January 2012       

Post your comment below and we'll put up your words...BUT...this is not an open forum for racist, nasty, personal, homophobic, or otherwise offensive comments that do not fall under the category of  intelligent discourse.

True vile pointless nastiness will be deleted.  We will try to be fair but remember--This is about promoting ideas not hatred.

Your comments will NEVER be removed or altered to promote an agenda--political or otherwise

          Please, Don't Feed The Trolls-- Help Keep This Blog Productive

                                                      Report Abuse   This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Comments

Add New Search RSS

Memories   |February.03.2012 Is the Vallejo Police Department afraid that if this past incident (the killing of Guy Jarreau by a Vallejo police officer) is investigated by the "Citizen Review Committee" (once organized), they would have to give an account as to why Guy Jarreau's mother was never given a police report?! Would it open up a can of worms?! Of course it would and they know it! I'm very delighted that you understand my single-mindedness as I address the "Guy Jarreau issue!" Of course, I have a valid point and everyone knows it! If the "Guy Jarreau issue" is not a point of the committee, let's make it one!!! The waters became "muddy" the day Guy Jarreau was shot and killed and left to bleed to death in the alley on Sonoma Blvd. Then, he was taken to an out of county hospital (John Muir) instead of one of the hospitals in Vallejo! Why?!?! So, you're asking the family of Guy Jarreau to sit quietly and not give fuel to reactionary individuals on the police force by posing the scenario of an investigation of specific police actions?! To sit quietly is an injustice! That type of behavior is not productive, AT ALL! That's right, let's move forward by asking the committee to address the "Guy Jarreau issue!!!"

Anonymous   |February.03.2012 wharf rat, thanks for the laugh this morning! I needed it. There is a part of me that envies your ability to let flow your creative jumbled thoughts because they are so damn funny and witty. The other part of me thinks it might be exhausting to have so many thoughts and directions rumbling around my head all the time!

wharf rat   |February.03.2012 Sooooooo Marc Garmin is a gadfly is he ?? well using this context we could assume him to be many other things as well ... like a sxxt disxxxber and a Muck racking Journalist or a Malcontent maybe a Wastrel possibly even a Liberal or God forbid even literate , there is no doubt he abused small animals as a young child , and has probably littered in his lifetime , and played with matches, it has been told he once rolled through a stop-sign and failed to curb his wheels .. as a small boy he once cracked a BIG fart right in the middle of Church services , yes he is despicable his judgement day will come !! as i write this his old School teachers are banding together to determine the proper method of torture to apply to him for all he did to them .. Mrs Gibbon ( his 3 rd grade teacher ) reported he once misspelled a word !! and even sneezed in class " the child was incorrigible " she stated ... His High School Princable remembers" Marc was a different type of lad" he once adamantly disagreed with his civics teacher regarding the role and ethics of local Government and went on to insist on His Constitutional rights !! " He was a very dangerous individual He stated , frankly i was glad to see him go , he was way too uppity and disruptive " we have a norm to uphold and he did not fall in with this " the Mayor of his town MR Flashy suite remembers " that Garmin Kid yea i recall him " caught him pissin on the statue front of city hall one day " outrageous, disrespecting ole representative money bags our town's icon the most successful corrupt and long term good ole boy in history !! So fly in the buttermilk , fly on the wall or Gadfly , He is our fly and we are damn lucky to have him .....

wharf rat   |February.02.2012 Hey anon if Garmin is a gadfly we need more like him and less axxhxxxs like you go back under your rock and blog off

Salty Dog   |February.02.2012 You forgot one definition: "One that acts as a provocative stimulus; a goad." And God knows, Vallejo needs to be proded, poked, nudged, pushed,provoked to kick start some serious reforms for the betterment of the community. So...its Gadfly Garmin....a title worth wearing in Vallejo. Incidently, the CBC has its own agenda and it is tied to its primary funder, the Canadian government.

Anonymous   |February.02.2012 If we accept the CBC repor as accurate, we must also accept garman as a gadfly! 1. any of various large dipterous flies, esp the horsefly, that annoy livestock by sucking their blood 2. a constantly irritating or harassing person [C16: from gad � (sting) + fly �] Pefect!

Mr :)   |February.02.2012 Looking over the video, I always thought if a hi tech center like San Jose ever build a new library it would not have any physical books in it, and guess what, it doesn't. The vacant book shelves are there to add definition to an otherwise empty room. News from America's most kick ass mayor Ron Davis of formerly bankrupt Prichard Al. Prichard Mayor demotes foes of pension deal, says it's for health reasons PRICHARD, Alabama -- Prichard Mayor Ron Davis has demoted two veteran police officers fighting his effort to rid the city of its failing pension plan. http://blog.al.com/live/2012/01/prichard_mayor_demotes_foes_of

Salty Dog   |February.02.2012 How dare that CBC reporter call Mark Garmin a "gadfly"....to war I say.... and Mark....er.....pass the parsley, will you. Now that Vallejo has been identified across Canada as the largest US city to declare bankruptcy, I have to explain to my Canadian friends that Vallejo is nearly as bad as it is portrayed....ok, I may be pushing it a bit. At any rate, I receive three pensions from Canada, and added all together, they are still no where near as rich as those received by San Jose or Vallejo police. So, although I believe Canada is extending the retirement age benefits to 67, the pension funds are in somewhat better shape than down here. And just as an aside, Blue Cross Canada sent me an estimate for my premium (if I was still in Canada)...$68. per month. And don't believe all those horror stories about Canadian health care...just another scam by the health care status quo here.

Anonymous   |February.02.2012 Thanx Mr , the video is very informative.

Mr :)   |February.02.2012 San Jose and Vallejo (and Marc Garman) mentioned. Phrase for today: Service Level Insolvency. California pension woes a warning to Canada http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/02/01/us-boag-on-california-pensions

The grass is greener $$$   |February.02.2012 Is the grass really greener $$$ in other cities PD's? We have had several officers leave for greener pastures, for more money an benefits, and guess what, given the chance they come right back to Vallejo? Why is that? We heard an officer say he worked in Berkeley and left behind better pay and benefits to work for Vallejo, you know, poor little Vallejo, the city that PSU like to denegrade? I mean why would you want to come back to a crime ridden city for less pay and benefits? That makes no sense, there must be a reason when the grass is much greener you force yourself to come back to a city to work for less pay and benefits...

Anonymous   |February.02.2012 Ah yes, officer Steve Darden, a cop with (don't be shocked now) an alleged history of anger issues. He's also a rapper in his spare time. I bet he and Nichelini's son get along just great.

Anonymous   |February.02.2012 The very large cop (he'd have to be strong to carry that huge chip on his shoulder) with the very angry attitude towards the public and the council is proof that the citizens need a separate avenue of complaint about police behavior than the police themselves. Thank you, angry officer, for proving the point for those of us who have been asking for something like this for years. And thank you, Gomes and Brown, for standing strong in the face of intense bullying and pushing this committee through. This is an example of what elected officials are supposed to do, as opposed to that idiot Sunga who can't read information so he just asks for more, or for that arrogant and snide Hannigan who is just looking out for herself and her campaign donors.

Salty Dog   |February.02.2012 I, too, am happy to see the establishment of a "fact-finding" Committee designed to examine ways of improving public safety in Vallejo. But, as explained by its authors, the resolution to create the Committee is not based on investigating past incidents and to infer it is, misses the point. I understand your single minded need to address the Guy Jarreau issue- you may or may not have a valid point, but that is not the point of the Committee. Please don't muddy the water and give fuel to reactionary individuals on the police force by posing the scenario of an investigation of specific police actions. That would be very counterproductive and contrary to the goals of the Committee. Lets move forward, rather than sideways and backwards.

Memories   |February.02.2012 I'm very delighted to hear that a "Fact-Finding Committee" has been voted on and will be implemented, in Vallejo, in the upcoming months!!! Thank you Gomes and Brown for diligently fighting to implement such committee! This is exactly what Vallejo needs to hold those accountable for their actions!!! I'm certain you guys remember the name Guy Jarreau, right?! If not, let me refresh your memories! Guy Jarreau was shot and killed by a Vallejo Police Officer on Saturday, December 11, 2010, on Sonoma Blvd., while assisting fellow classmates in shooting a nonviolence (music) video. Police stated that Guy Jarreau pointed a gun at an officer, but witnesses disagreed! Witnesses stated that Guy Jarreau had no gun! After being shot directly in his chest, Guy Jarreau made several attempts to stand and ask the police for help by saying, "Help me, help me!" Witnesses stated that Guy Jarreau laid, helpless, on the ground for a period of 30-45 minutes before help arrived! When the paramedics arrived, witnesses stated the paramedics sat for a long time before loading Guy Jarreau into the ambulance! It was stated that Guy Jarreau was airlifted from the alley where he was shot! That bit of information was false! Guy Jarreau was driven by ground ambulance to an out of county hospital (John Muir) instead of being, promptly, taken to one of the closer facilities in Vallejo! To this day, Andrea Jarreau-Griffin, mother of Guy Jarreau, hasn't received the police report from the Vallejo Police Department nor the results of the parallel investigation! The officer's identity is still unknown, at this time! Andrea Jarreau-Griffin continues to hold candlelight vigils, for her son, every month on the 11th and has been doing so since he was killed by the Vallejo Police Officer! There are many, many unanswered questions surrounding the death of Guy Jarreau! This incident warrants the attention of city council! Let's look deeper into why the Vallejo Police Department refuses to give Andrea Jarreau-Griffin the police report! Also, the confiscated video footage of the incident can't be found! There was valuable footage recorded during the time of shooting! It just appears as if a "cover-up" is going on so, let's uncover the "cover-up!"

Captian Crunch   |February.02.2012 Years ago many neiourbourhoods benefited from the Crime watch idiom and the practical application of local surveillance ,, this came from Bob S , the crime szar of community policing ,,, a veteran of the Tom Galvin community policing ethos / who is the main player ??? the low key butt very dedicated and possibly awesome potential SUPER HERO ..one of the most dedicated and committed Men,, Bob Sampian !!! not a gun toting cowboy, rather a very committed local resident ,, He has much to teach !!! The local residents and this includes all the policemen / women that reside in town ... and yes Women ... how many Women do we have in the VPD ???? the Dispatch Gals are awesome !!! they are the backbone of sooooo many good outcomes and the hero's of our Municipal Law Enforcement effort ...the first point of contact for anyone who calls 911 these major and incredible MULTI TASKERS kick some major butt .. while beautiful and Sooo classy they are the first point of contact for Citizens with problems requiring law enforcement intervention ... if you have reservations re : my content ,,, buy a mid level emergency scanner at radio shack ... listen to the Day and Swing shift calls on it ... you will see a very engaged and energetic scenario ... " aint no dun-kin doughnuts going on " allot of cops bouncing from call to call and some of the best Dispatchers in the State ....

Cop With An Attitude   |February.01.2012 @ Anonymous, I think just watching that cop glaring at the community members and Council is enough to deter many from filing a complaint against him. He was one of the cops that was making threats last December. The contempt he displays is concerning to say the least. If he is like this in the public eye, I'd hate to have to deal with that thug attitude when no one is looking.

Pleasanton PD   |February.01.2012 This just in, per the CoCo Times, after two years of negociations, Pleasanton PD have agreed to initially start paying 3 percent to their Calpers, 6 percent by July 2012 and a full 9 percent by Jan 2013. Pleasanton as rich as it is has an unfunded liability of 121 million. What does Vallejo PD pay into their Calpers???

Anonymous   |February.01.2012 Definitely more muscle than brains. He basically said "We have no problems. We take care of them ourselves." Don't these people get it that we pay for the services they provide? If we the public wants to know what's happening inside the police department, we have every right to demand it. Kudos to Doug Darling and Kathy (didn't catch her last name) for courageously speaking out for us citizens. Both said they felt threatened in speaking. No problems Mr. Muscle Officer? No problems that the scared citizenry will tell you about. Who wants to face an angry guy like that (or others like we saw on Dec 13th) with a complaint about fellow officers? Not me! I'm glad we're going to get a citizens police review, or whatever it ends up being called. Obviously Hannigan, "I don't have enough information" Sunga or Davis want one. Protecting their campaign donors I expect.

Mr :)   |February.01.2012 One more reason to dissolve the Vallejo PD, the mayor can declare himself chief constable. SCDPS releases video of mayor pulling trooper over http://www.wistv.com/story/16642548/scdps-releases-video-of-norway-mayor-pulling-trooper-over BTW, great southern accents in the video. Uncut video: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=891_1328063489

Salty Dog   |January.31.2012 Council Meeting: Can anyone advise just what is the purpose of Councillor (I need more information) Sunga? I doubt he could make a decision if his life depended upon it. Councillors McConnell, Brown and Gomes- well said. And to the police officer, apparently more brawn and testosterone that brains- yes, I do know what you are dealing with. I live with it most days but without the authority to do anything about it. Which is why we need a Committee to find ways to turn things arounnd.

Captian Crunch   |January.31.2012 Sounds like the marina fund ( an enterprise fund ) needs some quality time with the Grand Jury maby then salt could berth his boat there .

Anonymous   |January.31.2012 Mike Thompson just knowing where Vallejo is, is a big step up from No Show Miller.

wharf rat   |January.31.2012 Yes Bart tizzy The off - shoring of transportation and infrastructure projects is criminal !! much of the iron work for the Bay bridge was fabricated in China with all the iron - workers and welders out of work this is inexcuseable .. AC transit is procuring buses off shore as well .. often the soliticion for bids are writen so as to qualify only one bidder .. the contract administration and management then must make numerious trips abroad for this buisness , you will find they morph the buisness trip into a vacation , mostly paid by tax - payers .. this is almost as bad as a City building their ferry boats out of state when they have / had a shipyard !!

Congressman Mike Thompson   |January.31.2012 As you all know, Mike Thompson is now our new Congressman. I wrote him this morning to let me know that he needs to update his website to include Vallejo and Benicia, as we are not listed and if you want to write him a email you must first give your zip code which as also not been updated. I am hoping Mr Thompson will contact Alsom rail car at Mare Island to see if they can be any part of production of the new BART cars which will each cost over 3 million dollars to bulid. They are being outsourced by BART to other Countries to build as there is no company in the US qualified to build train cars. This is so stupid, we built nuclear subs at Mare Island, put a man on the moon, but there is no qualified train builder in the U.S.??? What the heck??? When the high speed rail is built, will we give the contract to build the cars to another country as well?????

wharf rat   |January.30.2012 Yes Salt you are right !! The fact is the Marina has been a cash cow for pet depts and projects .. if the money were ever followed local boaters would blow their top's..

Salty Dog   |January.30.2012 WR: ....and that is incredibly shortsighted given that a world class event will soon be at our doorstep. What better time and what better excuse to bring the Marina up to operational snuff.

BART Tizzy   |January.30.2012 There is a big tizzy going on, BART is going to outsource the production of their new train cars, each will cost 3.7 million to build. Only European and Asian makers have submitted bids. What about French train manufacturer "Alsom" located on our very own BAY AREA Mare Island. Create lots of jobs for Vallejo and the Bay Area. Help California's economy. Hey Assembly people, CA Senators, Congress people, where are you???????

wharf rat   |January.30.2012 Re the marina Yes the marina has very low water this is due to the constant silting up and lack of dredging ... the marina's earnings have for years been diverted to other uses not for the dredging and maintenence that is needed ...

anon   |January.30.2012 Yes, Vallejo Ferry is too expensive. It's almost cheaper to pay 6 dollars and ride the ferry from larkspur.

