise pollution, of which this bunch is.....guilty. No second chance from me...take you clubhouise and toys into the outback where you won't be bothering anyone. I am quickly becoming a desperado too. Desperate for some sign of mature consideration of fellow residents.

Anonymous   |August.03.2011 Kondylis is so sure that she has a permanent job "representing" her part of Vallejo, that office hours at the Fair are considered a waste of time for her. So it seems.... Seifert on the other hand is a bit younger and probably hopes for a few more terms at the table of plenty.

Where's Kondylis?   |August.03.2011 Noticed that Supervisor Linda Seifert is holding "office hours" at the Solano County Fair tomorrow. Isn't the Solano County Fairgrounds in Supervisor Barbara Kondylis's district? When was the last time Supervisor Barbara Kondylis held "office hours" in Vallejo? Looks like she is in hiding.

The Wave   |August.03.2011 Interesting article detailing CF's decline into bankruptcy. It reads like Vallejo. It lost 11 textile mills over the last 20 years (it's main source of employment). It's schools were taken over by the state. The state started cutting city funding to deal with the recession. Employee pay and pensions were out of control and the employees wouldn't take cuts. The city slashed services and ended up with no choice but to declare bankruptcy. How many cities across the country will fall into this over the next couple of years? http://www.businessinsider.com/central-falls-rhode-island-a-bankrupt-crystal-ball-for-future-america-2011-8 The city decimated services.

Anonymous   |August.03.2011 A forum just on Mare Island business issues? That'll last about five minutes. The issue is the city giving Mare Island away to Lennar when the shipyard closed. It's too late to get out of that bad decision.

Crime is down in fairfield   |August.03.2011 The TH reported that the Fairfield PD released data for the first 6 months of 2011 and crime is down. Why is it that the TH reports Fairfield data but not Vallejos? I wonder why Nichellini isn't following Fairfields openness. Its a crime that the Vallejo information had to gotten through the Public Records Act by Dr. Schussel

League Of Women Voters   |August.03.2011 The League of Women Voters Benicia has announced plans to host a Vallejo mayoral and City Council candidate forum on Oct. 6. The event, scheduled to run from 6 to 9 p.m., will be held at the Mare Island Historical Park Foundation Artifacts Museum, 1100 Railroad Ave., Mare Island. While open to the general public, the forum will focus on issues relevant to Mare Island residents and business representatives.

Anonymous   |August.02.2011 Costa Mesa, Ca, employee unions pulling from the Vallejo public employee union playbook; claim Costa Mesa is fabricating pension and healthcare debt by hiding money despite union auditors claim to the contrary (unbelievable). Costa Mesa has huge issues and there debating the ridiculous contention that the entire budget issue is fabricated (how many millions did that cost Vallejo taxpayers?). http://republicofcostamesa.com/2011/08/02/who-manufactured-the-%E2%80%98manufactured-budget-crisis%E2%80%99/ Regarding "look how community is fighting crime", I think that is cool outside-the-box thinking.

Use of Camera in fighting crim   |August.02.2011 Look at how community is fighting crime. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/08/02/BALC1KI1OF.DTL

Another city BK   |August.02.2011 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43987002/ns/us_news-life/ The smallest city in the smallest U.S. state made the filing Monday as it grappled with an $80 million unfunded pension and retiree health benefit liability that is nearly quadruple its annual budget of $17 million. "We negotiated with ... the police and fire unions, without success, attempting to reach voluntary concessions, and we tried in vain to persuade our retirees to accept voluntary reductions in their benefits," he added.

Mousy   |August.02.2011 Yeah, but imagine who the state would put into Vallejo. Our state government is even more beholden to the Unions than our city government.

Anonymous   |August.02.2011 From the report on Cedar Falls: "a "culture of government" that allowed the fiscal crisis to grow. The mayor, Charles Moreau, and City Council president, William Benson Jr., who were demoted to advisers after the state stepped in last year, have been critical of the receiver. They say it was clear long ago that bankruptcy was the only option." Note that the state appointed an outside reciever to manage the city and stripped the elected officals of all their powers/responsibilities. This is very sensible. This should have happened to Vallejo and had this happened the outcome would have been a lot different.

