October 2011    

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Glenda the Good Witch   |October.09.2011 "A little patience, and we shall see the reign of witches pass over, their spells dissolve, and the people, recovering their true sight, restore their government to its true principles. It is true that in the meantime we are suffering deeply in spirit, and incurring the horrors of a war and long oppressions of enormous public debt....If the game runs sometimes against us at home we must have patience till luck turns, and then we shall have an opportunity of winning back the principles we have lost, for this is a game where principles are at stake." --Thomas Jefferson

Salty Dog   |October.09.2011 Business as usual at the State Capital.... Rotten to the core.

Anonymous   |October.09.2011 Now isn't that niiiiiice.

Anonymous   |October.09.2011 Governor Brown bends over for the public employee unions again. Just like old times, eh, Governor? http://www.caperb.com/2011/10/10/governor-signs-ab-646-factfinding-becomes-mandatory-under-mmba/ He also signed the bankruptcy bill into law. Ahhhhh, just makes you want to run out and become a Republican!

Salty Dog   |October.09.2011 It is not unusual for the state ( or province) to take control of a school district- after all, they are creatures created by the state to provide local values and local issues. When wrong doing is identified or when the board is unable to control spending within budgetary bounds, the state must take over. And, when the district is returned to local control, all the more reason that there should be a demonstrated clear strategy to facilitate positive change. Nothing less than a comprehensive overhaul that includes teachers and administrators and parents and the general public is in order. It should be shouted from the rooftops and should be articulated by incoming board candidates. Perhaps I am being a bit unfair, but I don't see it. Just the same old bromides from two gentlemen that seem to display a potential for the same ole, same ole. Where is the fire and enthusiasm and desire for real change.

Vallejo Unified 10 years ago   |October.09.2011 10 years ago it was discovered that funds for the Unified School Dist were "funds gone wild." We had a Superintentant at the helm that hired her own daughter (non credentialed) at teachers pay. Had principals falsify attendance records with higher than actual attendance. There were actually folks no longer employeed by the school district that received checks (and no they were not forced to pay back the money.) Money was moved around the ledgers just like a chess game, its was "funds gone wild." Now these are items that came to light when the audit was done, the audit cannot reveal everything, so you can imagine what was really going on... BTW when Gladys Phillips the superindenant when to court to get the remainder of her pay out, the judge said she was in "dereliction of her duties" a very harsh statement coming from the judge and I dont believe she received the balance of her pay out. When the State took over and Demelio came aboard (the administration really disliked him, so he must have really been doing something right) a few principals heads rolled, there were some demotions and firings. There are rumors that the then superintendant and a couple of principals had coluded and perpetrated fraud, ie "cooked the books." But these are only rumors...

drbob   |October.09.2011 Wasn't 10 years ago about the time that the School District discovered they were $60 million in the hole, bringing us State control? That administration may well have delivered decent education, but their bookkeeping sucked!

Anonymous   |October.08.2011 Dear Rat, here's something you might find interesting. If you talk to elementary school educators, they might tell you that the Mexican women tend to be very good parents where their child's education is concerned. Some of the better elementary schools here in Vallejo run (if not cut by the budget axe) English classes for the mothers after school. Some of these mothers are at school each and every day to see that their child gets an education, work on their own English skills and make sure their child is behaving properly. There may be a lesson for us all in the way some of these women conduct themselves and run their households.

wharf rat   |October.08.2011 re : education ' right on salt ' they did not drop the ball they nuked the whole operation talk to anyone who raised children in town 10 years ago ask about the schools you will probably get a positive report . the influx of non english speaking families and single mother families put a strain on the district as well as a reduction in student population in the old days the district would be fast on their feet re these changes but the managment feared most the loss of their jobs so did not put their money where their mouth was ie the classroom thus the decline began a sad story of a once vibrant institution reduced to a 3rd world operation ...

Classic Napa again   |October.08.2011 I meant to say, the liason to the Napa Police Dept, the housing dept could not find a place for the poor folks to move except in Vallejo. Which brings up a another point, do they usually look to Vallejo? Does the Vallejo Housing Authority call Napa and Napa Co to see if they have any openings for Vallejo folks to move? I highly doubt it. Hey, what about we start recommending that the homeless in Vallejo go to the nice big homeless shelter in Napa? Its right behind the Target shopping center next to the Humane Society. Hey we "truck" over both the homeless and the stray animals we see, it can be a "two-fer." What? Thats not right? I agree, its not right and neither is sending poor folks from other cities and counties to Vallejo and Solano Co.