Anonymous   |January.30.2012 Maybe if people who commute in from Napa and the Highway 80 corridor had to pay to park in Vallejo's new garage, it would create an incentive to live in Vallejo's beautiful historic downtown districts... rather than the Section 8, abandoned and rundown slum properties and halfway houses. Now when the commuters get off the ferries, they quickly leave town because what they can see from their cars with the rolled up windows and locked doors does not look very safe and friendly. Heaven forbid they would venture downtown. That Triad plan was a jewel. But with the COV's addiction to poverty program money, they were severely handicapped. I hope some developer (other than Oz's friend, Joe Callaghan) can be convinced to take over and implement that plan. It would really help if the COV "redeveloped" the subsidized housing projects, like 201 Maine, that ring the downtown like a boa constrictor.

The Ferry is good Public Trans   |January.30.2012 The Ferry: Really? Too expensive? You're crazy. A monthly pass on the Ferry is $290, and you can purchase a muni pass for $57. Presume 20 days of work/commute a month: The Ferry is $14/day and the muni pass is $2.85/day. So for under $17/day you can commute, without traffic. If you drive and car pool, you'll pay $2.50 for the Bay Bridge and the same returning home, so $5.00 day. Estimating 3 gallons minimum of gas, that is roughly $11.25. So for $16.25/day, you can carpool/drive, but that presumes you get parking in the city for free. If you don't car pool, you've got a $6 toll on the Bay Bridge and $5 returning home over the Carquinez, so you're paying $22.25 without parking daily to drive into the City. The Ferry is inexpensive compared to driving into the City. Do your math!!!

Salty Dog   |January.30.2012 The waterfront is, indeed, the jewel of Vallejo, even with an industrial background. But the municipal Marina is another thing. At a time when other communities are gearing up and preparing for the America's Cup, Vallejo's Marina languishes for lack of clients/customers. Slips in the entire Bay area will be at a premium soon....but in Vallejo, any vessel requiring water deeper than six feet is out of luck. Plenty of fifty foot berths, but with only three feet of water. Tick tock, tick tock.

Anonymous   |January.30.2012 The water front is becoming better. I'm curious if they are going to charge a parking fee to park there? That would be the worst thing to do! especially for the ferry commuters.BTW I don't use the ferry to commute. WAY TO EXPENSIVE!

Anonymous   |January.29.2012 Could someone please provide a link to COV's procedure required under California Penal Code Section 832.5? It begins... "(a) (1) Each department or agency in this state that employs peace officers shall establish a procedure to investigate complaints by members of the public against the personnel of these departments or agencies, and shall make a written description of the procedure available to the public." ...etc. I wanna file a complaint against Chief Nicholini. We all should, then copy the Solano County DA who is next on the chain of responsibility, and Kamila Harris who acts when no one else will.

Anonymous   |January.28.2012 An SSB that is not properly maintained. Her Majesty's Navy and/or the USN put out plenty of power and kill more birds due to collision than excess power.

Salty Dog   |January.28.2012 Actually, true, but my SSB transmitter is part of my mast shroud line which is almost perpendicular. No birds perching there. But an SSB can put out a nasty voltage when transmitting. which is why it is insulated at both ends.

Anonymous   |January.28.2012 " wharf rat � |January.28.2012 Hey Salt if ya have a problem with a large bird on your masthead , crank up yer SSB or yer SW-- go to full power ,qu up and transmit... ya should find a well done squab on the deck!! a simple pan sauce would accompany the dish very well ..." How cute. Another old wives tale. However, considering the source and venue ..... Very appropriate

wharf rat   |January.28.2012 Hey Salt if ya have a problem with a large bird on your masthead , crank up yer SSB or yer SW-- go to full power ,qu up and transmit... ya should find a well done squab on the deck!! a simple pan sauce would accompany the dish very well ...

Anonymous   |January.27.2012 Ya think that would have been disclosed in Garman video? Probably didn't find it interesting

Anonymous   |January.27.2012 Well if that don't beat all. Robert and Paula are slum lords! http://www.ci.vallejo.ca.us/uploads/253/013112%20Amended%20agendas.pdf

Mr :)   |January.26.2012 "There is no similar law across the country," said Sanders, an attorney with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 25. "I have a great concern that this process of denying officials their voting rights could spread across the nation. I think we are ground zero and the nation, in fact the world, is watching us." EM = Emergency Manager sometimes called receiver, who basically replaces the mayor and city council. My guess is that ultimately California will end up replacing bankruptcy with an Emergency Manager law. Michigan EM statute is strictest in nation http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120126/METRO/201260408/Michigan-EM-statute-strictest-nation?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

wharf rat   |January.26.2012 This is great news not only doe's She have brains but a great scence of humor as well

Firebug   |January.26.2012 Maybe there is a place in the poop deck for a cheeto eating parrot.

The Raven   |January.26.2012 No worries, l'll find a comfortable mast elsewhere on a boat where people don't drink so much cool aid.

Salty Dog   |January.26.2012 Yes, writing "snarky", thorough and bias Council reports makes her a perfect candidate. There is no doubt about her true position and that is a rare commodity in politics. Besides, having sitting through interminably boring Council meetings and then interpreting the nuances is plenty excuse for adding her flavour to the mix. Most people understand that. No perch on my mast for you. But I have a special place and position on the bow sprit.

Anonymous   |January.26.2012 Hey, this is vallejo after all. What do you expect?

The Raven   |January.26.2012 Writing snarky but thorough and sometimes biased reports of council meetings makes her a good candidate for Supervisor? Wow, there is a low standard in Vallejo. This election will be so much fun to watch from my perch on one of Salty's boat masts. CawCawCaw!

Anonymous   |January.26.2012 I am glad to see this supervisor race shaping up. Moving forward is a lot about change, new ideas and perspectives. If Barbara ran for office again I would have to seriously look at other candidates because it's time for a change.

Salty Dog   |January.26.2012 Also agree. Right or wrong, her passion and heart is in the right place and that is really all that counts.

Anonymous   |January.26.2012 Agree! Katy rocks, even when she's wrong on the issues (often).

anon   |January.25.2012 hey anon re; Katy Messier , it is(Katy Miessner !!) ( ADQ ) awsome disco Queen She is the Robin hood of local Govt reporting , Her pen warmed up in fire , Her prose of the people , truly a local Hero . the first writer to realy cover the Council meetings we should erect a monument and declare a local holiday, Katy day in Her honor..

Anonymous   |January.25.2012 Who is Kathy Messier?

Anonymous   |January.25.2012 Salty, anon, I agree with both of you. Obama's economic trifecta: How Obama helped Kill Progressivism, Cappitalism, amd Moderation http://www.forbes.com/sites/joelkotkin/2011/09/06/obamas-economic-trifecta-how-the-president-helped-kill-progressivism-capitalism-and-moderation/

Anonymous   |January.25.2012 You lost me there Salty, take care tonight and make sure you have a designated driver.

Thrilled   |January.25.2012 I'm still thinking (and reading) about the State of the Union last night and how proud I am of our president. Sure a couple times he sounded like Dad "knock it off kids" Obama but really, what a well crafted speech with so many important plans that I hope, hope, hope come to fruition.

Salty Dog   |January.25.2012 Straying off the reservation is my forte, Anon...lol I love a good debate with a sprinkle of critical thought- critical in the thoughtful vain rather than in the polemic and ad hom style. So lets discuss entropy and murmuration in the American context.....it is so happening.

Anonymous   |January.25.2012 You're alright in my book Salty but it appears you strayed of the reservation here. It's true, President Obama and his administration are incompetent and it likely stems from the fact that the President himself did not have the experience necessary to perform the duties of the job in an effective manner. What's even worse, he brought in some real stinkers for his Czars and advisers. Horrible, anti American advisers that are actually communists and socialists. What they desire is administrative control over the American public and because the American public won't stand or vote for their lousy ideas, they must force them on us in some way. These cats have got to go!

ANONYMOUS:   |January.25.2012 KATHY MESSIER ???? YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME.............SALTY CAT

wharf rat   |January.25.2012 Let Us not be naive POTUS has to keep his family alive , himself as well there are powers that be as well as many consortiums and special interest groups who influence Govt at the HIGEST levels ... if their gaping maws are not filled regularly they become angry and lash out ... currently POTUS is in campaign mode and pushing for support of centrist voters , but remember he is a Professor of Constitutional law and has a good idea of what would pass muster before the Supreme Court .. his proposal to subjugate established legal precedents is a ploy to attract a more conservative / centrist voter while beating the republicans to the punch ... we will see more of this rhetoric and manuvering for some time ... it would appear some have been trapped in his web of deception , clearly he is becoming a skilled and evolved politician ... his survival requires the feeding of the military industrial complex ( just ask JFK ) to what extent remains to be seen ... his opposing party so far appears to be a simian circus only putting foreword their worst candidates , this could be a ploy a real ringer could pop up at any time thus the chess game of politics continues ... Our Country it's infrastructure and the job market must be put on hold wile this circus is in session , each clown has their act to perform and the American People are not laughing , just paying for it ...

Salty Dog   |January.25.2012 pIp: if you check, you will note that I did not initiate a comment about my citizenship, nor do I generally....usually it is other posters who don't like the cut of my jib that bring that up. That is the way it is on a forum of diverse opinion. Of course I will respond- I am thankful to have Cabnadian citizenship and thankful to be living in Vallejo, too. This is my second run at this country, the first time as a teenager, the second as a husband of an American. Don't get me wrong, there are fewer jurisdictions in this world that I would be resident. But that does not mean I am going to forgo my option to offer opinion on a public forum. I am sorry you are so cynical about the state of jurisprudence in the USA. To be sure, it is easy to take that position....money seems to speak loudly in America. But, I have not given up on the notion that the US Constitution has substantive power to curb wrong doing by government. Which is why I bring forth the topic of due process since the Republic IS based on LAW, not democracy. Whenever totalitarian systems have taken hold, it has rarely been through a sudden coup, but rather through a slow and steady erosion of the principles that keep people free. So I am, of course, dismyed by Obama's action, given his progressive stance. I am even more dismayed that Americans appear to accept this erosion with such seeming alacrity. Now you see, pIp....I put together a bunch of paragraphs and not once did I denigrate you. Neat heh?

PIP   |January.25.2012 Salt We have heard oooh sooo many times that you are not a Citizen as well as your many tax contribution's , frankly it is gettin a little stale ... i don't dispute your outrage re ; the erosion of due process ' wake up this has been going on from day one " one's access to a fair and just legal process is relative to the coin in your pocket ... in excess of 10% of convicts doing hard time or on death row are actually innocent !!! this is a terrible ratio , DNA has cleared some however many malinger in prison when if they had access to good legal representation many innocent people would be free ( how many people with big coin do hard time ??? ) your level of wealth determines your ability to be proven innocent or just to get off ... so scream all day about habeas corruptus it is and has always been about the money

Salty Dog   |January.25.2012 WR: ROTFL..... This Yorkshireman,late of Canada, now residing in and paying taxes in Vallejo has just completed a rock wall...."something there is that doesn't love a wall" But, prey tell, why is broaching the topic of a US President signing off on an abridgement of individual rights a matter of crapping in one's own nest? You expect that because I am not a US citizen that I must remain forever silent? Fat chance. I know I AM a threat to national security. Perhaps you will be next. lol

wharf rat   |January.25.2012 Salt it was once said a fool is one whom crap's in one's own nest ..in consideration of the arrogance displayed in numerous posts i could not help but to post my account of an evening in your homeland .. from 1978 notes no offence .. Ahh yes the umbictious Yorkshire-man by day those of few words , " quite the stoic lot withdrawn and often surly casting a suspicious eye on outlanders "... Sunset brings an amazing transformation to these creatures , while one can visualise them dragging their knuckles hither and yon as they migrate to the nearest Publican ... one of their preferred sports is to see how many pints can be extracted from an outlander .. this sport can be enjoyed by both as once they quaff about three pints the transformation begins !! once stoic they become animated , so talkative it's hard to follow ( the strong brogue does not help ) by pint four " now a philosopher " they will tackle a variety of subjects from poaching the Earls Salmon to building the perfect stone wall , or even quoting Yates and Shakespeare ....by pint six the songs begin , a hullaballoo of off key drinking songs and brassy ballads , which can still be heard as they are pushed home ,limbs all akimbo in the wheel barrow by their Mates their song dimishing in the distance ... possibly a folk more evolved than first perceived or a anthropological window into the behavior of early Man...

Salty Dog   |January.25.2012 Anon says: "With that two cents, buy a clue. You only came here for help with your boat and the weather. Nobody cares what you think about our "party's". Don't like it, raise anchor and sail away. May you experience fair winds and following seas." Didn't you hear what I said? lol At least I am in a position to sail away at any time to a country that still has habeas corpus. You don't.

wharf rat   |January.25.2012 Cmon Salt "yer actin the goat " we did not fall off our soapboxes just yesterday !! you refer to English common law and our moder versions of such ..from inception to today these laws were intended for those of a high class not for the pesant class ... if one can not read Latin or afford a lawyer you are at the mercy of the system ...

Firebug   |January.25.2012 Considering what Obama has already done, I was hoping that the Democratic Party would grow some integrity like they did with President Johnson and run someone against Obama in the Primary. Even though we lost the election we did not lose our integrity. Can someone please tell me what will be worse having Romney as a President?

Anonymous   |January.25.2012 Everyone has a right to their opinion (even Canucks!), and just telling someone to leave if you don't agree with them is childish and ignorant. I agree, Salty, what Obama has done is terrible. I'm hoping in his second term he'll grow a pair and reverse several of his poor decisions. But suggesting that we vote for Mitt or Newt because of Obama's decision on this or that would be cutting off your nose to spite your face. If they were in the White House, they would do even worse with absolutely no compunction. No morals compass whatsoever.

Firebug   |January.25.2012 I agree with you Salty, considering Obama flip flopped and now condones torture, the melting of habeus corpus, the execution of American citizens abroad with no trial or due process, giving private hospitals 40 million new customers using private insurance, agreeing to cut social security and medicare while giving trillions to Wall Street how much worse would a Republican be? Ralph Nader once said there is not a nickels worth of difference between a Democrat and Republican....and it appears that he is correct.

Anonymous   |January.25.2012 Salty. With that two cents, buy a clue. You only came here for help with your boat and the weather. Nobody cares what you think about our "party's". Don't like it, raise anchor and sail away. May you experience fair winds and following seas.

Salty Dog   |January.25.2012 I wouldn't give two cents for either Party but it just so happens that this representative of so called liberal and progressive ideas has negatet one of the most vital principles of a free society- habeas corpus- a principle of justice that has taken hundreds of years to develop through English Common Law and transferred to the Republic as a cornerstone protection. "Habeas corpus (Latin: "you may have the body"[1] is a writ, or legal action, through which a prisoner can be released from unlawful detention, that is, detention lacking sufficient cause or evidence. The remedy can be sought by the prisoner or by another person coming to their aid. Habeas corpus originated in the English legal system, but it is now available in many nations. It has historically been an important legal instrument safeguarding individual freedom against arbitrary state action. It is a writ requiring a person to be brought before a judge" Wiki In the USA: "Federal habeas review did not extend to those in state custody until almost a century after the nation's founding. During the Civil War and Reconstruction, as later during the War on Terrorism, the right to petition for a writ of habeas corpus was substantially curtailed for persons accused of engaging in certain conduct. In reaction to the former, and to ensure state courts enforced federal law, a Reconstruction Act for the first time extended the right of federal court habeas review to those in the custody of state courts (prisons and jails), very greatly expanding the writ essentially to all imprisoned on American soil for the first time. The federal habeas statute that resulted, with substantial amendments, is now at 28 U.S.C. � 2241 But....but what is doubly, nay tripling astounding is that the media and the man on the street in Vallejo seems to not give a whit. Oh well...we now have Final Fantasy and Doom3.