Be not the Slave of your past   |August.02.2011 The Best news is that the City of Vallejo is about 2 years ahead of the crisis that most cities in the Bay Area are now in. Our county was one of the first to experience the downturn in the housing market. Experience what over compensation to city workers salaries, pension and benefits will do to city coffers. A reduction in General funds from house taxes and and retail taxes. We have also experienced how caring Vallejeons are, the many volunteer organizations that now help run the city. The 200 neighborhood assoc. that help to police their own neighborhoods and the entire city. The volunteer clean up crews, beautification crews, mentor groups, leadership organizations. I dont think that Vallejo has had this spirt of cooperation since WWII. Everywhere you go folks are discussing politics, what can be done, how funds can be raised etc. The energy is everywhere! "Be not the slave of your own past. Plunge into the sublime seas, dive deep and swim far, so you shall come back with self-respect,with new power, with an advanced experience that shall explain and overlook the old." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Mr :)   |August.02.2011 Los Osos seems to have spent 6 years sorting things out, so why is Vallejo rushing out of bankruptcy? After 6 years, Los Osos CSD bankruptcy plan approved http://www.ksby.com/news/after-6-years-los-osos-csd-bankruptcy-plan-approved/

Anonymous   |August.01.2011 Central Falls did exactly what our Funded Four (Davis, Hannigan, Wilaon and Sunga) did NOT do when Vallejo declared bankruptcy. Instead of asking to have all collective bargaining agreements cancelled, they gave new contracts with raises! It'll be interesting to see if their unions tie them up in expensive litigation like Vallejo's unions did.

Could be worse   |August.01.2011 Cash strapped Central Falls takes drastic step after services "cut to the bone". ...also asked the federal court to immediately reject collective bargaining agreements with police and fire department employees. In addition, he said city workers will face layoffs. What's next: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Cashstrapped-RI-city-files-apf-1809896377?x=0

Anonymous   |August.01.2011 I love Vallejo. Most of all I love the way Vallejo is coming together in a positive way. I can see it happening!

St Vincent Hill   |August.01.2011 I didn't know until now that St Vincent's Hill used to be called Irish Hill. I wonder if Mike lives there. I mean Irish Mike.

Anonymous   |August.01.2011 VOTE in your next election. Your specific issues might be different than mine (the general decline of quality of life in Vallejo) ... but whatever your issues are make the candidates listen to them. Don't be afraid to boot the "Old Guard" and under-performers and "Elites" out. You can make a change in Vallejo if you want to. Otherwise ... no kvetching allowed. Good stuff

Billy the Greek   |August.01.2011 I am training myself to use the term "community" more carefully these days. Here is what I mean ... "The AA Community" or "The White Community" or "The Hispanic Community" are not communities at all. They are convenient labels for lazy people who might be afraid or unable to be specific about what they are trying to say (or whom they are trying to identify). Ironically, part of the problem is the bifurcated definition of the term "community" itself which lures us into a trap. The trap is failing to make the distinction between the term "community" as bloggers tend to use it here, meaning "people in area" as opposed to a more precise definition "a group of people with a common background or with shared interests within society" ... ie. "The Drug Dealing Community" (which I will argue is a product of our society) or "The Lutheran Community" or "The Gay Community" etc. As an example, African Americans, who seem to be the topic of the day in this blog, may or may not share a common background ... but lets assume they do ... however, like Lutherans or Gays (or Gay Lutherans) they most certainly do not all share the same common interests with all other members of the broader society in which they live ... this society by the way, is OUR society ... sometimes some of us agree on issues, and sometimes some of us disagree ... that's how we function in a democracy. Unfortunately, most of the time most of us "check out" of the debate altogether. But I digress, let's get back to our hoodlums and drug deals as an example. Unfortunately, because they exhibit no discernable structure (and very poor marksmanship)some innocent bystanders and occasionally, one another. Fortunately, all members of OUR society do not exhibit the same distain for human life as these human scum. "Society" even a the concept of a "structured society" is a much more general, inclusive and less divisive term than "community". The gangstas and drug dealers in Marina Vista are certainly mostly black. But they do not necessarily share common interests with other members of Vallejo's black population or other residents of Marina Vista, for that matter. A "society" is a structured community of people who are most likely of heterogeneous racial and religious backgrounds (especially in recent world history) but who are bound together by similar traditions, institutions, or nationality. Therefore, by definition, the gangstas and drug dealers, loud motorcyclists, scofflaws and other riff raff operate "within" our society but are not members "of" our society. The key question is "What is it that makes these outcasts toss "structure" (you can call it civility, manners, compassion, whatever you want to) aside so as to so boldly operate they way they do? More importantly, why do we tolerate it? Oh sure, everyone is angry, afraid, frustrated but no one is doing anything about it. It's called apathy, my friends. The people get the government they deserve. VOTE in your next election. Your specific issues might be different than mine (the general decline of quality of life in Vallejo) ... but whatever your issues are make the candidates listen to them. Don't be afraid to boot the "Old Guard" and under-performers and "Elites" out. You can make a change in Vallejo if you want to. Otherwise ... no kvetching allowed.