Classic Napa responder   |October.08.2011 To the responder of "Classic Napa" my point was that the liason to the Napa Police dept ie the Housing Dept could not find a place for the displaced folks to move except in Napa (they are not moving to napa because everyone they know that can assist them live in Napa.) My exact point is, Napa needs to find a place for these poor souls to move in N A P A! Not Vallejo or Solano Co. They need to stop stalling the buliding of their 2800 units of affordable housing that they have a mandate to build, stop sending their poor folks to Vallejo and outside of their county, just because they are more interested in the "culture of wine" and not the "culture of mankind." If our City continues to take the poor of other cities and countie (who will not provide shelter) we need to send a bill for all the social services and police services that we have to provide. I say we offer to take their poor for $2000/a head plus the housing voucher. This ought to put money into the city coffers for all the money Vallejo spends on the poor. The poor are very expensive, they dont pay taxes, but they still must live, eat, sleep, have medical attention and educate their children. No city or county that receives Federal Funding should be exempt from building their mandated housing element ie low and affordable housing. Unless you can be wealthy enough like Tiberon to not drink the "Federal Kool-aid" you dont get to shurk your duty to build affordable housing.

Anonymous   |October.08.2011 ADMIN: Has the Glen Cove forum been posted yet.

Salty Dog   |October.07.2011 Thank you,wharf rat, for that overview.....looks like someone seriously dropped the ball, locally. Teachers (largely) are educators and professionals and often underrated at that. There ARE different teaching styles just as there are different learning styles and Master Teachers( I am one, by the way) and micromanagement is anethema to good teaching. Imagine your doctor being micromanaged with your healthcare( if you are lucky to have a doctor). Master teachers are up-to-date on the latest developments in education and are constantly seeking ways to make learning interesting and even "fun". Aside from teaching a curriculum, they have a greater task of teaching how to learn for life. A neat trick if you can do it.....and I know many who can. If you drive out excellence in teaching and relace it with mediocrity, micromanagement and a reliance on constant statistical testing, you have dropped the ball. The big question is...can the new leadership (Superintendent and Board) have the courage to redesign the school environment that can produce a climate that is attractive to teachers and students alike. Please note I use value laden statements like environment and climate rather than an emphasis on statistical accountability- which may serve the bureaucrat, but does little for the student. So far, I don't see it......but I stand corrected if I am mistaken.

wharf rat   |October.07.2011 re : public education the Vallejo school district about 8 years ago had some of the toughest teacher requirements in the country in fact teachers were recruited from all over .. the pay was in the top 10 % for the bay area we enjoyed long term MASTER teachers the quality of our child's education was a positive aspect of daily life ... some of the Gate classes taught pre and algebra at 4th grade our kids were getting college prep at grade 4 !!! they were excited about going to school ...the district kept the teacher standards and pay high as they realised in the education field the education provided to the students is the # 1 priority , meanwhile the facilities were falling apart so the school facilities bond was voted in ... not lowering the education standards proved to be a gutsy position to take but an honourable one this is why the voters voted for the school bond , parents and families had high confidence in the schools and teachers . the money was put in the classroom first the results were well taught students and happy parents .. a professor from the school of education at CAL BERKELEY told me Vallejo had a stellar reputation state wide the teacher standards and the peer review / mentoring program was used as a model in their graduate level courses ...i never heard once from my kids "i dont want to go to school " rather they were enthusiastic about going .. things changed the master teachers whom had standing offers from other districts left , principals retired in general the really good faculty moved on there was little love between them and new management ( the teachers wanted to teach from the classroom ) not to be micromanaged by district ... a teacher will have to adjust their operation based on the students enrolled in their class every year this required some flexibility management forbade this and insisted on an assembly line environment so most of the master teachers bailed thus began the decline of our schools once again milk-toast management brought down a vibrant institution ......

Salty Dog   |October.07.2011 I agree. Charter Schools came about as an option for those disgruntled with public education, for a host of reasons. But the real issue is how to improve the learning environment in public schools....and there are a host of ways, none of which appear to be on the horizon, locally.

School Board Election   |October.07.2011 Charter schools are not necessarily better.

Anonymous   |October.07.2011 Classic Napa, please get your story straight. The family is not moving to Vallejo, because they do not want to leave Napa County. They are looking at 2 homes in AC as they require 3 bedrooms!! and a home that will accommodate a wheelchair. The Section 8 program allows the Greenmyers to pay up to $1,808 for a three-bedroom home. With their income of $2,073 they will have to contribute about $700 for rent out of pocket. I believe there are many working families in Vallejo who are paying more than that and do not receive "help". But its a good story.

Anonymous   |October.07.2011 Wonderful article on the pension crisis, using Vallejo unions as the posterchild. Maybe those of us Vallejo community members and the elected officials who had the courage to fight Henke and the PSU pension scam weren't haters, but visionaries! http://m.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/10/what-is-the-democratic-partys-solution-to-the-pension-crisis/246225/

Anonymous   |October.07.2011 Yes, Salty, I was messing with you back. Really, we don't burn our leg hairs around the bonfires. I think both countries have done better with some environmental practices, and not better with others. I just hope we start moving the better side faster.