Anonymous   |January.25.2012 Sorry Salty, I'm not happy with many things Obama has done, but he is a billion times better than what the Repubs have to offer. If someone like Newt got elected, I'd abandon ship and hightail it up to your homeland!

Salty Dog   |January.24.2012 On a different note and as I listen to Obama's election speech...oops, I mean State of the Union Speech He now has the audacity to offer everything the universe has to offer....while signing away left handedly, habeas corpus. Remember folks, this is the same guy that abolished an important legal instrument safeguarding individual freedom against arbitrary state action with passage of the Defence Act 2012. It is a writ requiring a person to be brought before a judge. What a strange place this land of the free has become. And dangerous.

wharf rat   |January.24.2012 To Anon No we are not doomed " where the hell is ABAG " many Cities across the Bay area are dealing with crisis .. folks get forclosed on , house is vacant and becomes an attractive nuisance .. how long has this been going on for ?? with possibly thousands in one City it is beyond local departments capacity .. we need state requirements / laws to deal with this blight , if many cities pooled and hired a lobbyist it could happen ,afterall this is how the sausage is realy made ...

wharf rat   |January.24.2012 Report from the institute of Municipal black hole studies A coronal mass ejection - a big chunk of the Sun's atmosphere - was hurled toward Earth on Sunday, driving energized solar particles at about 5 million miles an hour (2,000 km per second), about five times faster than solar particles normally travel, the centre's Director DR Buck Rogers stated .. "When it hits us, it's like a big battering ram that pushes into Earth's magnetic field,"he said from Boulder, Colorado. "That energy causes Earth's magnetic field to fluctuate." This energy can interfere with high frequency radio communications used by airlines to navigate close to the North Pole in flights between North America, Europe and Asia, so some routes may need to be shifted, Rogers said. It could also affect power grids and satellite operations, the centre said in a statement. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station may be advised to shield themselves in specific parts of the spacecraft to avoid a heightened dose of solar radiation, Rogers said. When questioned as to the source of the ejection DR Rogers replied our advanced satellite network has confirmed the location to be in Vallejo CA , City hall to be exact " it seems their planning , zoning and general land use practises have created a huge celestial vacuum if you will , a void reminiscent of a black hole .. good practices quality urban planning and known quality land use guidelines being absent have contributed to this void , the scale so huge it interfered with the universe .. when questioned as to preventing this in the future he stated plug the g-dam void or someone will do it for you ...

Anonymous   |January.24.2012 Yikes! This does not bode well for Vallejo. The City of Chicago had the temerity to pass a vacant building ordinance to hold lenders responsible, with fines, for their foreclosed and vacant properties because they drag down whole neighborhoods. Fannie and Freddie are sueing them. Chicago mayor Rahm Emmanuel has friends in high places so he has no fear. Can you imagine how quick Vallejo leaders would roll on a vacant building ordinance??? The cost of fighting the Feds and no friends in high places? Just give up before the fight even begins. We are doomed. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/15/fannie-mae-and-freddie-ma_n_1150705

Anonymous   |January.23.2012 Peppery cat...more like rancid orange Cheeto.

Peppery Cat   |January.23.2012 "An indisputable source has indicated that she was seen riding around with six others putting up signs saying "Go Giants" by moonlight early yesterday morning. Same source says he can prove it too...even though there was no moon and it was raining.. Willing to take a polygraph to prove it too...yadaydayada..." No Salty, just the VIB signs she put up.

Raven   |January.22.2012 I hear she's pretty conscientious. I'm sure she was just getting an early start for the 2012 baseball season.

Anonymous   |January.22.2012 Did she really want the NY Giants to win today or did she think it was still baseball season?

Salty Dog   |January.22.2012 An indisputable source has indicated that she was seen riding around with six others putting up signs saying "Go Giants" by moonlight early yesterday morning. Same source says he can prove it too...even though there was no moon and it was raining.. Willing to take a polygraph to prove it too...yadaydayada...

Its Gomes Fault 49ers lost tod   |January.22.2012 Its Gomes Fault 49ers lost today

Anonymous   |January.22.2012 I bet it's her fault that the 49ers lost today, too!

Anonymous   |January.22.2012 I for got she voted for that god damn thing too. Well now they have a place to shop after they wait in the traffic jam she created.

Anonymous   |January.22.2012 Who is "us". Do you mean those who have no clue about business and economic growth, preferring instead economic stagnation and artists lofts in a dead downtown surrounded by subsidized housing enabled by a government bureaucracy that votes predominantly democrat and therefore perpetuates itself into perpetuity? That "us"?

Anonymous   |January.22.2012 And as far as sampyan goes, he works for Stephanie's husband. The more I think about this whole situation it just pisses me off that much more. With tax payer funded retirements, double dipping, triple health care, this sounds more and more like the good ol boys of years past.

Anonymous   |January.22.2012 Gomes sold us out plain and simple. It's obvious she is trying to gain favor for her run as a county supervisor. The contract for the new city manager is way out of line for this city's average household income and you know it. I stand by my convictions before I follow someone over a cliff. As far as Sunga goes, to even bring him into the discussion in regards to being able to make an intelligent decision is just ridiculous. All you do is show us all that your argument has no merit.

Anonymous   |January.22.2012 I thought council member Gomes did the right thing. She made a correct decision, by my calculation, that ran counter to the wishes of her core supporters. It was a demonstration of political courage and should be recognized as such.

know vallejo   |January.22.2012 gomes did a complete about face on winco? how so?

Anonymous   |January.22.2012 No, what's BS is calling Gomes out for her vote on Winco when Brown and Sampayan voted the exact same way. They're their own people, they have responsibility for their own choices. So Hermie Sunga has six years on the Council too, does that make him the patriarch?

OMFG   |January.22.2012 Oh now it's about hate, we have a hard fought for majority. Stephanie is clearly the matriarch of the group with over 6 well seasoned years on the council. But it's about hate because we are not allowed to question our leaders actions. BULLSHIT. She does a complete about face on the issue of winco and fiscal responsibility. Now to find out she might be looking at higher office. Never will she get my vote again if this is the case. I am so disappointed and embarrassed.

Anonymous   |January.22.2012 The other part of the Mare Island gravy train was the expectation that it would be a Redevelopment Area similar to Glen Cove where the pesky subsidized housing component would be shifted to the old town. That is why there is no code enforcement in the old town. Blight-Abandoned buildings-crime and disinvestment all equal Redevelopment which just means more subsidized housing. The COV only counts the stuff that runs through the Vallejo Housing Authority with HUD subsidies as "affordable". They have no idea how many actual dwelling units there are including garages, basements and other illegal units. So how can they figure out the needs for more "affordable" housing when they don't know what exists? (Answer: They don't care. It all about "educating" us dumb citizens so they can keep those subsidies rolling in to cover their fat remunaration packages."

Anonymous   |January.22.2012 7 people voted for the new city manager too and one person gets singled out. Is it hate or is it fear of a strong woman? I'm happy with how the people I voted for performed on Winco. It didn't look like an easy decision that they made lightly. I was torn on Winco too. I'm not looking forward to the construction or the traffic but it's a good store and a good opportunity.

Anonymous   |January.22.2012 I love how five people voted for Winco and one person gets singled out for blame. It's obviously not about Winco but about hate.

tramky   |January.22.2012 When the WinCo store is built, it is going to be fun to watch the 'traffic mitigation' construction work at that I-80, Redwood, Admiral Callaghan complex. A 3-ring circus.

tramky   |January.22.2012 The City of Vallejo government--at ALL levels--has made an enormous miscalculation. The believe that the Mare Island CFD is a gravy train to finance their fat salaries and future pensions & healthcare benefits. The actually market Mare Island by DEMANDING that companies who even think about locating here be certain to pay both regular property tax AND the commercial CFD special tax levies, which could increase 900% from current levels. And the City has made NO investment whatsoever in Mare Island. The City has offered the north Island for $1 and it has not garnered any serious interest (the Touro deal was NOT serious). The City properties have gone derelict and neglected over the last 2 years. The Mare Island CFD MUST be altered or eliminated--the one that includes most of the Island and includes both residential AND commercial properties. That CFD is counterproductive--more than that, it is THE massive roadblock to the development of Mare Island. The marketing of Mare Island is a competitive activity, and prospective tenants & investors can put their money ANYWHERE else, without having local officials and government staffers yacking at them about Mello Roos and CFD taxes.

Anonymous   |January.22.2012 Once a local group I was associated with was approached by an attorney who wanted us to front for Opposition to the Fairgrounds development. He said all costs would be covered by their backers which turned out to be the Fairfield Mall. They just wanted to use our name. I understood they contacted a few other local activist groups too. So I am concerned when I get a mailer asking me to come down the City Council and oppose Winco. Citizens are often manipulated into marching off to war by people in the background who have some real monitary interest in the outcome. I don't much like the location but the operation is a good one....bulk foods, good prices, good wages. The opposition looks much like it is orchestrated by Safeway et al which had no problem shutting down their stores in the old town and imposing restrictive covenants to keep their abandoned buildings from ever being used for grocery stores again. They are now churches. In these difficult times, it is easy for some to point fingers at people who, in their best judgment, voted to approve Winco. Being on the City Council is difficult job, you, who denigrate them, wouldn't survive a minute up there. This battle points out, once again, the need for an updated General Plan. Developers want certainty. If staff could show developers the best places, based on community by-in, for their projects, everybody would be better off.

anon   |January.22.2012 Because she is whoring for their support for her possible County supervisor run.

Voter Remorse   |January.22.2012 I voted for an idiot knowing he would be in lock step with stephanie gomes because her husband is his employer. I knew doing this she would now have the majority vote on the council to protect the citizens of Vallejo. Did I go wrong? NO! I went wrong voting for stephanie gomes two years ago. She is a sell out. She sold the city out for a 300k a year job for a city manager that is a has been. She sold the city out for another low rent grocery store (winco). Sounds like to me she is now pandering to the good ole boys. I am now wondering why.

wharf rat un -loade's   |January.22.2012 do not be fooled by my Moniker or any alias foresooth I am a student of the MAGNACARTA and all things re: liberty anon , yes you can't eat history but one can learn from it !!! this was the reason for the post ... Tony's prison proposal for Mare Island , then the LNG fiasco is proof positive .... and a lens into the failed picture of Vallejo as a repository for many poverty PIMPS , the agencies who's directors reap $100,000plus salaries... while the neibours deal with the on the deck socio-economic concecuncives ... our neibourhoods are dealing with the crime and poverty that are COMMUTING to our City from cities of the region, Folks who live in OUR town know this very well ,, just ask the Police ,, then ask them what about the crime commuting component ... if one has a scanner you will find there is a strong connection to Richmond and Oakland VIA Vallejo !!!! This needs to be studied, maybe we could spend a few Million DOLLARS for a plan .... The fact is that all this stuff has been going on for the last 20 + years .. there is a strong movement of the good and lawful Ghetto dwellers to escape their residential prison they live in and to migrate to the north bay, the problem is that their dysfunctional family members follow them ... this was probably not part of the program however the family-members showed up at the door step .... creating a difficult situation ... then they are part of our society / liability ... Solano County has been a Major dumping ground for those less prepared to achieve in the rat race et-all ... The profusion of hand guns ( every night shots fired and heard all over town , residents can report the caliber and the ballistic attributes of the shots fired ) this is due to experience ... it is crazy that i can report to the PD the caliber and the estimated weapon type of local gunfire after 30 + years guess it is just LOCAL KNOWLEDGE ... the thing is it was not like this in the early days things have a way of coming back... after all the crap we have gone through !!! THE ONLY POSSIBILITY IS A RENAISSANCE BUCKLE UP GIRLS AND BOY'S ... OUR FUNKY LITTLE TOWN IS READY TO BLAST OFF !!!! SAN FRANCISCO AND OAKLAND ,,, BERKELEY TOO,,, LOOK OUT !!!!! the neibour to the north has GREEEEEAAATE COFFEE and some really GREATE RESTRAUNTS ... one of the most amazing things is the live and let live laid back attitude of Vallejoians regardless of your CAR or your CLOTHES or any other status symbol ,,, we are all ONE !!!! blue collar ,, white collar ,, tradseman , Watch-repairman , shipwright, academic , or other,, when the shit hit's the fan the townsfolk sharpen up their pitch-forks and shovels and kick some butt !!!! NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE TOWNSFOLK ,,, THEY WILL BE THE LAST ONE'S STANDING , AND ULTIMITLEY THE ONE"S WHO SIGN THE PAY-CHEQUES .....

Anonymous   |January.22.2012 Come on wharf rat -- more!! It's nice to be reminded of how far we've come.