Whats the address?   |August.01.2011 Whats the address of the multi-unit complex owned by an attorney in Glen Cove? He must be proud of it, he is keeping his boot on the neck of his "brothas" by allowing them to live in a blighted building. Does he do it because he is AA and the tenants are AA and he has no respect for his own? If white folks lived in his building would he take better care of it? Whats the address???

Anonymous   |August.01.2011 Actually, the worst multiunit building in my neighborhood is owned by an AA attorney living in Glen Cove. It's hard to have a conversation with his AA renters because they are usually threatening us with bodily harm and calling us racist if we try to talk to them about their out-of-control kids. Most of us just ignore the property damage...kids will be kids. I have AA friends but they live in middle class suburbs in the East Bay and their manners are impeccable. I judge people by their actions, not their color.

Salty Dog   |August.01.2011 anon...when it comes to screwing things up, I believe you can find plenty of examples at either end of the political spectrum...lol

Anonymous   |August.01.2011 So who was responsible for the take-over of the Ferry? What it the AA's? Do AA's own all those empty buildings downtown? Too many conservative leaders have guided Vallejo for so long and screwed it up!!!... it's their fault. Vallejo needs people who think outside the box. However, everytime one comes a long; they seem to run them off.

Salty Dog   |August.01.2011 " I disagree"......I could not agree more. Lets agree to agree and get on with making Vallejo live up to its very real potential. Agreed? lol

I Disagree   |August.01.2011 While it is apparent in Vallejo that some in our AA community are not living up to expectations, please don't generalize and label us all. My family is not on welfare, not in jail and don't have fatherless children running around unattended. If you lived in the deep rural south, you would see the same mentality except from another ethnic group, that relies on welfare, has too many children, father's are not in the household and part of the legal system. It's because we have a larger group of under achieving people n Vallejo that they are more noticed. I feel that people should pay more attention to the fact that the vast majority of AA households in Vallejo, are not the misfits that you see on the streets. We work, own homes, and participate in activities in town. I have many friends and family here and not one of them have a child on the streets or in jail. Their children are respectful and polite. So let's be mindful about how you phrase things. There is also the fact that not all poor people are trouble makers. As to the prejudice issue, I can say again, that my friends and family all embrace the diversity within our families and community and yes we have gay and lesbian members in our family and friends and I love them all. Some of my closest friends are gay and I stand with them in their fight to be treated equally. Yes our community has it's problems but if you would reach out of your comfort zone and try to meet some of the wonderful AA families in Vallejo, you would have a different perspective and we outweigh the bad.