Salty Dog   |October.07.2011 anon:"That polar bear is sinking because of global warming. Get it? GLOBAL. That's not to say that the US doesn't suck at greenhouse gas regulation. But at least we don't kill endangered spotted owls anymore because brickhead loggers think clear cutting works so well. And thank you for the compliment. I wear my hippie tree-hugging badge with great pride. We hippies get together monthly and shave our hairy legs and burn the hair in a large bonfire dedicated to brickheads. We may just break out the ganja while we're at it, too! lol....I am messin with you anon...someone asked....I couldn't resist. Forestry practices have changed significantly in BC to reflect environmental concerns, but clear cutting remains the only safe and viable option in rugged areas. As for the Polar Bear picture...you do realize that it was staged, don't you. You can be sure that I absolutely believe the earth's climate is changing(maybe for the better)...but I don't mean that man-hating ( I mean anthropogenic) kind of change. Man's hubris knows no bounds.

Classic Napa   |October.07.2011 Today in the Napa Register go to www.naparegister.com Classic Napa Story and just shows why Napa is sued for lack of affordable housing. A family on hard times is being displaced from their three bedroom home, they are struggling to find a place to live. The Napa Police Dept Housing Liason finds a home in guess where??? Vallejo of all places!!!!!! The husband and wife both have serious medical conditions and are on very limited Govt assisted checks. Hey Napa, you want to send your poor and down and out to Vallejo? Really? Well perhaps you should also send Vallejo a check for $3000 a month which will off-set all the social services our County is going to have to pay to take care of your Napa Co. citizens who have not paid taxes into Solano Co. There is a reason that Napa Co. has been sued, this is a prime example!!! If you fall on hard times and dont have the funds to "swig the wine" and "sniff the cork," watch out, Napa might send you away to another County and a City to live, along with the housing voucher they are providing...

Anonymous   |October.07.2011 That polar bear is sinking because of global warming. Get it? GLOBAL. That's not to say that the US doesn't suck at greenhouse gas regulation. But at least we don't kill endangered spotted owls anymore because brickhead loggers think clear cutting works so well. And thank you for the compliment. I wear my hippie tree-hugging badge with great pride. We hippies get together monthly and shave our hairy legs and burn the hair in a large bonfire dedicated to brickheads. We may just break out the ganja while we're at it, too!

Salty Dog   |October.07.2011 anon says:Has Canada addressed the vicious clubbing of defenseless baby seals Answer....no. And we aren't saving that forelorn polar bear perched on a lonely piece of melting ice, either, The polar bear population is just fine.

Salty Dog   |October.06.2011 Hey,Anon...you are what we in the industry would call a freakin tree hugger, an ecofreak, left wing loooney tune latte with spinkles and nonfat drinkin, kayak paddlin, bicycle ridin, pimple faced, SUV drivin, global warmin, etc,etc,etc..... I didn't say clear cutting was right or didnt impact the landscape, but in BC, slearcutting is still the most viable option for harvesting (and yes replacing with what is known as a "normal" forest. Gotta do it so your local Home Depot and Lowes has that nice looking 2x4 for yer. \

Anonymous   |October.06.2011 Is there any subject that "anon" isn't a self proclaimed expert on?

wharf rat   |October.06.2011 hay salt it's a rough bunch at VIB just wanted to get some out of town perspective on issues from a divergent perspective did'nt mean for you to get rear end ripped vasiline is on me .....

Anonymous   |October.06.2011 Has Canada addressed the vicious clubbing of defenseless baby seals?

Anonymous   |October.06.2011 BS Salty. My father is a forester and we've had many discussions about logging and clearcutting. Even he has come to the conclusion that clearcutting went too far in the 1970's and 1980's. Clearcutting may be the most effective way to log trees to make the most money with the least effort, but it's devastating to the environment. Clearcutting creates forests with trees all the same age and replanted areas look like plantations. It displaces endangered species and makes many wildlife species vulnerable in a completely different environment. It changes the plant life that many species thrive on. California lost many of our old growth redwoods and sequoias that cannot be replaced. The days of clearcutting are over.

anon   |October.06.2011 So the "governance" consideration of "old growth" during clear cutting is not a priority. http://www.ancientforestguide.com/news-item.php?ID=186

Salty Dog   |October.06.2011 Yes. Clear cutting continues as the most effective way to harvest trees. Selective logging in some areas that are appropriate. Leave strips along rivers and sensitive areas. Believe me, as an old west coast logger from the sixties and seventies ( I was a road construction foreman for MacMillan Bloedel) environmental concern is forefront. But...clear cutting is still the best way to log( if you understand the process of firebreaks and immediate replanting. OK, let the flaming begin. lol

anon   |October.06.2011 Has British Columbia effectively addressed clear cutting?