wharf rat   |January.21.2012 pardon the long post , there are some things we should never forget !! this project had a blast zone ( in the event of a fire or earthquake ) wich included much of south Vallejo , the straights and City Hall , this was the most likely to be killed zone , further one's would cause major injury and massive fire damage , old downtown and much of west Vallejo would recieve major damage if not total emoliation ... em services could not put a dent in it , this would make the San Bruno disaster look like a backyard bbq ... when polititions tell what is best for us without asking for our opinion first show them the door and when bechtel brings fancy cookies to a community meeting RUN FOR THE HILLS !! the point is when an electited official causes so much hard work for a community who just wants to survive they should be retired from politics and take up golfing or maby basket weaving , something harmless at least ...the post is long , but a major piece of local history pls read and learn ... LNG in Vallejo? Say it Ain't So! June 2001 - May 2002 Shell and Bechtel privately negotiate with Vallejo Mayor Tony Intintoli, City Manager David Martinez and the City's energy consultant and well-known opportunist, Larry Asera. Asera and Martinez claim they lobbied to get the companies to look at Mare Island as a site for their LNG project. January-April, 2002 Mayor Intintoli tells the City council members that Bechtel and Shell want to meet with them to discuss a project proposal. Bechtel-Shell meet privately with each council member over lunch and the sales pitch is given. May 3, 2002 Mayor Intinoli and Bechtel-Shell hold a press conference on May 3 and reveal the "best kept secret in Vallejo's history," surrounded by supporters and business owners who were already informed about and supported the idea. Mayor Intintoli was quoted in the Vallejo Times-Herald saying that the "initial response from the public/community is very positive." This was a curious statement as, other than the business community and labor unions, the public was not told about this project before this press conference. May 7, 2002 Several days later the City Council, in front of an uncharacteristically large audience of 200 community members, votes unanimously in favor of entering an exclusive right to negotiate with Bechtel-Shell. After hearing about the proposal at the press conference, two members of the community spoke during the community forum in opposition to the secrecy in which initial negotiations had been conducted and the City's mishandling of the matter. Opposition Groundswell Soon after the May 3 announcement, concerned residents begin meeting, organizing, drafting flyers, petitions, speaking at council meetings, writing letters, setting up tables at the farmer's market& shopping centers. Citizens make Brown Act demands that the City open its files on the Bechtel-Shell proposal. The files show a variety of things: * Bechtel-Shell met with the San Francisco Chronicle editorial board before the announcement to the public. * The Mayor actively supported the companies' proposal for over a year prior to the public announcement. May 30, 2002 Bechtel-Shell present their proposal to the Restoration Advisory Board (RA, a group that oversees cleanup of former military bases. Shell acknowledged the potential for a major fire, but explained that past incidents were strictly the result of outmoded technology. In their words, it wouldn't happen in modern times. Bechtel-Shell downplayed the fact that the City Council would have a vote. They simply said that if the feasibility study comes back positive, they would move to the permitting stage. August 6, 2002 Mayor Intinoli and the City Council are shocked and amazed at the huge public outcry over both the secret negotiations and against the project itself. Mayor Intinoli and city manager Martinez begin back-pedaling. Vallejo's fire chief, having taken a trip to the Everett, Mass. LNG facility, makes a presentation on his findings. The fire chief relays comments from the Everett fire chief and city managers that if they had the choice on whether to build an LNG facility in their city again or not, they would not choose to do it. It is just too dangerous. In addition, Everett's fire chief handed Vallejo's fire chief, as he was leaving Everett, a copy of a 1970s 60 Minutes video negatively spotlighting LNG and its inherent dangers to communities. Mayor Intinoli expresses amazement that Shell/Bechtel had not provided him with a copy of this tape before. He also talks about how the California energy crisis, one of the reasons he was open to this proposal in the first place, was a sham and that Shell/Bechtel didn't reveal the dangers of LNG to the city. The city manger is instructed to put the issue of the feasibility study and whether to conduct their own safety and health study on the agenda for the August 20 City Council meeting. August 20, 2002 The August 20 City Council meeting made history in Vallejo with over 600 people overflowing the Council chambers. Of the approximately 80 people who spoke during the community forum, which lasted over four hours, 90 percent spoke in opposition to the proposed project. Labor unions comprised the majority of the support, clothed in t-shirts saying "Facts not Fear." The Council votes to conduct its own safety study and after those results come in, to vote again on whether to allow Shell/Bechtel to proceed with their feasibility study. Most citizens urged the City Council to stop the deal that night and not conduct its own safety study. The concern voiced over and over was that any further study would only drag the matter out and allow the companies to get more of a foothold in the community. The Vallejo City Council voted 6 to 1 to formally ask Bechtel-Shell to pay $250,000 for the city's independent safety study. The council also voted 6 to 1 to suspend discussions with Bechtel-Shell at least until the study is completed. The lone dissenting vote was Council Member Gary Cloutier, who had spent the summer studying LNG and listening to his constituents. "I'm convinced that a power plant of this size will define Vallejo's image in a way we don't want," Cloutier said. "The other factor is so many people in Vallejo do not want this thing for what I think are good reasons. I won't be the one who rams this down their throat." August 22 Shell and Bechtel attend the special Town Hall Meeting to talk about LNG, emissions and LNG tankers. A Bechtel vice president was quoted saying that Vallejo didn't have to worry about emissions because it would blow 30 miles downwind of the city -- the communities 30 miles downwind weren't too happy about that! Shell expressed frustration that most of the evening was spent talking about how the City had handled this matter, and not about their facts and figures. While courteous and kind in front of the public eye, Shell/Bechtel representatives made several nasty comments very quietly to several outspoken community opponents: * Said to community activist Vicky Gray: "We will roll right over you." * Sandy Beach resident Greg Gazaway was approached after the meeting by a Bechtel-Shell representative who got right in Greg's face and said, "We're going to run this down your throat. You're nothing but a bunch of NIMBYs (Not in My Backyard)." * Shell's Marine Facilities Advisor Captain David Thomson said to community activist Elena Ducharme, "We will build this plant." At the end of August, Bechtel-Shell announced they are moving one of their big-guns to Vallejo from back east to act as an "External Relations" manager. Apparently they have encountered more opposition from this blue collar, disenfranchised community than they'd anticipated. Bechtel-Shell also announce at the end of August that they are scalin...

Anonymous   |January.21.2012 Amen Salty, spot on and right on! I wholeheartedly agree that some simple steps to make ordinances bite will have a positive affect. Once the word gets out on the street that Vallejo ain't playin', it'll be good news for the peace and quite lovers and bad news for the desperadoes. I also enjoyed your comments from the podium this week. You're OK in book, keep on speaking out.

Jaguars on Mare Island   |January.21.2012 the link to the commercial is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd-oL4X-1vk&feature=pyv

Jaguars on Mare Island   |January.21.2012 For the person who asked earlier. Yes. It is Mare Island in the commercial. See http://www.ci.vallejo.ca.us/uploads/1010/VallejoNews11.pdf

Salty Dog   |January.21.2012 Couldn't access the entire article but let me offer one simple and effective solution to the Vallejo scars. Simply begin systematically operationalizing the current ordinces. Simple as that. No funds? Bullshit. One doesn't need, for example, to enforce the noise by-law 24/7. A few effective fat fines will get the message out. Ditto to slumlords who allow loading up properties beyond the zoning. That doesn't require funding. It requires political will and a clear understanding to all levels of staff that the bullshit stops now. Councillors, if that isn't on your agenda for the well being of Vallejo, make it so and demonstrate some vision with action.

Win-win Idea for downtown   |January.21.2012 I like this win-win business incubator approach in Oakland. http://online.wsj.com/video/oakland-stores-go-from-pop-up-to-permanent/AFFB206D-4892-43E8-95F7-A4B2DA050A19?mod=WSJ_Article_Videocarousel_2

Mousy   |January.21.2012 Try this version of the link http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204555904577167013455352608

Mr :)   |January.21.2012 Wall Street Journal: In Vallejo, Bankruptcy Scars Still Visible http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204555904577167013455352608?mod=googlenews_wsj

wharf rat   |January.20.2012 BEWARE CITIZENS OF VALLEJO !!! somehow the zoning designations for many areas and parcels change over time ... seldom is this for the benefit of the impacted neibourhood ... these changes seem to occur while we are sleeping !!!! staff might recommend to council for changes to a particular parcel or area ... this is done over time , a little bit by bit until we wake up and find our whole neibour hood has been prostituted ... do not be caught sleeping !!!! for all the neibour hood associations submit an MOU at council ( to be read into the public record ) requiring full and advance notice of any zoning changes in the association boundaries and areas in close proximity which impact the neibourhood !!! as it stands most of the GRAVEYARDS in Vallejo are zoned HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL AND THIS IS NOT IN RESPECT FOR THOSE INTERRED , RATHER THE FUTURE USE OF SAID LAND .....The potential future development of these burial grounds for use as high density residential sites is a strong possibility , and has been done all over the state ,, the requirements for relocating REMAINS is very liberal COV has no modern or comprehensive ordinance or roadmap for handiling this issue ... WOW the smell of brimstone is strong !!! activate the neibours and insist on contemporary solutions to this issue ....

Doc Rickets   |January.20.2012 I thought HWSNBM was a creature akin to a sea slug , the ameoba size brain ( one of the smallest in the world )almost entirely devoted to digestion lends itself to scientific research .. these creatures are also found in various Municipal departments ..

wharf rat   |January.20.2012 George Lucas is possibly one of the biggest brands in the country if not the world .. if the Lucas people came to north Mare Island and saw the garbage and the derelect buildings and found out how long it has been in City control they would state diminus proforma and would leave .. if this did not repel them the climate at City hall would ..we have a long way to go before customers of this caliber would even consider coming here .. perhaps if we rolled up our sleves and acomplished some real work , instead of fantiseys and lip service things could move foreward ...

writer2good@live.com   |January.20.2012 I think George Lucas coming to mare island is the best thing that could happen to Vallejo. Vallejo needs the press, the money, and the attention. Put us on the map!

Anonymous   |January.20.2012 I thought "he who shall not be named" was that redevelopment attorney living in Green Valley.

Anonymous   |January.20.2012 Yes, HWSNBM is the same "person." He didn't think up light rail, many people have been talking about it long before he came to town.

Salty Dog   |January.20.2012 I stand corrected if wrong. I thought he-who-should-not-be-mentioned was the late failed Council candidate. Is there someone else who should not be mentioned?

Anonymous   |January.20.2012 He Who Should Not Be Mentioned did not envision light rail on Mare Island and the waterfront. Those of us who have lived here long before It oozed into town have been talking about it for years. The citizen group who put together an alternative waterfront plan put it on paper in their alternate waterfront plan. HWSNBM latched onto others' ideas, like It always does.

Your Attention please   |January.20.2012 Per the ABAG website, the meeting in Solano Co, where ABAG will tell us "what our county will look like" in 20 years is: Wed Jan 25th at 5:45 held at Solano co Events Center 601 Texas St. Fairfield. Now why has this not been announced from the council dias, or did I just miss the announcement??? Please go to the ABAG website, on the first page hit "more" and it will take you to the schedule of the community forums, as well as the "plans" they have for our county. WE NEED TO PROTECT VALLEJO AND SOLANO CO. FROM OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE NORTH. Napa and Marin have been "excused" from their housing mandate. I want to raise my hand and ask Supervisor Bill Dodd the President of MTC what paperwork we need to fill out to get Vallejo exempted from buliding low income housing as well...

Your Attention please   |January.20.2012 Napa Co. just had a community meeting with ABAG and the MTC to discuss the future of housing and transportation in their county. Every County will be having this same meeting with ABAG and the MTC. I suggest we find out when this big meeting is scheduled and we should all attend. We can ask if Vallejo can be exempted from its affordable housing element like Napa Co was. I would love to say "Supervisor Dood, considering how "historic" Vallejo is, one of the most historic and important city's in both the East and North Bay, I would like to propose that Vallejo be exempted from it's mandate from ABAG at building affordable housing, besides the fact that we are accomodating the run off from Napa and Marin who have been exempted. The City of Vallejo would also like to begin billing Marin and Napa Counties for all the social services we must provide their poor folks that end up in Vallejo. Anyone know when this big meeting with ABAG and MTC will be for Solano Co? Can we ask Council person Hannigan, I think she represents Vallejo for ABAG???

Salty Dog   |January.20.2012 WR: agree completely. As an interested newcomer to the area, I have toured Mare Island on a number of occasions and have concluded the same. Mare Island has many unique attributes and a rich history, hidden under dereliction and garbage. What a shame that the City cannot operationalize a long term vision that includes sweat equity as a beginning with an attractive asset as an end. Then and only then would a light rapid rail system, as envisioned by he-who-should-not-be-mentioned make sense.

wharf rat   |January.20.2012 Re Lucas films nobody will even look at the north end of Mare Island until the garbage is picked up and the derelect buildings are removed the site looks like a dissfunctional garbage dump ... no buisness savvy group would consider such a site or the local government who markets it in the condition it presents ... clean it up then market without sweat equity forget about it !!! it is currently an embarasment ,, and has been for many years ...

To mousy   |January.19.2012 The stockton PD isn't doing anything they haven'y learned from the Vallejo PD/FD. Their compensation has been tied to Vallejo compensation for years which is why they are also on the verge of bankruptcy. The Stockton union goons are first cousins with the Vallejo union goons.

Mousy   |January.19.2012 Let's hope they are investigating the Stockton PD then. They are certainly abusing their power there. We've had people's private homes attacked for free speech in this town. Remember the paint thrown on Diana Lang's home on Tuolumne for displaying a Yes on A sign? People are right to be afraid of the cops for speaking out. https://ibvallejo.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=833

Anonymous   |January.19.2012 Maybe we all need to write to Jerry Brown and Kamila Harris. When people are afraid to speak out because they fear reprisals from the Vallejo PSUs, that requires a State investigation.

Anonymous   |January.19.2012 We tax payers allow the abuse. Look at the meeting of December 13th and the three weeks of letters to the editor in the Times Horrid hammering the council member(s) who brought the citizen public safety committee forward. PSU apologists controlled that dialogue and what, two people wrote in condemning the poor behavior and supporting a citizen committee. Sometimes I think we get what we deserve in Vallejo because we allow it. I'll admit it, I didn't write a letter to contradict the apologists because I didn't want the cops to single me out. They're thugs and bullies and are intimidating.

Anonymous   |January.19.2012 Every city or PS union in the state uses Vallejo as a comparable city. They do that because Vallejo contracts help them to justify their own bad contracts. I'm not sure that Vallejo understands how the bad contracts they've approved have negatively impacted the budgets of cities up and and down the state. Vallejo is ground Zero for bad employee contracts. The unions of other cities have used that to their own advantage. In turn, the VPD has used those same comparable cities to promote another bad contract. And the tax payer abusive cycle of excessive compensation conntinues...

Mousy   |January.19.2012 It's Mare Island.

Anonymous   |January.19.2012 Am I seeing things? The other day there was an ad on TV with Jaguars (cars) playing tag and the backdrop looked really familiar....like the buildings along the Mare Island waterfront. What's up?

Anonymous   |January.19.2012 Every city or PS union in the state uses Vallejo as a comparable city. They do that because Vallejo contracts help them to justify their own bad contracts. I'm not sure that Vallejo understands how the bad contracts they've approved have negatively impacted the budgets of cities up and and down the state. Vallejo is ground Zero for bad employee contracts. The unions of other cities have used that to their own advantage. In turn, the VPD has used those same comparable cities to promote another bad contract. And the tax payer abusive cycle of excessive compensation conntinues...

Mousy   |January.19.2012 Stockton's PD contract used to reference Vallejo's as a wage comparison.

Lucas Films   |January.19.2012 This just in, Lucas Films wants to expand in Marin. Marin neighbors not so please with the traffic and the noise it will cause, with the new sound studios. Hey, how about Mare Island????? We just entertained such a complex 6 months ago. George Lucas has the funds, so how about Mare Island???

Anonymous   |January.19.2012 The unions are so accustomed to getting their way they have literally been running this city. They have been controlling the city budget for so long they aren't capable of considering the greater good. It should come as little surprise to anyone that the unions control of the budget is why Vallejo entered bankruptcy, and is still flat broke even with diminished service levels.

Voter   |January.19.2012 Local Politicians pandering before the ink is dry on their applications to run for office . A recent statement obviously pandering to the SEIU vote in Solano County referred to a strong commitment towards maintaining high levels of social services and riding shotgun on the County budget ... What's missing here ??????? how about JOB GROTH , ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT , LIVING WAGE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES , JOBS FOR TEENS , ETC A really really BIG chunk of our tax dollars go to COUNTY Govt , while often overlooked by Citizens We spend a whole lot of dough to support County this is why we need a good Supervisor , one who is Citizen orientated not a career big spending politician " who knows what is best for us " and speaks to us as if we are five year olds .

anon   |January.19.2012 What part of the word Employee do they not understand , what a bunch of a-holes they should be fired !!! this is borderline terrorism ...

Anonymous   |January.19.2012 They are thugs. The actions of these people SCREAM THE NEED for a citizens review committee, and a new Chief of Police. The cultural issues surrounding the PD are beyond the current Chiefs ability to control. He is actually a part of that problem.

Anonymous   |January.19.2012 Great link. They're not just trying to intimidate citizens, they're harassing the city manager for doing his job. That is just insane. These guys are thugs, pure and simple thugs. Pay or die.

Stockton Cops try to bloody th   |January.19.2012 Great article on how the Stockton police are using the same fear campaign to try to intimadate the citizens. http://articles.latimes.com/2011/dec/29/local/la-me-stockton-20111229

Anonymous   |January.19.2012 Dialog monitor, please stop the ad spamming!

wharf rat   |January.18.2012 speed of lightning, roar of thunder fighting all who rob or plunder Salty Dog Salty Dog Great job Salt !!! another tactic is to ask the PD to make telephone contact with the noise makers if they have a land line PD can call them up with a warning this almost always works and doe's not require an officer to respond or neibours to mix it up with them ..