Anonymous   |August.01.2011 SD, don't get sidetracked from your "Vallejo can be better" message. It is a good and positive message that needs to be repeated as often as possible. I was following the conversation and was disheartened when "know vallejo" took the conversation sideways. Not blaming him/her for how/he she feels, but the topic of conversation was something that could benefit everyone. Stay focused on helping us fix this town. Everyone will benefit in the long run. There is a huge amount of potential, and potential isn't a bad word. It is ONLY going to take the collective efforts of this community to see the results. We're not there yet but I see a community that is beginning to come together for the greater good. Lots of hard work to be done but I see a bright future.

curious   |August.01.2011 Three historic districts in Vallejo are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Heritage District, Saint Vincent's Hill and all of historic Mare Island. And there is one National Historic Landmark which is equal in importance to the Presidio of San Francisco covering the Mare Island Shipyard including the officers mansions and the chapel, the NAD, the main Naval Hospital building, and the Marine Corps buildings. Several other districts have been adjudged eligible including the downtown and Bay Terrace.

Anonymous   |August.01.2011 It's painful to see the disfunction in some of our communities. While thousands of African Americans have made it into the middle class and beyond, a highly disfunctional community has been left behind..............in Vallejo! I was excited when a well educated member of that community became Mayor of Vallejo only to later see him attack another group that has contributed so much to this city. Yes there are Whites who are prejudiced against other groups if for no other reason than race, but it's ironic to see a group of people who have suffered so much in the past now turn on another group and worse yet, use the bible to justify it. We must all move forward as one people but the dysfunction in some of our communities must be addressed honestly if we're ever to achieve the unity we so desperately need.

Salty Dog   |August.01.2011 Anon says: "Well Salty, you live in the Historic District, and you're white. I live in the Historic District, and I'm white. So are my neighbors across the street, kitty corner, behind me and I have a Filippino family on one side. There are some black families interspersed with the white families up the block. So I'm not sure where you live, but we're experiencing different Historic Districts!" Correction anon...I live in the Historic Architecture District.....and, again, the dangers of generalizing....we have a mixed neighbourhood but a number of blacks transiting through. I was referring to those who have been in my face with begging, etc. But it is that kind of generalizing that likely needs to be countered if Vallejo is shed its negative rap. But the positive side of generalizing is to sell potential residents on the many assets of Vallejo- the extremely kind climate, the affordable housing, the waterfront and marine connection and close proximity to SF. And it is Gay friendly from what I have seen so far (with the exception of the Mayor, whom I suspect would give the world to backtrack on a couple of comments..lol)

Anonymous   |August.01.2011 Historically, the Mare Island shipyard workers were Irish and Italian. Saint Vincent's Hill was known as Irish Hill back then. These groups, like many immigrants that established a toehold, were very prejudiced against other new groups who might threaten their jobs. The Phillipinos who moved here because of the Spanish-American War established a tight, closed community still prevalent. During WWII, Kaiser opened a shipyard just south of the downtown and recruited thousands of poor,uneducated southern blacks to work there as well as the Kaiser shipyards in Richmond, Hunter's Point, and Marin (Marin City). The Mare Island workers, prejudiced to the hilt, took advantage of red-lining new subdivisions in Napa City where blacks were not allowed to buy. After the war, anyone with a job fled nasty urban centers for tiny detached houses in the suburbs. America's conveyor belt efficiency allowed construction of millions of really affordable homes belying the predictions of the great mother of HUD, Bauer-Whurster, that the market could never provide for housing the low income people without government subsidies. But with red-lining, only whites were allowed to migrate leaving the poor, disadvantaged, elderly and socially maladaptives in the urban centers. So the Feds devised Redevelopment and subsidized housing programs to keep those populations in their place far from sullying the lifestyles of the priviledged homeowner class. Fast forward to today, most of the discrimination we find today comes from the worker/blue collar class...those union boys who moved to Napa or Green Valley way back when. The newcomers who have shifted the demographic in Vallejo are members of the "creative class"..a group which judges people by the content of their character, not by the color of their skin. That group, which includes the GLTG community, moved to Vallejo because of the tremendous potential, beautiful historic houses, climate and views. Attibutes that have nothing to do with demographics. But, unfortunately, the disadvantaged groups remaining in Vallejo after middle class blacks followed their middle class brethern out to the suburbs, are big on playing the victim card and blaming others for their plight rather than literally pulling up their pants. My liberal credentials are impeccable and go way back to preachers who denounced slavery from the pulpit during the Civil War and women's rights advocates. Five generations of UC Berkeley liberal upbringing. But, I, too, am pretty fed up by the seething anger I feel as a white person by the nasty kids glaring at me threateningly while they stand in the middle of the street or hit me up for money for some bogus school project like I am stupid. When we talk of sensitivity training, I hope we deal with the fact that prejudice cuts both ways and the most prejudiced people are often blacks who not only hate GLTG people but any liberal white person.