Salty Dog   |October.06.2011 OK, I'll bite..... Public education in British Columbia has the same issues espoused here....poor performance, Charter school and home schooling options, etc. Fortunately, education undergoes constant renewal with every change of government with a Royal Commission struck to review the state of education. Consequently, public education evolves to meet the challenges. And that is what needs to occur...change with the changing times without forgetting that public education guarantees that those who want to learn have a right to safely do so in a democratic society. Anything less is intolerable.

wharf rat   |October.06.2011 hay salt as a man of the north share with us some info on quality governance in Canada "what are they doing right "and how are they achieving things we get no coverage in msm on our neihbors to the north (brrrrr )

Salty Dog   |October.06.2011 I agree. School Board elections tend to be low key and yet they are charged with a heavy responsibility, to provide an effective and safe learning environment for all students...which means not just "Christians". Public is just that- public and encompasses the many values that a particular District exhibits. There is no room for single agendas other than to do what is best for ALL students.

Anonymous   |October.06.2011 DaPrato claims Osby as one of his supporters. That's enough reason why I'm not going to vote for him. We need better people of the school board than the options we've been given.

Salty Dog   |October.06.2011 As much as one may find fault with public education (and which has resulted in an array of alternatives from home schooling to charter schools to private schools), the concept of public education remains the only way to ensure all potential productive citizens receive the knowledge and skills needed in today's society. I would be the first to be critical of the dumbing down and centralization of public education. I would also be the first to defend it as an institution and viable option that supports and ensures that we remain living in a democracy. There is much needed to improve the public school environment. That comes from thoughtful reform and the application of a clear administrative and Board direction. That doesn't come from praying, but rather transformational leadership that incorporates sound pedagogical principles and an understanding that every child is entitled( did I just say entitled?) to a safe and effective learning place. Public education is the great leveler in a democracy and if we abandon that, we do so at our peril as a free society.

BadBob   |October.06.2011 DaPrato is the real deal! He has dedicated his career to helping kids become adults. He is not paid for by AFofL or CIO! Vote for a change to the new world!

Casa De Vallejo   |October.06.2011 At the last council meeting, Mayor Davis said there was an update as to what is going on with the Casa De Vallejo, has anyone heard??? Personally I think the owners should have to be forced to sell the Casa De Vallejo to a nice hotel chain and it could be restored back to its former glory as a hotel. The owners would then be required to build a new ADA compliant senor housing buliding somewhere in the downtown to house all the displaced people that lived at the Casa De Vallejo. This should be the punishment for being slumlords who did not house the elderly in an appropriate building, had the fire alarm turned off and did not let the fire department know, which caused the death of three elderly people. The building, and historic landmark for Vallejo and California now looks blighted and sad and has had to endure rain and the elements. I am in favor of PUNISHMENT!!! You "play" the slumlord game, you may now "PAY!"

Anonymous   |October.06.2011 SD, you touched on one of the great questions of our times. When this country was young, public education and the principles and dogma of the Christian religion were almost completely commingled. Given the choice, a majority of people in the US would opt for a public school that resembled the little red school house of yesteryear. I hear what you're saying but the American people are going to move in a direction that you will disagree with. The way I see it, public education as governed by the central planning of dept. of Ed. will slowly loose popularity and students as people make the personal choice for private education, home schooling and other options.

School Board Election   |October.05.2011 DePrato may be nuts, but he's a whole another can of nuts, from the bible whacko nuts that already infest our district and our city government. Vallejo-City of the Religious NutWhackos

Watching Mythbusters   |October.05.2011 Mare Island's Dry Dock 4 was featured on tonight's episode of Mythbusters, busting the newton cradle myth

Slammer   |October.05.2011 Who's Bullet Voting? Schivley X McConnell X Sampayan X Leave the 3rd council vote for nobody.

know vallejo   |October.05.2011 it's not his religion that i'm worried about. it's his ethics.

Salty Dog   |October.05.2011 There is no room for religion in public school education. That is not to suggest that there is no room for religion. Just no room for shaping public education with a religious slant. This candidate needs to make that clear.

Anonymous   |October.05.2011 Ubalde is a minister and we certainly don't need more of that in government but Daprato is kind of nuts. I've dealt with him a proposed city project and the man is missing an oar. No great choices for school board this year. Oh well.

Salty Dog   |October.05.2011 And, that is sad news. Thank you, Steve, for a well done job and a well lived life.

Anonymous   |October.05.2011 steve jobs died this afternoon.

Anonymous   |October.05.2011 ubalde was one of the gang of four that almost cost solano community college it's accredidation. he's worthless.

School Board Election   |October.05.2011 Voting DePrato Tony UBalde, union endorsed, and pastor. Need to say more?