Salty Dog   |January.18.2012 With friends like you to help....who needs enemies. lol

wharf rat   |January.17.2012 Yes the County would be the first place to go try to cross-refrence the adress to the apn / parsel # you should see who is paying the property tax you can also call the tax assesors office if the web is no help , also long term neibours might know

Anonymous   |January.17.2012 I doubt city hall will have the landlord's information. You'll have to look up the property owner's info. Is that at the county?

Peace Lover   |January.17.2012 Salty Dog - THANK YOU!!!!! I followed your suggestions and there is now blessed peace. I also got another neighbor to call. I'm going to City Hall today to get the landlords info.

wharf rat a requium   |January.17.2012 residential development on a waterfront is a bad deal , most homes are a 100 year commitment the high price occupants pitch a big bitch when a fisherman starts up his engines at 30 am to make the tide .. most commercial maritime development is somewhat flexible but can only occupy land on the waters edge ( we have no where else to go ) whereas housing has many more appropriate locations .. once residential goes in the waterfront dies .. on the east coast most communities have maritime zones along the waterfront wich are used for only marine related functions .. the bay area has had most of the working waterfronts redeveloped pushing out the mariners and the bay-men high-end condos come in and the whole thing is gone foreever, shi - shi and gentrification have run off many of the waterfront buisneses and with them we have lost an entire culture as well as our maritime heritage ...

Anonymous   |January.16.2012 try a Richmond example http://www.boatingsf.com/photopage.php?photo=1377&co=204 if that fails try http://www.boatingsf.com

Salty Dog   |January.16.2012 Peace Lover says: I need help with how to manage a renter next door that plays their music/radio/television so loud I can't hear people on the phone in my house with all the windows closed. Right now I'm listing to "... city bitch..." being repeated over and over again. This has been going on for months, almost every day. I've looked at the city ordinance for noise but can't find anyplace to file a complaint and I sure don't want to call 911. Help Step Number One: approach the offender and let them know how badly they are interfering with your peaceful enjoyment of your residence. Request that they reduce the volume to a "manageable" level. Be prepared for the old "I have my rights attitude". Step Number 2: call 911 and let them know that it is a non emergency but that you require police presence to confirm the noise level and to enforce the noise/nuisance ordinance. This may require a few calls. Keep a log of the noise and calls for police assistance. Inform the landlord of each incident ( you will likely require three police call outs before the landlord acts.) Under no circumstance, do not get personally involved. Leace it to the police to identify and inform. Unfortunately, getting these clowns to recognize their selfish ways is a process which, in the end doesn't enlighten them( they are beyond that), but should ensure that they move on to be a bur in some other person's peace and sanity.

Anonymous   |January.16.2012 warf rat: out of the 40+ Marina/waterfronts in the SF Bay http://www.boatingsf.com/catpage.php?category=marina®ion=&showmap=1 how many do not have condos/apts/homes or land fill?

Anonymous   |January.16.2012 Old road flares are a big problem in this country. There are various estimates of how many of these chemical concoctions are just lying around in old garages, in backyard sheds, under the crawl spaces of homes. These devices are a danger and a fire hazard and sometimes get ignited by careless homeowners who smoke and flinging their ashes around carelessly. Just imagine how serious a problem this is.

Peace Lover   |January.16.2012 I need help with how to manage a renter next door that plays their music/radio/television so loud I can't hear people on the phone in my house with all the windows closed. Right now I'm listing to "... city bitch..." being repeated over and over again. This has been going on for months, almost every day. I've looked at the city ordinance for noise but can't find anyplace to file a complaint and I sure don't want to call 911. Help

wharf rat rants   |January.16.2012 Re ; Vallejo water front A water front is an area of a town or city were the land and water meet often with wharfs and or piers a place used for maritime activities were boats and ships moor and, come and go ... CRAPPY CONDOS , 21 million $ ugly parking garages and all the other non waterfront uses proposed in the Vallejo waterfront plan will in fact preclude it from being a waterfront ... why not refer to it as ( the what could have been our waterfront, or the raping of our waterfront ) the COV waterfront plan just will not die it continues to be regurgitated with each administration ... the soils are mostly poorly engineered fill on top of bay mud and dredge spoils this crap will liquify in a heart beat with a major earth-quake back in 1970's a dozer operator left his D_6 idling wile he went to lunch he came back to find it had vibrated itself down into the ooze a crane was dispatched to no avail as the dozer slipped down into the muck and disappeared " somewhere in the proposed Mariners Cove area it rests in it's muddy grave " this area has had many sinkholes filled , one required 8 six yard dumps of boulders to fill it , the boat repair building has 3 concrete floors in it , when a heavy truck or train passes on Mare Island causeway the area shakes and vibrates , this was the proposed site for 175 condos most 3 story !! known as Mariners Cove were COV illegally removed protected wetlands and got busted , this cost over $800,000 in penalties .. with our great climate and calm waters the waterfront could be an ideal home port for SAILING SHIPS or at least a popular port of call ... once the Californian tied up at the ferry dock , on my way to the post office i saw her tall masts towering above downtown , this really got the salt-water flowing in my veins ... the Scow Schooner Alma from the SF National Maritime Museum used to make regular visits and many school children visited Her .. back in the early 90's the Museum expressed an interest in having the WW 2 Submarine Pompanito visit Vallejo for extended periods as part of their local out-reach requirements " very historically approiate " ... it seems we have lost most of our salt in this town we have many miles of city-side waterfront and a Naval Shipyard , Maritime / industrial complex and all we can come up with is ugly condos and totally un-approiate residential developments built on bay mud ...

Anonymous   |January.16.2012 Traveler... It didn't just happen Jack London Revival ? SFBT excerpt: Jack London Square, Oakland

Mousy   |January.16.2012 The water front is popular in spite of itself. No playground even.

traveler   |January.16.2012 Yes! Wharf Rat.. Bottom line: Alot of People like to drink spirits and have sex and eat a good meal...that's human nature. We live in the bay area and Vallejoans have to go out to town for a desent SPORTS BAR just to watch a play-off games involving our bay area team! If Oakland can make Jack London Square happen than why can't Vallejo get its act together with their waterfront? It's because Vallejo Leaders will sit around for days and nik-pick a project (because they don't want it) until everyone votes "no," on it. Just like what some of you are doing w/WinCo. Now who were the big dummies that wanted the 100-foot rule regarding alcohol? Probably someone who isn't even old enough of to drink! This ordinance should have never wasted anyone's time.

tramky   |January.16.2012 The Vallejo waterfront has all the earmarks of a redevelopment project--uninspired design, a complete lack of amenities such as benches and trash cans, no informational display panels describing Mare Island across the way (get the Mare Island Museum to help develop it), no food kiosks or vendor carts--nothing other than a long strip of concrete. Ugh!

Anonymous   |January.15.2012 re the Art Ship ". if steel could talk it would tell of the many exotic ports and the adventures Cadets were exposed to" It would speak of: '...dives / bars and brothels ,, this industry was fueled by the Ships portining in town ... thirsty and horny sailers would walk up Main Sts. nd find the appropriate den of inequity to serve their various vices ...'

wharf rat   |January.15.2012 The VIB logo is now historical at 6: 50 am Sunday three tugs took the Art-ship under tow , their large propellors churning up the Mare Island Straight , escorting the old ship down river to a fate unknown the former TS Golden Bear was the training ship of the California Maritime Academy ... a tough old Girl, plated with riveted steel plate she predated WW 2 ... having sailed the four corners of the world carrying Cadets and instructors on their annual training cruise ... if steel could talk it would tell of the many exotic ports and the adventures Cadets were exposed to " there are thousands of professional Mariners and Naval Engineers who cut their teeth on this Ship , from operating a steam propulsion system to bar hopping in foreign ports " you name it they learned it " the Cadets were responsible for routine ships operations weather navigation or Engineering opps they did it all , overseen by Ships licensed Officers / Instructors .. the river-scape will never be the same , many will miss the old Girl this very unique and effective form of applied Education She contributed to for so many years has been legendary considering her age in fact the low tech platform proved a good environment for Cadets to learn elementary skills ... there are few things as sad as a cold Ship making her final voyage , let's hope she has one last mission before returning as part of a Camry ...

Mousy   |January.15.2012 You mean the open "public space" that only has a single bench for most its length? It's like the city has gone out of its way to prevent people from enjoying it. No benches? Really? I'd like to see some potted trees (small palms to be exact) and frequent benches along the waterfront, with a stretch of uninterrupted space for the fishermen. Maybe even a couple of, god forbid, picnic benches! Instead of all concrete and steel. Nothing big or fancy, but just enough so you can bring your family down for an afternoon and not have to bring your whole household to be comfortable.

Anonymous   |January.15.2012 Didn't redevelopment give Vallejo the Marina green and waterfront promenade?

wharf rat   |January.14.2012 In fact Vallejo had a vibrant waterfront since the 1850's ,, shipyards boat-building shops etc .. there might have been some dives / bars and brothels ,, this industry was fueled by the Navy Ships portining in town ... thirsty and horny sailers would walk up Georgia St and find the appropriate den of inequity to serve their various vices ... many of the founders of the town made their fortunes on this trade .. even before radio, local watering holes knew when ships would arrive and the brothels were staffed and liquered up ... the Sailors were soon parted with their money ,, crawling back to their berths to lick their wounds and feel their empty pockets as their hangovers recovered . the GOB's counting their moneys were very happy with the arrangement .. nevertheless Vallejo had a functional civilian waterfront .. wharfs, piers ,ships, arks / houseboats Greek and Italian fisherman even Jack London was hanging out at the Vallejo rowing club / Yacht club yes we had a real water front ( a small version of SF fisherman's wharf now one of the highest earning areas in the US !! ) this was all DESTROYED under the empirical and all knowing , P-O-S Vallejo redevelopment plan ...this wiped out the self sustaining waterfront and blessed us with the big City Hall and associated BEIGE development paid for by taxpayers ....... the waterfront development plan / plans are flawed to do it right RESTORE THE WATERFRONT AS IT WAS BEFORE REDEVELOPMENT !!! install side ties to accommodate sailing ships , and fishing Vessels ,, put back what was torn out !!! next we will see a vibrant waterfront , not a plastic conception of those who never had a face-full of sea water or never seen the sun rising over the horizon ... the project should be done by Mariners , the lands-men can rule over their domain ,,, leave the water-front to those that appreciate the possibilities and love their environment ....

Mr :)   |January.14.2012 No mention of section 8 but still an interesting book. Broke, USA: From Pawnshops to Poverty, Inc. - How the Working Poor Became Big Business http://books.google.com/books/about/Broke_USA?id=MInpF4I1q2sC

Anonymous   |January.13.2012 They were all affected by ward rats high tide? What about Sandy Beach homes? Legal? Illegal?

anon   |January.13.2012 Yes there were many homes on the west side of Wilson Ave the grill was Jay's burgers all of this property was down zoned from residential to resource conservation by staff .. this greatly reduced the value and made it hard to finance , all this was done in order to take the property for pennies one fellow sued COV and won on the adverse condemnation claim .. the historic shoreline came up to the rear of these properties , and at one time there were ark's (houseboats)along the shore (two remain next to BBC store and are on the historic register )the one building that remains is the old office for a brick company (next to BBC) i have heard over the years the Wilson Ave project cost in exces of 17 MILLION $$ for thirty years it was a local pork project public works milked the hell outa it and screwed the property owners

Anonymous   |January.13.2012 There were houses, a small luncheon grill and mercantile lining the eastern roadside of Wilson Ave.

wharf rat   |January.13.2012 The historic high water point along Vallejo's shoreline is now considerably inland of the current one .. high tide came up to old wilson ave and lake dalwik was a deep water estero in wich square riggers anchored wile waiting to load flour at sperry mills ... delta meadows was a dump and later filled in ..

Anonymous   |January.13.2012 Actually, those lands were/are State Lands. All land below the high tide line at the time the State entered the Union are State Lands administered by the State Lands Commission. If lands are filled later, they are still State Lands. And yes, there are restrictions on their use. They can be used for water oriented industry, recreation or habitat but never for housing or commercial development. There are conditions for disadvantaged communities. The State Lands staff would never have allowed the Kaiser property to be turned over to Callaghan/DeSilva. But the former Chair of the State Lands Commission (political) turned out to be a Stanford law alum who went to school with Vallejo's own redevelopment lawyer who must not be named. Don Perata lifted the State Lands restriction "legislatively". Wiggins cosponsored. In the shift for the library, etc. The State Lands Commission entered into an agreement to shift the ownership to the COV for the waterfront park. After a couple of years when the people forgot, the park was bulldozed for the State Farm building (commercial, not allowed). The COV doesn't live up to their side of these agreements. On Mariner's Cove, those lands were filled illegally during the Curtola/Intintoli era. Whoops! The COV paid an $800,000 fine and the marsh on the NW side of the 37 bridge was restored for replacement habitat clearing the way for the Callaghan/DeSilva waterfront project. Then Perata stole our ferry... I am so glad Redevelopment is gone. I was waiting for some special assessment ferry district to be formed to contain all of the waterfront tax increment for the GOBs and COV staff.

wharf rat   |January.13.2012 almost all the waterfront land from 37 to past the Kaiser property was / is owned by the Dept of the interior administrated by the outdoor recreation branch .. this land has codicils and restrictions for it's use and actually belongs to the People of the United States , not to developers or City staff it is intended to be used for public recreation not high density development .. there are actual deeds / contracts in the library refrence section wich adress the disposition of this land .. COV staff has a generic hearing or none and BS the federal agency , claiming the public is in support of a project while in fact they know nothing , then a housing oriented plan pops up like magic same ole same ole ...

wharf rat   |January.13.2012 RIP Orchard Supply you are missed every day ...

sleeping giant   |January.13.2012 The neibours never nap they sleep with one eye open ever wondering what the COV will pull next ..

Anonymous   |January.13.2012 The Wilson Ave project was still an issue when I moved here 10 years ago. Staff wanted it 4 lanes to connect with Mare Island Way. The current alignment still has the width built into it to morph into 4 lanes at some point in the future when the neighbors are napping.

Anonymous   |January.13.2012 Yep. The COV has a horrible reputation with the State and Federal staffers. I remember asking an engineer friend with the US Army Corps if she knew anything about the illegal filling of Mariner's Cove during the Curtola/Intintoli era. She said "what illegal filling project, there are a number". Yikes! Then I asked another friend with the State about the transfer of State lands to a developer at the Kaiser property. He went ballistic because some legislator friends of Callaghan/DeSilva had passed special legislation to allow it even though the State Lands can only legally be used for public or maritime purposes; never housing or developer stuff. Then there is the special legislation passed by Mike Thompson to facilitate bulldozing the historic buildings on Mare Island. Vallejo staff is really good at circumventing the law. Vallejo has no friends in public office. Vigilance!

GEORGIA ST   |January.13.2012 I believe the reason they closed off Georgia St was due to the freeway was going to cut right through this entire area...

Firebug   |January.13.2012 Orchard Hardware moved from the path of the new Highway 37 in 1990? Clearly there was public discussion about the new Highway 37 And Kondylis replaced none other than the great Ozz in 1993. So begging the question if Kondylis was the queen of do nothing then why couldn't Ozz get it done during his time on the Baord of Supervisors?