Mr :)   |August.01.2011 Central Falls is now Vallejo's newest sister city, atleast until Vallejo exits bankruptcy. Which leads me to my pet rant: It has not be demonstrated that Vallejo will gain anything by exiting bankruptcy. Re establishing bankruptcy will be expensive and possible much more difficult in the future. Rhode Island's Central Falls files for bankruptcy http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/01/us-rhodeisland-centralfalls-idUSTRE7703ID20110801

Anonymous   |August.01.2011 Central Falls (RI) files chapter 9 bankruptcy; voids contracts http://newsblog.projo.com/2011/08/receiver-chafee-central-falls

know vallejo   |August.01.2011 didn't mean to infer anything. i was only clarifying. judging by your posts, you don't seem like a racist.

Anonymous   |August.01.2011 Well Salty, you live in the Historic District, and you're white. I live in the Historic District, and I'm white. So are my neighbors across the street, kitty corner, behind me and I have a Filippino family on one side. There are some black families interspersed with the white families up the block. So I'm not sure where you live, but we're experiencing different Historic Districts!

Salty Dog   |August.01.2011 know vallejo: the dangers of speaking in generalities....I agree there are whites out there...seen them standing on highway dividers with their cardboard signs. But it has been my experience( and only my experience) living in the historical district...all blacks. So, if you are inferring that I believe all are black- not so, not at all. They all have their ad hoc territories and MO's. And, I don't doubt their economic malaise and sympathize to a degree.

know vallejo   |August.01.2011 sd, i don't know where you travel in vallejo, but i'm taken aback by your assertion that all the people that have approached you for money are african american. am i understanding you correctly? it has been my experience that most of the beggars that i encounter on traffic islands (target, raleys, safeway) are white. the only ethnic/racial group that i've never been approached by are philipino/asian.

Anonymous   |August.01.2011 Yes, very well said Salty. My description was of past history up to the present. I can assure you, prejudice against blacks and the welfare culture has been the dominant demographic mover here in Vallejo. I agree with your other points about very fine black families in Vallejo and the bad taste of living among elite hypocrites in "gated" communities. No argument there. The only viable approach for a real world economic strategy, backed up by good data, that I can envision is for us is to create a welcoming gay community. That demographic may have overcome old world prejudices to a large extent and their earning power is above average. Our proximity to San Francisco makes this a possibility. On the other hand, trying to attract business and wealthier "white" people back to Vallejo has a very low probability for success IMO. We have tried and tried a traditional business stimulus approach with numerous downtown revitalization's with ZERO success.