Salty Dog   |October.05.2011 Thank you Know...et al....I should have realized the search was right in front of me.

know vallejo   |October.05.2011 salty, go to vibs table of contents. go to main menu, news. read "does your vote matter?", "does your vote matter - redux" and "mayoral race closes in by one more vote". then go to primal scream. "challenge the recount". this should at least get you started. it was the ugliest, nastiest, most vicious campaign that this town has ever had. also a very unique and historical campaign. gary cloutier, the man who should have been mayor, wrote a book that discusses the election, rough point.

Anonymous   |October.05.2011 Google Kevin Shelley, should tell you all you need to know SD. Just another leftist hack from the great state of California.

Hi Salty   |October.05.2011 Yeah, Osby had his bible thumpers throw ballots in the trash, that is what happened. The difference in votes was a mere handful. Can't expect the oh so important "faith" community to sit idly by and let a gay guy beat Osby! God would not accept it, lol.

Salty Dog   |October.05.2011 Which is all very fascinating- politics is rough and dirty in this here United States. I remember hearing about the Vallejo election and the results being questionable. Can anyone summarize what occurred....or direct me to any literature about it?

Firebug   |October.05.2011 Ms. Spearman reminded me of the evening that the great and omnipotent ozz voted for the VPOA raises and when questioned about he made the comment "I must have been asleep" Either way if our Mayor was asleep during the discussion about the deficit he is not fit for Mayor, and if he said he was "asleep" just to be a jerk he does not deserve to be Mayor.

Green Acres   |October.05.2011 Thank you, Gerri Spearman, for reminding me of the night Osby Davis packed the Council chambers with his howling supporters. Gomes and Schivley had the guts and courage to speak out to a crowd booing and cursing them and to vote no on certifying an election that was suspect at best (ballots in the trash can anyone?). Gerri Spearman thinks that was illegal? They should have voted against their best judgement because somebody tells them they have to? Why give them the opportunity to vote on the certification if the only choice they are allowed is "yes?" This night reminds me of another reason why I'm voting for Schivley next month. It was ugly and showed the underbelly of what Osby Davis is about behind the nice suits and big smile. And on the other side, it showed what courageous women and ethical leadership really looks like.

Anonymous   |October.05.2011 Spearman was also the person who attacked community members fighting the waterfront plan a few years ago. Her god Osby Davis was working on the waterfront plan for the developer, and Spearman got up at Council and called anyone opposing the developer racists. I never quite understood the charge. You're racist if you oppose a project a black man is working on? The point is Osby Davis brings out Spearman to do his dirty work. She's a vicious, nasty woman who will say anything, true or not, especially if it's in defense of her god Osby. He thinks he looks clean and shiny by not getting dirty, but we all know he's the one who unleashed the dog.

Anonymous   |October.04.2011 The good news is that Jeri Spearman did a hit piece on Joanne Shivley today that was so full of lies and misrepresentations that it makes Joanne look pretty good. The even better news is that Sean Maddox has endorsed Joanne and Robert McConnell although his endorsement of Logan and Hannigan is confusing. Logan is Osby's stooge so what would be the point of electing him and Hannigan will give unions whatever they want or at least that's what she has always done in the past. Isn't Jeri Spearman the same person (attack dog) who went before the city council a couple of years ago and attacked Shivley and Gomes on a personal level. I remember that she was nasty. Talk about disrespect!

Right on S.D.   |October.04.2011 You are "right on" Salty Dog. Perhaps the best thing that ever came out of bankruptcy, is that it forced thousands of Vallejeons to sit up and finally take notice of what was going on in Vallejo. Have you ever seen so many volunteers running helping in so many departments and on so many committees? Did you ever think Vallejo would have 300 neighborhood associations? Did you ever think so many people would become so interested in Vallejo politics? Hey, it was a long sleep, and now the "Sleeping Giant" has awakened, all is not well in the land. The giant is rummaging around for his billy club, look out "ITS ON BROTHER!"

Salty Dog   |October.04.2011 Call me psychic, call me prescient, call me stupid....I don't care...I have seen the future of Vallejo, and it is good...so good that Vallejo will become the poster child for good governance rather than governance gone broke and scorned by more worldly people. With Shively as Mayor and as McConell and Sampayan added to Council, the era of narrow interests and narrow agendas will be finally broken. The PSU's will receive nothing more and nothing less than what the municipality can afford and which are in line with comparable jurisdictions. The police club (empire) atmosphere will be replaced with a redesigned department more closely aligned with the City mandate and its values as outlined in its codes written by various Councils. It will report regularly and comprehensively to Council, who represent their employer, the people of Vallejo. There will be no need to recruit businesses to Vallejo because lower costs to operate will be the inducement. Build it and they will come. Provide lower taxes, lower operating costs and good infrastructure and they will come. Vallejo is at or on the verge of providing those. Schools will improve their performance when there is a renewed sense of cooperation across organizations and when the school system develops a comprehensive and inclusive strategy to make learning a pleasurable and safe right for all students. Not through rules or punitive actions, rather through sound pedagogic principles. And as other communities sink further into debt as they struggle with hopelssly antiquated notions of reality, Vallejo will emerge as a jurisdiction that has finally learned how to look after its people, not through lobbying and manipulating and seeking quick fixes, but rather, by simply expressing, believing and operationalizing the idea that local governance and its bylaws are designed for all its residents. All its residents. By the people, all the people. Of course, I could be wrong.