Anonymous   |January.13.2012 Are you kidding. You are saying that there was formal discussions about an elevated freeway in the last thirty years. Or was this some pipe dream back in the 60's when douglas was mayor. It's funny when people like Barbara, Gomes, Cloutier, Brown, and the rest are scrutinized, all of a sudden the fictitious GOB network is to blame. Barbara is the CEO of the Do Nothing, Stop it from Happening, Can't Get it Done Network. Because you can not defend there record you have to make it about some women thats been dead for 35 years.

Anonymous   |January.12.2012 And for 30 years Barbara K fought the elevated freeway? LMAO! At least 1/2 of that 30 years was then under the tenure of thr Mayor Douglas GOB club?

Anonymous   |January.12.2012 Dear Anon yes COV had for years a project to build a freeway on the footprint of Wilson Ave .. this was a funded state of CA project ,, it would connect to an elevated structure along our waterfront like the embarckadero structure in SF wich was removed due to it's total lack of sensitivity to the vibrant waterfront ,, another totaly screwed up urban planing concept .. Vallejo continued to persue this flawed plan for 30 years + all the while billing the project to a cost center ( staff time / engenering etc ) this project had a state highway # designated to it, if the staff costs were ever tabulated it would probably be in the millions ...a few thousand dollars here a few there , over the years it adds up ... the milking of public infrastructure moneys is legendary in Vallejo City Govt it is well known in State govt as one of the most corrupt Cities in the state ... as we move foreward this brand needs to be removed we must be very careful of those we elect in the future the GOB's have cost us our cretibility the Citizens now need to restore the trust of all the region ....

Mousy   |January.12.2012 The "smoothing nonsense" you talk of is the tax payer making up for lost money in the market. An how are we supposed to pay for a 3% retirement when for most of their career they paid in at 2%? And pension spiking that further depletes the coffer? I couldn't believe it but I once saw someone justify Henke not getting the top post in Sac because he was letting some guy take the top post for a year, to pad that guy's pension. Police and Fire are so far removed what's real and reasonable that organized theft of tax payers dollars is alright. Take that promotion for that last year in office so you can retire at $150K a year rather than $135K! Never mind that you never fully paid into the system for that extra $15K a year, that's the city's fault for not saving enough.

Anonymous   |January.12.2012 Yep. It's true. During the Redevelopment Era, the City of Vallejo planned a freeway along the waterfront. That's why the library and the City Hall don't have any windows on the West (view)side. It was supposed to be elevated like our prosperous neighbor, San Francisco. Lucky for folks like Barbara and the good people that fought that freeway tooth and nail. What an eyesore that would have been. If it takes lawsuits and delays to get to "reasonable" then so be it. Maybe City staff will begin to get it that we citizens are reading those EIRs, studies, financial reports and willing and able to fight for the good of our community. Maybe then they will start seeking real public input at the beginning and stop wasting all those poor developers money on false starts.

Anonymous   |January.12.2012 The City of San Diego is crying about its contribution rate for its pension system - 42.68%. �A close examination of the 2010 actuarial study shows that the real cost to the city is 11.66% - less than what the employees pay. �To get to the 42.68% number, 16.84% to cover under-funding prior to 2007 and 14.18% for the mark-to-market and smoothing nonsense must be added. The bottom line is that the city did not make all of its required contributions prior to 2007 and are now paying the piper for that and the mark-to-market smoothing crap since 2006. Pay me now or pay me later. �The city chose later. �Later has arrived.

Moxie here   |January.12.2012 Oakland to lay off 159 city workers, due to losing 30 million dollars a year in Redevelopment funds, they used part of redevelopement funds to pay 159 city employees... This just in from SFgate.com Do we know if any Vallejo city employees were paid from funds from Redevelopment?

Anonymous   |January.12.2012 A freeway!?!? Between Hwy 37 and Tennessee. Gimme a break wart rat. Saved $1,000,000? What was the COV final cost? How much did she have to do with the delay of hwy 37? Wasted time and money

wharf rat   |January.12.2012 Yes anon Barbara K did have involvment in the wilson ave project THANK GOD !!! COV had been trying for years to put a freeway in it's place ... another pork project to backfill city hall's bloated salaries at the expence of the local neibourhood .. placing a freeway through a residential area would have been yet another COV planning blunder .. so g=bless Barbara for her help to size the project apropriatly many many others fought the origional plan as well for years , Barbara showed She is a for the people by the people person not another big spending wind-bag politition , by the way the revised project saved COV over a million dollars

Anonymous   |January.12.2012 Tax incentives to encourage investment, jobs and property improvements! How progressive of Central Falls RI! All we Vallejoans hear is "more taxes, more taxes, more taxes to pay our noble employees".

Mr :)   |January.12.2012 Central Falls RI plan for recovery after bankruptcy. Central Falls receiver proposes tax incentives http://www.pbn.com/Central-Falls-receiver-proposes-tax-incentives,64447

Anonymous   |January.12.2012 Did she have anything to do with the delay of Wison Ave. improvement? Whoever slowed that project down did not have Vallejo's best interest at heart.

just saying   |January.12.2012 How about Shively running...she knows how to say "No!"

Firebug   |January.12.2012 What specific vote would you be referring to, and how did it benefit Vallejo. We all know that Vasquez, the drunkard Reagan, and Spering have Vallejos best interests in mind.

Anonymous   |January.12.2012 Barbara votes her ideology and not the needs of her district. We can not afford to have perpetual divisiveness in Vallejo's representation. Voting no on everything gets nothing done. I am sure politicians have to vote for things they don't like to get support on issues they do like. This is called compromise.

Anonymous   |January.12.2012 Barbara K was effective in holding up the completion of hwy 37 for years and years

middle class rep   |January.12.2012 Dont forget Barbara K also got us a new "clinic." We have lots of stuff for poor folks in Vallejo, and not much for the middle class. We need representation of the middle class in Vallejo, afterall the middle class pays ALL THE TAXES. Poor people do no pay taxes and rich people dont pay taxes, so the MIDDLE CLASS BETTER GET LOUD and let our representative know 'what time it is." We need more and better options for the middle class, if we have to pay all the taxes we should get what we want. I dont want to see any more dollar stores, discount stores, clinics, rehabs, fast food, HUD based housing projects, incentives for slumlords or anything else related to "drawing the poor to Vallejo." The middle class of Vallejo needs to ask for more and better choices. We need our county supervisor to represent the middle class, it is fading quick, when we all are gone, who will then be paying the taxes?

Mr 8-)   |January.11.2012 Documentary about Section 8 SPANISH LAKE - Trailer #1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFZjtTbx16U

Anonymous   |January.11.2012 How can you say Barbara K has been affective when she has been marginalized by the rest of the board. She has been stripped of her commissions and denied her right as chair. Vallejo needs representation not a constant minority vote. We really have nothing to show but her good intentions. Barbara's heart is really in the right place but nothing happened but a brand new welfare office that i am sure the other supervisors were happy to let her have. We certainly do not need another Barbara K. but a Tony T is even worst.

wharf rat   |January.11.2012 Yes Mousy some might bite off your head i am not one of them while i agree with much of your post i think one of the problems is pay and benefits for elected officials , pay-checks and retirements for those performing community service seems a bit corrupted , one must now question the motives of canidates and their real agendas Remember the LNG fiasco and Tony and his secret meetings with Bechtel before this he was pushing for a prison on Mare Island... he was a prime mover for non-sustainable COV worker contracts this was a major contributor towards bankruptcy ... no he wont get my vote rather a vote to retire , with our down economy we simply can not afford him, we need someone fiscally conservative and tax-payer oriented ... There are many ways he can play politics without costing his community ... i would like to see someone younger and more connected to our times ," our Children must work with what we leave them " ... the term limit issue could be modified , such as a majority 2/3 vote for a termed person to return ( remember it's supposed to be about self determination ) with Barbara K retiring it is extremely important we elect a supervisor who is a similar advocate for the normal non elite folks , not one who wants to play politics at our expense ..." beware of GOB's in sheep's clothing " ...

Mr :)   |January.11.2012 Today's legacy pension story. Hostess said the current cost structure "is not competitive, primarily due to legacy pension and medical benefit obligations and restrictive work rules." In bankruptcy, Hostess said it plans to continue negotiating with 12 unions to modify the collective-bargaining agreements governing the employment of its union workers, who comprise 83% of its approximately 19,000 employees. Twinkies Maker Hostess Files for Chapter 11 Protection http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204257504577154402317896574

Mousy   |January.11.2012 I know I'll probably get my head bitten off but Intintoli is one of those cases were we'd be better served if we didn't have term limits. If we didn't have term limits he'd not have been able to give raises because he'd want to be around in 10, 15 years when the chickens came back to roost. If we didn't have term limits he'd not jump around from elected job to elected job, because we'd have been able to throw his butt out of office before he'd moved on. He's an opportunist, not a power player trying to work his way up. He can only run for supervisor now because we voters were prohibited from holding him accountable for his job on the city council. Vallejo's decline started with term limits. So did California's. I don't think it's a coincidence that we're in trouble after 20 years of forcing short term thinking on politicians. No one likes a lifelong politician. But a short term one who doesn't care about the state of things ten years from now is worse. We're infected by opportunists now, not people in it for the long haul. We Californians want our government to run on auto pilot with as little input as possible. Too lazy to vote? Term the bastard out! Too lazy to pay attention to the budget? Pass an initiative to force funding to xyz! Annoyed with taxes? Pass an initiative to restrict them. Vote your local leader out? Na, it's not him, it's the system!

You have to be kidding   |January.11.2012 What a joke. A teacher in a failed school system with a drop out rate that exceeds 50%. He turns over the very best part of Mare Island to a home developer. OMFG! Takes credit for expanding the ferry service that he let the state steal from us. With out even a quip. I will not vote for anyone that is or has worked for government a agency all there lives. We have to get rid of these career public money paycheck cashers. We need to put a sign up that says "If you receive a government paycheck Do Not Apply". Some must run against him thats qualified.

Don't vote for Bureaucrats   |January.11.2012 I am so done with these people sucking off the tax payers tit. What does this job pay 100k a year or something like that. And for what, a couple of meetings a month and paid trips to where ever. I am so sick of this shit. How many tax payer pensions does one person need. I am paying $1000 dollars a month just medical insurance and they pay nothing because they have double triple insurance coverage.

Benefits?   |January.11.2012 If all these "life long" politicans did not receive life long medical and other benefits would they still run? Intintoli is already a "triple dipper" receiving bennies from the school district, the City, and the Feds. Gosh, if he works for the County he will be more well rounded, he can dip fromt the County funds... Yep Intinoli was involved in all the city councils that keep giving raises and more benefits to the PSU even when they had been advised that the City was headed to bankruptcy. Maybe Intinoli is a) not smart enough, b)not a realist c) scared to death of the PSU. If he is any of these three, he is underqualified to run for Supervisor.

Anonymous   |January.10.2012 Intintoli running for county supervisor? Didn't he do enough damage to Vallejo already?

golden rat   |January.10.2012 y Daniel Borenstein Staff columnist Posted: 01/07/2012 0400 PM PST Updated: 01/09/2012 06:20:35 AM PST In November, Berkeley City Manager Phil Kamlarz traded his $250,000-a-year job for retirement with a starting pension of about $266,000 annually. The deal highlights the city's generous pension program, which is one of the better plans in the state but by no means unique. The costly program is also $420 million underfunded, a shortfall equal to more than three years of city payroll, according to the city's latest actuarial reports. Kamlarz's hefty retirement pay was predictable. Three years ago, Mayor Tom Bates successfully persuaded his City Council colleagues to grant the city manager a series of raises to keep him on the job. As Bates pointed out then, Kamlarz could have collected just as much in retirement. The irony was that the raises didn't solve the problem. Rather, they ensured that Kamlarz's pension would increase by roughly a like amount whenever he finally walked out the door. As a result, whereas he could have left with a starting annual pension of $219,000 in January 2009, he left at the end of 2011 with 21 percent more a year for the rest of his life. The retirement pay also comes with annual cost-of-living adjustments. It shows how absurdly lucrative some public employee pension programs have become. While Kamlarz's salary was more than those of other city workers, the pension formula is the same for most other Berkeley employees. Indeed, about one-fourth of agencies covered by the giant California Public Employees' Retirement System are at least as generous. In some ways, the formula surpasses the CalPERS plan offered to most police and firefighters: 3 percent of top salary for every year on the job. The public safety pensions cap at 90 percent for 30 or more years of service. But there is no cap for other workers. The Berkeley City Council in 2002, before Kamlarz became city manager, chose one of the most generous plans offered by CalPERS. It provides 2.7 percent of salary for every year on the job for those retiring after age 55. Kamlarz, who was nearly 65 when he retired, worked 36.7 years for the city, starting as an associate accountant in 1975 and working his way up to the top. So he was entitled to a starting pension equal to about 99 percent of his best year's salary. How much was that salary? For starters, Kamlarz earned about $242,000 in base pay. He, like other city employees with more than 25 years' experience, also received 3 percent longevity pay, bringing his compensation to nearly $250,000. The city also pays its employees' shares of their pension contributions -- and then counts that as salary when computing pensions. Specifically, for nonsafety workers like Kamlarz, the city contributes to CalPERS a total of 27 cents for every dollar of payroll. Of that, 8 cents is considered the employees' share. So in Kamlarz's case, that additional 8 percent brought the total compensation on which his pension was based to about $269,000. Multiply that number by 99 percent to arrive at his starting $266,000 pension. The notion of career employees collecting nearly as much or more in retirement than on the job is not unique to Kamlarz, nor to Berkeley. One-fourth of public agencies in CalPERS use the 2.7-percent multiplier starting at age 55 or a more generous 3-percent multiplier at age 60 for their nonsafety employees. And, like Berkeley, about 23 percent of local public agencies that use CalPERS pay part or all of their employees' pension payments and then let them count that contribution as income when their retirement pay is calculated. Berkeley handles pension payments for police and firefighters slightly differently. Rather than pay the employees' share, the city provides them extra compensation to offset their costs. Either way, the effect is the same: The city ends up covering the entire tab. It currently works out to 49 cents for every dollar of police payroll, 38 cents for firefighters and 27 cents for other workers. Those costs will rise in future years to help cover the city's huge unfunded liability. During his tenure, Kamlarz declined my multiple requests to discuss pensions.

wharf rat   |January.10.2012 the photographer in below article shows some real porpoise to his work !!!

wharf rat   |January.10.2012 For those interested in things aquatic read this NPR article ... Published: December 28, 2011 by Lauren Sommer Something that has been missing from San Francisco Bay since World War II appears to be making a comeback: Harbor porpoises are showing up in growing numbers, and researchers are trying to understand why they're returning. The walkway across the Golden Gate Bridge is almost always packed with people taking photos. But Bill Keener isn't here for snapshots of the stunning views. He's aiming his massive telephoto lens at a dark shape in the water 200 feet below. "There's a porpoise right there, coming very, very close," he says. "Here's a mother and calf coming straight at us." Keener is with Golden Gate Cetacean Research, a nonprofit group focused on studying local porpoises, whales and dolphins. Harbor porpoises have dark gray backs, and they're about 5 feet long

Moxie   |January.10.2012 Thanks Wharf Rat, sounds like some fine bedtime reading!!!

wharf rat   |January.10.2012 Yes Moxie there are many contaminants in the sediment in Mare Island straight and Napa river however many of the industrial / marine contaminants originate from Mare Island Naval Shipyard operations since 1850's ... the collective watershed which feeds Napa river includes Vallejo area watershed , this is all the urban runoff from our streets and infrastructure ( ever wonder where the material from auto brakes and tires goes to ) all the oil spots and materials deposited on our streets and property ends up in the waterways ... after years of aquatic monitoring much has been learned re the fate and transport of contaminants in the aquatic environment , some of these chemicals are found in fish and organisms and the animals that prey on them , the bay mud / sediment absorbs some of these constituents , much of them are flushed away due to our high velocity currents and robust tidal actions , the sediments hold on to certain contaminants each microscopic grain of sediment if magnified looks like a sponge , within the pores reside chemicals mainly organics ( a deceiving reference which mainly refers to pesticides , chemical compounds and hydrocarbon compounds ) our local geology is loaded with cinnabar the mineral from which mercury is extracted, Vallejo hills are doted with old cinnabar mines such that the runoff is laced with mercury this is why lakes and waterways have high levels in the sediments .... so we have scratched the surface re our local contribution to aquatic contamination the contribution from our northern neibours to the north is another chapter recommended reading would be , regional water quality control board reports bay monitoring plan municipal sanitation discharge reports , sediment chemical analysis related to dredging operations and permits , CA dept fish and game Napa watershed and river & San Pablo bay ....Mare Island closure clean up reports etc , keep in mind much of the reported data is in parts per billion ....