Salty Dog   |August.01.2011 Anon says: "Salty, here the bottom line the way I see it. We did have a thriving middle class when the Navy was here but as you say, those days are gone. Many people that had the mean moved out of Vallejo because they did not want to live with the blacks. It's not right but there it is. Simple. It's an unspoken (sometimes spoken), well understood arrangement that the preferred place to live is Napa, Sonoma, Walnut Creek, Concord, etc. where the black population is minimal or non existent. Vallejo is ok for working but when it comes to raising your kids and protecting your family, monied people will not return to live as long as Vallejo has a large poor black population." It would be easy for me to agree with you, and at some level, I do. This diehard multiculturalist has developed a slightly jaundiced attitude toward the "richness" and "diversity" of MC, having been accosted for money, food and jobs on a daily basis, all from african americans. It gets old, really quickly. However, I still believe this can be turned around. Of course, there will always be those who will not reside in a mixed community...and I am unsure if I would want to live in their sterile gated community. But I also know that there are many who would.....if...and it is a crucial if..... Vallejo underwent a very visable and broad public relations strategy that demonstrates the economic and social advantages to residency. Yes, a big challenge....but I sincerely believe that it is possible to change the optics on Vallejo. And, of course, crucial to all that is a functioning Council on the same page and with a single minded devotion to spotlighting the benefits of Vallejo, and not the social negatives. That means getting away from the focus on "affordable" housing. It already exists. It also means enforcing those bloody ordinances and bringing a sense of order to the streets. No funding? Find it. It means banning motorcycles and boom boxes . It means streamlining building codes to encourage, not discourage individual initiative when making improvements. I understand the bouquette that a large black population presents to the municipality but criticizing all blacks leaves a bad taste in my mouth and I, for one, wouldn't care to live among those who prefer that lazy route. As a recent resident, I have met some mighty fine blacks. No surprise there.

Anonymous   |August.01.2011 Ignore the raging woman hating troll. Let him wage his war in the Topix litterbox, where his smut belongs.

Anonymous   |August.01.2011 Salty, here the bottom line the way I see it. We did have a thriving middle class when the Navy was here but as you say, those days are gone. Many people that had the mean moved out of Vallejo because they did not want to live with the blacks. It's not right but there it is. Simple. It's an unspoken (sometimes spoken), well understood arrangement that the preferred place to live is Napa, Sonoma, Walnut Creek, Concord, etc. where the black population is minimal or non existent. Vallejo is ok for working but when it comes to raising your kids and protecting your family, monied people will not return to live as long as Vallejo has a large poor black population.

Salty Dog   |August.01.2011 There is NO quick fix for Vallejo, particularly in a recessionary period and particularly when the historical economic reasons for its existence are, just that, historical. The navy isn't coming back. Any candidate who offers a quick fix business plan or a pie in the sky plan for economic growth will be peeing in the wind and challenged to explain rationally how that may occur. However, there are opportunities for positive change and growth of a less dramatic nature but, in the long run, may prove to be Vallejo's savior. The answer combines the natural attributes of Vallejo with a conscious strategy to change the tone and "atmosphere" of the town. With a climate that rivals any in the Bay area and with housing costs at all time affordability levels, Vallejo offers tremendous opportunities for an influx of monied residents seeking close proximity to the Bay and a respite from the high cost of the central Bay. That should be the focus of any candidate seeking to make positive changes. Specifically, strategies that will tone down the noise pollution and slavish attention to ordinance enforcement will send a message that Vallejo means business in establishing an alternative to more expensive areas. A public relations strategy that "sells" Vallejo as a good place to reside is paramount. Build it, and they will come. Keep the status quo wild west attitude, and Vallejo becomes just another backwater community that missed the opportunity boat. Any candidtae who twigs on to this, gets my attention.

Not Quite   |August.01.2011 You are talking about the anarchy supporter that feels that the resident's peace and quiet was not as important as the protesters fight to delay development of a park that would benefit the entire community and a man who has a history of arrests that reflect a violent attitude toward women. Maddox will not appeal to the business community that is constantly trying to streamline the process to get projects completed and won't look to someone who supports anarchy. Kurshan has been arrested five times and spent time in jail for domestic violence and still uses his run for office as a platform to attack women. I doubt that he will appeal to the middle class since he insists that destructive messages are more important to him even if it costs him the election.

New Day In Vallejo   |August.01.2011 This election is about getting to the heart and soul of the average voter and their long-term needs. Maddox has the big business acumen that Schivley and Davis doesn't have, and will appeal to the intellectual elite. Kurshan is the blue-collar popularist that will appeal to the average working stiff, like former Mare Island workers, none of which McConnell, Sampayan or Hannigan has any connection. The candidates that that articulate a solid business plan for middle-class growth is going to win the November election.

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