Anonymous   |October.04.2011 Yes, as a die hard liberal, our party is fucked up because the unions are the electeds' masters. But you die hard conservatives are just as fucked up. How does it feel to have your party defending the rich and big corporations, not making them pay taxes, while at the same time wanting to decimate your social security and other programs many conservatives and liberals depend on to survive? How's that feel?

Mousy   |October.04.2011 Here at VIB we're hard core union hating liberals! Um, wait, aren't those mutually exclusive? Anon, I think you're getting support for law and order confusion with support for unions.

Salty Dog   |October.03.2011 I am a conservative and I draw a line at listening to Van Jones prattle on.

Anonymous   |October.03.2011 Hey gang, I just watched Van Jones give a speech in Washington DC. First off, he is a dullard but more interesting is the fact that his rhetoric includes strong support for police and firefighters. What a confused mess liberal politics are in today. Do any of you die hard liberals here appreciate how screwed up your national platform is. It is staggering to think about the political calamity that is coming for you. All of the hard work you've done, much of it valuable, is about to be washed away in a political tsunami.

Salty Dog   |October.03.2011 Whatever your brand of coffee...I want some.

wharf rat on too much caffene   |October.03.2011 bringing business to Vallejo will require some work we need to roll up our sleeves and get with it ! trends of our current economy are not a negative for this goal , market strategy is the key "what are our market's ? "businesses all over the bay region are down-sizing aka right-sizing similar to our city , Vallejo offers a great opportunity for these operations to relocate to affordable facilities , big city property rates have not dropped much while profits have for operators , Mare Island has many facilities well suited for small businesses as well as city proper .. all city employes need training re businesses ( who they are what they do why they are important to our economy and your pay-checks ) the permitting process , zoning , licensing etc must be expedited it needs to be date tracked through the process this must be a priority for management as for all city hall personal EVERYONE must be familiar with the process , applicants must be given VIP treatment Vallejo needs to return to a business friendly environment and should issue a passport type package to guide customers through the process ...when someone want's to bring capitol and jobs here they need to be treated well .. economic down turns , recessions all provide opportunity for savvy operators who find a need and fill it markets become fractured the dominators fall apart this opens up room for the small entraponeers to move up the food chain .. Vallejo has good housing opportunities for owners and employees , below main bay rates as well as local workforce resources and great location and transportation hubs north bay markets might prove to be profitable as well .. if put down on paper it is all plus -plus -plus with the exceptation of local government performance this is the weak link in economic recovery and needs to be addressed first when this is done some marketing can be started ... main bay business owners could sell valuable property and buy or lease in vallejo leases need to be of quality and long term for this to be realised for them to relocate here they need a comprehensive and businesslike experience at city hall time is money they can not be strung along by endless delay's and uncertainties ... small business is the largest employer in this country it could very well be our economic engine is in fact the recession ......

Anonymous   |October.03.2011 Blame Hannigan and mayor Davis for the streets. They said in BK that police was their number one priority, and so they cut every other program as much as possible. Remember Hannigan saying to cut public works completely as long as her cops were safe? They were warned by council members Gomes and Schivley that they'd regret cutting road maintenance and economic development rather than cutting cops salaries and bennies. And now their decisions are coming home to roost. How do you like that Council Majority right now?

wharf rat attn dr bob and folk   |October.03.2011 sorry folks article did not fit for all the info go to berkeleycouncilwatch.com. an example of a city gone amok ..

wharf rat   |October.03.2011 BERKELEY CIVIC GROUP IDENTIFIES UP TO $100 MILLION ANNUAL SAVINGS IN EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION COST. PROPOSES 10 POINT ACTION PLAN WITH FOCUS ON USING SAVINGS TO PAY DOWN UNFUNDED LIABILITY FOR PENSIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE A comparative analysis of employee compensation in twelve regional municipalities by the civic group Berkeley Budget SOS reveals that the City of Berkeley spends up to $100M annually above the regional average, as adjusted for population size. The analysis uses a combination of data from the Public Employees Salaries Database and updated employee costs provided to SOS by City management staff. Employee compensation consists of gross salary (base salary plus overtime and other cash payments) and benefit costs. For gross salary, SOS examined the four major categories of employees