Anonymous   |January.10.2012 Moxie, it looks like anyone motivated enough can do a Nitrate analysis on salt water. see here: http://www.nitrate.com/swntks.htm This would be a fantastic class project for schools.

Moxie to all   |January.09.2012 Why are the soils of the Strait not tested on a regular basis? Some speculate that one of the reasons it took so long to get the soil/silt tested in the Strait in order for Allied Recyclying to get the "all clear" was some folks were worried about the results of tests, lots of "stuff" in our Strait from our neighbors up North. So, where are the results of the soil tests they did of the Strait? Should the test not be public record? Can we review them? If we can get our hands on the results of the test perhaps we could have a professor at UC Davis look at the data, or do we have an audience member here at VIB who has this expertise?

Moxie to all   |January.09.2012 I think it's time we get exposure to what is going on up North, it may not exactly be Erin Brocovich, but it is very serious nevertheless. We have fish, frogs and wildlife in our marshes, not to mention human health concerns. The "glamour of the grape" cannot supercede the environment impacts of the Bay.

wharf rat   |January.09.2012 Yes Agribusiness in Napa valley contributes heavily to the pollutant load in local water-ways point source, processor discharge can have all kinds of crap in it whether wine or other products the effluent often flows around treatment systems to discharge directly .. one of the worst contributors are golf courses as they use huge amounts of fertilisers to keep the greens green .. the breaching of the salt pond levies to the north increased the Napa river flood plane enormously this increased the residential time of receiving waters to the Mare Island straights , every - time Napa has a flood huge amounts of crap , debris and contaminants come down river ( years ago i salvaged a picnic table and a propane tank ) the fertiliser issue is due to the algal growth it encourages this depletes the free oxygen for fish and other organisms to survive and creates toxic compounds when it decomposes ( see white slough ) as mentioned the toilet to the north cares little what they send to us .. there is little oversite of discharges up north and seems to be somewhat selective ....

Anonymous   |January.09.2012 addendum... Friends of the Napa River was formed to resist the US Army Corps of Engineers plans to "fix" the Napa River flooding with a nice concrete ditch like those in Los Angeles. FONR orchestrated an alternative plan starring geomorphologist Luna Leopold. The new plan, which needed 2/3 vote on the bonds, passed with the backing of the Sierra Club and is now under construction as the new model for the nation. You can see the results along Highway 37 as they take down the levees and restore the marshes.

Anonymous   |January.09.2012 Friends of the Napa River are not necessarily friends of the part of the river that goes through Vallejo. Most of those folks are associated with the priviledged class. Read "Environmentalism and the Leisure Class: Protecting the Birds, Fishes and, above all, Social Priviledge" in Harpers 1977. An article that explains how wealthy people living along the Hudson River managed to stop a project because it spoiled their views. But there were devistating unintended consequences costing many lives. Should be require reading for people who call themselves "environmentalists". The well pollution problem referenced could be closer to home. Nitrates enter the water table from many sources such as broken clay sewer pipes. Why do you think Vallejo Sanitation will help pay for Upper Lateral replacements? Not out of the goodness of their hearts.

Doug   |January.09.2012 @Moxie, keep the updates coming, im not the only one interested in knowing how were getting screwed by Napa County! As for the pollution, if anyone should be alarmed by any possible polluants coming from "grapes" it should be "Friends of the Napa River" Watse-water,wine-waste and irrigation discharges should all be regulated by NPDES disharge permits, there are sometimes waiver situations, generally takes a RWQCB or USEPA rep to read between all the lines, but i would agree that we are getting the shaft from Napa not only environmentaly but socialy (housing)as well!

Anonymous   |January.09.2012 Don't reference global warming Moxie. That is a dead issue and was a fraudulent play for more big tax payer subsidies. The correct pressure points are nitrates in the ground water and proper use of fed handout money. Good work on the issues, again.

MOXIE again...   |January.09.2012 Today in the Napa Register, there is an article about Napa Co. going to use affordable housing funds of $110000 to see what the housing situation is with farmworkers. Napa Co. actually got in trouble with the State a few years ago for using affordable housing funds to bulid housing for farm workers. You can not ear mark money for just farm workers that are poor, besides the fact the rich Wine Barrons should be taking care of this themselves, not expecting affordable housing funds to take care of it. Napa Co. should be doing a study to see how many of their poor folks they are sending out of their county and into neighboring counties for cheap housing. They like to pretend that only farm workers are too poor, they end up in Vallejo also. How about a nice big fat lawsuit by Solano Co. or the City of Vallejo? The suit could be againt ABAG who lowered the mandate for Napa Co for affordable housing, or it could be against both Napa Co and ABAG.... Hey, if you want to use Federal funds, you have to build the affordable housing, no one should be exempt, or as supervisor Bill Dodd says "special." Napa Co and the City of Napa has used "ga-zillion" of Federal Dollars trying to prevent the Napa river from flooding the downtown. They are also using millions to move the tracks of the Wine train as they were in the way of the flood project. Do you know how many millions of subsidies that Napa Co. residents receive for growing grapes? Every large estate has a vineyard, that way they get the Ag write off. All those grapes being grown are putting pollutants in the bay, in particular the Strait. Why are there no reports done by the SF Bay Conservation people to see what is traveling down river and into the Strait? Anyone pay attention to the Vallejo Family growing their own food and going "A year without groceries?" They were excited to get the existing well in their back yard re-habbed and going so they could supply their own water. They had a well water evaluation and the company that was doing the testing told them they could not use their well for potable water as it had too many contaminates from heavy Agriculture up North, ie grape growing. Wow, we should make a really big deal about this. The lobby from the Napa Valley is so heavy and influenced by the likes of Nancy Pelosi, George Miller, Mike Thompson, Michael Allen and Noreen Evans, to name a few, that these types of stories stay buried. I also cant believe that fertilziers going into the Strait are helping global warming, I wonder if the Bay is getting warmer...

Mr :)   |January.08.2012 @I�igo Robberies like the one you mention occur because of large cash purchases. Why cash purchases? My guess is illegal aliens who cannot have access to checking and banking services. But there are also a growing number of US citizens that lost their bank rights due to debts, if they have a bank account it will be garnished.

Anonymous   |January.08.2012 Article in the Times Horrid today about the "new" Vallejo Fire Dept. It's great how the attitudes and words of the department have evolved from the negative fighting words of the Henke days to now. Thanks VFD! Ya gotta laugh at the Mini-Henke, Jon Jon Riley though. After he and Henke and golfing buddy Parker left, the VFD was obviously able to shed its negativity and grow. He admits in the article that he was essentially the cause of low morale: "Jon Riley, a former International Association of Fire Fighters 1186 vice president said he believes department morale reached one of its lowest points by his departure." Now, if only the VPD could follow the VFD's lead.

just said no   |January.07.2012 Vallejo just said no to Schively.

I�igo   |January.07.2012 Craigslist bandits strike again. Car was advertised, and when buyers showed up in Vallejo they were robbed. One was apparently pistol whipped. This happened Friday night, nothing in the news today. This is at least the 3rd incident in the same general area of Glen Cove. Here's a link to may have been the last one. http://www.fugitive.com/2010/07/21/craigslist-ad-robbery-in-south-vallejo-at-246-neptunes-court/ We have the technology to monitor Craigslist at 5-minute intervals for the phone number used and key words. Police can then do a sting. I wonder if the investigators are doing this? If not, will they allow volunteers to do the online monitoring?

Mr :)   |January.07.2012 The Local Crunch http://www.stateline.org/live/static/The_Local_Crunch Part 3: California reshapes local roles and revenue streams http://stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=603893

yep   |January.07.2012 Vallejo just needs to do what Shivley said and "just say NO!"

MOXIE   |January.07.2012 Btw, GFN = Good For Nothing, lol...

Moxie   |January.07.2012 Vallejo needs to grow some "Moxie" and get back into district, assembly and senate politics again. We need rep's and lobbiest in every area to help us. We have had the GFN George Miller, the GFN Noreen Evans and the GFN Senator Wiggins. We now have Mike Thompson and GFN Michael Allen, both part of the Wine Baron Legacy of our friends of the North. We are going to have to get loud and ugly to get want we want. I do realize that while the Navy was at Mare Island, we pretty much got what we wanted, we had lots of political pull, not to mention we also had our very own Senator Gibson from Vallejo. The combination of the Navy and Gibson were in many ways a billy club in local and State wide politics. No Navy and no representation in the Assembly, Congress and the Senate have really push Vallejo out of the way for a long period of time. When Vallejo declared bankruptcy it really shocked district and State politicians, they were thought it could not be done. When Binding Arbitration was removed from the charter, it was second lightening bolt. Both of these proative actions meant that the sleeping giant known as Vallejo had finally woken up, and was feeling around for his billy club. This really scared a lot of politicans like George Miller, Pat Wiggins, Noreen Evans and the like, I mean what was going to happen next? Could Vallejo gain political power? Start swinging the club around? Start demanding better? Start asking questions? Start exposing the dirty tricks of politicos? Scary Stuff! Hey State and District politicos, the citizens of Vallejo are on to your tricks, we dont appreciate that ABAG has exemepted Napa and Marin from building their mandated affordable housing element. We dont appreciate Assemblyman Michael Allen for writing special legislation for Napa Co. to protect them from building affordable housing the Napa Co. We also dont appreeciate the fact that a few years ago Solano Co. agreed to open up more of County space in Vallejo for more dense housing. Dense housing in a rural area??? George Miller we dont appreciate the lack of help at getting the contracts for Allied to dismantle the ships at Mare Island. You only appeared to help at the very end when citizens of Vallejo verbally attacked you when you re-ran for your seat for congress. Senator Evans and retired Senator Wiggins, we dont appreciate the "weak" letters you send by messenger that were read allowed to the council and citizens asking us not to declare bankruptcy. You couldnt show up in person? It wasnt important enough? It was just Vallejo that you have dismissed from your mind? We also dont appreciate the legislation that Pat Wiggins authored to prevent cities from declaring bankruptcy, that was a spanking. Onward and forward, the giant is streching and standing, SOME ONE GIVE HIM IS CLUB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous   |January.06.2012 Napa County's General Plan calls for all housing to be located within urban areas/cities except for the 40 acre parcel minimum agricultural zoning for the rich folks. Sounds great except that called for tearing down the farmworker housing in the Valley to protect the ambience of the privileged without really dealing with where those folks would end up. So now they have to commute from somewhere cheap enough for them to live like Fairfield or Vallejo. Don't even try to get through American Canyon (the Napa County designated cheap housing area) during commute hours. Unfortunately, even though there are laws against hiring them, many Mexican workers can get a fake social security card but not driver's licenses or insurance. If they have an accident, the victim ends up paying the bill. Regarding "affordable" housing, even if they had to build it, it is available only to American citizens, leaving many who create that vineyard ambience living under bridges. There are many unintended consequences of Napa County's "affordable" housing policies. I, personally, have many wonderful friends in Vallejo who work in the Napa Valley...cooks, vineyard managers, graphic designers. We need more of them and less of the no-income riff-raff San Francisco ships to us.

wharf rat   |January.06.2012 Indeed the agricultural status for Napa & Sonoma vanity vineyards is ridicules many are multi million dollar estates with a few acres of the vine , this allows for tax breaks and code loopholes .. these elite don't want low income riff - raff hanging around , Vallejo has become a bedroom community for the working poor of Napa . as this is a regional govt issue county govt should get involved if Napa will not comply with regional requirements for low income housing they should be sued by Vallejo and Solano county ... and yes the receiving waters we get from Napa valley are loaded with pollutants and sediment the fertilisers cause algal blooms which become toxic and the sediment clogs up our marinas and water-ways it seems we have become the toilet for our neibour to the north .. Napa county is the most feudal place in our state the lords in their manors gaze at their holdings wile the peasants ( the Hispanic workers ) do all the heavy lifting this is probably the least diverse community in CA .. the lords dont want the peasants to live amongst them they want them to work cheap then leave ... the only people of colour you will find are the Hispanic workers Napa is one of the least integrated Counties in CA if the worker bees Unionised the royalty / elite would cry rivers the influx of low income residents to Vallejo has had a huge impact on our economy we need a blend of income levels to support our infrastructure and services in fact they should write us a big fat check every year for their regional impacts ..

Spam   |January.06.2012 That last nastygram brought to you by a man (?) who is consistently wrong. The only good thing to say about the Oozing Open Wound known as Kurshant is ....wow, can't think of one good thing!

Anonymous   |January.06.2012 Careful what you ask for... this city treats the police department as gods... as if they are infallible and we must be bend over every time they want something. With that overall attitude in Vallejo, I'm not surprised with the reaction about the individual homeowners who want the city to pay for the damage the city - through the police - caused. Treat them like gods and they will fight you anytime you want them to act human.

Anonymous   |January.06.2012 Vallejo should be joining Napa in resisting more "affordable" (=subsidized) housing because we are a poster child for how it destroys communities. Now that Redevelopment is on the skids, there is no reason whatsoever to build more subsidized housing. The community does not benefit, only those that are in the business of farming the poor. Just look at Vallejo's downtown. Classic. A ring of subsidized housing encircling a dead downtown where shops can't make it...no customers and massive pilferage. Or our beautiful historic neighborhoods. Houses abandoned, not just because of foreclosure but because the residents couldn't take the decline in the quality of life anymore and walked off. Jerry Brown had it right in Oakland when he told the subsidized housing advocates who were opposing his attempts to build market rate housing downtown that "Oakland has enough "affordable" housing"... He is right. Vallejo should just say "if it is good enough for Napa, it is good enough for us...no more subsidized housing". Maybe people would be forced to make better lifestyle choices...like not making babies when they can't afford them or cultivating better social skills.

Strong lobby Napa Co.   |January.06.2012 Wow there is a strong lobby in Napa Co against buliding the mandated low income housing element. The County wants all lands preserved for Agriculture, ie the "holy grape." Now remember, grapes are not being grown to nourish our bodies, grapes are grown for the wine which is mostly exported out of Napa. So, Napa Co does not want affordable housing in Napa Co, they are using the excuse that the County is "preserved" for Ag. ABAG seems to be falling for all the lobby against low income housing, in fact READ THE NAPA REGISTER TODAY, the Napa lobby is writing bills via Assemblyman Michael Allen to get their required housing element reduced. Pay careful attention folks, as this will directly affect Vallejo. Vallejo gets contacted everytime there are poor folks in Napa that cannot find affordable housing. Why should Vallejo bear the burden of the "Wine Barons?" With Mike Thompson our new Congressman for district, we need to get proactive and complain loudly. He will be partial to Napa and Napa Co however, as he lives in St Helena. That does not mean we cant get loud and proud and embarass Napa Co. for not taking care of their poor folks. Maybe we should bring up testing the Strait for all the pollutants that run down via the river and into the Strait, all those vineyards are being treated with chemicals both natural and synthetic, most are bad for the Strait. Perhaps we could start like this, Mr. Thompson, you make sure that Napa Co takes care of its poor folks and Solano Co wont test the waters in the Carquinez Strait...