wharf rat   |October.03.2011 was driving east on florida st. the number and size of potholes was unbelievable " it was like driving a slalom course " the car in front hid one from me it hit with a crash knocked my front end out cost $ 160 for repairs next time im gonna file a claim with cov for dangerous road conditions ..the season for pothole repairs is almost over winter will be soon the potholes will grow and grow as they are filled with rain water the base gets undermined the hole gets bigger and alot more expensive to repair .. $ 1 spent on preventative maintenance can save up to $ 14 on repair as this road maintenance continues to be deferred costs could go as high as twenty times the cost for regular maintenance that is a twenty to one ratio .. future city budgets must have a set aside for street maintenance this should be a HAND"S OFF FUND one of the city's most fundamental jobs is to keep streets in good repair and safe from a risk management perspective this could ultimately save a lot of $$ ... awhile back public works had 18 labourers who worked as a pool they were put where needed and did many of the street repair jobs we even repaved entire streets we had the experienced crews and the machinery to do this in house then things began to change we transitioned from a INFRASTRUCTURE TO A BUREAUSTRUCTURE focus 16 of the labourer jobs were sucked up by the camp group converted to admin positions ... now that we have incurred millions of dollars in deferred street repairs you would think talk of re-staffing would focus on some of these most basic needs but all i hear is admin and safety when cov is hit with a huge lawsuit due to dangerous street conditions priorities might be re - thought .......

Anonymous   |October.03.2011 The budget process isn't the problem, Suzanne. If the citizens were to say how they want the money spent, everyone would say more cops, more fire stations, smooth roads, trimmed trees, more code enforcement, more economic development. It isn't rocket science. The election process is what needs to be fixed. Because when special interests are allowed to buy candidates, those candidates have proven that they don't give us citizens any of the above. They give their campaign doners higher salaries and earlier and richer pensions. So we get where we are today, with nothing of the above because our meager tax dollars are paying for salaries and benefits we taxpayers could only dream of. We elect council members to represent us. If they don't, get rid of them. If they take employee union funding, don't vote for them. Unfortunately not only do we elect those who don't represent us, but we re-elect them. Let's stop this dysfunctional behavior and get a council majority that will represent us taxpayers, not their masters. I have no delusions that any of the people running can save the city. But a smart independent council majority would go a long way towards us taxpayers getting what we want.

Anonymous   |October.03.2011 Sorry, Salty, reality sucks, eh?

Suzanne   |October.03.2011 When the time comes, and it will, when the City has more money and is starting to rehire employees, let's make sure that we are all standing at the podium asking for more code enforcement officers and more effective code enforcement, more street sweepers, more folks to pick up illegal dumped items. Until this City looks like somebody cares, we will continue to get the same problems. We've had murder, crime and prostitution etc. problems with a full compliment of police and with half the force. If you keep doing what you are doing, you will keep getting what you are getting. It's time to rethink the entire City budget process.

Why Vallejo is Fu$#ked up   |October.03.2011 Once upon a time there was s City run by the simple minded and unsophisticated called the City Council. For 130 years the city prospered because a huge employeer called the Navy made many folks wealthy. The Navy provided 25000 and at the height of WWII 40000 workers that were also "consumers." The large workforce had a positive ripple affect in the City and many businesses opend and thrived, the city did very well! Then one day the Navy went bye-bye. There had been warnings, but the City being run by the simple minded, sat on its hands and did not rush to make a plan. In the past the simple minded allowed many prospective businesses to move to Eastern Solano Co (such as Westfield Mall, Budweisser, and even when the Grand Prix wanted to race in Vallejo the then Mayor thought it would be too noisy and busy,)the simple minded concensus was "if it aint broke, dont fix it." I mean after all the city was flush with money, a captive audience at Mare Island guaranteed success. Business folks did not have to advertise or market themselves, the money just rolled in. And so now 15 years after the Navy has left and taken all their money pool with them, the city continues to struggle, lead for the past 15 years by simple minded unsophisticated city staff, city planners and city councils. Vallejo truly is a "gold mine" its amazing that no one smart enough in power can recognize the true potential. Remember, this year when you vote, vote SMARTER!!!!

Salty Dog   |October.02.2011 The Municipal Code with its pages of ordinances that cover a wide range of topics is impressive and represents hundreds of hours of deliberation, many readings and numerous individual Counsels who saw merit in codifying and sanctioning specific actions and behaviors that are in the best interest of the community. But, we can't afford them. A modest proposal: after each ordinance there is a need for a comma and "but we don't really mean it". At least spare us the hypocrisy. One thing leads to another and the next thing you know there will be Medical Grass outlets popping up hither and yon. But we don't really mean it. Currently I am in violation of the Municipal Traffic and Safety ordinance (three counts)....but when it comes to prosecution, I know you don't really mean it. I don't buy the funding argument for one second.

Viva Vallejo   |October.02.2011 @anon, Marc lives in Vallejo and contibuting to the effort to make it a better place. The Marin worshipping person only likes to compare and doesn't live here or make any positive contributions.

Anonymous   |October.02.2011 True, Salty. But like it or not, "we can't afford to" plays into it. The more our general fund became consumed with public safety salaries and benefits, the more "other" employees were reduced. If you're paying police and fire 75-80% of your general fund, there's not much left to enforce all ordinances on the books. That's why we need to elect new people to council who will form a new majority that won't be afraid to cut public safety salaries, health and pensions. Same goes for managers. Cut costs and hire new employees at lower rates. Don't raise taxes.

Salty Dog   |October.02.2011 anon quotes Salty Dog: "Salty Dog: Now, can we get back to the freakin topic: Why the hell is Vallejo so f**ked when it is so blessed in many ways?" Gee, I'm flattered....now I am quoted. lol. Put down? Sure, if you want to view it that way. All I see is a very comprehensive schedule of bylaws and ordinances that are being completely ignored with misdeneanors being tacitly and openly allowed. That is f**cked. There is a strong message there. Anything goes in this town with impunity. That has to stop. And that will only stop when existing ordinances of every stripe are operationalized....without the usual "we can't afford that". You can't afford not to, if you want a healthy community.

anon   |October.02.2011 Viva Is describing Vallejo as "so f**ked" considered putting Vallejo down? Salty Dog: Now, can we get back to the freakin topic: Why the hell is Vallejo so f**ked when it is so blessed in many ways?

Anonymous   |October.02.2011 To Anon: Vallejo certainly IS suffering more than other Bay Area Cities. Why? Becuase even before the housing market started its descent, we were suffering from unaffordable union contracts approved by your bought and paid for majority. Ever since 2000 and before the city has struggled to balance the budget until we went off the cliff after the IAFF (with Henke in charge) refused to take cuts and brought Vallejo into binding arbitration. Its comforting to know that Meyer was screaming at his union leadership--means not all of IAFF are like Henke and Riley. But Meyer was way over the top with that fire stuff. I mean c'mon.

Viva Vallejo   |October.02.2011 The comparison of Vallejo to "posh Marin" is really getting tired. At least we are rid of some insufferable people who make it their life's mission to continuously putting Vallejo down. good riddance.

Anonymous   |October.02.2011 Workers shouldn't get a free pass on attitude. It's easy to blame management, but the workers carry the poor attitudes to the public. Management doesn't interact with us much, but the workers do, and that's where we experience the attitude problem.

anon   |October.02.2011 Many people lost their houses in the bay area but no city is suffering as hard as Vallejo.V-town has had a history of dysfunctional leaders and a very bad CITY HALL (i'm not talking about the workers; i'm talking about the department heads. Most of those department heads could give a rat's arse about V-town; you can tell by their tone and actions. Vallejo's City Hall comes across like the Roman army but let me tell you....you are a CIVIL SERVANT JUST LIKE ME! Vallejo's city hall should be kissing the feet of Vallejo's tax payors and thank God they don't work in posh Marin County where those residence do not have problem reminding civil servants who'se in charge. So an arrogant City Hall, and an apathetic community, and clueless stifling leadership is what made Vallejo die.

drbob   |October.01.2011 A (long) further discussion of the decline of violence, worldwide: http://edge.org/conversation/mc2011-history-violence-pinker

Salty Dog   |October.01.2011 I agree- good summation. In Vallejo, housing that was typically "valued" at 500k and more in 2007 is now in the low 100k range. The good news is that the fever has broken. All that remains is to clean up the residual mess. The other good news is that municipalities cannot hide from the fact that a significant source of revenue, taxes based on dramatically lower assessments, has been sharply reduced and makes any return to rich compensations virtually impossible. Vallejo may be the poster child of everything that ails municipal well being. But it is now ahead of the pack in terms of positioning for the future. All the more reason to elect a Council and Mayor that fully understand this reality and perhaps benefit in disguise.

GC'er   |October.01.2011 Good summation! But no offense, do we need the likes of Vanity Fair, the ueber mag of must haves of useless things and people of low value, pointing out, in a PCW of course, that greed did us in? The daily bombardment by the media, written and spoken, and the push of products as well as services that nobody should have to live without, however very few really could afford, did us in. Ultimately, we allowed our dysfunction to prosper quietly and unseen by the masses, because times were good and we simply did not pay attention to the details.

Anonymous   |October.01.2011 The Vanity Fair article is not to be missed. It's long, but really focuses on how/why cities and states are imploding: greed. San Jose Mayor Reed called it "cultural bankruptcy." Living in the bubble, most people got used to abundance and getting what they wanted immediately. Individuals got wrapped up in debt to get that instant gratification just as our cities and states did. Now we're addicted. The question asked in the article is how do we get un-addicted? It'll happen, either by us recognizing it and starting to deny our own demands for instant gratification and saving for the long term. Or the environment will force that denial on us.

admin   |October.01.2011 Robin: Holy priceless collection of Etruscan snoods! It's October, use this Daily Scream.

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