Mousy   |January.05.2012 That there was a murderer involved doesn't explain the lack of payment. A claim is a claim regardless of the underlying cause. If city personnel did the damage to an innocent bystander's home, the city should pay. The lack of respect for private property is disgusting among some here. This wouldn't even be an issue if the city paid its claims promptly. No one is attacking the cops for doing what needs to be done - the fault is with the city (or if handled internally the police's claims department) for sitting on their hands and not compensating those impacted promptly. If PG&E tore down my fence to get to a down wire I'd expect to be compensated even if they were making things safe. If my contractor breaks my window while fixing my foundation I'd expect them to replace it. Why should the government get a pass when the private sector does not? Once again the arrogance and defensiveness on display is breath taking. We're supposed to be happy when someone breaks our stuff when we're a bystander. Suck it up, we're just member of the public!

fence mender   |January.05.2012 yes the COV PD phisicaly did the damage to property however one must realize why they were there..it's lucky the murderer did not get into a home and kill more people the PD lost one of their own, other citizens could have been killed how would they know ?? if a murderer is in my back yard i hope they knock down the fence to remove him .. the big issue is a Police Officer was murdered that day removing this killer from the neibourhood was the best public service to be done at the time ..

Salty Dog   |January.05.2012 Robert Frost was critical of fences, but what a great poem to bracket this issue: Something there is that doesn't love a wall, That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it, And spills the upper boulders in the sun, And makes gaps even two can pass abreast. The work of hunters is another thing: I have come after them and made repair Where they have left not one stone on a stone, But they would have the rabbit out of hiding, To please the yelping dogs. The gaps I mean, No one has seen them made or heard them made, But at spring mending-time we find them there. I let my neighbor know beyond the hill; And on a day we meet to walk the line And set the wall between us once again. We keep the wall between us as we go. To each the boulders that have fallen to each. And some are loaves and some so nearly balls We have to use a spell to make them balance: 'Stay where you are until our backs are turned!' We wear our fingers rough with handling them. Oh, just another kind of out-door game, One on a side. It comes to little more: There where it is we do not need the wall: He is all pine and I am apple orchard. My apple trees will never get across And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him. He only says, 'Good fences make good neighbors'. Spring is the mischief in me, and I wonder If I could put a notion in his head: 'Why do they make good neighbors? Isn't it Where there are cows? But here there are no cows. Before I built a wall I'd ask to know What I was walling in or walling out, And to whom I was like to give offence. Something there is that doesn't love a wall, That wants it down.' I could say 'Elves' to him, But it's not elves exactly, and I'd rather He said it for himself. I see him there Bringing a stone grasped firmly by the top In each hand, like an old-stone savage armed. He moves in darkness as it seems to me~ Not of woods only and the shade of trees. He will not go behind his father's saying, And he likes having thought of it so well He says again, "Good fences make good neighbors." Something there is that doesn't love a wall.....the VOP for one.

wharf rat   |January.05.2012 it is quite possible the times hackjob article re the fences etc knocked over was not complete , yes the COV is liable for damage to personal property they usually delay closing claims , this strategy also is used by insurance companies as well there might be issues with homeowners polices and deductible's . the best bet is to repair damage then file in small claims there have been cases of the PD breaking down front doors to the wrong house tossing the entire inside then leaving it;s like pulling teeth to receive compensation . the we are the law attitude is prevalent , a few years ago a nearby city demolished the wrong home , the home-owner came home to his house gone and the foundation being removed, he did not get any satisfaction until TV news ran the story . i suspect there is more to the story such as poor reporting ...the right and moral thing is seldom done by insurance companys and Governments ...

Anonymous   |January.05.2012 Very sad. Elderly and disadvantaged people who live in a crime ridden neighborhood who then have their fences and property shredded by a bunch of testosterone poisoned guys and are supposed to suck it up? I remember that night when an older black woman interviewed by a TV news crew said her house was turned upside down and "we are not the enemy". The chopper cams provided a great view of the actions of the VPD and I shuddered at the obvious rage while the VPD did more than just take the fences down, they smashed them. The City should be eager to make this disaster right for the innocent victims. Just fix it. "Mending fences" is more than just a metaphor.

Salty Dog   |January.05.2012 Count me in on the side of the P.O. ones too. Private property and the right to the enjoyment of and protection from deprived thereof is a pretty strong principle in this country. Except when the police are involved. And now, (as of the DA of 2012) if you complain too heartily, you may find yourself detained indefinitely as a threat to the country. A bit over the top? Yes, many a German would have said so in pre war Germany as the SS stormed around the country causing mischief with the rule of law.

Mousy   |January.05.2012 That article pissed me off too. The city should be responsible for the damage they cause to private property regardless of what the cause it. Damage is damage. Could be a city sewer backing up, they should still pay for damage. By delaying a quick payout for damanges the city is worse off. No people are going to be forced to sue and throw in BS like that pain and suffering request.

Passive Voice   |January.05.2012 TH today: "Our first responsibility is to protect life. A fence can always be replaced" chief RN for VPD. Why can he not state that citizen bystanders are responsible to repair damage caused by VPD actions if that is the case. If VPD or the City is responsible for repair of damage caused in the Nov. 17 pursuit of a fleeing bank robber, the Chief of Police should know that, and so inform the public. If the VPD and City are responsible for damage caused to private property in the course of their duties, the fences should have been repaired weeks ago. Chief Nichelini's cowardly use of the passive voice avoids revealing what he of all people must know about responsibility for damages caused by his department. My guess is that the City is responsible to fix the damage, but will vigorou$ly defend itself against the claims. The homeowner will make repairs needed for personal safety, and the City will string out repayment until the next BK, when it can be paid at 5%. I hope I am wrong.

shoo fly   |January.05.2012 Infected worker bees in the Bay Area have been going mad, abandoning their hive in a suicidal rush toward big salaries according to a new study by San Francisco State University researchers. San Francisco biologists have made a macabre discovery that might help explain the mysterious crash of worker bee populations: parasites that turn municipal employees into zombies !!! Infected staff go mad, abandoning their offices in a suicidal rush toward money markets, according to a new study by San Francisco State University researchers. "It's the flight of the living dead," said lead investigator and biology professor John Q six-pack, also president of the California Academy of unsustainable Government . The parasite, a tiny fly, has been found in Staff Members bank accounts throughout the Bay Area . In a plot line similar to a George Romero horror film, the fly deposits its eggs into the Bank then takes over. The hapless Employees walk around in circles, with no apparent sense of direction. Some are unable to even stand due to the weight of all the cash on them . they wonder haplessly around " a glazed look in their eyes and dollar signs as well ". they kept whipping out their wallets fat with $ 100 bills "It really painted a picture of something like a zombie." The Staff's demise may contribute to what's known as " Municipal Colony Collapse Disorder," a phenomenon of failing Administrations around the United States -- and a great concern in the local communities, which depends on these groups to spend their tax dollars , local management states " we are just gona have to spend our way out of the crisis " Despite six years of intense research, scientists have been unable to find a single reason for Municipal colony collapse. Increasingly, they suspect that the lack of Citizen oversight could contribute as well as bloated salaries and lack of sunshine . Butt being an absent-minded professor," he joked, i completely over-looked collective omissions , conspiracy and the wilful withholding of required information from elected officials . any one of witch could lead to a collapse or bankruptcy . The fly's identity -- Apocolipsus Governmenttus -- was revealed through a DNA test. The same fly is known to infect State and Federal Agencies John Q and fellow grad student Jane Doe gained permission from Bay Area Bankers s to set up traps at the branches, then caught 20 to 50 so-called "worker bees" en route to find tax shelters . The parasitic flies even engage in mind control. Somehow they're able to hijack the staff's normal daytime behaviour, turning it into a nocturnal creature sunshine being their worst enemy The casualties are hard on a Municipal hive in two different ways. Not only does it lose important workers -- but when these foragers are gone, younger bees inside the hive are forced to take their place. The entire labour structure of the hive goes awry and Employee costs sky-rocket ," as this occurs there's a tipping point which could lead to bankruptcy " he said And there's an Amazonian nematode that, once inside an ant, turns the insect's abdomen the same bright hue as a tasty berry. The ant is eaten by birds, who spread baby nematodes through their poop. this biological model is very similar to the pathways and proliferation of Municipal Management sectors And they'll deploy a range of identification tools to better understand the freeloading fly. Next spring, they will glue tiny radio-frequency devices -- smaller than the head of a pin -- to the backs of Staff, then track their travels. Once sick, do they re-enter the hive, infecting others? or engage in electioneering funded by the tax-payers ? "

Anonymous   |January.04.2012 He's deep in something, that's for sure. And it smells really nasty.

wharf rat   |January.04.2012 Are we receiving a good value for our taxes ? if one has the courage add up your annual tax liability .. include all the city taxes on utilities cell-phone land-line , cable etc ,, when the steam stop's coming out of your ears consider whether you are receiving your money's worth my answer was NOOOOOO WAAAAY .. what i found was the small and dispersed taxes added up to quite allot every year more of these get added on now with the 1 % sales tax and whatever the state can get added on we are at a record tax level .. while our services are reduced our taxes increase !! this is not a sound business plan .. if this scenario were presented to private industry they would respond with " don't let the door hit you on your way out " dysfunctional and multi layered government eats up allot of it poorly managed local govt cleans the plate .. the payments increase while the potholes proliferate , coupled with attitude's of entitlement by various employee groups the system seems to be broken ... perhaps it is time to totally reinvent local govt , consider a structure where the taxpayers / citizens needs are met and those that deliver to the citizens are rewarded for such, a hybrid customer service oriented structure " customer comes first approach " instead of the beuracrasy and special interest's comes first system we now have ...we started with public servants then the public service sector now this has morphed into the self service sector ... this entrenched society is going no-where fast the only way we can get good value for our contribution is to dismantle , re-design and re-build, as revolutionary as this sounds it is possible and if some changes are not made we will be consumed by our un-funded pension liabilities and non sustainable contracts .. re: contracts " just say no !! " pay is set at X take it or leave it ....

Sure Trollboy   |January.04.2012 The knucklehead thinks that someone would believe that he, of all people would be told something that happened in a closed door meeting! No one on Council even likes him so why would they talk to him? No staff would bother to take him into their confidence either. So let's put the cheeto drama to bed. On to more important things. Sam isn't worth the time or the bother.

Anonymous   |January.03.2012 Gosh, this weather is so warm outside, it makes me look at my garden and dream of tomatoes.

Anonymous   |January.03.2012 Hey Anonymous- Please correct the "fight rumor" Otherwise , aren't you also feeding into it? This is a news bulletin, correct?

Anonymous   |January.03.2012 Orange slimy oozing pus is all over this "fight" rumor. Get a life fatboy. You lost, dude. You will always lose because...you're a loser.

Anonymous   |January.03.2012 Edinator- ????? Why don't you post what he half baked report, does nothing but fuel these random thoughts (attacks). I believe you are in the know, but you almost precipitate the badgering on here. "I know, here is a little tidbit, but can't tell any more"

Edinator   |January.03.2012 Nope. Wrong office. Can't say more.

Edinator   |January.03.2012 Calling ALL DRAMA QUEENS: There is no fight. There is no dispute. Looks like Vallejo will be getting a new City Manager. My Fly on the Wall in City Hall tells me that the paperwork is being prepared. And yes, global warming, Nuclear Pestilence, the current drought, all malformed children and whatever else you want to think of is Gomes fault. Or Brown. Or Erin. Or Hermie. Or the mighty Oz. Or McConnell or Sampayan or whoever...but mostly Gomes. Be Happy. Get A LIFE. Go to sleep. Tomorrow is another day.

Salty Dog   |January.03.2012 OMG, drama queens coming out of the yinyang again. I would be really worried if there was no dissent over the appointment of a new CM. They have to live with that choice so it better be the right one. As for the yellow streak...of course the unsuccessful Council candidate is doing his usual and being the biggest and bestest drama queen to be offerewd by Vallejo. Should really be declared a threatr to homeland security and shipped off to Gitmo for an undefined time, hopefully forever or until the war on terror is over. lol

Don't Buy It   |January.03.2012 Didn't you see (or smell the) the ugly orange trail? Pure lies come out of its mouth. He of the itty, bitty, teeny, tiny ***** is so afraid of Gomes he's got to make up poop that bears no resemblance to reality. Reject the idiot(s)

Didn't hear it from Hannigan   |January.03.2012 The fight was between Gomes and McConnell with Osby Calling for the postponement.

Didn't hear it from Hannigan   |January.03.2012 Hannigan wasn't the source. She had nothing to do with it.

anon   |January.03.2012 Salty Dog � |January.03.2012 Yep, she has spunk. I would prefer a lot of dissent and argumentation rather than a rubber stamp on this key position. Were McConnell and Sampayan and Brown rubber stamping the appointment?

anon   |January.03.2012 If she has so much courage she should post her version on her web page or interview with Marc on VIB. Have you reduced proper governance to "spunk" and "skookum"? What about sunshine and transparency?

wait   |January.03.2012 Was the appointment really delayed? I would ask why, but have a feeling it is a can of worms.

Salty Dog   |January.03.2012 OK, if you don't like "spunk" try "skookum". She is a skookum lady with much courage.

Anonymous   |January.03.2012 Spunk. That is weak. Wouldn't you prefer her to explain her "spunky" behavior? Or is that too much sunshine?

Anonymous   |January.03.2012 "Its Gomes' Fault" - -please ask Erin Hannigan to get her facts straight before spreading lies.

Salty Dog   |January.03.2012 Yep, she has spunk. I would prefer a lot of dissent and argumentation rather than a rubber stamp on this key position.

Its Gomes Fault   |January.03.2012 Heard Gomes had a fit, yelling, name calling over the new City Manager choice, causing the meeting to be postponed. It's time to recall Gomes. She is a disruptive element and accomplishes nothing else.

Salty Dog   |January.03.2012 Norman Rockwell understood the concept of a "just" war and portrayed people and actions that reinforced a moral justness. Norman Rockwell was able to capture little moments of americana that rang true and helped to shape and reinforce american "values"..... Now we have hip-hop and indefinite detention.

anon   |January.03.2012 http://www.google.com/search?q=norman+Rockwell+WWII&hl=en&client= safari&tbo=u&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa= X&ei=5nkDT5T7LabaiQKWkbSVDQ&ved= 0CEcQsAQ&biw=768&bih=928 Norman was not afraid to bloody their noses

Salty Dog   |January.03.2012 And, lets not forget, new opportunities for indefinite detention of US citizens and enhanced interrogation procedures. The America of Norman Rockwell seems a far off vision of a kinder and gentler America. Dead and done or at least rendered not feasible in 2012. That is my appalled scream for the month and the year.

admin   |January.03.2012 It's a New Year and a new month. Post your Screams here..

Write comment
Name:
Email:
Website:
Title:
	Please input the anti-spam code that you can read in the image.

Powered by !JoomlaComment 3.23

3.23 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."